Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: The Imperial Princess (3)
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I strolled through the gardens of the detached palace alone with the Imperial Princess.
Her escort knights followed from a distance.
Perhaps because we’d grown quite close over the course of the day.
The girls had politely said their farewells and parted ways.
They had been promised too much to doubt the princess’s true intentions.
The way she had won over my companions was truly a masterpiece.
Alright, then… is it now her turn to try and charm the Hero?
A girl in whom dazzling grace and fresh charm coexisted.
No one could deny the Imperial Princess’s elegance.
While this was an honor unlike any other, I found myself slightly uncomfortable.
Hey now, Your Highness.
I’m not an easy man!
I grew anxious, worried she might suddenly do something unexpected.
“Um, Hero. I just had a thought, and I was wondering… may I ask you something?”
I had a feeling.
There was a high probability it would be a difficult question.
But it wasn't as if I could just shut her up.
I permitted the question, figuring I might as well hear her out.
“Is it everyone?”
“—?”
“Surely… not even Aruru?”
“—!!”
Much was omitted, but the meaning was perfectly clear.
*Are you going to date them all? As expected of the Hero, you’re amazing!*
It seemed she was harboring a misunderstanding along those lines.
No, even if I were to concede a hundred times, why are you including our little cutie?
“Hmm, I’m not entirely sure, but… wouldn’t it be possible?”
“…”
What in the world?
I had no idea what she was talking about.
If we were to debate the possibility… then maybe…
No, wait a minute…
Why am I even having these thoughts?
I had unwittingly been swept into the Imperial Princess’s pace!
“Let me be perfectly clear. Ceria is my only love. The others are simply my companions.”
I drew a firm line with a resolute voice.
She nodded as if she had expected as much.
But what followed was not an affirmation.
“I wonder? I think their thoughts might be a little different.”
“…”
The Imperial Princess admires the Hero.
She seemed to believe that I, the Hero, would not be swayed.
But she also predicted that those around me wouldn’t just leave me be.
Perhaps it was the combination of her sharp mind and a woman’s intuition.
In just one day, she had pinpointed the very problem that worried me.
It wasn’t an empty concern; things could get truly difficult.
I might be able to handle others, but I wasn’t confident I could flatly reject the princess or the saintess if they confessed.
One is a hero, the other a saintess.
Though not to the same extent as Ceria, their existence felt special.
Nothing had happened so far.
But they tended to follow me a bit too closely, and their affection levels alone told the whole story.
Besides, we were going to be together from now on.
We would only grow closer, and it wouldn’t be strange if something happened then.
I had agonized over this issue time and again.
But a suitable solution just wouldn’t come to mind.
Should I just… close my eyes and become a bad boy?
Then Ceria would nag me to death, wouldn’t she?
The princess would probably be fine with it…
And Luciel might go dark and start a bloodbath.
“…”
Ah, I don’t want a bad ending!
Worse, I could picture a gruesome, bloody end.
For the sake of all the effort I’d put in so far, I would stick to the path of pure love.
That aside…
Why did the princess bring that up?
Perhaps, as a young lady in her prime, she was just interested in romance?
“Was that rude of me?”
She asked cautiously.
To be honest, it was a little.
If it had been anyone else, I would have told them they were overstepping.
But since it was the Imperial Princess, I just smiled and let it slide.
Her noble status aside, she was so lovely in appearance that I just found her cute.
“I envy them.”
It felt a little out of the blue.
Why would the princess, who wanted for nothing?
It should have been the other way around.
She was in a position to be envied by all.
Even Ceria, the daughter of a great family, couldn’t compare.
The princess was in a completely different league, a world apart.
The Imperial Princess stopped walking and looked me straight in the face.
“Because they can always be by your side, Hero.”
That, she said, was the greatest advantage of all.
As if her status as the Imperial Princess meant nothing.
At this point, it was practically a confession.
But her attitude was more like that of a zealous fan following an idol.
I can believe that, right?
If she suddenly makes a move, it’ll cause a major incident, you know?
For now, she just saw me as some sort of idol.
Well, the Hero is meant to be a figure of public trust.
The more their expectations gathered, the greater the pressure would be.
But I could certainly accept the heart of one young girl.
A wish for me to be a shining star.
A hope that I would be remembered as the most wonderful man in the world.
It wouldn’t be easy, but that was my intention anyway.
I had to become a man Ceria wouldn’t be ashamed of.
And to build my reputation, it was important to make good use of my esteemed status.
By defeating the Demon King’s army or helping people in need.
Through such actions, the princess’s wish would naturally be fulfilled.
“Yesterday, my older brother came to see me.”
The girl began to speak calmly.
It seemed she was finally getting to the main point.
“You’re aware that the princes are competing for the throne, yes?”
“Roughly…”
“And that your existence could have a great influence on it?”
“…”
“Well, that’s how it is. The Second Prince visiting you, and my brother mentioning a political marriage…”
“—!!”
She finally hit me with a straight ball.
I was so flustered I couldn’t control my expression.
The princess saw my reaction, smiled gently, and continued.
“It’s okay. I have no intention of doing that. Ah, of course, that’s not to say I dislike you, Hero.”
*If you want it, you’re welcome to me anytime! It’s a golden opportunity to have the Imperial Princess, so what do you say?*
She gave me a playful wink, her eyes smiling with that sort of feeling.
What am I supposed to do with this?
She had stated she wasn’t interested for now.
That was a relief, but if I responded in kind, it would be a slight against her.
It’s an honor, but my situation is a bit complicated!
I had to frame that complexity in a way that wouldn't hurt the girl's feelings.
“Well, as for my position…”
“I know. Your fiancée is precious to you. A childhood friend you’ve spent ten years with, it must be special.”
“…”
Huh? She knows everything?
The fact that Ceria and I had been together since we were children.
It wasn't exactly a secret, but one would have to do some digging to find that out.
Ah, so she was a stalker fan!
An interest that bordered on obsession could only be frightening.
That was a problem in its own right.
But the princess seemed to have no intention of crossing the line, instead opting to maintain her distance.
“It’s probably too late for me to do anything. So…”
She would just watch from the sidelines.
Hoping for the world’s most beautiful love to come to fruition.
“I’ll be cheering for you.”
A girlish freshness emanated from her bashful smile.
Yet, at the same time, it evoked a strange sense of melancholy.
“Anyway… my brother is a bit wary of your existence, Hero.”
A variable he couldn’t control as he wished.
Given the First Prince’s personality, I must be incredibly annoying to him.
*Ugh, I don’t like this. Why did he have to show up and make things difficult?*
It was probably something like that, but like it or not, he was in a position where he had to humor me.
Or, he might have thought it was a good opportunity.
If he could win over the Hero, he would gain a decisive advantage.
It was that greed that had led him to try and use even his younger sister.
“You knew everything, didn’t you? Then again, you are the heir to the Crodain Family, so of course you would.”
A status that made it impossible to be ignorant of politics.
The reality was completely different, but it served as a good excuse.
“If I may be so bold… I hope you won’t get involved in it.”
Getting caught up in the succession struggle would be tiring, she said.
She was saying it out of concern for me, not for her brother.
“If you don’t take anyone’s side, my brother will be satisfied.”
The Hero remaining neutral was good enough.
As the eldest son, the First Prince Ludwig already had an advantage in the competition.
In other words, if I were to support the Second Prince, he wouldn't just stand by.
In the end, the princess’s advice aligned with my own wishes.
It was a bit of an overstep, but it felt like she had scratched an itch for me.
“Frankly, I feel the same. The Hero should focus solely on his mission.”
Politics are not my concern.
Like the Heroes before me, I will pursue a path of virtue.
“I hope you will convey that clearly to the First Prince.”
I concluded my words.
The Imperial Princess’s reaction was better than I expected.
*Yes, this is the Hero! My judgment was correct. That noble’s dignity is enough to make one fall for him!*
Her face flushed, giving off that exact impression.
Her favorability was rising, so it seemed I wasn't mistaken.
“Yes. You can count on me!”
I could finally relax.
With her abilities, she would be able to appease the First Prince.
Just as I was sighing in relief, she spoke, cautiously watching my expression.
“Um, this is about something else… but could I ask you for a favor?”
I nodded readily.
I hadn't received anything myself, but the princess had taken care of my companions in many ways.
To repay that, I was willing to listen, as long as it wasn’t something too sudden or demanding.
Besides, the matter of a political marriage was already settled.
Since she seemed to respect me, it was surely a small request…
“At the upcoming ball… could you be my partner?”
“—??”
“Um, I’m not asking you to be my partner for the whole thing. It’s just, for just one time… I want to dance with you, Hero.”
Small request, my foot… This was far beyond my expectations.
I had just been asked to dance by the beautiful Imperial Princess.
Looking at the situation in isolation, it was as if good fortune had come knocking on my door.
But I was already slated to have not one, but two partners.
Of course, it was just a request for a single dance.
Indeed, for a partner, the Hero would be a perfect match for the Imperial Princess’s dignity.
It wasn't a difficult task at all, but I had no confidence it would end there.
Even if the princess herself kept it clean, there was room for gossip to arise from those around us.
Most importantly, I was worried about how my partners would see it.
How would they react? Would they feel betrayed or hurt?
I deferred my decision and looked at the princess for a moment.
The girl was fidgeting, blushing with embarrassment.
*Ah, I couldn’t hold it in and just said it! It’ll be fine if he says yes, but what if he doesn’t?*
She seemed to be belatedly worrying, showing signs of anxiety.
That, too, was brief.
She gathered her courage and fixed her gaze on my face.
*The Hero and the Imperial Princess dancing together. Doesn’t that paint a lovely picture? Everyone would feel like the world is as it should be, right? Please, can’t you? Huh? Just this once, please…*
Her eyes pleaded with me.
As a righteous Hero, I couldn’t possibly turn away.
But more than that…
If I were to refuse her request, what would the Emperor think?
*Daddyyyyy! The Hero rejected me!*
The princess wouldn't whine like that, but she would surely show some sign of sadness.
If the Emperor were to sense her state…
*What? He dares to refuse my daughter? Does he think he can do whatever he wants just because he’s the Hero?*
For some reason, I could foresee that kind of development.
I wouldn't suffer any direct disadvantages, but I felt the imperial family's favorability would plummet.
I shouldn't have been hesitating in the first place.
The very act of weighing my options was disrespectful to the princess.
I offered a smile to the girl who was waiting with bated breath.
“It would be an honor I’ll remember forever. I shall look forward to that moment.”
“—!!”
The Imperial Princess looked excited enough to jump for joy.
As if spring had already arrived, her smile bloomed fully.
“I’ll do my very best not to be a disgrace to you, Hero!”
“…”
She was going to give it her all.
No, you don’t have to go that far.
I wanted to talk her out of it, but getting all dressed up is a young lady’s right.
“I had a wonderful time today. I will see you again next time.”
Her voice was laced with happiness.
True to her words, her steps were incredibly light.
After seeing the princess off, I was lost in thought for a moment.
Princess Ilensia, who needed to shine because she was a hero.
Ceria, who needed to stand out as the Hero’s fiancée.
And now, with the Imperial Princess joining the fray, it had become a three-way battle.
“…”
Well, I mean…
Isn’t this a situation anyone would be happy about?
It would probably be fine.
If you can’t avoid it, you might as well enjoy it.
The most magnificent ball in history.
I hoped it would be the best day for everyone.