Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: The Imperial Palace (3)
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The Second Prince’s impression was close to perfect.
A strong jawline, distinct features, and so on.
Overall, he was a tanned, blonde... no, a pretty boy.
Above all, his excellent physique gave him a manly appeal.
He seemed to be the very embodiment of masculine vigor.
“This is my first time seeing a Hero. Oh, right. Can you show me the Holy Sword? That’s not too much to ask, is it?”
“...”
He was already acting familiar without any hesitation.
Perhaps that approachability was the Second Prince’s charm.
And that’s why I disliked it!
It felt like a guy was hitting on me...
Well, there was no need to be so repulsed.
The Second Prince simply had a frank and open personality.
He was relatively less authoritarian, so it was better than dealing with the First Prince.
“So this is the Holy Sword... Truly magnificent!”
When I showed him the Holy Sword, he couldn’t hide his excitement.
It wasn’t a feigned attitude; this was likely his true nature.
“I’ll be direct. Be my man.”
“—!”
Seriously, you’re dropping that at this timing?
I get that you’re in a hurry, but couldn’t you have at least used a turn signal?
Despite my bewilderment, my mouth immediately offered a textbook response.
“I apologize, but I have no intention of serving anyone.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I am fully aware of my position.”
As a Hero, I will focus solely on my mission.
If a Hero gets entangled in politics, it becomes a mess.
I drew a clear line with that sentiment.
He might have been a little offended.
But he didn’t show the slightest hint of displeasure.
The Second Prince, still smiling, praised my attitude.
“Indeed, you have the spirit I’ve heard about. Quite excellent.”
His tone suggested he already knew about me.
Of course, as the heir to the Crodain family, it was impossible for him not to know.
He must have done some research, on top of hearing various rumors.
“I don’t intend to bother you, but could you humor me for just today? I’m personally very interested.”
The Second Prince revered martial prowess.
In other words, he was the type who enjoyed befriending the strong.
I couldn’t very well refuse that.
I needed to get on his good side anyway, so I decided to play along.
However...
He’s not going to suddenly ask for a fight, is he?
He seemed like the type who would, but for now, he didn't appear to have any such intention.
As if he intended to maintain the decorum befitting a prince.
He simply asked for a formal introduction in front of everyone.
The group quickly finished their introductions.
The Second Prince’s gaze lingered on the princess.
“You’re a Hero as well, I hear?”
“Yes. I have been tasked with a duty beyond my station.”
A girl whose refined grace was evident in her speech and actions.
As if recognizing this, the Second Prince’s eyes narrowed.
“Hmm... From what I can see, you seem more than qualified. You weren’t chosen by the Holy Sword for no reason. I don’t know for sure, but I feel we’re of the same kind.”
“...”
A prince or a princess, their status was similar.
The effects of living a noble life from a young age do not fade easily.
“It seems you have your circumstances. Well, there’s no need to reveal them.”
He offered a relaxed smile.
His attitude suggested he would find out eventually, so there was no need to rush.
Next, he looked at our little cutie.
A brief silence followed, as if he were captivated by the fox beastkin’s charm.
He looked like he was enduring something.
It seemed he wanted to touch Aruru’s fluffy tail.
“If I may ask your age...”
“I’m twenty.”
“...”
Twenty meant she was an adult, a proper lady.
He couldn’t be rude to a lady.
That aside, why was this girl included?
Surely she wasn’t a companion... Was she the party’s mascot?
His expression was one of utter confusion.
Just like that, Aruru’s very existence caused great confusion for those who didn’t know her well.
The Second Prince soon turned his head and stared intently at Ilensia.
Once again, he was mesmerized by the beautiful elf’s appearance.
The elf girl proudly puffed out her chest, as if to say that was the normal reaction.
“My age is a secret.”
“—??”
“For the record, I’m not seeing anyone at the moment.”
Was it because of her ambition to become the empress?
She was acting like a fool, even in front of the prince.
Right, go on and give it your best shot.
I could overlook that level of unexpected behavior.
After all, she was a stunning beauty, so most things could be forgiven.
The Second Prince would probably just chuckle and move on.
He did indeed smile, and not only that, but he took it a step further.
“That is quite surprising. With your beauty, I would have thought countless men would have approached you...”
“There have been a few such cases, but maybe they felt the gap was too wide, because I’ve never actually been confessed to.”
The elf girl shrugged.
Seriously, does a person normally say that about themselves?
Her attitude was so natural that it didn’t even sound like bragging.
Just as the beastkin was in charge of cuteness...
It was a world where elves represented the pinnacle of beauty.
An elf who lived her whole life among her tribe...
Might not even know she was beautiful, but Ilensia was a special case, tainted by the human world.
“It seems you haven’t found a man to your liking.”
“Hmm, it’s not that there haven’t been any... but the good ones are already taken, you know?”
The elf girl glanced at me unintentionally.
The Second Prince’s gaze followed hers.
As if he understood, the smile on his lips grew wider.
It seemed he had roughly figured out our relationship from just that brief exchange.
Perhaps because he knew Ceria was my fiancée, he didn't speak to her carelessly.
Instead, he continued his conversation with the elf girl.
Even for a prince, encountering an elf must be a rare occasion.
“There will be a ball in a few days... Would you be willing to be my partner then?”
“Oh my, are you sure I’m a suitable choice?”
“What could be the problem? I don’t need to worry about what anyone thinks.”
I am the grand prince of the empire.
I can choose my own partner as I please.
That was the nuance, a glimpse into his confidence as a prince.
“Wow, that’s so cool!”
The elf girl’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
She looked excited, as if she had caught the scent of power.
Was it because she was a leader of a faction at the Hero Academy?
She seemed half-corrupted, having already tasted the sweetness of power.
“Um, but... this is my first time at a human ball, so I’m not very confident in my dancing...”
“That’s fine. You can just relax and enjoy the atmosphere.”
The Second Prince smiled warmly.
He seemed to have taken a liking to the elf girl.
They were hitting it off better than expected.
Wait, is this really happening like this?
Well, there was no reason it shouldn’t.
A similar event had occurred in the original story, so there wasn’t a problem.
Surprisingly, my heart was calm.
I thought I would be a little annoyed, but I wasn’t at all.
It would be more troublesome if Ilensia started clinging to me, professing her affection.
Besides, the closer she got to the Second Prince...
The imperial family’s favorability was slowly rising.
If she could be helpful in that way, I couldn’t ask for more.
What the hell, I’ll cheer them on with a generous heart.
That was my intention, but the elf girl’s demeanor was a bit strange.
She kept sneaking glances at me.
*I’m going to hang out with the prince! Are you okay with that?*
*If you don’t stop me now, you might regret it forever?*
To my senses, that was exactly the feeling she gave off.
What in the hell was going on?
It was as if she were testing the reaction of a lover whose affection had cooled, protesting by threatening to flirt with another man.
Ah, my head is spinning...
I had no idea how many steps she had skipped.
Out of habit, I stroked Aruru’s head.
That alone was healing, instantly clearing my complicated thoughts.
My little cutie.
*The ball might be a bit boring, are you sure you’ll be okay?*
She was so small that she wouldn’t have a dance partner.
Contrary to my worries, she just smiled sweetly as usual, as if it were no big deal.
“I heard they prepare lots of snacks at human balls.”
“Well, yes, but people usually just pick at them...”
“Even better.”
“...”
Right, eat your fill.
It seemed no food would go to waste at this ball.
A fox beastkin roaming the ballroom in a dress.
In its own way, that would probably create a heartwarming atmosphere.
I was very much looking forward to seeing Aruru in a cute outfit.
But the one who truly excited me was, of course, Ceria.
We were even engaged.
Naturally, we would become partners and enjoy a dance.
How beautiful would she be?
The girl, properly dolled up, would surely have a devastating impact.
The moment I saw her, my heart might just drop.
As I was preparing myself for that by indulging in my fantasies, my eyes met Ceria’s.
She, too, looked incredibly expectant, wearing a smile of pure happiness.
“What should I wear?”
Women have a huge variety of clothes, and dresses are no exception.
A ball, in particular, was a place to show off one’s charms, so one had to go all out.
“Hmm, since it’s a ball hosted by the imperial family, I’ll need to be extra careful...”
The girl fell into deep thought, beyond mere consideration.
It was as if she were claiming to be facing the trial of a lifetime.
Huh? Was it that serious?
I understood the sentiment, but wasn’t this a bit much?
Then again, a ball was a kind of battlefield.
A fierce stage where women compared their combat power(?).
A cruel place where the weak could not survive.
If you lacked confidence, it was only right not to enter in the first place.
“This time, I must be bold.”
“—!”
A resolute gaze.
Her aura grew more intense.
I could even see her determination to be the absolute best.
Hmm, something’s off.
Ceria was not the vain type.
For a young lady of a great family, she usually dressed moderately.
Her natural beauty was more than enough.
But now, she was fired up, vowing to go all out.
Bold? How bold was she planning to be?
She was already beautiful, and she was planning to add something more to that.
In that case, the other noble ladies would be reduced to pretty squids.
Isn’t that a bit harsh? There’s a limit to crushing the competition, isn’t there?
I spoke cautiously, saying there was no need to overdo it.
Yet she shook her head firmly.
She would usually respect my words, but this time she refused to bend.
“The situation is different now. It wouldn’t matter if I were just the young lady of the Carmel family, but people will see me as the Hero’s woman. Therefore, I cannot allow even the slightest flaw.”
Ah, I completely understand now!
It wasn’t a whim. Ceria’s judgment was absolutely correct.
The main purpose of this ball was to introduce the Hero.
In other words, all attention would inevitably be on me.
Consequently, Ceria’s presence would also be the subject of gossip.
What if she appeared underdressed?
I could just picture the high-society matrons who ruled the social scene, seizing the opportunity to tear her down.
—*That girl is the Hero’s fiancée, I hear?*
—*Hmm, she’s pretty, but something is lacking.*
—*I don’t know about anything else, but she seems to lack refinement.*
—*Perhaps my daughter would be a better match?*
Ugh, just thinking about it is horrifying...
This wasn’t something to be dismissed as mere gossip among middle-aged women.
In a flash, it would spread throughout the entire capital.
A battle of the century against the noble ladies.
Ceria must have anticipated this and was preparing for it.
I understood her desire to stand out more than anyone else, but...
Still, no cleavage!
Exposing her back is also a no!
A dress that reveals her shoulders is the limit of my compromise.
“I’ll match with you. You can even decide on the type of dress for me.”
As if to say there was no point in standing out alone.
She suggested we coordinate as a couple.
That was a good idea.
We would have to discuss it together until the ball.
Alright, then...
The elf girl is offloaded onto the Second Prince.
Our little cutie will enjoy herself on her own.
Ceria will be active as my partner.
Excluding the Saintess, who might join at any moment, that leaves only the princess...
“The ball... Do I really have to attend?”
She grimaced, clearly unenthusiastic.
Perhaps because she had lived a rough life for a long time.
She seemed to lack the courage to appear before people in a dress.
Hey, you were a princess, weren’t you?
You’re supposed to handle things like balls with ease!
“Ugh, but...”
“...”
She grumbled that it would be so awkward she could die.
I understood how she felt, but the more she acted like this, the more my resolve hardened.
She will wear it. A dress. Unconditionally.
She flinched, seeming to sense something unusual in my gaze.
“—!”
Yep, too late.
I can let other things slide, but not this!
The task of helping a wavering girl find her identity.
The Hero’s spirit surged. This was undoubtedly a cause worthy of the Hero’s intervention.