Chapter 89: Dia Will Punish You!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 89: Dia Will Punish You!
What on earth was going on?
I couldn't hide my bewilderment and stepped back. As I did, the crowd pressed in even closer.
"Don't get too close to Dia."
"…!"
At that moment, Nathaniel stepped in front of me, blocking their path. His words snapped me back to my senses.
Fortunately, the others seemed to realize they had been crowding me and sheepishly backed away.
I quickly grabbed the hand of Demia, who was standing right beside me, and shouted, "Everyone except Sir Mia, play Rock-Paper-Scissors!"
"Rock-Paper-Scissors?"
"Why is Sir Demia exempt?"
"Because Sir Mia is my guard knight!"
My front teeth had grown in a bit, allowing me to pronounce the words perfectly. Feeling proud of myself, I squeezed Demia’s hand.
Demia looked secretly pleased, her shoulders squaring with pride. The looks the other adults gave her—especially Duke Winston and Veronica—were sharp and piercing.
"What is Rock-Paper-Scissors?"
"Well, it’s…"
Having learned from Luciano, a commoner, that Rock-Paper-Scissors existed in this world too, I had promptly suggested the game.
Aside from Marianne, no one else knew what it was and tilted their heads in confusion. A flustered Luciano had no choice but to awkwardly explain the rules at my command.
"Hmph, simple enough."
Since it wasn't difficult, everyone mastered it quickly. They all accepted the challenge with arrogant expressions, looking incredibly confident.
"Gah! This! This can't be!"
"Ho ho ho!"
The winners and losers were decided in an instant. For some reason, the people who had looked the most confident ended up losing.
Duke Winston, you’re terrible at Rock-Paper-Scissors. I clicked my tongue inwardly as I watched him vent his frustration.
On the other hand, Sophia, who had crushed everyone in one go by throwing out 'paper' the moment the game started, let out a loud laugh by my side.
"Dia, you can't…"
"Mom, see you later!"
"Ah…"
Whether it was the Winston blood or something else, Veronica, who hadn't won a single round, stood next to the Duke with teary eyes.
But the world of competition is ruthless; there are no exceptions, even for blood relatives.
I waved my hand at Abel and Nathaniel, who were both draped in despair.
Currently by my side were Demia, who had won by default as my guard, Sophia, Marianne, and finally, Luciano.
The boat was meant for four people, but since I was small and Marianne and Luciano were also children, I figured we’d fit just fine.
Looking at it this way, it was a perfect arrangement—though I doubted the people getting on the other boats felt the same way.
"Next time, I must make sure to leave the riffraff behind."
Duke Winston muttered under his breath, gritting his teeth. I simply smirked while stroking Desmond’s fur.
*
Since the boat still needed a bit more preparation, we ate by the lakeshore first.
Eating while looking at the beautiful scenery definitely made it feel like a picnic. Even if, technically, we were still inside the Imperial Palace.
Still, it was a nice change of pace, so I didn't mind.
I watched Duke Winston and Veronica thoroughly inspecting the boat with an exhausted expression. Then, I set off for a stroll along the path, with Demia and Sophia following behind and Desmond and Nathaniel flanking my sides.
Come to think of it, Marianne had disappeared in this direction earlier with Luciano. She’d said something about finding a rare wildflower to give to me.
She had tried to keep it a secret from me in her awkward way, but since I had contracted with a demon and possessed superior hearing, I had already overheard their whispering.
I walked along, entertaining wicked thoughts of startling Marianne and Luciano.
Soon, I spotted the back of Marianne’s blonde head.
"…!"
However, Marianne wasn't alone with Luciano. Spotting an unexpected figure, I froze in my tracks just as I was about to approach.
"Didn't I warn you before?"
It was Abel.
I wondered where he’d gone, and it seemed he had come looking for Marianne as well.
Sensing something unusual, I held my breath and hid. The others followed my lead, their movements becoming cautious.
"I told you not to approach the Little Lady. Do you really think you're in a position to be close to her?"
"T-that’s…"
Marianne was at a loss, flustered by Abel’s cold voice. Luciano was equally restless behind her.
"But, the Little Lady asked me to…"
"Even if the Little Lady insists on playing with you, you should have refused. Are you really that incapable of reading the situation?"
He didn't seem like the Abel I knew.
I’d had a feeling he put on an act in front of me to some extent, but I hadn't realized he could be this cold to others.
His words were as biting as ice, enough to shock even me. My mouth hung open slightly without me realizing it.
"The Little Lady is someone who will soon become a Princess of the Empire. Even if you're still young, surely you know the nature of the relationship between the Imperial Family and the Temple? I assume you aren't so stupid that you don't."
"…."
"Furthermore…"
Abel’s navy-blue eyes swept over Marianne as he spat out the scathing words. He didn't need to finish the sentence for me to know what he meant. It was common knowledge that Marianne was Cedric’s illegitimate child.
I couldn't take it anymore and jumped up from my spot. Then, I went charging toward the two of them.
"D-Dia?"
Abel, who noticed me first, widened his eyes in surprise. I stepped in front of Marianne, shielding her.
"Abel is mean!"
"N-no, it’s not like that."
"Don't make the Saintess cry! Bad Abel!"
"D-Dia…"
Abel staggered, looking shocked by my harsh words. I turned around and grabbed Marianne’s hand tightly.
"Tell me if Abel bullies you again, Saintess."
"Ah…"
"Dia will punish him!"
I shouted, raising my hand high. Marianne blinked as if startled.
It seemed the warning Abel had given Marianne at the Winston townhouse was what he had just repeated.
As the heir to a vassal family of Winston, it was likely something he felt he had to say. Even Duke Winston had looked displeased upon seeing Marianne.
Still, I couldn't help but feel it was unfair. Marianne was nothing like the Empress Dowager.
"The Saintess is kind. She didn't do anything wrong!"
"…."
As I shouted, fueled by my own empathy, Marianne’s purple eyes grew round. Her eyes, brimming with tears, began to tremble.
"Thank you, Little Lady."
Marianne smiled through her tears. She looked up, squeezing my hand back.
"I… I won't distance myself from you, Little Lady."
Though she was still trembling as if she were afraid of Abel, Marianne spoke clearly. Abel bit his lip in frustration.
"Abel, are you going to bully the Saintess again?"
"…I won't."
"Really?"
"Yes."
He nodded obediently at my words, but I couldn't bring myself to trust him.
Behind that pretty face, his inner thoughts were as dark as could be. Still, considering the relationship between the Imperial Family and the Temple, it was somewhat unavoidable.
I only knew Marianne was a good person because I’d read the original story; if I hadn't, I wouldn't have thought of getting close to her for Dantalion and Veronica’s sake either.
"Now, you two make up."
"Pardon?"
"D-Dia."
"Make up!"
I shouted loudly and forced their arms together.
Abel, who had resisted until the end, let out a sigh as if he had no choice and took Marianne’s hand.
"I apologize, Saintess."
"Ah, n-no, I also…"
Abel spoke like a gentleman, his mask perfectly back in place, while Marianne remained as flustered as before.
Well, I figured this was enough, so I took one of each of their hands in mine.
"Now, let's go ride the boat!"
"Yes, Dia."
The wind was blowing just right; it was perfect weather for boating.
When we returned to the lakeshore, Duke Winston and Veronica were waiting for us, having finished the preparations.
"Alright, let's get on."
"Whoa."
I was carried onto the boat in Demia’s arms. Sophia, Marianne, and Luciano also took their seats.
I could see the others on a separate boat a short distance away. I smiled and waved my hand toward them.
"Don't move too much, My Lady. It's dangerous."
"Okay!"
Sophia tried to calm me down in my excitement.
But perhaps because it was my first time on a boat in this life, I was incredibly thrilled.
"We’re heading out now."
As the boatman pulled the oars, the boat slowly glided forward. The lake was quite large, so it took a while just to reach the center.
"There are fish! Fish!"
"The colors are so beautiful."
Marianne and I marveled at the multicolored fish. It reminded me of the fish I’d seen at the Emperor’s palace.
"Huh?"
Just then, a large fish near the boat bobbed its mouth at the surface. I was watching it with curiosity when a strange sensation washed over me.
Rumble!
At that moment, the boat shook violently.