Chapter 51
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: What I Need Right Now
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#51.
What I needed right now. And something Ricardo could hand over on the spot, so he wouldn't be able to weasel out of it later.
Charlotte's gaze suddenly paused on the necklace hanging around Ricardo's neck. The beautiful pendant, shimmering with a reddish glow, was truly exquisite.
It was a color that didn't suit Ricardo's dull eyes at all—a brilliant luster. In the story, this necklace played a major role in the upcoming hunt festival, right after this moment.
Something dwelled within it, they said.
The hunt festival was a competition where the princes vied against each other to show off their standing.
In other words, an event that could influence who would become the emperor's successor.
But Charlotte knew a place where that necklace would be put to even better use.
"Please give me that necklace."
Pointing at it with an innocent face, as if she knew nothing, Ricardo smirked.
"This? You like the look of it? Haha, sure, sure. Take it."
Ricardo nodded without a second thought.
But even after their exchange, he didn't let Charlotte leave.
Instead, he leaned in closer, peering at her strangely once more.
"...Perfume? It's a sweet scent I've never smelled before. Real floral fragrance."
She thought he was talking nonsense.
Disliking how close he was getting, she sidestepped again when a sharp voice cut in abruptly.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, brother?"
For the second time, Charlotte saw the purple cape blocking her path.
Ricardo's irritated glare turned on Joseph in surprise.
"You little shit, making a fool of me? What, came to protect your girlfriend? Keep it up, and I won't care if you're my brother—I'll beat you senseless."
Despite his words, Ricardo was the first to resort to violence.
Just like last time with Joseph, he drove the heel of his right foot toward Joseph's stomach.
Whoosh.
The difference this time was that Joseph dodged it, unlike before when he'd stood there like a ragdoll with its strings cut.
Ricardo's body wobbled, losing balance as his kick sliced through empty air.
"...What the hell was that?"
At the anger-laced voice, Charlotte blinked slowly.
It's the first time Joseph's ever dodged.
She could understand his feelings completely.
Knowing how hot-tempered Ricardo was, the best choice had probably been to avoid provoking him even a little.
But that didn't make the anger any less.
Her head felt white-hot with rage, so she averted her gaze—and caught sight of Joseph's fist.
It was lightly clenched, casually, but Charlotte, who had sparred with him endlessly, knew. Right before he went for the finish, Joseph had a habit of relaxing his body even more to lull his opponent.
If she left him be, that fist would smash into Ricardo's face any second.
Charlotte quickly grabbed Joseph's hand tight.
He flinched in surprise, but she wedged her fingers between his, interlocking them firmly just in case.
"...What are you two doing? Putting on a show right in front of me?"
Ricardo muttered in disbelief at the sight.
Charlotte shook her head slightly at him.
Not directed at Prince Ricardo, though. At Joseph.
Joseph had never once fought back—not even when the bruises spreading deep into his thighs, visible under his short shorts, were gifts from Ricardo.
Yet now, he was rebelling...
...because of me.
The realization made her chest tighten, something surging up from deep inside.
But I can't let Joseph get disqualified from the tournament because of me. Not after how far we've come. Even pretending to hit that scheming Ricardo could spell big trouble.
Right then, a loud announcer's voice boomed from outside.
Participants in the preliminary round, please gather at the arena immediately. The preliminaries will begin shortly. Shortly.
Gripping their interlocked hands until sweat slicked her palms, Charlotte gritted her teeth and forced a smile.
They said a comeback followed a crushing defeat. A small loss could precede a great victory.
"My apologies. It seems I've offended Your Highness."
At her polite apology, Joseph's hand trembled in her grasp, as if seething.
But she pressed on regardless.
"I will treasure the bet Your Highness so graciously proposed and take my leave. I shall visit Your Highness again depending on the preliminary results."
Ricardo's eyes narrowed like a snake's, as if itching to do something to Joseph right then—but her hasty apology deflated him, and he clicked his tongue.
"Fine. The results will be out soon enough anyway. Get along nicely until then."
"Your Highness's magnanimity humbles us. We shall take our leave."
Charlotte dragged the reluctant Joseph out of the room by force.
He tried to stop several times, but each time, she gave their linked hands a light squeeze and met his eyes.
Whenever their gazes locked on her pale green eyes, he looked like a puppy facing its owner—helpless, reluctantly stepping forward.
Upon reaching the arena entrance, Charlotte—who had exited the waiting room side chamber smiling so mildly it seemed fake—hadn't spoken a word since.
Just because she'd apologized with a straight face didn't mean she wasn't furious.
If anything, her head was going blank with rage.
Charlotte recalled the bracket she'd seen that morning.
Second and third princes are both in Group 2. No chance of facing them until the finals... Damn.
She'd wanted to take on Ricardo herself.
Beat him until her anger subsided.
"...Quick thinking."
Then Joseph's clear voice came from beside her.
Turning, she met his black eyes, which as always had turned to her first.
"Quick? Whatever. Just win the tournament."
Joseph stared at her intently and sighed deeply.
"Yeah, that'll do it. At least one part of the bracket makes me happy."
At his low mutter, Charlotte burst out laughing despite her seething anger spilling over inside.
"Kekeke."
What? Joseph's been imagining pounding him in the bracket too?
"Ahaha. Hahaha. You were thinking the same?"
Joseph eyed her darkly as she laughed until tears pricked her eyes in this situation, then sighed softly.
"What'd he say to you?"
He wasn't even calling him "brother" anymore.
Charlotte found his quiet anger so hilarious she raised a hand to wipe tears—then noticed their hands still tightly clasped.
Joseph usually flinched at the slightest touch, but once grabbed or head-patted, he'd let her do as she pleased afterward, helpless. It was endearingly funny.
Smiling long and wide, she toyed with his childlike yet long-fingered hands using both of hers.
Nothing like her own soft ones.
They felt like gripping rocks.
Even after touching them countless times, the texture hit her anew.
...Right. No matter how talented, Joseph's only twelve. He trained so brutally his body got wrecked.
Only after stroking his hand a few more times did she let go.
Then she cupped his cheeks with both hands—he who was still awaiting her answer.
"Big sis has this handled. Don't worry about it."
"...Be honest. You don't even know what 'big sis' means, do you?"
Charlotte burst out laughing again, and just as Joseph tried to press her—
Preliminaries commencing. All non-participants, withdraw beyond the red line at the arena perimeter. Warning. All non-participants...
With the repeating announcement, iron grates rose along the arena's edge.
The preliminary format changed every five years, so participants gripped their weapons and stared only toward the announcer and His Majesty the Emperor, not daring to act rashly.
"This year's preliminary trial is as follows."
The emperor slowly spoke.
"This year's preliminaries... will be slime hunting."
The moment the emperor declared it, the spectator stands erupted in cheers that shook the arena.
Whiiist—!
Long live His Majesty the Emperor—!
No one had expected the summoning of such a monster; the crowd ignited with excitement.