episode_0007

『The skill, [Mana Detection], is active.』

The color of the moonlight settling on the window.

The scent of the wind blowing from the forest.

The buzzing chirping of crickets.

Mana existed in everything in nature.

I just hadn’t been able to feel it.

All of it seeped into my skin, and for the first time, mana began to swirl within my body.

It’s an amazing sensation.

Like squeezing toothpaste, when I let mana flow from my fingertips to my opposite fingertips, I feel a wave-like sensation in my body.

I concentrated the mana at my fingertips.

[Mana Manipulation]!

Porolong…

Like a rolling droplet, pure white mana swelled from my index finger.

The feeling was as if I freely played with the morning dew on my hand.

Being able to replicate something from nature gave me a considerable sense of conquest.

This time, with the sensation of touching air instead of a droplet.

I poured mana from my entire body to create a field.

[Mana Barrier]!

Saaaa…

Inside the space where the barrier was deployed, I could feel everything that was happening, and it seemed possible to block outside influences.

‘Ssuh-uh… Hu-aa… Ssuh-uh… Hu-aa…’

…I can even hear Yuri’s breathing from downstairs.

Worried I might affect her, I immediately retracted the barrier.

There was one more skill I wanted to try, but it’s late, so let’s sleep for tonight.

I have a busy schedule tomorrow, too.

. . .

Venice, the largest city in the kingdom.

The market here, where people and goods concentrate, is bustling as always today.

From dawn, fresh fish and meat caught from various places arrive here by cart.

Freshly harvested fruits and vegetables, and various herbs, rush to claim their places in the market.

Various crafts and essential goods always attract attention.

Today is the day Yuri goes to the market.

I came down to the village with her, taking a stroll.

“The morning air is so nice~”

“Hehe… You speak just like my grandfather.”

The refreshing air permeates my body.

The fabric is thin and loose, relatively comfortable for movement.

It’s my favorite going-out dress these days.

Thanks to Yuri ironing it last night, the soft feeling against my skin is pleasantly subtle.

“Oh my, Your Highness! Long time no see~”

“Ah, Mr. Royman. Good morning. Is business good?”

“Of course! It’s all thanks to Your Highness. We caught some delicious mackerel today. Would you like some?”

Royman, the fishmonger.

When he was lamenting about the lightness of his nets, I recommended, based on the library materials and Akasto’s knowledge, that he try fishing further down.

Since that day, he’s been catching so many fish his crates are breaking.

“My, Your Highness~ You’re so beautiful today.”

“Good morning, Mrs. Hern. Is your son studying well?”

“Oh, don’t even get me started~ Lately, I wish he’d rest a bit, you know? Hohoho~”

Mrs. Hern, the fruit seller.

When she complained that her son, who was facing the academy entrance exam, was lacking energy, she said he got a boost just from my brief visit.

“Your Highness, Your Highness!”

“Oh, Tis! How have you been?”

“Great! I brought lots of goods today!”

Tis, the little shopkeeper.

After I dealt with the bullies who had been harassing him in the alley, he’s now even coming to this big market.

“We have some great tea leaves today~”

“Aren’t you having meat for dinner?”

“Noona~”

“K, khem. You’re truly beautiful today.”

Yes, this is it.

Look at me more!

…No.

This market, full of the warmth of people living their lives—a feeling I’ve had since childhood.

This atmosphere is why I always went outside the castle walls.

“…Your Highness!”

In the castle, all I saw were maids rushing around without a moment to breathe, soldiers reeking of sweat, officials whose faces were etched with fatigue…

It was filled with dreary things.

“Wow, the meat looks amazing!”

“I knew you’d appreciate it, Your Highness. How about some freshly grilled calf today?”

“Hey, Hughes! Don’t steal my customers!”

“Your Highness!!”

Yuri popped out from among the crowd.

“Oh, oh. What is it?”

“Ah… nothing, nothing at all.”

“Yuri, want some meat?”

Shaking her head.

She shook her head, her hands full of things.

Too bad, it would have been delicious.

Thus, after looking around the market a little more, we went back to the castle.

『[Character Story: Yuri]’s progress has decreased slightly.』

* * *

“Little sister, do the laundry today.”

“Yes…? But I have to prepare Your Highness’s meal…”

“Ah, we’ll take care of that. Don’t you see that mountain of clothes? Please~”

I don’t know.

That wasn’t my job to begin with.

“Thank you, Yuri~”

Compared to before, this is nothing.

We just swapped tasks, that’s all.

Three people’s work, plus mine.

I just headed to the laundry room, my head bowed.

Lately, Your Highness’s public appearances have increased.

She’s started appearing at dinners with His Majesty and royal meetings.

She’s frequently visiting the library and the swordsmanship hall.

Sometimes, she even goes to tea parties attended by nobles; nowadays, there’s practically no one around who doesn’t know her face.

It seems she’s receiving many proposals, as it’s the appropriate time to discuss marriage.

I understand.

Your Highness is beautiful enough to be considered attractive, even by me.

To the point where my seniors try to swap duties with me to have a moment with Your Highness.

Both men and women are captivated by Your Highness’s charm.

She is demure like a flower, yet sometimes reveals her toughness.

Not only that, but her swordsmanship, magic, internal affairs, diplomacy, and relationships with other nobles.

And above all, her kind heart, treating everyone with equality.

Your Highness is perfect.

Every time people cheer for Your Highness.

She continues to grow larger.

And I, standing beside her, continue to shrink.

Just a mere maid.

A half-blood commoner from a small neighboring country who fled after losing everything in the Empire’s invasion.

Do I deserve to be beside Your Highness, who is perfect in every way?

Lately, I haven’t been able to stop thinking like this.

. . .

“Yes? Me?”

I was surprised.

“Yes, you. It seems that you, who was beside Your Highness at the tea party, caught his eye.”

The head maid told me that a young master from a marquis family wants to buy me.

Why me…?

Before I could even ponder the question, I had to meet him. It wasn’t a meeting; it was more like a notification.

“You… yes, right. Your face seemed familiar. Seeing you again, I’m sure.”

“What are you… saying…”

“Your mother.”

…!!!

An unexpected person was suddenly put on the chopping block.

“She worked at our mansion. She had such a great body. Even after having three children…”

“……”

“Such a shame, it’s such a shame. That such a wonderful body had to die in the war… I couldn’t even touch a woman for a while after the shock…”

He stroked his short goatee, and he described my mother, stripped bare, detailed and graphic accounts, in lurid detail.

I could only clench the sleeves of my apron.

“This is destiny… You’ll be just as delicious one day, don’t you think? That’s why—”

“Ugh…!”

Suddenly, thick rough hands groped my body. When he grabbed my breasts, I started to cry from the pain.

“Hmph…sob…”

“Ah, don’t worry. I’ll take good care of you from now on… lick, lick.”

He licked my tear-stained cheeks with his foul-smelling tongue.

‘Please… stop…’

That’s when.

Kwaaang!!!

Your Highness burst into the room, nearly shattering the door.

“Wh-who is this… Ah, the Fifth Princess! I was in your debt at the tea party.”

“…I’m pleased to see you. Why have you come today?”

The man, though momentarily subdued by your sudden arrival, didn’t remove his hands from me.

“Ah, it’s because! I’ve taken an interest in one of Your Highness’s belongings. I wished to inquire as to the price.”

“…What belongings?”

“That is to say… this.”

He groped me.

I quickly wiped away my tears and looked at Your Highness.

A calm smile, just like usual.

Thank god, she doesn’t seem to have noticed…

Thank… god…

“Ah, that girl, you mean. However, as I’m a kind person, I ask her about her feelings in the matter.”

Your Highness, without changing her expression, walked toward me.

“Yuri, what do you want to do?”

Your Highness’s eyes; they were this color.

Like a clear, transparent lake, that looking into them, I felt as if might disappear into their depths.

Even in a situation like this, you’re trying to understand my feelings.

I thought that a place like this, beside you, wasn’t for someone like me.

“I… will do as he wishes.”

“I see.”

Your Highness smiled slightly.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Ah… ah.

It’s over.

It’s all over.

My dream-like life with Your Highness is over and I am being sold to Marquis.

Instead of the beautiful princess with those clear eyes, I will now serve a man with rough hands who intends to defile me, like my mother before me.

For the first time in my life, I tried with all my might. I had to focus all my attention on my eyes so no tears would fall.

“Twenty gold coins should be enough for this girl’s price. I will ensure she is clean when I prepare her, so please send a carriage in three days’ time.”

“I am at a loss to express my gratitude for Your Highness’s generosity!”

Laughing, the man left the room. Your Highness already left, and I felt that everything was truly over.

Even while doing laundry back in my quarters, I couldn’t stop the tears. Even as I wiped them away with my sleeve, they continued to flow.

The appointed day arrives, I finished my work and had my last bath in the palace. After tidying myself up I left.

From the carriage, I saw that gold coins, silk, perfumes and many other gifts were given. And next to them was him.

“This, this… You took long enough. I came to greet you personally! Appreciate it.”

“…Thank you.”

It was still early morning. Your Highness wasn’t there.

‘It’s not time for Her Highness’s morning walk yet.’

I breathed out loudly. The white mist scattered into the sky.

A grey winter sky, I could feel myself disappearing without any strength. Like me.

The royal workers, having collected the gifts provided by the Marquis family, departed.

“From now on, you’re my sex slave. Kuk… a glorious addition to my collection!!”

“…Thank you.”

“You have no place to return to, like your mother, so there’s no need to worry about raising an army.”

What…?

What do you mean?

In the carriage, I looked at the man, full of questions. He starts talking.

“Ah…Didn’t you know? The soldiers sent to your country weren’t from the Empire.”

“Wh-what did you say?”

“They were faithful men under my command, under the banner of the Empire.”

Why?

Why did you do this?

Instinctively, I grabbed the edge of the carriage door but the driver urged the horse on.

The clattering of hooves, the rumbling carriage… a foreshadow of my future, the carriage headed onward, regardless of my will.

“It’s fate really, that the Marquis made a deal to release your mother, and dispatched the troops to eliminate any chance of her returning, unfortunately, she managed to die in the process though.”

“For that reason…”

You….destroyed our village…?

You killed everyone…?

I looked at the man, tears streaming down my face.

His eyes changed.

“…You fucking bitch. Glaring at your master?”

Zaaak!!

His hand slapped my cheek at unseen speed.

He grabbed my neck, pushing me onto the carriage seat.

“Good, good. Defiance is fun. We’ll do it here, and when we get to the marquisate… I’ll use that illegal drug I got last month to turn you into a docile dog…”

“Kuh…!!”

The hand grasping my neck tightened. I choked, couldn’t breathe. Feeling my clothes fall apart.

The carriage ceiling started to blur.

Rumbling, rumbling.

I’m sorry, Mom, Dad.

I’m done too.

I’m sorry, Your Highness.

I lied.

I wanted to be by your side.

From the day I first met Your Highness, I wanted to protect you until the day I die.

“Cough, cough—”

You, who seemed empty inside, were actually full of love more than anyone else.

That warm love made my heart turn entirely to you.

I am no longer me.

You might not even remember me properly.

“Help… me…”

One last time… please let me see your face.

No, two more times.

Possibly even ten.

If you’ll allow it, for a lifetime.

‘I want to fall asleep while seeing your face.’

“I heard it, your heart.”

The next moment, I wondered if I was dreaming, but Your Highness’s face truly appeared before my eyes.