Fourth Princess, Mezlen (2)

“It has been a while, Prince Antonio-nim.”

I naturally inserted myself into the conversation between Mezlen and Antonio, first greeting Prince Antonio V, with whom I was acquainted.

“Lady Rilith?”

“It has been a long time since we met in the Witch’s Forest. It’s late, but congratulations on your admission to the Academy.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Prince Antonio nodded and accepted my congratulations.

Normally, a baronet’s maid would not be in a position to speak so freely, but I had a trump card. That was the fact that I was one of Agnes’s closest friends.

Since his actions towards me directly affected Agnes’s affection level, Antonio couldn’t refuse my greeting. …Well, even if it wasn’t for Agnes, the current Antonio probably wouldn’t have ignored my greeting.

“Is the person next to you perhaps the Fourth Princess, Princess Mezlen Emilia Baltoria-nim?”

“…You, were you acquainted with Mezlen as well?”

“No, I only heard rumors. Rumors that the Imperial Palace of the Empire houses the Emperor-nim’s youngest daughter, who is incredibly beautiful, lovely, and has red hair.”

“……What?”

Antonio looked at me with a distorted expression, hearing my transparent flattery.

Just as his mouth was about to open further to say something to me, the red-haired princess suddenly leaned forward towards me.

“Just where did that rumor even….”

“As expected…! As expected of Luminor Academy, where intellectuals gather…! To meet someone who sees the awakened truth with such clear eyes, right after passing through the Academy’s main gate…!”

“Mezlen. Anyone can see that was empty flattery to lift your spirits, yet you’re showing such obvious delight….”

“No…! Antonio (older brother), it’s time for you to open your eyes! The fact that I am the prettiest, most beautiful, loveliest, and most noble-blooded cute younger sister in the world…!”

As soon as I uttered words that flattered her to no end, Mezlen burst into self-praise with a confident voice, as if exploding with all the pent-up resentment she had endured. And Prince Antonio, watching his younger sister, let out a silent, deep sigh.

In truth, there was a reason why the Fourth Princess had developed such a personality.

Mezlen, by herself, was a girl beautiful enough not to be outdone anywhere. This was only when considering her face, excluding her personality or figure.

So, originally, she should have grown up receiving abundant love as a beautiful child from a young age, but it was a considerable tragedy for her that her older sister, just two years her senior, happened to be Seraphine.

If Mezlen’s appearance was merely ‘cute and pretty,’ Seraphine’s beauty was undeniably stunning, to the point where one could say she was the prettiest in the entire 『Luminor Academy』 world.

Not only her face, but Seraphine also received better evaluations for her personality and character. And because she was a fighter with a slender waist, her chest also appeared slightly larger compared to Mezlen.

In other words, Mezlen’s cute and pretty face alone couldn’t keep up with Seraphine’s popularity. Seraphine herself was simply a self-luminous beauty who shone just by walking around.

‘Even I only got used to it recently from seeing her often, but my first impression was truly like seeing light walking.’

Even if they did the same thing, Seraphine would receive more attention. Furthermore, at social gatherings, Mezlen would be doted upon by young masters, only for all attention to be stolen the moment Seraphine appeared. This repeated pattern caused Mezlen’s personality to gradually shift towards excessive self-consciousness.

Constantly forcing others, as well as herself, to repeat “I am the prettiest” became a bad habit that solidified over time.

Correcting this personality or making her not obsess over her own beauty was the key to Mezlen’s capture.

“Ah, indeed, I did well to enroll in the Academy…. To meet such a noble person on the very first day….”

“The honor is all mine to meet you, Princess Mezlen Emilia Baltoria-nim.”

“I’ll specially allow you to call me Princess Mezlen…. What is your name…?”

“I am Lillith Blackwood Rosewood, Princess Mezlen-nim.”

“Lady Lillith…. Alright, I remember…. Consider it an honor that I remember your name, …Lady Iris…?”

“It’s Lillith.”

“Yes, that’s it…. That’s what I was going to say….”

…I hadn’t expected much anyway. Mezlen was originally someone who had little interest in anyone other than herself.

Meanwhile, Antonio, perhaps suspicious of how I had gained Mezlen’s favor so quickly, suddenly began to grow wary of me.

“…Lady Rilith. Just in case, I’d like to tell you not to approach my younger sister with ill intentions.”

“You don’t need to worry, Prince Antonio-nim. I merely thought it would be wonderful to exchange greetings with Princess Mezlen-nim, seeing her beautiful appearance.”

“Antonio (older brother)…. Are you trying to keep me in check again…. How can a member of the Imperial family be so childish….”

“…Haa. Enough. Let’s head to the VIP Room. This is taking too long.”

Antonio frowned, looking exasperated by Mezlen and me.

He tried to quickly move towards the VIP Room, as if he didn’t want to say anything more, but his steps were blocked by Mezlen before he could take even ten paces.

“Kate, my legs hurt, carry me….”

“Understood, Princess Mezlen-nim. Please wait a moment while I put down the luggage and return….”

“Stop whining, Mezlen. You won’t be able to bring your exclusive maid into class, so are you going to rely on Kate to carry you around every time?”

“The Academy Entrance Ceremony hasn’t even started yet…. Why do you keep worrying about things that haven’t happened, Antonio (older brother)….”

“It’s because it’s pathetic to see you whine when Kate’s hands are already full with your luggage, Mezlen.”

“…I don’t care. I’m not walking anymore…. I’ve never walked more than a hundred steps in a day since I was born….”

Mezlen plopped down on a nearby bench as if staging a protest.

She wasn’t actually tired; she was just sulking at Antonio.

Antonio, who usually didn’t care if she whined to her exclusive maid, was now nagging her, so Mezlen probably felt like her ‘understanding older brother’ had turned into an ‘annoying older brother.’

‘This is probably where she gets lost in the original story, but….’

Mezlen’s lost event involved her wandering off alone while Kate went to move the luggage she was carrying to the VIP Room before returning to carry Mezlen.

She would ask to be carried because she didn’t want to walk, but then disappear because she was bored when someone actually tried to carry her. That was the epitome of an annoying woman.

She only had one foot in the main story, so it wasn’t obvious, but judging by her personality, she was probably the most annoying heroine.

And the way to handle such a Mezlen was surprisingly simple.

Mezlen, who always expressed a desire to be loved by others, acted by considering how she could be loved the most.

Such trivial tantrums were actually actions she took to be loved, not to deliberately inconvenience anyone.

So, the fastest way would be to show her that there was nothing to gain from doing such things.

“Since Princess Mezlen-nim’s exclusive maid’s hands are full, I shall carry you instead.”

“Yes…?”

“Do you perhaps dislike it? Despite appearances, I am the exclusive maid serving Young Master Ethan, the only son of the Blackwood Family, so my identity is certainly guaranteed.”

“The exclusive maid of the Blackwood Family’s only son…. Is the Blackwood Family famous, Antonio (older brother)…?”

“It’s a family whose head is one of the three Sword Masters in the Empire, Mezlen. You should memorize at least that much.”

“Hmm….”

Mezlen hesitated slightly, wondering whether to let me carry her or wait alone for Kate to return. After a slight wait, perhaps thanks to the trust I had already built, the princess accepted my offer.

“Alright…. Lady Lirina, the exclusive maid of the Blackberry? Family, I shall grant you the opportunity to carry me….”

“I am Lillith, the exclusive maid of the Blackwood Family.”

“That’s what I said….”

…She was shameless, as always.

Mezlen was sitting on the bench, performing her ‘carry me’ act, but a normal way of carrying her wouldn’t fix her habit.

So, I took a small step to the side, slid one arm under her knees, and lifted Mezlen in a ‘Princess Carry’ pose, supporting her knees and back.

“…Ungh?!”

“Please make yourself comfortable, Princess Mezlen-nim.”

“Heh, you’re strong, Lady Laliga…?”

“It is because Princess Mezlen-nim is light.”

“Hmm, that’s right…. As expected, Lady Lilia seems to be very much in sync with me….”

In sync? I was just playing along.

Two members of the Imperial family, one exclusive maid, and one additional maid tagging along.

A somewhat peculiar combination of four people walked together towards the Academy’s VIP Room.