03. Aran

The princess couldn’t take action easily.

 

She wanted to flip everything over in her heart, but if she did that for no reason, she would give them justification.

 

 

 

 

“Why are you doing this? Didn’t I say I’d do whatever you want? Or are you lying to me?”

 

As she was agonizing over what to answer, fortunately, the situation saved her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Your Highness. Dinner is ready.”

“L-Let’s have dinner first.”

“That’s right, Nuna. Asking someone to strip out of nowhere. Let’s go eat first.”

“……..”

 

Iliana looked at Aran with a pathetic gaze, shook her head from side to side, and left the room, passing by the princess.

 

 

“Ah! Let’s go together!”

 

 

Aran followed behind her.

 

 

“You still need to study more, it seems.”

“Yes?”

“Do you think I made such a request simply because of my desire to see your naked body?”

“You’re being quite specific.”

“The princess said she wanted to have a relationship with you, but that’s just to mock us. The real intention is elsewhere.”

“What…?”

“It’s to make us angry and act rashly first. Then it’s much easier to argue about justification.”

“Is there really a need to do that?”

“Nobles live and die by justification. Without justification, they can’t do anything. Even themselves.”

“…So that’s why she’s using such tricks….”

“So be careful, Aran. Even if that bitch really tries to give you her body, be careful because she might have some ulterior motive.”

“For once, you’re telling me to be careful….”

“Isn’t she going to be yours someday anyway?”

“….”

 

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When they arrived at the dining hall for dinner, the Duchess, her other daughters, and subordinate nobles were gathered there.

 

 

“It seems there are no sons.”

 

 

Not only sons, but all the nobles sitting there were women.

 

 

“No, Aran. The Duchess has two sons.”

“Yes? Then why….”

“Because they are men, they cannot be here with us.”

“….”

 

Could it be that they can’t attend such a gathering just because they are men?

Aran was a little shocked, though it was obvious.

 

 

Iliana kindly advised him.

 

 

“Remember. The only reason you are being treated well is because you are a prince. Nothing else. Not yet, anyway.”

“…Yes.”

“The Duchess’s sons are certainly precious, but not enough to welcome me and you, who are royalty. All noble societies are like that. They don’t bring men to welcoming events.

But don’t be too discouraged. No matter what anyone says, you are one of the most precious people in this country, and furthermore, you will become a knight who will support this country.”

 

At the gathering of the Duchess and her nobles.

Before he knew it, she was no longer the playful older sister, but the dignified princess and knight.

 

A sharpness that seemed to cut people down shone like light from her eyes.

 

“How was it, did you rest well?”

“I rested well thanks to the Duchess.”

 

The Duchess and Iliana shook hands lightly, and each noble bowed and introduced themselves.

 

They only gave Aran formal attention, making him feel like a useless sack of barley.

 

 

‘…Is this what they call the wall of women’s society….’

 

 

If he’s treated like this even though he’s royalty, how are ordinary male nobles treated?

 

 

 

 

Iliana sat at the head of the table, and Aran sat next to her, then the remaining Duchess and nobles sat in their respective seats.

 

 

And around that time, the First Princess, who was attending to Aran and Iliana, arrived here.

 

 

“Erin! Where have you been coming now!”

 

Duchess Ainu scolded her for arriving late, and she bowed her head as if she was sorry.

 

“I’m sorry. Your Highness. My daughter is a little clumsy.”

“It’s okay. I know enough about the princess’s dim-witted side.”

“I-Is that so.”

 

The Duchess’s mouth stiffened slightly, but it was only for a moment, and soon her lips relaxed.

But Iliana, a Tier 5 knight, could see it very well.

 

As Erin quickly took her seat, Iliana made a small smile so that no one could see and opened her mouth.

 

 

“Still, it’s fortunate that she has outstanding looks. I heard that she has no talent in swordsmanship or magic, so what would have happened if she didn’t even have the looks to back it up?”

 

She burst into laughter, “Euhahaha.”

She laughed as if she was being pleasant, but no one except her could laugh properly.

 

What mother could laugh when her daughter is being made fun of?

Also, the nobles practically serve the Duchess, so they couldn’t laugh no matter how much the princess was joking.

 

“Thank you for seeing me in a good light, Your Highness.”

 

The princess herself was cursing all sorts of things inside, but she outwardly dressed up nicely and bowed her head.

 

“That’s why I’m saying,”

 

Her mouth opened as if she wasn’t finished yet.

Everyone’s attention was focused on her lips.

 

“I saw the princess’s eyes earlier, and she was sending very hot glances at our Aran.”

“Y-Your Highness, that’s….”

“Nuna…”

 

The Duchess said, trembling severely.

 

 

“I-Is that so.”

“I saw it myself, and she confessed it herself, so there’s no mistake.”

“….”

 

Duchess Ainu glanced at Erin slightly. Erin lowered her head.

 

 

“I’m sorry. Your Highness. I guess it’s because I haven’t been around men in a long time, and I was excited to see the handsome Prince, Your Highness.”

“Ah, I wasn’t trying to scold you.”

“Then…?”

“Didn’t I say that the princess’s appearance is outstanding? If that’s the case, my brother would like it too…and since the princess seems to have such feelings, it’s a perfect match.”

“S-Surely, Princess, Your Highness…are you saying…”

 

The Duchess’s body trembled.

 

 

“I would like you to send the princess to our bedroom tonight.”

 

This is a clear insult.

It’s an insult enough to say it when they’re alone, but she’s saying it in front of all her subordinate nobles.

There’s no insult like this.

 

 

Still, because the other party is who they are, she spoke as politely as possible.

 

 

“Y-Your Highness…you’re joking too much…ha..haha….”

“Did it sound like a joke?”

“…I’m very sorry, but I can’t do that.”

“Is that so? Well, it wouldn’t be easy to send your own daughter.”

“…Thank you.”

 

 

Iliana took a sip of tea and continued.

 

 

“Then the Duchess should come.”

“…Yes?”

 

This time, the Duchess was momentarily stunned, perhaps because she hadn’t even predicted it.

 

Does the Duchess coming mean that the Duchess herself should attend to the young prince at night? Even the Grand Duchess, the owner of the Ainu Grand Duchy?

 

No matter how much she is a princess, this is too rude.

 

 

“N-Nuna….”

 

Aran, who was going to stay still because it wasn’t an atmosphere to interfere, even pulled on her sleeve here to stop her.

 

 

“Y-You’re going too far…Your Highness!”

“That’s right! Even if you’re Princess, Your Highness, how can you do that to our mother….”

 

The princesses all spoke in unison.

 

“Then, should our cute brother spend the night alone feeling lonely? Men can’t be comfortable even for a day without a woman, and you have sons, so you know that well, don’t you?”

 

The Duchess bit her lip hard.

She didn’t expect it to come to this.

 

She’s such an unlucky woman after all.

 

 

She somehow managed to control her mind.

If she gets angry first here, she loses. That’s probably what Iliana is aiming for.

 

 

 

 

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“That bitch!!”

 

Jjaenggeurang!

 

“C-Control yourself, Your Highness!”

“Control? Do you think I can control myself? Didn’t you see with your own eyes that that bitch was insulting me and my daughters!!”

“….”

 

No one could stop her because of her fierce appearance.

 

 

After messing up the room for a while, Duchess Ainu seemed to have calmed down a bit and swept her hair up.

 

 

“Hoo….So you’re going to come out like this. Alright. Good. We won’t be ethical anymore either.”

 

She opened the drawer in the room and took out a white powder in a small bottle.

 

 

“Put this in those two bastards’ drinks.”

“I-Is it poison?”

“There’s no way. Poison doesn’t work on that bitch Iliana.”

“Then…?”

“It’s an aphrodisiac.”

“Yes?”

“Keu keuk. It only stimulates sexual desire, so it can’t be detected in the first place. Let’s see those siblings stick together. If we leave evidence of that dirty scene and send it to Cornelia, I’m really curious what kind of expression that bitch will make.”

“A-Are you really going to do it?”

“Of course. Carry it out right now.”

“Yes, yes! Your Highness.”

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

“Pahahaha!!”

“Nuna, aren’t you going too far?”

“Too far! I have to do this much to make that bitch’s face turn red.”

 

Iliana burst into refreshing laughter.

Although she couldn’t make the princess or the duchess attend to her at night, just seeing their shit-eating expressions seemed to relieve all her indigestion.

 

“What if they suddenly turn around and do something weird?”

“Keu keuk… Are they crazy enough to lay a hand on royalty? Ah, no. Does it matter since they’re rebelling anyway? But it doesn’t matter. I can protect you if it’s just you.”

“What if they put poison in the drinks?”

“That’s not a problem either…….Hmm. Aran, I’ll taste your food and drinks first for the time being.”

“Yes?”

“Thinking about it, I think I made things a bit too big.”

“Nuna….”