Ch.163Chapter 163: Unwelcome… Guest?

This is ridiculous.

A direct-line imperial royal, not even from a branch family.

Wandering outside the imperial palace.

Without any notable attendants… Ah, there is exactly one knight guard waiting outside the cabin, skillfully concealing his tremendous aura.

In any case, this royal goes beyond merely being modest.

I never imagined they would suddenly appear in a public place like a train station without revealing even a hint of their presence.

Even though we’re in the heart of the empire’s territory, the center of power of the strongest nation on the central continent.

I was about to think that wandering around so carelessly might be dangerous, but…

Considering someone of the Third Prince’s caliber…

Even without the knight guard waiting outside the cabin…

I realized they could certainly take care of themselves.

So such thoughts seemed unnecessary.

[Did you know? That ancestor who looks exactly like this one was also known for eccentric behavior.]

‘…I’d rather not know about that.’

Sometimes when Fafnir mentions things from a thousand years ago, my mind goes blank.

Thinking that zoning out in the current situation would be disastrous, I stopped Fafnir from continuing.

I quickly entered the cabin, sat across from my sister, and prepared myself to face the Third Prin…ce who was ready for a private audience.

Befitting someone who inherited the imperial bloodline:

Clean, well-groomed long golden hair, similar to Shizu’s but with an even more vibrant hue.

Eyes that shimmered with a golden light deeper than their hair color—a rare trait even among direct imperial descendants with concentrated royal blood.

Beauty defined by such delicate features that one might describe them as androgynous.

And a dignity that couldn’t be concealed even by such beauty—the qualification to reign above others.

Before me stood someone considered among the most perfect royals, possessing all these qualities in one.

Before my regression, I had only seen them from afar after becoming part of the Demon Realm.

Seeing the prince who would soon ascend to the most revered position in the empire this close felt surreal.

Yet, facing such an august presence, I felt nothing beyond bewilderment.

Perhaps it was because we were meeting not in the formal imperial palace but unexpectedly inside a train where people were enjoying their personal time.

Anyway, while I had used the impertinent expression “impurity” to describe the prince who had suddenly interrupted our pleasant journey…

Once my sister addressed them as “Your Highness,”

The rest of us—unlike my sister who could skip formalities due to their friendship—

Needed to show proper respect.

I went first.

Kneeling on one knee and bowing my head:

“I am honored to meet Your Highness, the Third Prince. I am Karl Ranos.”

After I calmly introduced myself and showed respect,

Shizu and Excel followed with similar movements to pay their respects to the Third Prince.

Unlike me, whose posture was slightly awkward from performing formal etiquette after so long,

I could tell from the sounds of their movements that Shizu and Excel executed the protocol flawlessly.

[Are you really from nobility? How clumsy.]

Even Fafnir was mocking my attempt at formal etiquette.

…I never expected to be criticized about human etiquette by a dragon.

Though I felt annoyed at the mockery, since it was true,

I could only silently listen to Fafnir’s teasing.

Anyway, after we had properly greeted the direct imperial descendant:

“Please raise your heads.”

The Third Prince began with a tone far gentler than what royalty typically uses when addressing nobles.

As I slowly raised my head:

“I feel almost apologetic for taking your precious personal time, and I don’t wish to receive such excessive formality.”

With a gentle smile that put everyone at ease, they lightened the heavy atmosphere that had settled in the cabin.

“Pleased to meet you all. I am Luca Bright Solarium. As you can see, I was born with a position ill-suited to my humble vessel.”

A soft, refined voice matching their androgynous appearance flowed from the Third Prince’s lips.

The prince finished their self-introduction with self-deprecation that seemed unbelievable for royalty, followed by a hearty laugh.

Seeing that casual demeanor with no concern for royal dignity,

I almost began to doubt whether this was truly the wise ruler who would later unexpectedly ascend to the throne and, with innate ability, dispel the anxious gazes around them before ending the long war with the Demon Realm.

“…I’m terribly sorry to ask this of you all.”

As the seemingly endless hearty laughter subsided and the prince slowly began speaking again:

“I have urgent matters to discuss privately with Iriana Ranos sitting across from me. Would you mind giving us some space?”

The moment I felt an undeniable authority emanating from their gentle voice:

[Oh… True Words. So they can still use this power.]

I immediately realized how irreverent my earlier doubts had been.

True Words.

Also known as Spirit Language.

A mysterious power that imbues words with absolute authority and dignity, compelling or forcing listeners to obey.

Among the descendants who have inherited the Solarium imperial bloodline since the empire’s founding,

The Third Prince is a genius born with talent in Spirit Language that transcends a thousand years, comparable only to the founding First Sun Emperor.

I never expected to experience the prince’s ability—which I had only known through records and testimonies—so soon.

As soon as they finished speaking, I felt a compulsion to stand up,

Pay respects to my sister and the prince, and leave the cabin—not overwhelming force, but definitely present.

“Luca, there’s no need for such unnecessary measures.”

Thanks to my sister immediately stopping the prince from using Spirit Language:

“…You’re right, that was quite rude of me. I apologize. Please forget this happened.”

Along with the rare apology from a direct royal, the Spirit Language binding me was released.

The release included a command to forget that Spirit Language had been used at all.

Shizu and Excel, who had risen from their seats in a daze, looked as if they didn’t even realize what they had just heard.

They probably didn’t even register the prince’s command to leave the cabin and were just confused.

Since the True Words the prince had used were cast in a very mild form, not intended to harm others,

I could naturally tell that it hadn’t even caused any shock to their minds…

…Wait.

Why am I observing this process so clearly and calmly?

I was puzzled to realize I had escaped the absolute compulsion of Spirit Language, but:

[Sigh, the Sun’s True Words are as irritating to mental barriers now as they were before. Not that I can’t block them, of course.]

Soon after, Fafnir’s voice echoing in my head revealed the reason.

I’m not sure how it works, but

Fafnir had nullified the influence of the Spirit Language that was trying to affect my mind.

[As long as you possess the Dragon Sword, no one, regardless of who they are, can invade your mind to plant malice or exert force.]

‘…That’s impressive.’

[I am a dragon, after all. Dragons have mental systems incomparably more sophisticated and complex than humans.]

As Fafnir’s voice continued to echo in my head with endless pride after receiving just one word of agreement,

I was about to ask him to restrain himself when:

“Kids, would you mind giving us some space? It won’t take long.”

My sister’s voice, requesting that the three of us vacate the cabin for a while, drowned out Fafnir.

Happy to escape Fafnir’s excessive self-praise,

I immediately paid my respects to my sister and the prince before heading toward the exit,

With Shizu and Excel following right behind me after offering their respects as well.

While our steps toward the cabin door were similar,

Unlike me and Shizu who withdrew naturally at my sister’s request:

“…”

Excel’s expression didn’t look particularly good.

Why had his face, which had been bright until just now, turned so gloomy?

Well, the reason is too obvious to need much thought.

[Seems like he’s miserable because a handsome prince has shown up out of nowhere to have a private audience with the person he likes.]

The answer came before I could even say it.

That’s right, Excel is anxious right now.

Seeing my sister’s expression change from initial discomfort when the prince first appeared

To gradually softening as time passed,

He’s feeling a strange anxiety that my sister might actually have special feelings for the prince.

I understand his concern.

But there’s no need to worry.

Because the Third Prince currently having a private audience with my sister has a secret…

[The atmosphere is getting gloomy with that Bernstein boy looking so dejected.]

‘There’s really no need to worry…’

[What do you mean? It clearly looks like a love rival has appeared. Why shouldn’t he worry?]

‘Because my sister is heterosexual.’

[So what does that… hmm?]

‘The person who just entered the cabin, the Third Prin… no, I should say the First Princess. That person has been dressing as a man since childhood due to certain circumstances, and is simply known to the public as a prince.’

[But no matter how slender and androgynous they look, they’re clearly a man?]

‘That’s thanks to a special magical artifact they carry. Though it doesn’t completely hide their natural beauty.’

Well, there’s no need to hide it.

The Third Prince, who in a future that may never come would be praised as the hope of the empire and the world after stabilizing the imperial nation shaken by turmoil for the first time in a thousand years—

Is actually a princess.

Though they appear as an androgynous handsome man because of the magical artifact,

If they were to remove it and walk around, they would be an incomparable beauty who would make anyone on the street turn to look as if enchanted.

They probably sent us out of the cabin so they could return to their true form and have a pleasant chat with an old friend.

As I continued walking toward the exit of the cabin—spacious enough to make four people seem almost too few—what came to mind was:

The image of the prin…princess happily frowning while talking with a friend, showing emotions rarely displayed in official settings,

And my sister, uncharacteristically flustered as she gets caught up in the princess’s pace.

Just those two things.

[What a degenerate age… I don’t know what circumstances require hiding such natural beauty, but it’s truly a degenerate age.]

…Though Fafnir’s grumbling voice, displeased with this fact, did occupy one corner of my mind.