Ch.169Chapter 169: Inner Thoughts

#

The journey, which had suddenly expanded to six people with the princess and her shadow joining, quickly transformed from a few hours of awkwardness into a cheerful atmosphere.

Usually, when trying to become friendly with people you meet for the first time on a journey, mutual effort is important.

In this case, much of the credit went to the princess who joined us midway.

This noble direct imperial family member, whose status was far too high for us to question.

She didn’t flaunt her position or treat us condescendingly, so the atmosphere inside the cabin remained relaxed.

Even so, as we found it difficult to approach the princess casually.

“Oh my, I’ve heard that the yellow lilies that only bloom in Proxian territory are famous.”

“My name, Lilliansis, was given with the hope that I would grow bright like a yellow lily, Your Highness.”

“Come on, what’s with the ‘Your Highness’? I told you not to call me that.”

“But Your High—”

“Call me Luka.”

“…”

“Go on.”

“L-Luka.”

“Wow! Lilly finally called me Luka!”

….

Thanks to this incredible friendliness, as exemplified above.

She quickly built rapport with our group.

As a result, our time in this virtually enclosed cabin was filled with nothing but warmth and cheer.

The way she exclaimed “Wow!” and showed such simple joy.

Seeing the princess leading conversations while asking us to use nicknames.

It made me wonder if this was truly the direct imperial family member known as the Empire’s Little Sun—the same person who, when dressed as a man, was called the embodiment of cold rationality.

The princess’s efforts to build friendship with us felt refreshing to me.

Of course, when she first met us in the cabin, she treated us cautiously, mindful of her position.

But as time passed, she increasingly initiated conversations with us.

Until it eventually became like this.

Though she was building friendships and leading the cheerful atmosphere.

Being human, the princess naturally had preferences for who she spent most of her time talking with.

I’m not sure if it was because they were both women and could talk more comfortably.

But the princess preferred spending time conversing with Siz rather than with me and Excel.

She even gave a plausible reason.

Apparently, since their hair colors were similar, it made her feel like she was with the little sister she never had?

It seemed like a ridiculous reason just hearing it.

But seeing how the princess genuinely adored Siz, it didn’t seem like a lie.

So I accepted her explanation.

Though I couldn’t help feeling somewhat bewildered.

As someone who remembered her as the Empress before my regression, this side of the princess was quite unfamiliar to me.

Her father, the Emperor, who succumbed to illness and passed away.

Following him, the Crown Prince who took the throne only to die suddenly after neglecting his health while responding to the Black Obsidian Palace’s uprising, which was triggered by the Demon God’s revival.

Despite unexpectedly ascending to the throne without preparation.

Facing the magical realm that seemed poised to conquer the world.

With the awakened Demon God at their back.

The Empress who steadfastly continued to resist matched the reputation she had when she was active as the Third Prince in male disguise.

An artistic masterpiece molded into human form, embodying coldness—someone from whom not a drop of blood would flow if stabbed.

That was the evaluation received by the person who had carefully hidden herself as the Third Prince among the officials and nobles in the imperial palace.

But now, who was this person before my eyes, showing excessive friendliness to those around her?

Making everyone except her sister and shadow feel awkward?

As the image of Empress Lucius I remembered.

And the image of Princess Lucius before me now, demonstrating unbelievable friendliness while trying to get close to us, overlapped.

I wondered which one was closer to the truth.

As my mind became jumbled with these thoughts.

‘…In a way, this must also be her true self.’

With this thought suddenly emerging from my confused mind.

I stopped pursuing further thoughts about the princess’s true inner self.

Before my regression, during the difficult times when the Empire’s citizens faced the magical realm’s massive uprising.

Along with Siz, who wielded the holy sword as a hero against the magical realm.

The Empress, who symbolized firm imperial authority and led the empire-wide campaign against the magical realm as an absolute monarch with the citizens’ unconditional support.

It wasn’t hard to believe that she too had times like this, which made it understandable.

Just as these thoughts about the princess and Siz were about to continue.

“Hehe…”

The princess’s right hand casually moved to the top of Siz’s head.

Then that right hand began to gently stroke Siz’s crown in a soft arc.

“…!!”

Siz’s expression momentarily filled with embarrassment when she felt the princess’s hand on her head.

But as the princess’s touch continued.

Siz’s embarrassed expression gradually turned bright red with shyness.

“Um… Your Highness…”

Too surprised to remember the princess’s request to use her nickname, Siz called her “Your Highness” again.

As she struggled to escape the situation.

But for the self-paced princess, even such struggles seemed futile.

“Wow, Lilly’s hair is really soft. What do you use when you wash it?”

From the princess’s mouth came only casual appreciation for the hair she was stroking, spoken in a seemingly nonchalant voice.

Needless to say, she didn’t withdraw her hand that was stroking Siz.

Anyway, the princess was like this with Siz, and not just her.

Even Excel, who had regarded her as a potential rival and maintained vigilance when she was disguised as a man.

Now demonstrated enough friendliness to not hesitate in conversing with the princess in this cabin.

Me? I was also appropriately going along with the princess.

Though I was feeling bewildered by this side of the princess that I hadn’t experienced even in my memories before regression.

Incidentally, my sister and Princess, who were originally friends, didn’t talk as much as one might expect.

As if they had already caught up on everything during the conversation they had after briefly sending us away.

Well, just by observing their occasional exchanges where they used each other’s nicknames and showed familiarity.

It wasn’t hard to understand what kind of friendship the two shared.

Well, considering that my sister, who is even more prickly than me toward people she hasn’t opened her heart to, had this princess as a friend.

I could guess how remarkable the princess’s interpersonal skills must be.

And the result of those skills being displayed is what we see now.

It’s… certainly unfamiliar.

The disparity I felt between the image of her spitting venomous curses at me before my regression.

And the image of her now, already being so friendly with Siz after knowing her for just a few days.

I carefully observed Siz, who was struggling to keep up with the princess’s pace as she engaged her in friendly conversation across from me.

While it was normal for her to show puppy-like behavior around me.

Siz rarely showed this side of herself to anyone except my sister and Excel.

“…”

Though she didn’t speak, I could see her expression silently pleading for my help.

“Your Highness.”

I stood up, approached where the two were sitting, and opened my mouth.

“What is it?”

The princess met my eyes with a curious and questioning gaze.

Since I had never initiated conversation with the princess during this journey until now.

I thought she might be curious about what I was going to say.

But my purpose wasn’t to continue a conversation with the princess.

It was to retrieve my fiancée who was struggling with the princess.

“I’ll be borrowing her for a moment.”

“…??”

After saying only this, my arms gently grasped both shoulders of the bewildered Siz from the princess’s embrace.

Then I lifted her up and carried her back to my seat.

All of this happened in less than three seconds.

During the change of position, Siz’s face was marked by an indescribable blush born of embarrassment.

And the princess, who had just seen Siz disappear from her embrace in an instant.

“…Hmm?”

Her expression showed a bewilderment I hadn’t seen since the start of our journey, merely blinking her eyes.

And the shadow who always stood by her side continued to silently guard the princess.

The two directly involved weren’t the only ones who reacted.

“You might as well just keep her in your pocket.”

From Excel’s mouth, who was watching this scene from a distance, came words mixed with laughter that clearly teased me.

Judging by his tone, my action was quite unexpected even by his standards.

And there was one person who showed the most intense reaction to this series of actions.

“Hehehehehe…”

My sister, who had been watching the situation with a calm expression next to the princess, was now laughing loudly for the first time during this journey.

She was having such a hard time suppressing her laughter that she bowed her head deeply, determined not to show her expression, making choking sounds.

It was difficult to imagine her usual calm and composed demeanor.

The most chaotic moment had arrived in what had been a peaceful journey.

Well, regardless of how noisy the surroundings became, I had to do what needed to be done.

So I carefully seated Siz, whose shoulders I had held with both arms.

And looked around once.

Even after some time had passed, the reactions around us hadn’t subsided.

I could see emotions reflected on the faces of the other two people whose expressions I could read, excluding my sister who had bowed her head deeply to compose herself after bursting into laughter.

But, though the degree varied.

Excel and the princess weren’t angry at my sudden action.

For some reason, they were showing gazes close to envy.

…What? Why are they envious seeing this?

[Ah, I wish I could grab my sister by the shoulders and lift her up like that.]

…Huh?

[Ah, I wish I had someone who would grab my shoulders and lift me up like that.]

…What?

[…That’s what those two are muttering inside.]

…What did you say?

[I usually don’t like to pretend to know others’ inner thoughts, but this is an exception.]

‘…Why?’

[Why, you fool? How could I not tell you when the reactions are this amusing?]

…No, I didn’t want to know other people’s inner thoughts like that.

[That shadow fellow seems to have some special device in his mask that prevents his inner thoughts from showing, so I’ll skip him.]

No, knowing just those two is already overwhelming, why are you trying to know about others?

Whether Paphnir knew of my desperation or not, he continued to resonate through my mind with snorting sounds, intent on discovering the inner thoughts of those around us.

[Your sister is…]

Just as he was observing my sister, I could tell his mouth suddenly shut.

Given his momentum, Paphnir would have recited everything he felt without distinguishing between what should and shouldn’t be said, so this silence was puzzling.

‘…Paphnir?’

I cautiously called out to Paphnir.

[…]

But Paphnir did not answer my question.

He clearly read something, but why isn’t he making a fuss about telling me?

Did he discover something I shouldn’t know?

As some ominous thoughts began to expand in my mind.

[Niece or nephew.]

The sudden words from Paphnir stopped my thinking.

‘…What did you say?’

What came through when my confused mind directly addressed Paphnir was…

[At this rate, a niece or nephew will be born soon, and I’ll be called an aunt.]

My sister’s unfiltered inner thoughts, delivered directly through Paphnir’s voice.

Screeeech-!!

The faint sound of the train’s braking system activating as we entered a curved section of track penetrated the cabin’s soundproofing.

If not for this sound, the only thing that would have been heard in this cabin was.

“Hm… hmph… hehehehe.”

The sound of my sister struggling to suppress her laughter to the point where she could barely control her body.

It’s natural for such things to happen when people gather and spend time together.

But for me, who hadn’t experienced such normalcy for a very long time.

Even this commotion was simply enjoyable.

…Though I did feel dizzy at times, but that’s not my fault.

Anyway, it’s not.