Ch.68Storm (3)

Even as I became newly aware of my status once again, Rina didn’t raise her head. Looking straight ahead, I could see her golden hair cascading like a waterfall.

It seemed she had no intention of lifting her head until I spoke. Though I couldn’t see her face or what expression she was making, she must be nervous.

First, I planned to accept Rina’s apology. If I refused an apology from the Empire’s Princess who had even bowed her head, that would create its own problems.

And if I didn’t accept her apology, I felt the emotion crawling up inside me might burst forth. Until now, I hadn’t been able to identify this feeling precisely, but with Rina’s apology, I could finally recognize it.

Power.

When reincarnating into this world, what I hated most was unjust power structures, but ironically, the emotion now crawling up in my chest was the desire for power.

In my previous life, I was merely a writer who enjoyed writing, but now I’ve become someone who can influence the world. Even a demon princess and an imperial princess are taking humble positions and treating me with deference.

Who wouldn’t be swayed by such temptation? I can confidently say no one. Even those who originally despise power find it impossible to escape once they’ve tasted it.

So if I take even one step further here, I’ll be consumed by power. But power always leads people to ruin.

‘Rather than power…’

I want something else. I spoke to Rina, who was waiting for my answer with her head still bowed.

“Please raise your head, Rina.”

“…”

When I spoke in a calm voice, Rina slowly lifted her head to face me. Her expression was so dark that her beautiful features seemed somewhat diminished, as if she had gone through all sorts of worries in the meantime.

Not knowing what to say, I rubbed the back of my neck before quietly opening my mouth.

“Since you know your mistake, I don’t have much to say about that… but your apology feels somewhat late.”

“…”

“If you wanted to apologize, you should have done so when you summoned me and my sister, not now. Then your apology might have felt at least somewhat sincere. Or at the very least, you could have apologized as soon as Biography of Xenon Volume 10 was released. Even I can’t look favorably on an apology that comes only after everything has fallen apart.”

As I spoke calmly, Rina’s expression grew darker. She seemed anxious that I might not accept her apology.

I paused briefly and clasped my hands together, taking a moment to think. I needed to organize my thoughts.

After about a minute had passed, I stared at my reflection in the coffee cup before speaking.

“To be honest, I never imagined the situation would become this serious. I simply announced a hiatus for my studies. And above all, as you saw in the author’s note, I was writing Biography of Xenon purely as a hobby. I had no particular purpose or ideology.”

This is what I had told Marie as well. Glancing at Marie, I saw she was staring intently at me with an expression of complete trust.

I almost reached out to touch her face but barely restrained myself given the atmosphere. Even in this tense situation, the fact that I almost reached for Marie made me realize how serious my condition was.

“Of course, the fundamental reason I decided to take a hiatus was because of the pressure from you and Leort. I truly love my family. If my sister hadn’t persuaded me then, I might have put down my pen entirely.”

“Ah…”

Rina’s reaction to my sincere story was quite something to see. Her already pale face turned almost blue as the blood drained from it.

That’s at least fortunate in the midst of misfortune. Because of her mistakes and greed, things could have become much worse than they are now.

I smiled bitterly inside as I watched her lips trembling.

It’s not that I don’t understand Rina’s position at all. She was born and has always lived in a position far superior to others, naturally developing a sense of superiority.

She’s the daughter of an emperor whom everyone looks up to, and as such, her range of acceptable actions is much wider than others’. So she thought it was fine to pressure the author of Biography of Xenon.

I can live a life detached from authority because I have memories of my previous life, but Rina doesn’t. She’s been educated that way since childhood, so there’s a lot she can’t help.

“Well… I’ve talked a bit too much, but I’ll accept your apology. The fact that you’re apologizing in person shows how serious the situation is, and there’s nothing good for me in this either. Especially since I’ve noticed there’s a lot of criticism directed at the Empire of Minerva in public opinion. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes. And…”

“Before that, there’s something I want to say. It might even be a request.”

I cut Rina off before she could finish speaking. It might be rude to the point of being inconsiderate, but I still had the upper hand.

Rina seemed to know this as well, so she closed her mouth without saying anything. I don’t know what she was thinking inside, but judging by her still dark expression, she was at least trying to be patient.

“As I told Marie, I write Biography of Xenon purely as a hobby. I listen to my father’s experiences and write the story I want based on them. You might know this, but when a hobby becomes work, it really becomes unpleasant. So please, don’t interfere. Like summoning people as you please and pressuring them like last time.”

“…I apologize once more for that.”

When Rina spoke in a gloomy voice and tried to bow her head again, I quickly stopped her. Someone of her status as a princess doesn’t need to bow twice. It makes me uncomfortable too.

“You don’t need to apologize twice. Once is enough.”

“…Thank you.”

“And just speak casually to me. Also, what I want to propose is…”

As I trailed off and looked around, Rina tensed up. Marie, sitting beside me, had a face that showed she was curious about what I was going to say.

I couldn’t help but hesitate slightly about whether I should really make this proposal. In this world, there are clear social classes and firm authority based on them.

So the proposal I was about to make might undermine Rina’s authority. But the desire in my heart whispered softly.

If taking a full step forward is difficult, why not take half a step? Or if not, just put your foot down and immediately pull it back.

So I proposed to Rina.

“Let me speak to you casually.”

“…What?”

When Rina made a face showing she didn’t understand, I explained once more.

“Let me call you Rina instead of Lady Rina.”

Not power, but equality.

My personality might be a bit strange, but I find it more comfortable to treat someone as an equal rather than looking down on them. Conversely, I really dislike when someone openly uses their power to suppress me.

Unlike Aira during the group project, Rina didn’t openly suppress me, so it was bearable, but the situation has dramatically reversed.

When the incident broke out, she was the first to recognize her mistake and is now in a position where she’s bowing her head. This clearly means I’ve become the one in the superior position.

But I dislike uncomfortable relationships. I much prefer when people can treat each other comfortably, like with Marie.

Some might wonder why I’m doing this, and truthfully, my proposal is quite risky. It could undermine Rina’s authority and might offend her.

Although the situation has reversed now, if she harbors resentment, it could become more dangerous in the future. So I compromised by suggesting we speak casually to each other.

“…”

Perhaps because it was an unexpected proposal. Rina looked dumbfounded after hearing my suggestion. Then she exchanged glances with Marie sitting next to me.

I naturally turned toward Marie as well, but she had an indifferent expression. For some reason, she seemed quite displeased.

I wonder if she didn’t like my proposal that much. Still, the fact that she didn’t complain showed she definitely respected me.

“…Is that all?”

After a moment of silence, Rina asked me in a cautious voice. Her expression suggested she couldn’t easily accept this.

To this, I silently nodded in response. Ah, of course, I didn’t forget to add one more thing.

“And you should also speak casually to me without honorifics. It’s uncomfortable otherwise.”

“I… okay. Is that really all?”

“Yes.”

“Why? What benefit do you get from speaking casually with me?”

My, she sure talks a lot. I stared steadily at Rina, who was speaking with an undertone of incomprehension.

Her poker face had completely crumbled as she demanded an answer. To this, I smiled slightly and opened my mouth.

“There are many benefits. It makes me feel more comfortable.”

“…”

“As I said before, I don’t write Biography of Xenon with any specific purpose. It’s just a hobby. So I don’t particularly want anything, and I’m satisfied as long as readers enjoy it.”

Perhaps she realized my words were sincere.

“…I don’t understand.”

Rina muttered quietly with a somewhat bewildered face.

I, as if I didn’t care either way, asked her again.

“So, will you accept it or not?”

That day, I became equal with the Princess.

“Hmph.”

Though my cute girlfriend seems displeased.