Ch.84Then I would like you to come back in about half a year.

“W-what kind of misunderstanding is this!? I simply want to live a cozy life like a wife in a story.”

“Ah… I see?”

“Hmm!! Did you say Lake territory?”

“Yes, that’s my current place of exile.”

“Is it a decent place to live?”

“It doesn’t have the urban feel of Lumestia, but it’s a rather nice, quiet place to live.”

“I’ll make a point to visit sometime when I have the chance.”

“…Pardon!?”

When I blinked in confusion, the Etherian Princess tilted her head and furrowed her brow.

“Do you dislike the idea of me visiting Lake territory?”

“N-no, that’s not it. It’s just that Lake territory isn’t a developed city like Lumestia.”

“That’s fine. I too would like to experience the quiet, cozy life you speak of.”

Why are so many people interested in visiting Lake territory?

There’s really nothing to boast about except the dense forest.

But what can I do?

If the Etherian Princess wants to experience commoner life, I can’t exactly refuse.

I put on a somewhat artificial smile.

“Then I’d prefer if you came in about half a year.”

It was a decision I made after careful consideration, as I didn’t want her to get caught up in the monster wave because of me.

However, the Etherian Princess seemed quite surprised, her eyes widening like a rabbit’s.

“H-half a year later?”

“Yes, by then my exile will be nearly over, and I’ll feel more at ease hosting Your Highness.”

“Half a year from now… isn’t that around the time of the coming-of-age ceremony?”

“Yes, it is, but…?”

The Etherian Princess’s face turned red again as she fanned herself repeatedly before hastily rising to her feet.

“I-I’ll see you at tomorrow’s banquet.”

What? She kept me here despite my terrible hangover, and now she’s suddenly leaving?

I guess princesses just do whatever they want.

The Etherian Princess left the room with quick steps.

I also stood up and bowed toward the door.

“Yes, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

*

After resting well the previous day, the day of the Etherian Princess’s birthday banquet finally arrived.

I stood in front of the mirror wearing the clothes I had prepared for the banquet.

A white dress shirt and black slacks.

Despite my lean build, they seemed to suit me well, probably thanks to my consistent training.

I was quite satisfied until…

“That’s too cruel.”

“Me?”

“No, how could you come to the Imperial Palace without saying a word to me?”

Judging from my conversation with the Etherian Princess yesterday, I had a feeling I might catch some flak, but I didn’t expect her to visit my room again before the banquet.

But do I really need to make excuses?

“I expected to meet Princess Sairin when I came to the palace, so I planned to tell you then.”

“When did you become so close with my sister?”

“Rather than being close… we’re connected by fate.”

Princess Sairin fidgeted with her fingers as if she had something to say, then carefully began to speak.

“You know how my sister was attacked by an assassin before? And you were injured because of it…”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“In case you misunderstood, I want to tell you now that I didn’t send that assassin who attacked my sister.”

“I know.”

“Oh, you do?”

Oops…

Was that something I shouldn’t have admitted to knowing?

Come to think of it, since I killed the assassin, any evidence that the Etherian Princess hired them is essentially gone, so no one should know.

I was momentarily flustered by my slip, but quickly regained my composure and continued.

“I meant that I know Princess Sairin isn’t the type of person who would do such a thing.”

“R-really?”

“Of course. After all, we’ve hunted monsters together, haven’t we?”

Golden hair like Luna’s.

And crimson eyes that sparkled.

Though she had foreign features, unlike the Etherian Princess’s cold image, she gave off a rather warm feeling.

Her eyes were kind.

Should I say her inner self was so pure it was transparent?

Every action and gesture felt like absolute goodness.

I could vaguely understand why the protagonist, Serion, chose Princess Sairin over the Etherian Princess.

“What kind of person do you think my sister is, Lord Selden?”

“She doesn’t speak much, but she seems like a caring person.”

“C-caring?”

“Haha, is it so surprising that I find her caring?”

“…I love my sister too, but I’ve never felt she was caring… except when I was little! She used to be incredibly nice to me back then!”

I’m sure that’s true.

Even the Etherian Princess was just a bright, innocent child until she witnessed her uncle being murdered.

“The Etherian Princess seems to care for you as well.”

“No way. I must be a thorn in her side.”

“Didn’t Princess Sairin visit my room yesterday?”

“Yes? She did…”

“After Princess Sairin left, the Etherian Princess was smiling.”

“M-my sister was smiling?”

“Perhaps she was smiling because she finds Princess Sairin adorable.”

Princess Sairin’s face turned as red as a tomato as she hung her head.

“…Are you going to keep teasing me?”

“How could I possibly tease Your Highness? I’m simply telling you what I saw.”

“My sister wasn’t smiling because of me.”

“Why do you think that?”

When I asked seriously, Princess Sairin lifted her head and smiled brightly.

“Haha… I can’t tell you everything, Lord Selden, but my sister doesn’t like me.”

“That’s not how it appeared to me.”

Princess Sairin hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and spoke.

“Actually, Oliver told me not to meet with you again. But I came secretly anyway…”

I can pretty much guess what happened.

Yesterday, Butler Oliver directly witnessed my conversation with the Etherian Princess.

He probably thought I had taken her side.

That’s just how imperial politics works.

“I see.”

“You don’t seem surprised. Does that mean you already knew?”

“…May I ask why you still came to see me?”

“Because I trust you, Lord Selden.”

Princess Sairin smiled brightly again, scratching her head.

Looking at her beautiful appearance, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

As a father, isn’t Emperor Malius worried about losing one of his daughters, either the Etherian Princess or Princess Sairin?

In the original story, Emperor Malius falls ill with an unknown disease a few years from now and passes away after suffering for some time.

And then begins the succession dispute between the princesses.

It was the beginning of a bloody war within the imperial family.

Therefore.

I was curious about Emperor Malius’s current thoughts.

Whether he desired the traditional succession battle despite it being a heartbreaking custom, or if he harbored different feelings as a father…

In the original story, Emperor Malius actually felt guilty toward his daughters.

The Etherian Princess had accidentally witnessed her uncle being killed during a succession dispute, which changed her and consequently affected her younger sister, Princess Sairin.

‘I wonder if I’ll get a chance to ask the Emperor about this in detail?’

For now, the priority is dealing with the monster wave in Lake territory.

Even if I want to meddle, I should handle the immediate issues first.

“I’m grateful for your trust.”

“…Can I continue to trust you, Lord Selden?”

While I spoke in roundabout ways to the Etherian Princess, I felt I should be straightforward and honest with Princess Sairin.

I straightened my back and answered confidently.

“Yes, I’m someone who has no interest in imperial politics.”

“It’s not because I lack power in the imperial court, is it?”

If the Etherian Princess somehow evokes a sense of melancholy, Princess Sairin evokes what might be called compassion born from purity.

The protagonist, Serion, chose Princess Sairin because he was drawn to qualities similar to his own, but honestly, I’m not sure.

The choice seemed easy when I was just a reader, but now that I’ve actually met both of them, I feel conflicted and sad.

Hiding my bitter feelings, I smiled gently.

“Haha, why would someone with no interest in imperial politics care whether Your Highness has power or not?”

“You haven’t changed since I met you in Evis territory, Lord Selden. You seem grumpy, but there’s a certain warmth hidden in your words.”

Warmth…

That’s probably accurate.

As a reader of the original story, neither the Etherian Princess nor Princess Sairin feels like a stranger to me.

Looking at the clock on the wall, I saw it was already 5 o’clock.

Time for the Etherian Princess’s birthday banquet.

*creak*

I slowly rose from my chair.

Then I lifted one arm to my chest toward Princess Sairin and nodded slightly.

“Shall we go then, Your Highness?”