Ch.9EP.3 – Princess Isis, Not a Heroine.

“Woo-woo.”

Does that cute whimpering child know?

That she is the precious descendant born between the current Crown Princess of the Pendragon royal family and the prince who carries the last bloodline of the Kingdom of Britain.

For reference, the Kingdom of Britain was an enemy nation that waged war against Pendragon three years ago, and now Britain has been reduced to a duchy barely maintaining its existence.

Pendragon claimed most of Britain’s territory after winning the war.

‘And that child will become the ruler of both Pendragon and Britain.’

A child who inherited the bloodlines of not just Pendragon, but the British royal family as well.

Judging by the silver-white hair and eyes that symbolize Pendragon, the child must have strong Pendragon blood.

However, having inherited British blood, the child would also possess corresponding mysterious abilities.

That’s how royal bloodlines work.

“You know this too, don’t you? This child is a symbol. He will be a wonderful bridge connecting Britain and Pendragon, which are still like oil and water. This child has the legitimacy to unite them both.”

“…I don’t really understand politics.”

“Hmph! Don’t play dumb. I know your vision is broader than most vermin. Stop pretending you don’t know.”

“Hmm.”

As Crown Princess Isis said, he did understand to some extent how the country operated.

That the conquered Britain was still highly rebellious.

That the prince with the last bloodline of Britain was currently suffering from a chronic illness and could die at any moment.

So if that prince grew up well and became the crown prince, Pendragon and Britain would achieve true unification.

If that happened, this country would gain enormous power that could overwhelm even the strongest nations.

…Though that was still a distant future.

“Arthur Drake de Pendragon, Arthur Pendragon! My son will undoubtedly become a great king, hoho.”

“…Haha.”

Hmm, somehow that name feels ominous in many ways.

‘Ah, no, he will become a great king, so…’

Ihan decided to make an effort to bless the child’s name.

* * *

After some casual conversation, Ihan relaxed his tense body and remained seated.

It seemed this conversation would continue for a while longer.

“So, Sister. What’s the main point?”

“What do you mean?”

“Please don’t pretend you don’t know. Do I not know you? You’re someone with the talent to see through others.”

“I have no such talent. I merely excel at discerning truth from falsehood by observing the atmosphere and tone of speech, and understanding the inner thoughts and intentions of others.”

“…How is that different from seeing through people’s minds?”

Personally, he respected this person.

Thinking back to when he first saved her from assassins, she was nothing short of an extraordinary woman.

– Did you save me? Excellent.

Her composure in a blood-soaked tent was enough to overwhelm everyone present.

Anyway, because she was such a remarkable woman of the era, Ihan knew.

She was not someone who would casually visit others.

Even though Ihan had saved her and treated her comfortably like an adopted sister, this person would never meet someone without political intent.

So what he needed to do was…

“Sigh, really. Being treated like a hunting dog again.”

“Hoho, I’m sorry.”

For the first time, Isis apologized in response to his incomprehensible muttering, and the next moment.

Thwack!!

“W-why…?”

The chest of the maid attending to Isis was pierced.

A hand axe hidden in his clothes had mercilessly pierced the center of the maid’s chest.

In that state, Ihan moved like a nimble hunting dog and grabbed the maid’s neck.

Blood vessels bulged in the eyes of the maid who could barely breathe.

In that state, Ihan said:

“Sister, if you have questions, ask them now.”

“Thank you. Tsk, I thought she was commendable for doing my hair so well.”

Isis looked at the maid with contempt.

The maid had served Isis for over two years in the royal court, which was more difficult to survive in than a treacherous jungle, yet Isis gave her nothing but an icy cold stare.

“Are you a remnant of Britain? Or an assassin from the North?”

“I, I am…!”

“Hmm, you’ll hide the truth until the very end? What remarkable loyalty.”

Isis glanced at Ihan, and without hesitation, he:

Crack!

“Urghhhh!”

Pulled out the maid’s tooth, revealing a poison capsule inside.

“Oh, it’s been magically treated? It looks just like a real tooth.”

“Probably to avoid suspicion. Whether spies or assassins, they’re all equally meticulous.”

The maid, realizing everything had been discovered, tried to move her hand.

The fact that she could move despite having her chest pierced and neck nearly broken already showed she was no ordinary human.

She had trained in martial arts.

And possessed secret abilities.

How foolish.

Instead of being so clumsy, she should have committed suicide.

Wouldn’t that have given away less information?

Crack!

“Urghhhh!”

Swift hand movements.

The best way to immobilize someone is to tear off their limbs.

…It’s not something you should do in front of a child, but given the situation, let’s overlook it for now.

“Your fighting style isn’t Pendragon’s method? And it doesn’t seem like Britain’s either…”

“Are you certain?”

“I fought British soldiers to the point of exhaustion during the war. I saw many knights too. Like us, they all have fundamentals in their fighting style. But this one doesn’t really have any?”

“Oh? You even know such things? For someone who claims to have no talent, you have quite good eyes.”

“This is more about instinct than talent. You know my senses are somewhat special.”

“Hoho, indeed. Better than ten hunting dogs.”

“…Really treating me like a dog.”

Both Isis, who was laughing as if watching a comedy, and Ihan, who remained calm despite the situation.

Neither seemed particularly normal, and the maid with her neck in Ihan’s grip struggled in terror.

And finally.

Crack!

“Ah, that’s why you shouldn’t struggle so much.”

“Is she dead?”

“Yes.”

“What a shame. I wanted to get more information.”

She waved her hand.

As if to say clear it away since it no longer had value.

As soon as she gestured, people dressed in black who had been outside the carriage appeared.

They removed the maid’s corpse with familiarity, and now only Ihan, Isis, the baby, and a somewhat stupid-looking maid with a tilted head remained in the carriage.

And as if wondering whether it was a misunderstanding, the maid:

“Excuse me, Princess.”

“It’s Crown Princess, or Your Highness.”

“Hehe, yes, Your Highness. I don’t understand the situation, was she a traitor?”

She really seemed to be a bit lacking in intelligence.

“You fool. To be precise, both of you were under suspicion.”

“Aha!”

“…I suspected you because you’re too stupid and naive. How can your brain be so pure?”

“Hehe, my parents often praised me for having a clean mind.”

“That was probably not a compliment.”

“??”

“Sigh…”

Isis sighed, and seeing this, Ihan understood.

Why Isis, with her ghost-like intuition, had difficulty finding the traitor and even sought him out.

‘So there are cases where you’re suspected because your brain is too pure.’

This too was surprising.

* * *

Isis is one of the few people who know Ihan’s secret.

The nose of Nol.

A sense of smell that can detect scents no ordinary human could ever perceive, capable of picking up even the faintest odors.

In daily life, he suppresses this sense of smell, but when deliberately used, Ihan’s nose can gather massive amounts of information through scent.

Perhaps due to his past experience in an assassination organization?

He can detect the smell of poison, blood, and metal with uncanny accuracy, and can even sense a person’s malicious intent just by smelling their cold sweat.

And just now, although the maid had thoroughly washed herself and wore strong perfume, she still emitted the unmistakable scent of poisonous herbs.

“One day, people poisoned by toxins began appearing in the royal court. Even Arthur showed symptoms of poisoning.”

“…That’s insane, they used poison on a child?”

“Fortunately, the Pendragon bloodline has strong resistance to poison.”

“……”

That doesn’t mean he wasn’t suffering.

Swallowing his words, Ihan shuddered at how terrible it was.

Despite so many suspicious circumstances, the royal court narrowed down the suspects to two people instead of suspecting everyone, and even called Ihan here.

And they even called Ihan to catch the woman who clearly smelled of poison.

‘She’s an amazing person, truly.’

Any other mother would be burning with rage and lose her rationality, but she maintains absolute composure.

She’s not just thorough, she’s frightening.

“Many consider Arthur a nuisance. If Britain and we were to completely unite, our power would become unimaginably strong. From other countries’ perspectives, many would want Arthur dead.”

“…It’s exhausting.”

“That is the politics of nations.”

Isis calmly recited the facts without emotion, and stroked Arthur.

At a glance, she appeared to be a mother showing maternal affection, but there was also a glimpse of the cruelty of a ruler.

Ihan clicked his tongue, wondering if he could ever be like that.

He instinctively sensed that he could never imitate such boldness from that woman.

“…So, is it over now?”

Ihan politely asked if he could leave now that he had played the role of a hunting dog, and to this, Isis:

“No, there are still about two more things.”

“…T-two more?”

“I will reward you, so don’t worry. If you wish, I’ll allow you to kiss my hand.”

“No, I absolutely decline. Don’t try to make me look like a pervert.”

“Hoho, I’m offering you the chance to kiss the hand of the kingdom’s greatest beauty in her prime, and you’re throwing away this regrettable opportunity.”

“Please give me a break.”

He acknowledges her beauty, but he’d always prefer to decline poisonous thorns.

“Then I have no choice. I’ll give you a reward later as I see fit.”

“No, I said I don’t need it.”

“I’ll decline your declination. Anyway, I will now tell you what I want to ‘request,’ so engrave it in your mind.”

“…It’s just called a request, but how is it different from a threat?”

Regardless of Ihan’s grumbling, Isis’s request (order) continued.

…And the moment he heard the order.

“…Sister, are you insane?”

“Hoho, not at all. I’m perfectly sane.”

“……”

Ihan seriously considered whether that might be the bigger problem.

After all.

‘…Is asking someone to kill your own brother something a person should say?’

An assassination request had been made.