chapter_0043

43 – The Princess’s Conspiracy

43 – The Princess’s Conspiracy

As a secret and surprising meeting was about to begin in the banquet hall,

a familiar yet astonishing encounter was taking place outside as well.

At the entrance of the banquet hall, the dedicated maids of both families were waiting.

Of course, Lana was present for the Crones Family.

And on the Shira Family’s side, there she was.

With her blonde hair elegantly braided like Lana’s, she exuded a different, more demure beauty.

Her name was Ain Ansus, a gift sent by Selenia to Zeras, Zeras’s main wife, and the head maid of the Shira Family.

While the dedicated maids stood guard at the door, Lana took the opportunity to greet her cousin Ain, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

“It’s been a while, Sister Ain.”

“It seems you’ve been well, Lana.”

Ain smiled kindly at Lana’s greeting.

In Lana’s memory, Ain had always been the older sister who offered a calm and gentle smile.

“Yes, thanks to the Lord, I’ve been doing well. Have you been well too, Sister?”

In response to Lana’s question, Ain showed her left hand.

On it was a golden engagement ring that Zeras had given her not long ago.

“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”

“I see. Congratulations, Sister.”

Lana had heard the news a few months ago that Ain had become the main wife of Lord Zeras.

Although she hadn’t held a ceremony yet due to many matters still to be handled, Lana was surprised in many ways when she heard the news.

It was very rare for a maid to become the main wife.

“Lana, do you love your master?”

“Pardon?”

While Lana was lost in thought, Ain got straight to the point.

The sudden directness was enough to slightly fluster even the cool-headed Lana.

Unfazed by Lana’s reaction, Ain continued.

“I do love him, so I’ve prepared xx and xxx to seduce Lord Zeras.”

“…Sister Ain, you’ve changed a lot.”

Lana was genuinely surprised, her expression blank.

This was not the Ain she remembered, who had worried about being forced to share a bed with her master.

But on the other hand, it was reassuring to see that Ain seemed to be receiving a lot of love.

“When a woman loves, she changes. And you know, you’ve changed a lot too.”

“Yes… it’s all thanks to the Lord.”

If it had been her past self, she would have brushed off the conversation with Ain without a second thought.

But now, she could genuinely congratulate Ain.

And she wanted to be congratulated someday as well.

“I’ll support you, Lana. I’m always on your side.”

“Thank you, Sister.”

Lana smiled at her support.

Ain also felt relieved seeing Lana’s bright smile, knowing she had a good master.

“So wear xxx at night and approach the Lord.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Taking the opportunity, Ain shared another piece of her know-how with Lana.

Lana vowed to use her teachings someday.

Selenia Lily Novarensia

As the second princess of the Novarens Empire and the second in line for the throne, she was one of the highest-ranking individuals in the empire.

So when she suddenly appeared in the banquet hall, I was honestly taken aback, the most surprised I had been since arriving in this world.

Seated at the head table, she spoke with a playful smile.

“I’m sorry for dropping in so suddenly, but I really wanted to meet Calix, so I hope you understand!”

“It’s… an honor, Your Highness.”

She looked at me with a fox-like smile.

I must not be swayed by that fox-like smile.

After all, despite being a princess, she was someone who had independently built the second-largest power in the empire.

She was not someone to be taken lightly.

“Calling me Your Highness is too stiff. Just call me ‘Selenia’ casually.”

“Understood… Lady Selenia.”

She despised formalities, embodying a free-spirited image.

Having briefly played as her in my past life, I was aware of this tendency and complied with her request.

Princess, no, Selenia stared at me intently.

“It’s fascinating to see you like this. I remember watching Hadem fight at the Holy Martial Arts Festival a long time ago.”

She seemed to recall Hadem rampaging at the festival.

That mad lion must have put on an incredibly dynamic performance.

“It’s amazing and surprising that that mad lion fell to a lord who seems ordinary in front of me.”

“That’s the greatness of Lord Calix. Lady Selenia, he is a true hero who can hide his claws until the moment he can surely win. Ho ho ho!”

“You flatter me, Lord Zeras.”

What are these people trying to discuss by lifting me up like this!

From my past experiences, I knew that compliments in such settings were not a good sign.

After compliments, something burdensome that I couldn’t refuse always came my way.

“No, I think someone like that is impressive too.”

Selenia looked at me with a sly smile.

Naturally, she was an incredibly beautiful girl.

With a mischievous and playful little devil style, her smile could make my heart race, disregarding titles.

“I don’t have that kind of patience, so when I see someone with a lot of patience and ability, I want to have them.”

Saying this, she turned to a woman with green hair and glasses, who seemed to be her maid.

“Lumiel.”

“Yes, Lady Selenia.”

The woman called Lumiel approached me and handed me some documents.

Included were portraits created with magic, along with information about noble ladies from prominent princess factions like the Elrsain Family, the Lilia Family, and the Lumen Family.

Why is she suddenly giving me these matchmaking documents?

“By the way, Calix, you’re still not married, right?”

“Yes… that’s correct.”

“An unmarried Silver Dragon of Crone is a waste! How about I set you up? Let’s get you married this time!”

So this wasn’t just any matchmaking document, but a real matchmaking proposal!

I felt like I understood her scheme with those words.

In this world, marriage signified the connection between families.

Thus, political marriages for the interests of families occurred frequently, while love marriages were quite rare.

If I were to marry a noble lady from one of the princess factions listed in these documents, what would happen afterward?

Whether I liked it or not, I would be forcibly separated into the princess faction and would naturally have to distance myself from the prince.

However, refusing in this situation wouldn’t be wise either.

This was a matchmaking opportunity personally arranged by a princess.

Moreover, it involved well-known families and their noble ladies.

If I refused poorly here, I could end up making the princess faction my enemy.

Like being in checkmate in chess, I couldn’t hide my awkward expression, and it seemed Selenia noticed my predicament as she looked at me with a sly smile, finding it amusing.

“Is there no one among them that you like, Calix?”

As I tried to stall by looking over the documents multiple times, she spoke.

She seemed to find my stalling cute and spoke in a pleasant tone.

“What’s your ideal type? Just say it, and I’ll prepare it for you.”

Selenia spoke as if I had already become hers.

What should I do!

They say marriage is the grave of life, and if I mess up here, I might end up in a coffin!!

How do I resolve this situation!?

“I…”

With my past self’s IQ of 100 and the current Calix’s IQ of 100,

I had to squeeze out the wisdom to resolve this situation with a total IQ of 200.

Then, a brilliant idea struck me.

It was a poisoned chalice, but it was the only way to escape this situation!

“I prefer women like Princess… Lady Selenia.”

The moment I said that, the banquet hall froze, and silence fell.

Lumiel and Lord Zeras’s expressions turned to stone at my words.

Selenia also lost her smile for the first time, unable to hide her astonishment.

“……….”

“…………”

“……What?”

The banquet hall felt as if the magic circle on the ceiling had malfunctioned, creating an illusion of icy winds, and Zeras and Lumiel’s eyes darted around in a frenzy, unsure of how to resolve this situation.

At that moment, Lord Zeras spoke.

“Lord Calix’s words must mean he prefers women of noble status like Lady Selenia. Ho ho!”

“Ah… hahahaha! So that’s what it was! I thought…”

Lord Zeras seemed to be trying to gloss over the situation by interpreting it that way.

I confirmed again.

“No, I mean I prefer women with dark brown skin like Lady Selenia.”

Once again, the banquet hall froze.

Lord Zeras’s mouth hung open, and he was drooling.

“…………”

“……………”

The first to regain her composure was Selenia, her face flushed as she asked me.

“Are… are you serious?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Your… taste is unique. I doubt anyone in the empire likes my skin tone…”

Selenia’s dark brown skin was said to be a manifestation of the bloodline inherited from the royal family.

Naturally, it was not a style preferred in the empire, and if she weren’t a princess, she could have faced severe racial discrimination.

But to me, it was simply an incredibly sexy tanned skin style.

To be honest, it was very much my type.

“Sadly, that’s why I’m still single.”

“Oh… I see… um… then it can’t be helped.”

This was my method.

It was difficult to refuse Selenia’s proposal, and I couldn’t accept it either.

So I created a situation where I could pleasantly decline!

Saying that my taste was for a unique skin style like the princess’s would make Selenia feel good, as her skin tone, one of her complexes, was respected, and I could naturally decline the matchmaking.

It was truly a perfect plan.

This time, I smiled proudly, and while Selenia blushed and was flustered,

she opened her mouth.

“Then… would you like to marry me?”

I didn’t see that coming.

The situation had worsened further.

A word from the author (Author’s Note)

To my anonymous supporter!!! Thank you for your support!!!

I will repay you with interesting works in the future!!

Thank you for reading today as well!

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