Chapter 93

“Princess!”

 

As soon as the head maid spotted the red figure walking down the corridor, she fired stinging words at the back of her head.

 

“Princess, Your Highness! Where are you trying to go now?”

 

“Me? What did I do?”

 

The girl with the deep crimson hair shrugged her shoulders, acting as if she had no idea what was going on. With quick strides, the head maid closed the distance and swiftly grabbed the girl’s arm, shouting.

 

“Didn’t I tell you that you absolutely cannot go out today! Today is the day of the Costume Design Competition judging!”

 

The Princess pried the maid’s hand off and bantered back, her eyes curving into large crescents.

 

“Ah, was that so?”

 

“…It’s not a matter of ‘was that so’! You cannot go out today. Absolutely not!”

 

The Princess tilted her head slightly, maintaining a smiling face as she asked the head maid once more.

 

“But, it’s not like I have to be there, right?”

 

The head maid yelled with a powerful voice pulled from the very depths of her core.

 

“Princess Scarlet Ligliano!”

 

Despite the voice echoing through the hallway, Scarlet simply gave a beaming smile, making the head maid’s outburst seem futile.

 

“You know, you always shout like that whenever you’re angry.”

 

The head maid’s eyes grew clouded. She let out a weary sigh and signaled to the maids beside her with a look.

 

“Seize her.”

 

The maids stationed around them hurried to grab Scarlet by both arms. Restrained, Scarlet furrowed her brow deeply.

 

“Won’t you let go of this?”

 

“Princess… please, just for today, listen to the head maid.”

 

“We don’t want to do this either, Your Highness.”

 

Though Scarlet was quite tall, she looked infinitely small against the bulk and intimidation of the maids surrounding her.

 

“Using force to suppress me is a violation of human rights. Let go while I’m still being nice.”

 

Clack!

 

In an instant, a small knife that had been in Scarlet’s hand fell to the marble floor with a dull thud.

 

“The one trampling on dignity by pointing a knife at those of us working for the Royal Family is you, Princess.”

 

Staring at the knife lying lonely on the floor, Scarlet muttered lowly.

 

“You sure are quick on the uptake.”

 

“Princess!” the head maid shouted, her eyes wide.

 

“Whatever, it wasn’t even sharpened. And there’s no one here who’d actually get hurt by it anyway.”

 

Scarlet glanced at the bulging arm muscles of the maids holding her.

 

“This one’s a Junior Knight, and this one’s an Intermediate Knight—would they have gone down that easily? Maybe if I tripped and fell on them.”

 

“…That is not something for you to say, Your Highness, considering you are a Senior Knight yourself. You’re the one who knocked these girls down and ran away just the day before yesterday.”

 

Unlike other countries, the royal education of Pearching was based on systematic and powerful martial arts. The ideal for the Pearching Royal Family was for those of royal blood, including the heir, to be well-versed in both academics and combat. Among them, the one who stood out most was Scarlet Ligliano.

 

“Caught me, huh?”

 

Two days ago, all members of the Royal Family appeared in the central plaza to commemorate the kingdom’s prosperity. However, the only person who failed to show was Princess Scarlet.

 

“You might have slipped away then without a trace, but today, it will be absolutely impossible.”

 

“I’m sorry, but I decide my own outings.”

 

“Absolutely not today.”

 

“It’s not like I left in secret. I left a letter.”

 

The head maid’s eyebrows twitched as she produced a slip of paper from her pocket.

 

“So a paper that says ‘Boring, not going’ counts as a ‘letter’ now…?”

 

“A note, then?”

 

When Scarlet opened her mouth and laughed cheerfully, the maids gripped her arms even more firmly.

 

“It’s not like I didn’t return to the palace because of that. I came back perfectly fine, didn’t I?”

 

“You must make an appearance today.”

 

“Siphiel is there.”

 

“It isn’t the Prince’s event!”

 

“That’s why I said several times that I hate this event,” Scarlet grumbled to herself.

 

The head maid stared at her with a sharp gaze before eventually shaking her head and signaling with her eyes.

 

“Escort the Princess to the banquet hall.”

 

“Won’t you let go!?”

 

She tried to struggle, but it was not enough to break free from the hands restraining her arms. And so, with a massive pout, Scarlet was dragged to the royal banquet hall by the maids and the head maid.

 

 

***

 

 

When the knight standing in front of the banquet hall opened his mouth to announce the Princess’ entrance, Scarlet reached out and stopped him.

 

“I don’t want to go in.”

 

At a sigh heavy enough to pierce the floor, the head maid shook her head and pushed Scarlet’s back.

 

“Please. Princess. This is an event everyone has been looking forward to.”

 

“What am I supposed to do when I’m not looking forward to it?”

 

“……I know that, but His Majesty and the Queen did this all for your sake—”

 

“Everyone says it’s because I wanted it.”

 

‘For my sake? Phrases like ‘That behavior isn’t good’ or ‘Keep your dignity as a princess’—I feel like I’m going to get calluses on my ears from hearing them.’

 

“Fine.”

 

Scarlet violently shook off the hands of the maids and signaled to the knight. The doors opened, and the knight’s booming voice rang out.

 

“Princess Scarlet Ligliano is entering!”

 

To the rhythm of her footsteps, the rings attached to Scarlet’s clothes swayed, letting out a metallic jingling sound.

 

A formal occasion was a place where one had to maintain etiquette. Even if it was a Princess’ Costume Competition, it shouldn’t have been any different.

 

The Princess’ Costume Competition was hosted by high-ranking nobles. The nobles, each accompanied by a designer to catch the Princess’ eye, stared wide-eyed.

 

“How can she wear such an outfit!”

 

An audacious high-ranking noble raised their voice as soon as they saw Scarlet’s attire.

 

“The clothes….”

 

“They lack dignity.”

 

Because of the whispering nobles, Scarlet’s brow showed no sign of un-furrowing. The more their voices reached her, the fiercer her eyes became.

 

“Do they think I attended this place for their sake? Unbelievable.”

 

With a “rotten pollack” smile, Scarlet muttered as she stepped up onto the podium.

 

“Just watch and see if I let this costume competition run smoothly.”

 

Her smile was laced with elation, playfulness, and a hint of madness. From a step below the podium she was heading toward, a soft and calm voice was heard.

 

“Just as expected of you, sister.”

 

The eyes that had been flashing fiercely softened as they looked at the owner of the voice.

 

“Siphiel, why did you attend? You must be busy with the council.”

 

Siphiel Ligliano, who had light red hair in contrast to her deep crimson hair. He was the Prince of the Pearching Kingdom and Scarlet’s younger brother. Siphiel looked at Scarlet with a gentle smile.

 

“That’s because if you didn’t attend, sister, a substitute would be needed.”

 

“How are you going to lead the throne if you’re this soft-hearted?”

 

“What do you mean? I just won’t take the throne.”

 

Siphiel squinted his eyes slightly and gazed distantly forward.

 

“You say such nonsense every time.”

 

“I have told you many times, sister. I do not suit such a position.”

 

“Keep the idle talk for later. My head hurts so much because of those people today.”

 

With one corner of her eye twitching, Scarlet moved her feet again. She plopped down on the podium, crossed her legs, and looked down at the crowd.

 

As the host and protagonist of the competition maintained a silent stare over the banquet hall, the whispering voices gradually died down.

 

In the silence that followed, an official standing by her side cautiously spoke to Scarlet.

 

“Princess, your words….”

 

Only then did Scarlet open her mouth with a mischievous smile.

 

“Everyone must have been looking forward to this day, but unfortunately, there is no winner for this competition.”

 

At her statement, the expressions of the nobles and designers in the banquet hall darkened instantly.

 

“……Princess!”

 

“I told you not to hold this stupid competition.”

 

“……B-but, this event is being held because the Founding Festival and Your Highness’s birthday happened to coincide.”

 

“What does that have to do with me? If you want to dress someone up, put it on Siphiel.”

 

“The Prince! How could he wear a dress!”

 

“Exactly. Why should I have to wear a dress that even a Prince can’t wear?”

 

Due to Scarlet’s nonsensical logic, a heavy silence descended upon the banquet hall.

 

“…….”

 

With a blunt attitude, Scarlet twisted her long hair, making it clear she wasn’t interested.

 

“So, dismiss. This wasn’t a competition I wanted anyway, was it?”

 

“Your Highness. This competition is for the discovery of new talent….”

 

“Exactly. Like I said—I don’t like the fact that you’re using me as an excuse for that.”

 

Since the protagonist of the competition, which was clearly held for the Princess, showed no interest, the participating designers glanced at her tentatively.

 

“And everyone seems to be misunderstood; I don’t usually wear things like dresses anyway.”

 

It was then. A small figure burst out into the center of the banquet hall.

 

“Princess! Please take a proper look at my brother’s dress!”