Chapter 95

Not convinced that she was truly a princess, I had assumed I was being dragged off to some dark, hidden dungeon. But the place we arrived at was the brilliant, radiant royal palace.

 

“We greet Her Imperial Highness.”

 

As I was hauled along with both shoulders gripped by Scarlet, I had no choice but to believe the truth. Whenever she passed, the palace staff parted like the Red Sea. Knights encountered in the corridors offered respectful bows as they went by.

 

‘She really is a princess…?’

 

But I had no idea why she had sought me out and brought me here. My mind was a whirlwind of speculation. In the midst of it all, I turned back, worried if Winnie was keeping up. I saw her following Scarlet’s brisk pace, sweat beading on her forehead. It was a relief to know I wasn’t alone on this metaphorical deserted island.

 

Creak—

 

A door opened, and a small child poked his head out.

 

“Merchant Guild Big Sister!”

 

“Oh? Little boy?”

 

A familiar face. It was the child who had bought items from our guild. Before I knew it, Scarlet had her arm around my shoulder at the doorway, pointing back and forth between the boy and me.

 

“You two know each other?”

 

I was about to explain he was a customer, but the boy beat me to it.

 

“She’s my savior!”

 

“A savior?”

 

With a playful expression, Scarlet beamed and asked the boy for more details.

 

“Of course she is! Big Sister is our savior!”

 

“Wow, Lilithia, you’re amazing. A savior, huh?”

 

I hadn’t done nearly enough to deserve such a grand title. I was about to wave my hands in denial when—

 

“Cyad! Where do you think you’re going!”

 

With a flustered shout, the door burst open and a man who looked similar to the boy, yet different, rushed out. His gaze danced up and down as he took us in, then froze upon seeing Scarlet. He stammered before shouting at the top of his lungs.

 

“I greet Her Royal Highness!”

 

“Let’s talk inside!”

 

Scarlet gave a sunny smile and herded us all into the room.

 

 

***

 

 

The boy’s name was Cyad Teneger, and the man standing beside him, bowing his head in gratitude, was Jonas Teneger. He expressed his heartfelt thanks, saying that it was thanks to my help that he was able to win the costume competition.

 

“I should have sought you out first to offer my thanks properly. I am deeply ashamed.”

 

“No, not at all. I’m just glad I could be of help.”

 

“You should bow, too.”

 

Jonas forced Cyad’s head down while the boy was trying to stand tall. Cyad grinned and said, “See? I told you my brother would win!”

 

Jonas looked momentarily flustered by Cyad’s nonchalant boasting. “Did you actually say that to her?”

 

“I thought that was the only way Big Sister would give us the fabric!”

 

“You…!”

 

While Jonas had won thanks to the fabric Cyad purchased, he hadn’t known the full story. He reached into his pocket and handed me the coins resting in his palms. It was 2 gold coins. Jonas looked at me with tearful eyes.

 

“Thank you so much. Truly. By helping us when we were in such a poor state, you are no different from a lifesaver to me, Vice-Head Leader Baimery.”

 

Scarlet, sitting regally on the drawing-room sofa while wiping a small knife with a cloth, chimed in.

 

“So that’s what happened.”

 

“But… Your Highness, could you please explain why you called for me?”

 

Swish—!

 

Scarlet flipped the folding knife once, tucked it into her belt, and began to speak in earnest.

 

“?”

 

With a mischievous smile, Scarlet traced her finger along a mannequin wearing a dress, her eyebrows arching.

 

“You see, I’m a bit of a rebel.”

 

The fabric shimmered with a luster ranging from pale blue to violet. The damask pattern added a layer of luxury, and in the shadows, the dress sparkled with gold as if embroidered with starlight. Handcrafted flowers adorned it throughout. The off-shoulder design revealed the delicate shoulders of a woman, exuding a mature beauty that simultaneously stirred a protective instinct. In short, it was a design every woman would dream of.

 

However, Scarlet’s gaze toward the dress was beyond mere dissatisfaction—it was closer to utter indifference.

 

“I think the idea that all women must wear dresses is such a tired generalization and a fixed stereotype.”

 

Crossing her long legs, Scarlet folded her arms and smirked.

 

“Normally, I would have worn a dress without a word. But this event is to celebrate my birthday, isn’t it? Well, I have no intention of entering wearing this dress.”

 

“Pardon…?”

 

Jonas was struck with dismay, though he soon nodded. Since the winner’s dress was to be revealed on the first day of the banquet, he had been particularly looking forward to that moment. He had heard rumors that the Princess didn’t want to wear a dress, and while he felt the sting of not being able to show his masterpiece to the world, he felt it was beneath him to plead with a Princess who had already said no.

 

Jonas tried his best to hide his feelings, but Scarlet saw right through him.

 

“You’re disappointed, aren’t you?”

 

“No, not at all.”

 

Despite his words, his eyes were practically dripping with regret as he stole a glance at the dress.

 

“That’s why I called Lilithia.”

 

‘That’s why she called me?’

 

I looked at her, confused. The words that came out of her mouth next moved me past confusion into pure bewilderment.

 

“I want you to wear the dress.”

 

A swarm of question marks flooded my mind. Stuttering, I hurriedly asked her back.

 

“What do you mean by that!?”

 

“Because I want to make a tuxedo out of your guild’s fabric and wear that instead.”

 

 

***

 

 

Whoosh, swish! Clang—!

 

The sound of air being sliced by a blade, the rhythm of footsteps, and the constant sound of heavy breathing filled the training grounds. Looking at the dust-blown arena, I shook my head to snap myself back to reality.

 

‘Why am I even here…?’

 

This situation was a bit—no, extremely—absurd. The logic was non-existent. In the distance, Scarlet, her long red hair tied back in a single ponytail, was sparring with a knight, her hair fluttering like a dancer.

 

“Vice-Head Leader Baimery.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Turning toward the voice, I saw a pleasant-looking middle-aged woman in a maid’s uniform handing me some water.

 

“I thought you might be hot.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Gulp, gulp—

 

The cool water felt like rain in a drought. The outdoor training ground was so hot that steam seemed to rise from the floor, and the heat radiated even to where I was sitting.

 

“Thank you. Please, sit here.”

 

I moved over slightly, and the head maid sat down beside me with a slight bow, focusing her gaze on the same spot.

 

“May I ask how you came to know Her Highness?”

 

“The process was a bit strange; you might find it hard to believe.”

 

“It’s quite alright. I’ve heard plenty of complicated stories in my time.”

 

As I slowly recounted the story of our chance encounter in the alleyway, the head maid nodded without a change in expression.

 

“So it was that day.”

 

‘That day?’

 

I looked at her curiously, and she continued. “No one in the palace ever knows where Her Highness might bolt off to.”

 

“I haven’t known her long, but I certainly feel that way too.”

 

Thinking about how she had dragged me to this training ground so recklessly, Scarlet clearly had no sense of shyness. If she decided something was good, she acted on it without hesitation. To put it in a word, she was like a blazing flame.

 

“Her Highness told me to prepare a room for you to stay in, Vice-Head Leader.”

 

“Pardon…?”

 

I whipped my head around in shock, and the head maid added with a faint smile, “It seems Her Highness has taken quite a liking to you.”

 

“Does she often show such kindness? You know, bringing in people she’s just met and taking care of them?”

 

I took it to mean she was a good person, despite the somewhat startling nature of it all.

 

“No.”

 

“?”

 

At the head maid’s next words, my eyelid began to twitch.

 

“She usually feeds and looks after things she finds cute or wants to raise as pets. This is the first time she’s done it with a person.”

 

“……?”

 

‘What exactly is that supposed to mean…?’

 

Just as a thousand thoughts began to bubble up—

 

“Baimery!”

 

Scarlet waved her hand loudly from the center of the training ground, calling for me. Directly beneath her, I saw a knight shivering on the ground, staring at a sword planted firmly between his legs.

 

A sinister, chilling feeling washed over me.

 

‘That’s why she brought me here.’

 

I looked at the head maid like a mechanical doll, and she gave an ambiguous nod.

 

‘Why? Why are you nodding?’

 

“Her Highness is a Senior Knight.”

 

‘That is a fact I didn’t want to know, but why are you telling me now?’

 

“Don’t I look cool?”

 

“Y-yes, very cool.”

 

Seeing Scarlet approach with a grin so wide it showed all her teeth, a sense of dread filled me, as if a blade were already at my throat.

 

A red light began to spin rapidly in my mind: ‘I have to run.’