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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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“I didn’t expect Adele to win.”
I left the training grounds, looking dumbfounded. The princess followed me out and, seeing my expression, asked,
“Surprised by the outcome?”
“Both of them are acquaintances.”
“One is the Saintess, and the other the survivor of the Bayern Viscounty.”
The survivor of the Bayern Viscounty. At those words, I turned to look at the princess. She grinned.
“So it takes mentioning that to get your attention. Did you know?”
“Did you know?”
“You underestimate me. You failed to recognize the Saintess despite seeing that level of divine power, and you think you can aim for the highest position?”
The princess crossed her arms, her breasts, slightly larger than Archxius’s, pressing against her sleeves. They looked like… pudding.
“I researched the students before entering the academy. Including you, of course.”
“Did you find anything interesting?”
“Discovering the Saintess and the survivor of the Bayern Viscounty was interesting enough.”
The princess and I walked through the academy gardens. It was still too early for the ball, and she had led me here.
Was the “preparation” just an excuse to talk to me?
The princess hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
“You met the Crown Prince, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“How was he? Still lazily lounging around, yawning?”
“….”
I momentarily fell silent. Her description was spot on. The princess, seeing my reaction, chuckled. But I noticed the slight tremor in her eyes.
“So it’s true.”
“I won’t deny it.”
“You won’t deny it… Others would try to highlight his positive qualities.”
“They clearly don’t understand the futility of praising an older brother to his younger sister.”
The princess’s expression hardened at my words.
What was that about?
“Don’t speak of the Crown Prince as my brother.”
“Understood.”
I could have asked why, but I decided against it. Her expression was rigid, as if she might snap at any moment.
Silence fell over the gardens. I kept my mouth shut after her outburst. She traced her fingers along a nearby bush, then spoke.
“I asked you to be my partner for the ball, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”
“It’s hosted by Marquis Ferdin. The same professor who observed the ranking matches earlier.”
The princess shared information about the ball. The reason it was being held, the attendees I should be wary of.
“I had gathered some information, but I couldn’t get a clear read on Marquis Ferdin.”
“So that’s why you stayed at the training grounds…?”
“Of course. To observe Professor Ferdin. Did you really think I stayed in that noisy place because of you?”
“I’m relieved.”
The princess stopped and tilted her head at my words.
“Relieved about what?”
“That I don’t have to reject Your Highness’s… advances.”
“You lit…”
“You should use language befitting your station, Your Highness.”
The princess glared at me, as if she wanted to unleash a torrent of curses, then sighed.
“Have I ever mentioned your talent for irritating people?”
“I don’t recall, so I’ll take that as a compliment.”
I bowed my head slightly in thanks. The princess’s face flushed slightly. I shouldn’t provoke her any further.
-Roar!
Cheers echoed from the training grounds, despite the distance. The princess frowned.
“I moved here because I dislike noise. Why can I still hear it?”
“You dislike noise?”
“Does anyone like it?”
I do. Quite a lot, actually.
When I nodded, the princess looked at me as if I was speaking nonsense and waved her hand dismissively.
“I don’t understand. Even music is noise to me if it’s too loud.”
“Then we simply need to make the surroundings quieter.”
“If that were possible, I would have…”
I channeled my mana. I wouldn’t be using it for a while anyway. My 4th Rank magic power formed a circle at my command.
It looked similar to Agnes’s Icicle Field, but it was a completely different concept.
“Silence.”
I muttered the word, and the cheers from the training grounds abruptly ceased.
Silence. A low-level spell that muffled surrounding sounds. I had simply modified the spell’s structure to adjust its range.
That alone was enough to silence the noise from outside the gardens.
The princess stared at me, her eyes wide, her mouth slightly agape.
“Ah…”
Her voice wasn’t any quieter. The spell had worked perfectly.
“I thought you were a swordsman. You can use magic too?”
“Are you satisfied now?”
“It’s quiet. I haven’t experienced this kind of peace since entering the academy.”
The princess strolled through the gardens until it was time to leave for the ball.
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The city streets were dark and quiet, illuminated only by the faint glow of magically generated streetlights. The silence was unusual, perhaps a lingering effect of the festival’s end.
A carriage moved swiftly through the deserted streets. Through the window, a mansion came into view, its windows glowing brightly.
It looked luxurious, a perfect venue for a noble’s ball.
“We’ve arrived.”
The carriage stopped at the coachman’s announcement. The mansion was closer than I’d thought.
I got out of the carriage and offered my hand to the princess, escorting her out. I knew this much from other novels and movies, even if it wasn’t in the original story.
The princess took my hand and carefully stepped out of the carriage. The hem of her simple dress swayed gently.
“Tsk. This is why I don’t wear these cumbersome dresses.”
“Perhaps you should consider your maids’ feelings. If Your Highness dresses too plainly, they’ll be the ones who face criticism.”
“You’re quite different from the rumors.”
I tilted my head slightly. Was she referring to the rumors about me being a delinquent? Or something else?
I didn’t know.
-Squeeze
The princess’s grip on my hand tightened. Her gaze was fixed on the mansion’s entrance, specifically, on the man standing there.
We both knew who he was. Probably everyone in the Empire did.
He was that famous.
“Your… Highness…?”
“Deron. Care to explain why you’re with my sister?”
The president of the Haven for the Weary club, the Empire’s second sun, a third-year student at Iliad Academy.
The Crown Prince, Augustus Leonhart Adrian.
“Your Highness requested me as her partner.”
“Regina did?”
Idrian’s eyes widened. I nodded. He looked back and forth between the princess and me, his expression incredulous.
“So she says.”
Idrian’s face softened for a fleeting moment, an expression so brief that Regina, or any ordinary person, wouldn’t have noticed. But I saw it.
“What brings you here, Your Highness? What gives you the right to stand before me?”
“I was simply taking a stroll to check on my sister.”
“And now you pretend to care? It’s too late.”
“Caring for my sister is my duty…”
“You should have acted like this sooner!”
The princess’s voice cracked as she lashed out at her brother. Tears welled up in her jewel-toned eyes. Idrian looked at her, bewildered.
“Not in front of others…”
“I wish… I wish you hadn’t changed. I would have preferred you remain… that disgusting person.”
“….”
Idrian stared at her, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“You disgust me. I want to kill you. I want to strangle you right here, right now.”
Seeing the murderous rage in the princess’s eyes, I scratched my head and sighed. Then, I lightly struck the back of her head. A gentle blow, meant only to render her unconscious.
A technique I learned from Archxius. I had only heard about it, but that was enough for me to replicate it.
The princess glared at Idrian, her eyes blazing with fury, then collapsed. I carefully caught her.
“What…?”
Idrian must have known what I had done. I met his gaze and said,
“I won’t interfere in the Imperial Family’s… domestic affairs.”
“But you just knocked out Regina…”
“In exchange, you’ll overlook my… disrespect. Her Highness needs to attend the ball.”
We exchanged glances, a silent agreement passing between us. The princess wouldn’t remember, but it didn’t matter.
“You’re surprisingly decisive.”
“Prolonging this situation, or allowing this… disagreement between royals to escalate, wouldn’t benefit anyone.”
Being late to the ball was one thing, but rumors of a conflict between the Crown Prince and his sister spreading… that wouldn’t be good.
Especially for the Crown Prince. He glanced at the unconscious princess, then muttered,
“If Regina asks why she fainted, tell her it was because of my artifact.”
“Which artifact, specifically?”
“My necklace. It’s enchanted with a melody that induces sleep.”
“Understood.”
“And… tell her I’m sorry.”
Idrian’s expression was filled with regret. I stared at him for a moment, then bowed my head and carried the princess inside.
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prince is a reincarnator too>
Somehow i can see that happening