The Protagonists Of The Novel Escaped – Chapter 23

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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Amidst numerous expectations and concerns, the matchmaking for the Third Princess Elizaveta was held.

The first candidate was Alex von Legmund, a 21-year-old bachelor just a year older than Elizaveta.

Among the many candidates, the young master of the Legmund family confidently emerged as the frontrunner.

He was known for his excellent knowledge and character.

Moreover, he was a handsome nobleman who boasted a charming appearance, undoubtedly garnering much popularity in social circles.

“It is simply an honor to be one of the candidates for the beautiful Platinum Princess’s fiancé. I am Alex, the eldest son of the Legmund family,” he introduced himself with a radiant smile.

In contrast, Elizaveta responded indifferently with her chin resting on her hand. “Hmph, of course, it’s an honor.”

It was a stark contrast.

Despite his desperate efforts to win her heart, he was met with only cold replies. She was blatantly declaring, ‘I’m only here for formality, so don’t bother trying.’

If Emperor Barbarossa and Ludmilla had witnessed the scene, they would have sighed heavily.

They might have even rushed over and smacked Elizaveta’s back for throwing cold water on the matchmaking.

‘My fate is truly unfortunate. To be watching the pitiful sight of a poor man being blatantly disregarded by the villainous princess,’ I thought to myself as I observed the matchmaking as Elizaveta’s escort.

I had tried to refuse, but it was futile.

The villainous princess had already roped me in. The well-intentioned promise I made had instead become shackles.

Sighing deeply, I watched Elizaveta thoroughly shatter the expectations of the suitor who had hoped to rise to prominence through a marriage with the Platinum Princess.

“Edan, my legs hurt,” Elizaveta complained.

“Then shall we sit and rest for a bit?” I suggested.

Even if she pushed the Legmund family’s son out of the running, Elizaveta still had to face new suitors waiting their turn.

It would take several hours at least.

Although I was tasked with being her escort, watching the matchmaking was tedious.

‘Come to think of it, the suitors are all young. Is it because it’s a romance fantasy world? There must be a preconception that the sons of prestigious families are naturally all young and handsome,’ I mused.

In romance fantasy novels, even villainous male characters are usually born with outstanding looks, especially in female-oriented works.

Look here, handsome. Look there, also attractive. Even the older men held the position of charming middle-aged men.

My father, the head of the Hohenberc family, was also a famous middle-aged man among noble ladies since he was the male protagonist’s father.

It seemed to be an extreme environment where ordinary-looking men struggled to survive.

“I think Edan is plenty handsome too. As cool as a stag beetle!” Rue chirped.

“Is that so? Confiscating your jelly candy,” I retorted.

“Eek…! It was a compliment, why are you tormenting me? Mean Edan!” she pouted.

As I continued to bicker with Rue, the young master of the Legmund family, discouraged by the villainous princess’s cold rejection, finally raised the white flag.

There was no possibility.

Continuing the matchmaking would only invite ill feelings.

Alex’s decision was very wise. If he had clung on persistently, he would have undoubtedly experienced the villainous princess’s wrath directly.

Realizing there wasn’t even a sliver of a chance, I sent a look of sympathy as he withdrew.

“I’m tired. I’m already exhausted, so tell the suitors to all go back,” Elizaveta declared after the first matchmaking ended, lying down with a weary expression.

Her dignity was nowhere to be seen. The slumped appearance could shake the Platinum Princess’s brilliant reputation.

As I approached, Elizaveta stretched out her arms. Sighing, I lifted her up from the sofa. Her light golden hair fluttered, and a rich scent stimulated my senses.

“Did you hear? They say a terrifying heretic has appeared in the Pug Kingdom,” Elizaveta mentioned.

“I just heard about it too,” I replied.

“Hmph! Edanant doesn’t seem surprised at all. The maids were trembling as soon as they heard the news,” she scoffed.

“Well, I am the brave hero’s brother after all,” I joked.

In fact, I was pretty surprised. Heretics… Are their forces still going strong?

The heretics who had sided with the Demon King’s army and turned against humanity were considered taboo.

Their notoriety was so infamous that even mentioning them was forbidden. That’s why people referred to them as ‘cult worshippers’ or ‘monsters wearing human skins.’

“I heard about it too! Max said… heretics all have a strange smell!” Rue chimed in.

“Smell? Of course, it must be a foul stench or the smell of their victims’ blood,” I assumed.

“That’s not it. I heard that each heretic has a unique smell,” Rue clarified.

“Nah, it just sounds like a warning made up to scare you, little one,” I dismissed.

Rue and Elizaveta continued to discuss the existence of taboos in meaningful tones.

I remained silent, listening to the conversation between the fairy and the princess. They seemed like girls who enjoyed urban legends.

I didn’t want to thoughtlessly interrupt and ruin the lightened atmosphere.

“Your Highness, the young master of the Niazs family requests an audience,” a servant announced.

“Tell him to wait until he’s called!” Elizaveta ordered.

After a brief respite, Elizaveta had to face a new matchmaking partner.

The young master of the Niazs family was another handsome young man, just like the previous suitor.

I wondered how long the Niazs family’s young master would last, observing the matchmaking scene.

After closely observing the situation, I planned to report my findings to Ludmilla immediately.

“I’m the cute and adorable Luinong… The heretics will surely rush to capture me!” Rue exclaimed.

“Are the heretics some kind of bogeyman?” I retorted.

“Eek…! Anyway, Edan has to protect the cute and adorable me!” she insisted.

“Of course I will,” I reassured her, nodding at the little one bouncing around with a pale complexion.

Heretics were the stuff of nightmares. They always existed like nightmares, painting the world with terror.

Just as nightmares eventually end, those monstrous beings should disappear, too. True peace would never come if the monsters continued to threaten the world.

Recalling the moments I had faced the monsters on the battlefield alongside the Hero’s Party, I clenched my fists.

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Heretics were monsters wearing human skins.

Those who had not participated in the war might consider it exaggerated propaganda.

They believed it was just an inflated notoriety, made up to elevate the achievements of the countries that had emerged victorious in the Racial War.

The heretics’ infamy was proven by the massacre that took place on the battlefield.

However, there were still people who denied it, scoffing at the idea that humans could turn into monsters even if they had accepted the blessing of a cult.

But indeed… Could they still spout such words after seeing this monster?

The nightmare that had disappeared due to ruthless subjugation and oppression began to look upon humanity once again.

“Offering pure and noble blood as sacrifices, we welcome the descent of the god! Ah, the great savior desires a new body now!!”

An altar artificially carved out of stone. Ominous statues are placed on all sides. In front of it stood a man wearing tattered rags.

The unidentified man shouted for sacrifices in a bizarre voice, stunning the crowd. His appearance, with his eyes rolled back, continuously offering worship, was genuinely grotesque.

“He’s completely insane. I wonder if he can even understand the plan,” a young woman remarked, observing the madman.

“On the contrary, being that crazy makes him more reliable. Aren’t we the heretics that the empire and the Holy Kingdom claim to be lunatics?” an elderly man responded.

Through the conversation between the young woman and the elderly man, two things could be inferred.

First, they were plotting a sinister scheme.

Second, they were the subjects of fear known as heretics.

As if to prove the previous inferences, the surroundings overflowed with an unholy aura.

Moreover, each of them had a distinct smell. It was evidence of the danger tainted by corruption and decay.

“It’s been a series of shocks since returning from the Chaos Realm. We finally returned, only to find out that we had already lost the Racial War, the cities that worshipped their respective gods had been shattered by the empire and the Holy Kingdom, and the compatriots who had believed in and followed us had all become departed souls,” the young woman lamented.

“It’s because our timing was off. We should have returned 3 years ago,” the elderly man explained.

They had ventured into the Chaos Realm to grasp the power to tear apart the worshippers of the detestable goddess.

However, they had returned too late.

They had returned a whole 3 years later than the predicted time.

As a result, the heretics who had crossed over to the Chaos Realm had to face the thoroughly fallen ruins.

Due to the defeat in the Racial War, the Demon King’s army and the cult worshippers were driven into a pitiful state where they had to worry about their very survival.

“We must take revenge. For the sake of our unjustly sacrificed compatriots,” the young woman declared.

“Of course. We have never forgotten revenge for a single moment,” the elderly man affirmed.

Returning to their hidden base, they learned that the surviving compatriots were planning revenge against the Valtarian Empire and the Gael Holy Kingdom.

The heretics who had returned from the Chaos Realm naturally joined the plan.

It was a genuinely meticulous plan. With the remnants of the Demon King’s army also participating, it was bound to succeed.

It was sufficient as a signal flare to herald a new upheaval.

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