Chapter 163 : The Princess and the Demon King, the Princess and the He…ro?
Chapter 163: The Princess and the Demon King, the Princess and the He…ro?
The royal castle of the Kingdom of Hilderan, the 1st annex palace.
The annex palace, which had stood empty for nearly a year, regained its liveliness once its owner returned.
As its owner became actively involved in politics, the number of visitors increased, and the servants were grateful that this place was a palace rather than a townhouse in the capital.
It was not a place that allowed just anyone to enter freely.
Even so, visitors of noble status were plentiful, and each time, the attendants bustled about attending to the guests.
“Move, move quickly! There must not be even the slightest mistake!”
The attendant, Heran, was the head in charge of the servants of the 1st annex palace. Following the Crown Princess’s orders, he oversaw everything in the 1st annex palace, and since her return, he had received countless guests.
But this was the first time.
‘Do your best. There must not be even the smallest mistake.’
Despite having welcomed innumerable guests, this was the kind of warning the Crown Princess had given.
‘Who is coming?’
His Highness the 1st Prince? His Highness the 2nd Prince? Duke Heinz? Or perhaps a noble or royal from another country?
He could not get a read on it. The Crown Princess was not someone who would make a fuss over the kingdom’s own princes visiting, and her relationship with Duke Heinz was practically hostile.
As for a foreign noble, the Crown Princess’s connections were largely limited to her own country. To begin with, she had not gone abroad very often.
‘Well, what does it matter?’
Whoever it was, it had nothing to do with Heran. What mattered more was that if he committed a discourtesy toward this important guest the Crown Princess had warned him about, the thing sitting atop his shoulders might disappear.
“Move, move quickly!”
As a needless chill ran through him, his voice grew louder.
---
“Quite the grand affair.”
He had not particularly intended to come as a proper guest.
Yet that was how it turned out. From the moment he entered the royal capital, knights had come out to greet him, and he had been invited to the annex palace, now seated at this banquet.
Regardless of the grand welcoming crowd that had received him, the vast banquet hall was occupied by only two people.
The master of the 1st annex palace and the Demon King wearing a human guise.
“It’s only natural.”
Ernan elegantly cut into her steak. From spearing it with her fork to bringing it to her lips, there was not a single unnecessary movement. It looked like a painting.
“To welcome Sir Pale, this much is the bare minimum.”
“I had the sense that many eyes were watching.”
Berje cut into and swallowed a large shrimp. There was no fishy taste at all; the butter and herbs blended together nicely.
“It doesn’t matter. Every day, dozens of nobles knock on the doors of the annex palace just to meet me.”
“Do you give them such a grand welcome as well?”
“Of course not. But the Demon King is special.”
It seemed like that was not the only reason.
“How are the new princesses?”
“Ordinary. It’s embarrassing to even compare them to you, Kaede, Ellena, or Lavinia.”
Tsk. Berje clicked his tongue.
“They’re too weak to be of any use.”
“Isn’t it the Demon King who’s unusual, trying to use all the princesses as his limbs?”
“I don’t think you’re in a position to say that to me.”
“Huh? Why not?”
At her innocent smile, Berje changed the subject.
“Where is Hillan?”
“He stepped out briefly for some business.”
“You didn’t summon him?”
“....”
“A grand welcome, and a private meal with just the two of us in the annex palace. The rumors must already be spreading everywhere. What’s your intention?”
At Berje’s suspicious gaze, Ernan finally confessed.
“It’s because of marriage talks.”
“Marriage talks?”
“As I’ve been continuing my political activities in earnest, many nobles have started taking an interest in me.”
“You’re at a marriageable age by human standards. Perfect timing, I suppose?”
“Yes. Countless nobles wish for a marriage alliance with the royal family. Even though the person involved hasn’t given it any thought.”
Marriage alliances had been part of human history since ancient times. The courtship directed at Ernan was only natural.
“But even with Hillan around?”
Ernan had appeared alongside Hero Hillan Cargill multiple times in high society. Humans exaggerated and embellished even the smallest clues. There was no way no one suspected a relationship between Ernan and Hillan Cargill.
“That’s exactly the problem.”
“That’s a problem?”
“Father brought up an old custom to me. Do you know what it is?”
“A custom?”
“‘Give the princess to the hero who rescues her.’ That old-fashioned, vile practice.”
She frowned, clearly displeased.
“So he’s trying to marry you off to Hillan?”
“That’s right. The era of such outdated customs has long since passed.”
For some reason, Berje suddenly felt like hitting Hillan.
“Did you refuse?”
“I did. Both Hillan and I. But Father doesn’t look like he’s given up.”
He couldn’t force marriage on a great hero, so he had backed off for now, but it didn’t feel over. No, it wasn’t just a feeling.
“High society and the royal capital are full of stories about the affection between Hillan and me. Who do you think spread them?”
“The king.”
“Exactly. He’s trying to make it a fait accompli.”
The union of the Crown Princess of Hilderan and the Hero of Hilderan who had saved her.
The people naturally went wild with excitement, and the hawks sent by the nobles completely cut off their advances. But it wasn’t something that could be seen as wholly good.
Because Ernan did not want it.
“So this grand, noisy private dinner is like a warning shot fired at the king?”
“Yes. That’s right. I’m drawing a clear line that Hillan and I are not in that kind of relationship. You’ll help me, won’t you?”
“You’ve already gone and done it, and now you ask that?”
By now, it must have reached the ears of that so-called king.
As someone suddenly inserted into the attempt to tie Hillan and Ernan together, Berje would be a thorn in his side.
‘I’ve gotten tangled up in something troublesome.’
Still, this much he could do. He owed her more than one thing, and recently, thanks to her, the Golden Moon had survived.
Officially forming ties between Pale and the Crown Princess of Hilderan was not a bad thing.
However.
‘It’d probably be best to leave this country as soon as possible.’
He hated trouble.
“But if I add fresh paint to the rumor, it could end up spreading in a bad way.”
Berje savored the red wine. A fitting grape aroma and acidity gently washed away the grease of the meat.
“There’s no human bold enough to spread pointless slander about the Crown Princess of the kingdom.”
“There’s no race bolder than humans.”
“Even if they did, it wouldn’t matter. They’d pay the price for wagging their three-inch tongues carelessly.”
“And if they use that to attack you?”
“If I couldn’t handle even that much, I wouldn’t have started this.”
It had nothing to do with important national policy or diplomacy. It was merely the Crown Princess’s marriage issue.
If Ernan’s support base were weak, it might have caused problems by itself, but she was confident she wouldn’t fall from something of that level.
“But why me? You could use plenty of others if you wanted.”
“That’s a strange question.”
“Strange?”
With a sulky expression, she answered.
“Isn’t it obvious that it has to be Sir Pale?”
“...Huh?”
“So I have one request to ask.”
“A request?”
“There’s a banquet Duke Heinz is hosting in two days.”
She handed him an invitation sealed in a red envelope.
“I refuse.”
“I haven’t even said it yet.”
“You’re asking me to go, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I refuse.”
“Sir Pale.”
“There’s Hillan.”
“Then it would be meaningless.”
A single meal together. It wasn’t meaningless, but if one wanted to, it could be treated as something trivial.
But becoming a partner at a banquet hosted by a duke of a nation was a different story. Bringing along someone with no connection would make the occasion even stranger.
Everyone would assume she would bring Hillan Cargill.
To form a partnership with her at such a place.
“You’ve helped me a great deal, that’s true. And it’s true that I’m grateful to you.”
But that.
“It doesn’t become a reason for me to attend some banquet as your partner.”
“What if I used one request guaranteed by the Demon King?”
“I refuse.”
“You swore on the First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard.”
“You already know I don’t keep that, don’t you?”
“You’re really shameless, aren’t you?”
“You’re the one going around telling Kaede strange stories.”
Berje put on a brazen face.
“I’ll use two requests.”
“What can’t be done can’t be done.”
“It’s not only good for me. It’s necessary for me to become the king of Hilderan. And you’re the one who said you’d make me king.”
“...That feels a little different.”
“On a big scale, it’s the same.”
Ernan answered firmly.
Berje grumbled. A banquet. Until he came to Hilderan, he had never imagined he’d attend something like that.
Putting on a hypocritical mask, laughing and chatting while engaging in petty political maneuvering didn’t suit his temperament.
Then, his eyes met Ernan’s.
Large, clear pupils, resembling amethyst, stared straight at him.
“....”
‘I was the first.’
‘You were the first to reach out your hand.’
‘And the first to take mine.’
Why did that moment come back to him now?
“Yes?”
Ernan blinked once more.
‘Raising Pale’s honor and reputation isn’t a bad thing.’
That had been Berje’s goal from the start, acting as Pale.
To blend further into human society and become an even deadlier poison.
Connections with Hilderan, the network and fame gained through them, would certainly be helpful.
Enduring the nuisance of attending a banquet, the king’s gaze and public attention, was worth it.
Yes, it had value.
“Fine.”
“Thank you.”
Ernan smiled brightly, then added while chewing her steak.
“But did you know?”
“What new trick are you plotting with that snort?”
“In Hilderan, it’s usually the man who asks the woman to be his partner.”
“You’re the one who asked me.”
“Let’s overlook the trivial details.”
“I would like you to be my partner. Even though you asked me first.”
“Leave out the latter part.”
“Will you be my partner?”
“Say it like a knight.”
“I am the Demon King.”
“Does that matter?”
His brow furrowed.
“You’re crossing a line.”
“I’ll use another request.”
“You already used one by asking me.”
“I’ll use them all. You’re not the kind of Demon King who goes back on his word, are you?”
“I say three different things with one mouth.”
“I’ll spread rumors that the Demon King doesn’t keep the oath of the First Demon Emperor and The Demon King’s Standard.”
“You already did. Thanks to you, Kaede’s gaze has become unsettling.”
“I miss Lady Kaede. Did she enjoy the chocolates?”
“Yes, thanks to them, something felt more comf—.”
...fortable.
Once again, their eyes met. Damn it.
“Is this really all you intend to ask for?”
The only times Berje had allowed Ernan to make requests of him were when she had paid a price worthy of it.
When she became one of the Four Heavenly Kings to block the enemy.
When she killed Daphne Phillian.
When she returned to Hilderan for the sake of the tower and himself.
“I think it’s worth that much.”
Berje pondered briefly.
‘Without Ernan, I would have died.’
It wasn’t once or twice that he had overcome crises thanks to her.
Compared to that, how easy was it to grant such an absurd request?
This was a deal. That was all.
Berje rose from his seat. Slowly, he approached her side. He couldn’t quite bring himself to kneel. He simply extended his hand and looked down at her.
“Beautiful lady, would you grant me the opportunity to be your partner?”
It was a partner request that looked strange at first glance, unlike the usual form.
But Ernan smiled.
“Gladly.”
Brilliantly.
---
“A guest?”
Just as Berje had expected, the king of Hilderan grasped the identity of the new guest who had arrived at the 1st annex palace.
“Pale, is it.”
Someone connected to Hillan Cargill. They said his mana was so pure it drove the mages of Arkan mad.
Simply meeting him was nothing special. But Ernan’s attitude was the problem.
More lavish than anyone else.
And on top of that, she was dining with him alone.
Considering Ernan’s current position and circumstances, attention would inevitably focus on her, and talk would arise.
The fact that she did it knowing that meant only one thing.
“Is she demonstrating against me?”
If only Ernan had refused, he might have been able to push it through with a royal command. But Hillan Cargill also did not want it, and he had been forced to step back.
Still, the fruit called Hillan Cargill was far too sweet to give up so easily.
So he had been maneuvering little by little.
And now she was openly spoiling it like this.
“How many know about this?”
“From the outer walls of the royal capital, the Crown Princess’s knights went out to greet him.”
“So it’s spread across the entire royal capital.”
It was an extremely deliberate act.
After pondering for a moment, the king shook his head for now.
“For the time being, let’s observe.”
The rumors had already spread, so they couldn’t be stopped. Rather than forcibly causing harm and creating even stranger gossip, stoking Ernan’s rebellious spirit, it seemed better to wait and watch for the right moment.
“She used to be such an obedient child.”
At some point, that child had changed into someone defiant.
“Since when, I wonder.”
“Perhaps since she was abducted to the Demon King’s Tower and returned.”
The Chief Chamberlain answered.
“Did that become the turning point?”
He knew that humans who went through major ordeals sometimes changed. Change didn’t always flow in a bad direction, but in this case, it was thoroughly displeasing.
“Do you know what happens to royalty abducted to the Demon King’s Tower?”
“Generally, they are said to be imprisoned and spend their days there. In the case of the Tower of Frost, I’ve heard they become ice and lose all memory from that moment onward.”
“What you know and what I know aren’t much different.”
What he wanted was a future queen who listened well and made the kingdom even greater, not a troublesome child who defied him and went astray.
“Raising children is difficult.”
“I agree, Your Majesty.”
“For now, observe and look into this man called Pale. Where he was born, how he obtained such mana, what kind of magic he uses, even what he eats for breakfast.”
“Yes.”
The Chief Chamberlain bowed his head.