Chapter 187
Chapter 187
Supplementary Class (1)
The pressure was immense. For an ordinary Head Maid who wasn't even in a combat profession to give off this much pressure. If I had to compare it to someone, perhaps her presence was around Soloven's level.
“She'd chew up and spit out any half-baked combatant.”
“As far as I know, she has never received combat training.”
Even the Imperial Princess looked flustered. The Deputy Head Maid had merely been like a rampaging beast, but the woman before us was different. A refined predator.
“To think Berserk could go this far.”
The Imperial Princess looked gloomy. It seemed they had known each other. I stared at the Head Maid with sunken eyes.
The Head Maid's unfocused gaze turned toward us. I raised the Golden-Banded Staff and readied my stance.
“I shall begin.”
“Yes.”
With battle seemingly about to break out immediately, the Imperial Princess waved the flag. The flag fluttering with the movement of her hand emitted a faint glow.
“I would prefer it if this did not exceed thirty minutes.”
“I'll be careful.”
The Head Maid charged toward us with a grotesque scream. Even after being struck by the light emitted from the Imperial Princess's flag, her momentum didn't diminish.
She wasn't so fast that I couldn't react. The problem was that her attacks were far too violent. It was difficult to make use of the advantages of a long weapon like a staff.
―Kyaaaak!
The force behind her screaming charge was fierce. Even when I blocked her path with the staff, she charged without caring.
I swung the staff broadly and knocked the Head Maid away.
Even then, the Head Maid's tenacity left a long gash across my arm. Clicking my tongue, I brought the Golden-Banded Staff down.
Even though the blow to her left collarbone crushed her left shoulder, the Head Maid continued charging.
“Ah!”
I thrust out my gauntlet toward the jaws flying at my neck. I used the Golden-Banded Staff to support my body as I nearly toppled over.
The Imperial Princess, whose body had been thrown sharply backward, let out a shrill scream.
The Head Maid bit down on the gauntlet and exerted her strength. I immediately put strength into the gauntlet. I seized her lower jaw.
―Kyarrrk!
I ripped off her lower jaw and immediately swung my leg. I kicked the Head Maid in the lower abdomen to create some distance, then readied my stance again.
After checking the condition of the Imperial Princess, who still couldn't get her bearings, I threw the staff aside. A weapon I had no proficiency with was difficult to use here.
The Head Maid, her jaw torn off, charged while letting out a horrifying howl.
‘She can't use her left side.’
I watched the approaching Head Maid. Her left hand merely dangled loosely and wasn't moving according to her will.
I caught the Head Maid's right hand with my left and seized her head with my gauntlet.
The Head Maid's foot repeatedly struck my abdomen. Gritting my teeth against the considerable impacts, I poured strength into the gauntlet.
―Gyaaaaak!
I felt her skull cracking beneath my fingertips. Along with the sickening sound of bones breaking, the Head Maid's skull gradually began to cave in.
Only after the kicks striking my stomach stopped completely did I release the strength in the gauntlet. The Head Maid collapsed with a thud and twitched.
“Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess.”
“Uuugh.”
Just in case, I crushed both her arms and both her legs beneath my feet before calling the Imperial Princess. I snatched the flag from the hand of the Imperial Princess, who was still out of it.
“Hmmm. Uuugh. I-Is it over?”
“Yes. Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess.”
Only then did the Imperial Princess regain her senses. She furrowed her brow and looked around.
“…….”
The Imperial Princess wore an exceedingly gentle expression as she looked at the Head Maid's miserable state. I lowered the Imperial Princess to the floor.
She slowly approached the Head Maid.
“Ahh. How familiar.”
The Imperial Princess gently stroked the Head Maid's reddened cheek with a wistful hand.
“This is a child I watched for many years. The girl who served as my personal maid grew up so well.”
The Head Maid stared at the Imperial Princess with hazy eyes. Moisture shimmered in her eyes.
The Imperial Princess tightly shut her eyes and raised her hand.
“I'll do it.”
I took the Imperial Princess's hand. I stepped forward in her place.
I pressed my gauntleted thumb against the Head Maid's throat. The gauntlet easily dug into her neck.
The Head Maid died just like that.
“I shall find the bastard who caused this disaster.”
“Is that so?”
“And then. I shall return every bit of the pain I felt.”
“I'll help you with all my heart.”
I remained beside her as she spoke through gritted teeth.
***
“You, Sheila.”
“Yes. Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess.”
“What does this look like to you?”
After returning from the nightmare and sending Davide away, the Imperial Princess, Eliza Atticus, found herself unusually flustered.
Sheila had presented her with a box, saying it was a gift Davide was offering as tribute. A bribe, perhaps. Thinking it both rather cute and irritating, the Imperial Princess accepted the box with a snort.
Red wrapping paper with a golden ribbon. Judging from the texture beneath her fingers, they were top-quality materials meant for gifts. It was obvious he'd put quite a bit of thought into it, and the Imperial Princess became curious.
“A ring and a bracelet. They're quite beautiful.”
“I know that. I asked about their meaning. Their meaning.”
“Would it not simply be an ordinary gift from a loyal subject?”
The Imperial Princess clicked her tongue at Sheila's evasive answer. The first things that came to mind were a curse or an assassination by poison.
But he wouldn't do something that stupid.
The Imperial Princess believed she'd become rather close to Davide by now.
“Hmm.”
Inside the box was a rather beautiful accessory. The Imperial Princess's name had been meticulously engraved into the silver ring.
Threads mixed with white and black wrapped around its edge.
There was a small groove, and a pure white thread had been tied within it. Following that thread led to a bracelet engraved with strange characters similar to those on the ring.
“What an unusual style.”
The bracelet, with black and white threads appropriately interwoven, wasn't extravagant, but possessed an elegant beauty(美).
To be frank, it suited her tastes.
“Student Davide has quite the eye.”
“……I cannot deny it. I like this accessory.”
“There is also a letter.”
Still, there could have been some sort of hidden mechanism, so the Imperial Princess asked Sheila to inspect it.
Sheila accepted the entire box and carefully examined the accessory on the spot. In the process, she took the letter from inside the box and handed it to the Imperial Princess.
The Imperial Princess accepted it indifferently and read it.
“This fellow truly knows nothing of etiquette. He has seen enough to imitate the form, yet every last part of it is clumsy.”
“Hoho. Is that so?”
Clicking her tongue, the Imperial Princess handed the letter to Sheila. Sheila accepted it and, for once, gave a genuine smile.
A short sentence had been written in the letter.
―In commemoration of Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess's ocean-like heart shown at the auction.
To think he'd dare add such an unnecessary remark to something presented to an Imperial Princess. It wasn't even written in the proper format.
It felt, at a glance, like a letter one might send to a friend on their birthday, and Sheila couldn't help but laugh.
The Imperial Princess looked displeased at Sheila, who had been grinning the entire time.
“What is so amusing?”
“Hoho. Isn't it adorable? He worked so hard to make this for Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess, yet the accompanying letter sounds as though he's offering a bribe.”
“What an insolent fellow. He has no sense of mood.”
After using magic to inspect the accessory completely, Sheila respectfully handed it over.
The Imperial Princess swiftly took it and immediately put on the bracelet. Then she finished by placing the ring on her middle finger.
The thread connecting the ring and bracelet gently brushed across the back of her hand.
She'd thought the structure would make it cumbersome, but perhaps because the thread itself was of such high quality, even its touch felt pleasant.
“What a strange fellow.”
The Imperial Princess looked down at the accessory for some time before suddenly turning sternly toward Sheila.
“I see. Sheila.”
“Yes. Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess.”
“This is the result of the note you gave him back then, is it not?”
“Oh my. As expected, you are truly wise.”
Back at the auction, Sheila had secretly handed Davide a note.
The Imperial Princess clicked her tongue quietly at Sheila, who bowed without offering any lies. She hadn't intended to scold her anyway.
Seeing that, Sheila also wore a gentle expression.
“I shall overlook it this once.”
“Thank you for your ocean-like generosity.”
“……I told you to stop.”
The teasing resumed the instant forgiveness left her lips.
At Sheila quoting Davide's letter, the Imperial Princess clutched her brow as though she had a headache.
Despite being quite old, how could she still be so mischievous?
The Imperial Princess suddenly felt exhausted.
“These white and black threads are fascinating.”
“They certainly aren't ordinary materials.”
“Where does that fellow even obtain things like these?”
Even the Imperial Princess had never seen a material superior to this among textiles.
Had a first-rate craftsman made clothing from this material, something approaching a Relic might have been born.
That was the impression the Imperial Princess received from the strange energy it emitted.
“Shall I investigate it?”
“No.”
She rejected Sheila's suggestion.
To investigate it, she would have to hand over the accessory.
Alternatively, she could simply give Sheila a single strand of thread, but even that displeased the Imperial Princess.
“I can simply ask him myself later.”
“Hoho. Are you asking him out on a follow-up date?”
“……Please go to a mental hospital. I beg you.”
The Imperial Princess practically pleaded with Sheila, who was spouting nonsense.
Then the Imperial Princess smiled mischievously.
“You are sulking because you did not receive one.”
“……Hoho. I am not.”
Sheila's eyes twitched at the Imperial Princess's words.
Of course she was envious, but she wasn't a child.
Certainly, it was a beautiful accessory made from materials she'd never seen before and in a style she'd never encountered, but she wouldn't sulk over something like that.
She was an adult, after all.
“It is beautiful no matter how many times I look at it. Would you like to touch it?”
“……No. Is it not something Student Davide made solely for Her Imperial Highness, the Imperial Princess? How could I carelessly touch an object filled with that love?”
“……Would you like to try me?”
The Imperial Princess glared at Sheila before letting out a deep sigh and waving her hand.
What was even the point of arguing any further?
“How was the nightmare this time?”
“It angered me. I saw the Head Maid.”
“……I see.”
Sheila became gloomy at the Imperial Princess's words.
The Head Maid had spent a great deal of time not only with the Imperial Princess, but also with Sheila.
From her inexperienced younger days to the time they'd celebrated her promotion together.
Of course, the Head Maid was currently alive and well in the Imperial Palace.
“I know it was an illusion, but.”
The Imperial Princess spoke quietly with one hand covering her eyes.
Sheila carefully stroked the Imperial Princess's shoulder.
“Those pigs and dogs blinded by power.”
At the Imperial Princess's vicious curse, Sheila felt the back of her neck tingle.
The Imperial Princess's hostility toward the nobility was by no means weak.
The reason she'd initially disliked Davide had also been her hostility toward nobles.
Then again, considering nobles had caused this entire disaster, it was only natural.
“It will undoubtedly be of great help in finding the culprit.”
“I had my doubts, but lately I have begun to think you were right.”
She was talking about Davide.
A young man who knew an astonishing amount and carried confidence in his own words.
The Imperial Princess's intuition told her that Davide was somehow connected to all of this, whether he knew it or not.