“Haha, ahaha!”
After the Hero verification ceremony concluded, I had to wait ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) another full day before I finally received permission to leave the Academy and return to my estate.
Of course, the mont I got that permission, I bolted straight for the main gate and the carriage waiting there.
“What’s with that creepy grin?”
“I’m just happy to be going ho, obviously.”
By the way, the one walking beside with a deeply furrowed brow—Lady redia Embergreen—technically could have left earlier. But she graciously stayed at the Academy until my release was approved.
She claid she didn’t want to deal with how it would look if she went back alone... but I now know that’s just how redia shows affection.
“Why are you giving that look like I’m so kind of nuisance?”
“Can’t I at least look at the person who proposed to ?”
Her tone was still prickly, sure—but compared to when we first t, she’d changed so noticeably it was almost touching.
“Damn it... how did I end up entangled with soone like you...?”
“Ahaha...”
Still, just looking at the engagent ring I’d given her—now proudly on her finger—made it clear how much she’d changed.
‘Though... that ans I’ll have to be extra careful going forward.’
I still broke into a cold sweat just thinking about the hours-long “explanation” session she demanded over the whole situation with the Saintess.
Especially when she asked —point blank—what exactly I had done to Hestia to make her fall so hard she’d blackmail witnesses on my behalf.
It was honestly so unfair I nearly cried.
‘Why the hell are you blaming for the spider’s antics?’
Naturally, the spider familiar—who had taken up residence in my shadow like it was the most obvious thing in the world—had gone completely silent since yesterday. No response, no sign of life.
Still, the thing did save , so I figured I should at least give it so praise.
I’d wanted to ask it how it managed to fool the inquisitors on site—even though the Pope, who joined via projection orb, wasn’t physically present.
“You can act all cryptic like usual if you want, but don’t forget that a lot of people are watching you now.”
“...Yes, ma’am. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Even right now, all eyes are on you. Do you even realize that?”
As I grimaced from the lingering unease, redia glanced toward the Academy’s main building and muttered quietly.
Following her gaze, I saw exactly what she ant—students were practically glued to the windows, all staring down at .
“...Feels like I’m so kind of zoo exhibit.”
“Hah. Yeah. I know that feeling well.”
As I grimaced, unable to get used to this flood of attention, redia let out a dry chuckle.
“I’ve lived with eyes like that on ever since I debuted into society.”
“Ah...”
Right. If soone like , who never drew anyone’s attention before, found this overwhelming—then soone like her, who’d grown up under constant scrutiny, must’ve suffered tenfold.
Hopefully, I hadn’t just triggered a painful mory.
“Well, not that it matters anymore.”
Thankfully, redia only answered with calm indifference as she quickened her pace.
“At least... no one’s looking at you with ridicule anymore.”
“Really? I can’t see that far...”
“Maybe I gave the order to control the crowd for nothing.”
At her muttered remark, I snuck a glance at her face, then opened my mouth with a slightly mischievous smile.
“Ah, Lady redia. Don’t tell ...”
redia was attractive even on a bad day—but when her poker face cracked a little? Honestly, I’d take the risk of getting slapped just to see it.
“You were worried about ...”
“...Yeah, I was.”
“...What?”
“I was worried. So shut up and walk.”
And with that, she picked up her pace even more, leaving blinking after her with a stunned expression.
I scratched my head and let out a cough.
‘...Why does my face feel so warm?’
Having taken that unexpected fastball straight to the chest, I trailed after her, blushing just a little... when suddenly—
“Tch.”
“...What’s wrong?”
redia stopped abruptly, her face twisting in irritation.
“Looks like so unwanted guests are here.”
Curious who had set her off this badly, I peeked over her shoulder—
and imdiately felt compelled to defend whoever it was.
“Uh... Lady redia, His Highness the Prince isn’t exactly an ‘unwanted guest’—”
“Oh ho! But who do we have here!”
“...Mm.”
“Isn’t this the Hero, appearing for the first ti in centuries!!!”
Unfortunately, that’s when a voice thundered across the courtyard loud enough to shake the sky.
“...Your Highness, I can hear you perfectly well without the shouting.”
“Really? My apologies! People haven’t been hearing well lately, you see!”
And now that I got a closer look, it wasn’t just the Princess waiting by the carriage—there were a few others as well.
“Took you long enough...”
“Haha, His Highness truly is... a remarkable man.”
“...Ugh...”
Lunelle, Parsha, and Sasha were all standing there, greeting with visibly drained expressions.
Judging by the atmosphere, they’d probably been enduring Katarina’s relentless chatter ever since they arrived.
“You’re not all planning to ride in the sa carriage, are you?”
While I silently applauded their patience, redia’s voice cut in beside , dripping with irritation.
“...Is that not allowed?”
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
“I suppose the Ringaarden household has so sort of tradition of riding with the help?”
It sounded like she was mocking —but truthfully, when I took over as acting head of the family, I had started dining with the staff to build rapport.
Granted, that tradition stopped after several people nearly choked while trying to hide their discomfort, but still.
Besides, it’s perfectly normal for attendants to ride with their master, isn’t it?
“Wow. Master, you really are clueless about these kinds of things.”
While I scratched my head in confusion, Parsha leaned over and jabbed in the ribs with a smirk.
“Right now, the Lady wants to ride in the carriage alone with you.”
“...Ah.”
Only then did I finally understand what redia ant when she said “unwanted guests.”
Is this really the sa Demon Lord redia I used to know?
The more I get to know her, the more she seems like a tsundere. It’s like peeling an onion that never ends.
“We’ve got a carriage prepared by the Academy, so go ahead and enjoy your ti alone.”
Seriously, Parsha really is Parsha.
Even though she made a slight mistake when distributing the clever trinkets this ti... she’s still the one who passed the ring to Sasha, so she must’ve had a plan all along.
In that case, I should probably raise her salary as much as I’m allowed starting next month.
“Well then, we’ll be off...”
“Wait.”
Just as I was smiling warmly at Parsha, who was cleverly trying to slip away with Lunelle and Sasha—
“Hmmm...”
—redia suddenly stepped between us and started staring down at Parsha with half-lidded eyes.
“My lady, I swear to you, Parsha is just a talented girl I hired—”
Given the talk we had in the carriage and the trauma from her nagging yesterday, I quickly tried to explain myself.
“You... have interesting eyes.”
But instead of her usual icy tone, redia’s voice ca out soft and curious.
“...You’re the sa, aren’t you, my lady?”
“Ha.”
I tilted my head, wondering what was going on, and then Parsha, still looking up at redia, let out a strange and aningful reply.
“...How about it. I’ll pay you ten tis your current salary—co work as my butler.”
I’d just been standing there watching, but when redia suddenly made that outrageous offer while giving Parsha a once-over, I couldn’t help but flinch.
‘This is exactly why I didn’t want these two to et...’
If you think about it, Parsha was traditionally redia’s closest confidante and right hand.
If soone like that gets this kind of offer... even if she’s satisfied with her current job, the temptation might be too much.
“Wow, now that’s a tempting offer.”
And just as I feared, Parsha’s eyes lit up with a grin and she said sothing that sent a chill down my spine.
‘...How much money do I even have right now?’
Sure, redia and I are basically a team now, but if Parsha sticks to her side, who knows what could happen?
I can manage her now because she’s beside , but let’s not forget—Parsha is the number one reason redia becos the final boss in the ga.
So, even if I have to live a little more frugally for the next few years, I need to keep her on my side...
“However, I’ll decline.”
Just as I was tightening my belt in my mind and tearing up a little, Parsha’s sudden rejection, delivered with a chilly smile, made flinch all over again.
“If this had been a few months ago, I would’ve accepted while crying, but unfortunately, I’m very satisfied with my current job.”
Honestly, that kind of loyalty is seriously touching. I should get her a gift or sothing once we’re back at the mansion.
“You’d better count yourself lucky, brat.”
But apparently, redia wasn’t pleased with that touching show of loyalty, muttering with a displeased glare.
“You’re probably the first person who’s ever turned down my offer and walked away unscathed.”
“Well, considering we’re about to be family anyway, there’s no need to be so harsh.”
“...And you’re the second person to say sothing that rude and still survive.”
Wait, what is this—why is a full-grown adult bickering with a kid?
“Haha, my lady. Please don’t be too hard on her.”
I usually side with redia, but just this once, I had to back up Parsha.
“After all, Parsha is mine right now, you know?”
“Click. I know.”
Fortunately, redia had cald down a little after everything that happened, and at my words, she finally gave up her headhunting attempt and headed toward the carriage.
“...Heeheegh.”
I thought I heard a weird snort from Parsha beside , but I decided to ignore it.
“Well then, see you all back at the mansion.”
Just as I barely managed to prevent a talent leak from my dream team and was about to follow redia, looking forward to so long-overdue rest—
“W-Wait! Wait just a mont!”
“L-Lord Whitney. I believe you still haven’t heard the reason I ca here, have you?”
—The Imperial Princess, who’d been anxiously watching redia the entire ti, suddenly grabbed my arm and spoke up.
“Your Highness? I thought you just ca to greet ...”
“...L-Look at this.”
“Oh, co on.”
Frowning slightly, I turned back—only for her to suddenly lift her upper garnt, making whip my head away on reflex with a pained groan.
“Your Highness, please, don’t just strip in front of like that...”
“I said just look at it already!”
“...Sigh.”
It might have been an honor, since I know she’s not the infamous playboy prince but a pure-minded princess... still, all the stares we were getting made want to sink into the floor, so I had no choice but to comply.
“L-Last night, my stomach started hurting all of a sudden... and then this weird mark showed up!”
“Huh?”
But as soon as I glanced over, I realized she actually had a reason for her bizarre behavior.
“Thanks to your efforts, the saint’s issue was resolved and I finally got off probation, but if anyone sees this, I’ll be in prison next!”
A clearly sinister gray mark had appeared between the toned abs of the princess.
“So please, help —as a white mage! We’re still f-friends, right?”
“......”
“L-Lord Whitney?”
But I couldn’t say anything. I was too shocked.
“I-I’m still useful, you know! I’m still first in line to the throne... If you keep around as a friend, I’ll co in handy—”
‘...Why is this giving off the sa mana signature as mine?’
The mark that had appeared on the princess’s stomach—it was radiating the exact sa grayish energy as my own mana.
“...Master.”
And as I stood there dumbfounded, knowing nothing about what this ant, Lunelle quietly stepped up beside and whispered.
“Actually... I got the sa mark last night.”
“...M-M-M- too! I got one after suddenly feeling sick last night!”
Before I could even be shocked by Lunelle, Sasha blurted it out too, stuttering even more than usual.
“Master. I got one last night as well.”
“......”
“And I think I have a pretty good idea what it is.”
Hearing that, I instinctively turned my gaze back to the princess’s stomach, doubting my own ears.
“...This is the Mark of the Retainer.”
“The... Mark of the Retainer?”
That thing demons use to brand their closest servants?
“You’ve finally awakened the power of Domination, haven’t you?”
“Excuse ?”
“Yes. This is where it all begins. Ahahahah...”
...What the hell is going on?!
Reviews
All reviews (0)