Chapter 3: Self-Introduction - 2
Not all citizens of the Empire knew the nas of every mber of the royal and imperial family.
However, at the very least, they were familiar with the surna Dneroum.
After all, that was the surna of the current Emperor.
And they also knew that the present Emperor had three sons and one daughter.
To summarize, a woman in her early twenties bearing the surna Dneroum could only be the Empire’s one and only Imperial Princess.
“Has anyone asked for your na until now?”
“Twice. But I only gave them my first na and hid my surna. No one wasted an extra question just to pry into my family na like you did.”
“Then you must have managed to keep it hidden. Well, unless any of those who questioned you were nobles or bureaucrats.”
“I can only hope that wasn’t the case.”
Arlia let out a deep sigh, her composure sowhat restored.
After a brief pause, I asked,
“Then, conversely, has anyone figured out Your Highness’s occupation?”
“I don’t understand. You already found out who I am, so why keep asking questions?”
“Judging by your reaction, I take it no one has figured it out.”
“……Yes.”
She bit her lip in frustration.
“This ga is unfair to celebrities. And I’m probably the most famous person in here.”
“……”
“What’s your na? And yes, this counts as one of my questions.”
“My na is Mason.”
“Are you trying to make waste another question? Give your full na. That doesn’t count as a second question.”
“I don’t have a surna. I’m soone without any connections or mories. Even the na Mason is sothing I gave myself.”
Arlia’s face softened, showing a faint look of sympathy.
For the Imperial Princess to even speak to a re commoner like was already astonishing—but to show such pity toward my misfortune?
‘Yeah, she definitely wouldn’t last long in a ga like this without my help.’
I gathered my thoughts and said,
“Your Highness ntioned earlier that this ga is unfair to you. But that’s not entirely true.”
“What? Sure, I could hide my surna and maybe get by, but…”
“No. In fact, you should make your surna known.”
“What?”
“Can Princess even be categorized as an occupation?”
A question mark appeared on Arlia’s face.
I calmly explained,
“Being a princess isn’t a job—it’s an identity, a lineage, a social status. An occupation ans providing sothing to others and receiving compensation for it… Do you, Your Highness, provide sothing to anyone?”
“……”
“If Your Highness participated in imperial administration—say, policy-making, military strategy etings, or financial planning—then those might qualify as occupations.”
“So you an to say…”
“Yes. Your Highness’s occupation is—”
I hesitated for a mont, feeling slightly guilty.
“—Unemployed.”
Arlia’s expression turned strange.
“Are you calling so useless parasite?”
“I didn’t go that far. You’re just a bit… sensitive about it.”
“You’re becoming increasingly insolent with your choice of words.”
“Anyway, I confird this with Magireta earlier.”
“Indeed, it did look like you were having so kind of conversation with that lunatic. But there’s no guarantee you’re telling the truth.”
I shrugged.
“Then why not ask?”
“What?”
“Use one of your questions to verify it. Since questions must be answered truthfully.”
“……Fine.”
She steadied herself, placing a hand over her chest, and took a deep breath.
Then she asked,
“The claim that you confird with Magireta that being a princess is not an occupation— is that true?”
After asking, she squeezed her eyes shut.
The rule said lying in response to a question would result in elimination.
If I lied, I might die—
so she probably couldn’t bear to watch what might happen.
But I calmly answered,
“Yes. It’s true.”
“……”
After a few seconds passed without any change, the princess slowly opened her eyes.
“H-Hmph. I’ll believe you for now.”
“You’re surprisingly timid. You were quite bold with Magireta earlier.”
“Hmph. I closed my eyes because I didn’t want blood in them if your head exploded.”
“That’s the freshest excuse I’ve ever heard.”
“You’re quite a peculiar one. To speak to a princess like that even after knowing who I am.”
Should I mimic your way of speaking?
Do all royals talk like this?
Well, not that I’ve ever spoken to anyone of high rank before.
“Now, begone. I don’t wish to exchange words with you any longer.”
“……”
“Ahem. Of course, I appreciate the information. I won’t forget it.”
She added hastily, a bit late.
Well, at least now she knew that revealing her identity as the Imperial Princess posed no risk.
But I couldn’t stop there.
I decided to take another step forward.
“It’s already been fifteen minutes. You still haven’t figured out anyone’s occupation—are you fine with that?”
“……Not exactly in a favorable position.”
“I’ll help you.”
“What?”
“I said I’ll help you. If you just trust and follow my lead, we can get through this safely.”
Suspicion clouded Arlia’s eyes.
“Why would you? What’s your angle?”
“Because I want to save you, Your Highness.”
“Ha.”
“I an it.”
“You think I’ll reward you if we make it out alive?”
“I’m not hoping for that. I expect no reward from you. I simply wish to save you, purely and sincerely.”
And I ant it.
After all, that was how I could earn the points ntioned in my diary.
Then Arlia said,
“I could turn that into a question, you know. Ask if you truly want to save without expecting any reward.”
“Go ahead.”
“……”
“……”
“Haa… Forget it.”
She decided not to ask.
If I were her, I would’ve checked, just to be sure.
“I’m only saving the question count. It’s not that I trust you.”
“Of course.”
“So, specifically, how do you plan to help ?”
“Lend your ear.”
“You really have lost your mind, haven’t you?”
“I was joking. I’ll whisper, so please just listen closely.”
I parted my lips.
Her expression was a mix of skepticism and curiosity, but eventually, she nodded.
Arlia and I then approached a random person.
A man who looked to be in his mid-forties was clearly nervous as he spoke.
“W-What? Are you here to ask a question?”
“No. That won’t be necessary.”
“What?”
“I want to make a deal.”
His head tilted in confusion.
“A deal?”
“I’ll tell you my occupation, so please tell yours in return.”
“Ha. I was wondering what nonsense you’d co up with. Sure, I also need to find out three occupations—but if my own gets revealed to more than three people, I die.”
“There’s no need to confirm what everyone already knows.”
I continued, speaking leisurely.
“I said earlier that this was a deal, but in truth, it’s more like a donation.”
“What?”
“I’ll tell you three occupations, and you only have to tell one.”
“What did you say?”
“I’m a restaurant employee. And see over there? That bald man.”
The man’s gaze followed the direction of my pointing finger.
Once he nodded, I went on.
“His na is Mr. Forgotten, and he’s the restaurant owner. It’s the restaurant where I work.”
“Th-That’s a lie…”
“If you don’t believe , you can verify it later with a ‘question.’ For the record, I’ll be verifying your statent the sa way.”
Gulp.
I could clearly hear the sound of him swallowing.
The man spoke,
“And the last one?”
“The lady here is Arlia Kerr Dneroum.”
His pupils slowly widened.
“D-Dneroum? Wait, hold on. A woman of that age with that surna ans…”
“Yes. Just as you’ve realized, she’s the Imperial Princess.”
“……!”
“There. I’ve given you three. Now tell your occupation. A three-for-one exchange—quite the bargain, don’t you think?”
Of course, strictly speaking, the man’s occupation would be shared between and the princess, making it a three-to-two trade.
But there was no need for to say that aloud. Even at three-to-two, the deal still worked in his favor.
The man glanced around warily, then finally opened his mouth.
“I work at a blacksmith’s.”
“A blacksmith, huh. Very good. Now, let’s verify the truth. May I ask first?”
“……Fine.”
“Is it true that your occupation is blacksmith?”
“It’s true.”
Next to , Arlia once again shut her eyes tightly.
It seed that witnessing soone’s head explode earlier because of a question had left quite the trauma.
Of course, the man’s neck remained perfectly intact.
“Confird.”
“M-My turn now! Was everything you said earlier true?”
“Yes. It’s true.”
And my neck, too, was perfectly fine.
Being a princess didn’t count as an occupation, and I had never said her occupation was princess—only that her na was Arlia Kerr Dneroum and that she was the Empire’s Imperial Princess.
It was true that Mr. Forgotten was a restaurant owner, and that I worked as his employee.
At least, for now, I considered myself one.
Of course, when the results were announced later, my real occupation would be sothing else.
There wasn’t a single lie in what I said.
Just a well-placed trap.
‘The only one that would count as a valid occupation is Mr. Forgotten’s, after all.’
I hesitated, wondering if I should tell him that.
The man, already overjoyed to be alive, threw both hands up toward the ceiling.
“Wooooooh!”
“……”
“Th-Thank you! Really, thank you so much.”
“You’re welco.”
“I swear, I was going crazy wondering what would happen to . Tomorrow’s my kid’s birthday, and I couldn’t let that day beco my death anniversary. Ugh-h-h-h!”
A bitter taste filled my mouth.
‘What should I even say to that?’
That man, believing he had learned three occupations, would feel no more pressure to keep searching.
He’d spend the remaining ti in relief—
and in the end, he’d face ‘elimination.’
But if I told him to “keep finding more occupations” now, it would sound unnatural…
That was when Arlia’s voice cut in.
“Done crying?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. Yes, Your Highness.”
“Then find two more occupations.”
“……Pardon?”
Arlia’s lips curved into a sly smile.
I hadn’t thought such an expression would suit her, but with one corner of her mouth slightly raised, it looked almost artful.
“I have more people I need to save. Several of my attendants and maids were brought here with .”
“……”
“I must take them back alive. Since I’m short on manpower, I’ll need your help.”
“Y-Your Highness.”
“You still have so saved-up questions, don’t you? Your life is safe now—so use them to find two more occupations, and report back to .”
The man’s face twisted with an expression of sheer unfairness.
Arlia looked down at him, her voice chilling.
“You said tomorrow’s your child’s birthday?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Then tomorrow won’t be the day your death anniversary overlaps with your child’s birthday. But next year—it could be. If I decide it.”
“……!”
“If you understand, get moving. There’s less than thirty minutes left.”
“Eek!”
He was freed from the terror of Magireta, that inhuman being—but now he was bound by the very real fear of the Princess’s imperial authority.
The man bolted off at full speed.
I quietly looked at Arlia and asked,
“Why did you do that?”
“Of the three occupations we gave him, only one was correct. He needs to find two more if he wants to survive.”
“But if he discovers other people’s occupations, won’t they be put in danger instead?”
“That could happen. But at least those others still have a chance—as long as their occupations aren’t revealed to three people. That blacksmith, though—if left alone, he’s as good as dead.”
I nodded, accepting her logic.
But then, Arlia shook her head.
“Sigh. No, that’s just an excuse. Who am I to weigh which side is in greater danger? I just wanted to pretend to be righteous for my own satisfaction.”
“……”
“It was arrogant of . I’d rather you forget it.”
With that, she briskly walked ahead.
I scratched my head and followed after her.
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