CHAPTER 57…………..
57. The Hero of Veled (2)
“Are you really sure you’re fine? If you’re still unwell, of course you should rest.”
“I’m fine! Really, I feel perfectly fine now!”
I kept insisting. My body might be that of a child, but in truth I was twenty years old.
I was an adult, whatever I looked like.
So what if I got criticized a bit? Big deal.
‘Tch. Besides, since the Demon King is holding me, no one’s going to openly complain to my face.’
You can’t kill someone with looks alone. So I’d meet them with resolve.
Yet as our carriage slowly made its way toward the Veled District…
“Eh…?”
I let out a stupid sound at the sight before me, so different from the day of the ceremony.
The banners for the investiture had been taken down, making the streets more modest.
No golden ribbons. No blossoms sparkling with jewels and magic.
Instead—though a little lacking in uniformity—
The streets and terraces were adorned with colorful fresh flowers and ribbons of every shade.
That’s when Ares let out a small sound of awe.
“Oh. They’re flying kites.”
Just as he said, handmade kites soared across the sky each time our carriage passed.
And all the people were cheering for me.
Elysion. Princess. Her Highness. Erebos.
The many names they called me blended together into one great cheer.
“…!”
Their faces were bright, radiant with joy as they welcomed me.
Not a trace of blame for what I had failed to prevent.
The feeling that swelled inside me was… strange.
‘In truth, it wasn’t much different from what I did as the 13th Great Saintess.’
Yet in this life, I was receiving such fervent gratitude.
Without realizing it, I pressed my hand against my chest.
It wasn’t indigestion. Why did my insides churn like this?
‘And yet—it doesn’t feel unpleasant.’
At last we arrived in the Veled District.
Unlike during the investiture, there were no royal banners here.
Some buildings still lay in ruins, not yet cleared away.
But the cheers were louder than on the way in.
“Princess Elysion!”
“Our princess of Veled!”
“The Hero of Veled!”
At the proud voices calling me their hero, my shoulders shrank.
Why… why were they going this far for me?
Then Father looked down at me with a satisfied smile.
“Surprised?”
“Why are… so many people…?”
“They all saw you save the children trapped underground that day.”
“Ah…!”
“And because you saved them…”
His arm around me tightened slightly.
At the fleeting emotions across his face, I fell silent.
Regret. Bitterness. And yet, unshakable pride.
“The knights were able to act faster to prevent other buildings from collapsing.”
“….”
“There were injuries, but not a single life lost.”
Slowly, I tore my eyes from Father’s face.
Demons and humans alike—everyone was cheering, waving hands and flowers toward me.
It hadn’t ended as the grand ceremony we’d expected.
‘But this… this is good.’
No, more than that—it was moving. Deeply moving.
‘Truly, I don’t know what miracle this is…’
But I was glad I had opened my eyes as a demon princess.
It felt like compensation for the final moments of my previous life.
‘Though I pretended not to care back then, the truth is…’
I, too, had longed for genuine thanks and affection.
I raised my hand and waved to the crowd before me.
My voice caught in my throat, and what came out was ragged.
“I’m just… so grateful that you’re all safe.”
And yet, even for my feeble words of thanks, the people cheered back with even greater love.
…After that emotional greeting and visit of consolation,
Father and I settled beneath a great canopy in the plaza.
As befitted the king meeting his people, it was draped in pale indigo veils trimmed with dazzling golden tassels.
Inside, a small audience chamber had been set up for the king’s seat.
‘Since the king himself has come out, it means those with verified status may request an audience.’
But I was far more nervous now than when we had left the palace.
Because even after alighting from the carriage—
“Father.”
“….”
“Father… I…”
I was still in his arms.
And every single person who came to see him was greeted by this sight. Their expressions said, Ah, so that’s how it is, as they bowed.
When one petitioner even smiled at the sight, I couldn’t take it anymore.
Summoning courage, I whispered to Father again.
“C-could you… put me down?”
“That won’t do.”
“….”
Oh no. That was Ares’s brazenness combined with Calion’s smooth tone.
Born with the dignity of a Demon King, he effortlessly made me shrink.
As I shrank back, he only drew me closer.
“Bear with it, even if it’s uncomfortable today.”
“B-but…”
“Right now, you’re safest at my side.”
Well… I couldn’t argue with that.
‘But what about my pride as an adult?’
The Epikus sisters standing nearby, Ares, Calion, the knights—all of them kept their faces stiff.
But whenever my eyes met theirs, the corners of their mouths twitched.
‘Especially you, Ares, you brat!’
Don’t laugh at me with your eyes like that!
Even Calion hurriedly bowed his head when I caught him.
I could almost hear the crack in my dignity.
Just then, the next group entered for audience.
I unconsciously drew a sharp breath.
“—Hh!”
The air in the chamber suddenly felt crushed by gravity.
It was the same oppressive pressure I had felt the first time I saw Father, and I instinctively burrowed closer into his arms.
‘Who is it this time? Who could bring such suffocating pressure just by entering?’
Even the Great Saintess’s blessing might not help here.
“Sir Nestor. Step forward.”
Father’s voice was cold as ice. My eyes flew open wide.
Turning, I saw a green-haired girl and a gray-haired man trembling.
The nobleman—clearly of high rank—spoke with difficulty.
“L-loyalty to the great Prince Erebos… and to Her Highness the Princess.”
Count Nestor, Theia’s father, wheezed as though even breathing was agony.
“Why have you come before me?”
“I… I have committed a grievous crime, Your Highness.”
“What crime? Speak it.”
“On the day of Her Highness’s investiture, my daughter dared to leave the procession…”
“….”
“It nearly led to a terrible disaster…!”
Clack.
The sound of Father’s hand on the armrest rang like an executioner’s blade falling.
I even held my breath, afraid to make a sound.
“Because the Nestor house suffered heavy losses in the war, I overlooked your daughter’s first insolence.”
“Your Highness…!”
“But not this time.”
“….”
The Count bowed his head and sank to one knee. He did not even try to excuse himself.
In a faint voice, he addressed my father.
“…Erebos, I shall offer my horns and step down from the rank of Count.”
“A fitting punishment.”
Offer his horns? For a demon to surrender his own horns meant…
‘He would shorten both his lifespan and his magic by his own hand.’
Then, Theia, who had been trembling beside him, burst out.
“Prince Erebos! P-please punish me instead!”
“Theia!”
“I beg you, let me take my father’s place—”
Tears streamed from Theia’s coral-colored eyes.
At that moment, her gaze met mine. She dropped her head, sobbing.
“All my friends… they died in the war, and I was angry. That’s why…”
“….”
“When I saw Your Highness close with Prince Alcyone, I…”
Tears splattered onto the floor, spreading in dark spots.
The sight brought back Ares, who had come to my room late one night—
The boy who cried for me when I was sick.
Theia Nestor looked oddly like that boy.
Even their tearful regret was the same.
Theia looked between me and Calion, then bowed her head again.
“And yet, you still saved my friends and Selina… I am truly grateful. To you, and to Lord Epikus as well…”
I let out a long, heavy sigh.
Then I clutched Father’s sleeve more tightly.
“Father, I—”
“I do not want to hear it.”
“…But I haven’t even said anything yet.”
