CHAPTER 68…………………………
The Black Rose Princess (2):
Late in the afternoon, people gathered one by one under the trees, chatting pleasantly.
I also went to rest in the shade with the children, but…
‘Ugh. What Theia told me earlier hit me harder than I thought.’
Since even the kids had matching brooches, it felt awkward to tell them to change names now.
Just then, an annoying voice came from beside me.
“Black Rose. Black Rose, wake up.”
“……!”
“Get a hold of yourself, Black Rose!”
“Eek—Ares!”
“Haha!”
That blasted youngest brat!
When I glared at him with a flushed face, Ares clutched his stomach, laughing.
“You’re seriously too funny. That Nestor kid is funnier than I thought too!”
“Ares…!”
“Don’t tease Lady Sion, you idiot.”
Callion frowned, but Ares laced his hands behind his head and grumbled.
“This place is boring now. Can’t we just be by ourselves?”
Well, he was still young, so no wonder he got restless.
‘The greetings are over anyway, so it should be fine if we rest somewhere quieter, right?’
I looked up at the Epikus sisters and asked a favor.
“Rete, Minte. Can I take the kids and rest for a while?”
“Oh my, of course.”
“Then, Princess, let me guide you to a shaded spot over there. You may even nap if you like.”
“Okay!”
The place Minte led us to was far from the tea party, comfortably cool thanks to the shade.
To make it less obvious that I was gone, Rete deliberately stayed behind at the tea party with Lady Tereine.
‘Hah, that was easier than preparing for a showdown.’
I sprawled luxuriously on a soft cushion.
Yes, that earlier display of dominance was more than enough to uphold my dignity.
But then, Callion—who stood guard beside me—stifled a groan.
“Urk.”
“Callion? What’s wrong?”
“Th-that ‘sound’ again…”
At the same time, Minte gripped her sword hilt, glaring at the entrance.
The footsteps we heard were too heavy to belong to Rete.
“Who goes there?”
“Haha. No need to be so wary, Sir Epikus.”
A man approached, letting out a hearty laugh.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Princess?”
“……?”
“I am the lord of Stenel you greeted earlier.”
The reason I didn’t answer wasn’t because I failed to recognize him…
‘I was just asking with my eyes, “Why are you here, old man?”’
Minte frowned and stepped in front of me, blocking the count.
“Count. What business do you have with the Princess?”
“I came to offer an apology in place of Count Altine and his wife.”
My head tilted slightly to the side on its own.
‘And what’s this about now?’
Count Stenel drooped his eyebrows.
“At the Princess’s birthday celebration, I caught a glimpse of you from afar. You were so lovely that I boasted about you to Count Altine. And then—wouldn’t you know it—he suggested preparing a doll.”
“Ohh…”
“It was my mistake as well, for not realizing you no longer cared for dolls. So please, forgive us.”
“Really?”
I smiled sweetly.
‘Ah, this one’s definitely the culprit.’
He was the one who spread the rumor about me being lacking—yet here he was, trying to shift the blame onto someone else.
‘But why bother coming to me directly?’
If he had just left quietly, our group couldn’t have made a fuss.
…Or maybe I should just listen to see what nonsense he spouts.
“Minte, could you prepare a seat for the Count?”
“Excuse me?”
“He said he came to apologize. We can’t just send him away.”
“Princess, but—”
“Please.”
Minte glanced sideways toward where Rete had remained.
She must have felt uneasy without her more socially skilled sister.
But Count Stenel was already smiling.
“I’m honored, Princess.”
“Come, Count! Let’s have tea together.”
I smiled as I took my seat at the table.
The Count narrowed his eyes.
“To think the Princess would be so forgiving.”
“It’s fine, since you apologized first!”
“I see. Truly, you are kind…”
His eyes gleamed, like he was calculating furiously.
“May I, kind Princess, share one thing with you?”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“I happen to own a mountain that produces a rare and beautiful gem called bloodstone.”
“……”
He should really learn to lie better.
Bloodstone was anything but beautiful.
‘If I said I wanted bloodstone jewelry…’
Rete would rather dig her own grave and crawl into it.
Still, I smiled innocently.
“Really? Is it such a pretty stone?”
“Yes. But Lord Erebos has ordered the mine closed.”
“Mmhmm…”
I almost burst out laughing.
So he wanted to use me to bypass a closure decreed by the Demon King himself?
‘Sure, I do need bloodstone—but still.’
After spreading rumors about me, he now tried to cling to me? Ridiculous.
Minte, listening from beside me, clicked her tongue.
“Count. What are you doing?”
“What do you mean, Sir Epikus?”
“If you’re here to petition the Princess—”
“A petition? Nonsense! I was merely describing my domain.”
The Count gave me a pleading look.
“Surely you understand me, Princess?”
I smiled brightly.
“Sion doesn’t understand that stuff!”
“…Pardon?”
“Mhm, it’s too hard for a baby! So I don’t get it!”
Callion flinched, Ares stared at me in disbelief, and even Minte stiffened.
‘Look away, all of you.’
I was perfectly fine selling a bit of dignity to mock this man.
Maybe it was because he reminded me of High Priest Yulipos—looking down on others while scheming for his own gain.
“But Sion still wants that pretty stone…”
“If you desire it, I can gift it to you.”
“Really? But the mine has to stay closed, right…?”
“If you wish it, surely Lord Erebos will wait.”
“You think Daddy would really listen if I asked…?”
“But of course!”
“Wow, really?!”
I clapped happily.
“Ah, Count, this reminds me exactly of that story!”
“Yes? Which story—”
“The one from the 3rd Lord Erebos’s reign!”
“……”
The Count’s delighted face froze.
I simply smiled, recalling the history lesson Rete had given me.
‘If I know this anecdote, then he must know it too.’
Back in the 3rd Lord Erebos’s era—
Multiple heirs were fiercely competing for succession.
One noble developed a diamond mine to support the most promising candidate.
And the result?
“That Lord Erebos cut off the noble’s arm! Because he mined without permission and didn’t even report it.”
“……”
“But Count and Sion are different!”
I gave a sweet smile before sipping tea.
‘Wow, even I find my tone irritating.’
Silence fell for a while.
Then, at last, the Count spoke.
“…Forgive me, Your Highness. Please forget this ever happened.”
“Okay! Thank you for the fun story, Count!”
I waved my hands cheerfully.
It felt as refreshing as smacking High Priest Yulipos in the face.
‘A shame about the bloodstone, but I refuse to get it from him.’
As the Count left, Minte clasped her hands behind her back, stifling a laugh.
“Pffft.”
“…Was I too harsh?”
“Oh, no! Rete would say it was perfect.”
“But is it fine to just leave him be?”
“He should understand your warning. Still, we ought to report it to Lord Erebos.”
“Mmhm!”
Good. Now I could finally relax.
As I reached for a cookie, Ares sidled up.
“Sion.”
“Mm? What is it, Ares?”
“About earlier… did it really bother you a lot?”
“…Huh?”
“Because I teased you, calling you Black Rose—ow!”
“I know you’re not hurt, brat!”
You just love asking for punishment, don’t you, my adorable youngest?
Well then, prepare for your sister’s fist.
That evening, at Stenel Count’s estate, laughter rang out—strained and bitter.
“Ha… haha!”
Though Count Stenel laughed, inside he boiled with fury.
‘So what if the House of Epikus is scary? I could’ve wriggled my way out of this.’
He had thought he won her favor, since she looked like such a naïve child…!
‘But to mock me with an old tale?’
At this rate, the Princess might tell Lord Erebos everything.
At worst, he could lose his life and property for treason.
‘This is bad.’
Just then, his butler cautiously knocked.
“My lord. You have a visitor.”
“Ah… yes, bring them to the drawing room.”
Conveniently, today was also the day the human from Iliod who sought to “trade bloodstone” was to arrive.
