~Chapter 10~
Honestly, I didn’t really believe that the princess had fallen deeply in love.
After all, even in the game, she would have married someone else without hesitation in the fourth year, right?
Besides, as a seasoned “lady-maker,” I had no idea that the princess had any scripts where she longed for—or even mentioned—“Pierre de Edenrosa.” Not a single one.
“So I thought there must be some calculation behind it.”
-So that’s why you asked?
“Yeah. Thanks to that, I’m certain now. Appreciate it.”
I grinned mischievously and then spoke confidently.
“Trust me—I’m going to reel in a big catch with this!”
-…Every time you say that, I can’t trust you at all… Well, fine. I’ll wait for now.
I let that nonsense slide.
Trust me!
The next morning, I walked to work with a bold stride.
As I patrolled the building where the princess was staying, just as the young marquis had said, I stopped immediately upon spotting her knights guarding the entrance.
“Hello!”
“…Greetings.”
Instead of just giving a polite nod and moving on, I greeted them strongly and confidently. They gave me skeptical, slightly confused looks, but returned my greeting.
Good. Not a bad reaction!
I smiled brightly and said,
“I have a message from the young marquis of Edenrosa for the princess. Might she be available right now?”
“She’s up now, but… is it urgent? I can relay the message if you’d like.”
“Ah… I need to speak to the princess herself…”
I wasn’t lying. It was really something from the young marquis, and because it was a secret matter (and I was involved), it was only proper to speak with the princess herself.
At my words, the knights exchanged hesitant glances but eventually knocked on the door and called inside.
“Princess, the knight sent by the Marquis of Edenrosa—”
“Tell them to come in!”
Before the knight could even finish speaking, a strong, lively voice answered.
The vibrant tone could only belong to the princess, so the knights reluctantly stepped aside.
I carefully opened the door and entered. A maid stood beside the princess, who seemed to be drinking tea alone.
“You are of the dragon lineage, I see.”
“Don’t be so formal! Come sit!”
The princess gestured for me to sit as if to dismiss the formalities, speaking to her maid:
“Lis! Serve tea to our guest.”
“Understood.”
Once seated, my tea was placed in front of me.
“Ah, thank you.”
I greeted her, and before I could even touch the steaming cup, the princess asked me,
“So? What brings you here? Has Pierre finally fallen for me?”
I lifted my gaze from the tea to meet her piercing blue eyes.
There was leisure, mischief, and curiosity in her gaze, watching me as if dissecting me. Feeling that gaze, I lifted the teacup.
“He finds it… burdensome.”
“Why? I’m pretty, aren’t I?”
Seeing her pout like a spoiled child, I took a sip of my tea.
“Besides, this isn’t merely an emotional matter to be handled lightly, right?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb. I came knowing everything.”
I set down the teacup and laughed out loud.
Ha. A dry laugh escaped as our investigative gazes met.
“Surely the head of the Black Lotus understands this topic, yes?”
The moment the words “Black Lotus” left my mouth, an overwhelming pressure gripped me.
The intensity emanating from her, more powerful than the young marquis’s presence yesterday, was almost suffocating.
The room went silent, save for our breathing, as she studied me like dissecting a specimen.
Just when the tension felt like it could snap,
“Interesting.”
She raised a corner of her mouth in a faint smile.
Despite the words, her eyes were cold, concealing her emotions entirely, as she rested her chin on her hand and muttered,
“You don’t seem like someone sent by Edenrosa. Who are you?”
“I’m just a knight of that marquisate.”
“Don’t lie.”
The princess smiled teasingly.
“If you were truly a knight of the Edenrosa marquis, you’d have delivered your information to them already.”
“Don’t you think they already know and sent me deliberately?”
“Do you not realize the weight of information spoken aloud? Sending someone who holds that information to me means you can negotiate big matters. Would you really entrust such a role to a rookie who joined less than a month ago? Make sense?”
“Fair point.”
I did not refute her words.
“No matter how you obtained the information, since you didn’t rush to tell that fool, it seems you don’t intend to make me an enemy.”
“Yes. I have no plans to align with the second prince, so no worries.”
“Good. So what do you want? A reward? If you swear loyalty to me, I can give something. But you’d have to reveal everything you know.”
Intense.
The princess hadn’t let her guard down, and her presence still pressed down on me. Her power drained me mentally, and fatigue crept in.
Still, I showed no weakness, smiling calmly as I said,
“One correction.”
“Go on.”
“I am not an individual. I am part of a group. Or rather, I am affiliated with a collective.”
‘Let’s go with the “group” angle. That will make them take you more seriously in negotiations. Being part of a collective gives weight.’
“I am here as a representative of that group, to propose an alliance.”
“An alliance?”
“Yes.”
“What can you offer us?”
I recalled what I had arranged with Mephisto.
‘My forces are not like those of other noble retainers or knights. They do not obey automatically and must always be treated with caution. Circumstances can change anytime. So we should focus on things we can guarantee—something they can verify immediately. That is—’
“Information.”
I stated this and took a sip of tea.
“Other support is possible if needed, but the most significant thing is information. As you know, we possess intelligence capable of tracking even the leader of the Black Lotus, a secret among secrets.”
“…Why negotiate with us?”
I couldn’t say, Because you’d lose otherwise.
So I shrugged nonchalantly, saying,
“Because I’m loyal, in my own way.”
The princess looked at me as if to say that was nonsense, but I ignored her.
If you reveal you’re not royalty and make a royal emperor, then yes—you are a loyal subject!
“The second prince has too many weaknesses to become emperor.”
“What weaknesses?”
Her eyes lit up with anticipation at my words, and I smiled.
“Well then, shall we discuss the terms of the contract?”
Trying to take advantage of me, the princess pouted, but she said no more.
“Alright. I understand what you hold. So, what do you want?”
“Two simple things.”
Details would need adjustment, but I continued,
“First, support our operations. We don’t ask for much. Just prevent others from backing opposing noble forces.”
“Hmm. Quite a sizable organization, then? If that’s all you want, fine. Using a proxy isn’t bad anyway, since I intended to manage the back lines myself.”
I nodded. I could ask for more, but it wasn’t good to be too entwined with the royal family.
By Mephisto’s plan, we would only use the royals as partners, minimizing variables. What he truly wanted was to secure power and clean up the empire’s back alleys. The hardest part for him was cutting the backing of those who acted recklessly, so removing those support lines was a huge advantage.
“And the second?”
I calmly replied, devoid of any emotional tone.
“I would appreciate it if you refrained from approaching the young marquis. Our alliance should suffice; there’s no need to push further.”
“Hmm. And if he falls for the second prince?”
“At least for the next three years, that won’t happen.”
Mabel’s romance route only opens three years from now.
Even if she started pursuing the marquis route in three years, not now. I spoke with strong conviction, trusting the young marquis’s unwavering heart.
“Absolutely.”
At this, the princess’s expression shifted slightly, then she chuckled playfully.
“You really like the young marquis, huh?”
What nonsense.
“Well… people sometimes act based on emotions. Keep trying your best.”
What is she even talking about?
