CHAPTER 58…………
58. The Hero of Beled (3)
The father was still cold.
“I cannot forgive this. It’s beyond reckless—this has caused something truly grave.”
“I know that. But still!”
Teia Nestor should be grateful that she is still a child.
My petty mercy applies only to children.
‘Honestly, could she have imagined that her defiance would end like this?’
No one could have.
Her own little sister and friends nearly died; she must still be in shock.
…I may have been handing out the Saintess’s pardon too freely lately, but for now, she gets one.
“Father…”
“…”
“Father, it’s my wish…”
“…Haa.”
When I pleaded desperately, Father rubbed his brow roughly.
“We will revisit the matter of punishment later. You are spared only because the princess is too softhearted.”
“Th-thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Princess.”
Count Nestor blinked at me in surprise.
I jerked my chin at him.
‘Hey, don’t waste this chance. Take your leave quickly.’
At that moment, Teia glanced toward Ares and spoke.
“P-Prince Erebos, Princess. Lord Ismenios broke the window and rescued me.”
I turned to Ares at that.
“Oh, yes. Ares told me too! Ares!”
“Yes, Yo—Your Highness.”
“Lady Nestor seems to have something to say to you. Come here.”
“Hm…”
Ares’s eyes lit up when I called him.
Yet when he actually looked at Teia, his expression was utterly indifferent.
‘This brat…’
He would smile more brightly at a funny-looking pebble on the roadside.
‘He saved her, so why act like that? Really…’
From what Ares told me, Teia had been closest to the window.
So when the building started to shake, Ares smashed the glass and carried her out, injuring himself in the process.
Teia hesitated, then bowed her head deeply.
“Th-thank you… Lord Ismenios.”
“Don’t thank… me. Why don’t you thank him instead?”
“…Pardon?”
I, too, widened my eyes at Ares’s words.
First I was relieved—at least he had used honorific speech.
But him?
“That dark-skinned, tall boy. The one who shielded Selina Nestor from the falling rocks.”
At his words, I clapped my hands.
“Ah! Minthe helped save him at that time!”
The human boy with green eyes and Selina had been the last ones pulled out.
I had wondered why they were together!
‘So he was helping Selina and ended up tumbling deeper underground.’
Teia flinched at my words.
Count Nestor answered in her stead.
“If you mean the successor of Lord Creusa, I have already sent our thanks.”
“But what about you, Lady Teia?”
At my pressing, Teia went pale.
I already knew, from Ares, what had happened before the shop collapsed.
‘She had been making hateful remarks to that human boy.’
And yet, that very boy ended up saving Selina Nestor.
When I stared at her, Teia clenched her dress hem.
“I—I was staying by my sister’s side, so I didn’t go to thank him…”
“Really? But Selina is well now, isn’t she?”
“Th-that is—”
“If Father won’t punish you, then at least do that much.”
I spoke as gently as I could, hoping I didn’t sound like a nagging elder.
‘But didn’t he save Sir Nestor’s horns too?’
A word of gratitude was the least she could offer in return.
At my nagging, Teia looked torn with inner conflict.
“I understand that you grieve for your lost friends.”
“…”
“…Shall I go with you, then?”
“…What?”
“Because maybe he’ll also—”
I glanced up at Father.
With the Lord of Tartarus here, any serious merchant from the Creusa guild would surely come to pay respects.
At my look, Father gave a small nod.
“They will be here soon. The Creusa guild is foremost even in the southern lands.”
Ah, I see. If they rank foremost even among the rich southern nations…
‘That makes them a major power. Diplomatic as well…’
Had those children trapped underground not been saved—?
The consequences would have gone far beyond mere loss of life. I shuddered to imagine it.
But I hid such thoughts and smiled brightly at the nervous girl.
“Then, let’s wait together here!”
“Th-that…!”
“It’s fine, right?”
“Uh… Y-yes, Your Highness…”
This time, Teia had no choice but to obey me.
After the audience with the nobles ended,
it was time for the foreigners to be received.
And as expected, the first to arrive was the Creusa guild family.
When the canopy was lifted, a human father and son with black hair, olive-toned skin, and green eyes approached.
It was the head of the Creusa guild, lord of the Illiod trade routes, and his son, Laocoon.
‘They really do have the look of a sea kingdom.’
Their pleated robes and gold bracelets exuded the air of a hot country.
Laocoon—was he fourteen this year?
The way he observed me was polite, but sharp as well.
Before I could study him further, the guildmaster greeted us gracefully.
“I greet the great King of the Demons.”
“It has been a long time since I saw you up close, Lord Creusa.”
“It is an honor to appear again at the royal court on such a joyous occasion. Above all, we are deeply grateful to the princess for her precious grace.”
Truly a merchant—smooth-tongued.
Then his attendants brought forward heavy chests one by one.
From within them… treasures finely wrought gleamed.
‘Wow…’
Even I, used to jewels as a princess, was stunned by their splendor.
“And for this matter, our royal house has also commanded us to present thanks to the princess.”
“These are works wrought by magicians.”
“Prince Erebos, you recognized them. May they bring no lack to the princess.”
I bit my lip hard to keep my jaw from dropping.
‘So many artifacts?!’
Jewels alone were precious enough.
But magical artifacts were not merely decorative—they held true power.
‘Even a small one could buy a castle!’
The guildmaster and Laocoon bowed again toward me.
“Thank you for saving my son and the other children, Princess of Erebos. We will not forget this grace.”
“I’m glad everyone is safe. And also—”
I glanced at Ares and Callion.
Teia, caught between them, flinched at my look.
‘As expected, with the adults watching so openly, she’s uncomfortable.’
I signaled subtly to Ares and Callion.
‘Bring Teia along—you two as well.’
For once, I wriggled out of Father’s arms.
…I could swear he deliberately tightened his hold, but I’d rather think that was my imagination.
Not long after, five of us stood behind the canopy.
Myself, Callion, Ares.
“Um, Princess of the Demons…? Why have you called me aside?”
Then a somewhat puzzled Laocoon Creusa.
And finally, the still-hesitant Teia Nestor.
Ares stood with arms crossed, wearing a deeply annoyed face.
“You’re not going to speak first?”
“I will! Don’t be so rude, my lord!”
“Ha. The sun’s about to set on today’s business and—”
“Shut it, gnat…”
Callion nudged Ares’s foot—probably telling him to pipe down.
Teia also looked resentfully at Ares.
But my signals, combined with her own shame, left her flustered and wavering.
‘It feels a bit cruel to pressure her, so I’ll go first.’
I had something to say to this boy as well.
“Lady Teia! Then, I’ll speak first, okay?”
“P-Princess?”
“Hey, Creusa.”
I turned to the tall boy towering over me.
Then I lifted my skirt hem slightly and bent my knees in a curtsey.
Ares, who had been grumbling, froze. So did Callion, who had been glaring at him.
This was the greatest show of gratitude I could give.
“Thank you for saving Selina, a child of this land.”
“Uh…”
“As Princess of Tartarus, I give you my thanks.”
Laocoon brushed his lips with his hand, looking a bit troubled.
But not displeased. Rather…
‘That’s the expression of someone who stumbled across a gold coin lying on the street.
