Chapter 7: The Age of Ordeals (1)
Mariana, breathing heavily, strode up to Seirin, shielding her and glaring sharply at Princess Pesopotemia, then whipped her head toward Kasel.
“A consort? Who says!”
“Marie. Calm down. Behave as a princess should.”
“Behave? Kasel! Repeat what you just said! Who’s becoming whose consort?”
“Sigh. I said calm down.”
“How am I supposed to be calm!”
Her voice rang so loudly that everyone nearby instinctively covered their ears.
“Mariana.”
“That…….”
Sensing from Kasel’s hardened expression and low tone that he was truly angry, Mariana bowed her head deeply.
“We’ll leave you to it. Handle things as you wish. Shall we go, Seirin? I brought cookies to eat with you.”
“Thank you, Princess Pesopotemia.”
Seirin found Princess Pesopotemia, who liked her excessively, burdensome as well, but to escape Princess Tipetoria who looked ready to devour her and the clingy Crown Prince, Princess Pesopotemia was the perfect excuse, so she started walking.
“Oh my! The Heir of Cherbel is here too! It’s been a while!”
“Princess Pesopotemia, Your Highness. Have you been well?”
“Hahaha~ Of course! You’ve had your coming-of-age ceremony, right?”
“Yes.”
“Ah~ What a shame. My carriage broke down on the way here.”
“A-are you alright?”
“Oh my! Are you worried about me, Seirin?”
“Of course—”
“I’m so happy!!!”
“Mmmpf!”
Every time Seirin was hugged, she struggled to breathe, trapped in the princess’s voluptuous chest, and the pain in her waist from being squeezed tightly made her cry out inside.
‘I’m dying! Seriously!’
Frankly, Princess Pesopotemia was not a benefit to Seirin either. If the clingy Crown Prince and the ever-glowering Princess Tipetoria tormented her mentally, this princess tormented her physically, even threatening her life without realizing it.
“Your Highness, please let go of Seirin.”
“Oh my~ Sorry, Seirin! I was so happy to see you after so long, I couldn’t control myself. Haha~ Anyway, as you can see, I’m perfectly fine. No need to worry.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Ah! What a shame! I really wanted to celebrate your coming-of-age and dance with you.”
“Just meeting you here makes me happy, Princess.”
“See! That’s why I can’t help but adore you, Seirin! You’re going back to the ducal residence, right? Is that why you’re out here?”
“Ah, well. His Majesty the Emperor has asked me to stay at the palace for a day. I’ll be staying with Noah. We’ll be joining Their Majesties for breakfast tomorrow.”
“Oh~ I see. Then let’s greet His Majesty and talk all night in the room I’ll be staying in! While eating the cookies I made.”
Seirin wanted to wash away today’s accumulated fatigue with a bath and sleep, but she couldn’t refuse the princess’s wishes, so she smiled and replied that it would be an honor, though she was crying inside.
“Your Highness.”
“What is it, Heir of Cherbel? Oh, do you want to join us? Sorry, but I want to spend time alone with Seirin. It’s been so long. So Gerard, you don’t come in either.”
“Sigh, understood.”
After bowing and lifting his head, Gerard sighed, making Eizel glare at him, then she faced Noah.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
“Seirin must be very tired from her coming-of-age ceremony. Also, she used Heal on the injured Crown Prince. As you know, Your Highness, Seirin needs proper rest after using Heal.”
“Seirin, what happened that you used Heal on that guy?”
“Well, I… While dancing with His Highness, I accidentally stepped on his instep… so badly that…”
“What! Are you out of your mind! How dare you injure the body of the Empire’s Crown Prince!”
“I apologize.”
Seirin didn’t want to bow her head to Princess Tipetoria who always seemed ready to eat her alive, but she had no choice. When she lifted her head, she saw for the first time the Crown Prince’s chillingly cold expression, which made her shudder.
“Mariana.”
“Why, why are you looking at me like that… Lady Damarania!”
“Lady Damarania didn’t step on my foot on purpose.”
‘Ah, I feel guilty.’
“Do you have to embarrass her in front of everyone?”
“But! Kasel! Lady Damarania stepped on your foot so badly it bled!”
“It’s already healed, thanks to her.”
He smiled and winked at her, so Seirin exhaled and smiled back. At that moment, she looked at Princess Tipetoria, whose eyes were filled with murderous intent, and inwardly scoffed, thinking her eyes might pop out.
“If we’re done talking, we’ll head in now. Seirin, after greeting Their Majesties, how about sleeping together in my room?”
“I couldn’t possibly share a room with you, Princess Pesopotemia…”
“What does it matter~ Between us. We’ll go first then.”
As Eizel led Seirin away, flicking her tongue, Kasel let out a sigh full of irritation as they disappeared, and glared at Noah, who was sticking close to Seirin, then turned to Mariana, who called his name.
“Do you really intend to make Lady Damarania your consort?”
“Yes.”
“Ha! Lady Damarania has rejected you for twelve years! Don’t you have any pride? She looks down on you! Even Their Majesties do! Why do they dote on her so much!”
“…….”
Mariana, who was ranting in frustration, shuddered as she met Kasel’s emotionless gaze, and stepped back, asking with a trembling voice,
“Why are you looking at me like that? Say something!”
“Don’t touch her.”
“What!”
“This isn’t a request, it’s a warning. Mariana Tipetoria. If you lay a hand on Seirin, I’ll never forgive you.”
“Ka-Kasel…”
Mariana sat on the ground, watching Kasel walk away, tears welling in her eyes.
“Your Highness.”
Looking up at the knight Ledia, who approached and offered her hand, Mariana wiped her tears with her sleeve and shook off her hand, standing up.
“You think I’ll give up just because of this! Never… Never! I won’t give up! Just watch! The more you protect that girl, Kasel, the more I’ll fight back! Just you wait!”
As the princess stormed off toward the palace, Ledia quietly followed, feeling a headache and pressing her forehead.
‘I wish she’d just go back quietly…’
But seeing the princess’s rough behavior, Ledia could only sigh deeply.
***
As soon as Kasel entered the room, he was blocked by Sein, his friend and Seirin’s brother, who had come to the palace earlier.
“What is it, Sein?”
“I need to talk to you for a moment, Kasel.”
Kasel followed Sein to a quiet spot, knowing what he wanted to discuss, and watched him with folded arms.
“No matter how much power my beloved sister has, even if she has Heal, her opponent is the daughter of a witch who practiced black magic.”
“…….”
“Of course, Kasel, I know you won’t put Rin in danger. But… She has no defense against black magic.”
“…….”
“Kasel.”
“There is a way.”
“What?”
“White magic.”
“White magic?”
Kasel nodded at Sein’s puzzled question.
“No one has mastered it yet—it’s truly the realm of the gods. If I learn white magic, I can protect Seirin. Against black magic or anything else.”
“But you already possess the power of fire. Unless you’re a Grand Mage or of that bloodline, you can only master one kind of magic…”
“I’ll learn it somehow. There’s nothing I won’t do for Seirin.”
Sein shook his head at Kasel’s fiery determination to protect his sister, then put a hand on his shoulder.
“I acknowledge your feelings for Seirin. But if my beloved sister is endangered by Princess Tipetoria, or if her life is threatened, I won’t forgive either of you.”
“I swear.”
Kasel struck his chest with a clenched fist, and Sein smiled.
“By the way, that Noah kid seems pretty determined.”
“…….”
Sein tapped Kasel’s shoulders.
“You can’t lose to someone five years younger, Your Highness.”
“Of course not. Winning Seirin’s heart isn’t something that Heir of the Marquis, the pervy princess, or even the twin cousins can do. Only I, Kasel Redéan Theodore, can.”
Feeling the heat radiating from Kasel, Sein fanned him and continued,
“Kasel, please take it easy. I’ve told you before, when my beloved Rin gets stressed, she shows symptoms of anemia.”
“Ah, I know.”
“And… about Princess Tipetoria too.”
“Don’t worry, Sein. I’ll definitely protect Seirin from all of them.”
‘Though Seirin finds you more annoying.’
Unable to voice the truth, Sein just patted his shoulder.
***
Meanwhile, Seirin, upon entering the room where she’d spend the night with Princess Pesopotemia, couldn’t refuse her invitation to bathe together, so she entered the bath and sat facing her in the tub.
‘Why does she keep staring at me like that? Seriously!’
Seirin curled up even more. Seeing the princess staring at her only insecurity—her chest, which was too flat to be considered adult—made her even more uncomfortable, and she desperately wanted to leave.
“Seirin.”
“Yes, Princess.”
“You really have no chest.”
‘She said it outright!!!’
Seirin forced a smile and nodded, her heart stinging.
“Don’t worry! I love your flat chest too!”
“…….”
“And! I can help make your flat chest a little more voluminous.”
“R-really?! Ah, no… I mean…”
“How can you be so adorable~ My lovely Seirin!”
“P-Princess! I—”
Even as fellow women, the sensation of bare skin was intense, and as the princess boldly touched her only insecurity, Seirin screamed.
“I heard if you massage it like this, it’ll grow. This cute, flat chest.”
“P-Princess! This is too much!”
“Haha! Don’t worry. I’m just helping you overcome your only flaw, without any ulterior motives.”
But her eyes were full of mischief, and seeing the princess drooling, Seirin shuddered.
‘Why is she doing this to me!’
Sadly, she did not know…
That the age of ordeals had begun….
Translator
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