A Blend of Romance and Fantasy - Chapter 8

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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08.
“Did your conversation go well? What did you learn?”
William asked Leonard upon his return, as though he had been waiting for this very moment.
Leonard removed his gloves and tossed them onto the table as he spoke.
“We’ve arranged to have tea together tomorrow, just the two of us.”
“Has Your Highness truly been captivated by her face? The Princess must have poor judgment.”
Eric, who had been polishing his dagger nearby, asked in surprise, but Leonard dismissed him with a light wave.
William turned to Leonard with another question.
“Your Highness, does it seem the Princess already knows that we crossed the Lesher Desert?”
“She doesn’t appear to know. It was definitely the right move to test her. Or perhaps she’s simply pretending ignorance.”
Leonard settled onto the sofa, interlacing his fingers behind his neck.
“The Princess is the one who sought out and killed Knox Glaston, the Lord of Darkness. She warrants careful observation.”
“How in the world did the Princess discover the classified information that Knox Glaston was the Lord of Darkness?”
“As the custodian of the Royal Palace’s sacred relics, she likely possesses other artifacts we know nothing of.”
Leonard then straightened his posture and withdrew a piece of paper from his breast pocket.
The paper was covered in indecipherable characters, much like the parchment he had shown his subordinates before.
“The Princess possesses no divine power, yet she has taken the lead in resolving numerous incidents. Perhaps she is the most formidable—and most necessary—person we could have.”
His low, resonant voice echoed quietly through the Study, accompanied by an expression of utmost gravity and weight.
Yet that solemn countenance vanished in an instant, replaced by a sudden burst of laughter.
“Your Highness? What is the matter?”
“…No, nothing at all.”
The unexpected laughter caught both his subordinates and Leonard himself off guard.
He rose quickly from his seat and excused himself to the Bedroom under the pretense of changing clothes.
Yet the vivid image of that woman hastily rising from her seat continued to replay vividly in his mind.
—I cannot accept Your Highness’s proposal of marriage…
Was she a bundle of narcissism, or had she simply grown tired of receiving too many proposals? Or perhaps both?
Of course, that Princess was extraordinarily beautiful.
He had heard that Aurora the Saint was so beautiful as to blind the eyes, yet Charlotte the Princess was no less so.
Her cloud-like pink hair stirred an impulse to touch it. Her eyes, curved like a puppy’s and round and green, trembled like candy whenever he brushed against them.
As for her personality… he had heard it was in a different league from the princesses of other kingdoms, and it certainly seemed to be true.
She had even prepared to strike him when he continued laughing.
Charlotte was unaware, but Leonard had clearly noticed her clenching her fists within her sleeves.
—Brother, while Charlotte the Princess is indeed renowned for her beauty, she is equally famous for her eccentric personality. She is likely as formidable as the women of Blake.
It was the moment his younger brother’s words flashed through his mind like lightning before he departed.
Who in this entire world would dare strike a prince of another empire? They would slap his cheek and call it disrespectful, or summon their escort knights.
“…She didn’t seem like someone who would choose a husband at a birthday banquet.”
It seemed more fitting for her to gaze upon the vast world than to be confined to a small estate and domain, tending to its people.
Leonard shook his head lightly as these thoughts continued to flow.
“What am I even thinking? Did hearing William suggest I propose to her scramble my mind?”
Leonard finished changing his clothes and sat at his desk to review the documents he had yet to process.
* * *
A few hours later, Aurora visited the Princess Palace.
She rushed straight toward me and spoke without pause for breath.
“Charlotte. Don’t grow close to Leonard. If possible, avoid speaking with him before he departs.”
“Why?”
I had just enjoyed a pleasant conversation with him, and had even arranged tea with him for tomorrow, so I asked Aurora in bewilderment.
“Did the Owls tell you? He crossed the Lesher Desert with the Royal Guard. It seems there’s some reason behind it.”
“I heard that, but I learned it directly from Leonard himself, not from the Owls.”
Aurora blinked at me with an expression of utter disbelief, so I recounted everything that had transpired.
“Aurora, Leonard doesn’t seem like someone worth worrying so much about. He even gave me a gift.”
I retrieved the gift he had given me and handed it to Aurora.
“It’s a magic stone called the Tear of Delignon. They say I could craft powerful items with it.”
Since Sincester was a Holy Kingdom, its people relied more heavily on sacred relics, and Aurora, being the Saint, was naturally unfamiliar with magic stones.
“…Let me check if there’s any trap magic on it.”
Aurora raised her hand and placed it above the magic stone.
A golden butterfly materialized across the back of her hand, and soon golden threads extended from her fingertips, weaving into the magic stone.
It was Aurora’s distinctive holy power.
“Every time I see it, your holy power is so beautiful.”
“Huh? Oh…”
Aurora hastily withdrew her holy power, perhaps feeling apologetic for displaying it before me, who could not use such abilities.
But I truly didn’t mind at all.
I had lived without holy power for nine years, and besides, wasn’t it common knowledge that having power only entangled one in troublesome affairs?
“Aurora, there’s no magic cast on it, right?”
“No, but it’s even more suspicious. It seems like he revealed it to you to cover up being caught by the Owls.”
“Aren’t you being too suspicious? He merely crossed the Lesher Desert.”
“Still, he’s a prince of Blake. People from that nation must be suspected, and then suspected again.”
Aurora then grasped my hands tightly together.
“Charlotte. You’re certainly someone who will leave, so it’s right to forget the duties of the palace. But… honestly, I’m still sad about your travels.”
“Aurora.”
“You’re like a sister to me. Is there truly a reason you must go?”
“There… isn’t one.”
“There are plenty of handsome men in Sincester. His Majesty would even actively support the passage of the Monogamy Act through the Nobility Council if you didn’t leave.”
I admired Aurora’s kind heart, yet I felt sorry for her.
“I want handsome men from many different nations. And I must claim that through traveling the world.”
“I’m going to lose my mind.”
“I’m joking.”
I rose with a smile and approached Aurora’s side. I wrapped my arms tightly around her trembling shoulders, then whispered tenderly into her ear.
“The travels are only temporary. I’ll return to Sincester. After all, this is my home.”
“Charlotte.”
I placed my hands over Aurora’s and smiled gently once more.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“…I understand. There’s no helping it.”
Aurora sighed softly before gently grasping my hand once more.
“But even so, don’t let your guard down around the Sixth Prince. Keep your suspicions close.”
* * *
Having received a gift and made a promise, I couldn’t break my tea appointment with the Sixth Prince.
This wasn’t because he was particularly handsome.
I had once refused his visit while dressing, and declining again this time could escalate into a diplomatic incident.
Erdan also said it would be best to go this time.
I prepared expensive tea and refreshments on the beautiful Terrace in the Garden, then waited for the Sixth Prince.
However, he arrived exactly 34 minutes past our appointed time, which drew frowns from my attendants.
Just as I was about to say something, my mood souring, I noticed two Royal Palace Knights behind the Sixth Prince and my eyes widened.
“Your Highness, why are there Royal Palace Knights behind you?”
The Sixth Prince looked somewhat different from his confident demeanor yesterday. After hesitating briefly, he bit his lip before finally confessing.
“I… lost my way and received their assistance.”
“Really? Truly?”
As the Sixth Prince finished speaking, his face had flushed crimson, and this time it was I who burst into laughter.
“How could you possibly get lost in our Royal Palace? The Blake Empire is far larger, isn’t it? It must be ten times, no, twenty times the size of Sincester!”
“Let’s drop this subject. It’s not amusing.”
The Sixth Prince sat down with a displeased expression. His manner was sullen, yet I could only laugh.
Despite his massive frame—one that would make a boulder seem modest—the way he sipped his tea with an awkward, embarrassed air was utterly childlike.
‘Well, without a map application, it’s no wonder he got lost in such an enormous palace. The characters in novels must have antennas built into their heads, that’s for certain.’
His slightly flushed face was far too amusing and endearing.
I barely managed to conceal my continuing laughter behind my fan.
“Very well. I shall graciously forgive your tardiness.”
“…Thank you.”
The Sixth Prince expressed his gratitude reluctantly, and I found myself laughing once more.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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