Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 177

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 177

I hastily pulled back my hand that had been reaching toward Cheri as if I’d been burned.

‘How can he have such a nonchalant expression?’

Fanning my flushed face, I glared at Cheri, who remained as calm as if he’d merely asked about the weather.

It was all because of Cheri that I ended up holding the folding fan again after deactivating the translator and throwing it aside.

Yet this buggy AI-like human stubbornly stared only at my hand and asked.

“Marquess’s Daughter, would it be alright if I held your hand?”

“…”

“I’m worried you might misstep on the stairs.”

Just look at that innocent face, as if he had no ulterior motives whatsoever.

Feeling inexplicably indignant, I reluctantly took his hand and descended the carriage stairs.

* * *

After being guided by a servant to the banquet hall.

I hesitated upon seeing the scene beyond the opening doors. I had certainly arrived neither too late nor too early, considering the appointed time.

Contrary to my expectation that there would be several early guests, the only one occupying the room was the Crown Prince, the host of the banquet.

“Am I the first to arrive?”

“And also the last guest.”

The last? Does that mean I’m the only one invited to this banquet?

Unable to hide my bewilderment as I approached the banquet table, Mikhail graciously pulled out my chair himself.

“Please, have a seat, Marquess.”

He spoke in a playful tone while smiling, but for a moment, chills ran down my spine.

‘What’s this? Why is he smiling like that?’

I could tell immediately that Mikhail was different from usual.

That smile just now was his political smile.

He would make exactly that face during meetings while gently verbally defeating his opponents, and those who experienced it said it felt like their blood was draining.

I quickly racked my brain.

‘I haven’t heard that the Queen made any moves after the Nobility Council meeting.’

‘Perhaps it’s an issue regarding the King’s health.’

While imagining the worst possible scenarios, Mikhail, who had taken his seat across from me, opened his mouth with a gentle expression.

“Belinda, why are you so tense?”

“Because Your Highness is smiling menacingly.”

“You’re the only one who calls my smile menacing.”

“That’s truly unfortunate.”

I answered primly and picked up my fork.

However, Mikhail didn’t readily reveal the purpose of inviting me.

Then, when the main dish was served, he finally brought up the Nobility Council meeting.

“To be honest, not being able to nominate Count Partel as Chief Justice candidate was quite a painful defeat. Who could have predicted that black magic crimes would occur in the Count’s estate?”

As soon as Mikhail finished speaking, we both sighed simultaneously.

As a result, the judiciary fell into the Queen’s hands, but fortunately, we were able to fill the positions below with royalist figures who had no connection to Count Partel without delay.

It was thanks to Ophelia quickly informing me of the black magic crime news.

“So this is a consolation banquet of sorts. There’s no point in regretting what’s already passed, right?”

Finally, the tension left my stiff shoulders.

I relaxed and began discussing politics lightly, as we would during our casual conversations about various topics.

Perhaps thanks to the excellent meal and rather strong wine.

As the peaceful atmosphere continued like a dinner with a friend, Mikhail tilted his wine glass and asked as if something had just occurred to him.

“I heard Leo Blanche is taking the summer class again this year. Since he takes first place every time he changes classes, the Academy must be quite bustling.”

“He’s already excited about taking classes with his close friends.”

As soon as Leo became the topic of conversation, my mouth became busy. I knew I was being like a doting parent, but I simply couldn’t stop talking.

While I was passionately explaining how special, cute, and lovable Leo was, Mikhail gently interrupted and suggested.

“If he’s such a special child, then yes. How about receiving higher quality education instead of Academy education?”

“Pardon?”

“Actually, I’m separately sponsoring talented children. It’s a very special opportunity to learn swordsmanship from a Sword Saint instead of studying at the Academy.”

As soon as Mikhail finished speaking with a smile, a Quest window appeared before my eyes.

[Quest] The Royal Family’s Ancient Duty

Crown Prince Mikhail takes notice of the ‘Star of the Hero’s’ talent.

Accept his sponsorship to become the Sword Saint’s top disciple for one year and achieve excellent results.

*Quest completion reward: Stamina +100, Royal Protection, Intermediate Swordsmanship Skill acquisition

[Accept/Decline]

Wow, this appeared.

I blinked and looked up at the Quest window that had suddenly appeared.

‘The Royal Family’s Ancient Duty’ was a Quest where the Crown Prince began his full-scale activities as the Star of the Hero’s sponsor.

This Quest had several unlock conditions: first, completing the ‘Meeting with the Crown Prince’ event.

Second, the protagonist must have awakened their aura.

Third, achieving first place at the Academy for two consecutive years or winning first place in swordsmanship competitions.

Though I had somehow satisfied all conditions, in the game, this was a Quest that the Star of the Hero could barely unlock at age fifteen, promising abundant rewards.

So this was essentially a big event that absolutely shouldn’t be missed.

But…

“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t particularly want to raise Leo as a special child.”

That was the game’s story.

Perhaps not expecting me to refuse so firmly, Mikhail hesitated briefly before speaking again.

“You haven’t properly heard the details yet. How about listening to more specifics and making a careful decision? It might help Leo’s future.”

As Mikhail said, accepting his sponsorship for Leo’s future wouldn’t be bad. This was also connected to the Quest of becoming Royal Knight Commander.

But I answered in a firm tone to convey that there was no room for persuasion on this matter.

“Leo is currently enjoying his Academy life to the fullest. Now he prefers playing with friends over attending classes, and recently he came to understand that he can’t get along with everyone.”

Listening to Leo’s daily routine after dinner had become my daily pleasure lately.

Leo’s days were so colorful that just listening to them made me feel as if I was being compensated for my lost childhood.

“If I accepted Your Highness’s offer, Leo would probably become more outstanding than anyone. But at the same time, he would forever lose memories that can only be gained at his current age. Therefore, I decline Your Highness’s offer.”

I thought I had handled it quite firmly.

However, the Quest window before my eyes didn’t disappear. As if it wouldn’t accept my refusal.

It was then that I realized something was strange.

The Quest window aside, deep disappointment appeared on Mikhail’s face at my words.

Then he gestured to dismiss all the servants who had been attending to the meal.

Though only the servants filling the vast dining hall had disappeared, I couldn’t distinguish whether this place was a banquet hall or a meeting room confronting the nobility faction.

Because Mikhail’s attitude and expression were more ‘Crown Prince’-like than ever.

“Your Highness?”

At my call, Mikhail responded with a deep sigh instead of words, then asked in a low voice.

“Belinda, can’t you reconsider?”

With those words, I suddenly realized that Mikhail had invited me precisely for this moment.

He was clinging to Leo’s education issue to a strange degree.

“Before I give my opinion, isn’t there something Your Highness should explain?”

“…”

“You’re hiding something from me. If so, this isn’t fair. Especially since I’m particularly sharp when it comes to matters involving Leo.”

A tension of unknown purpose began flowing between Mikhail and me.

Mikhail was the first to step back.

“Belinda, do you remember the conviction I spoke of before?”

“Yes, I remember.”

Though it was a very long time ago, I could never forget.

The day I first met him, when I asked what reason there would be if his sword were ever pointed at me, he answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“When you stand in the way of my beliefs, I will point my sword at you. And I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

“What are Your Highness’s beliefs?”

“Preventing destruction.”

He spoke with the same sharp gaze as that day, as if searching for monsters lurking in the darkness below the balcony.

“When I spoke of destruction that day, it wasn’t any exaggeration or metaphorical expression.”

His eyes, which I had always thought were like spring buds, darkened. Like an ancient forest slowly rotting while harboring enormous secrets.

“There’s a certain book kept in the palace archives. That book, called a prophecy, was written about 700 years ago, and amazingly, it has prophesied the major events of the kingdom.”

I found myself entering the Crown Prince’s forest of secrets without any preparation, just like when I had entered the Barrier Forest.

“However, that book also had a final page. Can you guess how it ended?”

The endings of prophecy books are usually quite similar. When there’s nothing left to prophesy, the prophecy book ends, and that means…

“It must have foretold destruction.”

“Right. Six years from now, some disaster will befall this kingdom. That disaster will become the beginning of destruction that burns the continent.”

Six years was too near a future, making it sound rather unreal.

Six years.

‘When Leo will be barely eighteen…’

Suddenly, something like an ominous premonition flashed through my mind.

I wanted to jump up from my seat immediately and run away.

However, barely suppressing that urge, I asked in a dry voice.

“What does that prophecy have to do with Leo?”

“The prophecy book described a hero who would prevent the disaster. It speaks of that person exactly like this.”

I had wondered about it quite occasionally. Why was 【Heartbeat Hero Maker】 specifically a ‘Hero’ Maker?

As if the protagonist…

“‘The one chosen by the Star of the Hero will prevent destruction.'”

As if there was a reason he absolutely had to become a hero.

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