Deadline Is Raining in the Status Window - Chapter 154

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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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“Her Highness is still preparing.”
Well, I did arrive early. Judging from the towel and robe the Bachelor had given me, Cecilia was still bathing. As I passed young Seian Mark Two and Mark Three, heading toward the noblewoman’s bathing chamber, I spotted several ordinary-looking Imperial Palace attendants.
So there are people here who don’t wear those things. Perhaps all the Imperial Palace attendants staged a protest against wearing them. It would be difficult to work in those, after all.
“Please don’t say anything stupid today.”
“I’ve never said anything stupid.”
“Of course you haven’t.”
“Ah, today our clothes look like a matching couple’s outfit.”
“That’s exactly what I mean by stupid.”
I barely managed to say it. I thought she wouldn’t tease me today and we’d just move on. I continued walking, secretly pleased with myself. As I walked, the surroundings grew increasingly humid. The air touching my face was damp. How far was I supposed to go?
“How much farther do we need to go?”
“Quiet.”
Damn it, does your highness really need someone standing guard while she bathes?! I wanted to escape this imperial spectacle. Before my eyes, a naked Cecilia lay leisurely in the bathtub, receiving bathing attendants.
“You came.”
“I did.”
As I answered Cecilia’s greeting, the Bachelor struck the back of my head. He was telling me to watch my words, but Cecilia said it was fine and gestured to an attendant. I had no idea what that hand signal meant, but the attendant understood perfectly, placing a bathing sponge in my hands and taking the towel and robe from me.
“So I just scrub?”
“You’ve never done this before?”
“Well…”
Apart from wrapping Mother’s head instead of washing it when she hurt her hand in Ilam, and washing a dog as a part-time job, I had no experience with bathing attendants. When I stated the truth plainly, the Bachelor hit the back of my head again. It didn’t hurt much, so it was fine. In fact, it was rather pleasant. Being struck by the Bachelor bothered me less than the joy of having angered him.
“So this is your first experience.”
“Please, choose your words carefully.”
Could you select your vocabulary more thoughtfully? I’m uncomfortable being called a first-time participant. When I scrunched up my face, the Bachelor let out a chuckle. This was the first time I’d seen him laugh like that.
It seemed this wasn’t a common occurrence, as Cecilia made an odd expression before speaking.
“It’s been a long time since that child laughed.”
“He must have had little reason to laugh.”
“How much longer will you indulge this cuteness?”
That was a warning not to push my luck. I kept my mouth shut as Cecilia wished and continued moving my hands. Well, I’d just wash her the same way I wash myself. After scrubbing between my fingers and cleaning my nails thoroughly, I worked up a lather and rubbed it across my body. Apparently it was quite pleasant, as Cecilia offered her assessment.
“You’re quite good at this for a first time.”
“I tend to manage whatever comes my way.”
As I shrugged, I felt the Bachelor’s glare from behind me. It was the kind of energy that wanted to strike the back of my head.
“That’s fortunate.”
What’s fortunate about that? When this woman says something’s fortunate, it’s bound to be bad for me. I had a strong premonition, and the woman tilted her body, leaning her face against the edge of the bathtub to face me directly.
What sin did I commit in my past life to deserve attending to the bath of a naked royal family member and being forced to witness a body I didn’t want to see?
“Have you any experience commanding troops?”
“None.”
How could I? It’s common sense.
“Then it would be best to start with a small force.”
What on earth was she planning to make me do? I waited anxiously without uttering a word, but Cecilia deliberately tormented me with a prolonged silence. Only when I was rising from the bath did she finally continue.
“I will order the Baron of Ilam to subjugate the Serpent King’s Tower.”
“That’s impossible.”
Setting aside my personal connection with Gerth, it was realistically impossible for me. I couldn’t defeat Gerth, and I knew the full military strength of the Serpent King’s Tower. No matter how many soldiers I threw at it, I couldn’t capture the Serpent King. It would be a meaningless death and a waste of resources.
Cecilia rinsed her body, and as this bathing labor seemed to be nearing its end, I was washing the soap from my hands when the woman approached me with her bare body, pressing her finger firmly against my lips.
“That’s not for you to judge.”
“….”
“Receiving an order means doing what you’re told.”
I really hate this woman.

While Cecilia took her time getting ready, I went into a small room to rest and ended up dozing off. The Bachelor woke me by kicking my feet, and when I opened my eyes, the sun was setting. It was about time to leave.
“Wipe your drool.”
So I had drooled while sleeping. I reflexively raised my arm to wipe it with my sleeve, but the Bachelor hit my head again.
“Have you awakened to sadistic tendencies?”
“Use a handkerchief. You’ll dirty your clothes.”
“Ah.”
Right, such a thing existed. I rummaged through my pockets and realized I had no handkerchief, so I extended my hand to the Bachelor.
“You carry around strange books but don’t bother with a handkerchief?”
“I’ll have it cleaned and return it to you.”
“Not necessary.”
“Then I’ll place it by my pillow every day and use it to hear lullabies.”
The Bachelor pulled out a handkerchief and irritably scrubbed my face before tossing it in the trash. What a waste of resources.
“Don’t use handkerchiefs like disposable items. Do you know how much human effort goes into making even one?”
“It’s a mass-produced item.”
“Just because it’s made in a factory doesn’t mean human hands never touch it!”
Cutting fabric, measuring, operating sewing machines—people do all of it! Do you know how dangerous cutting machines and pressing machines are? I nearly lost my right hand doing that work!
When I spoke with passion and anger, the Bachelor’s expression hardened before he retrieved the handkerchief from the trash and called for young Seian Crowell Mark Three, instructing him to send it to the laundry. This Bachelor actually makes sense after all.
“What about the book you brought?”
“The Crown Princess has already reviewed it. Duke Zibenstein will be detained at the Imperial Political Detention Facility for four days.”
Wow, she figured out it was Bruno at a glance. The Crown Princess really lives up to her title. At my genuine admiration, the Bachelor shrugged and grew enthusiastic praising Cecilia.
“Bruno Kenin uses multiple pen names. The Crown Princess identified the culprit without even opening the book.”
“It seemed like he put effort into it. I should read it at least once.”
“You of all people know it’s not worth paying attention to.”
That’s… true. Especially for someone who’s essentially the final boss of the Imperial Court, there would be no need to even open such a rudimentary book. She would have already studied it thoroughly just to reject it.
“By the way, you’ll also be detained for one day on charges of being an eyesore.”
“….”
I’m going to kill Duke Zibenstein.
As I clenched my fists in frustration, the Bachelor looked incredibly pleased. Taking pleasure in others’ misfortune was a bad habit. I was about to offer him some small advice for his own good when we arrived at Cecilia’s chamber. Dressed in a black gown, Cecilia gleamed brilliantly dark and lustrous as always.
“You’re beautiful.”
No matter who the other person is, beauty is beauty. The dead black eyes and the simple design of the dress harmonized to create a beauty that inspired awe—like that of the Grim Reaper herself. As I rambled on about specifically how beautiful Cecilia was, those attending to her grooming turned pale, and Cecilia opened her fan to cover her mouth.
“You’re obsessed with beauty, aren’t you?”
“….”
“You’re just like the Eldest Daughter of Neftis.”
“….”
Did I just shoot myself in the foot? I couldn’t tell if this woman knew my true identity and was toying with me, or if she was genuinely unaware. And if she did know, I had no idea what scheme she was orchestrating. So I had no choice but to hold my tongue.
“I’ll be going now.”
She just left without saying another word?! This was even more agonizing. Did this woman spend every day researching new ways to torment me?! What was this about?! Why did she have to bring up Neftis?!
Whether I tore my hair out or not, the woman boarded her carriage toward the Separate Palace, while I was hastily crumpled up by the Bachelor’s hands and thrown into another carriage. Once we arrived at the Separate Palace, the Bachelor carefully smoothed me out again and positioned me in front of the carriage where Cecilia was about to descend. When I politely extended my hand, Cecilia took it as she stepped down from the carriage. Duke Zibenstein must have already arrived by now.
The thought that his presence would surely have caused a commotion made me use my superhuman hearing at full capacity, and I picked up chatter about someone presumed to be Dr. Bruno. It seemed the man had actually come to the party venue in a pumpkin carriage.
“How disagreeable.”
The details were relayed to us by Cecilia’s subordinates who had arrived at the Separate Palace first. Not only had Duke Zibenstein drawn attention by arriving in a pumpkin carriage, but he was apparently also promoting Princess Sera at the party that Cecilia was hosting.
The woman who seemed incapable of showing emotion about anything now spoke of displeasure—it made her seem rather human.
“So you do say such things.”
“I have feelings too.”
“I never would have guessed.”
As I expressed genuine surprise, Cecilia snapped her fan shut and jabbed my ribs repeatedly. What was this? Was she hinting that she’d stab me to death?
“Is that a hint that you’ll stab me to death?”
“You’re being sulky.”
What was she talking about? I felt an astringent bitterness rise in me, and I did my best to express it through my face. But the Bachelor stepped hard on my foot, signaling that it was time to make my entrance, so I stopped.
Even though the attendants loudly announced Cecilia’s arrival, the party venue remained in complete disarray. Everyone was crowding around, curious about Duke Zibenstein’s companion, asking all manner of questions, and they didn’t disperse even when the host of the party appeared.
I sighed at this truly irreverent sight, then was startled to realize I was actually thinking this way, so I slapped my own cheek.
Ugh! Why was I so thoroughly immersed in the role of Cecilia’s retainer that I was getting irritated?!
“Allow me to introduce you. This is the Baron of Ilam.”
Cecilia’s charisma was indeed formidable. Despite her voice not being particularly loud, the nobles gathered around Duke Zibenstein rushed toward us in a wave. Among them was Letem, whose voice was exceptionally loud, and in the distance, my father watching me with satisfaction. Of course, by “father” I meant my actual father, not Duke Zibenstein. He must have attended deliberately because I was standing next to beautiful people, next to beautiful people, next to beautiful people.

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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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