How I Ended Up Becoming the Imperial Princess While Trying to Pay Off an Illegal Loan - Chapter 16

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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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016.
“Second unit, all of you follow my lead!”
Kalen had already swung into the saddle and moved out with the second unit, while Leon raised his hand toward the Leader and the refugees.
“Wait a few days, and I’ll bring you word of victory. Don’t worry yourselves.”
“We trust in you, Your Highness. Thank you, truly!”
“Then shall we be off?”
Leon and the first unit mounted their horses with grim determination etched across their faces.
* * *
“With the Second Prince gone from the Capital, I can finally breathe properly.”
Duke Dupon settled back into his desk chair with a languid ease, a thin smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“How convenient that he empties the Capital of his own accord.”
Upon hearing news that a Large-type Monster had appeared in the Cades Belt, the Second Prince Leon had taken nearly the entire Griffin Squad—save for a few messengers—and ridden south.
Each time he returned from slaying Monsters, public opinion of him swung favorably in his direction, which rankled Dupon deeply. This time, however, would be different.
“My lord, I bring a report!”
His subordinate arrived with news at precisely the right moment.
“A swarm of Monsters has finally appeared on the southern outskirts of the Capital.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Yes, my lord. A mixed group of Small-type and Medium-type Monsters. I confirmed it with my own eyes.”
“And you’ve drawn them toward the Capital as planned?”
“We brought abundant Belar Flowers to heighten their nature, so they should arrive in a frenzy.”
“Excellent work. You’ve done well.”
Dupon, now in high spirits, pressed a gold coin into his subordinate’s palm and sent him on his way.
“Leon will need at least ten days to return.”
Even at a gallop, the journey to the Cades Belt took two days one way.
The Griffin Squad could dispatch Medium-type Monsters with ease, but the Large-type was the concern.
If fortune turned against them—or rather, if it turned too favorably—some members of the Griffin Squad would fall to the Large-type’s claws.
“And Leon’s own strength would be diminished all the more.”
Dupon sprang from his chair and threw open the office windows wide.
The Capital stretched before him in what appeared to be perfect peace. A cool breeze brushed across his face, and his spirits rose further.
“If Leon himself were to face the Large-type and meet his end—that would be ideal indeed.”
It was then.
The office door burst open, and a different subordinate rushed in with an expression of panic, dropping to a bow before him.
“Disaster, my lord! The Lady of Arderin—that is, the Crown Princess Tamia—has departed for the Cades Belt as well!”
“Why in the world would Tamia go south?”
The smile that had lingered on Dupon’s face moments before vanished, replaced by a murderous expression.
“It appears…she has only just joined the Griffin Squad, my lord.”
“What?”
Rage surged through the Duke. He seized the Crystal Paperweight from his desk and hurled it.
Crash!
The subordinate couldn’t dodge in time; blood streamed from his forehead where it struck.
“Why didn’t you report this at once!”
“Because, my lord, we have only just learned of it ourselves—”
“Out! Get out of my sight!”
Clutching his bleeding brow, the subordinate fled from the office as though his life depended on it.
Dupon watched him go with undisguised displeasure before slumping back into his chair.
“Tamia, your death is not yet due. You must survive at least another year.”
He ground his teeth audibly.
It had taken considerable effort to drag the Count of Arderin—a man indifferent to politics—all the way to the Capital.
But if something were to happen to Tamia now?
‘A man of his temperament would return to his county at once.’
He could not afford to lose the card he held so firmly in his grasp.
“The Count of Arderin.”
Dupon uttered the name as though grinding it between his teeth.
The martial prowess of House Arderin had been supreme across generations. Because of this, noble factions eager to draw the family into politics never ceased appearing.
At first, they had believed the gentle Count would be swayed easily.
But the Count had proven far more obstinate than expected.
‘He insisted with rigid determination that the Count’s only duty was to slay Monsters.’
It was Dupon himself who had managed, with difficulty, to persuade the Count to come to the Capital.
‘My dear Count, how long do you intend to have your daughter ground beneath a heap of Monsters? Nine days out of ten she hunts Monsters at your side, does she not? Will she receive no education befitting a noblewoman?’
‘Does not my daughter eventually inherit the mission of House Arderin?’
‘That’s your thinking. What if later she resents you for not giving her a proper debutante ball?’
‘Tamia said first that it was fine.’
‘Do you believe that? Don’t hear harsh words later—come up to the Capital now. I’ll support you.’
Theodore, a terrible father to his daughter, grew frightened at the thought that Tamia might resent him, and ultimately chose to relocate to the Capital.
Next came saddling him with enormous debt, making him dependent solely on Duke Dupon’s favor. Now he was nicely trained, moving like a puppet at command, but…….
The study door opened again. This time Chris burst in, his face pale with terror.
“Father! Tamia went down to the Cades Belt, didn’t she?”
“……You’ve heard the news.”
“Let me go rescue her. Please give me permission.”
Duke Dupon clenched his fist beneath the desk. Troubles everywhere, at every turn.
“My boy, you can’t even catch a single Small-type Monster properly. Who exactly is rescuing whom?”
“That’s precisely why I can’t just stand by while my beloved Tamia walks into danger!”
“…….”
Watching his son play the lovesick fool was infuriating.
‘I really should dispose of Tamia when the time is right.’
But that time was not now.
Dupon carefully softened the corners of his mouth and spoke in an affectionate tone.
“Chris, you know how strong Tamia is, don’t you? That girl will surely come back alive.”
“But…….”
“Besides, if you went to that dangerous place and got hurt, Tamia might not even want to see you afterward.”
“……You’re right, Father.”
As Chris seemed to accept this, Duke Dupon finally relaxed.
‘If Tamia went down with him, that Large-type Monster might be brought down easily enough.’
Now he could only pin his hopes on the Monsters that would flood into the Capital.
* * *
Tracking the Large-type Monster’s trail proved easier than expected.
The path its massive body had taken was scuffed and gouged, as if someone had dragged an enormous sack across it.
“The Monster seems to be nearby.”
As the sun began its descent.
Tamia, who had dismounted to examine the tracks in the dirt, spoke with a hardened expression.
“The soil hasn’t been disturbed long. We need to prepare for combat.”
“Hmm…….”
Leon’s already troubled mind grew even more tangled.
Tamia was undoubtedly skilled. Moreover, she herself had said she had extensive experience exterminating Monsters, so naturally it made sense to entrust the task to her.
Yet a nagging anxiety kept him from nodding readily.
‘What if something goes wrong with Tamia?’
Leon had watched Griffin Squad members lose their lives before Large-type Monsters more times than he cared to count.
Even when they moved in coordinated teams, they still fell like that—and now he was supposed to send Tamia alone to the front lines?
As Leon’s hesitation deepened, Tamia was already moving forward alone.
“We’ll leave the horses here and proceed on foot. I’ll go first, and you cover from behind.”
“Wait, hold on!”
“What is it, Leon?”
Tamia, who had been striding forward with determination, turned back with an open expression.
“Are you sure you’ll be alright going alone?”
The moment Tamia heard the question, her expression sharpened.
“Leon, you’ve fought Large-type Monsters alongside Griffin Squad before, haven’t you?”
“I have.”
“And many people died each time, didn’t they?”
At Tamia’s piercing question, Leon hesitated for a long while before finally nodding.
“I know Large-type Monsters are dangerous. I’ve seen plenty of people die.”
“…….”
“That’s why I’m going alone. That way, no one else will be hurt, and no one will die.”
There was an unmistakable force behind Tamia’s gaze. Leon swallowed hard and slowly nodded.
“……I’m counting on you.”

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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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