How I Ended Up Becoming the Imperial Princess While Trying to Pay Off an Illegal Loan - Chapter 30

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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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030.
“Actually, you can’t catch Jellyfish Monsters that way.”
“So it seems. The Monsters cluster in such tight quarters that when we fired arrows en masse, the lines got hopelessly tangled.”
“Aiming is difficult too. The Monsters at the edge of their territory we might catch, but those deeper inside? Completely out of reach.”
“Tomorrow I’ll show you how it’s done. Tonight we eat and get some rest.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
The unit members sprang to their feet and moved with perfect coordination.
As the sun set while they kindled a fire and prepared the meal, the Jellyfish Monsters glowed all the brighter, drifting through the air in luminescent grace.
“I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. Well then, have a good night!”
“Thanks, Rubian.”
Tamia spread out her Sleeping Bag inside the Tent that Rubian had pitched for her and crawled in.
“Hmm, without Leon here, it feels so empty. I really should have asked him to come along—Koo.”
That first night in the Jellyfish Monster Colony deepened into darkness.
* * *
Meanwhile, Leon was wrestling with a mountain of delayed Imperial Palace business.
“Setting up the budget like this—if Tamia saw it, she’d faint. Not a single coin wasted on anything, that one.”
Leon shook his head, deliberately trying to push Tamia from his thoughts.
“When foreign envoys arrive, we’ll need to have the Secondary Palace repaired. The Secondary Palace facilities really should be more spacious than Tamia’s family estate….”
Leon threw down his pen and cradled his head in his hands, exhaling heavily.
“I wonder how Tamia’s doing? She’s probably riding hard about now, isn’t she?”
By now he’d completely given up on ‘not thinking about Tamia.’
“The Jerky distributed to the Griffin Squad is nutritious enough, but the taste leaves something to be desired. Then again, Tamia eats anything with such enthusiasm—she’ll be eating well.”
The evening brought no change to his preoccupation.
Stepping into his bedchamber, the sofa where Tamia always slept lay empty.
It looked so barren somehow, and the room felt cold.
Leon quietly approached the sofa and lay down upon it.
“…This is actually quite comfortable.”
Tamia’s scent had seeped into the cushions—a faint apricot fragrance lingered there.
“I wonder if Tamia’s going to bed about now….”
That night Leon dreamed of holding Tamia close as they slept.
The next day.
“Simon really is the one. I’ve got a good head on at least one of my sons!”
Even as Emperor Edmund praised his half-brother Simon, Leon found himself unable to escape thoughts of Tamia.
‘Those fan club idiots wouldn’t dare pull anything out of line, would they? Then again, if Tamia just swings her arms, they’d go flying.’
“Next time Solea Kingdom sends an envoy, let’s have Simon step forward to receive them directly….”
‘With Karen assigned to keep watch, she’ll maintain good discipline, won’t she?’
“Leon? You seem distracted today.”
Leon snapped to attention at Edmund’s voice.
“Focus. This is no place for wandering attention—we’re conducting state affairs.”
“My apologies.”
“Now then, regarding the Tribute that Solea Kingdom will be sending….”
The meeting resumed. Leon barely managed to tether his mind and concentrate on the business of state.
An afternoon appointment at Griffin Squad Headquarters awaited him. Having received reports of Monster sightings, Leon had dispatched a detachment of the squad.
Night fell again.
“That’s strange—why is the room so cold?”
Yesterday it had merely been cool, but tonight the chamber felt genuinely frigid.
“How are you managing the bedchamber? It’s freezing!”
“B-But, Your Highness. It’s summer now—there shouldn’t be any cold….”
“Light the Brazier at once!”
The attendant, stung by Leon’s reproach, hurried back with kindling.
Soon flames roared to life in the Brazier.
“Yes, that’s better—wait?”
The moment the fire ignited, unbearable heat descended upon Leon.
That night, Leon could not sleep in that room.
The morning of the third day.
There were no duties today.
Leon sat in a daze, killing time, before heading out to the Griffin Squad Training Grounds and mindlessly swinging his sword.
“Your Highness, are you all right?”
Several squad members exchanged worried glances as they watched Leon, his eyes hollow and distant, yet he heard none of their concern.
‘Did I really send my new bride out to catch Monsters while I sit here like this?’
No matter how he turned it over in his mind, the answer was always the same.
‘Her husband has to go.’
The moment this thought crystallized, Leon seized one of his men.
“I’m going to Tamia. Send word to the Imperial Palace.”
“Sir?”
The soldier tried to ask more, but Leon didn’t wait to hear it. He swung into the saddle at once.
The fastest horse in the Griffin Squad bolted forward at full gallop.
Leon changed mounts at every village he passed through, riding without pause. He barely ate and slept only in snatches.
The farther he rode, the deeper his unease burrowed.
‘You’ve lost your mind, Leon Valentis. When did you become the sort of man who trusts someone else to handle monster hunts?’
And to a newly wedded bride, no less?
The fact that their marriage was a contract seemed to have already half-vanished from his thoughts.
He must have switched horses a dozen times over.
The sun had already sunk; darkness covered everything.
In the distance, thousands of Jellyfish Monsters drifted through the air, their translucent bodies glowing with an eerie radiance.
Suddenly goosebumps erupted across Leon’s skin.
‘I sent Tamia to that?’
Leon pushed the horse to its limit. The Barracks came into view.
“Huh? Your Highness Leon?”
The guard on duty recognized him and spoke up in surprise.
“What brings you here?”
“Where is Tamia?”
“Sir?”
“Answer me. Now.”
“S-she’s sleeping in the Barracks over there, sir!”
Before the soldier could even finish, Leon was already rushing into Tamia’s quarters.
In the darkness, a Sleeping Bag lay neatly arranged.
Leon’s hand shot out reflexively, and he seized the figure lying inside it.
Tamia, half-dragged from sleep, gasped and jolted upright.
“Whoa—Leon? How did you…?”
“Tamia.”
She was unharmed.
Relief flooded through Leon so suddenly that he simply collapsed where he sat.
“Nothing happened. Thank gods.”
“Hold on—didn’t we agree you wouldn’t touch me like that at night when we’re alone?”
Tamia yelped and shoved his hand away.
“That’s not the point right now—no, never mind.”
“What happened? You look terrible.”
“Nothing. Just exhausted from riding hard, that’s all.”
“You left right after we did? We didn’t arrive here until this afternoon.”
“No. I left two days after you.”
“And you’re already here? That doesn’t make sense.”
Tamia asked again and again, as if she couldn’t believe it.
“When I think about it…”
Leon chuckled softly as he answered.
“You’re strong, true enough. But you’re my wife. How could I send you somewhere dangerous alone?”
“I mean, technically I am your wife, but…”
Tamia shrugged, disputing his words.
“Still, there was no need for you to follow. I’m strong enough, and…”
“You’d do the same if I said I was going after monsters alone—no matter how busy you were.”
“….”
Tamia paused, thinking, then nodded.
“True. I would do exactly that.”
Just then, Karen rushed into the Barracks after Leon.
“Your Highness! I checked your things and found you had no Sleeping Bag. Since there were no spares, I brought you this instead.”
In Karen’s hands was a Blanket, offered with her lingering concern for Leon’s Female Phobia.
“…Thank you.”
“Then I wish you both a pleasant night with proper distance maintained—or rather, a comfortable night indeed, sir.”
After handing the Blanket to Leon, Karen withdrew from the Barracks.
Once more, only Leon and Tamia remained in the darkness.
“Leon.”
After a moment of silence, Tamia was the first to speak.
“This Sleeping Bag is huge. Let’s share it.”
“……What?”
“It’s summer, but the Northern Region is cold. Come inside quickly. I’ll make an exception just for tonight.”
“Earlier you said not to touch you because it was nighttime.”
Leon let out a quiet laugh.
“I can’t very well let my husband freeze to death just to keep the rules. Come on.”
“I’ve confirmed you’re well. That’s enough. I should head back to the nearby village…….”
“It’s five hours from here to the village. By the time you arrive, it’ll probably be dawn. Just get in.”
Leon swallowed hard.
The Sleeping Bag did look remarkably spacious. The warmth drained from him, and a sudden chill ran through his body.
The Sleeping Bag was already warm from Tamia’s body heat.
“Then, maybe I should…….”

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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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