How I Ended Up Becoming the Imperial Princess While Trying to Pay Off an Illegal Loan - Chapter 34

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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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034.
“Lunch is ready. Please make sure you arrive on time for dinner.”
“D-Dominique?”
The newcomer called out uncertainly, but Dominique didn’t so much as glance back—he simply swept past in a gust of cold wind and strode outside.
* * *
“The Capital really does feel different—even the air!”
With their horses laden full of sacks brimming with Monster Cores, Tamia’s party entered the Capital with unmistakable confidence.
“Leon, how much do you think we’ll get for all of this?”
“Depends on who’s selling it. If you play up the rarity, you could easily break one hundred thousand Der.”
“A h-hundred thousand…!”
Tamia’s eyes went wide as saucers; she scrambled to pull out one of the sacks from her horse and hugged it to her chest.
“Freedom from debt is practically within reach… I’m getting emotional.”
Another moment and she’d be openly weeping.
The Griffin Squadron and Tamia’s makeshift fan club, now privy to her circumstances, threw their wholehearted support behind her.
“Debt-free life awaits! We’re rooting for you!”
“Thanks. I won’t forget this kindness.”
The party continued on, sharing in the moment, when suddenly a different group blocked their path.
“…? Who are they?”
“…!”
The faint smile playing on Leon’s lips vanished in an instant.
“Dominique. What brings you out here?”
“When the Archmage leaves the Magic Tower, it must be for a matter of some consequence.”
As Leon dismounted, Dominique and his entourage did the same.
“Leon? Who is that?”
Tamia quickly dropped from her horse and turned to Leon with a question.
“Archmage Dominique Chaser. Not exactly a friend to us.”
“And the lady with him—your recent bride?”
“Oh, h-hello. My name is Tamia Valentis—”
“Tamia, don’t answer him.”
Leon cut her off and stepped forward.
“Whatever this matter of importance is, I hope you’re not planning to obstruct our way.”
“I’m afraid I must. I do have business with you all.”
Dominique’s sharp gaze landed on Tamia.
“More precisely, with you.”
“Me? Have we met before?”
“Princess Tamia Valentis, by the authority of the Archmage, I request—no, I demand—that you leave behind the Jellyfish Monster Core.”
“…!!! Are you insane? Do you have any idea how hard I worked to get that?!”
Tamia shot upright on her horse and howled indignantly. Dominique didn’t so much as flinch, repeating himself with the same inflection.
“Surrender the Core. The Magic Tower will requisition it.”
This time, Leon stepped forward.
“By the Tower’s authority? Does the Magic Tower have the right to seize what belongs to others?”
“Your Highness, please don’t misrepresent the matter. Monster Cores fall naturally under the Tower’s purview.”
“Then speak plainly. The Tower’s purview is not Monster Cores—it’s Mana Stones imbued with Mana.”
“That amounts to the same thing. A Monster Core that glows of its own accord naturally contains Mana.”
“Don’t presume to requisition a Core based on speculation. We have no intention of handing it over.”
At Leon’s gesture, the Griffin Squadron standing behind drew their weapons without hesitation.
Watching their crisp movements and lethal composure, Dominique found himself forced to retreat a step.
“I see. It would be unfortunate to make enemies of the Magic Tower.”
“You’re the ones who’ve lost your minds. Without the Griffin Squadron, how exactly does the Magic Tower plan to handle monsters?”
“That is…”
“Your magic is useless against them—couldn’t wound a monster if you tried. If we didn’t periodically clear out monsters for you, the Tower would’ve crumbled long ago.”
Dominique’s jaw tightened as words failed him.
‘Infuriating as it is, the prince is right.’
Monsters and the Magic Tower had a terrible matchup. The more powerful the magic, the more energy monsters absorbed rather than took damage—they only grew more ferocious.
“…I see. I shall take my leave for now. But rest assured, we won’t let this matter rest.”
“Save the theatrics. Get out of here.”
Dominique glared at Leon with narrowed eyes, then spun on his heel. The mages who’d accompanied him followed suit, each radiating silent displeasure.
* * *
“Something’s not right. What are they plotting?”
Deep into the night.
Tamia lay sprawled across the sofa, and for the past while she’d been talking of nothing but the Magic Tower Master.
“Leon, what was that man’s name again?”
“…Dominique Chaser.”
“How old is he? He looked so young!”
“Twenty-five.”
“Is he married? Does he have a family? Though I suppose with a personality as foul as his, he couldn’t possibly be married!”
……
“He doesn’t have any debts, does he? If he did, maybe he’d understand my situation a little.”
As Tamia prattled on about the Magic Tower Master without tiring, Leon felt something twist inside him. He pushed himself off the bed.
“Tamia, I think I’ll sleep elsewhere tonight.”
“Huh? …What? Why why why?”
“Just not feeling up to it tonight.”
“No way! If we sleep apart, <Blabber> will report it right away. Then we’ll lose the reward!”
Tamia sprang up from the sofa and tried to rush at him, but instead she merely seized his sleeve and held fast.
“Don’t go, Leon.”
……
“Sleep with me. Please? I feel so empty without you.”
……
“Don’t leave me. I can’t sleep when there’s no one beside me—it scares me. Yes? Please?”
Leon steeled himself and tried to wrench his sleeve from her grip.
“…Sigh.”
But his hand wouldn’t lift.
Her eyes gleamed bright as she lifted her face to his, and there was no way he could pull away.
“What are you…”
The moment his stern expression softened, Tamia grinned and waved her hand in front of his face.
“See? You’re smiling, you’re smiling! So you’ll sleep with me, right? You’re not going to another room, right?!”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Hehe, I knew it. My husband would never abandon me and go elsewhere!”
Tamia pulled Leon back to the bed by his sleeve and promptly collapsed onto it herself.
“So you want me to go sleep on the sofa?”
“No no. Come on, lie down for a bit, Leon.”
Tamia smiled brightly and patted the space beside her.
“We don’t have to do anything—we can just lie here side by side and talk.”
“…Well, I suppose I could lie down for a moment.”
Leon quietly stretched out beside Tamia.
‘This is the first time I’ve lain in bed side by side with Tamia like this.’
He found himself brushing his hand across the mattress when Tamia spoke carefully.
“You were upset that I only talked about the Magic Tower Master, weren’t you?”
“…You noticed?”
Caught red-handed in his petty feelings by Tamia, Leon’s face flushed unbidden.
“We’ve been married nearly a month now—of course I’d catch something like that! I’m sorry. I was just so exasperated. After all the hardship to harvest those cores, and then he tries to take them!”
Tamia bit back the anger that had been about to pour out.
“Anyway, I’ll stop talking about the Magic Tower Master now. Let’s get some sleep, and starting tomorrow we can discuss how to sell the cores for the best price. You’ll help me, won’t you?”
“I know a jeweler I’ve dealt with before. I think it would be best to consign them to him first.”
“Thank you, Leon!”
Tamia reached out her hand habitually, then caught herself and withdrew it.
Instead, to ease the disappointment, she shifted her body as she lay there, and the bed beneath swayed gently with the recoil.
The subtle undulation that traveled through his whole body was wonderfully pleasant.
‘…Happiness.’
A marriage like this would surely be quite happy.
That’s what Leon thought.
* * *
Leon and Tamia began laying out concrete plans to sell the Jellyfish Monster Cores.
“We’ll process them in various forms. I’ve already told the jeweler to craft them into earrings, necklaces, and such items.”
“What price should we set? A hundred Der per piece? Two hundred?”
“We can decide that gradually. If demand is high, the price will rise naturally on its own. That’s just basic economics.”
“Wow, you’re really smart!”
“And we should set a limit on how many each person can buy. We’ll need to carefully verify the buyer’s identity as well.”
“Why?”
“So resellers can’t operate freely.”
“That’s a great tip! I should write this down!”
Tamia, who had produced a notepad from somewhere, began meticulously transcribing everything Leon had just said.

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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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