In the bustling city of the kingdom, the Continental Alliance Military Martial Arts Conference was taking place.
As all events wrapped up, the huge crowd that had filled the streets began to dwindle, but still, tens of thousands remained, enjoying the sights.
Tomorrow would be the closing ceremony, and people from all over the continent busily indulged in the festive atmosphere of the night.
“Hey, buddy! Move out of the way?! What are you doing standing in the middle of the road!”
Among the crowded streets stood a man, frozen in place.
The large man, dressed in a neat suit, caught no attention amidst the flowing crowd.
However, as a carriage blocked the road because of him, the driver began to fume, and gazes slowly turned in his direction.
“ … ”
The man stood in the very center of the road, eyes closed, concentrating.
Wearing glasses and having neatly combed hair, he resembled a scholar in some way.
After more than ten minutes of waiting, the irritated driver jumped down and approached him. Up close, the man’s stature overwhelmed him a little, but the driver cleared his throat and spoke up, determined to assert dominance.
“Hey, can’t you see you’re blocking all the carts behind you? If it weren’t for my kindness, another driver would’ve just pushed through! Get off the street, will you?”
The man didn’t move a muscle, appearing as lifeless as a corpse.
“Hey…”
Just as the driver reached out to push him, the man gripped his arm firmly.
“Doctor Gothberg. Interesting.”
“What?”
With an alluring smile, the man suddenly lifted the driver by the scruff of his collar.
Gurk…!
The driver had an instinctual feeling that he had touched something he shouldn’t have.
But he quickly realized that his instinct was wrong—the man was not even human.
Crack!
Something pierced the driver’s neck, and an unexpected fiery pain overwhelmed him. Before he could comprehend that it was the man’s sharp fangs, his body was hurled into the air.
Wham! The man flung the driver towards the carriage and adjusted the collar of his suit as he strolled away.
“I had planned to use the Count’s child body for a long time, but now it’s of no use, so I suppose the kingdom should wrap things up suitably.”
Jinzou smiled, deep dimples forming as he did.
He had been preparing to collapse the kingdom long before this. Slipping in as a Count during royal meetings, infiltrating the military’s upper ranks, and acting as a judge.
Though it seemed he hastened his plans due to the fortunate opportunity of the martial arts conference, it was still within reasonable limits.
“Prepare.”
“Yes.”
Assassins who received orders from his side rushed off, disappearing into the darkness. ‘Shadows’. A group of assassins comprised of black magicians and thieves.
“Someone’s hurt here!”
“Is it a fight?!”
People passing by flocked to the spot where the driver fell, causing a brief uproar.
Ahhh!
“What, what the hell is this?!”
As the driver, eyes rolling back, lunged towards the crowd, opening his mouth wide, Jinzou couldn’t help but chuckle in satisfaction.
“There are too many humans in this world.”
*
Acella gazed down at Lars’s hand gripping her arm.
The conference wasn’t over yet. What could prompt him to seek her out?
Perhaps he had trouble discussing something.
Desperately, Lars spoke to Acella.
“Your Royal Highness, you need to leave.”
What is he talking about?
Recalling past events, Acella snorted.
“Why, are there assassins hiding again?”
“Something similar, but much more dangerous.”
Acella felt annoyed by Lars’s demeanor but kept it hidden.
There were many grievances she harbored toward him.
He followed the hero around without realizing he was dragging her into peril.
After seeing him stick close to the First Princess during this martial conference, her emotions exploded to the surface.
Her anger was one thing, but the disappointment in his lack of concern for her feelings was much greater.
Knowing she liked him, he showed no signs of reciprocation.
It had already been almost four years since they met.
Considering how faint her memories of infancy were, it felt as if she had shared a third of her life with him.
Was that the problem? At their first meeting, she was lacking both as a woman and a princess.
Now, when she made a fuss over trivial matters, it felt like he couldn’t see past her past self.
“Feel free to come. I’ll put a hole in your head before you even open your mouth.”
Acella flicked her fingers, summoning flames of mana.
It was no show-off—Acella was confident she could annihilate an assassin with a single high-speed casting if she just flicked her fingers.
But Lars could only look at her in disbelief.
“What do you mean? You need to move immediately. If it gets serious, you might have to leave the kingdom.”
“There’s still plenty of time before my foreign royal family meetings. Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Who’s talking nonsense right now…”
Lars felt smothered with frustration.
But Acella wasn’t in the mood to listen to him.
She had spent a while intentionally sulking in a dark corner, feeling disappointed, while he wouldn’t have approached her today if he had no real purpose.
“Why? Do you plan to kick me out of the kingdom and enjoy some courtship with the First Princess?”
“How did you arrive at that conclusion?”
“Get lost.”
Acella shrugged off Lars’s arm and walked toward the balcony.
Of course, he couldn’t let her go, so Lars followed right behind her.
Suddenly, the music in the hall grew louder, and the lights shone down on Acella and Lars.
“—The next participants have arrived! Her Royal Highness Princess Acella von Württemberg of the Dengliwood Empire and her betrothed, Doctor Lars Gothberg, the attending physician!”
The two were oblivious, but the hall was alive with the atmosphere of a ball.
It was the order of couples known in the social circle to make an appearance.
It was safe to say that no one in the socialite crowd was unfamiliar with them.
The influential princess Acella moved closer to the seat for the next emperor, and Lars had established a solid name during the martial conference.
While some didn’t know they were betrothed, that was a minor issue.
“Geez.”
Now was not the time for this.
Had the evacuation notice not been sent out yet? Lars had to convince Acella to leave at once.
“Your Royal Highness.”
With a forceful yank, Lars pulled Acella’s arm towards him.
Seeing his urgent expression made Acella want to tease him even more. Matching her steps to the music, she stretched her body toward Lars.
“Wow!”
“Look over there!”
The audience’s attention was immediately stolen by Acella’s passionate movements.
‘Can’t be helped.’
He needed to ease Acella’s mood and make a move. Lars decided to respond, wrapping his arms around her waist deeply.
Acella’s eyes widened slightly in surprise at the enthusiastic response. But determined not to let him fool her again, she continued to dance nonchalantly.
“Your Royal Highness, your stress levels have been rising recently. You don’t seem all that happy. The prestige of the Moonlight Palace is growing day by day. Your name is echoing across the continent. How about thinking of the good things?”
Observing Lars’ lightly bouncing feet to the music, Acella replied,
“You’ve gotten proficient.”
“Because you taught me.”
“That doesn’t sit well with me.”
It should have been fine to be mediocre. The more Lars became capable, the more annoying the interest from other women became.
She used to be happy bragging about Lars, but now it was the opposite.
She feared she might not be able to hold on to him unconditionally if he became desired by others.
Perhaps Acella’s previously unwavering belief in her supremacy started to falter.
She realized she couldn’t even overshadow Heike, her blood relative.
And she had become aware of the fundamental differences with Lishe, the mysterious one.
“Are you saying I’m the problem?”
“Of course.”
Acella shot a sharp glare at Lars, shifting the blame onto him.
“I’ve fulfilled my role as a servant of the Moonlight Palace and your betrothed. In fact, I think I’ve gone above and beyond. What exactly is your complaint?”
A little emotional, Lars also voiced his grievances.
“I’m bothered by how you’re tailing others.”
“When have I ever?”
“Of course, the hero is one thing. The princess is another, and what about that barbaric commander you’ve been mingling with?”
“No.”
Lars couldn’t contain his discomfort any longer.
He had never once had romantic feelings for the women Acella mentioned.
It felt absurd to be accused of such a thing.
And for that reason alone, did it really make sense to ruin the major event?
Whether the hero or the princess, Acella could have utilized them better. It was Acella herself who yearned to become the next empress so desperately.
‘More than anything.’
If Lars had feelings for anyone, it was undoubtedly Acella.
He was somewhat aware of it.
Had it not been for that small ripple by the lakeside, he would never have had the crazy notion of wanting to stay near the woman who had killed him countless times.
Of all the feelings he harbored throughout, he couldn’t express how he felt after initially entering her service, having to resist the urge to puke every morning, now feeling like he wanted to see her a bit more.
Lars felt like he could pound his chest in frustration.
Tata tat.
With the music, their steps sped up without words.
As they surrendered their bodies to each other, the audience grew even more excited watching their seamless movements, like a couple who had been wedded for ten years.
“Your Royal Highness.”
In a lowered voice, Lars called out to Acella.
A hint of anger laced his tone.
Without giving her a chance to respond, he reached for her hand, extending her arm and leaning her back.
With the music ending, they moved into the final pose, striking a pose like a pair of swans.
“Oh my, look over there.”
Gasp!
A light applause erupted from the audience.
Amidst Acella’s irresistible pose, Lars passionately pressed his lips against hers.
Acella lost her composure for a moment at the unexpected ambush.
She never thought Lars would be the one to demand it first.
As their faces pulled apart, he whispered,
“I only like you, Your Royal Highness.”
His long white bangs brushed against her cheek.
“So please, listen to me.”
Acella tightly pursed her lips.
Her blushing cheeks were undoubtedly visible to him.
She had lost again.
…But.
It was a defeat that felt somewhat pleasant.
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