Chapter: 331
The next morning. I was unexpectedly indulging in a deep sleep until the sun was fully up, something that was quite out of character for me.
If it weren’t for Parnah coming to wake me up, I might have slept until the afternoon.
While sitting at the breakfast table, listening to the Countess directing the tasks passionately, I looked around and asked where Frey was.
I wanted to check if the penalty was still in effect or if it had ended after last night.
“She probably went to the Academy first?”
‘Huh? Frey?’
“What? That foolish swordswoman?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle when I heard that she had left in a hurry, ignoring even the Countess’s advice that it wasn’t right to leave her friend behind.
She must have felt embarrassed about her actions from last night.
Frey does have some girly aspects.
My guess about having difficulty meeting her when we returned to the Academy turned out to be spot on.
Despite actively searching for Frey, I couldn’t find her until lunch time.
Instead, Arthur came to find me when the sun was at its peak.
With a message that Frey wouldn’t meet me today.
“That guy can’t sit still; it’s an everyday happening, but today seemed particularly excessive.”
Hearing that he ran away before I could even ask what nonsense he was talking about made me imagine what kind of expression Frey had at that moment, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
‘What do you need…’
“Is that all you have to say? Then please disappear so I can enjoy my meal. Seeing the Pitiful Prince makes my appetite disappear.”
“It’s unfortunate for you, but I still have matters to discuss. I need to talk about what you’ll be doing tomorrow.”
The moment I heard that it was about what I had to do tomorrow, my appetite really vanished.
What does he have planned for me that he wants to discuss beforehand?
I have done so much to Arthur that I can’t even begin to guess!
Not long ago in the dungeon, he boldly proclaimed he’d give me a “proper education,” and even set that on fire!
“I’ll wait for you, if you’d like to finish your meal first.”
‘Do you think food would go down in this situation, Your Highness?!’
“Does the Pitiful Prince lack empathy? I heard a big event is coming up, do you think I’d have an appetite? Aah, you’re just dying to see me eat while I look like I’m about to cry? Haha, you really are a pervert.”
“…I’ll take that as you’ve decided to talk first.”
Arthur bit his lip to suppress his anger and took me to a private room in the Academy.
Could it be that it’s something we can’t tell others? I’m getting more anxious.
“Don’t worry, it’s not bad news for you.”
Seeing Arthur shrug his shoulders made my anxiety grow even more.
Typically, when it’s said to be “not bad news,” it always turns out terribly.
“Let’s get straight to the point. I’ll give you two choices, and you have to pick one. That will be the penalty you need to fulfill.”
I knew it would be like this!
What do you mean “not bad news?!”
Arthur, you jerk, you really are devious!
You’ll enjoy watching me choose a penalty, enjoying my suffering, and if I complain, you’ll say, “Well, it’s the penalty you picked!”
Could it be that my anger was showing on my face? Arthur waved his hand and adjusted his posture.
“Calm down. There’s no need to get angry after seeing the options I present.”
That’s… true.
If both options he presents are ethical, then there’s no point in getting angry.
With that in mind, I crossed my arms as if to say, “Let’s hear it,” and Arthur let out a smirk.
“Even if you’re a Third Prince, a prince is still a prince.”
‘Shut up. Just say it already.’
“How long do you plan to drag this out? It’s getting tiring catering to the strange tastes of the Pitiful Prince.”
“Haha. Alright. One of the options I present is that you become my maid for a day tomorrow.”
‘…What?’
“…What?”
“You just need to wear a maid’s outfit and respectfully serve me. I won’t ask more of you than a maid’s duties, so it shouldn’t be too hard.”
After hearing about the first option, I returned my mace to its original size and placed it on the table.
So Arthur could see the shiny end of the mace clearly.
“It seems like the Pitiful Prince is forgetting something due to his lust. The penalty is only for one day, right?♡”
If tomorrow passes, this mace could smash your skull and let your brain gasp for air directly, so don’t forget!
When I smiled with a hint of threat, I noticed a cold sweat trickling down Arthur’s forehead.
“You! Are you overreacting?! Think about it! Even if I asked you to be my maid, how could I force you to do something you don’t want to!”
Arthur was trying to make excuses, but I couldn’t accept them.
I realized the strength of the penalty while being with Frey yesterday.
Ignoring even the Mesugaki skill and forced to act—that was my penalty! And you want me to work as a maid here?! I don’t even know what you’ll ask me to do!
“Fine! Just tell me the next option! If you don’t like the first, this one might suit you!”
As I silently twisted the mace’s handle, Arthur’s face paled, making him hastily add more.
“The second option is this! Instead of performing a short penalty that only takes a few minutes, I want you to teach me how to clear the dungeon!”
Huh?
‘What did you say?’
“I said, ‘teach me how to clear the dungeon!’”
…
Arthur, you bastard!
If that was the case, you should have said so earlier!
What should I start with!
There are so many things I want to teach it’s overheating my brain!
Okay, first I can explain the various gimmicks found in dungeons.
“Of course, you might not want to give away your knowledge…”
‘What sort of nonsense is that?!’
“Pitiful Prince? You sure do have a knack for amusing nonsense.”
What newbie willingly asks to be helped?! Who the heck would refuse that?!
That’s not a wasted opportunity at all!
“Never mind! Just tell me what that short penalty is!”
“Let’s skip time-wasting. Just tell me what that short penalty is, please!”
If there’s a fee for teaching this perverted newbie, then so be it!
What will you have me do?
Just say it!
Are you going to give me a playful smack on the head?
Are you going to make me apologize on my knees?
Or should I dress as a maid and do some ‘moe moe kyun’?
“I was thinking of receiving a heartfelt apology, giving you a smack, and then finish that way.”
‘That’s nothing!’
“Puhaha. Is that really what you’re trying to do? The Pitiful Prince is truly a small-hearted person.”
If my words and actions were forced by the Mesugaki skill, I could never accept such a request, but that’s not the case now!
Thanks to the penalty, I can ignore the Mesugaki skill! I could bow my head a hundred, a thousand times to others! That’s what adulthood is about!
“Then will you choose the second option?”
‘Yes! So…’
“Ah, since you want to receive an apology in such a pathetic way, I can’t refuse. Seriously, you really know how to leverage how pitiful you look.”
“…For someone who should be apologizing, your nose is too high.”
Thinking that dragging this out any further would only lead to irritation, Arthur let out a sigh, saying let’s just finish this as soon as possible, and waved his hand.
Arthur’s suggestion was something I could welcome as well.
Rather than worrying all day that Arthur might change his mind, it’s better to finish it quickly.
Accepting the proposal, I immediately stood up and placed myself in front of Arthur.
Hmm.
So, to confirm.
I acknowledge defeat, apologize for my usual rudeness, and then get a smack on the head, right?
Easy peasy!
Should I finish the punishment quickly and head out for lunch?
Just as I resolved to do that and was about to say my apologies out loud, a message appeared before my eyes.
[While apologizing, you will embed ‘sincerity’ into your words.]
Embedding sincerity?
Shoddy God? What kind of story is this?
I know Arthur wants an apology imbued with sincerity, but that’s merely a customary phrase, right?
“What are you pondering? Lucy Allen. Didn’t I say it’s nothing? Hurry up. Then I can smack you.”
As Arthur raised his fist to urge me, another message popped up.
It was about the penalty I’d receive if I didn’t carry out the punishment.
Got it! I get it! Even if I don’t know exactly, I can simply apologize!
Thinking about it, I’ve got plenty to apologize for. There’s just too much wrong I’ve accumulated.
“I’m sorry for being rude normally.”
Even if he’s distanced from the throne, Arthur is surely someone who carries the blood of royalty.
Though he’s been overlooking my rudeness, normally, he’s not someone I could be that rude to.
Right now, I’m entirely relying on his kindness, so this is definitely something that needs an apology.
“I’m sorry for not saying thank you when you’ve helped me often.”
Even though our first meeting was far from pleasant, since then, Arthur always came to help me when I found myself in trouble.
During the Partlan Festival. When I had a quarrel with the Second Prince. Just recently during the speedrun as well.
I clearly knew I should thank him for that help, but I never managed to say thank you.
Even if I was unable to because of the Mesugaki skill, this was certainly something I needed to apologize for.
“I’m sorry for calling you sloppy all the time.”
Just by looking at how he follows through with the rigorous training I set, it’s clear Arthur is no sloppy person.
While training his swordsmanship and magic, he excels in both—he’s undoubtedly someone deserving to be called a genius.
Instead of recognizing his efforts, I only kept blabbering about him being sloppy.
This was indeed another sin of mine.
“And… sniff. I’m sorry for teasing you about being pitiful even though I knew you disliked it.”
I know very well how deep of a trauma Arthur carries about the word “pitiful.”
How could I not understand his feelings when I’ve been a witness to them outside the monitor?
Poking at Arthur’s wounds, having lost his mother and basically ignored by his father, calling him ‘pitiful’ was the worst.
While I would usually brush it off as nothing, I’m sure every time I said that, it piled on the negativity in Arthur’s heart.
“Sniff. And… sniff. Again…”
As I thought more about my apologies, my eyes became hot.
If I consider all that I’ve done, I feel like the worst piece of trash around.
As I keep using the excuse of Mesugaki skill to repeat my wrongs, I’ve become numb to the harm I caused them.
And that only leads to further apologies.
“Wah! Sniff.”
Damn. So this is what it means to embed sincerity!
Once you get lost in emotions, it’s impossible to break free!
I can’t form proper words!
Tears were flowing down as a loud bang echoed, and the door burst open.
“Your Highness the Third Prince! I heard you took the Young Lady with you…”
“Prince Arthur! No matter the bet made…!”
Joy and Phoebe, huh.
Of all the timing to come in, they picked a moment perfect for misunderstandings.
I need to clarify quickly, but the tears just keep spilling out, preventing me from speaking.
Damn it. When will this penalty end?!
“…What’s happening here? Third… I mean, Arthur?”
“It’s nothing! Joy! I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you’re mistaken!”
“What’s mistaken, could you please explain? Your Highness? Based on the Will of God, I shall pass judgment.”
“Saintess?! No! Please, calm down and let me explain!”
BANG. After the sound of the door slamming shut filled my ears.
Not too long later, a scream filled with grievance from Arthur filled the room.
Reflecting on the whole incident, I realized what I had heard before was true.
When a typically nice person gets mad, it’s truly terrifying.
…From now on, I need to dial down the nagging a bit.
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