“Does your arm hurt? How about your shoulder?”
“It doesn’t hurt at all.”
I smiled leisurely at Sir Luden, who was demanding my debt, then put my sword back in its sheath and tilted my head from side to side.
“This can’t be happening!”
It was quite funny to see Lord Luden looking frustrated.
'What do you think I am?'
Wow. I feel refreshed and relaxed after working out for a bit.
Now that I think about it, I decided to be lazy this life and didn't exercise at all.
It's a bit annoying, but... I'm worried about my muscle loss, so I'll try exercising a little more lightly from now on.
“Oh, my goodness...! It looks like Princess Argenthoz is going to use a sword now.”
“By the way, did you see her practicing her swordsmanship just now? I think it was cool, maybe because she's tall.”
"Huh?! What are you talking about now? That person is Princess Argenthoz!"
“No, what, that’s what I mean... Can’t you even say anything? Seriously, me.”
I heard a murmur from those who saw me swinging my sword with Lord Luden in the corner near the carriage house.
'What are you talking about?'
It was nothing special, so I perked up my ears and grabbed my sword. I headed to Cafe Dailing, where Cordelia was waiting, and spoke to Lord Luden.
“Sir, please wait near the cafe.”
“Yes, Princess.”
As Sir Luden, who had answered briskly, disappeared, I took a deep breath and walked towards the cafe I had promised Cordelia.
People's eyes are fixed on me.
'It's the same here.'
The Dailing Cafe, where I first met Rudnine and had a blind date, caught my eye.
I wish I could come back with him.
I felt a little disappointed, so I stopped walking and looked around, and the cafe manager I hadn't seen in a long time, approached me.
“Welcome, Princess.”
“There must be someone waiting for me.”
“Come this way.”
He shrugged and guided me naturally.
And there, the heroine, or rather, not a heroine anymore, but just the black magician Cordelia, sat waiting for me.
She noticed me, slowly got up, and smiled with an elegant and pretty eye.
“Nice to meet you, Princess.”
‘...I’m not very happy about it.’
I'm so ashamed of the past when I believed you were the heroine!
Without even answering, I sat down across from Cordelia, silently watching her.
“I thought you might not come out.”
“...There’s no reason not to come out.”
When I answered bluntly, Cordelia's mouth hardened slightly.
I could hear the people looking at us muttering, and the content was quite interesting.
The rivals for Crown Prince Adrian's love have met, and now they are ready to settle the score.
Are you crazy? This is ridiculous!
If Cordelia had called me here to come to an agreement about Adrian, I'm truly disappointed.
If that's the case, then I should tell Adrian to live happily ever after.
But, to my great disappointment, Cordelia immediately asked this.
“Ma'am, do you really not like His Highness Adrian anymore?”
'Madam.'
I was so angry that the veins on my forehead were standing out, so I strained my eyes and asked again.
“What did you say?”
“No, you were really into him until a few months ago. That’s why you even threw bombs at me.”
"...Hey?"
Are you here to question me about throwing a bomb?
I had a headache, so I covered my forehead with my hand and frowned.
But Cordelia continued to smile and speak.
"No, that's right. It was only a few months ago. How can love fade so quickly? A love so intense it threatened my life?"
“My love is like that.”
I answered quickly and decisively.
“Oh, I see.”
Cordelia nodded in bewilderment, then stared at me with eyes that suddenly grew cold.
Now, she didn't even smile, but lifted her teacup and glared at me as she slowly drank her tea.
What the heck, kid? Are you a multiple personality?
I was so scared that I got goosebumps.
I calmly explained to this crazy woman why I had changed my mind.
“I have a new crush.”
"Oh, you did. I saw it too. You looked very affectionate at the banquet hall."
“...That’s right. You witnessed it yourself, and you’re asking me that?”
"Yes. I asked just in case. It's better to be sure."
As I watched Cordelia answer me with a blank stare, I felt a bit uneasy rather than scared.
'Isn't this guy a total idiot?'
Because there are so many weird kids gathered around me.
Do I even have the energy to pull together a group?
But Cordelia suddenly asked a question.
“So, is Princess dating Duke Iels?”
"No."
To avoid being caught by Cordelia, I responded as coolly as possible.
I didn't want to let this dark wizard, who was a thief, uselessly exploit my weakness called Rudnine.
And just in case you don't know.
Because Cordelia might go to Rudnine and threaten him or cause trouble for him.
After hearing my answer, Cordelia looked at my face and closed her mouth.
Cordelia's expression became so serious, as if she was deeply contemplating something, that my face also hardened.
Silence lingered, and then I heard people whispering behind me.
“Why aren’t you saying anything now?”
“Does it look serious?”
"Didn't they fight after she said something like this? “The Crown Prince is mine?”
“It doesn’t hurt at all.”
I smiled leisurely at Sir Luden, who was demanding my debt, then put my sword back in its sheath and tilted my head from side to side.
“This can’t be happening!”
It was quite funny to see Lord Luden looking frustrated.
'What do you think I am?'
Wow. I feel refreshed and relaxed after working out for a bit.
Now that I think about it, I decided to be lazy this life and didn't exercise at all.
It's a bit annoying, but... I'm worried about my muscle loss, so I'll try exercising a little more lightly from now on.
“Oh, my goodness...! It looks like Princess Argenthoz is going to use a sword now.”
“By the way, did you see her practicing her swordsmanship just now? I think it was cool, maybe because she's tall.”
"Huh?! What are you talking about now? That person is Princess Argenthoz!"
“No, what, that’s what I mean... Can’t you even say anything? Seriously, me.”
I heard a murmur from those who saw me swinging my sword with Lord Luden in the corner near the carriage house.
'What are you talking about?'
It was nothing special, so I perked up my ears and grabbed my sword. I headed to Cafe Dailing, where Cordelia was waiting, and spoke to Lord Luden.
“Sir, please wait near the cafe.”
“Yes, Princess.”
As Sir Luden, who had answered briskly, disappeared, I took a deep breath and walked towards the cafe I had promised Cordelia.
People's eyes are fixed on me.
'It's the same here.'
The Dailing Cafe, where I first met Rudnine and had a blind date, caught my eye.
I wish I could come back with him.
I felt a little disappointed, so I stopped walking and looked around, and the cafe manager I hadn't seen in a long time, approached me.
“Welcome, Princess.”
“There must be someone waiting for me.”
“Come this way.”
He shrugged and guided me naturally.
And there, the heroine, or rather, not a heroine anymore, but just the black magician Cordelia, sat waiting for me.
She noticed me, slowly got up, and smiled with an elegant and pretty eye.
“Nice to meet you, Princess.”
‘...I’m not very happy about it.’
I'm so ashamed of the past when I believed you were the heroine!
Without even answering, I sat down across from Cordelia, silently watching her.
“I thought you might not come out.”
“...There’s no reason not to come out.”
When I answered bluntly, Cordelia's mouth hardened slightly.
I could hear the people looking at us muttering, and the content was quite interesting.
The rivals for Crown Prince Adrian's love have met, and now they are ready to settle the score.
Are you crazy? This is ridiculous!
If Cordelia had called me here to come to an agreement about Adrian, I'm truly disappointed.
If that's the case, then I should tell Adrian to live happily ever after.
But, to my great disappointment, Cordelia immediately asked this.
“Ma'am, do you really not like His Highness Adrian anymore?”
'Madam.'
I was so angry that the veins on my forehead were standing out, so I strained my eyes and asked again.
“What did you say?”
“No, you were really into him until a few months ago. That’s why you even threw bombs at me.”
"...Hey?"
Are you here to question me about throwing a bomb?
I had a headache, so I covered my forehead with my hand and frowned.
But Cordelia continued to smile and speak.
"No, that's right. It was only a few months ago. How can love fade so quickly? A love so intense it threatened my life?"
“My love is like that.”
I answered quickly and decisively.
“Oh, I see.”
Cordelia nodded in bewilderment, then stared at me with eyes that suddenly grew cold.
Now, she didn't even smile, but lifted her teacup and glared at me as she slowly drank her tea.
What the heck, kid? Are you a multiple personality?
I was so scared that I got goosebumps.
I calmly explained to this crazy woman why I had changed my mind.
“I have a new crush.”
"Oh, you did. I saw it too. You looked very affectionate at the banquet hall."
“...That’s right. You witnessed it yourself, and you’re asking me that?”
"Yes. I asked just in case. It's better to be sure."
As I watched Cordelia answer me with a blank stare, I felt a bit uneasy rather than scared.
'Isn't this guy a total idiot?'
Because there are so many weird kids gathered around me.
Do I even have the energy to pull together a group?
But Cordelia suddenly asked a question.
“So, is Princess dating Duke Iels?”
"No."
To avoid being caught by Cordelia, I responded as coolly as possible.
I didn't want to let this dark wizard, who was a thief, uselessly exploit my weakness called Rudnine.
And just in case you don't know.
Because Cordelia might go to Rudnine and threaten him or cause trouble for him.
After hearing my answer, Cordelia looked at my face and closed her mouth.
Cordelia's expression became so serious, as if she was deeply contemplating something, that my face also hardened.
Silence lingered, and then I heard people whispering behind me.
“Why aren’t you saying anything now?”
“Does it look serious?”
"Didn't they fight after she said something like this? “The Crown Prince is mine?”
“Is His Highness Adrian mine?”
“By the way, at the banquet hall, Princess Argenthoz seemed to be on very good terms with Duke Iels... Am I mistaken?”
“His Highness Prince Felix seemed to have a special relationship with her, too.”
“Who is the man who captured the heart of Princess Argenthoz?”
'Wow... Hello, everyone?'
I miss the times when you used to curse at me.
It was so absurd that I burst out laughing.
Now, instead of insulting me, they were really curious about who I was dating.
Just to have this kind of conversation...
It was a mistake to appear in a crowded place with Cordelia.
'Damn it!'
Were Liana and I fools who decided that something serious was going on?
They should have invited him to the Argenthoz mansion somehow, or moved him to a more secluded place.
I guess I followed too obediently.
I was so annoyed that I frowned and glared at Cordelia as I opened my mouth.
“Princess Mare?”
When Cordelia looked at me, I crossed my arms and raised one corner of my mouth like a thug.
"What on earth are you trying to say? You came all the way here just to talk about such trivial things? As you said before, I'm the one who threw a bomb at Princess Mare."
So, I turned around and said that we should stop now and go home.
But Cordelia looked at me without any change in expression and asked me a question.
“Are you very busy?”
"Huh?! What are you talking about? Is there a reason you called me here? Or are you teasing me? Trying to screw me over?!"
“...Well, why am I like this?”
Cordelia's face, which was faintly smiling, suddenly worsened.
As if she were sick.
'What?'
I blinked in confusion.
Why are you like that? Even if you suddenly pretend to be pitiful, I don't feel any sympathy.
Cordelia glanced around, made a pointless gesture of picking up and putting down her teacup, and then opened her mouth.
“Princess, do you happen to know about the bath salt called ‘Crybaby Pembe,’ which has recently become popular among the nobility?”
“...I know.”
For a moment, I was so surprised that I swallowed hard and answered with a pause.
'So this was the main point?'
You called me to ask about the Rhodia grass cure?
You know I'm the one who created the cure for skin disease caused by the Fountain of the Sun, and you want to question me about that?
But? What do you want me to do?
Cordelia had prepared an excuse for this situation.
I happened to get some Rhodia grass from a peddler, and I loved the scent of Rhodia so much that I started developing cosmetics - and coincidentally, the release season of my bath bomb coincided with the release of the side effects of the Fountain of the Sun.
"The loudest voice wins, and if you're the one who's being talked down to, it's over. You have no evidence."
Besides, what are you going to do with something that's already over?
I continued to cross my arms and looked at Cordelia with an arrogant expression as I asked again.
“But why that bath bomb?”
“...You’re so shameless.”
She burst out laughing as if she found my attitude ridiculous and spoke coldly.
“The Princess isn’t as kind as I’ve heard, is she?”
I complained, but Cordelia answered indifferently.
“It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter anyway.”
Cordelia shook her head like a dying person.
Why are you like that? Like you have an incurable disease.
Then Cordelia leaned over to me, sitting across the table, and lowered her voice to whisper.
“Then you know Pembe well, not just ‘Crybaby Pembe’, right?”
'What?'
I opened my eyes wide.
Are you talking about our cute little Pembe, who is more like a pink hamster?
I frowned and didn't answer, but then opened my mouth, staring intently into Cordelia's green eyes.
“What would you do if I knew?”
“...”
“...Ah, you.”
After saying that, I closed my mouth.
'I see.'
I looked at Cordelia, who was slowly sitting back down in her chair, and collected my thoughts.
The master of Pembe, the dark sorceress, was Cordelia Mare.
The warlock who sent her familiar to kill me was really Cordelia.
'Wow. This is ridiculous.'
As I raised one corner of my mouth and smiled fiercely, Cordelia shrugged.
“Why? You threw a bomb at me, too, trying to kill me.”
"...Crazy."
Hey, there's another crazy woman in this area besides me.
Before I could finish speaking, Cordelia continued.
“And you killed several of my familiars, too.”
“Ah. Well, that’s it.”
“I knew very well that the Princess was a great sorceress.”
“Oh, thank you for the compliment.”
“...What bad luck.”
You don't have to be unlucky. I killed him with force, not magic.
I replied annoyedly.
"Are you here to ask for payment for a familiar? What if I report the Princess as a warlock?"
"Haha. Do you think it's easy to report a warlock? Warlocks are burned at the stake under Imperial law, right? The more brutal the punishment, the longer it takes to verify the evidence and reach a final verdict, Princess."
'Damn it. Was that so?'
I was confused by imperial laws I knew nothing about.
If only Liana were here!
No, I couldn't tell Liana about the warlock anyway, so she wouldn't have known...
Cordelia seemed to notice my confusion and became more relaxed.
'Damn.'
So, are you asking for Pembe back now?
I don't like it. Pembe is my cute pet hamster... No, that's not it. My pet slave hamster.
He's kind of cute though....
Damn it. Why are you so cute that your old owner keeps coming to see you?
It feels like a scene from a third-rate drama where the biological parents suddenly come to the adoptive parents who were raising the adopted child with love and ask for the child to be returned.
In the midst of her frustration, Cordelia's lips parted.
“Princess. Pembe...”
'Damn it. In the end, this is what happened!'
I closed my eyes tightly.
“That can’t be!”
“Please kill him.”
Words that came out of both of our mouths at the same time.
There was silence.
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