#030. The Price of a Princess’s Life
Roun was turned upside down.
Because of the fierce battle between monstrous beings the night before.
The residents of Roun had wondered about the purpose of the tower erected in the central square all this time, but they hadn’t particularly tried to find out.
Since witches had been burned at the stake before it every day, they had simply assumed it was meant for that.
But to think that the princess of House Roun had been imprisoned at its very top.
And possessed by a demon, at that.
Roun boasted formidable military power and resolute governance befitting its name as the City of Knights.
Accordingly, the loyalty of its residents ran deep and high.
But last night, a crack had formed in that steadfast loyalty.
The sense of betrayal and shock at having lived embracing a demon in the heart of the city was beyond words.
Evaluations of the leadership plummeted, and simultaneously, Virgil’s reputation for having resolved the matter quietly spread.
The king’s audience chamber.
The King of Roun and the three princes sat facing one another.
“Royal Father, why did you not attend the morning assembly?”
First Prince Fabian spoke.
The King of Roun replied, pressing hard on his temples.
“Do you wish to see me collapse?”
At his words, the princes said nothing, and the audience chamber fell silent for a moment.
A moment later, the King of Roun calmly spoke again.
“I won’t ask you to understand me. I merely wanted to let my daughter rest in peace.”
“Is… is Sister alright…?”
Third Prince Luke asked.
“Yes, they say she will be fine.”
“Thank goodness….”
With the relieved Luke behind him, Fabian opened his mouth in an indifferent tone.
“First, I shall have the pyre for the witch hunt rebuilt.”
“…So that’s what you’re worried about first.”
“Royal Father.”
This time, Second Prince Theo spoke.
“Let us put a stop to the witch hunt now.”
“Theo!”
Fabian glared, and Theo did not avert his gaze.
“Public sentiment is poor right now. If we continue the witch hunt in this situation, even their respect may vanish.”
“That won’t do. The culprit has yet to be caught.”
“Now is not the right time.”
“If the royal family has been touched, we must see this through to the end.”
“Revenge begets more revenge. For now, it seems right to set aside anger and look after the people.”
The two princes stated their opinions to the king while glaring at each other, and then Luke, who had been listening quietly, spoke.
“Even though Sister was turned to stone, you brothers are still only trying to secure your own interests…. Just as you did four years ago, and now….”
“Shut up. Was it your fault that Rose turned to stone?”
“I’m sorry, Luke. I was short-sighted.”
Fabian and Theo responded with different reactions.
“Enough.”
At the king’s words, the three princes fell silent again.
“The witch hunt is suspended. Also, what do you think about postponing the coronation?”
“That won’t do. If we do, all the surrounding cities will hold us in contempt….”
“Royal Father.”
Theo cut off Fabian and stepped forward.
“May this humble son speak?”
“Go on.”
“The will of the people is the will of Heaven. Just as one cannot cover the sky with the palm of one’s hand, the hearts of the people will never improve by turning a blind eye for a moment. I believe postponing the coronation would be a poor plan.”
“Then what means do we have?”
Theo swept back his long blond hair and opened his mouth.
“If we cannot cover their hearts, then let us at least cover the people’s eyes until the day of the coronation.”
“By what means?”
“That is….”
A long conversation continued after that.
“Hmm… I shall think on it.”
“Then we shall take our leave.”
After the three princes left the audience chamber, the King of Roun sank into deep thought.
Knock, knock.
“Your Majesty, did you call for me?”
“Enter.”
The head butler opened the door and entered.
“Did you find out?”
“Yes, it seems the demon hunter gave the princess a sip of Elixir.”
The king struck the armrest with a thud.
“Elixir? I was certain they said production had ceased in Muel.”
“It was not a large amount, but it was surely Elixir.”
“Hah… to think he used something so precious for Rose. How is her condition?”
“Most of her wounds have healed, save for a few scars. However….”
He stopped speaking and swallowed.
“She won’t speak, let alone move.”
“…What do the physicians say?”
“They say they do not know either. For now, might we wait for the newly appointed priest of the Sun God?”
“Ha! I’d sooner deify Virgil than trust those fools!”
“Y-Your Majesty… you must not commit blasphemy….”
“Nonsense! Because I believed only their words, thousands of women were burned at the stake. Have I been worshiping the God of Death?”
“Y-Your Majesty, how could you….”
“Enough of this.”
“Yes… Your Majesty.”
“By the way, where did Virgil go?”
“He wished to bathe, so I sent maids to help him rest.”
“Well done. But it was pointless. If it’s him, he probably sent the maids away.”
In the King of Roun’s mind, Virgil was a hero brimming with chivalry.
“…Um… the maids were exhausted and came out midway, so I sent two more in.”
“…What a man.”
He was utterly smitten.
“By the way, what shall we do about the reward? Shall we proceed with the gold coins as promised?”
“Gold coins? Is he not the benefactor who even gave us that precious Elixir?”
“If that is the case….”
“Yes, that’s right. That would be good. Go to the storage right now.”
***
Virgil donned the cloak and armor the maids had diligently washed and headed back to the audience chamber.
Fabian was waiting before the door.
“You finally came.”
“What is it?”
“When the audience is over, come to the training grounds for a moment.”
Fabian spoke with a provocative look.
“I refuse.”
“What?”
“Is this how Roun treats a benefactor who saved a member of the royal family?”
“…You still know nothing of propriety.”
“I have nothing to hear from you.”
Fabian twitched the tip of his nose and spoke in a calmer tone than before.
“Hah… I have something to give you, so spare me a moment.”
The First Prince, stubborn with pride, lowered his tail first.
He had the look of someone who would fly into a rage if even this were refused.
“Very well.”
As Virgil brushed past him, Fabian let out a short sigh.
Having always been in a position of supremacy, this was the first time he had been treated this way.
But what could he do? He had to endure for the sake of his goal.
When Virgil arrived before the audience chamber, the royal guards announced his arrival.
“Your Majesty! Sir Virgil has arrived!”
Virgil smiled wryly.
‘Sir,’ he says.
Now he could go around saying he was a knight, not a demon hunter.
“Let him enter at once.”
The door opened, and the King of Roun seated at the head of the table came into view.
He rose from his seat and welcomed him warmly.
The moment Virgil arrived before him, he clasped both of his hands tightly.
“I heard the news. That you administered Elixir.”
“I only regret that there was not enough.”
There was still quite a lot left in his bag.
“Hah… so the rumors of Javelin’s savior were not idle talk. Whence did such a hero appear!”
“You flatter me. I have merely fulfilled my calling as a demon hunter.”
For he would need their strength later.
“Hah… and to think you are this humble as well. Your name shall soon shake the entire continent, I dare say.”
“It embarrasses me.”
“Heh heh.”
“Has the princess’s condition improved?”
He asked out of courtesy, though he already knew.
“She has improved, but a problem has arisen.”
“Tell me.”
“They say my daughter has turned to stone… Do you know anything about it?”
“I suspect it is a defense mechanism caused by mental shock.”
“Is there no cure?”
“That is not my field…. But I shall look into it.”
“My thanks.”
Their conversation paused briefly.
Virgil waited a moment, then opened his mouth.
“By the way, what of the reward?”
The promised reward was five gold coins.
Enough money to build a house on the outskirts of Hirandel.
“You must receive proper compensation, of course.”
The king placed five gold coins on the table.
“And this is a gesture of goodwill from my satisfaction.”
He placed five more gold coins.
Ten in total.
Enough to found a mid-sized mercenary company and operate it for a year without commissions to spare.
Virgil nodded unconsciously.
He figured he wouldn’t have to worry about money for a while.
“And.”
The king pressed something into Virgil’s hand.
A small, round object was placed in Virgil’s palm.
When he moved his hand away, its full form was revealed.
A silver ring.
Without much decoration, the crest of House Roun was engraved upon it in small detail.
“It is one of our family’s treasures.”
“Ah….”
Virgil’s mouth opened slightly.
He, too, knew what this item was.
A subspace ring said to be where Leonard, the first king of Roun, had secretly hidden alcohol and tobacco from his wives and ministers.
It was the very item Virgil had intended to claim as a reward for completing all the main quests of Roun.
And yet to obtain it from the very start—things seemed to be going well.
“It may appear simple, but it is an exceedingly precious item. It is enchanted with subspace magic.”
“I am truly grateful. This was something I sorely needed.”
“Seeing you so satisfied puts me in good spirits as well. My eye for people is as sharp as ever.”
“This is truly an excessive reward.”
“Not at all. It is the price for my daughter’s life.”
As Virgil kept fiddling with the ring, the king smiled gently and spoke.
“If you are so grateful, do me one small favor.”
***
While the king and Virgil were deep in conversation.
In some dark corner of the royal palace, two figures—a man and a woman—met in secret.
“You called for me.”
The man spoke.
When the woman did not answer, the man opened his mouth again.
“You must be greatly disheartened.”
“Yes. The bomb I had saved for the coronation fizzled out uselessly. Wouldn’t you be annoyed?”
“Was it not merely a firecracker meant for the opening ceremony?”
“Human… Just as you eat your fill and sate your lust to find joy in life, we find meaning in this long, long existence through the suffering and agony of humans.”
The woman reached out and grasped the man’s chin lightly.
“If you, too, are to board our ark, discard that dreary mindset first. Always approach death with beauty.”
“I shall keep that in mind.”
The woman raised her hand and stroked the man’s head.
“Yes, my prince. What do you think is the reason I called you today?”
“Rose.”
“Correct.”
“What will you do?”
“Kill her. In that state, what is she but evidence of my failure?”
“Understood. I shall take care of it.”
“Hmm, shall I do it myself?”
“I shall do it. How could I let my teacher trouble yourself with such a trifling matter….”
“The thought of not hearing screams for a while already weighs heavy on my heart. Would you like to feel?”
“It is alright. I shall prepare even finer screams for you.”
“Hmm.”
The woman lowered her hand and lightly gripped the man’s neck.
“There is a particular scream I wish to hear, however.”
“Speak.”
“Some mongrel whelp is strutting about this place openly. Dispose of him.”
“A mongrel, you say….”
“You know. The one called Bazil or Beosil or something.”
“The demon hunter, you mean?”
“Yes, that one. I smell our blood from him. Exactly half of it.”
“Oh dear… Will there be no problem?”
“Well, I have no idea whose child he is. Still, as long as I don’t kill him myself, it should be fine, no?”
“I shall attempt it.”
“Hoho, then I must give our prince a reward for his efforts.”
“It is an honor.”
“Now, sit here.”
***
Virgil was climbing higher into the palace at the king’s request.
All the while, he fiddled with the ring on his left index finger.
With a deeply satisfied expression.
A few floors higher, the royal guards barred his way.
It was a restricted area, accessible only to those with authority, and security was strict.
The head butler appeared behind them.
“Please come in. I shall guide you from here.”
Virgil entered a lavishly decorated hallway.
The paintings and sculptures on the walls suggested it was designed for a woman.
It seemed fitting as the place where Princess Rose had lived since childhood.
“There are far too few guards.”
“Lest rumors spread….”
The number of royal guards was remarkably low for a royal residence.
They soon arrived at the room at the very end.
Before the moderately sized door, a tall maid stood bowing at the waist.
“I shall take my leave here.”
The head butler departed, leaving only the maid and Virgil in the hallway.
The maid greeted him gracefully.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Epi, the maid entrusted with the princess’s care. I heard you would be coming.”
Virgil looked down at her with cold eyes.
“…….”
When no answer came from him, the maid raised her head to look at him.
Their gazes collided in midair.
“The nerve.”
“…Why do you say that, my lord?”
“Are you mad with a desire to die?”
At Virgil’s words, the maid scoffed and straightened her back stiffly.