With the Holy Sword that had inflicted a fatal wound upon the Most Villainous Demon Dragon in the original story, I severed the breath of the Imperial Princess before her Awakening.
It was a sufficiently feasible plan.
Because she was still in a state before her Awakening had concluded.
Moreover, I could perfectly target her heart, her vital point.
I had thought I thrust the Holy Sword imbued with aura properly into her, but perhaps it was because her Awakening had only just begun?
‘I’m fucked.’
A variable had emerged. Something seemed horribly, irrevocably tangled.
"If it weren't for you, I would have been lying motionless for days. Writhing in pain…."
Thank you. The Princess, stabbed by the Holy Sword, expressed her gratitude.
Princess Violeta was perfectly fine.
Not a single drop of blood came from her chest.
The Demon Dragon in human guise was instead smiling refreshingly.
As if cleanly liberated from a chronic illness.
‘Could the Holy Sword be defective? No, that’s impossible. I should have properly infused it with aura.’
I poured power into the Holy Sword once more.
While it was still embedded in the Princess’s heart.
*Hum.*
The Holy Sword imbued with aura blazed white.
The blade of light glowed softly.
As expected, the Holy Sword was perfectly normal. It was reacting properly to my aura.
This Holy Sword was a weapon originally destined for the protagonist’s hands. But I, who knew the story, had been able to find the Holy Sword before the future hero.
It didn’t matter if the original story’s progression got twisted.
The annihilation of the hero’s party was a predetermined outcome.
I could never trust them in the future.
In a world on the brink of destruction, the only one I could trust was myself.
That was why I had planned to eliminate the Demon Dragon ahead of time.
It was a plan I had spent my entire life preparing, but….
"What are you doing? Don’t tell me it’s not done yet? I guess my condition was more serious than I thought?"
For some reason, the Princess was perfectly fine.
Rather, she was more full of vitality than before.
The languid expression that had covered her face had also disappeared.
As if she were someone who had escaped a terminal illness and been granted a new second life?
Whatever had happened, she seemed to think of being stabbed by the Holy Sword as mere ‘treatment.’
As expected, she wasn’t in her right mind, just as described in the handover.
"A-are you alright?"
I shifted my stance and asked after her well-being. Despite putting my full strength into stabbing her heart.
It was a shame, but it couldn’t be helped.
Whatever the reason, it was a failed plan.
If I pushed my luck further here, my head could end up flying.
It was a moment requiring flexible discretion.
For now, I had no choice but to step back and aim for another opportunity later—.
"Yeah. I’m fine. So can you pull it out now? It’s getting a bit heavy."
The Princess pointed at the Holy Sword with a nonchalant expression.
Not an ounce of pain could be felt on her face.
It was strange. She had been properly stabbed by a Holy Sword forged to destroy evil.
"Ah, I apologize. The situation was so urgent…."
I set aside understanding the situation for now and retrieved the sword first.
*Pluck.* The Holy Sword slowly slid out.
Even then, the Princess’s expression didn’t even twitch. She wasn’t in pain at all.
"I’m fine. Thanks to you, my tight chest feels comfortable now."
"I think I can finally live a little now." The Princess rubbed her left chest and spoke flatly.
The Princess’s condition was shockingly fine.
There was no bloodstain, and not even a small scar.
Only the clothes she had been wearing were torn.
"Then, are you completely healed now?"
"I don’t know about that either. But my body is definitely lighter than before."
"Th-that’s truly a relief."
I’m screwed. Her body got lighter?
Don’t tell me her Awakening got accelerated?
What the hell is going on?
My mouth and mind were out of sync.
I was in an utter state of panic.
What should I do now?
For now, it was fortunate that the Princess didn’t particularly suspect my actions, but—.
"More importantly, how did you do it? Even Mother couldn’t do anything about it."
Ah, damn. So she was going to call me out on it after all?
"That is…."
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
Because it had been an assassination, not treatment, from the start.
I couldn’t even begin to figure out what excuse to make.
My aura faded due to my unstable mental state.
—*Srrk*….
At the same time, the Holy Sword in my hand reacted.
With the aura retracted, the Holy Sword returned to its form as a cross-shaped dagger.
"Hm?"
At this noticeable change, the Princess’s gaze shifted. A strange light flashed in her violet eyes that had caught the Holy Sword.
"Aha, so that’s holy power? Are you perhaps from a High Priest’s family?"
The Princess nodded as if she understood and asked.
"Yes? It’s not holy power, but aura, though."
"Right, holy power imbued with aura. What was your name again?"
"Armand Elios. The eldest son of House Elios."
"My guess was right. It was possible because you carry the bloodline of a High Priest."
As if she alone had her questions answered, the Princess smiled brightly.
Then she bowed her head and examined her left chest again intently.
"You looked at my chest and felt that it was cursed, right?"
"……???"
A random remark suddenly followed.
The Princess’s chest was by no means cursed.
If anything, it was blessed by the God of Abundance.
It was by no means a meager or unsightly—
"Since you were born with the bloodline of a High Priest, you must have sensed something from me. So you stabbed me to remove the curse engraved on my chest. Right?"
Ah, so that’s what she meant by curse?
"That’s correct. Exactly right."
I quickly took the wrong conclusion the Princess had jumped to.
The very target I had tried to kill was now saving my life instead.
"Hmph. As expected, my eyes are never wrong."
"But how did you know I was from a High Priest family?"
"How else? Your aura was openly radiating holy power. My chest is still stinging inside because of it."
Isn’t it amazing—. While still lying in bed, the Princess fondled her chest. It was a posture completely unbefitting royalty.
Anyway, contrary to her nonchalant expression, it seemed she had felt some pain when stabbed by the Holy Sword. But even so, it looked like no more and no less than a mosquito bite.
"Anyway, I’m glad you’ve recovered."
"But you’re not exactly in your right mind either?"
"…Yes?"
"Even if you felt a curse, to suddenly plunge a sword into my chest—."
"You’re completely crazy." The Princess giggled as she looked at me.
It was clearly a playful laugh.
Even so, cold sweat trickled down.
Because I wondered if she had seen through my true intentions.
"Don’t make a stupid expression with that face. I’m saying I like you."
"Th-thank you."
"Much better. A serious expression suits you."
The Princess gestured with a much-refreshed voice.
It meant she had something to say and wanted me to come closer.
I, frozen in bewilderment, bent my body following the Princess’s gesture. While still in a position mounted on the Princess’s bed.
"What you just did, not even the physicians could do. They’re all cowards who can’t lay a hand on my body. To think it would end by directly injecting holy power into the heart like this."
A sweet voice tickled my ear. Though the content was anything but.
So what I’m saying is—.
The strangely excited Princess’s voice continued.
She grabbed my chin, making eye contact.
"Can you stab me like this periodically?"
"???"
"The feeling of my chest being pierced is surprisingly thrilling. Ah, I might want to get stabbed again soon?"
This Princess… I think she’s really not in her right mind.
✧
"Can you stab me like this periodically?"
The Princess whispered in a sultry voice.
Staring intently into Armand’s eyes.
Her violet eyes brimmed with mischief.
Armand could only freeze up once more.
"Why that expression? I’m sure I told you not to make a stupid expression with that face?"
"Ahem, please soften your wording."
"Soften? I merely spoke the truth…. What in the world did you think of when I asked you to stab me?"
Huhu. The corner of the Princess’s mouth rose.
Her face as she looked at Armand was openly filled with deep interest.
To the point where one might doubt she was the same person who had yawned with a bored expression.
It was then.
Bang! The door burst open.
"Your Highness! Are you alright?!"
"There were no guards outside, so we entered despite the discourtesy!"
It was a pair of Royal Guards in uniform.
They always moved according to the manual.
This time was no different.
They had been patrolling inside the imperial palace and, seeing no attendants at the Princess’s quarters, had moved according to regulations.
"Huh? Look at that guy?"
"You, rookie! What are you doing right now…?!"
The Royal Guards who had entered the Princess’s bedchamber couldn’t help but freeze in place.
And for good reason—Armand was on top of the Princess’s bed.
Below him, the Princess was lying with her chest exposed.
"Get down this instant!"
"How dare you to the Princess…!"
Shing! They drew their swords without hesitation.
"Um, seniors, it’s not like that. It’s a misunderstanding—."
"Silence!"
"If you resist, I’ll cut your head off!"
Armand was dragged away without even being able to make excuses.
The Princess didn’t even have time to stop them.
The Royal Guards had responded that quickly.
They weren’t an elite unit for nothing.
"Pfft, this is really interesting."
The Princess smiled lightly as she watched Armand being dragged out the door.
‘To think there was another human who could look into my eyes and remain sane?’
And he wasn’t even a Saint or royalty—.
The smile never left the Princess’s lips.
✧
Dim demonic crystal lighting.
Cigarette smoke floating beneath it.
Arms and legs bound by specially crafted shackles.
‘…I didn’t die.’
When I opened my eyes, it was an interrogation room.
"What the hell is this from your first day of commissioning? That you attacked the Princess?"
Hoo—. Royal Guard Captain Dareukan exhaled a long stream of smoke and frowned.
"It’s a misunderstanding. It was for the Princess’s sake."
Only after being dragged to the interrogation room could I make my statement.
"What? Then are you saying the Princess ordered you to be her night attendant?"
Sizzle. Dareukan crushed his barely-smoked cigarette and sharpened his voice.
"That’s not it. It was to cure the Princess’s illness."
"The Princess’s illness? You, a knight?"
"Yes, that’s correct."
"Ridiculous. The ones who dragged you here said the Princess’s clothes were torn by something sharp like a blade or aura. Was that also an act of treatment?"
"Exactly."
"Ha! You’re a complete fucking lunatic."
Dareukan slammed the desk—*thud!*—and pulled out a new cigarette.
He must have gotten a headache because of one damned rookie.
"You’d better start talking straight now. At least then I’ll preserve your corpse intact."
Dareukan held out a cigarette to me as well, offering a negotiation that wasn’t a negotiation.
I naturally shook my head and refused.
"I’m innocent. I only acted that way to treat the Princess’s illness."
"You’ve completely lost your damn mind."
"……."
I fully agreed with that statement.
Not only had I failed to assassinate the Princess,
but to survive, I had no choice but to rely on her.
"Any proof?"
"There is a witness."
"A witness?"
"Yes, the Princess herself."
"Tsk, you’re already out of your mind. Calling the victim a witness—."
Dareukan clicked his tongue and rose from his seat.
—*Clank.*
Perhaps feeling words wouldn’t suffice, he picked up one of the torture tools hanging on the wall.
They were pincers for pulling fingernails. The most basic torture tool.
"You’ll regret this."
"Regret?"
"Yes, the Princess said she likes me."
"Hah! Armand, don’t tell me you forgot my warning and looked into the Princess’s eyes?"
"Ah…?"
For a moment, my mind went blank.
Come to think of it, I had met eyes with the Princess.
And for quite a long time at that.
But how was I fine? Or had I simply not noticed myself?
But if that were the case, there was no particular change in my feelings toward Violeta.
"As I thought. Even after I warned you so—."
Dareukan approached with a disappointed expression.
To rip out all my fingernails.
"I’ll help you come to your senses. I won’t stop until you confess willingly."
‘…Damn it.’
Just as a cold sensation grazed my fingertips.
"…Captain! A message from His Majesty the Emperor!"
A Royal Guard burst into the interrogation room with an urgent voice.
"What? His Majesty?"
"Send Armand up to the audience chamber immediately for his reward!"
"Reward? Did I mishear just now?"
"The Princess has proven Armand’s innocence. I believe a medal will be bestowed."
"……?"
Dareukan looked at me with a blank face.
*Plop.* He didn’t even realize the cigarette ash was falling and singeing his beard.
"See, didn’t I tell you?"
I brushed the ash off my shoulder and stood up.
"…That you would regret it."
I had survived for now, but I wasn’t exactly happy about it.
To think I was being saved by the very Princess I had tried to kill—.
Something had gone terribly, horribly wrong.