“……I meet Your Highness, the Imperial Princess.”
Ian’s impeccable greeting brought a satisfied glint to Shi-en’s eyes.
She had worried, considering he was the second son of a low-ranking noble, but unexpectedly, his education in etiquette was thorough.
It seemed she need not worry about him becoming a target in social circles as a close aide.
However, the words flowing from Shi-en’s mouth were laced with humility, completely opposite to her inner feelings.
“You’re Senior Ian, aren’t you? Hehe, there’s no need to be so formal. No matter how much of an Imperial Princess I am, I’m just another student at the Academy.”
With that, Shi-en slightly bowed her upper body and flashed a charming smile.
Most men would be done for at such a gesture. Pathetically so.
There was no such thing as a male who disliked a warm and pretty woman.
Yet this man seemed to belong to a different category. His gaze, which glanced her way, revealed no emotions at all.
Emotionless, vacant eyes.
Shi-en found herself somewhat confused about whether that was genuine or just a skillful concealment of his true feelings.
After all, she would soon find out. The Imperial Princess’s gray eyes pierced through Ian’s field of vision.
She would now be able to see.
Shi-en’s pupils momentarily blurred, as if gazing at a distant place far removed from here.
But a moment later, Shi-en opened her eyes wide and began rubbing them.
Oh, this couldn’t be.
She couldn’t see. Even when she tried again, it was the same.
Shi-en couldn’t hide her flustered expression. Such an experience had been rare throughout her life.
Nevertheless, regardless of how Shi-en felt, Ian appeared not to care at all. He merely posed a question in his uniquely emotionless voice.
“……So, what brings you here?”
Though told to treat her as just a junior, Ian still maintained polite language.
He meant to treat the Imperial Princess appropriately without making her feel burdened.
A splendid judgment. His ability to read the room was more remarkable than expected.
Shi-en found it even more appealing. A growing desire stirred within her heart.
Perhaps driven by greed, Shi-en made a somewhat daring decision, unlike herself.
After all, there was no real need to meet.
The other party was the second son of a country viscount, who had shown rapid progress over the past two months. There had to be a reason for such growth.
Some catalyst that had truly driven him forward.
What could be the driving force behind it?
Human psychology was mostly predictable. It must be desire, and humans usually desire what they lack.
For the second son of a country viscount, what could he be lacking?
Power. Shi-en’s gray eyes sank deeply as she reached a temporary conclusion.
“I’ve heard a lot about your achievements, Senior Ian. I heard you recently defeated a Mage? In fact, I came here to convey a message on behalf of the Imperial Family regarding that.”
It was touching enough that a lovely Imperial Princess came in representation of the Imperial Family, yet treating a mere low-ranking noble student so respectfully would generally be considered overwhelming.
Unless, of course, there was an uncontainable expectation for a reward from the Imperial Family.
However, the man showed remarkably no reaction. He simply gazed at Shi-en with golden eyes, deeply tinged with exhaustion.
He likely harbored some desire and seemed adept at hiding his true intentions.
Impressive. The Imperial Princess smiled subtly.
He was certainly a man she wanted to make her own.
The impulse surged within Shi-en, akin to a predator spotting its prey after a period of hunger.
“Your unprecedented achievements have put quite a burden on our Imperial Family. While we must reward you, we can’t figure out what exactly you desire….”
With that, the princess subtly moved closer to Ian.
On tiptoe, her voice turned soft, coloring Ian’s eardrums.
“Say anything you wish. I will make it happen; I will use my influence to assist you.”
“……Anything?”
Ian replied, his voice tinged with genuine interest for the first time. A deeper smile hung on Shi-en’s lips.
Indeed, no matter how exceptional he might have been, he was still just a human.
Shi-en’s breaths turned sweeter.
“Yes, anything… Just remember that I helped you.”
Ian emitted a hum as an acknowledgment.
Shi-en seized this opportunity without hesitation. Her mouth poured forth smooth language.
From what she observed, he was as stoic as a stone. She needed to strike with a more direct approach.
“Perhaps in the future, we may forge a beneficial connection, yes? Then I can grant you whatever you desire. All you need to do is kiss my feet.”
It was a metaphorical expression, yet its meaning was explicit.
She meant for him to consider an oath of loyalty. Kissing one’s feet was one of the greatest displays of respect to a lord.
Of course, it might hurt his pride initially. But after tasting power, his thoughts would soon change.
No creature was as candid about desire as humans.
Indeed, the more direct such offers were made first, the more compliant he would likely be later. This was a fundamental aspect of the manipulation Shi-en had learned within the royal palace’s murky intrigue.
The man remained silent. For a long time, and even longer.
Shi-en had no worries. After all, he was merely the second son of a country viscount.
Though he had shown remarkable achievements lately, there weren’t many opportunities for someone of a low-ranking noble background to belong to the Imperial Family.
Soon, the man would willingly come to kiss her feet.
But even that felt a bit inadequate, so the princess decided to push Ian’s buttons a little more.
“……For instance, the succession of a title?”
Once her words wound down, Shi-en stepped back a few paces with her arms crossed.
She could well imagine the hardships he must have experienced as the second son of a country viscount. Having grown up constantly compared to his older brother, looking at his personal information, it was clear that the heir had long been designated to his sibling.
There was no doubt that his recent rapid growth wasn’t unrelated to that history.
Aside from that, there appeared to be no other reasons to be found in his clean record.
He was the man who had contributed a corpse of a monster worth ten golds to save a common girl.
So, surely he was not driven by greed for money, which left only the drive for power.
Of course, Shi-en’s words could be taken as an insult to his family, depending on the listener.
But what could she do? Shi-en was a princess, and Ian was merely the second son of a country viscount. More importantly, if the man aspired to power, he might find her words refreshing.
It was a statement affirming his desires; most people wanted their vile hearts recognized, regardless of the act.
At this point, Shi-en was convinced Ian would be half-tempted. Even after hearing her rude proposal, he was calmly maintaining his composure.
Shi-en asked once more.
“So, how about it, Senior Ian? Have you thought of anything?”
“……As it happens, I do have one wish.”
Yes, a glimmer of joy flashed in the princess’s eyes.
It was just a matter of wrapping things up. Like hooking a fish on a baited line, Shi-en beamed with a blossoming smile.
“Yes, just share it. Whatever it is that Senior Ian desires…”
It was then that a bucket of cold water doused the warm atmosphere.
In the void, water sprayed everywhere.
Ian had opened his canteen’s lid and promptly poured its contents over the princess.
No one was able to react to such a sudden situation.
Neither Shi-en, nor the royal guards behind her, nor the onlookers who had been eavesdropping on the interaction between the man and the princess could respond.
Spray, as the liquid fell from the air, drenched Shi-en completely.
The unexpected response left the princess frozen in the pose she had been smiling in. The same went for her royal guards standing behind her.
Seeing this, Ian asked with a voice full of subtle amusement. His face hinted at enjoying this moment.
“……Is the shower refreshing, Your Highness?”
At that moment, Shi-en exhaled in disbelief, “Hah,” a sound of cluelessness escaping her lips. A mix of embarrassment and astonishment shimmered in her eyes.
Had she ever endured such treatment in her life?
And it was a signal for something else.
The first to react was Airen. Her hand swiftly grasped the hilt of her sword.
Just as she was about to draw her sword.
A chilling sensation crawled down Airen’s spine. Instinctively, her eyes followed the source of this feeling.
Gold eyes. The burning gaze of the man was locked onto Airen.
She froze.
It was strange. The instincts of a warrior honed through years of training rang alarm bells. There was only one meaning to that feeling.
The man before her was strong. An opponent not to be faced.
Cold sweat began to bead on Airen’s palms. Her breathing grew harsh all of a sudden.
Still keeping his gaze fixed on her, the man uttered a low warning.
“Lady Airen… take your hand off your sword, if you do not wish to regret it.”
It was a natural command. As if it were merely the expected way to treat Airen, there was no awkwardness at all.
At that moment, Airen snapped out of her daze.
She felt foolish.
After all, this man was just a third-year at the Academy. She was a member of the Imperial Royal Guards, and only elite graduates of the Academy could join the Royal Guards.
There was no way she could lose to a mere man like him.
Reminded of this fact, the lady knight’s pale face flushed with embarrassment. For a moment, she felt intimidated by Ian, and that thought shamed her.
And that shame quickly turned to animosity toward the man.
Gritting her teeth, Airen drew her sword.
“All royal guards, prepare for battle!”
With the clang of metal, it signaled that all the royal guards behind Airen had drawn their weapons.
Each knight was a formidable warrior, all experts and above. Although they were unable to wear armor due to Academy regulations, their bodies were deadly weapons in their own right.
The burning aura they radiated testified to the level they had attained. A third-year at the Academy should be subdued in an instant.
Even so, Ian’s eyes betrayed no signs of emotion.
It was not an attitude suitable before formidable opponents. There was not a trace of fear or tension in his expression.
The golden eyes reflected only deep exhaustion, as if all other emotions had been incinerated.
Airen found that fact unnerving.
The man displayed neither arrogance nor confidence. His demeanor was closer to that of someone addressing an opponent worth little of his time.
In the end, Airen clenched her teeth to calm the anxiety that swelled within her.
That should not be the case. After all, he was just a third-year at the Academy. It was impossible for him to possess the strength to overpower four of the Imperial Guards.
Yet, faced with the lingering unease, Airen made up her mind.
Indeed, she could simply prove it with her strength.
The fleeting confrontation was at an end. Airen, unable to endure any longer, planted her foot firmly on the ground.
In an instant, as if the space itself had been erased, Airen charged toward Ian.
The ripped atmosphere screamed in protest. The speed of the attack felt almost sluggish. The wavy strands of the lady’s blue hair were wildly flung about.
Her sword was aimed straight for Ian’s heart.
A sharp thrust. Until that moment, Ian had shown no movement at all.
He hadn’t even attempted to draw his own weapon. Amidst the heavy passage of time, Airen felt a sense of relief within herself.
It was a foolish concern. Clearly, the opponent was still a mere third-year student at the Academy.
He was utterly incapable of responding to her ambush.
But the next moment.
Airen’s eyes widened in disbelief.
In the frozen moment, the man’s hand pressed against the blade of Airen’s sword, pushing it away. It was a maneuver possible only if one understood the flow of power entirely. A supple trajectory, as if bending to the very will of her aura.
Airen’s sword pierced through the empty air. Somehow, Ian’s arm had wrapped around her shoulder before she even realized it.
Airen’s mind went blank.
How?
Before she could utter such a question, a voice devoid of any inflection echoed in her ears.
“……Don’t do something you’ll regret.”
And in an instant, Airen’s world flipped upside down.
Bang!
The lady knight crashed into the ground, and a sound like an explosion erupted. Jagged fragments of shattered stone and gravel scattered everywhere.
Dust flew high into the sky, forming a dense fog. Even at a glance, it was a blow with incredible force.
It was the moment when dozens of breaths came to a standstill.
