Chapter Eighty-four: The Princess’ Summons
“Welcome, Karen.”
“It has been a long time, Your Highness.”
Although Karen occasionally met with Waltride when delivering potions, it had truly been ages since they were alone together like this. Waltride, sitting elegantly on the chaise lounge, remained as goddess-like in her beauty as ever. This goddess was about to pass judgment on her.
Seeing Karen’s nervousness, Waltride chuckled softly.
“You think I’ve shared my greatest secret with you, don’t you?”
“Huh…?”
“But in truth, that’s not quite the case.”
After saying this, Waltride stood up and approached Karen. Waltride was tall, and as she looked down at Karen, her golden, undulating hair fell around Karen’s face like a curtain.
“You still don’t yet know the real me.”
“The real… Your Highness…?”
As Karen gulped, Waltride parted her thick, seductive lips.
“Monsters are frightening… But once I slimmed down and started getting all this attention, it felt too good to give up.”
“Your Highness?”
The wind had shifted.
If this were a weather vane, it would have turned 180 degrees and then stood on its head.
“I can’t forget the words of gratitude from the local ladies. I truly want to fulfill my duties as a princess. Or rather, I want to be useful to people. I don’t want to return to a life where I lie in bed and am waited on hand and foot for everything.”
“Your Highness, Your Highness.”
Feeling that Waltride was being far too candid, Karen called out to stop her, but Waltride did not stop.
“However, monsters are frightening. I still don’t want to fight… Karen.”
Waltride firmly grasped Karen by both shoulders. It was only then that Karen noticed the intensity in her eyes. She hadn’t noticed it before, distracted by the plrincess beauty.
“It’s partly your responsibility that memories of being pampered as a child have completely resurfaced. I said I didn’t want to lose weight. You said you would grant my wish. That I’ve become like this is partly your fault, too. Isn’t that so? That’s why I’m asking you. Don’t abandon me.”
“Your Highness, please calm down.”
“I am perfectly calm.”
Waltride’s hand slid across Karen’s cheek. With the beautiful woman’s face so close to hers, Karen returned her gaze in flustered confusion.
“I understand from the New Year’s Festival and from my own experience that you have strength of will.”
Taking Karen’s hand, Waltride guided it to her own cheek. Being made to touch her smooth cheek, Karen began to feel strange.
“That’s why I’ve decided to cling to you.”
Waltride said with a sharp expression. Thanks to how pathetic her words were, despite being in a situation where she was touching a beautiful woman, Karen’s odd tension dissipated.
“I know that, as a princess, if I command a commoner like you, you’d have no way to refuse. But I’ll say it plainly—please, help me.”
This princess, if she remained silent, would look like a noble princess indeed.
Now that she had escaped the side effects of the Bloodline Blessing, she would be expected to become a warrior, and she had the potential to be a powerful one at that. That’s why expectations were placed on her, and why she was suffering. When someone is suffering and asks for help, it’s natural to want to help them.
“How may I assist you?”
“I want you to help me get married… not in some arranged match, but in a way that suits me personally!”
“As you wish.”
“I’m expecting much from your efforts, you know? I’ve placed some very, very heavy expectations on you, okay?”
According to Waltride, this was the real her.
Karen nodded to the princess, who was clinging to her, then placed the bag she had prepared on the desk.
“This is something I prepared to beg for your forgiveness in case I had angered Your Highness.”
As she spoke, Karen opened the bag to reveal various cosmetics in crystal bottles.
“These are cosmetics I prepared for Your Highness.”
“This is detox tea. But this… is face powder?”
“It’s face powder made from silk spider threads.”
“You made face powder to replace the poisonous one?”
At Waltride’s surprised expression, Karen nodded. Since stopping the trend of poisonous face powder, this was something she had been considering. Remembering that she had used silk face powder in her previous life, she had requested adventurers from Ehlertt territory to bring her silk spider threads.
“I wish to help maintain Your Highness’s beauty, and help you secure a worthy marriage partner through your beauty.”
“This is cream, this is fragrant oil… and this is soap.”
After examining each cosmetic item in the bag, Waltride smiled.
“It seems I’ve received not just what I hoped for, but more. That’s a relief, Karen. So listen closely.”
Saying that, Waltride opened her green eyes wide.
“If my secret is exposed, I will seduce Julius with all my heart and soul!”
“I am Karen, your faithful servant who will guide Your Highness to a happy marriage! I look forward to serving you!”
“Yes. From now on, you may call me Waltride.”
“I’m honored…”
Karen replied, feeling drained by the princess’s unexpected goofiness.
Perhaps she had gotten herself involved in something outrageous, but she would gladly be involved. If she held the reins of the princess, she could prevent her from approaching Julius.
“So this is the generous, kind-hearted, noble, proud, and intelligent princess…”
Karen repeated what Julius had once said.
At Karen’s comment, Waltride held her head with an agonized expression.
“Ugh! All I wanted was not to lose weight! I ended up becoming a kind-hearted princess who gave up a magic-blocking artifact without regard for herself! I just acted magnanimously toward everyone because I felt guilty for not fulfilling any obligations! I just wanted to do something for the young ladies because I hated being a burden to the Ehlertt family!”
Waltride was in anguish.
Karen couldn’t imagine this beautiful woman becoming happy, even if she gave up her position as princess to become a commoner. Regardless of what others said, Karen couldn’t help but pity Waltride. Even if such sympathy went against common sense in this world.
“Of course, I won’t ask for your help for nothing. Well, I’ve lost all my connections from when I was in the royal palace, I have no political power, and my budget is meager…”
As she spoke, Waltride handed Karen a sealed letter.
“I’ll give you my name.”
“Name? What do you mean?”
As she asked this, Karen accepted the sealed letter and rounded her eyes when she saw the addressee.
“A recommendation letter to the Alchemists’ Guild? Huh!? Your Highness!?”
“Waltride, remember.”
Waltride said with a bright smile.
“An E-rank alchemist needs a recommendation letter to rise to D-rank, correct?”
“But I thought only guilds or knight orders could issue recommendation letters…?”
“That’s not true. I checked, and all that’s needed is a recommendation letter from a credible organization that guarantees continuous delivery performance and quality. While it might be difficult for a single noble, the First Princess’s Palace should have sufficient credibility.”
“Continuous delivery performance…!”
“You can start making them from now on, can’t you?”
Waltride gave a sly grin.
“I expect great things from you, Karen.”
“I will endeavor to meet your expectations… Thank you, Lady Waltride.”
Karen bowed while embracing the recommendation letter. This recommendation letter was the embodiment of the expectations placed on her. Looking down at Karen, who clutched the recommendation letter as if savoring the moment, Waltride nodded with satisfaction.
No comments:
Post a Comment