Chapter 10

Released:

After quite some time, Iris arrived at what could only be described as the rundown backyard of an old butcher shop.

However, it was far from an ordinary butcher’s backyard. The scarecrows scattered around and the wooden weapons seemingly used for training made it an unusual sight.

“Is this not just a regular butcher shop?”

“The butcher here is said to have been a famous swordsman when he was young. Apparently, he takes on talented individuals as students for training as a hobby. Though he rarely he does so.”

Seo Jin-hee who thought Iris would be curious already completed her investigation into Duncan, who was running the only butcher shop in the Deir Viscounty.

“Is that so? To use his skills to nurture others even after retiring… He is a true citizen of the Empire.”

“Yes, Your Highness. He is the kind of talent Your Highness would appreciate. Unfortunately, it seems he has no intention of returning to his former life.”

“That is unfortunate. In any case, he’s teaching someone and called for the Saintess for that person, is that it?”

“That’s correct. As of now, we haven’t been able to confirm what connection he has to the Saintess….but I’ll make sure to inform you the moment we find anything further.”

It was harder than expected to find the connection between Duncan and the Saintess, Estelle.

It felt like something was being hidden, either intentionally or unintentionally, which made it unlikely that their relationship was just that of ordinary acquaintances.

“I don’t think he’s a bad person, so I doubt it’s anything improper.”

“I feel the same. At any rate, it seems the Saintess isn’t here right now.”

Iris replied before she looked around the dimly lit and empty training hall.

The sun had long since set, and it was well past the hour when even the butcher shop would have closed.

The unexpected traffic delay had been the main reason they couldn’t meet Estelle that day.

“For now, why don’t you rest somewhere nearby and meet the Saintess tomorrow?”

Seo Jin-hee had already searched for a hotel where Iris could stay and reserved a room.

While it wasn’t an extravagant place, it was enough, and Iris wasn’t one to be overly worried about such things despite being the second-highest-ranking person in the Empire.

“Have you been able to determine where she went?”

“Ah, well… I did find out, but…”

“You found it?”

“Yes, but it’s been confirmed that she isn’t nearby. She’s rather quite far away.”

At Seo Jin-hee’s words, Iris began to think about the Deir Viscounty.

Deir Viscounty was the very definition of a rural backwater area. Step outside the area, and there wasn’t a single hotel or motel in sight. Just endless stretches of barren fields with the occasional farmhouse dotting the landscape.

And yet, the Saintess had gone somewhere far from here?

“Did she head toward an urban area?”

Iris thought that Estelle might have traveled to a city, as that seemed the most logical conclusion.

“No, Your Highness. It appears she’s staying at a farmhouse.”

But that assumption was decisively proven wrong.

Estelle hadn’t gone to an urban area but to Theo’s house. One of the few scattered farmhouses in the region.

“A farmhouse? The Saintess is staying at a farmhouse?”

Even when Iris had first met Estelle, she hadn’t come across as arrogant, but there had been an undeniable air of elegance about her.

She didn’t seem like someone who would stay at a farmhouse, nor did she have the image of a commoner, yet now she had suddenly entered the Empire illegally and chosen to stay in a farmhouse?

“…We’re heading there immediately.”

“It’s an ordinary farmhouse. If Your Highness visits at such a late hour, they would be flustered, as they are completely unprepared.”

This was advice that only Seo Jin-hee, Iris’s longtime maid, could offer.

Under normal circumstances, Iris would have simply done as she wished, but visiting a farmhouse at this late hour, when they were not properly prepared and could not offer any hospitality, would be akin to committing a grave offense from the farmers’ perspective.

“Ah… I see. Very well, then. Send someone ahead to inform them so we can visit tomorrow.”

Anyone else might have dismissed such concerns as trivial, but Iris was a Crown Princess who cared deeply for the people of the Empire.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she cherished the Empire’s citizens even more than the Emperor himself, and she would never act in a way that could cause harm or trouble to them.

She had simply been about to make a misguided decision due to the Saintess’s strange behavior, but with a loyal subject by her side to advise her, she was able to avoid making that mistake.

“Let’s all retire for the night. You must rest as well.”

“Yes, Your Highness. The room is already prepared, so I will guide you.”

When Iris watched Seo Jin-hee calmly guide her as if nothing had happened, she thought once again that keeping her close had been an excellent decision.

***

“Wow, this is absolutely delicious!”

The woman who had suddenly asked me to call her just “Estelle” and who had skillfully controlled her magical power so that I wouldn’t feel the slightest discomfort on the way here, was now marveling at every dish my mother had prepared.

“Oh my, I’m so glad it suits the Saintess’s taste!”

“Please, just call me Estelle! I’m not here in as the Saintess, after all!”

“Fufu, then shall I? Estelle, dear, feel free to relax and make yourself at home.”

My mom had been startled to learn that the unexpected guest was the Saintess, but maybe because of her years of dealing with people, she quickly adjusted to Estelle’s requests and made her feel at ease.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I should’ve explained things better.”

“It’s fine, son. But why aren’t you eating properly today? Hurry up and eat so you can spend some time with the Saintess—oh, oops! That just slipped out. Ahem, I mean, with Estelle.”

“If it’s awkward, you can just call me Saintess.”

“Oh, no way! You went out of your way to ask us to keep it casual, right?”

Seriously, my mom’s easygoing nature was something else.

I figured I’d get smacked if I said that out loud, so I just kept the thought to myself and focused on eating.

Hmm, Mom’s cooking was always good, but somehow, it felt like it was getting even better these days.

To be able to come home from training, eat Mom’s meals, take a bath, and sleep on a slightly old but cozy bed like this one…

Keuhun~ this is exactly the happiness I had been dreaming of.

“Mr. Theo, this fried eggplant is amazing! I totally get why you praised it so much!”

Watching Estelle practically sparkle with excitement as if she intended to eat all the fried eggplant by herself, I found myself thinking she looked kind of cute.

With such a beautiful appearance paired with that kind of cute behavior, honestly, who wouldn’t be charmed?

Sure, there were people who complained that Estelle could be blunt and rude, but seeing her refreshing charm in action, it was easy to understand why both men and women seemed to fall for her.

“Eggplant? It’s definitely just eggplant. How can it taste this good?”

She stared at the eggplant so intently, as if trying to find some hidden secret, that I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“It’s just food. Do you think staring at it is going to reveal something?”

“Hmm, I see the eggplant. The eggplant inside the batter.”

Her quirky behavior made her seem so real, like an actual living breathing character, and I couldn’t help but find it both amazing and cute at the same time.

It was at that moment—

Knock, knock—

“Is anyone home?”

A sudden visitor? At this hour? On this quiet, remote country road? Was this some kind of… troublesome event about to unfold?

No, no, it should be fine. After all, we had Saintess Estelle on our side.

On top of that, her ability to use magic seemed to be top-notch.

And considering how much she enjoyed my mom’s cooking, if anything were to threaten us, she’d probably step in to help.

“Who’s there?”

And so I called out with that rough kind of trust in mind.

“I’ve been sent by Her Highness, the Crown Princess. May I trouble you to open the door for a moment?”

Hearing the name “Crown Princess”, something I only expected to encounter at the academy, left me momentarily stunned. My expression betrayed my surprise.

“Oh, uh, yes, yes. Just a moment.”

Peeking through the hole in the door, I saw three very ordinary-looking men standing outside.

Of course, they could have been assassins or swordsmen disguised as harmless individuals, but something about them didn’t feel threatening at all. So, for now, I decided to open the door.

“Apologies for disturbing you so late at night. Her Highness the Crown Princess instructed us to urgently deliver a message, so we’ve come despite the late hour.”

What could possibly be so urgent that the Crown Princess would send a message to a rural farmhouse like this?

Ah, could it be that they caught wind of the Saintess being here?

It seemed that she hadn’t gone through the proper procedures to enter the country.

“The Crown Princess is aware that the Saintess is here. Her Highness is currently staying at a hotel in the middle of Viscount Deir’s territory to arrange a meeting. She plans to visit here tomorrow, so we kindly ask that you refrain from going out until then.”

The second most powerful person in the empire has arrived. Hmm.

If she says jump, I guess I jump. Well, I was bound to meet the Crown Princess sooner or later anyway.

Actually, this works out perfectly. Observing their dynamic now seemed like a pretty good opportunity. I nodded to myself, finding the idea reasonable.

“Yes, understood. I’ll make sure to inform the Saintess as well.”

“Thank you. Then, we’ll take our leave.”

The men, who truly seemed to have come only to deliver the message, slowly disappeared into the shadowy path outside.

“Estelle, the Crown Princess says she’s coming tomorrow.”

I went back into the house and relayed everything I heard and saw to Estelle.

“Oh. It seems I’ve been caught for entering the country illegally. I suppose Her Highness will give me quite the scolding.”

6 responses to “Chapter 10”

  1. RiamuP Avatar
    RiamuP

    They all are easygoing lmao

    1. JimmyJohns05 Avatar
      JimmyJohns05

      it’s quite nice lol, they fit each other pretty well

  2. Pe551 Avatar
    Pe551

    Thank for the chapter

  3. JimmyJohns05 Avatar
    JimmyJohns05

    oh wow, the princess listens to her people. that is unfortunately a refreshing change. very welcome too.

    thanks for chapter

  4. Yu Mi Everybody Avatar
    Yu Mi Everybody

    There’s something about how this story is written that makes it easy to accept how a monarchy survived to the modern age. It’s like an alternate Earth history but with magic and somehow…it fits. This is weird but in a good way.

  5. Droopytree Avatar
    Droopytree

    Honestly I don’t get the other comments lol just based off the cover picture you know it’s gonna be hell for him. Dude looks like he’s already dead inside. And knowing his personality he’s still gonna try to get them to date despite also fully being aware they want him not the Yuri path. So he’s stupid and he’s gonna be one of those who’s stuck to the game plot instead of actually realizing his existence already created a new path he’s never seen in the game. “WHAT I STUCK TO THE PLOT WHY IS IT DIFFERENT” cringe tbh

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