Chapter 100

Since the timeline at the end of the previous episode seems a bit complicated, here is some additional information.

A. Autumn / Nastasia visits Rihilt's territory.

B. Early winter / Albert and company visit Rihilt's territory.

This chapter begins with B, but at the end of the previous episode, it shifts to A, which is a past episode.

"Nice to meet you, Viscount Rihilt Strum."

Nastasia smiled gracefully as Rihilt appeared to greet her.

Rihilt was speechless, unable to respond immediately.

However, this did not bother Nastasia. It was far too common for her to find it unpleasant.

Everyone, regardless of gender, reacted the same way upon first meeting her.

Her face was incredibly beautiful.

So beautiful that it was said there was no one in the kingdom—no, in the history of the kingdom—who could match her.

Her abundant golden hair, which reached her waist, was tied up, and she was dressed in the finest gown made by a skilled tailor.

—It was as if a doll crafted by a god was walking.

She was praised to such an extent.

"…I am Rihilt Strum! H-Hi! It's an honor to meet you, Lady Nastasia!"

Rihilt, regaining his composure, greeted her excitedly. As he said this, he hesitated to extend his hand.

"In a small place, today we will take our time—!?"

Nastasia reached out and took Rihilt's hand.

"Why are you pulling your hand back, Viscount Strum?"

"Well, I thought it might be disrespectful for someone of my low rank…"

"That's not the case, Viscount."

Nastasia smiled warmly.

"As long as you have loyalty to the country and the king in your heart, I will respect you. I deeply appreciate your loyalty."

"Y-Yes… Thank you…"

Rihilt nodded, his face turning red.

Nastasia released his hand and continued speaking.

"And, Viscount, may I ask?"

"W-What is it?"

"Is it appropriate to call this place 'small'? This is a direct territory of the royal family, meaning the building's owner is the royal family. Isn't it problematic to criticize the king's property as 'small'?"

"Ah!?"

Rihilt's face contorted in genuine distress.

"Don't worry, I won't tell the king about this today."

Nastasia's lips curved into a small smile.

"Shall I show you around—no, would you like me to guide you, Viscount?"

"Hahaha…."

Rihilt scratched his head, looking troubled.

The next day, Nastasia and her entourage boarded a high-speed carriage and headed for the earl's territory.

"Be careful, Third Princess!"

Rihilt waved as he saw them off.

Nastasia, still in the carriage, smiled gracefully and waved back.

The door closed, and the carriage began to move.

As they left the city, Nastasia called out to her attendant maid.

"Is it okay now?"

"…I think so."

Upon hearing this, Nastasia slumped into the seat, her legs stretched out in front of her.

Her expression was incredibly lethargic.

"Ugh, being a royal is exhausting…"

She sighed deeply.

It was a sight that would make anyone who had met the 'perfect her' as a royal scream.

This was the true nature of Nastasia Valentinia.

She could perfectly play the role of a 'royal' with her duties, but in reality, she was free-spirited and disliked being constrained.

If she had been born a commoner, she might have become an adventurer.

"You're still as disappointing as ever, Princess."

The maid sighed. She had been nagging at the beginning of her service, but she had realized it was futile.

Nastasia, unfazed by the maid's sarcasm, retorted with ease.

"As long as the inside is good, right? Everything else is perfect, isn't it?"

That was who Nastasia, the Third Princess, was.

"Ugh… I thought it would be fun to travel and get away from the castle, but it's still exhausting. Being in 'royal mode' is tiring. The glitter is too much. Should we skip it and go back, Rio?"

"If you weren't a royal, I'd slap you."

Rio, a maid in her mid-twenties, responded with a smile.

Beside her sat another maid, Mio, who looked like a carbon copy of Rio.

Rio and Mio were twin maids. They had the same light purple hair and well-defined features.

The only differences were that Rio wore glasses, and Mio did not. Additionally, Mio rarely spoke unless spoken to, while Rio spoke normally. Mio was currently sitting silently.

"Scary. You're a real soldier, scary. No violence, please."

Nastasia shivered dramatically.

Neither of them was an ordinary maid. Evidence of this was the swords placed beside them.

Rio responded without changing her expression.

"Who was it that insisted on making a soldier a maid?"

They were originally excellent female knights but were taken in by the curious Nastasia as guards and maids.

"Convinced to do it for a short time until I got married—how many years has it been now?"

Rio glared at Nastasia.

"Isn't it time to fulfill your promise?"

"…What do you mean?"

"I'm telling you to get married already."

Nastasia's face froze.

For the Third Princess, Nastasia, who was already over twenty, this was a pressing issue. Marriage proposals had been coming in twice a month for years.

Nastasia had been dodging them with various excuses. Accepting this festival was also a way to escape from her family.

"…If only I had settled things with Alenjia Luminas…"

"She's dead! Besides, it was a good judgment because she's dead!"

Things had progressed quite seriously with Alenjia. The king, her father, had favored Alenjia, putting immense pressure on her.

Alenjia had also been quite enthusiastic.

Being courted by a talented and handsome man who would support the next generation of the kingdom—

However,

Nastasia had used all her cunning to avoid Alenjia, leaving things ambiguous and escaping.

"But even if she were alive!"

Nastasia pointed a finger and declared firmly.

"Alenjia is a no-go!"

She then launched into a tirade.

"The noble girls were all gushing, 'Oh, Alenjia-sama!' But they have no eye for people! His insides are black and rotten! He thinks everyone except himself is trash!"

"Is that true… or is it just your assumption, Lady Nastasia?"

"It's not an assumption! My eyes can't be fooled! Alenjia is a no-go! His character is too bad! He only sees me as a way to get royal blood!"

"…But, didn't you like his face?"

"Well, his face was nice."

Nastasia nodded.

"But, you know, a man is about his heart. I don't want someone who scores zero in that department."

Nastasia said this rather mercilessly.

Rio chuckled.

"I doubt Alenjia-sama ever thought she'd be spoken of this way after her death."

"…It's not nice to speak ill of the dead… but, no, I don't really feel bad about Alenjia. Dad, you're a bit off to trust someone like that. I really think he's the worst person."

Even as she said it was bad, Nastasia was even more merciless.

"What kind of man do you like, Lady Nastasia? Assuming his face is like Alenjia-sama's."

"Huh? Hmm…."

Nastasia put her hand to her chin and thought.

"Well… first, a quiet man, I think."

"Wh-What!?"

Rio's body trembled.

"You're so noisy!?"

"I am! I'm sorry for being noisy!"

Nastasia pouted.

"Because I'm noisy, a quiet man would be better! If we're both noisy, neither of us will listen to the other, right!?"

"Rio is impressed."

"…Impressed by what?"

"You understand yourself, Lady Nastasia."

"I'm noisy!"

Nastasia shouted again.

"So, um… a man with a strong core… someone who is usually laid-back but can make decisions when it counts. Bam, bam!"

"That's a high point."

"Also, it would be great if he had a special skill. Not someone who is good at everything like Alenjia. It's okay if he's bad at other things, but he should excel in one area!"

"…I see."

Rio nodded thoughtfully.

"So, a man with Alenjia Luminas's face, who is quiet, can make decisions when it counts, and has a special skill."

"Pretty much, yeah."

Nastasia nodded.

Rio hummed and then continued.

"Does such a perfect person even exist?"

"Maybe not…."

Nastasia, while talking, also thought it was unlikely.

(…But, it doesn't really matter anyway…!)

Nastasia laughed inwardly. Because, before marriage, she had no interest in love. There were so many more interesting things—Nastasia's curiosity and high intelligence were insatiable.

(…Since I was born a royal, with power and money in abundance, I should enjoy life!)

That was Nastasia's life philosophy.

One day, she would be forced into a political marriage as a royal. When that day came, she would no longer be able to enjoy such freedom.

Even when that day came—

Ah, life was so much fun!

That's the kind of life Nastasia decided to live.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

The high-speed carriage arrived at the earl's capital.

Earl Emegis lived in a small but impressive castle.

As Nastasia stepped out of the carriage, a man in his fifties, wearing a cloak, appeared. He had a mustache and sharp eyes, and a very sturdy build.

"Thank you for coming, Third Princess Nastasia."

He bowed respectfully,

"I am Lord Grad Emegis."

He extended his right hand without hesitation.

"It is an honor to meet you."

"Likewise. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Nastasia, with her usual graceful smile, shook hands with Earl Emegis.

—Soon after, Nastasia's condition rapidly deteriorated.