“Forget about it.”
“Forget…what are you talking about?”
“Forget what just happened.”
“Um…do you mean when Little Lian was sobbing in my arms?”
“I said forget it!”
In the City Square, Lian, flustered and angry, wanted to knock on Vera’s head as she walked beside her…
But then, realizing what a disrespectful act that would be, she froze with her hand in midair.
“Hehehe…”
Seeing her holding back with a red face seemed to make Vera even more delighted.
She chuckled softly, then straightened up as a mature lady, trying to link arms with Lian as they walked side by side—
“…”
Lian dodged.
“…?”
Vera tried again, but Lian avoided her once more.
“Hmph…!”
This time, Lian failed to dodge. Vera had sped up her movement with a burst of magic.
Before she realized it, Lian was trapped in the crook of Vera’s arm and couldn’t escape.
“What are you doing…! This is the main street! Look at how everyone’s staring…”
Lian’s face burned as she glanced around—many passersby were now watching them.
After all, the person clinging to her was one of the city’s most famous individuals, and known for rarely appearing in public unless necessary, and famed for her stern demeanor—the Sword Saint Princess.
“Look…isn’t that Her Highness, the Royal Princess?”
“I’ve never seen Her Highness smile like that… Who’s the child beside her?”
“She looks like a maid…”
Though the gazes were curious as always, both their number and their intensity were far greater than before.
After all, it was Festival time, and ever since things changed, this was the first time Lian found herself the center of such attention—
“I never should have agreed to escort you back! Let’s hurry!”
Before the crowd could grow any larger, she dragged Vera toward a carriage waiting at the edge of the square.
…
……
………
“What a shame… I wanted to walk back with you.”
“Spare me. Don’t you know who you are?”
Lian rubbed her forehead. She simply couldn’t adjust to the changes in Vera.
Maybe she should just tell Vera she was her illegitimate daughter? Perhaps that would cool Vera’s intimate attitude a bit…
“Oh my. Even in the carriage, you two hold onto each other so tightly? How affectionate.”
“Wha?!”
Both Vera and Lian jumped in fright. For beneath the coachman’s tall hat, there was a head of silken, silver hair glinting in the light—
“…Feiyin?”
“Indeed, it is I. Please don’t worry, I can handle any vehicle with ease.”
“No one’s asking about that… I mean, what are you doing here?”
“I’m working, of course. Look, I have a High Coachman License issued by the Siles Transport Association.”
“Aren’t you a maid? You should be a maid, right?!”
As Feiyin deftly pulled out her credentials from her coat, Vera hurriedly let go of Lian’s arm, which she’d been holding onto tightly.
“Your Highness Vera, you’re returning to your residence, yes? Are you sure your body has fully recovered?”
“Y-yes, I’m fine now!”
“Then, let us depart.”
With that, she expertly flicked the reins, and the carriage started moving.
Embarrassed, Lian and Vera didn’t exchange another word the whole way.
Fortunately, the awkward silence didn’t last long—they soon arrived at Vera’s apartment.
“I don’t get why you don’t just stay at the official residence. Why insist on living in a place managed by others…?”
The apartment was certainly grand, but it was still a far cry from the City Square’s official mansion. As Lian puzzled over this, Vera again tried to link arms like before—
“Are you two not going in? Why stand around out here?”
At some point, Feiyin had changed back into her maid uniform and, seizing the perfect moment, walked up to the two and spoke.
“When did you change…? Never mind, I’m used to it.”
Lian, looking weary, headed to the apartment’s door first. Vera, withdrawing her arm in frustration, shot a resentful glare at Feiyin.
“After you, Your Highness?”
Feiyin bowed her head and gestured for Vera to enter, as if she hadn’t noticed anything.
…
……
…………
Seeing Vera return, the manager who’d been waiting in the apartment’s foyer rushed to her side, wailing:
“Your Highness… why didn’t you come back last night? When I saw the breakfast untouched and got no answer after knocking, I was so frightened… Please, next time at least send word to let me know…”
“That was my oversight. I’m very sorry for worrying you.”
Vera apologized crisply and sincerely, bowing her head. The manager, seeing her always-cold Princess act like this, dropped to his knees with a “swish”:
“Please, please raise your head… I wasn’t trying to complain at all… I wouldn’t dare…!”
“…Are you usually especially cold and fierce with them?” Lian, numb to their interaction, asked.
“Not at all. I am very gentle, and amiable. Isn’t that right, Manager?”
She helped the manager up, then, smiling, fixed him with a wordless gaze of pressure.
Never having seen her like this, the manager could only nod frantically like a pecking chick:
“Yes! Her Highness, the Royal Princess, is very gentle and amiable!”
“Hehehehe…is that so? To see the Frostblade Sword Saint, the Royal Princess, show a side so unlike the rumors, I suppose my trip was worth it.”
A soft chuckle suddenly echoed through the hall. Both Vera and Lian recognized the voice, and turned their gaze toward the speaker—
“You are… Prince Julian Nolanstia. And the one beside you must be…”
“Forgive our unannounced visit. We heard Her Highness was unwell, so we brought some gifts of comfort.”
The Prince of Nolanstia bowed slightly to Vera. It seemed they had been waiting in the hall for some time, accompanied by a few servants carrying two large boxes of gifts, carefully wrapped in luxurious furs.
“M-my name is Princess Eleanor Nolanstia. I have long admired Your Highness. I regret not being able to greet you with my brother that day due to fatigue… So today, I wished to call and make amends…”
The princess at the Prince’s side also bowed slightly to Vera.
But what struck Lian as odd was that her demeanor was far less proud than when she’d seen her at Xīlong Pavilion; instead, she seemed timid.
Moreover, her eyes were now those of a human, not the Demon Eyes she had seen that day.
She must have used some method to hide them… There were many ways to conceal demonic features, so that wasn’t surprising.
But if she’d dared show them off before all at Xīlong Pavilion that day, why hide them now?
“It’s my first time meeting Your Highness, Princess. Truly, you are as radiant as the rumors say… But it seems, just like my Lady Vera, there are some parts of you that differ from what people say, hmm?”
“W-who are you?”
Princess Eleanor looked nervously at the white-haired maid who’d suddenly joined the conversation—
“Forgive my rudeness. I am Feiyin Liers, Head Maid of the inner palace of Honglian Palace, as well as a First-Class Coachman of the Siles Transport Association. I’ve heard you are a princess of noble demonic blood, with a pair of enchanting crimson Demon Eyes… But it appears that’s not the case now, is it?”
Feiyin approached the princess, maintaining her perfect etiquette and posture as always, and addressed her with a question.