TIRS 71

CHAPTER 71………………….

 What Kind of Bullshit Is This?

“Prince Ancelot and Lady Arbella’s tragic love story is so well-known that there isn’t a soul in the Luenhart Kingdom who hasn’t heard of it.”

At Helena’s gentle explanation, my heart lurched and sank.

That woman was… Ancelot’s first love?

And he loved her so desperately, so wildly, that rumors spread he went mad because he couldn’t forget her?

“When Lady Arbella became Prince Arno’s wife—and after Prince Arno met his end at Prince Ancelot’s hand—it all became a royal scandal everyone tries to hush up.”

Helena looked almost gleeful as she recounted the royal family’s disgrace.

“Lady Arbella was originally the daughter of Countess Camilla, Prince Ancelot’s nurse. So the two of them grew up together almost like childhood friends, and when they came of age, they made promises for the future.”

“……”

“Quite a beautiful tale, isn’t it? But then trouble came. While Prince Ancelot was away at war, the infamous playboy Prince Arno laid hands on Lady Arbella.”

“……”

“When it became known that Lady Arbella was carrying Prince Arno’s child, her household was thrown into chaos. In the end, she became Prince Arno’s wife. Up to that point, it was just another typical royal scandal, but…”

Here Helena lowered her voice to a whisper right at my ear.

“The problem began after that. When Prince Ancelot heard the news from the battlefield, he lost his mind. Did you know? Prince Ancelot used to be the kind of warm, gentle, polite prince all the young ladies of the kingdom admired—like a ray of sunlight.”

Helena suddenly clasped her hands as if in prayer, her eyes shining with longing.

“When Prince Ancelot danced with Lady Arbella at the ball, he was so dazzling that even though it wasn’t proper for women to ask men first, countless ladies lined up begging for the next dance.”

Ancelot…?

I blinked in disbelief. That description sounded nothing like the Ancelot I knew.

“After losing the woman he loved to his nephew, Prince Ancelot went mad, turning into a merciless demon on the battlefield. That’s when he gained the nickname Salto.”

“…So.”

I had been listening silently, but now I crossed my arms and asked coldly:

“Why exactly are you suddenly explaining all this to me, Lady Helena Azeline?”

Helena flinched briefly at my sharp tone, but quickly forced a composed smile and replied:

“Why do you think all of Prince Ancelot’s fiancées died such gruesome deaths? It’s because he could never forget Lady Arbella. He couldn’t stand having any other woman by his side.”

“……”

“So if Your Highness doesn’t want to end up like those other fiancées, I’m giving you a warning… No, let’s call it advice.”

“……”

So after all, she spun this whole long story just to pick a fight with me.

“And since Your Highness went out alone today, perhaps right now the two of them are having a secret rendezvous.”

She even sighed with fake concern, her eyebrows drooping while her voice was anything but worried, and laughed lightly.

Wow, I really ought to learn that level of spite.

I carefully went over Helena’s story again.

At first, I’d been so taken aback that I couldn’t respond, but thinking it through, not a word of it made sense.

Ancelot already had a woman from his past.

In the mist of Illay, he had once clung to her, weeping in grief so deep he couldn’t even think of leaving her embrace.

“At some point, I couldn’t remember anything anymore. Not her face, not her name, not how it ended…”

But Ancelot had said he couldn’t even remember that woman’s face.

Which meant this Arbella—whoever she was—couldn’t possibly be the unforgettable one.

Most of all, Illay’s mist doesn’t lie.

Once I reached that conclusion, my anger flared.

What kind of nonsense are you trying to sell me?!

Thinking back, there wasn’t a single believable word in Helena’s story.

Ancelot? A sunshine prince admired by every young lady? Ancelot making the ladies swoon at a ball?

Clearly, Helena had never once seen him dance.

Otherwise she wouldn’t have made up such ridiculous bullshit.

As someone who nearly had her toes crushed multiple times while dancing with him, I found her story utterly absurd.

Even a stray dog would laugh at that!

“Woof! Woof woof!”

Right on cue, a passing dog barked as if agreeing with me.

I could feel my fury rising hotter by the second. Even if she bore me ill will, there had to be limits to the lies she spread.

Ancelot killed his fiancées because he couldn’t stand other women?

No—that was all the doing of her wretched fiancé, who was trying to keep Ancelot in check!

“Lady Azeline, you seem very free with revealing royal secrets to outsiders. Should I be thanking you for that…?”

I let my icy, anger-laced words fly.

Helena suddenly paled, regaining her senses.

“Since you’ve offered me such thoughtful advice, I should, of course, express my gratitude to the King of Titarus—for how wonderfully his future daughter-in-law has been looking after the kingdom’s guest.”

“……!”

Helena’s eyes went wide as saucers.

“Expressing gratitude…? W-what do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said. I’ll let King Titarus know.”

“W-wait, Your Highness…!”

Whether Helena’s story was true or not didn’t matter—the fact she told me was already a terrible misstep.

Especially considering she was the Crown Prince’s fiancée.

If the story was true, the King would be furious she’d revealed royal scandal. If false, she’d still be punished for spreading such nonsense.

“I-I only said it because I was worried about you, Your Highness…! N-no, that’s not—”

At last, Helena clutched my sleeve, stammering in panic.

I just snorted dismissively.

How dare you bring up Ancelot in front of me like that.

I could understand her resentment, given Enzer had asked me out.

Even though it was Enzer who flirted with me first, not the other way around.

But if you wanted to attack me, you should’ve stuck to slandering me. Then I wouldn’t be this furious.

I was already irritated enough by the grim rumors swirling around Ancelot the moment I arrived in Luenhart.

And Helena had just poked the sorest spot.

“Anyway, thank you very much, Lady. I won’t forget this kindness.”

I gave her a wide, cheerful smile and waved.

Watching her face turn pale was deliciously satisfying.

On the carriage ride back.

Is this how Ancelot felt, too?

I remembered the time Duke Hamilton had openly insulted me.

“Your Highness isn’t upset?”

Ancelot had gotten angry on my behalf.

“Well… not really?”

“…I’m the one who’s upset.”

He had been angrier than me, the one actually insulted.

“We should take revenge. Since Your Highness doesn’t care, I’ll do it for you.”

Back then I’d thought it was unnecessary. But once I discovered his small act of revenge on my behalf, I couldn’t help but feel gratified.

Now I think I understand why he was angrier than I was.

So this time, I’ll take revenge for him. And feel that same satisfaction.

While I was steeling my resolve, the carriage carrying me passed through the palace gates.

[SYSTEM] You have arrived at Luenhart Castle!

[SYSTEM] New Quest Received!

As the location changed, a new quest appeared.

“Lady Lulu, it’s a sudden quest!”

But I barely heard Pia’s excited voice. My eyes were fixed on one corner of the minimap.

“Lady Lulu?”

“Uh…”

I blinked dumbly. Not because Ancelot—who had been absent all night—finally appeared on the map.

Though I had worried endlessly about when he’d return, what I’d say when I saw him again…

It was because of the unsettling name written right beside his.

First Princess Consort Arbella.

That woman was with him.

Behind the castle, in a secluded garden rarely visited by people.

Ancelot and Arbella ran into each other there by chance.

“Ancelot…!”

With her soft brown hair fluttering, Arbella rushed toward him and threw herself into his arms.

Or tried to.

Thud!

An invisible force repelled her, sending her sprawling on the ground.

Her cheeks flushed red at the sheer indignity of it.

“Ah…”

What was that just now?

Lifting her head in shock, she saw Ancelot frowning, one eyebrow arched in disdain.

Could it be… was that force from him?

Judging from his expression, it had to be.

Seeing his face, so clearly filled with disgust, Arbella swallowed nervously.

The nickname Salto flashed through her mind.

But she quickly collected herself and forced a tender smile.

“…I was too sudden. I’m sorry.”

Then, her eyelashes trembling, she added in a heartrending voice—so sorrowful that it was impossible to simply ignore.

“We… we can’t do this anymore.”

“…?”

Ancelot’s expression turned grim as he listened in silence.

What the hell kind of bullshit is this?