TIRS 55

CHAPTER 55………

. The Rumors About You

The current king of Luenhart, Titarus, was Anselot’s eldest brother.

Titarus and Anselot looked so far apart in age that one could have mistaken them for father and son.

Right, Anselot was the late king’s youngest son, so he was about the same age as the current king’s children.

In fact, the crown prince of Luenhart might have been older than Anselot.

“Ah, Anselot. Ha ha. I heard you began your journey with Princess Azester.”

From atop his horse, Titarus glanced sideways at his arrogant youngest brother, who didn’t even dismount in front of the king, and added:

“It would’ve been nice if you’d sent word ahead of time…”

Anselot replied in a crooked tone:

“Do I have to inform anyone in advance just to come to my own home?”

“Ah… that’s true. Ha ha ha…”

King Titarus laughed awkwardly.

“Welcome, Princess Ruibel of the Empire. Welcome to Luenhart.”

He belatedly greeted me.

Even if Anselot was a prince of Luenhart, etiquette dictated that he should have first greeted me, a princess of the Empire.

Seeing him forget even that and watch only Anselot’s mood, it was clear Anselot’s notorious reputation was quite formidable.

“It’s good to see you, Your Majesty King Titarus.”

Still seated on my horse in the confusion, I hopped down and reached out toward Illay.

Illay nestled into my arms as I helped her down from the horse.

“You must be tired from your long journey—allow me to host you.”

While offering, King Titarus still kept glancing nervously toward Anselot.

Anselot’s face showed clear disinterest.

Somehow feeling sorry for the king, I nodded.

“Alright.”

At my answer, palace attendants quickly took our horses and luggage.

We were soon led straight to the king’s banquet hall.

During the lavish treatment, I noticed the attendants serving food to Anselot were trembling.

Back in Azester, many admired Anselot’s handsome face, but here, even that face couldn’t outshine his infamy.

Though Anselot himself doesn’t seem to care much.

Midway through the meal, King Titarus spoke quietly to me:

“I hear you began this journey to verify the prophecy. A difficult path—you’ve made a hard choice.”

“As a member of the Azester imperial family and one blessed with the Light, it is my duty.”

I answered with the kind of noble remark Hesen from the original story might have made.

Here, those like me, Klaus, and Illay—awakened to the power of Light—were called “Blessed of the Light.”

“The path of a hero is admirable, but Luenhart is in a festival season for now. Please, stay and enjoy it for a while.”

Even though he’d likely be more shocked than anyone if I actually stayed, he made the offer out of politeness.

Knowing that, I still grinned.

“If the king makes such an offer, it would be rude to refuse.”

Besides, I needed to stay in Luenhart to complete the third scenario anyway.

“Ah… ha ha ha ha…”

But my staying also meant Anselot would remain longer, and King Titarus’s face darkened even more.

I felt like an unwanted guest, but decided to be shameless—just like Anselot.

After the extravagant banquet, we headed for Anselot’s prince’s quarters.

When the previous king died, all the current king’s brothers had been sent out of the palace, but Anselot was too young at the time and was raised inside.

Later, even when he was old enough, he spent his time on the battlefield, missed the timing to leave, and remained unmarried—so his quarters still remained in the palace.

I recalled King Titarus’s relieved expression when dinner ended and pouted.

“Your brother doesn’t seem to like you much. Looks like he’d throw a festival if you ever moved out of the palace.”

“Well, it’s true I’m Luenhart’s troublemaker.”

Anselot answered casually.

“Prince Anselot has good self-awareness.”

Klaus said seriously, without a hint of teasing.

“Anselot is troublemaker.”

Illay repeated Anselot’s words.

Pyu rrr, pyu rrr!

—The day the ferocious Anselot disappears, Piya will join the festival too!

Piya chirped provocatively at Anselot, then fled when he glared at her.

“I heard all of Luenhart’s victories in wars with neighboring countries were thanks to you. Isn’t it a bit much?”

I was feeling slightly sulky.

Even if the bad rumors about him were exaggerated, the people’s reactions here were still over the top.

Just then, someone walking from the opposite direction stopped when they saw us.

A man about Anselot’s age.

Unlike the other courtiers, he didn’t avoid Anselot. Curious, I glanced at the space above his head.

Crown Prince of Luenhart — Enzer

At the sight of Anselot, his expression briefly froze before he smiled politely.

“Welcome, Uncle.”

“Mm.”

Anselot replied halfheartedly.

I caught Enzer clenching his fist inside his sleeve.

Oh?

Since arriving, he was the first person I’d seen who felt more hostility than fear toward Anselot.

I looked at Crown Prince Enzer with interest.

They say the king’s children keep him in check, but he has no interest in the throne.

I recalled what the other noble ladies had said at Elizabeth’s tea party.

“This must be Princess Ruibel of Azester.”

Enzer bowed slightly to me. Just as he naturally took my hand to kiss the back—

Swish.

A large palm wrapped around my shoulder and pulled me toward him.

It was Anselot.

Enzer was left in an awkward half-bow.

“Move.”

Anselot frowned and spoke like it was an order.

“Huh? I was just greeting the princess…”

Enzer looked embarrassed at the curt interruption.

“Didn’t you hear me tell you to get your filthy mouth out of here?”

“…”

Enzer’s lips snapped shut.

A kiss on the hand was a perfectly normal continental greeting between a man and a high-ranking woman meeting for the first time.

Nothing about Enzer’s action had been rude.

Especially since Anselot himself had kissed my hand when we first met.

What a double standard…

Apparently when he did it, it was etiquette—when others did it, it was a “filthy mouth.” I stared at him in disbelief, but Anselot simply smiled and added:

“Since your filthy mouth is gone, let’s get rid of those eyes too, dear nephew.”

“…May your stay in Luenhart be peaceful.”

Enzer forced the words out before turning away.

Guest Room in the Prince’s Quarters

Illay, Piya, and I shared the same room. Klaus stayed in the room next door.

“Filthy mouth, out.”

Illay had been enjoying repeating people’s words and copied Anselot’s.

“Eyes, out.”

“Don’t repeat just anything, Illay!”

“Don’t?”

Illay tilted her head.

“Why not?”

“Because… it’s bad language.”

“Bad language…”

Illay didn’t seem entirely convinced and repeated my words.

Watching her, I said kindly:

“If you want to copy people’s words, it’s better to copy me or Klaus rather than Anselot.”

“Lulu, good!”

Illay smiled brightly.

“Yes, I like Illay too. But since you’re a good girl, it’s time for bed, right?”

“Mm!”

She snuggled under the blanket and stared up at me with big eyes.

“Good night, Illay.”

I stroked her hair, and she finally closed her eyes.

Piya was already nodding off beside her.

I should sleep too.

I yawned and went to close the curtains—

Huh? Anselot?

I spotted him outside the window.

What’s he doing?

Curious, I abandoned my plan to sleep and quietly slipped outside.

“Anselot!”

But upon seeing me, his expression hardened.

“Why are you out here instead of sleeping?”

His lack of welcome made me a little sulky—

—but then he suddenly wrapped an arm around my waist and leapt into the air.

“Wha—?!”

Shhk!

Something sliced through the night air.

Under the moonlight, I saw the glint of a sharp throwing star.

It struck exactly where I had been standing moments ago.

If not for Anselot, it would have pierced my flesh.

“Anselot, that just now—!”

“Prince Anselot! Die!”

A man lunged at Anselot from the darkness.

Clang!

In an instant, a long spear of white light bloomed and easily blocked the assassin’s attack.

“An assassin sent by the king’s children,” Anselot said with a crooked smile.

“No matter how many I kill, they keep sending more. Their persistence is admirable.”

Clicking his tongue, Anselot cut the assassin down.

“Guh…”

The man collapsed. He was wearing the livery of a prince’s servant.

Aside from fighting bugs, I’d never seen Anselot kill someone before—so I was startled.

Then a thought struck me.

“Anselot… about those rumors about you…”

“Told you—I’m not some lunatic who kills at random.”

Anselot grinned.

So, the reason he had earned the nickname “Murderer” was entirely…

Because of the assassins sent by the king’s children.

Knowing the truth, I felt a rush of indignation—on his behalf.