She Comes (1)

After the attack incident in the fairy forest, I returned to the mansion after asking for Damian’s understanding.

I planned to stay at the mansion for a few days and watch to see how Nior would act.

“Young master, are you not going to the forest today?”

“No, I have a guest coming.”

Monet looked puzzled. That was because, as far as Monet knew, no one had arranged to meet me for the time being.

“A guest?”

“It’s someone you know, Monet.”

At my words, Monet nodded slowly.

Then, perhaps having lost interest, she changed the subject.

“But is it okay if I go play in the forest again?”

“Oh, you can go as much as you want. In fact, her Majesty kept asking why you haven’t come.”

“Really?”

Actually, Beatrice had secretly hoped I’d bring Monet next time.

Fairies liked pure humans and those with great fortune, and Monet fit both.

It wasn’t just words—there were a lot of fairies who genuinely asked why Monet didn’t come whenever I visited the forest.

“Then I guess I should go next time. I heard fairies love honey. Should I make some honey buns or something?”

“Fairies will love anything you bring them.”

“Aw, no way.”

Monet waved her hand shyly, embarrassed but clearly not displeased.

‘It’d be very good in many ways if Monet builds trust with the fairies.’

I’d come to feel this through recent events—not only was fairy magic efficient, but its usefulness was extremely high.

Even simple invisibility magic was impressive. Jack Vile, an advanced-rank Sword Expert, hadn’t sensed me approaching at all.

‘I’m looking forward even more to the scabbard Beatrice will make.’

It was something made by the Fairy Queen Beatrice herself, enchanting fairywood with magic.

Remembering the synopsis, I couldn’t help but be excited.

Knock, knock.

Just as I was bubbling with expectation, Dorian knocked and entered.

“Family head, the young master from the House of Count Bellen has come to see you.”

Dorian’s face was quite displeased as he spoke. Well, he’d just met Nior’s terrible personality, so of course.

When I rose and went to the mansion’s entrance, I found Nior waiting there, his face flushed red.

He was arguing with our family’s knights blocking the entrance, but when he saw me, he pointed an accusing finger.

“Y-you bastard, Clay Vanhart…!”

“As I told you before, I am a count now, Nior. Are you so stupid that you can’t understand unless I spell it out?”

When I placed my hand on the sword at my waist and spoke, Nior finally flinched.

He glared at me and opened his mouth.

“Grr! Damn it, what did you do to my knights?”

“Knights?”

“Don’t pretend not to know! You—!”

Nior cut himself off mid-sentence.

He must have realized, just as he was about to say it, just how foolish he’d been.

With the whereabouts of the thirty knights and Jack Vile now uncertain, his anger must have brought him here.

But Nior had no grounds to accuse me.

What he did was a heinous crime—attempting to kill the heir to a countship.

“Nior, are you talking about Sir Jack Vile and the unruly knights who came looking for me?”

“N-no, that’s…”

“So you were the one who moved the knights who killed my people and tried to kill me. And now you’ve foolishly come here to confess your guilt.”

“T-that’s—I don’t know anything about that!”

He shouted at me brazenly.

‘Well, I expected this.’

My first plan was to capture him and the knights who followed him, then negotiate directly with Count Bellen.

“Sorry, but I won’t keep listening to your nonsense—”

At that moment, as I went to draw my sword—

“Oh my.”

A familiar voice interrupted between us.

“This is quite the interesting situation.”

Though the voice was not especially loud, its unbothered calmness—so out of place—drew everyone’s eyes.

“……!”

For a moment, I was so shocked I couldn’t speak.

‘Why is Riya here?!’

There stood Riya Asktalin, Princess of the Asktalin Empire.

Why on earth was she here?

“Oh, what a lovely lady we have here.”

Seeing the suddenly-appearing Riya, Nior broke into a goofy smile as he approached her. His righteous anger was gone now.

‘That idiot doesn’t recognize the imperial princess’s face?’

Granted, Riya’s attire now was simple, with a hat covering her horns, so identifying her would be difficult.

But for him to just act out like this so suddenly…

‘I knew he was oblivious, but still…’

I hesitated, wondering if I should stop this.

She was the imperial princess—a rudeness toward her could become not just a matter between nobles but a conflict between nations.

But Nior acted before I could decide.

“I’ve never seen a woman as gorgeous as you. Hey, what’s your name?”

Nior reached a hand toward Riya.

But before his hand could grab her collar, Riya grabbed his in midair.

Nior’s brow twitched at her movement.

“Oh? Quite the feisty lady, aren’t you?”

“Oh my.”

A gentle arc appeared at Riya’s lips.

But her eyes were cold.

“Kneel.”

Crack!

“… Huh?”

Nior didn’t even realize what had happened. The moment Riya spoke, his knees struck the ground, making him kneel.

But his right hand was still locked in Riya’s grip, and she twisted his arm into a grotesque shape.

“Ah, aaaargh!”

Only then, as pain shot through his broken arm, did Nior scream—at which Riya let him go.

He clutched at his broken arm, convulsing, but the frightening part was that, kneeling, he still couldn’t move an inch.

He thrashed only with his upper body, howling.

“Silence.”

“…!”

With that one word, Nior’s screams died in his throat.

“Young master Nior!”

The five knights who’d accompanied Nior, shocked, drew their swords.

“Kill that witch at once!”

With swords drawn, the knights charged Riya—but she only glanced their way.

“Urgh!”

The attacking knights froze in place, trembling, unable to move.

‘That’s…’

I instantly realized what power she’d used.

Dragon Eyes.

The eye—source of a dragon’s absolute power.

For beings inferior to oneself, just a direct stare could rob them of control over their flesh.

“Did you say I’m feisty?”

Smiling, Riya looked Nior up and down, then slowly raised her hand and slapped his face.

Smack!

Nior’s face snapped to the side.

Riya swung back the other way, striking his other cheek with the back of her hand.

Smack! Crack!

Riya’s strength was far beyond that of a normal human.

The fact her hand hadn’t even quivered when Nior was forced to his knees just a moment ago was the proof.

With such strength, her slaps instantly turned his face red and swollen, while his white teeth scattered on the floor.

“In the future, never say such rude things again. Understood?”

Riya spoke with a sweet smile.

But Nior was frozen, unable to budge.

“You can move your head.”

Only then did Nior, trembling violently, manage to nod quickly.

He turned and looked at me, sending a desperate plea with his eyes—as if begging me to do something about the monster before him.

But Riya seemed to misinterpret Nior’s gaze.

“Who are you glaring at?”

For the first time, emotion colored Riya’s voice.

Sensing the danger, Nior frantically shook his head.

Gone was any smile; Riya’s eyes glinted chillingly as she stared at him.

‘If I leave it like this, he’ll die.’

I didn’t want to make an enemy of the House of the Count Bellen—and there were things I still wanted.

“That’s enough.”

“… If Clay says so.”

Riya, at my words, stepped back.

Why she was here, I’d need to ask her later, calmly.

First, I needed to handle the wreck kneeling before me.

“Nior Bellen, do you admit your crimes?”

I meant the attack on me at Kiten Forest.

Naturally, Nior first tried to shake his head.

But when I glanced at Riya, his response changed dramatically.

“…!”

Nior nodded rapidly.

His body still couldn’t move due to Dragon Tongue, nor could he speak, but that was answer enough.

“Good.”

Things had gotten a little strange, but at least my objective was achieved.

All that remained now was to negotiate with the House of Count Bellen.

* * *

After locking up Nior Bellen and the five knights in spare rooms of the mansion, I sat down in the drawing room to talk with Riya.

“So, what brings you here? You didn’t say you were coming.”

“Oh dear, but I did. I said I’d see you again.”

I was left speechless by Riya’s gentle smile.

‘No wonder she let me go so easily.’

I realized now why Riya had let me leave the empire so simply. She’d planned this all along.

I was at a loss, but Grancesia seemed to have foreseen this all.

[Just as I expected.]

Grancesia chuckled.

‘What do you mean, “as expected”?’

[If she had planned to keep you by her side, wouldn’t she have just taken you away when you fainted at Rachmes Ridge? I thought things might turn out like this.]

Thinking about it, it made sense.

If she’d wanted to forcibly keep me, she could have just taken me then.

‘Well, if you knew, you should have told me!’

[I did—I told you she wouldn’t “hold you captive.”]

‘Haah. So…’

At last, I understood why Grancesia had worn that unsettling grin the day we returned after the Founding Festival.

Feeling a headache coming on, I looked back at Riya.

“So, why exactly are you here…?”

“Hehe. Officially, I’m here as a bodyguard for Genova.”

They sent the princess as my guard?

Was she serious?

“Of course, that’s just the official reason, and really, I came because I wanted to. The empire is dreadfully boring, you see.”

Perhaps reading my thoughts, Riya added more.

“I’d like you to treat me as an ordinary adventurer, not a princess.”

“… If that’s what you want.”

It was a bit much, but there was no harm in having Riya at my side.

She was also very respectful of my wishes, and her magic was formidable.

“But I move around a lot—are you planning to follow me every time?”

“Of course I’ll have to watch the situation, but I intend to as much as I can.”

At Riya’s answer, I nodded quietly.

‘If I take her with me to Eintban Kingdom, she could be a huge help.’

I’d been feeling the burden of going alone, but with Riya, it felt like having a thousand reinforcements.

Even without a dragon’s power, her skills were on the level of a Swordmaster.

If you added a dragon’s strength, only the rank of Seven Heroes could match her.

In that sense, calling her a bodyguard wasn’t just a joke.

‘… Is she stronger than me?’

[Not just possibly—she’s definitely stronger than you right now.]

‘…’

[B-but only for now! Once you master the Moon Severing Divine Sword and reach Swordmaster, you’ll be on top! With your talent, you’ll get stronger quickly!]

Grancesia hurried to comfort me as I fell silent.

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

But, for some reason, seeing that, Riya’s expression soured.

“… I just felt the presence of another woman. Is it just my imagination?”

Her words immediately wiped the smile from my lips.

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