Chapter 35

She was quite passive in this situation. The righteousness was not on her side, so she could only take her curiosity into her dreams and try to get some sleep.

The hand Xiarette had extended behind her back was held tightly by Sheffy.

The ticking of the clock sounded softly, and the light from the lake outside the window rippled gently.

Xiarette estimated that Sheffy had almost fallen asleep before she turned over to lie on her back again.

Only, the moonlight now illuminated her expression… and it seemed subtly different from when she had just turned her back to urge Sheffy to sleep.

Her lips quivered lightly.

Her face was flushed bright red.

Her deep blue eyes were filled with emotion, and her gaze, full of tenderness and affection, was entirely directed at Sheffy’s sleeping profile.

She felt that if her hand were to touch her own face right now… it would surely get burned.

Her heartbeat was unbearably loud, so loud that it kept her from falling asleep, even though the world was utterly silent.

Ah… Sheffy… I’m sorry.

Because, you see, if I hadn’t urged you to sleep just now, and we had continued this conversation…

I’m afraid the gift I want to give you… I probably wouldn’t be able to hold back and wait until your birthday party to give it to you… would I?

…………………………………..

(This book will be officially launched on July 29~ There will be a big update on launch day. Until then, we’ll keep updating twice a day! Also… it always feels like there are very few comments on each chapter, so I don’t really know how this book is doing in terms of readers. I’m a bit worried. Sob sob, if you are reading this, why not drop a comment here so that Little North Star can see you all~)

35. Picking a fight, huh!

“Today is a good day~ a good day to go on an outing! The road of hope stretches on, hey hey!”

Regarding this peculiar melody that mixed elements of songs from Xiarette and Sheffy’s past and present lives, Xiarette had already heard it several times from Sheffy’s mouth today.

At this moment, inside the hero’s gilded carriage.

Xiarette and Sheffy, who had transformed into “Miss Shaya”, were sitting across from each other, having set out from the estate villa early in the morning, heading toward the Royal Palace in the Royal Capital.

Originally, this should have been a rather serious matter… after all, they needed to work together to reject the Holy Theocracy of Coreia’s proposal—that was, to ensure that Sheffy could stay in the Kingdom and prevent the Theocracy from continuing its meddling.

But…!

Sheffy had been acting like an elementary school student going on a field trip the whole way here!

Just look at her, swaying her long black hair left and right while singing, using the freshly baked breakfast bread in her hand to beat out a rhythm for herself…!

Hey, you know what.

It actually sounded pretty good?

No, that’s not the point!

“Sheffy… are you sure it’s okay to be this relaxed?”

“Huh? What’s the problem? Don’t worry, with my superb acting skills, I’ll definitely keep that wicked witch by the hero’s side. You have to believe in Shaya~”

The mood was infectious.

Watching Sheffy raise her fingers like scissors and make playful gestures in front of her, Xiarette truly felt some of her tightly wound nerves relax a little.

But as the Royal Palace was drawing ever closer, there were still some things Xiarette felt needed to be made clear in advance.

“Sigh… to be honest, I think your plan is a bit too over the top. I can hardly imagine what kind of expression the King will have after hearing what you say—or rather, whether he’ll even believe it.”

“Over the top? I don’t think so. In my view, it’s foolproof!”

“Well, Sheffy, your sense of what’s normal is a little different from most people’s… not that it can be helped. Never mind, we’ll just adapt as we go. I trust our teamwork. Here, Sheffy, for a smooth day today—high five.”

“What? Chicken feet? Oh, you mean you want to eat these chicken claws, right? I already told you to eat a bit before coming this morning. Now you’re hungry, aren’t you? Didn’t listen to Shaya, and now you’re paying the price.”

“……”

Raising her hand alone in an attempt to test their sense of teamwork, Xiarette silently lowered her palm.

She took a bite of the freshly grilled Aurus chicken claws prepared that morning and couldn’t help but wonder if today’s plan would go smoothly…

We don’t seem to be very in sync!

The outline of the Royal Palace castle had already appeared on the horizon. In the distance, the soldiers, upon seeing the Wright Family’s carriage, slowly lowered the drawbridge in front of the moat as was customary.

The architecture of the Human Royal Palace was entirely different from that of the Demon Domain, and Sheffy found it all very novel.

She spent the entire time using Visual Magic to admire these sights and customs she had never seen before, her adorable face glowing with a carefree smile.

Perhaps, for Sheffy, this trip really did feel more like a spring outing…?

Xiarette deliberately refrained from disturbing her, indulging her and letting Sheffy enjoy the scenery a little longer.

Not until the carriage crossed the moat and entered the castle grounds.

Only then did Xiarette fasten the Holy Sword at her waist and, with a serious expression, gave Sheffy one last reminder before they got off the carriage.

“I already contacted His Majesty the King in advance using a communication magic crystal. This morning, he will summon Prime Minister Firex to face us directly. In truth, the King’s willingness to accept this proposal more or less means that if we can defeat Firex’s argument, he can then openly allow you to stay in the Kingdom.”

“It’s fine. Not only is our plan thorough, even if something goes wrong, we have a backup plan.”

“A backup plan…? Sheffy, you never told me about that.”

“No need to.”

Sheffy grinned, revealing a small fang.

—And she slightly raised her soft, boneless right hand.

Xiarette didn’t understand what she meant.

Suddenly, the Holy Sword Sylatrella began to flash with golden light in a rhythmic pattern, as if applauding in praise.

“Lady Sheffy is saying that if persuasion doesn’t work, then we’ll fight to convince them! As expected of Lady Sheffy—so direct and forceful! I love it!”

“When you say you love it, do you mean you love the violence, or you love the plan I proposed?”

“……”

Holy Sword, your silence at this moment is truly awkward.

The carriage came to a stop.

At this moment, Xiarette instead felt completely calm and composed.

Sheffy was right—when the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten. They would adapt when the time came; there would always be a way.

After all, their goal was a single one— to allow Sheffy to stay openly and rightfully by her side.

Xiarette raised her hand, intending to exchange a high five with Sheffy for mutual encouragement before getting off.

But Sheffy frowned, her small hand awkwardly reaching for the small bag placed on her lap over her pure white dress, her face full of distress.

“You still want to eat chicken claws…? They’re already all gone. Darn it… and you’re holding out your hand—you somehow knew I had one hidden! That’s cheating!”

“Sheffy…”

“Hmm?”

“Sometimes, I really think we ought to work on building more of our teamwork.”

“That’s very true.”

As she spoke, Sheffy broke the last chicken claw in half.

Half for you, half for me.

See?

Isn’t this perfectly in sync?

………………………………….

The grand, spacious, and brightly lit great hall recorded the Kingdom’s shining history, unmarred by war, over the past millennium.

Even now, with wars raging elsewhere, none had threatened the Royal Capital. The splendor of the castle’s great hall still proclaimed the Human race’s enduring presence in this world.

Miss Shaya followed behind Xiarette, who was clad in the hero’s golden armor, looking left and right, and ultimately came to a conclusion…

As expected, Xiarette’s dazzling armor was the coolest!

Heh, when we get home, I’ll get a set too—wearing this to catch fish would definitely make me look more intimidating!

They followed the red carpet of the palace straight toward the throne.

Aurus III,

Celt Aurus had long since been sitting upright in the hall.

A dark red royal robe was draped over his shoulders, and a crown studded with countless gemstones sat atop his head. The King would dress in such formal attire only when meeting with important subjects.

And today, the visit from Hero Xiarette was weighty enough.

In recent days, the harsh terms proposed by the Holy Theocracy of Coreia… had left the King in desperate need of capable ministers to help him navigate this crisis.

What surprised Xiarette, however, was that there was another person standing beside the King.

Someone she had seen just yesterday—when she had caught a thief in the street.

It was the Kingdom’s Third Princess, Livra Aurus.

Dressed in a gorgeous deep red gown, quite different from the practical outfit she had worn in the street, this attire made the black-haired princess appear even more dignified and elegant—though her smile remained just as simple and cheerful.

It seemed they had arrived a bit early, as Prime Minister Firex had yet to appear.

When Livra saw that Hero Xiarette had indeed arrived with Miss Shaya, she completely disregarded the solemnity of the great hall. Her lively greeting echoed loudly throughout the space before the throne.

“Lady Xiarette! And Miss Shaya! We meet again so soon! Father, Father…! This is the Miss Shaya I told you about yesterday. She’s really amazing! A friend of the Hero!”

“Tch… Livra, how many times have I told you not to be noisy in the great hall? Why won’t you listen?”

“Eh, what’s the big deal… there aren’t any outsiders here. That dog of a Prime Minister who’s always barking for the Theocracy isn’t here yet, so I can speak freely~”

“Livra…! Sigh, Hero, forgive this display. My daughter is like this… lacking decorum no matter where she goes. I hadn’t wanted her to attend, but when she heard you would be coming, she insisted on coming to observe.”

“Your Majesty need not apologize. I believe that this is one of Her Highness’s talents.”

“It is good that you think so.”

Clearly, the King was very pleased with this response.

He always reprimanded the Third Princess not out of disdain for her lack of discipline, but because he appreciated her spirit—and thus felt the need to temper her before others.

King Celt’s somewhat aged gaze swept over Miss Shaya standing behind Xiarette, unable to hide his amazement.

“It seems that talented people do indeed continue to emerge in my Kingdom… I heard from Livra that you’ve already reached the sixth tier at only sixteen years old. I recall that when the Hero was your age, she was only at the seventh tier herself. This child—boundless potential…”

“Ah! Thanks, Your Majesty!”

“……”

“Pfft…”

Miss Shaya raised her small hand and replied casually, leaving Celt momentarily speechless.

But it made Livra stifle a giggle behind her hand!

Haha… as expected of Miss Shaya. Even standing before Father, she still maintained such a free and easy manner!

Celt was not a man overly concerned with minor courtesies.

He had already heard from Livra about Shaya’s background. Though it was a little strange for such a person to appear so suddenly… upon hearing that she was someone secretly nurtured by the Hero herself, the King had no desire to probe further.

After all, the Wright Family’s growing influence was not a bad thing for the Kingdom. They were the Kingdom’s strongest shield and sword—interfering too much would only breed suspicion and undermine the very foundation of the realm.

For centuries, the relationship between the royal authority and the Wright Family had been built on this very understanding—an unspoken pact that had ensured the Kingdom’s millennia of prosperity.

The King was just about to speak again.

But at that moment, from the other side of the palace hall, came a series of slow, deliberate footsteps—loud enough to make their presence known.

Everyone turned their heads. The man entering through the side doors was a thin figure dressed in a deep purple mage’s robe.

It was Prime Minister Firex.

At this moment, it seemed Firex was already running slightly late compared to the time the King had instructed him to appear before the throne.

Such tardiness was often intentional.

This sort of minor delay—just enough to avoid formal reprimand—was one of the subtle power plays used by the Theocracy through Firex, reflecting their delicate stance toward the Kingdom.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep