Chapter 48 48: Little Prince

Words : 1274 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

During the lunch break, before that whole topic of magic sprung up, Lucretia told me something. "We do not have the time presently, but later on, I shall inform you of that woman's threat..." She was, of course, referring to the Protagonist. Originally, I couldn't understand what kind of threat a young girl like that posed, and to be honest, I still didn't have anything that could be called a clue even when all of the day's lessons were over and done. There was nothing about that radiant, pink-haired monster that was evidently suspicious or that could provide me any hint that she might pose a danger to the world, even though I knew for a fact she was. In the end, I chalked it up to being related to that #HidingTruePower Tag, giving it not much further thought than that, since well, speculating on something I knew nothing about was useless. The same went for the previous three Protagonists I eliminated, but I simply couldn't make sense of how, or why, their prolonged existence would beget the end of the world. There was the original explanation of passively syphoning World Stability to fall back on, and I did believe that to a certain extent, but I couldn't help but feel there was something else to it... even if I was just misleading myself for no reason. As for the power of the Beloved, even though this world was only based off of a game, it seemed that such a ridiculous power similar to Charismatic was bestowed upon her to follow along with the original plot. Maybe it was a bit more potent than my own Trait, though. From this understanding, I ascertained that this Beloved's power might be the true threat Lucretia recognised. But then I thought about it a little more. Sure, if the Protagonist managed to seduce three or four talented guys and made them fall in love with her, she would definitely become harder to kill... but that was all, right? Even if the Protagonist were to do such a thing, it shouldn't harm Lucretia in any way, let alone bring the empire to ruin, or worse, the entire world. That's why, ever since I first appeared in this Illusory World, I've wondered. This――was a Red Contract. A Red Contract, meaning the Antagonist had specifically requested for assistance due to a realisation that they, or 'their world', was at risk. This had only been confirmed in the time that I've been here. So, what exactly was that threat? Just what the hell did Lucretia know to be so convinced of the Empire's certain destruction at the hands of the Protagonist? ...Right. That was indeed a time where I had asked that question. "―Lucretia! I heard that, once again, you've been treating Lady Tichá harshly!" Until this very moment where intense, melodramatic music dominated the air. "P-prince, there's no need to be like this...! Really, I'm fine..." "No! There is a need... This stubborn woman doesn't seem to know her place, continuously picking on an unimpeachable, incorrupt girl. How disgraceful." "..." Aside from last night, the night I first arrived, which could be seen as a special exception, Lucretia had only ever worn a deadpan face. Not once today did she bear something that could be called a notable expression. Not once did she frown. Not once did she laugh. She was fifteen, yet she was a person with an evidently solid grasp on her emotional state; I had only been by her side for half a day, but even I could glean that much. Even in moments like the present, where she was being singled out in front of a huge crowd of students, she wore a blank face. ...However. "Lucretia! Apologise this instant!" "..." "Prince...!" Watching the 「scene」 before me unfold in real time. "Hush, Lady Tichá. I am doing this for your sake, and this must be done for the amendation of our noble pride. I know this woman well. She'll continue to be primitively ruthless until she realises her place. The stubborn dog." "Th-that's...! No, really... you can stop this... I told you, I'm fine..." "..." I could tell. "Hah, please. I understand you must feel overwhelmed, Lady Tichá, and I sympathise with you profoundly, I do. But do not worry." Despite her same old, inscrutable visage. "Fortunately, this woman is an exceptionally fast learner, perhaps the only silver lining of her appalling, miserable self. So this lesson should be over quite swiftly... Ah! Thereafter, if you'd like, I can introduce you to a wonderful dessert parlour down the noble street?" "..." Despite her clear eyes, her unclenched fists, and her lips thinly-drawn in a straight line, all of which indicated and suggested otherwise... "Ahem. Now, Lucretia... Kneel. Kneel, concede your needless conceit, your needless pride, and... gosh, what was it? Exonerate yourself? Expiate? Whatever, I don't know and I don't care, but you did something wrong and you must demonstrate your regret! It's an Imperial Order!" At this moment, I was sure. "...Lucretia?" She wanted nothing more than to snuff the lives of the people in front of her. "You understand the consequences of keeping me waiting, don't you?" Her expression, or should I say lack thereof, was keeping it hidden fantastically well, looking practically like a vacant, soulless doll. So well that no one would be able to notice, in fact. But I knew. Just by being able to glance into those dull, crimson eyes that only feigned passivity, I could see it, almost clear as day. 'You're probably imagining what it'd be like to smash his head into the pavement or something, right?' Maybe I only knew because I understood how she felt. When I was a kid, there were times I felt so mad I also wanted to kill the guys who made fun of me or tried to get me to do something I didn't want to do. Of course, it's not like I ever did anything that extreme, but it's also not as if the feeling never existed. So, I felt I could empathise with her there. If I had to be honest, though――more than anything else, this guy... "Your Highness." "Hm? Ah, are you the new attendant they spoke of? Yes yes, you're dismissed. I have no business with you, so you can take your leave now. Ah, and don't come back. That woman is independent enough, she needs not some mutt follower like yourself. Shoo now." Saying that, the crown prince only tossed me a momentary glance, waving his hand dismissively as if I didn't matter. '...Hah.' But, I didn't move. "You dare-- I dismissed you, filth. Get out of here before I change my mind!" 'Yeah, I understand...' "..." 'He's pissing me off, too.' Standing right before that so-called Crown Prince of the Empire, I looked down on him and his excessively reflective, radiant golden hair like some prince from a fairy tale. He was a little older than Lucretia but still a few years younger than me, so although I didn't tower over him as much as would've been satisfying, I was still able to do it well enough. Fortunately, though I wasn't the tallest, it's not like the prince was impressive in that regard either. And, taking a page out of a certain Hero's book. "Oi. Aren't you barking a little too loudly? Little prince." I opened my mouth.

Chapter 48 48: Little Prince

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