NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 127
An awkward atmosphere lingered in the Princess’s Room.
I wondered if it was just me feeling this way, but seeing the Princess’s face, which looked like it could explode at any moment, gave me a bit of relief. However, that relief didn’t ease the tension in the room at all.
“…What?”
The Gardener’s voice sharpened as he responded to the Princess.
His tone was so prickly that just hearing it sent shivers down my spine.
But that wasn’t all; just like usual, the Outsiders started chiming in one after another, as if they couldn’t resist the urge to add their two cents.
“Um, can I ask why that’s wrong?”
Responding to each of them was no small feat, so to quell their anger, I casually tossed out a remark.
I thought it implied a lack of interest in their words without being rude.
“Excuse me? Uh, um.”
Fortunately, the Princess just blushed and struggled to articulate herself.
Thanks to that, I could hear the sound of relief coming from the Outsiders.
Yeah, that’s right, guys.
I was on your side.
Thinking that, I hoped the Princess would just send me outside.
But reality was far from accommodating.
“Well… I want to talk with you together?”
The Princess countered my vague question with a similarly vague response.
“…Huh?”
“Isn’t it so? Tanton, you’ve rejected all the rewards I’ve offered, and I have a lot to say too!”
…Princess, please do finish your thoughts when you speak.
My mind was spinning out of control!
It was such a mess I could hardly put it into words!
Still, thanks to her unfinished sentence, I felt slightly more at ease.
“If that’s the case… I really haven’t done enough to deserve such rewards.”
“If what you’ve done until now doesn’t qualify for a reward, then who does get rewarded…? Other Knights receive it for even doing just 1/10th of what you do!”
1/10th, huh.
But the difference between those Knights and me was that I had the cheat code of being in coward mode, while they achieved results through their own efforts.
Of course, nobody would believe that if I said it out loud, so it would be pointless.
“I’m different from them.”
So I kept it brief.
In context, it was meant to convey that “compared to their efforts, I fall short.”
But for some reason, the Princess seemed greatly flustered by my words, her face turning red again.
Why is she flustered this time?
Swallowing hard, I waited for her next words.
Please don’t say anything that could be misunderstood!
“…That’s right, Tanton, you’re different from the others.”
Finally, the Princess spoke.
“Or perhaps… contrary to your vigorous denial, you are aiming for something bigger.”
It felt like the conversation was heading in a strange direction.
“Oh, no…”
“But considering what you’ve done so far, there’s nothing of greater value than the reward I originally offered. If you’re even willing to give up a prestigious position….”
The Princess wrapped her arms around herself lightly, a small smile on her lips.
“…Are you aiming for a marriage with the royal family?”
And with that statement, my head felt like it exploded.
“Princess.”
“Yes?”
“Did you know all along?”
“Surely not.”
“…That wouldn’t explain your posture right now!”
In an instant, the gathering storm of Outsiders caused me to enter a blackout state.
But in that brief moment, the Princess had placed my head on her lap.
She knew I was in such a state because of her words!
“What kind of pot would be good?”
“Clear away the pots. The main lady will no longer be toying with her husband. So a rope made from dragon skin….”
Ugh, no!
Things are still a mess!
In the midst of it all, the Cook remained quiet. I could feel a strange sense of disdain emanating from her.
Such situations often had stronger aftershocks, which terrified me.
“I knew Tanton was connected to them through the horn, but I didn’t realize the connection was this constant.”
The Princess said that and shifted her gaze slightly elsewhere.
“And… you are speaking of what Tanton desires, right? As someone who is essentially indebted to you, I have to listen.”
What kind of day is this for the Princess?
Why is she making things so confusing?
Your comments are practically inviting the Outsiders to pop out right now!
This time, unlike before, she seemed determined, her face red but with no hint of hesitation.
“Or… do you find me lacking, Tanton?”
Even throwing in a gaslighting comment?!
If I agreed, I would trip down a rabbit hole with the royal family, and if I disagreed, I might end up bound by the Outsiders and whisked away somewhere.
“P-Princess, please just give me a moment to think!”
So I resorted to the most cunning tactic in human relationships.
Delaying.
Telling her I’d respond after completely sorting out my thoughts was an indirect way of saying that making a decision now would be impulsive, not good for either of us.
In other words, it was the most effective way to buy time.
“Huh?”
The Princess seemed taken aback by my answer, her expression slightly dumbfounded.
“I don’t dislike you, Princess. However, I’m just a mere Knight. If someone like me were to enter a relationship with you, there would surely be significant social repercussions. It’d have to be done in secrecy, which could be dangerous as well.”
“…Well, that aspect….”
I thought I heard something slightly strange, but I dismissed it as my imagination.
“So, when the situation is completely sorted out and I’ve successfully saved Rondan, then I will answer again. At that point, I think I’ll be able to give you a definite answer.”
It sounded hopeful, but ultimately meant I could refuse later.
Although it had a garbage downside of keeping her waiting, considering the snowball effect of rejecting her now, becoming the bad guy turned out to be the better option.
Hearing that, the Princess twisted her lips while pondering, letting out a sound of admiration.
Then it seemed she reached a conclusion and snapped her fingers.
“Then visit my room once a week. That’ll help solidify your feelings, right?”
Wait, is it really going to be like this?
I felt like I was being gaslit, but since it was a royal order, I had no choice but to comply.
But why does it seem like the Princess is the one being more proactive?
“I have one question.”
“Yes?”
“Why are you more passionate about my reward than I am?”
At my words, the Princess’s hair seemed to float slightly in the air.
Then she exhaled sharply, got up, and pushed me away.
“J-just know that for now! I’m done with my part!”
What?! What’s going on?
What’s the reason for all this?
Oh, wait.
There was something really important that I needed to ask.
Reaching the door to the Princess’s Room, I raised my hand.
“Ah, Princess! I have one last question!”
“What is it?”
Her voice sounded like she was hoping I’d hurry up and leave.
Earlier she told me not to leave, and now she wanted me gone quickly again.
I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
“Earlier, do you think the God of War was okay?”
Since I couldn’t ask directly, I slyly probed the Princess with a tone filled with concern.
Upon hearing my question, the Princess lost her hurried demeanor and seemed to reflect on the prior events.
“Yes, I don’t think there was any problem at all.”
#
Leaving the Princess’s Room, I found myself somewhat disgruntled.
Being told to visit once a week felt over the top.
Even visiting once a year felt tense enough to be tough.
She might not care since she’s in charge, but the lower-ranking folks are the ones who struggle.
Seeing this makes me curious about how soldiers often mingled with the higher-ups at the command center.
Well, that’s beside the point now.
Seems like the Princess didn’t notice anything strange.
I thought someone like Asti, being a semi-Outsider, might see something different.
Or was it just my own delusion?
Scratching my head, I was about to head down to the Knights Headquarters when…
“Don’t come any closer!”
Suddenly, a piercing female voice echoed from below.
From the sound, it must have been the Knights Headquarters.
That meant it had to be the Knight Commander’s voice.
Could something have happened?
I quickly dashed down the dangerous stairs toward the Deputy Director’s Office.
As I got closer to the Deputy Director’s Office, a heavy silence hung in the air.
Normally, I’d hear papers being shuffled around by the Deputy Director.
Something must have definitely happened.
I thought about knocking before entering, but in an emergency, why do that?
So I twisted the doorknob and walked straight in.
“Is everyone okay?!”
The moment I entered, I was taken aback.
The Deputy Director’s eyes were wide with surprise.
The God of War was scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
And there, cornered and wrapped in herself, was the Knight Commander.