MMLP 30

chapter 30

Eve Maria had completed her grand coronation and entry ceremony and reportedly entered the First Prince’s Palace. She must have walked proudly across the carpet, receiving applause from the palace officials. Imagining her smug face made me tense up, and a wave of motion sickness from the carriage rose in me.

—It took a whole year just to get here.

My sharp eyes knitted in irritation. The way he ran a large hand through his red hair exuded a distinctly masculine charm.

The biggest flaw of Zerodines is that he has no mute button.

I could have admired his stunning looks purely for myself, but that mouth of his was always the problem.

“If you’re dissatisfied, perhaps the great archmage could solve it with a spell,” I said bluntly, without needing to hold back, as the maid was in the luggage compartment and the coachman was on the driver’s seat. Even if a little noise escaped, it wouldn’t be louder than the clattering of hooves.

I grabbed my left wrist with my right hand and waved my left hand in front of him for emphasis.

“I can lend you a hand anytime, you know? Go ahead and step on the seed of a tyrant, or whatever.”

—You must have said it’s impossible to kill Diego.

“Ah, yes. I’ve heard plenty of times that if I did such a thing, your soul would be annihilated by the coercive forces of this world. I understood your circumstances, after all.”

Of course, Zerodines wandering around me in a soul state was because I had become the sacrificial vessel for the seal. No need to dwell on that disadvantage.

“So stop muttering things I don’t want to hear. We finally reached the capital; are you trying to ruin my monumental entry ceremony?”

He raised the corner of his mouth in a crooked smirk.

—What did you expect? Surely you don’t think the Empress will welcome you warmly?

“….”

I must be destined to be treated like cold leftovers.

With a resigned face, I relaxed my shoulders. As I slid down from the chair, I ended up in an utterly undignified position, yet no one commented.

Even adorned with the glow of the Grimoire, I received no attention.

The more spectacular Eve Maria’s entry ceremony had been, the more meager the welcome for me would be.

The carriage stopped at the outer city without entering the inner city.

While the outer city, composed mainly of military and administrative facilities, was open to outsiders, only key royal figures could enter the inner city, where the Emperor’s palace, Empress’s palace, the main hall, and banquet halls were located.

The palace of the lowest-ranking 13th Prince was, naturally, in the outer city.

“We’ve arrived.”

I stepped onto the footboard provided by the coachman and got out of the carriage.

Caw-caw. Crows flew overhead as a desolate landscape unfolded before me.

The dilapidated building visible at the edge of my sight left no doubt—it had to be the 13th Prince’s Palace.

Thankfully—or so I should say—I wasn’t completely alone.

A servant sent by the Empress adjusted their glasses and gave me a stern look.

“Welcome to the Imperial Household, Your Highness, Princess Consort Levieta. You’ve arrived earlier than scheduled, barely past noon. Was the journey exhausting?”

“I’m fine.”

“No. Considering the long journey, you must be quite fatigued. Please, tell the truth. You’re tired, aren’t you?”

He leaned in uncomfortably close.

Annoyed by the forced conversation, I answered as he expected.

“Yes. I’m tired.”

“Indeed. But be reassured—the gracious Empress has, with her wise insight, taken care not to trouble the weary princess consort. You need not formally greet the Empress or meet high officials for conversation.”

It sounded considerate at first, but in reality, it meant the Empress had no intention of giving a mere illegitimate daughter-in-law any opportunity to make connections.

I didn’t expect anything anyway.

I masked my true feelings with a fake smile.

“That’s delightful to hear. Please convey my heartfelt thanks to Her Majesty for her kind consideration.”

“Very well. I have urgent duties, so I must take my leave.”

Perhaps my presence was contagious, for the servant hurried away as if being chased.

After he completely left, I realized I hadn’t even learned his name, but there was no time to dwell on it. Another person appeared in front of me, as if on cue.

“Hello, Levieta?”

“…Who are you?”

A brown-haired, well-built man, appearing to be in his late thirties, with the rough look of a battle-hardened warrior.

Why is someone who looks like a back-alley thug talking to me?

Squinting, I prompted him, and he quickly explained.

“My name’s Denver. Don’t worry, I’m just a knight, albeit a bit rough-looking. You’re Levieta, right? Not the daughter of Commander Gilbert, but something like a daughter.”

“Yes, I’m Levieta Grimoire. Are you one of Gilbert’s colleagues?”

“Yes, that’s right. I was sent to escort you by the Commander. He leaves annoying tasks to me, so you’ll likely see me often. Nice to meet you.”

Denver smiled and extended his hand.

I could only imagine the effort it took to support such a lazy commander. I shook Denver’s hand with a grateful look.

“Pleasure to meet you too.”

“Oh, should I call you Princess Consort?”

“No, being unwelcome makes formalities even more miserable. Levieta is enough.”

I shrugged.

Unpacking the luggage took longer than expected. Leaving the maid and coachman behind, I followed Denver’s escort to the 13th Prince’s Palace.

Despite his stern appearance, Denver matched his pace with mine, walking slowly and considerately.

“Has Commander Gilbert fully returned to the knights?”

“Ah, yes. Honestly, I didn’t expect him to show, but after lamenting a bit during the hunting competition, he seems to have listened.”

Thinking back, Gilbert had spent a long time talking with a knight during the hunting competition. That knight must have been Denver.

So the reason he cut his leave short might not be because of me?

Just as I thought that:

“The Commander talks about you a lot.”

“About me?”

“Your appetite, how you mimic adults despite being young—nothing special, but he brings it up often enough to bore the other knights. Haha.”

“….”

What leaks inside, leaks outside as well. Why share such stories?

Embarrassed, I covered my face with both hands.

As Denver and I walked, chatting quietly, we soon reached the gates of the 13th Prince’s Palace.

“Here we are. My duty ends at bringing you here. From this point, you go alone. Can you manage?”

“Of course. I’m not a child.”

“Eh? Haha! Commander was right—you act like an adult despite being young.”

“Don’t treat me like a kid. I’m married, you know.”

“Puhaha!”

No matter how odd, Denver kept laughing until he returned to the main quarters.

Once his laughter faded, I opened the door and entered the palace.

Even so, shouldn’t there be at least one guard at a prince’s palace?

The palace looked weakly defended and even the building seemed shoddy.

Thud. Closing the door, I realized the handle had come off in my hand rather than the door.

“Well, good. I didn’t like the design anyway. Time to replace it.”

I wasn’t sure if the Empress would approve the budget for palace maintenance.

Even during the day, the dark corridors were gloomy.

Would the floor collapse at this rate? I cautiously walked step by step.

Finally, I reached my destination. Carefully pushing open the door so as not to break the handle again, the room’s scene gradually revealed itself.

Sunlight streamed through the window, shattering across pale skin.

A radiant platinum-haired boy lay neatly on the bed, eyes closed as if dead.

“Prince Rosinante…?”

I waited, but there was no answer.