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CHAPTER 50…….
Lete, seeing me at a loss for words, whispered softly.
“Princess, you should wave to the people now.”
“Ah! O-okay!”
When I waved my little hand a few times, cheers erupted from every direction.
So loud, in fact, that the glass windows of nearby buildings quivered with the vibrations.
Just then, Ares rode up on horseback beside my carriage and whistled.
“Your Highness, if you wave like that, they can’t see from far away.”
“Ares!”
Because of rank issues, Ares rode together with Minte.
Though he sat on a small horse, dressed in his black trainee knight’s uniform, he looked rather adorable.
Ares glanced at the boy sitting beside me and grinned mischievously.
“Must be nice and comfy riding in the carriage alone, huh? Prince Alcyone.”
“Even riding a pony, you carry yourself with dignity. Quite a fine sight, young lord.”
…And then Calion, riding in the same carriage as me, gave a graceful smile.
‘Ugh, please, both of you—don’t start fighting here.’
Exhausted by their intensifying stare-down, I turned to look at the procession behind us.
‘Ah, those young ladies I saw at the salon last time are following properly after all.’
After Father appointed me as “representative of the Veled District,” I conferred Calion as my vassal.
Then the girls offered me congratulatory flowers, and that was that.
Even Theia Nestor and the other pre-debutantes followed along, but…
‘Looks like they’re barely managing to keep their faces straight.’
At this rate, wouldn’t those girls end up hitting me with the flowers instead of offering them?
“Elysion.”
“―Ah!”
Before I knew it, the carriage had arrived at the Veled District plaza.
Atop the tall platform in the center, Father was already waiting.
Like during the birthday festival, Father and I wore matching colors again.
The golden sheen of my silk dress shimmered faintly as the refreshing breeze swept through.
I held my skirt and bowed deeply before the Demon King.
“Elysion, only daughter of the 24th Erebos.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“To you, I grant the Veled District…”
In Father’s right hand, a long ceremonial sword materialized.
Since it was only for ritual use, its edge was dull, and I felt no fear when it touched my shoulder.
“May you live up to the expectations of all who dwell here.”
“Yes.”
When I rose, the crowd—holding its breath—burst once more into applause and cheers.
But when I accepted the sword from Father, murmurs of confusion rippled through the crowd.
The sword was a magical artifact, so even I could lift it with ease.
Slowly, I walked toward the boy waiting beneath the platform.
Today, Calion wore a dazzling white uniform.
At first glance, it looked like a prince’s elegant attire.
‘But in Tartarus, white symbolizes obedience.’
If black represents nobility and strength, then white signifies the virtue of submission.
‘The demons know this hidden meaning, but humans don’t…’
I gently tapped the blade against Calion’s left shoulder, as he knelt on one knee.
Thus, he officially became my subordinate.
“Calion.”
“…?”
When I whispered, the composed boy raised an eyebrow.
I recalled the countless times he’d found me in the Alcyone Palace back then.
‘Calion probably thinks of meeting me in those days as some great fortune…’
But the truth was… back then, when he came looking for me, those were the only bearable moments in that miserable time.
“This time, I’ll protect you until the end.”
At that, Calion’s face lit up with a smile as radiant as the sun.
Ares, following Minte’s lead, clasped his hands behind his back and gazed solemnly up at the royal palace.
But when he looked at Zion standing beside Erebos—
‘Damn it, my chest hurts.’
It felt like something was squeezing his heart so tightly he could hardly breathe.
Even during Zion’s birthday festival, Ares had wished to stand beside her in the shining place of honor.
Always, forever.
Remembering that desire, his face grew darker.
Minte, too, glanced down at the boy at her left and muttered.
“Young lord. Keep your expression in check.”
“…”
Normally, Ares would’ve retorted with, “I am keeping it in check!”—and earned himself a flick to the head.
But instead, he muttered in a deflated voice.
“…Yes.”
Seeing him like that, Minte felt a pang of pity.
She knew well how deeply this boy adored the young princess.
“Young lord. If you can just act mature about this today—”
“Well, well, Sir Epikus! Our rascal youngest!”
But before she could finish, Minte squeezed her eyes shut.
He was here. That dragon-crazy duke.
Phobos came striding over with a broad grin, waving his arms.
Grinding her teeth, Minte reminded herself that this man was Erebos’s close friend, and a duke besides.
“Duke! How could you leave the procession like this?!”
“Oh, come on, I don’t need to be in the next part of the ceremony anyway, riiight?”
Phobos grinned slyly and looked down at his younger brother.
“Why the doomsday face, little rascal?”
“Ugh, what now? Why’d you even come down here?”
“Because seeing my little rascal all downcast made me sad, duh. What’re you gonna do about it?”
He clapped a hand on Ares’s shoulder and whispered in a teasing tone.
“Jealous of that prince?”
“…”
“That prince is shrewder than he looks. If you just sulk and whine with jealousy, he’ll outpace you.”
Grinding his teeth, Ares turned his head away.
‘Ha! He already outpaced me.’
But pride kept Ares from saying that aloud in front of his brother.
Watching his brother truly wilt like that, Phobos’s mouth itched.
‘Oh man, this is so entertaining!’
It was just too fun, too pitiful—and too cute.
Teasing a younger brother really was the best.
Still, not wanting to go too far, the much older brother decided to give some advice.
“Hey, hey, instead of wasting time being jealous, do something productive.”
“And what’s productive, huh?”
“Hmm. For example—”
With a sly smile, Phobos pointed toward one corner of the noble entourage.
“Like catching those girls sneaking away over there?”
“…Huh?! What the—?!”
Startled, Ares shouted, while Minte covered her face in exasperation.
Several young girls, skirts fluttering, had slipped into a shop with a red roof.
During these events, the marketplace lent their shops as rest areas for the participants.
But those girls had been assigned to present flowers to Zion.
In just thirty minutes.
Minte, recalling the salon incident, flushed with anger and stepped forward.
“Honestly, those arrogant brats! Young lord, wait here—”
“Ah, Sir Epikus. You can’t go yourself.”
“Why not?! Those little brats are supposed to appear next!”
“And if you personally drag them back, won’t that ruin relations between your family and theirs? You all work together often.”
“Urgh…!”
“Besides, if a Knight of Cerberus personally fetches a bunch of kids, it’d look ridiculous. Way too heavy-handed.”
Minte blinked at Phobos in surprise.
The man who always acted frivolous was suddenly wearing a serious face.
Phobos winked and smiled at Ares.
“Hey, rascal. Didn’t I tell you to do something productive instead of sulking?”
“Uh…”
“Soon it’ll be time for those girls to present flowers to the princess. Go fetch them before then.”
“…!”
At that, Ares broke into a grin.
‘Hah, my brother’s no fool either.’
It made far more sense for a peer to scare the girls straight than for Minte, the princess’s knight, to drag them out.
That way, it’d be more helpful to Zion than that blue-eyed prince.
‘If I do well, maybe I can even ask her to let me kiss her other cheek this time.’
