Vol 1 Chapter 8 – Prince Orace【Vol 1 – Spoiled Princess Arc】

Because Princess Debora had told us, “Just wait outside for a minute!”, Miriam and I found ourselves standing in front of the door.

Thanks to Miriam’s healing magic, I could already stand on my own two feet again.

As always, her healing magic is absurdly potent.

If only it didn’t come with the massive drawback of inflicting pain—just how many people would Miriam have saved by now?

But because of that downside, I’m the only one who can actually receive it—a rather sad reality.

Then again, if she were a flawless healer who could treat anyone, King Rei would have snapped her up, and she wouldn’t be able to travel with me…

“…Sorry, Erik.”

“Yes?”

Suddenly, Miriam—who was right beside me—murmured an apology.

Hmm… Was there really anything she needed to apologize for?

If anything, I should have been thanking her.

“Because of me, you got hurt again…”

Miriam drooped, her eyebrows slanting in regret.

Well, true, Debora probably threw that tantrum because Miriam and I started arguing.

“Heh – It’s fine. You argued with Princess Debora on my behalf, didn’t you? That alone makes me happy.”

Yes—Miriam got angry for my sake. I feel nothing but gratitude toward her, not the slightest bit of anger.

By shielding her, I even took that explosion myself. Talk about pampered.

“S-still… if I stay by your side, you’ll just get hurt again. So maybe I should…”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she muttered something terrifying. Predicting the rest of that sentence is all too easy, and I will never allow it!

“Miriam!!”

“W-what!?”

I called her name in the sternest voice I’d ever used, then grabbed her shoulders and turned her toward me.

Hit by my unprecedented intensity, Miriam’s eyes went wide. It was only natural I’d get this desperate.

If she quit on me now, I’d lose access to that sublime healing magic. That’s a no-go. Absolutely.

“I need you.”

“……!?”

She stared blankly for a moment, then her face blazed red in an instant.

That might sound like a pretty heavy line, but that’s exactly what Miriam means to me.

“I want to travel with you. Together, we can overcome any hardship.”

“E-e-e-Erik—!?”

Awawawawa – Miriam’s mouth flapped wordlessly.

I can’t imagine traveling with anyone but her.

Where else could I find a healer who inflicts agony while curing you? Nowhere.

Besides, her restorative power is incredible—so long as you endure the pain and aren’t actually dead, she’ll patch you up.

Of course, I adore her gentle nature too, though personally I wouldn’t mind if she were a tad tougher on me.

“So please, don’t say something so sad…”

“…Sorry.”

Just imagining Miriam leaving plunges me into gloom. If that happened, I’d sulk for quite a while…

…How pleasurable would it be to be abandoned, I wonder.

“Um, Erik, I—”

Miriam seemed about to say something. Wearing a determined expression, she locked eyes with me.

As I waited for her words…

“Hm? Who’s over there…?”

“Oh?”

Voices came from elsewhere. Recognizing one of them, I turned around…

“Hero-dono, it’s been a while.”

A handsome young man approached, a friendly smile on his face.

I knew this youth in light armor.

“Well, if it isn’t Prince Orace. How have you been?”

“Ah, and you… Well, I suppose you haven’t been well, have you.”

Prince Orace—the first in line for this country’s throne. I’ve heard King Rei doesn’t have many children to begin with.

He glanced at me and furrowed his brows apologetically for an instant.

“It’s been a while for you as well, Miriam.”

“…Yes, long time no see.”

He greeted Miriam too, but she only answered after a noticeable pause. Usually expressionless, she now looked decidedly miffed.

“Fuh – Looks like I’m not very popular, huh.”

“N-no, that’s not…”

Despite her rather discourteous attitude toward royalty, Prince Orace just gave a wry smile.

Kuh – Why won’t he get angry here…!

Miriam definitely dislikes royalty, but I recall she didn’t mind Prince Orace this much… Has she started disliking him too?

By coincidence, I’m not fond of him either…

“But I can’t blame you. I hear Father piles unreasonable demands on you—especially you, Hero-dono. I’m truly sorry.”

To my surprise, Prince Orace even dipped his head to me.

That’s exactly why I can’t warm up to him.

He’s such a spotless, upright prince it’s hard to believe he’s King Rei’s blood.

In this country, many people fear and loathe King Rei and the “Spoiled Princess” Debora, but Prince Orace is held in very high esteem.

That respect stems from the way he bows even to someone like me. …No, no, that’s not what a prince should be like!

“Not at all. My homeland owes you plenty. It’s just give and take.”

“…I’m glad you say so. I’ll also urge Father to improve your treatment, Hero-dono.”

No, please don’t bother. Sigh – Still the humanitarian prince, I see!

He should learn from King Rei, who makes demands so absurd they defy comprehension, or from Princess Debora, who blows people up when she has a tantrum!

“By the way, why are you two here? I thought Father’s whims had flung you somewhere else again…”

Though I’m called a Hero, I rarely visit this castle.

King Rei and the nobles probably see me as a lowborn commoner.

…Being worked to the bone by people like that… delightful…

“Haha – Reasonable or not, it’s true we’ve been sent all over the place.”

If I admitted we’d been hauled back on Princess Debora’s selfish orders, this exemplary prince would raise a fuss, so I dodged with a vague smile.

Miriam, who had been staring at me accusingly, then…

“…Apparently King Rei summoned Erik today because Princess Debora begged him to.”

“Ah—”

She blurted it right out. M-Miriam…?

“W-what!?”

“Sorry for the wait!”

As Orace cried out, the door burst open, and Princess Debora bounded out, brimming with energy.