The Invincible Aloof Yandere Princess Falls in Love with Her Younger Court Mage's Fatherly Warmth! ~She Clung to Him So Much That the King Fired Him. When He Made Marriage His Official Reason for Resigning Under Royal Order, the Light Vanished from the Princess's Eyes~ - Volume 1 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Pleading, Then Defiance

“Um… huh? Marriage, you said?”

The princess repeated my words with a half-formed expression on her face. It looked like she was trying to force a smile and failing.

“N-No, that… That has to be a joke, right? Because it’s just too sudden…”

“No, it’s not a joke. There was a woman I’d been getting to know after work or on my days off. We’ve decided to get married.”

She gasped. “You kept it from me!? How could you just decide that on your own— No, that’s not…!”

Even though she had not moved, the princess was breathing hard, almost hyperventilating. She seemed really confused.

To be honest, I had thought something like this might happen. I did not consider myself oblivious, and I knew the princess—who disliked most people—had somehow come to like me more than average.

“…N-No, wait. Getting angry now wouldn’t mean anything. Priorities. Yes, first I have to keep him from leaving—”

Even now, she muttered something to herself while biting her nails. She was far more upset than I had expected, and I felt bad about it—but a royal order was a royal order.

“B-But still… There’s no need for Albert to quit, right? Look, um… You could bring your w-wife here to the palace! I’ll make a special exception!”

“She says she doesn’t want to leave her hometown… I want to respect what the person important to me feels. And actually, I’ve already found a job in the new city.”

“Ah, guh… You never told me any of that…”

She looked down, and I heard the grinding sound of her back teeth.

“B-But still! Albert, you serve the kingdom—His Majesty! You can’t just quit on your own like that!”

“I’ve already discussed it with His Majesty. The paperwork is complete with no issues under the rules—”

“Even so! The rules may be fine, but this isn’t honest! If I’m not mistaken, we’ve always gotten along well! And I’m His Majesty’s daughter! Reporting it to someone like me only the day before… That’s far too dishonest!”

She was right about that. The truth was that His Majesty had only just informed me earlier, but I could not say that.

This must be what the king wanted too. His order had been to disappear without leaving as much of a shadow as possible in the princess’s heart.

In that case.

“Princess. You’re right, it was dishonest. I apologize for that. I’m sorry.”

“Then—”

“But even so. The fact that I acted against reason and the fact that I won’t take back my words about resigning tomorrow… Those two things have nothing to do with each other.”

For a moment, a flicker of light appeared in her eyes, only to vanish—like an illusion. Her face showed that kind of despair.

I’m sorry, princess. Even so, I’m just an ordinary citizen living in this country under His Majesty.

Besides, His Majesty had said something very reasonable. If unnecessary rumors started about someone lowly like me, born in a farming village, it would cause problems for the princess’s future.

So, just as I tried once more to say goodbye to her,

the princess’s whole atmosphere changed.

“…In that case.”

“Huh?”

“In that case, please. I’ll give you anything, anything at all. Don’t go!”

“!”

“I’ll give you money. A much higher position than you have now! I’ll throw all those worthless court mages who look down on you into prison…!”

“That’s unreasonable…”

“It’s not unreasonable at all! If I want to, I can do it. No—I will do it, if it means keeping you close! …I don’t like it, but I won’t even tell you to leave your wife—”

As if throwing away the last bit of hesitation she had left, the princess looked at me with tears in her eyes, clinging desperately.

“I’ll give you anything I can. Money, status, love, and even… my body! So please… In exchange, everything about you except what you give to your wife—please give it all to me…!”

Her plea sounded like it was squeezed straight from her soul. Her eyes grew teary and shiny, and she gripped my shoulders so I could not escape. A princess of the realm—the one called the “aloof silver princess”—was clinging to me like this.

Even so, feeling sorry as I did,

I opened my mouth.

“No. Be a good girl, Killriera.”

It was our secret little role-play, just between us. I hoped that saying it one last time would make her obey like always.

Yet.

I thought I heard something snap inside her.

“…Fine, I don’t care anymore. Saying something so provoking at the very end. In that case—I’ll do whatever I want too.”