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 2 - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The Princess’s Debut

There’s an interlude episode from the princess’s point of view at the start of the second chapter.

It’s meant to supplement the motivations of Albert and the princess from chapter two onward.

You can find the link below!

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~

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Countless voices flew back and forth in the background.

The common people living in the royal capital, nobles and officials who came from inside the palace, and territorial lords who visited from outside the capital.

Though their positions differed, everyone gathered today in this founding memorial square shared the same purpose.

Yes, that is… to offer congratulations on the anniversary of the Atlas Kingdom’s founding.

It had been about a month since I returned to the capital and started spending everyday life with the princess again.

Today, unusually for me, I wore the formal attire of a court mage and waited for the ceremony to begin in the VIP seats.

Yeah. As expected, the capital today was filled with even more noise than usual.

“—Papa…”

“Hm, what’s wrong?”

I sat in the VIP seats prepared on both wings of the fortress-like structure set up in the square, and I turned my eyes when someone called to me from the side.

Of course, the one there was—

“Princess.”

“…It’s not that something’s wrong or anything. Look, even I am a little nervous today…”

“Ah… Yeah, that’s true. You have a big role today, princess.”

The princess cutely and meekly lowered her eyes. She looked like a child anxious from nerves.

I found her appearance endearing and was thinking about how to cheer her up when—a slightly husky woman’s voice came from diagonally behind me.

“How bold of you to say you’re nervous. I almost doubted my own ears… The princess who wields ruthless skill in politics every day, getting like this over something so small. You’re probably just wanting to act spoiled with Al-kun. By the way, that ‘Papa’ thing—you were serious about that…?”

“…Do you have a problem with it? Division Commander Scarlet Clay—”

“Ah, you two, no fighting…”

These two really had the worst compatibility. The princess always treated Suu-san like an enemy, and it was mutual. Actually, Suu-san, you really cut loose with your own country’s princess like that.

When I mediated like this, the fight stopped for the moment, but honestly, there was no end to it…

As I drooped my brows in trouble—

“Hahaha. Don’t worry so much about it, Albert.”

“Maguire-san.”

The one who spoke with a grin was again from diagonally behind me—Maguire-san, sitting next to Suu-san.

“But Maguire-san, this really is a problem… We finally asked Suu-san to join the princess’s faction, but if people around think you’re on bad terms…”

“Well, that’s true. …Oh, pretend you two can’t hear this.”

“Oh. How obvious.”

They turned their faces away from each other and even averted their eyes from me. You can definitely hear, both of you.

…Actually, this situation really isn’t good. Both of them are older than me, and I thought if I just watched over them a bit they’d calm down, but no sign of that.

If people think the princess’s faction isn’t united any more than this, all my desperate efforts to solidify her governing system would lose meaning.

“Well, I get why you’re worried. But sometimes silently watching over things is part of being a man too. Especially—this is a battle between women over you, Albert. Kuu, how exciting…! A princess and a female knight fighting over you.”

“It’s not like that, Maguire-san… Someone short like me.”

“Papa isn’t short! Sure, your body might be a little small for a man… but! Your heart! It wraps around me without any self-interest, like warm sunlight— And you smell nice… I want you to stroke me… I want to lean on you…”

The princess drooped the corners of her eyes dreamily and placed her hand on my knee in a spoiled way.

There’s a bit of distance, but there are other nobles besides us, you know? Be careful…

“—See? Women actually prefer slender, princely types like you. The gap is good too. I know it.”

Maguire-san nodded with a know-it-all face.

Actually, saying things like that really isn’t okay. Strange rumors are already starting to spread—like about a demonic boy who seduces those in power.

If those rumors spread any more, the princess faction’s credibility and unity… And that’s exactly why what we’re about to do aims to stabilize the princess’s power base, so getting hitched on small things like this would be trouble.

As I was about to object a little to Maguire-san, that’s when it happened.

A voice echoed through the square via amplification magic—

“—People of Atlas.”

This was His Majesty’s voice. The ceremony finally seemed to have started.

We stopped talking and looked toward the center of the luxurious fortress-like structure, at the especially high platform.

“Today is the 220th anniversary of the founding of this Atlas Kingdom. As the ninth king in the line from the great first Atlas king, I am glad to welcome this day together with my healthy citizens—”

From His Majesty speaking fluently, I couldn’t feel even a trace of when we had beaten him up before. Whether he had no shame or what, he acted awfully dignified…

“Papa… I understand how you feel, but… you’re giving off a bit of intimidation.”

“Eh? I didn’t mean to… No, if the princess says so, then that’s probably it. Sorry.”

Come to think of it, sometimes His Majesty looked over here and his face paled. Hmm, I thought I wasn’t paying him any mind anymore.

Even so. The princess would exchange words with His Majesty later, so as much as possible, I wanted things to go smoothly.

And so. I consciously tried to give off a softer atmosphere, and after confirming His Majesty’s condition had recovered for a while.

His Majesty proceeded with the ceremony smoothly as king, from the opening greeting to the proclamation celebrating the founding anniversary.

And then.

Finally, the moment came.

“—Now. I’ll end my speech here for the time being. Next is”

His Majesty turned his face toward us. His expression was very solemn, and except for it being slightly stiff… well, it looked impressive at a glance.

To us, His Majesty—who was desperately maintaining the king’s dignity in front of the citizens—said—

“My daughter… and the Plenipotentiary Regent, Killriera Atlas. The congratulatory address from here on—I leave to you.”

“Yes, understood.”

The princess said that and stood up. Next, Maguire-san and Suu-san, and… regrettably, I stood up too.

In the VIP seats on both wings sandwiching the central platform, a big stir spread among the nobles.

“W-What does this mean? Why the princess and not the crown prince?”

“You don’t know? Right now, Her Highness the princess holds full political authority in the palace…”

“But still, so openly. As expected, His Majesty intends the next king to be Her Highness the princess…?”

Local lords were attending this event too, after all. Some probably didn’t grasp palace politics in real time.

And even those in the palace surely couldn’t accurately know everything. With the series of upheavals, all sorts of stories were really getting mixed up.

For example, that the princess had been aiming for the seat of power from long ago. Or that there was a mastermind pulling strings from behind to dominate the palace.

…And the big one being whispered was that it had nothing to do with ambition, just the lust-addled princess running wild or something.

“—Hey look, that page-like boy mage…! So those rumors were true after all?”

Oh, right now exactly that talk. Actually, no one would think that’s the closest to the truth among what’s being said.

I floated a dry smile as I followed the princess and advanced to the central platform.

And besides… not just the nobles, the citizens gathered in the square were shaken too. By tradition, it’s normal for the direct male line to inherit the throne, after all. Of course there have been exceptions in long history.

But. Following the princess and drawing everyone’s attention, the crown prince himself—

…Yeah. He sat with a cool face in the VIP seats opposite where we had been. As expected, he really didn’t seem to care about the throne.

And so, observing the surroundings like that. I followed the princess and stood behind her in the center of the platform, lined up with Suu-san and Maguire-san.

Okay, then. The amplification magic.

“Princess. Ready.”

When I whispered that, the princess nodded back while facing forward.

And then.

“Everyone. Succeeding His Majesty’s greeting, I am the first princess of the Atlas Kingdom——————Killriera Atlas.”

At that voice ringing out clearly.

The restless audience fell completely silent.

Yeah. Perfect hook.

The princess had always been called a genius, but her appearance and demeanor were far beyond ordinary people. Just creating the atmosphere and starting to speak drew everyone into that air.

The princess continued.

“Now then. I would like to offer words of celebration for the history this country has walked… or so I’d say. But probably everyone is more concerned about something else. —Why it is me standing here, and not the crown prince.”

She openly stated exactly what everyone was wondering. The audience’s attention was riveted by the princess’s speaking skill.

And then. The princess closed her mouth for a short while, fully checking the audience’s reaction.

“Now. Let me show you one part of the reason.”

Her eyes shone bewitchingly as she declared—

“[Star Heaven]————Overload Reinforcement Overload.”