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 33

Chapter 33: Reconciliation?

Inside one of the facilities belonging to the Church of the Supreme Star, a clash of forces that’s pretty rare even across the whole continent keeps going on.

Just a little while ago, it was the three of them—the princess, Leo, and Mel-chan—all attacking me at once, but now—

“Come on. Let’s have this annoying little bug who’s trying to tear our love apart disappear quickly, shall we!”

“No no no no way……! That’s a lie, it’s gotta be a lie! —That Papa and you…… were lovers……!!”

……Is this really gonna work out okay? Suu-san……

—The plan Suu-san came up with was actually super simple.

Basically———me and Suu-san pretending to be lovers, making it crystal clear that the princess’s goal can never happen.

Since I already have someone, marriage is impossible. Plus, we’d make it look like Suu-san was handling all the fighting, so my so-called public achievements would get all fuzzy and unclear.

Of course, just flat-out denying the princess’s goal would leave no way to end the fight, so after driving that point home, we’d offer her a compromise…… that’s the whole idea anyway.

“—Someone like you…… a horny dog in heat—there’s no way Papa would ever fall for that! No way I’d believe something like that……!!”

“Whether you believe it or not. This is the truth—”

The two of them arguing back and forth right in the middle of a battlefield where star trials and blades are flying everywhere.

Yeah, looks like the princess isn’t gonna buy it that easily. Pretty much what I expected.

That’s exactly why Suu-san asked me earlier, “Are you good at acting?”

……So yeah.

“Princess, please listen”

“Papa…… No, I don’t wanna hear it”

“Come on, just hear me out”

Whoops, Leo’s using 【Transfer】 again. I block his sword while I keep talking toward the princess.

“—Everything Suu-san’s saying is true. We’ve actually been together for a while now”

“……!”

“We talked a lot even before this, and we took on requests together too. I was the one who asked her. ……I told her I wanted to go out with her”

When I say that…… the princess’s face twists up, and her bombardment slows down just a little. And in that tiny opening, Suu-san—swings the Anti-Demon Exorcism Sword.

“See? The second you drop your guard even a bit, this sword can wipe it all out……!”

Right in Suu-san’s hand, the black-and-white sword unleashes its power. About half of the bombardment flying around the battlefield—the parts coming from the princess’s star trial—just vanish.

“Kuh……!”

“Right? This divine sword was only granted to me because I’m Al-kun—Master’s beloved knight. Something as shallow as just being parent and child could never compare…… only because we’re connected by this much deeper love—”

“Uuugh……! That’s not fair……! —Th-that’s so unfair……!!”

“That’s why lovers get to play dirty”

“Uuuuuuuuughhh!!”

The princess grits her teeth hard, glaring at Suu-san with teary eyes. Isn’t Suu-san provoking her a little too much?

“M-my…… he’s my Papa……!! I won’t forgive you I won’t forgive you I WON’T FORGIVE YOU—”

“Hehe, hehehehe. Jealousy sure is ugly, huh. You can call me Mama if you want, y’know?”

“……!!!”

The look in her eyes right now could probably curse Suu-san to death. Honestly, Suu-san’s acting talent might be way better than mine……

But if we keep pushing this hard, we might not even get to the part where we offer the compromise.

“Suu-san. ……Maybe ease up a little”

“Oh, yeah. Got a bit carried away, sorry”

Phew. Good thing Suu-san still remembers the actual goal.

If we drive too big a wedge, it’ll make things harder later, and if we take too long, who knows what Leo and the others might pull.

Look, they’re already whispering about something again—

“Hey Leo! We’re seriously getting left out here! You really think you’re gonna get Onii-san like this!?”

“I wasn’t the one who dragged the princess over here. But there’s gotta be a way…… with this star trial……”

I catch that shady conversation. Better stop them before they do anything extra, so maybe now’s the time—

That’s what I was thinking when—

“……Okay, I get it”

“Huh?”

The princess stops her hands. Her eyes are all watery as she looks straight at me.

And then she says it.

“Papa’s lover…… that horny dog over there. ……I-I’ll…… ac-accept it……!”

“No way! The princess actually……!?”

Suu-san lets out a shocked voice at the princess’s strained words.

Wait, “no way”? Suu-san, weren’t you supposed to believe in your own plan……?

But hey, if the princess accepts it, the plan’s basically succeeded.

While I’m thinking that, I listen to what the princess says next.

“Everything! Everything I wanted to do is ruined anyway! But even so…… if Papa will just stay by my side—that’s enough for me……!”

Princess……

“I’ll at least make sure Papa gets real, proper authority inside the palace, inside the kingdom……! Not just as my assistant—a real title! And then, and then…… as long as you’re still my Papa……”

It’s exactly the development we were aiming for. Since the princess brought it up herself, it feels way more natural.

Lying to the princess and hurting her heart like this…… I really feel awful about it, and I don’t think it’s something that can be forgiven. Me, someone who can’t even fully understand her feelings, someone who’s missing something as a human being…… yeah, I know that.

Still, at the very least, as her Papa, I want to do what I can for her.

Maybe I got a little lost in those sentimental thoughts. That’s probably why—for just a second—I was slow to react to the hostility aimed at the princess.

“—I don’t need Killriera anymore! You guys keep whispering and leaving Mel and the others out!”

The one Mel-chan shouts at while pointing her hand isn’t us. It’s the princess standing right next to me.

The moment I realize, I explode with star trial power and dash through the air.

Everything blurs into lines as the scenery streaks by, but I never lose sight of the magic circle Mel-chan deployed.

It’s faster than using a sword, and since authority gets restricted against star trials, this way’s more reliable.

That thinking wasn’t wrong. Sure enough, I crush Mel-chan’s magic circle with a hand wrapped in golden light.

But the follow-up strike—the sword Leo swings with a somehow bitter look on his face—I can’t block it no matter what. The sword wings behind me can’t keep up with my speed and get left in the dust.

No choice, I’ll just have to take this one. But aiming at the princess right now…… you’re definitely gonna regret that—

With that resolve in my heart, I stare straight at the enemy, and what enters my vision is—

“—Princess!? No, don’t come—!!”

“Papaaa!!”

Leo’s sword swinging down—and the silver-light-wrapped girl who leaps right into its path herself.

All the blood drains from my face.

No. I can’t let the princess get hurt again protecting someone like me. That’s something I absolutely won’t allow, won’t accept.

No matter what it costs me, I’ll stop it—

Right when dangerous light starts to glow in front of my eyes.

“—You just barely became aware of it, that sweet-and-sour feeling that makes your chest tighten. If you really follow that emotion, it’d be better to just abandon the princess right here”

That annoyingly clear voice belongs to Suu-san……

“No helping it, so the match is on hold. That was pretty immature of me—going all out against a childish princess who hasn’t even realized those feelings yet”

While saying that, Suu-san pours transparent energy into the Anti-Demon Exorcism Sword—and swings it way faster than Leo.