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~

Chapter 8: The Catfish Princess

I’m honestly pretty confused right now. Why is Karen-san, of all people—the princess’s shadow—here in this place so far away from the royal capital?

And on top of that, the princess is apparently furious…

“What the heck is this woman all of a sudden…!? Dressed head to toe in black and suspicious as hell—is she an enemy…!!”

“…Wait, Ignatz. Just now Master called her by name. —Master?”

“I already told you, don’t call me Master…! If this goes on any longer I won’t be able to hold my lord back anymore…!”

What absolute chaos.

Still, Lily-san is the only one who stepped back a little and started preparing magic—really impressive. …Though I do wonder whether she can accurately hit just Karen-san in the middle of this tight crowd with that wild mana of hers. Her hands are shaking too.

“…Lily-san.”

“!!? Y-Yes!?”

“This person isn’t an enemy, so please don’t fire any magic at her, okay?”

“! Yes, as you command!!”

Among the three of them, she’s the only one who properly listens to instructions, which is great. She really doesn’t have to be that scared.

I gave a wry smile and looked away from Lily-san. Then I turned toward the other two subordinates and spoke.

“She’s Karen-san, someone I know. I can’t go into details, but she’s connected to the Atlas Kingdom, so she’s not an enemy.”

“…I see? Judging from the words ‘my lord’ and her outfit… she seems to be the type of bodyguard who never shows herself in public.”

“The kind of person who gets angry when the squad leader says he’s taking on a new disciple… Wait… Could it be Her Highness!? I’ve heard of them. The clan that serves the royal family while staying hidden—the so-called ‘Shadows’…!”

“—!! M-My true identity has been exposed! I’m going to get scolded again…”

You’re way too careless, Karen-san. Why did you come out while everyone’s here…?

I’ll have to tell everyone later not to spread word about Karen-san. But right now, the thing I’m most concerned about is—

“Well, since Karen-san already blurted it out herself, I won’t worry about that part anymore… But Karen-san, why are you here in a place like this? And why is the princess angry?”

“Th-That’s the one thing I can’t say! I can’t! There’s no way I could ever tell anyone that I came here on my lord’s direct orders…! …Ahh, I’m terribly sorry, my lord, my loooord!!”

“Why are you talking to yourself… Wait, hm? Mana coming from Karen-san… No, this is—”

Not exactly from Karen-san herself. When I looked more closely, it was coming from the necklace hanging around her neck?

A large, clear gem dangled from the necklace, standing out clearly against her all-black outfit. But since I could feel mana from it, this was definitely a magic tool.

And considering what Karen-san just said…

“Is this a communication magic tool, and the princess is watching our situation right now?”

“!! Ah, my lord, I’m truly so sorr— Aahhh—”

Right after Karen-san let out that sad wail—

“—First of all, let me thank you. To all of you who are carrying out your mission far from the royal capital for the sake of the kingdom—this is me, Plenipotentiary Regent Killriera Atlas, speaking.”

“—!!”

The moment the princess’s voice rang out, Ignatz-san, Keirens-san, and Lily-san all dropped to their knees at the same time.

That gesture was probably etched into their bodies from years as nobles. Since they, who know court etiquette far better than a country boy like me, did it, I suppose I should follow suit.

Okay then, better hurry.

“Ah! P—Albert is fine! Stay just as you are! Of course!”

Huh? Um… well, since I’m the princess’s aide, maybe that explanation works…?

“Th-This little one…”

“…Honestly, I would prefer you to press your forehead to the ground. But then I wouldn’t be able to see you properly. So I suppose there’s no choice—you may remain standing in silence.”

“…”

Karen-san gave a dejected little nod and really stood there like a pole without saying another word. She was glaring at me with tremendous intensity, though.

Wait a second, Princess. This communication magic tool transmits video as well as sound? And at that size? That has to be an incredibly rare item… practically a national treasure.

Maybe because I looked at it with slightly stunned eyes, the silence over the magic tool started to feel kind of awkward.

Well, anyway.

I moved closer to Karen-san so the other three couldn’t hear, and whispered toward the necklace at her chest…

“…There are a lot of things I want to ask. But you followed the instructions perfectly during that earlier conversation… You did a good job, didn’t you? Killriera.”

“! …Yeah!”

Because she had managed to behave properly as a princess in front of others.

“Ugh… Please step away from this little one…”

“Did you say something just now—? Karen.”

“Hyehhh!? N-Nothing at all!”

Her attitude was maybe a little too obvious, but… well, it’s probably still within the range of being explainable.

So anyway.

“Now then, Princess, since the introductions are done—if it’s not too much trouble, could you allow my subordinates to stand up?”

“Of course. If Albert says so, then naturally.”

With those words, the three of them cautiously rose to their feet.

“…Seriously, from Her Highness herself… For real…?”

“Indeed. But someone who can wield magic so splendidly—well, it makes sense. Beautiful people are always drawn to one another.”

“…! …!!”

Lily-san seemed completely unable to speak anymore.

Okay then. Suu-san’s side seems fine for the moment too. Finally things have calmed down enough to talk properly, so let’s get to what’s really bothering me—

“So, Princess? Why exactly did you go so far as to send Karen-san all the way out here?”

“That’s…”

I already know the princess has been showing quite a lot of attachment toward me since that last incident. But she wouldn’t go so far as to bring out a national-treasure-level magic tool just for that, right?

“The reason should be obvious even without asking…”

“Karen—?”

“Y-Yes!! I’m terribly sorry! Somebody, please seal this little one’s mouth…!”

Haha. So, the reason is…?

As everyone in the room held their breath, waiting for the princess’s answer through the magic tool,

the princess declared it.

“I am still surrounded by many political enemies. And Albert—you are my one and only… confidant.”

“—!”

“When someone like you gets forcibly requested for dispatch by a knight order division commander, then as your lady—er, I mean, as your master, it’s only natural for me to be cautious.”

“Lady…?”

Ahhh. Everyone’s tilting their heads in confusion.

But I get it now. The princess was suspicious that this whole request itself might have some shady motive behind it.

From my point of view, I felt relieved because Maguire-san and the others are guarding the princess during the expedition, but the princess was worried about me too. If that’s why she opposed me taking this job in the first place, she could have just said so.

Karen-san is looking at the magic tool like she wants to say something, which is a little concerning.

Oh well, never mind. Since Suu-san is the client, there shouldn’t be any bad intentions, so it’s fine—I was about to tell the princess that when—

“…May I have a moment? There is one thing I would like to ask Her Highness.”

Keirens-san?

“…Go ahead and speak.”

“Then, with gratitude. Is it possible, Your Highness, that you do not wish for me—to become Master’s disciple?”

For a single instant, the air froze.

Karen-san and Ignatz-san both stared at Keirens-san with wide eyes. Lily-san was already trembling, but now the shaking had gotten so bad she looked like she might collapse.

Well, yeah. From the conversation up to this point, Keirens-san’s worry was probably right on the mark.

The princess has quite a strong possessive streak, after all…

But she promised, didn’t she? That she wouldn’t do reckless things like during the coup anymore—and that she wouldn’t treat me in public as anything more than a trusted subordinate.

“Th-That is…”

The princess faltered. In the tense silence, everyone waited with bated breath for her next words.

And then—

“I—”

The princess was about to say something.

It was right at that next moment.

——BOOM!! A tremendous roar came from the enemy stronghold where Suu-san and the others had gone.

“…!”

What was that just now…!?

When I hurriedly turned to look,

—I saw fragments of wood that used to be part of a building, blown high into the sky. Knights, several of them, likewise sent flying through the air.

And standing boldly right below it all was a single man.