What If the Strongest Villain from the Original Story Became the Protagonist's Ally? - Chapter 65 - Testing, and Request

Not I, but my daughter Nana was baited by the sweets Lycoris offered.

I hastily picked her up.

“Now Nana. I taught you before not to accept sweets from suspicious people, didn’t I? That’s not good.”

“Who’s suspicious? I’m a princess, you know.”

“I don’t care. Someone who destroys people’s room doors and then throws them from the castle without question is nothing but a suspicious person!”

“Then you’re also suspicious for wearing that strange mask. Despite having such a lovely face.”

“I’m certainly handsome, but even handsome people have their own troubles.”

“The kind that would make ordinary people want to kill you when they hear it?”

“Something like that.”

I understood what Lycoris wanted to say.

Even in my previous life, I’d gotten irritated by handsome people’s complaints about being too popular.

But that thinking changed when I became Yuguram.

—Not really.

That was just random nonsense. I was just going along with her. I actually thought being popular was the best.

Iris hits, slashes, and stabs me, which is tough, but being popular with both men and women would be fun, right?

That’s how it is.

“Good grief… you’re stubborn. Don’t you want to talk with me even a little?”

“If only I had a banana on hand…”

“Who’s a gorilla?”

“I never said gorilla.”

“It’s practically the same thing.”

“It might be an orangutan. You like monkeys too.”

“Monkeys and gorillas barely have any difference!? I’ll get angry!”

“Don’t underestimate gorillas!? Their grip strength is incredible!? I’ll get angry!”

“Eh? Why do I have to be scolded in this situation…?”

“Just going with the flow. I’ll apologize, so please lower that clenched fist. It’s dangerous.”

Even while talking, Lycoris was gripping her fist tightly. Aside from me, it would be a major problem if it hit Nana by mistake.

I calmly restrained her with a gentle voice. Lycoris lowered her fist after a moment.

“Sigh… it can’t be helped. I had various things I wanted to ask you…”

“Things to ask?”

“Yes. For example—about the Empire.”

“!?”

I couldn’t help but react. Even while thinking it was impossible.

Seeing that, the corners of Lycoris’s mouth turned up.

It was an expression that said she’d found her prey.

“I knew it… I felt like I’d seen that face somewhere before. It looks just like the portrait of Yuguram-sama made in our country.”

“Why does such a thing even exist…”

“The Empire was trying to wage war against the Kingdom, wasn’t it? As an allied nation, we gather information about enemy countries. You were already famous.”

“Tch. I thought I hadn’t been found out.”

“Thanks to hearing about your hair and eye color through word of mouth. The picture was black and white, so conversely, knowing the facial contours was sufficient.”

I messed up.

I never expected my true face to be revealed through such a method. That earlier comment was also a test to confirm my identity.

She probably didn’t have proof yet.

But because I reacted even slightly…

I’d been careless because I usually wore a mask. I’d been careless all day today.

“Well, please calm down, Prince Yuguram.”

“Don’t call me by that name. Only a very few people know my true identity.”

“Oh, is that so? Princess Iris and… that child over there?”

“Yeah. His Majesty and his close aides also know my identity.”

“Surprisingly, quite a few people know.”

“I couldn’t very well wear that mask in front of the king.”

“Ah… I see.”

Lycoris chuckled. I thought she’d pick a fight once she realized I was Yuguram, but she remained calm for now.

The maid woman behind her had widened her eyes at Lycoris’s story though.

“Well then, Yuu-san, let me say this again. You don’t need to be wary of me. I won’t bite or anything.”

“I can’t trust that.”

“How cruel… I get hurt too, you know?”

“You were crying earlier.”

“I-I-I wasn’t crying!?”

She was clearly flustered. Lycoris’s reactions were easy to read and I quite liked that about her. She was very similar to Iris.

“Bull’s-eye.”

“Shut up! If you don’t want your identity exposed, listen to what I have to say!”

“What happened to ‘you don’t need to be wary’?”

“Because Yuu-san is being annoying! More importantly, my story.”

Ahem—she cleared her throat once before speaking.

“First, I hold no hatred or hostility toward you. Rather, I’m endlessly interested.”

“Interested?”

“Yes. Why are you, the Empire’s third prince, in the Kingdom? Why are you staying at the royal palace? Why do Princess Iris and His Majesty permit this? My interest is endless.”

“Is your proposal that I tell you about that?”

“That’s part of it.”

So that wasn’t all.

Surprisingly demanding and troublesome.

I thought that even more because explaining Iris and the others’ situation would be easy.

“But what I most wish from you is… just one thing!”

She pointed directly at me and smiled.

“—Please fight me, Yuu-san!”