Translator: apinklover Editor: apinklover

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Princess

I now realized that Lili has had her fists clenched as she was sitting on the couch as if she was being coerced to do so. I turned my head like a malfunctioning robot.

So you were after the Founding Celebration.

I saw Claude, resting his chin on her palm and staring at me.

The moment I looked into his cold eyes, I was frozen rock solid without a breath.

No This cant be true. Is he the real Claude? But I just saw him on the parade float!

Indifferent towards my numbed-out feelings, he spoke again after some silence.

Ive heard about your friendships with the maids inside the palace. I strongly suspected you to pay a visit when Im away.

I stammered subconsciously at Claude, who crystal-clearly saw through my plans.

II saw you right there

That was my double.

A double? Double?

I gaped foolishly at his shocking remarks. Now that I think about it, its entirely possible to use a double for such an important event. Plus, Claude himself doesnt like to be dragged around. What do I do now?

I tried to plan what to do next with my uncooperating brain.

Lets make a run for it for now.

Snap!

Now I should be in the reed fie How am I still in the palace?

Ive cast a countermagic charm.

Claude condescendingly laughed at me, who was in a panic.

Choke! Whats up with the Im gonna teach that kid a lesson face?

Not only in the Emerald Palace, but its cast everywhere. I hadnt expected you to show up in the Gannett Palace last time and let you flee but it wont be easy this time.

What? I dont know what that exactly is but its like a trap where Lilis the bait? What a degenerate coward!

Fwoosh!

As Claude whooshed his hand in the air, strands of light surfaced from the ground. What finally showed up was the golden magic circle.

I snapped my finger once again, being unable to withstand his arrogance anymore.

Your highness, dont!

Snap!

Felix rushed in as he realized I was here but it was too late. The magical powers have already twirled upward my body.

But nothing happened.

Your majesty!

Drip.

No, something did happen. I twitched as I saw blood running down Claudes chin.

But he only smirked looking at the red bloodstains after wiping the blood off of his mouth with his hand.

I knew this charm was bullshit but this is even more bullshit than I had expected.

Are you alright, your majesty?

The three of usFelix, Lili, and Icouldnt hold our agitation after seeing Claude. It was only Felix who could still keep their posture.

My hands twitched as the silently cold look faced me once again.

Anyone can cast whatever spell they wish, but all the effects come to the caster of the countermagic charm. Its been abandoned a long time ago due to its utter uselessness.

I could hear Felix shouting Your majesty! You should have told her that earlier! in frustration but Claude didnt even care to turn his head Felixs way.

Hes been fixed onto me ever since I teleported here. I, too, kept constant eye contact with him standing still in the circle.

If you dont care that I spit out blood and die, you are free to leave that circle and attack me anytime.

I sighed as he spoke.

So what? What if I dont give a shit and kill you anyway? Do you think Im scared of you?

Then what? Do you think Im gonna stay here and do nothing because Im scared of you getting hurt?

But in fairness, I couldnt move a muscle when I saw the blood run down his mouth. As the blood ran more and more, my breath started to get faster. The memories of him trowing up blood on his bed after being caught in a magical explosion caught me.

I bit my lips as I was more frightened than I thought I was.

I acted broadly thinking I could always get away from him but frankly, I couldnt while hurting him.

In other words, he made himself the most effective hostage against me.

But that got me thinking.

If he wanted to capture and kill me, why is he doing all this in the first place? And why cast the countermagic charm if all its gonna do is hurt him?

Was he sure that I wouldnt be able to use magic here? But judging from his face, that wasnt the case, at least at the moment. He was in a gamble where the stakes were his own life.

There are many actually effective alternatives for attacking and immobilizing enemies according to the magic books Ive read in Arlanta.

Lili was looking at Claude with a puzzled face as well.

But if you do disappear again

A lower voice echoed inside my ear.

I will kill everyone here

I gasped at the horrifying statement that followed.

Everyone Without mercy.

I stared at Claude with both of my eyes wide open as his creepy voice ringed my ear. And when I looked inside his eyes, I could tell that he wasnt joking.

No, hold up!

Did you just declare you want to make the Emerald Palace a successor to the Ruby Palace?

Youre going to kill everyone? Even Lili, Hannah, Seth, the other maids, cooks, and gardeners Ive grown fond of? All because of me?

The bloody massacre that took place at the Ruby Palace flashed in my head.

Rumble!

As my eyes trembled as I looked at Lili, Claude started to recite harshly as if he wanted to put the nail in the coffin.

Im dead serious. So if you want to turn this palace into a giant cemetery

YOUR MAJESTY!

Felix suddenly yelled in frustration, probably because of Claudes attitude.

Justjust why are you threatening her again? Enough is enough!

Whoa. Felixs finally speaking up to him! He yelled his lungs out in extreme frustration, and (obviously) Claude gave him a fierce look in return.

When you talk that menacingly, even I would like to run away!

This is very strange indeed

If Claude really wanted to kill me, he wouldve done it ages ago. Plus, Lilis just sitting there doing nothing

To be honest, I thought Lili would at least try to defend me against Claude like she stood up to any kind of threat to save me when I was a baby.

Dont you have something you actually want to tell her?

I was confused about whether what he said was directed towards me or Claude. It sounded like it was either a wake-up call for Claude to be more responsible in his actions or he was pleading me to not run away because he wasnt actually serious.

Claude opened his mouth with a frown.

Get out. All of you.

Smirk!

I shivered at his sudden command.

It was better off to follow his orders. Can I be off along with Felix and Lili? Sigh. But I wont be on the Get Out list

However, Felix and Lili just stayed where they were.

Your highness, if you order us to stay, then I will stay.

Me too.

Ththey changed!

They told me with a determined look. I was honestly a bit touched but Claudes face became more and more crumpled.

Do I need to swear that I wont kill you?

I otherworldly stared at Claude then he spoke to Lili and Felix next to him.

Ill be okay. Ill scream when I feel like dying.

Uh Umm That was pretty quirky. But they finally left the room after asking me several more times.

Click.

It was finally just the two of us in the room with the magic circle.

Slide.

Claude rose from his seat with his face still crumpled from moments ago. I told him as I stepped back.

Please, dont come too close.

Halt.

The atmosphere suddenly changed. I looked into his eyes as they emitted an indescribable emotion.

Ththis is weird.

Hes kept the cold face and indifference but why do I feel like Im looking at a disowned stray dog?

Claude stopped as I asked him not to come any closer. Uncomfortable tranquility surrounded the two of us.

He opened his firmly closed lips and let out a calm voice.

How have you been?

Eh? What?

I muttered while avoiding eye contact, not being able to believe his abrupt change in attitude. What he asked me was more perplexing.

Ive been around you know

Where?

Wherever nature leads me, I guess.

I even duplicated the Video Stone but nobody seemed to know exactly where you were?

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