Stigma Effect

Proofreader: kuroneko_chan

As expected of anything considered the pride of the Princess, the knights were amazing. They had decent appearances, but their atmosphere was unique. Their expressions of intense emotions seemed to prove that they existed only for the Princess.

In fact, she was told that they would do anything the Princess ordered.

Although they were sent as a gift to Yuriel, who worked as a maid, the expressions on their faces were without any complaints which clearly revealed loyalty.

They were people who prioritized the Princess’ orders over the pride of knights.

While Yuriel looked back at the knights and pondered over it, a knight approached the Princess.

“Princess. I have something to tell you.”

“Huh? What is it?”

The Princess who was showing displeasure at Yuriel, listened to the knight. It was the knight who came to pick up Yuriel.

He was also the knight who paid close attention to Baraha being in Yuriel’s room.

He approached the Princess in a cautious manner, and in a low voice he reported what he had seen.

“It seems that Miss Yuriel has a relationship with Sir Raphlet as well as Sir Baraha.Considering the matter, I think it would be better to take a different approach in recruiting Miss Yuriel.”

“Baraha?”

“Yes.”

Yuriel fled to Baraha, nervous as she saw the Princess and the knight whispering about her. The Princess and the knight’s discussion did not reach Yuriel.

Perhaps the Princess misunderstood Yuriel’s desperate grip on Baraha’s arm, the Princess smiled satisfactorily at them.

“It’s good if you wish so. The two of them are together, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

She gazed at Yuriel and Baraha as if she was looking at a breeding stallion. Looking forward to a good quality product, she turned to Yuriel.

“I wish Yuriel and Baraha would have children if possible.”

The Princess twisted her lips as she looked at the two of them with glaring eyes.

She also had a history of sending presents to Baraha similar to those she sent to Yuriel several times. Because of Yuriel, Baraha had never received presents from the Princess again.

She was heartbroken when both of them refused her presents. Then the good news came.

“I’ll have to send you some food to help you get pregnant.”

The Princess was very excited to see what the results would be when Baraha and Yuriel’s abilities were combined. If two people were recruited under her, their children would also belong to her.

It would take a long time for the child to grow up and do their part, but the Princess was confident enough to wait.

Waiting for and nurturing talented people was a virtue.

The Princess looked back on the results of her own virtues and spoke softly. The knights raised by the Princess from an early age were all devoted and perfect to the Princess, making it worth her time.

“Anyone can be Yuriel’s mate, except for that damn bastard, Raphlet Mogris.”

The Princess recited in a small voice when the knight looked at Yuriel with a gentle face. Yuriel managed to take her courage and opened her mouth to look at the Princess with a frightened face.

“Miss Ithaca. May I know why you called me? I can’t be away for a long time, so I have to go back….”

“Do you have to go back? Commander Shudmuel told me that you have free time today. You mean he gave me the wrong information?”

“Yes?”

“I heard that you couldn’t even watch the festival because you were helping Commander Shudmuel and Raphlet Mogris. This is the first festival you experience after coming to the Imperial Capital. I said I wanted to take you with me, so his answer came back.”

“Did Sir Shudmuel say that?”

“Yes.”

Yuriel blinked her eyes in surprise.

Why did Shudmuel do that? He told her to protect the core… . Did the Princess get some wrong information?

Yuriel, who was holding Baraha’s wrist, tilted her head and opened her lips.

“I can’t. I promised not to go out today….”

“If the information is wrong, I will cut off the tongues of those who dared to give me false information.”

Before Yuriel could finish her words, the Princess smiled and uttered nasty words.

“If Commander Shudmuel gave false information, I will have to make him pay the price. Oh, Yuriel. You have nothing to worry about. You didn’t do anything wrong. You can go back to your room.”

No one can deny that if Princess Ithaca becomes the next emperor, she will become a tyrant whose name will be etched in the history books.

The Princess approached Yuriel, lightly wiping Yuriel’s cheek, and smiling.

“If you don’t have time, you can go back. I have no intention of interrupting your time.”

Yuriel was stunned at the finger that touched her cheek. It sounded like she was going to let her go, but her lips did not open.

Did the Princess just said that she will cut off someone’s tongue… ?

As Yuriel stood blankly, Baraha spoke to Yuriel as if to awaken her mind.

“They’re letting us go. Shall we go?”

“No, wait…. What, Princess, Miss Ithaka just said, is it true?”

“I mean it. Why?”

“You said you would cut off their tongue, and you said that Sir Shudmuel would pay the price too! You heard it right, Baraha?”

It was a grim expression that looked different from Yuriel, who was bewildered.

The Princess said to her knights.

“Bring all the servants who relayed the information to me. After watching me deal with them with my own eyes, even Commander Shudmuel….”

“Miss Ithaca!”

“What’s wrong, Yuriel?”

“I, I…. I think I can go out… !”

Yuriel hurriedly shouted in order to protect the tongues of the servants and Shudmuel’s.

“Really?”

“Yes!”

“Isn’t it better to just go back when they let you go?”

Baraha spoke without noticing. Yuriel gave strength to the hand that was holding his wrist and shook her head.

What if the Princess really would punish the people? The Princess seemed to be someone who would do as she says.

Baraha looked like this had nothing to do with what him. His eyes were like a person who looked down on life, even his own life.

Indeed, he didn’t care whether his own life was involved or not, so cutting off someone else’s tongue was nothing to worry about.

She wanted to express her admiration for his consistent attitude, but the priority was distinct from the Princess’.

Yuriel stuttered and said to the Princess who was looking at her.

“Well, it’s okay if it’s just for a moment. For today… .”

“Then we must hurry and go out. If I knew we were going to visit the street in one day, I would have called you earlier.”

The Princess answered with a smile.

＊＊＊

Baraha and the Princess, her attendants and Yuriel.

An incompatible combination came out on the streets. Without a change of clothes, Yuriel, led by the Princess’ hand, came out on the street, wearing the Albraka uniform.

Yuriel’s dark work clothes stood out from the colorfully decorated festival crowd. There were many glances towards Yuriel, who had been known as a knight.

Yuriel, feeling the unfavorable gazes, bowed her head awkwardly.

It was the first time her eyes felt stinging.

Just like Yuriel, Baraha, who was brought out in the same way from his indoor life, could hear his voice talking to the Princess’ knight.

“Give me that, please.”

“Yes?”

“Lend me the robe.”

“Yes. Sir Baraha.”

A thin robe was draped over Yuriel’s shoulder, who was fiddling with the box containing the core she had put in her pocket. Baraha, who had stolen the robe from the knight, put the robe on Yuriel and said,

“Even if it’s annoying, it’s better to wear a robe. I have bad eyesight.”

“Huh….”

“I told you to go back when they let you go like that.”

“How can you do that? Uh, what’s this.”

Baraha said, tying the strings of the robe with his clumsy hands. A touch he had never given in his life reached out to Yuriel. A person who didn’t even take care of his own clothes couldn’t arrange his clothes properly.

The string he touched was knotted in a crude shape.

Handling weapons that hurt others, such as the guns, made him not adept at doing everyday things.

The string that Baraha had tied pierced into Yuriel’s neck as if it were squeezing her. Yuriel, tucked her hair inside while she put on the robe and pulled up the hood carefully, raised her head and made a choking sound.

When she lifted her head, the gap left between the string and the neck disappeared, and Yuriel’s neck was choked.

Yuriel slapped Baraha on the back with her hand and untied the string he had tied.

“My neck hurts.”

“I didn’t even tie it tight.”

“Did you not tie it too tight?”

“Come here, I’ll try again.”

“Fine, I’m faster.”

Without even the slightest hesitation, Baraha’s traces disappeared.

Seeing his traces disappearing, Baraha frowned unknowingly.

Yuriel neatly organized her clothes. As Baraha’s traces disappeared, Yuriel’s outfit finally became neat.

The Princess was watching with delighted eyes as the two were fighting and putting on the robe.

Yuriel, who had cleaned up her robe and turned her head, saw the Princess’ kind expression and was fed up.

Ordinary people would think that it was simply a pleasant expression, but the person was the Princess.

She was the one who uses an aphrodisiac monster to lure people in, and orders her knight to serve with their body.

Yuriel did not know what the Princess was thinking with that kind face.

Maybe she’s thinking terrifying thoughts that ordinary people can’t come up with… !

Yuriel covered her nervous face with the robe and approached the Princess with Baraha.

She had a feeling that today would be a very long day.