ECPK 09🤴

CHAPTER 09

“Ahhh—”

Oh, for heaven’s sake. Jed sighed and clutched his chest like he’d nearly made the mistake of expecting something from a block of wood.

“Come to think of it, you met the princess yesterday, didn’t you? I would’ve tagged along if I hadn’t been on shift… What did she say?”

What did she say? Claude absently stroked his chin, recalling the coarse, vivid texture of the tablecloth.

“Do I seem like a good person to you?”

“…Sorry?”

“Answer me. Do I seem like a good person?”

What a random question. But Jed answered with genuine sincerity.

“Well, sir, you’re just… a great man.”

“I asked if I’m a good person.”

“Hm. I wouldn’t say so… Actually, no. I don’t think you are.”

“Exactly. As unpleasant as that is to hear, it’s the truth. I’m not a good person. Never was, and especially not here. But the princess told me I’m better than she expected.”

“Huh?!”

“She said we should get along and help each other out.”

“Is she out of her mind?”

“She spoke so clearly, like a little sparrow chirping away. Even called me by name so casually that before I knew it, I’d let slip where I live.”

“What? And you just let her do that?!”

Did he? Yeah, that’s probably accurate. She’d caught him completely off guard.

He answered all her questions without hesitation, tried to cheer her up when she looked gloomy—even though it was kind of his fault—and wiped her wet clothes when she asked.

Come to think of it, she wasn’t easy to deal with. Not exactly intimidating, but… something else entirely.

“It’s not just that she didn’t avoid me—she didn’t seem the least bit afraid. I mean, I’m a strange man and the commander of an enemy nation.”

“How do you know she wasn’t scared? Maybe she was just putting on a brave face.”

“No… she was confident. That much was clear.”

Confident she could win. That she could take down anyone in front of her if she chose to.

Claude hadn’t realized it in the moment, but maybe her attitude had thrown him. Usually, people got overwhelmed by the sheer force of his presence.

“I wish I knew where she’s been all this time. I need a proper analysis of that princess.”

He’d ordered Jed to dig up everything possible, but Jed felt Claude was overreacting.

“Do we really need to be so sensitive about this? It’s not like she can do anything right now. Wouldn’t it be better to keep an eye on those unruly mages instead?”

“No. I want all available resources focused on her.”

She wasn’t just odd—she was extraordinary. And Claude had learned to tread carefully when something felt that way.

“We’re strong enough now that we couldn’t lose even if we wanted to.”

“We haven’t even properly fought the mages yet. We don’t know how strong they are.”

To the Empire—full of ordinary humans—those born with natural magic were always a source of fear.

Beings of darkness, servants of demons… That was how they were known throughout the Empire. People had to paint them that way, or they couldn’t live with their own fear.

And now we’re just going to pretend that all disappeared overnight?

It wasn’t that long ago that people used to say even a crying child would fall silent if told a mage was coming for them. Now that fearsome beast was declawed, so they thought she didn’t matter anymore?

Thinking of such naïve knights—and his greedy aunt—Claude couldn’t help but let out a disbelieving laugh.

If you’re going to steal someone’s land, at least have the decency not to underestimate them. How could they be so casual about it?

His instincts told him the mages wouldn’t go down easily.

And neither would the returning princess.

“But we planted our flag first, didn’t we?”

“That only means something if no one else owns the place. But the rightful owner came back. Everyone assumed she was dead, but she’s alive—and she has both a mysterious personality and a power we can’t yet measure. I just know. You can tell by looking at her.”

And if that’s the case, the next steps were obvious.

By rights, she would ask for everything to be returned—her property, her authority, her control over governance, taxes, defense. It had all been hers, and that was how it should be.

“That’s nonsense. You were appointed regent by His Majesty himself.”

“You’re so hopeless, Jed. Even the Emperor of the Empire has no right to interfere with a foreign country’s line of succession. This isn’t Valoran—it’s Izaris.”

“Oh, come on!”

It wasn’t that he didn’t know that. Still, when it came to land grabs, things never wrapped up neatly with ethics and morality.

Even in noble Valoran, where honor and chivalry were sacred.

“Are you sure you’re really our commander? Whose side are you on?!”

Claude didn’t respond. Instead, he leaned against the window, twirling his sword casually, smirking to himself as he thought of his emperor.

“The princess coming back from the dead throws everything off. It’s all His Majesty’s fault for being too greedy. He already had so much land, but he still wanted this. Now he’ll be punished for it. Just goes to show—God is fair.”

Truly, this man was audacious. Audacious and disrespectful.

Jed glared daggers at him, demanding an apology, but Claude looked at him like he was less important than a passing dog.

“From now on, I want to know where the princess is, what she’s doing, and who she’s with—every second. Until I tell you to stop.”

“Seriously? You insult His Majesty and now suddenly she’s all that matters?!”

“Yeah. She is all that matters to me. I’m not thinking about anything else.”

And that blunt honesty was enough to make Jed’s eyes narrow to sharp little triangles.

“Be honest with me.”

“About what?”

“You didn’t… you know.”

“Didn’t what?”

“Fall for her at first sight or something like that?”

“What?”

“Is that what this is about? Did you fall for her? People say she’s incredibly beautiful… Is she really that pretty? So pretty you can’t think of anything else all day?”

How did he even come to that conclusion? Claude let out a dumbfounded sigh, ready to shut him down.

When did I ever think about her all day—wait… I did, didn’t I?

That brief hesitation, that flicker of expression, was all it took to plunge Jed deeper into the pit of misunderstanding.

Why aren’t you answering? Why?

Jed asked again, like a man both horrified and yet totally expecting this.

“Wow… so she really is that pretty?”

“It’s not like that—”

“Sir, I’m honestly worried. Love at first sight is dangerous. It’s poisonous! And she’s a princess from an enemy nation! This is a forbidden love!”

Like an old woman warning children about bright red apples, Jed practically shouted in alarm.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Claude tried to explain further, but urgent knocking interrupted him—and another officer burst into the room.

“Governor! Urgent report!”

The yellow envelope meant it was a mid-level emergency.

And the only thing Claude had classified as mid-priority was: The Princess of Izaris.

He tossed the holy sword he’d been idly twirling onto his desk and gestured for the message.

It was from a patrol near the hotel. Apparently, a carriage had left the premises early that morning.

“Is it confirmed she was in the carriage?”

“Not officially, but it seems likely. The manager personally summoned it and saw it off.”

“Then the odds are good.”

Claude had expected a period of quiet reconnaissance, but it hadn’t even been 24 hours and the princess was already on the move.

He skimmed the rest—witnesses had last seen the carriage crossing the bridge.

If she left the hotel and crossed the bridge…

“She’s coming here.”

Why here…?

“To see me?”

The thought slipped out unconsciously. But given their last conversation, it wasn’t an unreasonable guess.

Jed, however, was horrified all over again.

Was he seriously thinking the princess was coming just to see him? That was full-on infatuation!

Thankfully, the officer corrected the misunderstanding.

“I think she’s probably heading to a wine bar or a tea house.”

“A wine bar? A tea house?”

Claude immediately scowled. He knew both places well—and hated them.

First, the wine bar.

Those so-called imperial salons were just crowded haunts for idle socialites, as far as he was concerned. Nothing more, nothing less.

And those bored nobles were always pestering him—‘Do this, do that,’ ‘Let’s have dinner,’ ‘Come with us somewhere.’

He’d always brushed them off with a grimace and a firm ‘no,’ and had taken to avoiding the area entirely.

As for the tea house…

“Why.”

“Pardon?”

“I said why. You must have a reason.”

“Well, it’s just…”

“Just tell me. I hate both those places anyway.”

“I think I know who owns the carriage. It’s… someone you’re not very fond of.”

The officer glanced around nervously before confessing.

“You know… that loud one who never stops yammering.”

“That noisy—damn it.”

Yeah. That actually made a weird sort of sense.

But if that person was with her… then things could get tricky.

Very tricky.

Claude shot to his feet, grabbed his coat, and stormed out the door.

“Sir?! What about your breakfast?! Your sword?!”

Left behind, Jed stared mournfully at the abandoned meal and sacred sword.

“Oh, no. It’s over. He’s fallen—really fallen. Left his food, left his sword!”

“I think I understand why this place is so popular.”

That was the first thing Terry said when they stepped into the wine bar.

The hottest spot in the new city district.

Though it was barely past lunch, the place was already buzzing with patrons sipping after-meal drinks.

Well-dressed socialites gathered under luxurious lights, chatting and laughing over their glasses.

“Are you trying to make me mad? Just keep walking.”

Bridget, glaring, tugged Terry’s elbow and led them toward a secluded corner where the bartender was mixing cocktails.

Some guests glanced their way as they passed, but thanks to the disguise spell on her beret, no one recognized the princess for who she truly was.