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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Where Did Everyone Go?
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Urna watched the scene and subtly stepped back.
“I fully understand the Emperor's feelings. But it seems a leech has attached itself to the Princess.”
At Ekiel's chilling words as he gazed toward the Princess's Palace, Ritain clutched the back of his neck.
To think an insect had already attached itself to his precious Jusie, whom he had raised so dotingly.
‘I must have mismanaged the empire!’
The enraged tiger's golden eyes blazed.
***
‘Why is it so quiet lately?’
Thump. Roll, roll, roll.
Jusielia yawned and dropped the ball she was holding in her mouth.
She hopped onto the terrace railing and looked around to see if anyone was coming and going in the garden, but there was no one.
Jusielia swished her tail and narrowed her eyes.
It was just sooooo strange.
Exactly one week had passed since Ritain's birthday banquet.
She had heard that the key figures of the nation were extremely busy with diplomatic talks between the Penterin and Rilberg Empires.
This was because Xaviet's father, Marquis Skoten, was one of the important officials participating in these talks.
Jusielia occasionally overheard Xaviet's conversations with others and knew that the talks were proceeding with great seriousness and caution.
After all, it was the first summit between two continents that had no contact for so long and were home to different races.
It was only natural for them to be extremely cautious and busy.
So at first, Jusielia understood.
However, knowing the dispositions of her father and brother, Jusielia grew increasingly suspicious of the whole situation.
No matter how busy they were, they were the type of people who should have come to see her at least once, even if just to spout some nonsense or show their faces.
‘But they haven't come at all?’
Ekiel was the same.
He acted so cold in public, yet at night, he would secretly come to the Princess's Palace terrace and treat her so kindly.
Does he have a split personality?!
Worse, that was the last time he'd visited her.
He gives me a blue candy and then doesn't come to see me even once? Why is he so selfish? Does he think he can get away with anything just because he's handsome?!
Are they all ganging up to make me lonely?
Jusielia suddenly felt a little sorrowful.
Moreover, the day before yesterday, Ritain and Ekiel had come near the Princess's Palace terrace with their attendants.
Thinking they had obviously come to see her, she had happily climbed onto the terrace railing—right where she was now—and found herself eagerly wagging her tail.
‘Ha, how absurd.’
Thinking back on it now, she was embarrassed that she had been the only one waiting, and she kicked her hind legs wildly.
Her father and Ekiel had looked up at a large tree, whispered to each other in serious tones, saying strange things like 'I see,' 'Shall we cut it down?' and 'It's meaningless,' before leaving.
Recalling the incident, Jusielia grew angry.
So she huffed and puffed, ran into the room, and rammed her head into the leg of Sir Xaviet, who was standing at attention.
“Aroong!” (Let’s play!)
“Pardon? You want to play?”
Jusielia looked up at Xaviet and glared.
“You're so lucky, Sir Xaviet.”
Beside them, Sir Hamstern watched with eyes full of envy.
“Kyang!” (Let’s go!)
As Jusielia led the way, Xaviet scratched his head and followed behind the little white tiger princess.
‘Why me again?’
Ever since awakening her supernatural ability, the princess had always chosen Xaviet Skoten as her practice partner.
The maids, especially Uni, were envious, and Sir Hamstern was openly jealous, but honestly, Xaviet was finding it increasingly difficult to go easy on the princess.
At first, it was nice because the small princess wasn't skilled in martial arts, so he could quickly end things by overpowering her physically.
But as a member of the Penterin imperial family, she was smart and had good physical coordination, even at her young age.
Now she had gotten the hang of it and could deftly dodge his attacks. And her use of her supernatural ability was also becoming more proficient.
‘What if I accidentally use my supernatural ability or swordsmanship and hurt the princess?’
Xaviet was worried.
He was, after all, from the prestigious Skoten family, blessed by the Green Anaconda, one of the four great divine beasts.
In terms of swordsmanship, they were considered the most prominent family after the Penterin imperial house, and Xaviet, in particular, also excelled in his supernatural ability.
The Green Anaconda had a peculiar nature: when a fight became interesting, it would lose its reason and fight with all its might.
If he were to make a mistake while sparring with the princess…
‘Eek.’
Xaviet shivered, picturing the gleaming eyes of two crazed golden tigers.
He would be killed instantly on the spot.
‘I must be absolutely careful!’
“Krrreung?” (Ready?)
Having arrived at the training ground, Jusielia and Xaviet distanced themselves and faced each other.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Xaviet nodded and replied loudly.
Then he quickly moved first, intending to attack Jusielia.
The princess, after all, always tried to swiftly envelop him in blue flames or a blizzard.
But.
“Ugh!”
His legs wouldn't move.
Somehow, his feet had been frozen solid, and he couldn't move from his spot.
Jusielia's bright blue eyes sparkled as she smiled like a prankster.
“Kyahahaha!!!” (Where do you think you’re going?!)
“Your Highness, really!”
Xaviet reached out and channeled his supernatural ability into his frozen feet.
Instantly, his frozen feet and the ground around them thawed.
‘Haha.’
Xaviet grinned.
His family's special supernatural ability was 'Annihilation'.
It eliminated, or in other words, nullified, supernatural abilities and powers.
‘To make me use my ability for the first time. The princess has improved quite a lot…’
“Aaargh!”
“Waaaaang!!!” (How irritating!!!)
Xaviet was horrified.
While he was nullifying her ability, Jusielia seized the opening and leaped onto the nape of Xaviet's neck.
Balancing with her cute paws, Jusielia bit and tore at his brown hair as if trying to pull it all out.
“Y-Your Highness!!!”
Unable to carelessly shake off the small white tiger cub clinging to his head, Xaviet cried and begged.
“Aack! N-not the hair!!! Bite my arms and legs instead!”
“Nom nom!!! Kyaaaaaaang!!!”
“My hair! Both my paternal and maternal grandfathers are bald! This can't be happening! Please treat it gently!!!”
His sad confession echoed across the training ground.
***
Fortunately, Sir Xaviet was still young, and his hair was strong enough that almost none of it fell out.
After venting her frustration, Jusielia felt sorry for Xaviet and gave him a platinum tiger brooch and a card stamped with her paw print as an apology.
“Just one more card…”
“…”
Ignoring Uni's icy glare, Xaviet steadfastly received another paw-stamped card and finally broke into a wide grin.
Sir Hamstern presented his head to Jusielia, openly telling her she could pull out half of his hair if she wished.
He assured her not to worry, as baldness didn't run in his family.
“Krrreung.” (I’m not that kind of princess.)
Jusielia gave Sir Hamstern a pathetic look, pushed his head away with her paw, and turned away sharply.
“Sob, Your Highness, how heartless of you.”
‘Crying, really.’
She sighed as she watched Hamstern, his large back heaving as he tried to squeeze out tears, finally wiping away the few that emerged with the back of his hand.
‘Why are my subordinates all so soft-hearted!’
Jusielia clicked her tongue.
Deciding to secretly give Sir Hamstern a paw-stamped card tomorrow without Xaviet knowing, Jusielia flopped onto her bed.
Well, Sophie and my attendants are all precious people to me.
I should take care of those who are by my side first.
Jusielia decided to think positively.
They must just be too busy to come right now.
‘It's not like they're young like me.’
The more she thought about it, the more she came to accept it.
Ritain, Ijeten, and Ekiel must all be carrying out their duties befitting their high positions.
The immense responsibility hidden behind the glamour was almost dizzying.
‘I was being too childish.’
Jusielia reflected on how she had childishly taken out her frustrations on Sir Xaviet.
She resolved to study writing, read books, and practice her supernatural ability diligently starting tomorrow, and managed to draw up a schedule.
“Oh my.”
“Our princess is so diligent. Wow!”
As Sophie and Uni came over and exclaimed in admiration, Jusielia smugly lifted her chin.
She then placed the schedule neatly on her desk and decided to go to bed early for the next day.
‘That's right, I have to live diligently!’
The Dark Divine Beast—who knows when that bastard will revive and reappear.
I have to eat well, sleep soundly, and grow up strong so I can properly remember how to use my supernatural ability.
Before long, the shadows lengthened, and darkness fell.
“Good night, Your Highness.”
“Kyaang.” (You too, Sophie.)
Thinking positively, Jusielia received Sophie's goodnight kiss and fell fast asleep.
How much time had passed?
Sway, sway.
Jusielia awoke from her sleep to the sudden sensation of her body swaying.
She lifted her heavy eyelids, but what she saw was not her familiar princess's bed.
The first things she saw were a pure white sheet and a jet-black uniform.
