Chapter 40

“I think Princess Astell must have manipulated her employees. She’s even more unhinged than the rumors say.”

“Oh my!”

“Who could stand up to a madwoman’s threats? I feel so sorry for the Ruthius family’s staff.”

“Now that you mention it, Lady Elaine, that makes sense. But I am curious. I’ve never actually seen a mad person before.”

“Lady Hestia, who attended the memorial, said she was clearly strange. Apparently, Sir Kaiel and Sir Dante went to the Duke’s seating area to speak with Young Duke Alex. But she acted all smug, thinking they were there for her.”

“Goodness, how pathetic. Why doesn’t the Duke of Ruthius keep his daughter in check? Should someone who’s not in their right mind be allowed to wander around freely?”

“Honestly, I’m more hesitant to go out because of the princess than because of monsters. What if I run into her?”

Elaine hadn’t been the one to spread the rumors about Dante. She was cleverly avoiding any information about Hunters, after all. Though she was certainly enjoying the slander.

*Then who was it?*

I casually turned my head and almost spat out my tea.

Zenia’s face was beet red, as if she were about to explode. She was struggling to hold back her anger.

“What’s wrong?”

“Princess, how can you hear that and not be bothered?”

“If I reacted to every little thing they said, I’d spend my whole life being angry.”

“Well, I’m not you! It’s so unfair. You were the one who risked your life to defeat the monster, not the Second Prince… But because His Majesty issued a gag order, no one knows. They just keep saying these awful things…”

“It doesn’t matter if they know or not. I only did it for the money. And who said anything about risking my life? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“But… but you’re not mad…”

“I said it doesn’t matter. You should drop it, too.”

* * *

“I said it doesn’t matter. You should drop it, too.”

Zenia clenched her fists, overcome with emotion.

She couldn’t contain her anger. She wanted to stand in the middle of the street and scream at the top of her lungs.

*The number one ranker isn’t the Second Prince, it’s our princess! The “Mad Princess” you all mock and ridicule is the one who defeated the boss and closed the gate!*

To her, Astell was a savior who had even rescued her precious younger brother, Kun.

She had rushed in, slain the monster in a single blow, and helped Zenia, who had collapsed to the ground, back to her feet.

Astell’s magnificence at that moment was beyond description.

*Hah, just thinking about that day makes my heart pound again.*

Looking back, this wasn’t the first or second time.

Astell had protected Zenia every time danger arose.

But Zenia hadn’t realized it.

Put off by Astell’s cold attitude and speech, she had been convinced the princess was heartless.

To think she had misjudged someone by their appearance, completely unaware of the kindness she was receiving.

*I’m so ashamed, I can barely face Kun.*

Zenia made a firm resolution to follow Astell forever and serve her with utmost loyalty.

*Our princess isn’t mad! She’s so cool and kind! Even if her words are a little off-putting… on the inside, she’s probably softer than jelly! Maybe!*

The injustice of the situation was so frustrating that tears welled up in Zenia’s eyes.

It pained her to think Astell might be hurt by the careless words of people who knew nothing.

As Zenia, unable to contain her anger, teared up, Astell’s mouth fell open in surprise.

“…Is this something to cry about?”

“I’m just so upset… I’m sorry. I’ll wipe them away.”

Zenia quickly rubbed her tears away. She didn’t want Astell to worry because of her.

Especially since the princess was already in a bad mood after being rejected by one broker after another.

It was then.

“Huuu…”

Astell let out a long sigh and then, without warning, nudged her teacup. The elegant cup and spoon slid smoothly toward the edge of the table.

Zenia’s tear-rimmed eyes widened.

“Princess? Why the teacup… Huh? Huh?”

Finally, the teacup fell off the table.

*Clang! Crash!*

The sharp noise drew everyone’s attention.

A waiter hurried over, a look of surprise on his face.

“Ma’am! Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Fine.”

Astell answered calmly.

Despite having dropped the cup on purpose, she showed no sign of alarm.

*Why is our princess doing this?*

Zenia blinked, unable to understand what was happening.

“Oh, dear. What should we do? This teacup is a masterpiece, custom-ordered by Jean Patissier himself.”

“And?”

“It’s quite expensive, so I’m afraid you’ll have to compensate for it. I’m sorry to bring this up when you must be startled.”

“It’s fine.”

“Thank you for your understanding. How would you like to handle the payment?”

“Send a bill.”

“And where should we send it?”

Without answering, Astell pushed back her hood.

The shimmering silver hair and deep green eyes, symbols of the Ruthius family, were clearly revealed under the shop’s lights.

Zenia gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.

Astell always wore a robe with the hood up to hide her appearance whenever she went out.

The rumors about her were so nasty that she covered her face to avoid any trouble.

That was why she only revealed her identity to the brokers right before signing a contract.

To think that same Astell would reveal herself so easily.

Even though she knew what people thought of her…

And just as expected, gasps erupted from all over the shop.

“Hah!”

“It’s the Mad Princess!”

“What’s the Mad Princess doing here?”

“Are we in danger? I heard the Mad Princess is a Hunter…”

“D-Darling, aren’t you finished? Maybe we should get going?”

“Oh? R-Right. Let’s go.”

More than half the customers cleared out like a receding tide.

Even the composed waiter flinched and stepped back.

Everyone was afraid of Astell as if she were a monster.

Into the space filled with shock, Astell’s calm voice rang out.

“Send the bill to the Ruthius estate.”

“Y-Yes, ma’am. May I, um, be excused…?”

“When is the cake coming? Do I have to wait longer?”

“I-I’ll go check on it right now!”

The waiter returned from the kitchen with a cake box in his hands.

Zenia dazedly accepted the box from the waiter’s trembling hands.

She still couldn’t grasp what was happening, but Astell stood up as if her business was concluded.

“Zenia, let’s go.”

“Eh…? Ah, yes! Should I take you to the estate?”

“No, the Information Guild first.”

“The capital’s largest Information Guild is nearby. I’ll take you there.”

Zenia scrambled to her feet, then froze.

Elaine’s deathly pale face had caught her eye.

She knew all the customers were focused on Astell.

But she hadn’t considered Lady Elaine Roma and the other noble ladies who had been so gleefully slandering Astell.

The corners of Zenia’s drooping mouth slowly began to lift.

*She must be terrified. She never would have dreamed the princess was right next to her. After deliberately making people misunderstand her, hah! Serves her right!*

A moment ago, she’d been so frustrated she could have burst, but seeing that colorless face made her feel much better.

Zenia was laughing inwardly when she suddenly stopped.

*Wait, could the princess have done that on purpose… for me?*

Astell had clearly reacted with indifference, whether people were cursing her or not.

Hadn’t she just scoffed at the baseless rumors the ladies were spreading?

*But then she suddenly broke the teacup. Right after I started crying… Oh, my heart! Stop pounding like that!*

Zenia pressed her palms against her chest and looked at Astell.

Astell was now standing in front of the table where the noble ladies were gathered.

“Elaine Roma.”

“…”

At Astell’s words, Elaine bit her lip and stood up.

Her pale face was a mask of dismay. Seeing this, the other ladies looked confused.

“Do you remember what I told you? That I would teach you about the hierarchy.”

“…I remember.”

“What is your rank?”

“His Majesty has forbidden any mention of the rankings…”

“Then let me ask you this. Are you ranked higher than me?”

“…Perhaps we could speak somewhere more private. People are listening.”

“Who? Who dares to eavesdrop on our conversation like a little rat?”

Astell said, glancing around.

The ladies, who had been straining their ears, snapped their heads away as if they’d been burned.

“Seems no one is listening. So, your answer?”

“…No.”

“I can’t hear you. What was that?”

“You are a higher rank than me, Princess!”

“Tell me how big the difference is.”

“You’re being cruel…”

“Go on.”

“It’s the difference between heaven and earth! Are you satisfied now?”

Unable to bear her brutally crushed pride, tears welled in Elaine’s eyes.

The noble ladies were too shocked to say a word.

In the deathly silent shop, only the sound of Elaine’s sobbing could be heard.

Yet Astell didn’t even blink. She simply scanned the noble ladies with an indifferent expression.

No one could meet her chilling gaze. The atmosphere was one of complete intimidation.

Astell muttered as if to herself.

“And why are these ones still sitting in the presence of a princess?”

The startled ladies scrambled to their feet.

Astell slowly surveyed them as they stood frozen stiff.

One lady, unable to bear the anxiety, asked cautiously.

“Why… why are you looking at us like that?”

“As you all know, I’m a little mad. Because of that, I have trouble controlling my anger. Once I get angry, I have to let it out one way or another. So I suggest you watch your mouths. You never know what might happen in this world.”

“…A-Are you threatening us?”

“Threatening you? I’m just stating a fact.”

Astell turned her back on the pale-faced ladies.

Zenia followed her out of the shop.

Was this what it felt like to have a ten-year weight lifted off your chest? Her steps were so light she felt like she could fly.

Zenia was savoring the tidal wave of emotion when she noticed something and asked quietly.

“Princess, you must have been embarrassed talking about ranks in front of everyone.”

“…Why?”

“Your ears are bright red.”

“…”

“You should put your hood on.”

Astell, who seemed to have frozen for a moment, pulled her hood back up.

A moment later, a quiet curse, something like, “Shit,” could be heard.

*Ah, she’s even cool when she curses. How is her pronunciation so sharp?*

Zenia clasped her hands tightly and whispered, barely audible.

“Thank you, Princess.”

“I didn’t do it for you.”

Astell replied coldly as she boarded the carriage. But Zenia’s feelings of gratitude didn’t diminish in the slightest.