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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 43: The Princess’ Plot
While a secret and astonishing meeting was about to begin inside the banquet hall, another familiar and surprising encounter was unfolding outside as well.
At the door of the banquet hall, the personal maids of both families stood guard.
On the Cron family’s side, of course, was Lana.
And on the Silla family’s side, there was『Ain Ansus』.
Like Lana, she had blonde hair neatly braided, but her beauty was more reserved and composed.
Ain was the princess’s gift to Zeras, Zeras’ lawful wife, and the head maid of the Silla household.
As the personal maids guarded the door, Lana took advantage of a moment when no one was around to greet her cousin, Ain, whom she hadn’t seen in a while.
“Long time no see, Ain.”
“You seem to be doing well, Lana.”
Receiving Lana’s greeting, Ain gave her a gentle smile.
In Lana’s memories, Ain had always been the calm and kind older sister.
“Yes, thanks to my lord, I’m doing well. How have you been?”
In response to Lana’s question, Ain showed her left hand.
On it was a golden engagement ring that Zeras had placed on her finger not long ago.
“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.”
“I see. Congratulations.”
Lana had heard months ago that Ain had become Zeras’ lawful wife.
Though the wedding hadn’t been held yet because there was still much to arrange, Lana was quite surprised when she heard the news.
It was very rare for a maid or servant to become the lawful wife.
“Lana, do you love your lord?”
“Huh?”
Before Lana could process the question, Ain got straight to the point.
The sudden directness caught even cool-headed Lana off guard.
Ignoring Lana’s surprised reaction, Ain continued.
“I do love him. That’s why I’ve prepared xx and xxx to seduce Zeras.”
“…Ain, you’ve really changed.”
Lana was expressionless but visibly shocked.
This wasn’t the Ain who used to worry about being forced into bed with her lord.
Still, on the other hand, seeing Ain so loved made Lana feel relieved.
“When a woman falls in love, she changes. And you know what? You’ve changed a lot too.”
“Yes… all thanks to my lord.”
If this had been her old self, Lana would have brushed off this conversation with Ain without much thought.
But now, she could genuinely congratulate Ain.
And she hoped that one day, she too would be congratulated.
“I’m rooting for you, Lana. I will always be on your side.”
“Thank you.”
Lana smiled at her support.
Seeing Lana’s bright smile for the first time, Ain felt reassured that Lana had found a good master.
“So at night, wear xxx and approach your lord.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
Before leaving, Ain shared one more tip with Lana.
Lana vowed to use her advice someday.
＊ ＊ ＊
『Selenia Lily Novarens』
She was the Second Princess of the Novarens Empire and ranked second in the imperial succession line—one of the highest-ranking people in the current empire.
When she suddenly appeared at the banquet hall, honestly, it was the most surprising moment since I arrived in this world.
Sitting at the head table, she gave a mischievous smile and spoke.
“Sorry for dropping in so suddenly, but I really wanted to meet you. Hope you understand!”
“Y-Your Highness, it’s an honor.”
She looked at me with a fox-like smile.
Don’t fall for that fox smile.
For good reason—though she was a princess, she was the mastermind behind the empire’s second-largest independent power.
She was absolutely not someone to underestimate.
“Highness sounds so formal. Just call me Selenia.”
“Understood… Selenia.”
She hated formalities like etiquette as much as her free-spirited image suggested.
Having briefly played as her in my past life, I already knew this about her, so I obediently followed her request.
The princess—or rather, Selenia—stared at me steadily.
“It’s kind of amazing when I think about it. I once saw Hadem fight at the Imperial Martial Rite.”
She seemed to be recalling Hadem’s rampage at the Imperial Martial Rite.
That crazy lion must have been wild—it was probably an incredibly dynamic event.
“It’s amazing and shocking that the same mad beast fell before a seemingly ordinary lord.”
“That’s the greatness of Lord Calyx. Selenia, he’s a true hero who can hide his claws until the moment he’s sure to win. Hohoho!”
“You flatter me, Lord Zeras.”
What are they hyping me up for this time?
From my past life experience, I knew that at fancy events like this, compliments never come without strings attached.
Every time they praise me, some heavy demand or impossible favor follows—and I can’t say no.
“No, I think you’re amazing too.”
Selenia looked at me with a sly smile.
Naturally, she was incredibly beautiful.
Her smile was that of a mischievous, playful little devil—so charming that it ignored titles and made my heart race.
“I don’t have that kind of patience. So when I see someone so patient and capable, I want to have them.”
Saying that, she spoke to a woman behind her who looked like her maid, a green-haired woman wearing glasses.
“Lumiel.”
“Yes, Lady Selenia.”
The woman called Lumiel approached me and handed over some documents.
Inside were details of young ladies from noble princess factions, accompanied by portrait-like images created through divination magic.
The families included the Elsein family, Lilia family, Lumen family—names of well-known princess faction households.
Why is she suddenly handing me these matchmaking documents?
“By the way, Calyx, you’re still unmarried, right?”
“Yes... that’s right.”
“If the renowned Silver Dragon of the Kron family is single, I’ll find you a match! How about getting married this time?”
So these weren’t just some random matchmaking papers—they were ’real’ matchmaking papers!
At that moment, I realized what her scheme was.
In this world, marriage still meant a bond between families.
Strategic marriages arranged for family interests happened quite often, while love marriages were rare.
If I ended up marrying one of the noble daughters from the princess faction listed here, what would happen afterward?
Whether I liked it or not, I’d be forcibly aligned with the princess faction, which would naturally put me at odds with the prince faction.
But rejecting this offer outright wasn’t an option either.
This was a matchmaking meeting personally arranged by the princess herself.
And the candidates were from famous noble families, well-known enough that anyone would recognize their names.
Refusing here could backfire badly—turning the princess faction into enemies.
Like a chess game where I was just put in checkmate, I couldn’t hide my awkward expression.
Sensing my unease, Selenia gave me a sly smile and looked at me with amusement.
“Is there no one here you like, Calyx?”
As I kept looking over the papers to stall, she said with a pleased tone, as if she found my hesitation cute.
“What kind of women do you like? Just say it and I’ll prepare someone for you.”
Selenia spoke as if I already belonged to her.
What am I supposed to do?
Marriage was called the grave of life, one wrong move here, and I’d be buried alive!
How could I possibly get out of this!?
“I…”
My past-life IQ was 100, and Calyx’s current IQ was 100—together 200 IQ to figure this out.
Suddenly, a bright idea struck me.
This was a poisoned chalice, but the only way to escape the situation…
“I like women like you, Princess Selenia.”
The moment I said that, the banquet hall froze in silence.
Lumiel and Lord Zeras both stiffened at my words.
Even Selenia lost her smile for the first time, shocked beyond concealment.
“......”
“......”
“What...?”
The magical circle on the ceiling malfunctioned, sending a chill like an icy wind through the hall.
Zeras and Lumiel’s eyes spun wildly, clearly panicking about how to handle this.
Then Lord Zeras said—
“Lord Calyx means he prefers noblewomen of the same status as Princess Selenia. Hoho!”
“Ah… hahaha! So that’s what you meant! I was worried for nothing…”
Zeras tried to pass it off as if I was just making a polite comparison.
I had to double-check.
“No, I mean women with dark brown skin like Princess Selenia.”
The hall froze again.
Zeras’ mouth hung open, even drooling a little.
“......”
“......”
Selenia was the first to regain composure, her face flushed as she asked—
“R-Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“That’s... a unique taste. My skin tone... is probably not popular in the Empire...”
Selenia’s dark brown skin was a recessive trait from the royal bloodline—something rare and not favored in the Empire.
If she weren’t a princess, she might have faced serious discrimination.
But to me, it just looked like a seriously sexy tan.
Honestly, it was totally my style.
“Sadly, that’s why she’s still single.”
“I... see... well, I guess that makes sense.”
That was my plan.
I couldn’t outright refuse Selenia’s proposal, but I also couldn’t accept.
So I made a situation where I could turn it down graciously!
By saying I liked a unique skin tone like hers, Selenia’s own insecurity was validated, making her happy—and I got a natural reason to refuse the matchmaking.
A perfect plan.
I smiled proudly as Selenia blushed, clearly unsure how to respond.
Then she spoke up.
“Then... will you marry me?”
That caught me completely off guard.
Things just got way fucking worse.
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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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