Chapter 31
"It’s not that impressive... Your Highness still has room to improve?"
"Please do call me *Livra* directly!"
"Ah, fine, fine... I told you, don’t suddenly lean in so close!"
Unbeknownst to them, every time Livra excitedly leaned toward Sheffy, it was actually Xiarette who gripped the fruit pulp glass bottle tighter.
This glass bottle had already withstood far too much pressure and was on the verge of shattering at any moment.
Phew\... Fortunately, the earlier conversation had passed without incident. Sheffy had managed to complete the information and background for the identity of "Shaya" quite by chance.
There was no need to worry even if the princess became curious and went to the "Royal Capital Cormier Magic Academy" to investigate the records of graduates. Xiarette only needed to leverage a bit of the Wright Family’s power, and she could easily have the identity of "Shaya" properly recorded in the academy’s files.
Xiarette was already planning to provide full support to safeguard Sheffy’s human identity.
At this moment, however, Livra had completely withdrawn into herself.
She traced circles on the wooden table with her finger, her gaze appearing utterly hollow as she muttered to herself.
"Ha... everyone is so amazing... unlike me... I’ve studied hard and diligently practiced martial arts since I was young, yet I’m still only at the third tier... Miss Shaya is two years younger than me and already at the sixth tier... life is so hard, doing good and punishing evil is so hard."
Naturally, Sheffy couldn’t be bothered to deal with someone sulking, but Xiarette had to offer at least some token comfort.
"Ahaha... Your Highness doesn’t need to be too anxious. In fact, you’re already far stronger than most of your peers. Among those in our kingdom who’ve just reached adulthood, anyone at even the second tier would be considered outstanding."
"Ugh... but come to think of it, Lady Xiarette is only one year older than me, also my peer, and is already at the ninth tier... no! This year she reached the tenth tier! How terrifying!"
"......"
Indeed, perhaps I’m not the right person to be comforting you, huh?
Well, nothing to be done—if you compare yourself to those above, of course it won’t work. Your Highness would do better to stay grounded\~
In truth, Livra’s gloomy moment lasted barely a dozen seconds.
Once that time passed, the optimistic princess was back in high spirits.
Her ink-black hair flowed smoothly over her shoulders like a gentle stream as she stood and raised her small fists to cheer herself on!
"I need to do my best too, and learn from Miss Shaya! Heehee, actually, I feel like I’m really close to breaking through to the fourth tier soon. Ah... it’s just a pity that I once had a dream, and before I could reach it, Lady Xiarette had already accomplished it for me."
"A dream...?"
"Yes! My greatest dream used to be that, no matter if it took years or even decades, I would strive and strive... to become so strong, so very strong, that I could defeat the legendary Six-Winged Demon, Sheffy! Now *that* would be a true hero!"
"!"
Livra waved her small fists, which could already generate a slight wind pressure.
Miss Shaya simply listened to the whooshing of those fists while sipping the last of the fruit pulp from her glass bottle. She pulled over the menu, planning to order another drink, and cheerfully echoed along.
"Exactly, exactly, beat that wicked Sheffy, she deserves a beating!"
"Miss Shaya’s ambitions are quite lofty too!"
"Of course!"
But who would have thought...
At this topic.
The look Xiarette gave Livra suddenly became very determined.
"Your Highness... forgive my bluntness, but the task of defeating the Demon Clan Princess is mine to accomplish. It *must* be done by me."
"Ah... I... I know, Lady Xiarette, I only meant to say..."
"It *must* be done by me."
"Eek!"
Lady Xiarette’s gaze suddenly became so frightening!
Livra shrank back into her seat, clutching her fruit pulp drink with a wronged expression, not knowing which part of what she had said had upset her again.
But speaking of Sheffy Harl...
Livra suddenly remembered something.
She raised an index finger, as though about to share some juicy gossip, and confided her concern to the Hero.
"I’m not sure if I should say this... actually, Father seems to have been very troubled lately, and it appears to be related to that Sheffy."
"Explain in detail."
Xiarette immediately became fully alert.
**31. Small Problem!**
The affairs within the royal family certainly could not be spoken of lightly.
But then again, Lady Xiarette, as the *Sword of the Nation*, ought not to be kept in the dark about many matters of royal authority.
Not to mention, Livra felt that this matter...
Would very likely require the Hero herself to step in to resolve.
Livra’s intuition told her that both Lady Xiarette and Miss Shaya were trustworthy.
"It’s that troublesome Prime Minister who’s been making Father so worried lately... he has gone to the palace again and again to advise Father."
"Firex?"
Hearing that name, Xiarette instinctively frowned in displeasure.
That so-called Prime Minister of the kingdom was nothing more than a puppet caught between the power struggles of the Holy Theocracy of Coreia and the kingdom itself. Anything involving him was bound to be no good.
Sure enough, Livra’s next words confirmed Xiarette’s suspicions.
"Yes, it’s that Firex. Before, I didn’t know what exactly he had been saying to Father to make him sigh and look so troubled all the time. Until yesterday, when I secretly slipped into the palace’s council hall and overheard them—Firex was advising Father about Sheffy Harl."
You even managed to sneak into the council hall of the royal palace?!
That was not exactly a proper thing to say aloud, but sometimes Xiarette truly thought that Her Highness was like a curious little hamster, always bouncing about and eager to explore the world.
Sheffy had just ordered a new drink.
The tall, triple-layered snow-topped creation was a mark of respect for Livra’s generous treat.
Right now, Xiarette had no interest in drinking anymore. She nodded to signal for Princess Livra to continue speaking.
At this point, Livra lowered her voice and quietly conveyed what she had overheard to Xiarette.
"I heard... that Firex, representing the Holy Theocracy, proposed that the kingdom should hand over Sheffy Harl to the Theocracy for imprisonment, instead of leaving her in Lady Xiarette’s custody."
"The reason...?"
The cold glint in Xiarette’s gaze did not make Livra uncomfortable.
On matters of national importance, as a princess, it was her duty to stand firm.
"Their reasoning is that the Theocracy’s foundation is stronger than the kingdom’s, and having them imprison the Demon Clan Princess would be safer. I remember Firex said this: ‘Between the two Human nations, there are a total of five tenth-tier powerhouses. The Theocracy holds three of those seats, while the kingdom holds only two. The Pope has already informed the three tenth-tier powerhouses in the Theocracy, and they will jointly construct a Demon-Sealing Grand Array. If this formation succeeds, it would be far more secure than leaving the task to the Hero alone.’"
"His Majesty will never agree to this," Xiarette asserted without hesitation.
"Yes, Father has refused all along, because wherever the Demon Clan Princess is held, that nation will be spared attacks from the Demon Clan. Now the Theocracy even covets the brief peace our kingdom bought with soldiers’ blood... Naturally, Father won’t agree. But..."
"Firex made threats again, didn’t he?"
"Yes..." Livra’s emerald eyes reflected her distress for her father’s situation. "The Theocracy’s stance is that if we do not hand over the Demon Clan Princess, we are disregarding the safety of the Human race as a whole. They will resort to violence if necessary to achieve their goal. Father... he is utterly exhausted and finds it hard to decide."
"Exploiting a crisis... Hah, such is the Theocracy’s nature."
While the princess and the Hero discussed matters of state, Miss Shaya was sitting nearby, listening in\~
Honestly, Sheffy found the Holy Theocracy of Coreia’s actions rather contemptible.
The kingdom had exhausted its resources, suffered greatly, and barely managed to obtain a "ceasefire card" with the Demon Clan.
And now the Holy Theocracy suddenly jumped out saying: Hand over the "ceasefire card", or even if the Demon Clan doesn’t attack you, *we* will!
Hah... kicking someone when they’re down?
This Theocracy really knew how to seize every advantage.
Sheffy tipped her head back and finished her snow-topped drink in one gulp. She then hopped down from her chair, her petite figure stretching lazily like a little kitten.
In contrast to the heavy atmosphere, she cheerfully waved at the still-worried Xiarette.
"Xiarette-sis, let’s go home?"
"Sis...!"
The cloud of worry—instantly vanished without a trace, all because of a single soft and heart-melting word!
Livra also stood up, her eyes widening in surprise as she caught the key point in their exchange.
"Eh? Home? Is Miss Shaya living with Lady Xiarette now?!"
"Yes." Miss Shaya was very honest. "I don’t have any money, so I can only rely on others for shelter. Besides, Xiarette-sis’s house is big enough for me to stay in. Hmph, to tell the truth, I also contributed to sealing that big bad Sheffy!"
This wasn’t a lie. Without *me*, Sheffy herself, how could they have sealed Sheffy?
So if credit was to be given, I *must* be the first to receive it!
"Ahh... how enviable! A sixth-tier magic user living with a tenth-tier warrior! Wouldn’t that be perfect for learning from each other and growing stronger together! And to think you also joined forces to seal the strongest witch in the world... so impressive!"
"......"
Xiarette chose not to comment on Her Highness’s remark.
If you think the benefit of living with Sheffy is merely to grow stronger...
Then I can only say your perspective is far too narrow and no cause for concern.
"May I occasionally visit you both to study magic?"
""No.""
"Such a blow\...!"
The synchronized refusal was a heavy blow to Livra, who had just become friends with Miss Shaya!
Out of courtesy, Xiarette added,
"After all, my home’s basement holds the Demon Clan Princess under seal. Unless there is a special reason, Your Highness, it would be better not to approach."
"Mm... that’s true. I should focus on improving myself first."
Livra understood. Everything should be taken step by step; one could not rush to become stronger.
She watched as Miss Shaya stood at the shop’s counter, on tiptoe, cheerfully asking the shopkeeper to pack several more drinks to take away...
The naïve little princess unconsciously flicked out her small tongue to lick her cherry-pink lips.
But, Miss Shaya...
I won’t let you slip away, you know?
—Those wondrous spells of yours, if I get the chance, I *will* ask to see them again!
....................................
Sheffy carried the heavy bag of drinks in both hands, swinging her arms high on the way home, her mood quite jubilant!
It wasn’t often that a princess treated her—if she didn’t take a few extra drinks to enjoy at home, how could that show the proper enthusiasm of one being treated?
It was now dusk.
As they walked toward the carriage on foot, the edge of the small town in the late afternoon looked as peaceful and picturesque as a painting.
"Heehee, Xiarette, you know what? We struck it rich today!"
"Struck it rich...? Oh, I see, I see, you’re talking about the hundred gold coins you took from that noblewoman, right?"
"And a silver coin too! And that’s not all—look at these in my hands, so heavy, what a haul!"
"Mhm, mhm. His Majesty dotes on the Third Princess the most, so of course she has plenty of pocket money. Drinking a few of her drinks isn’t overstepping."
"Aooh! Xiarette, you’re really getting the hang of it now!"
On either side of the cobblestone road, the wheat fields stretched out, their shadows lengthened by the slanting rays of the sun, drawing out the silhouettes of the two stunning young women.
Xiarette gazed fondly at Sheffy’s profile as she hummed a cheerful tune about her good fortune.
Though Xiarette was happy too...