Episode 85: The Kindhearted Thigh Princess
Luna was far more beautiful than I had imagined.
Through our correspondence, I knew her personality and education were impeccable.
I was just thinking, “If only she were beautiful, she’d be perfect,” and then she turned out to be a beauty (this one).
“I am Radnock de Ortenos.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Lord Radnock. Today, let us both strive to ensure that Ortenos, Hoshiros, and Naia can take a better step forward.”
“That is a splendid proposal. May fortune favor our future.”
My father skillfully hides his emotions behind a noble facade.
He is likely still trying to gauge whether she is someone he can trust.
Luna finishes her greeting with my father and turns to face me.
Well, she’s coming this way next.
“Nice to meet you, from Ortenos. Um, I’m Luna…”
Luna’s demeanor is completely different from when she spoke to my father, as she addresses me with a bashful look.
It’s as if she’s a classmate coming to talk to someone she’s interested in.
“I am Sharka. I am rendered speechless before such a beautiful princess of Naia. I might as well have been bewitched by a golden fox spirit.”
When praising noble ladies, it is common to compare them to cute things.
Like colorful birds or butterflies.
Incidentally, Naia has a golden-haired fox depicted on their family crest, so I’m referencing that this time.
Luna’s face lights up when she hears my name.
“Oh, how eloquent. Lord Sharka is just as dashing as I imagined from your letters. I have been looking forward to meeting you.”
Excitement and joy.
Even though she’s probably wearing a chastity belt, I can tell that Luna is directing favorable feelings towards me.
“Naia and Ortenos are currently at odds, but if we can achieve friendship, I hope to have a good relationship with Lord Sharka as a private individual, not just in an official capacity…”
Luna says, her cheeks flushed.
Could this be… a sign of romantic interest?
When did I manage to earn so much of Luna’s affection?
As I’m pondering this question, our conversation is forcibly interrupted by a third party.
“So, you’ve arrived, Radnock. Hmm, is Ulgool not here? Surely, you haven’t come to take those puppies for a walk, have you?”
A large man directs provocative words at my father in a gruff voice.
Marquis Hoshiros, Galtano.
With the appearance of a battle-hardened warrior with a scar on his face, his attire is clearly war regalia, despite being at a Ceasefire Talks.
“Which one of you had the rug pulled out from under your feet by that puppy, Galtano?”
“You dare say that? Which puppy snatched Bangwall from us?”
Galtano compares me and Roa, then focuses on me.
“You’re Sharka, aren’t you?”
“That’s right.”
I meet Galtano’s gaze head-on.
“You have a bloodthirsty face. You smell the same as Ulgool.”
Galtano glares at me with a resentful expression, giving me a strange evaluation.
(Who’s the bloodthirsty wolf here?)
I retort to Galtano in my mind.
How can he say such a thing to a pacifist like me?
“Lord Galtano, please refrain from disrupting this meeting. We haven’t even sat down at the Ceasefire Talks table yet. Please refrain from provocative language.”
“Ceasefire is ridiculous. Why should we agree to it? Have you forgotten how much blood has been spilled, Lady Luna? We will never forget our hatred for Ortenos.”
Galtano refuses to heed Luna’s protest.
I knew Hoshiros wouldn’t agree so easily.
It’s as expected, but it’s not a favorable development for me.
At this rate, I’ll end up breaking the flag I just raised with the lovely princess.
“No, we mustn’t. If we expand the war any further, it will lead to an unfortunate end for both sides. Please, put down your spears here.”
“Lady Luna speaks the truth, Galtano. The loser should gracefully agree to a ceasefire, as stipulated in the Atra Carta for nobles. Are you denying that?”
My father agrees with Luna’s words, which convey a strong will.
This should have imprinted on Galtano’s mind that my father supports the ceasefire.
“I cannot bear to listen to the words of a toothless noble. From the start, Naia, who has prolonged this war for sixty years, has no choice but to retreat now. Lady Luna is so desperate because of her selfish desire to become queen. Just like Ortenos, who she can’t stand up to in the west, her ugly intentions are transparent.”
“I, I am not like that…”
At this rate, the discussion won’t progress at all.
Just as I’m thinking this, my father signals to me.
(Well, I guess it’s come to this.)
I didn’t want Luna, my pen pal, to see this, but there’s no helping it.
Reluctantly, I decide to put on an act.
“Haa… That’s why I told you, Father.”
I let out a large sigh as if I’m fed up, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Hoshiros will never agree to a ceasefire. We should just destroy them instead, it would be quicker.”
“Lord Sharka? What on earth are you saying…”
Luna looks at me, her eyes wide with confusion.
This should convey that my father and I have conflicting ideas.
“Lord Galtano, you’re right. Ortenos hasn’t forgotten our hatred for Hoshiros either. Father may allow you to survive, but I do not.”
“…Ho.”
Galtano lets out a voice as if he’s impressed.
It’s probably an appeal of余裕, but he can’t hide his wariness.
“If Hoshiros is willing, we are ready to respond immediately. If you are prepared, draw your sword.”
With that, I take out my pipe Star Tool.
It would be best not to use it, but if Galtano is serious about fighting, we will plunge into a full-scale war with Hoshiros.
“Lord Sharka, no!”
Luna’s sorrowful cry echoes.
The atmosphere is explosive.
Galtano reaches for the sword at his waist… and stops.
“Gah ha ha ha…! Is that Lord Sharka’s true nature? I still can’t tell if you’re a genius or a fool. But that courage is too good to be kept as a guardian.”
Galtano laughs heartily.
Seeing that, I, who was supposed to be shaking him up, am sweating bullets.
I’ve caught a glimpse of the magnitude of the head of the Marquis family.
“What will you do then? Lord Galtano?”
I continue, desperately hiding my inner turmoil.
My father told me to play the role of an anti-ceasefire advocate to make Hoshiros suspicious.
My existence is like a so-called black box, and from Hoshiros’s point of view, I appear as an eerie presence whose actions are unpredictable.
My father cleverly exploited that psychological gap.
“…Very well. I’ll humor you and sit at the Ceasefire Talks table, considering your resolve.”
Galtano finally relents.
I inwardly breathe a sigh of relief.
(Phew, that’s good. Now we can finally move forward.)
What just happened was close to the “good cop, bad cop” theory.
By having me, an incomprehensible heel, my father’s claims gain validity.
(It was quite a dangerous gamble, but I managed to fulfill my role somehow.)
If this place had become a battlefield, it would have endangered the lives of my father and Roa.
I’m not yet confident that I can suppress up to four Stella-Class opponents without casualties.
The problem is that there’s one person whose favorability towards me has plummeted.
“Lord Sharka… It’s a lie, isn’t it?”
Luna looks at me with eyes that have lost their light.
As if she’s been betrayed by someone she trusted.
(My heart hurts.)
What kind of image did I project in our correspondence?
Someone who cherishes their family, loves peace above all else, and is a gentleman among gentlemen, Lord Sharka?
It seems I’ve shattered the pure image of Sharka that Luna had.
“Lady Luna, we didn’t come here for friendship. We’re only here because a ceasefire is beneficial. If that disappears, we naturally won’t agree to a ceasefire. Ortenos will continue to destroy Naia as before.”
“…How terrifying.”
Being looked at with despair by a beautiful girl seems to have broken my brakes.
Perhaps being horrified by a beautiful girl is a phenomenon that becomes a habit for some reason.
However, if I say it’s a lie here, everything will become a lie.
I have no choice but to continue playing the heel.
“Hey, hey, hey! Why are you hurting Luna!”
A tall man with blond hair and blue eyes rushes towards me.
He has a resemblance to Barbat somewhere.
This is probably Luna’s brother, Nicholas.
“Do you even know what Luna is hoping for in these Ceasefire Talks?”
Of course, I know.
She’s told me a lot in her letters.
“Yes, but I’ll say it anyway. A ceasefire is meaningless.”
“How can you say such a thing?!”
Luna-ani is furious and confronts me.
This brother of hers, there’s a dangerous vibe about him.
“Luna-dono, you desire a permanent peace, correct? Unfortunately, that won’t erase the discord between Naia and Ortenos.”
“…Then, what should we do?!”
“In extreme terms, unless Naia returns the throne to Ortenos, peace will never come.”
“………Returning the throne is impossible.”
Luna said, squeezing out the words.
“Of course. I would despise you if you suggested selling the country.”
“………Was it wrong of me to wish for peace?”
Luna asks me, tears welling up in her eyes.
It may be inappropriate, but I found Luna’s struggling figure to be—beautiful.
Despite her unfortunate circumstances, her earnest and positive consideration for peace is touching.
Luna is noble, virtuous, and truly a kind-hearted thigh princess.
“Luna-dono, you are not wrong at all. It’s just that achieving peace requires a power that yields to no one.”
“……!!”
Luna lost her words and looked down.
It might be the same as indirectly saying, “You have no power.”
I feel unbearable to continue, so I entrust the pipe to Nicoletta and proceed into the venue.
In the corner of my eye, I saw the lovely princess standing there dumbfounded.
(Did I go too far?)
I might have shattered the thigh princess’s fantasy.
Honestly, I find myself drawn to her more and more each time I talk to her and she’s appalled, but I haven’t forgotten that we are enemies.
Therefore, no matter how much I like her body, her face and personality are exactly my type, and the sweet scent stimulates my nostrils as she passes by, I won’t easily let my guard down.
Still, as a human being, it was difficult to hide the feelings that were leaning towards this girl with a beautiful soul.
◇◇◇◇
“Here, we will hold onto your Star Tools.”
“I’ve already left it.”
“Understood, please come in.”
At the entrance to the venue, Naia’s Military Official was conducting body checks.
Those participating in the Ceasefire Talks are not allowed to bring in Star Tools.
Therefore, a double check is conducted by the Military Officials of Naia and Ortenos.
Roa and I enter the venue together.
Roa seems nervous, as she’s clutching the hem of my clothes.
In the venue, there is a large rectangular table with eight chairs on each side.
There is no place to hide weapons or anything.
On the opposite side of the table, a young man was sitting with his legs crossed.
“To think I’d be sitting at the same table as Ortenos, the world is coming to an end.”
“Ah, I feel exactly the same way.”
“I’m David. That exchange earlier was amusing, Ortenos.”
The next head of House Hoshiros, David de Hoshiros.
With his brown hair and rugged features, he resembles his father.
David speaks to us cheerfully.
“I’m Sharka.”
“Roa.”
“Is that your sister? She has quite a lovely face.”
David licks his lips as he looks at Roa.
Is he another one like Barbat?
I glare at David in silence.
“Just kidding, don’t get so angry. By the way, is Ulgool not coming?”
“I’ll ask you the same question, why do you care so much?”
“It’s nothing. Besides, it’s customary to match the number of Stella-Class individuals at a Ceasefire Talks like this. Does Ortenos not know common sense?”
David laughed through his nose as if to gloss over something.
From a security perspective, it is common to have the same number of Stella-Class individuals.
However, there’s no merit in revealing that we are outnumbered, so I’ll create an illusion of my grandfather.
“Grandfather is just late due to urgent business. He’ll be here soon.”
“Late to this important seat? Tch, he’s as troublesome as ever…”
Saying that, David bit his nails.
It’s still fresh in our minds that Hoshiros clashed with my grandfather at Fort Ronchant, so it’s not particularly strange that he’s concerned about my grandfather’s attendance. However…
“What’s troublesome?”
“That’s none of your business.”
David then fell silent.
(There’s definitely something going on.)
I intuitively felt that he was plotting something.
I don’t know about the two from Naia, but I should be wary of Hoshiros.
After a while, everyone took their seats.
On the Ortenos side, Getrude, Nicoletta, and Evelyn as a special addition, are also attending.
“…Now, we will begin the Ceasefire Talks between Ortenos, Hoshiros, and Naia.”
Luna, looking a little vacant, declared the opening of the Ceasefire Talks.
The little trouble before the start, my grandfather’s absence, there are various elements of unease, but I wonder what will happen.