Episode 34: The Mob Prince Rescues Princess Olivia
[Princess Olivia’s Perspective]
One month prior──
“Olivia, the alliance with the Celestia Empire is crucial for our nation’s future. Do you understand?”
My father, the King of Macedonia, summoned me and declared this with a pained expression.
“Yes, Father. I must go to the Empire and become engaged to one of the princes, correct?”
“…I am glad to have such an intelligent daughter. In truth, Emperor Alvaise has proposed an engagement between you and the Third Prince, Astoria. I know this is a hardship for you, but I ask you to bear it.”
“Please wait, Your Majesty! I have heard that Prince Astoria is a violent man who has even executed those who displease him! To marry such a man would be too cruel for the Princess!”
My tutor vehemently protested.
“I understand. However, the Empire will eventually win the war against Gallia and Thrace. After all, the Imperial Army’s new magic, 【Thanatos】, is far too powerful… Therefore, we must join hands with the Empire and curry favor before they seize hegemony. Now is the best time to do so.”
“I understand, Father. I shall fulfill this duty admirably.”
“Princess Olivia, how could you!? Ugh…!”
My tutor bit his lip ruefully.
However, with so many soldiers risking their lives to protect our kingdom, I, as a princess, cannot live in peace.
For the sake of the kingdom’s future, I must do everything I can…
Soon after, I traveled to the Empire to proceed with the engagement with Prince Astoria.
I had heard rumors of Prince Astoria’s bad behavior… but he himself was even more violent than I had imagined.
When a bird defecated on him, he flew into a rage and unleashed his 【Unique Magic】 as if to retaliate.
One who possesses great power must also possess the judgment and self-control to wield it correctly.
That was my father’s teaching, but Prince Astoria possessed no such noblesse oblige.
“Are you injured, Princess Olivia!?”
However, Lord Luke was different.
When the tower collapsed due to the magic released by Prince Astoria, Lord Luke saved me just in the nick of time.
Moreover, he even helped Prince Astoria, who was vying for the throne…
“Ah, thank you very much, Lord Luke!”
He was a man of noble spirit, the complete opposite of his title as a prince with the blood of an evil Mazoku.
Moreover, from his superhuman movements when he rescued me, it was clear that he was not as incompetent as the rumors suggested.
At that moment, I was strongly drawn to Lord Luke.
I heard that it was Lord Luke who brought about the new magic 【Thanatos】 that my father feared.
【Thanatos】 was a humane and innovative magic that could end wars early without taking the lives of soldiers.
Despite making such a contribution to the Empire, Lord Luke, being a child born out of wedlock, was not recognized as an official prince.
Even if I chose Lord Luke as my fiancé, it would not be enough to serve as the foundation for an alliance between Macedonia and the Empire.
I was not allowed to wish for that…
But I desperately wanted to see Lord Luke again, so I took the plunge and invited him to the evening party.
All I wanted was one night of dreams, to dance with Lord Luke.
However, Prince Astoria, who had become obsessed with me, almost caused a confrontation with Lord Luke.
At that time, Lord Luke tried to protect me throughout.
He stood up to Prince Astoria, who was far stronger than himself.
That night, the dance I shared with Lord Luke became an unforgettable memory.
After that, I learned that the Emperor had promised Lord Luke that if he achieved something great next, he would be recognized as an official prince and granted the right to succeed to the throne.
If that’s the case, if I were to become engaged to Lord Luke and an alliance between the Empire and Macedonia were established, that would be Lord Luke’s achievement, and he would be recognized as an official prince, wouldn’t he?
If that were the case, my father would surely allow me to become engaged to Lord Luke.
With that in mind, I took the plunge and called Lord Luke out to the Rose Garden late at night to confess my feelings.
This man is completely different from any other man I have ever met.
I was convinced that he would surely be hailed as a hero in later generations.
Lord Luke accepted my feelings, and I felt like I was in heaven.
However, after that, I was about to be violated by Prince Astoria, who had turned into a demon of jealousy, when I was attacked by a Dark Elf and taken prisoner.
I was overwhelmed with despair and trembled with fear.
But then, Lord Luke came to my rescue.
“Of course, Olivia. I came here to rescue you safely from here.”
“So, please sleep peacefully and wait for me, okay? I’ll make sure you get back to your father safely.”
Lord Luke said this with a confident attitude.
He was like a hero who had stepped out of a fairy tale. My heart was filled with emotion.
“Y-Yes!”
Surely, he pretended to defect to the Dark Elves in order to come and save me.
As Lord Luke told me, I got plenty of sleep and food to prepare.
I hadn’t had any appetite at all until now, but when I knew that the person I loved was coming to save me, I started to eat.
The next day──
Loud screams and noises echoed one after another.
I wondered what was going on and held my breath…
“【Dispel Sword】!”
Lord Luke, wielding a blade of darkness, severed the iron bars of my prison.
“Olivia, I’ve come to rescue you as promised!”
“Lord Luke!?”
This place was supposed to be heavily guarded, so how did he get in? Did he defeat all the guards?
“No! If you touch me, a Spell Trap will activate…!”
I was about to grab Lord Luke’s outstretched hand, but I recoiled in a hurry.
I had been warned by Vincent that the moment someone touched me, an explosion would occur. I cannot risk Lord Luke’s life with my rash actions.
“It’s okay. I’ve shown you before, haven’t I? This is a Dispel Sword that nullifies magic.”
“Eh!?”
He had used it on Diana-sama before, but isn’t this a weapon that is almost invincible against magicians?
When Lord Luke swung the Dispel Sword, the countless Spell Traps that bound me shattered and disappeared.
Moreover, the Dispel Sword that Lord Luke possessed was breathtakingly beautiful.
Magic contains the feelings of the one who uses it.
Magic is a mirror that reflects the heart.
The wish contained in Lord Luke’s Dispel Sword must be purer than anyone else’s.
Ah, I felt that this person was completely different from others.
“Now, let’s escape. I’ve destroyed all the Spell Traps set in this prison!”
“Y-Yes, with pleasure!”
I took the hand that Lord Luke offered.
My heart was pounding with more excitement than ever before.
“Wait! You… not only betrayed us, but also so many of our comrades!”
Then, a group of murderous Dark Elves rushed in.
Looking around, several Dark Elves were lying on the corridor.
“I haven’t killed a single Dark Elf? I just put them to sleep with the 【Hypnos’s Demon Sword】.”
Saying that, Lord Luke summoned another bluish Demon Sword.
“You guys are Luna-kaasan’s comrades, after all. I’ll spare you for Kaasan’s sake.”
On this day, I witnessed Lord Luke’s true power.
It was truly an overwhelming power, worthy of a hero from mythology.