Chapter 35

Do You Like Playing with Fire on Summer Nights? (5)

“W-We, we’re trying to put out the fire!”

Those who emerged from the bushes were residents of the nearby village. Their eyes were dark beneath, and their cheeks were hollow, but their appearance, running while panting with empty buckets in both hands, didn’t seem to be a lie.

“I apologize for bothering you all.”

“Gasp! Yo-Your Highness!”

“Do you know who I am?”

“B-Black hair and violet ey-eyes are only possessed by direct Imperial Family members… As far as we know, there is only one princess, so you must be Her Highness Legina…”

“Oh, thank you for recognizing me.”

An old man, who seemed to be the village chief, prostrated himself on the ground in a bow, and those who followed also knelt on the ground. The children, unaware of the situation, either cried out in pain at their parents’ hands pressing down on their heads or simply stared blankly at the spectacular fireworks.

“I apologize because of me, everyone. This fire, it’s my doing.”

“What?”

“I wanted to show Sir Aaron the most magnificent fireworks display in the Empire!”

An unexpected event had occurred, but this was, after all, her goal for today. A grand fireworks display intended to win the affection of her beloved, and an accidental massive fire! The people who had been granted permission to raise their heads looked at Legina, the burning castle, and the fireworks in the sky, in confused bewilderment.

“Ah!”

It was then. A small child, who had been engrossed in the fireworks in the sky, screamed in surprise at the sight of his parents’ faces. The parents, seeing their child standing without bowing or kneeling before royalty, were terrified and tried to cover his mouth, but the child blurted out his words even faster.

“Mommy’s face! The dark stuff is gone!”

“What, what?”

“Daddy’s too!”

At the child’s cry, the couple looked at each other’s faces and saw that they had regained more vitality than before. The dark circles that had stained their eyes were gone, and their sallow, unhealthy complexions had noticeably improved. It wasn’t just the couple. The faces of the villagers who had rushed to the scene were now vital and free of shadows.

“Ah, so that thing inside the castle was the cause after all.”

The village chief, who had been kneeling, his eyes sparkling at Legina’s murmur. He didn’t know the details, but he could tell that by burning this castle, the darkness that had enveloped the village had disappeared. And the one who made it possible was this very princess before him!

I was surprised when she set the castle on fire, but it’s just as the rumors said! She was an angelic person!

Though it was a village in the mountains, it had frequent exchanges with the city center of the capital, so the chief was well-versed in rumors. He had recently heard the rumor that the princess had captured an assassin who tried to kill the Emperor. Not only had she risked her life to save the Emperor, but she had also burned down an imperial castle to save their village! He had reported the strange occurrences in the village to the Imperial Family and requested an investigation, but he hadn’t expected the Imperial Family to act immediately on something happening in the outskirts, not the center. He had half given up, thinking it would be good enough if they just remembered it, but somehow, the princess knew their situation and personally investigated and solved the problem. The chief felt his eyes well up and rubbed them with his calloused hands. He couldn’t show tears in front of an angelic princess, could he?

She’s hated by His Majesty, so it must not have been easy for her to act… And it must have been difficult to get His Majesty’s permission to burn down a castle, so she clearly fabricated an absurd excuse to act!

The chief felt deep gratitude but also worry for Legina. If she returned like this, she would surely be severely reprimanded by the Emperor… And those who didn’t know the situation would surely condemn the princess’s actions.

I can’t let that happen! I will absolutely not forgive anyone who dares to spread strange rumors about our angelic princess!

By now, the soldiers guarding the outskirts of the capital would have seen this fire and would be rushing here, panting. The chief resolved to win them over first and suppress any rumors about Legina.

“It’s burning really well.”

And Legina, unaware of the chief’s inner thoughts, smiled, taking in her achievement. The beautiful fireworks soaring into the black night sky and the fire illuminating the surroundings like daylight were so enchanting that she couldn’t help but laugh.

“By tomorrow morning, the rumor that I burned down a castle will have spread far and wide, won’t it?”

“Yes.”

“And since everyone witnessed me being with you all day, many people will connect this fire to that, too, right?”

“Yes.”

“And these villagers here, and the soldiers rushing over, will spread the rumor everywhere that I burned down the castle by mistake while trying to impress you.”

Aaron did not answer. It was because he had just confirmed that the eyes of the chief and the villagers were overflowing with affection and respect for Legina. Lying was not his preference, and if he told the truth, Legina, who was so full of hope, would be disappointed, so Aaron kept silent. Well, even if he didn’t tell her the truth directly, she would realize the situation when she heard the rumors later. Until then, it wasn’t bad for her to smile with such sparkling eyes.

“Will you watch until the end?”

“Yes. I probably won’t be able to leave for a while once I go in this time. I need to confirm that everything has burned completely.”

“Then perhaps you should change your clothes first…”

“I think it’s too late for that.”

Many people had already witnessed her wearing trousers. However, Legina smiled, looking down at the two puppies asleep in her arms, as if she didn’t care.

“Besides, you’re here, aren’t you? No one will remember if I was wearing trousers or a dress, will they?”

“Indeed, the flames are fierce, so the surroundings are quite bright.”

“Look there, my lord. That little child is completely captivated.”

“If they raise their standards so high in childhood, it will be difficult for them when they grow up. I’m concerned.”

It was a talent that he wasn’t detestable even when saying such unpleasant things. Indeed, with that face, he would surely look beautiful even if he cursed. Legina shook her head and began to walk towards the soldiers who were attempting to extinguish the fire. Since the complete incineration of this castle was her goal, she had to prevent aggressive fire suppression.

“I’ll have to tell them to only stop the embers from spreading into the forest.”

As Legina murmured this, long shadows, stretching along the castle flames, swayed behind her as if dancing.

The Ducal House of Slyveig’s Study.

The atmosphere between Annetta, seated at the desk, and Hermann, standing opposite her, was unsettling.

“Could you repeat that, Lord Hermann?”

“Diran Castle burned down.”

“Why?”

“The Imperial Princess supposedly accidentally started a fire while trying to have fireworks.”

“What…!”

“The castle was completely incinerated; even ‘that place’ in the basement was reduced to ash.”

“And the ‘nightmare’?!”

“I apologize.”

Annetta, who had rarely raised her voice, gritted her teeth and slammed the desk. It was the moment when, after long preparation, she only needed to unleash the ‘nightmare.’ And to think, she had even captured that ferocious beast alive for this day!

“Can you prepare the black wolf-dog again?”

“I might be able to obtain one if I try, but it will be impossible to bring it to you by the time you desire.”

Failure. Those two words appeared in Annetta’s mind. She had wanted to spread the ‘nightmare’ throughout the capital and give that man’s descendants a true nightmare, but now it was an unattainable dream.

“If only I had known the name properly…”

Annetta gnawed at her fingernails, muttering. If she could just find out that damned imperial family’s middle name, her revenge would have succeeded so easily, but thanks to the blessing bestowed by that damned god, it was almost impossible.

“There are no traces of us left, are there?”

“The one in charge of security there is our person, so you don’t need to worry.”

No one could possibly find traces, as the fire, however it started, had cleanly burned down even the hidden space in the basement, leaving only ash. However, he had already given the order to dispose of any traces found on the spot, just in case. Annetta sighed deeply at Hermann’s reply, then sank into the study chair and began to stroke her shimmering silver hair.

“How are the Duke’s preparations coming along?”

“His resistance is strong, but he will soon be in a state where he can provide the answers you desire.”

“And the Duchess?”

“Impossible.”

“That’s problematic. You said you’ve interacted with the Duchess of Vestein since childhood, didn’t you? She might have been consuming Danilan flowers for a long time.”

Annetta, who had been lost in thought for a moment, rose from her seat again and pulled back the study curtains. It was the height of summer, with lush greenery everywhere.

“If push comes to shove, the Duchess might have to be abandoned.”

“That…”

“I know. I will postpone making that decision, out of consideration for Lord Hermann.”

“Thank you.”

Annetta had most of the Slyveig Ducal House’s people under her control. Her plans wouldn’t be derailed simply by failing to gain one Duchess. The real problem, rather, was the Imperial Princess, who was acting in unexpected ways.

“Does the Imperial Princess still refuse to meet Lord Hermann?”

“She seems very determined. Thanks to that, the Emperor also seems to be wavering.”

“That’s problematic. There’s still much to gain from the Imperial Princess as your fiancée…”

Even if it was just in name, being the Imperial Princess’s fiancée brought many benefits simply by existing. Annetta, who had freely acquired hard-to-obtain materials through that status, couldn’t easily give up that name.

“If you cannot win the Imperial Princess’s heart, then win the Emperor’s heart. The Emperor values the balance between Vestein and Slyveig. He won’t be able to decide on an annulment so easily.”

“I will do as you say.”

“By the way, the Imperial Princess is troublesome. I need to take action as soon as possible.”

“I will handle it.”

“Yes, I look forward to it.”

Annetta, opening the study window and plucking a branch that extended towards the window, was smiling chillingly.

– Mochinuna.