TPSR 25

Chapter 25

‘If I get the Holy Sword first, this time the Emperor won’t take my eyes away.’

Suddenly, memories from before my regression came to mind.

I remembered that Damian had lost only one eye as the price for obtaining the Holy Sword, which had enraged the Emperor greatly. He had claimed Damian should have been crippled or blinded entirely, turning the imperial palace upside down and creating a tense atmosphere for a long time.

When the Emperor finally exiled him from the continent, he took Damian’s remaining eye as well.

In truth, I still didn’t understand why Damian—the continent’s only Swordmaster—had been captured so easily by the imperial forces and exiled without a fight.

If he had truly opposed the royal family until the very end… Even if he hadn’t won, all members of the royal family would have been annihilated.

It was truly strange.

Damian, who had acted as if he would tear me apart at the slightest sight of me, had been oddly quiet when I last visited him in the underground prison.

He didn’t curse me, nor did he show any resentment.

He seemed like someone who had lost everything.

“Your Highness, how amusing. Say something, won’t you? You, the princess I despised as a worthless worm—how does it feel to have your family ended by my hand?”

“…Lorea.”

“Oh? Now that exile is imminent, you don’t even bother with honorifics?”

“…….”

“Well, I suppose such insolence can be forgiven in the magnanimity of the victor.”

After that, I never knew what became of him.

Whether he lived or died.

If he lived, where had he gone?

At that time, it didn’t matter much to me. My sole purpose was to gain the Emperor’s trust and prove my usefulness as his most valued child.

“…….”

I clenched my teeth.

At that time, I was truly cruel.

How could I have said such things?

To someone who had lost everything.

A family, a father, even his eyes—gone.

‘This time, I will never let that happen.’

I owed too many debts to these people.

Even repaying them one by one seemed nearly impossible.

Obtaining the Holy Sword of Pracatia would be only a tiny step toward that goal.

“Hmph… going after the Holy Sword first, huh? You haven’t met him yet, I take it.”

Hella’s muttered voice brought me back to the present.

“What did you just say?”

“Nothing, nothing. Why do you look so serious?”

“Is there anyone foolish enough to risk their life just to come here out of curiosity?”

“Oh my, how this one talks. Isn’t it cute?”

“To me, it’s a serious matter.”

“Well… everyone has secrets they can’t share with others, after all.”

Hella didn’t press further.

In truth, she didn’t even seem particularly curious.

She had been scanning me with that faintly intrigued expression from before, but I had no clue what she was thinking.

She shrugged her shoulders.

“You may leave now. The sword will soon be delivered to wherever the little guest is.”

“Delivered? Was the trading hall always this considerate?”

“Normally, one would have to return to collect the item, but since the little guest impressed me, consider this a service.”

“You’re probably going to block the entrance next time so I can’t just waltz in, right?”

“Ahaha, that’s true too.”

Hella waved her long, pale fingers and laughed sweetly.

As expected. Shortcuts only work once.

“I’ll be leaving this city soon. Can you find out where I am? I’d like to receive the sword secretly if possible.”

“Don’t worry about that. It’s easy for me.”

Her pale, moonlike eyes narrowed into a cold smile.

“I know everything. I’ve known for a very long time.”

…Chilling.

Of course. She was the woman called the ‘Mother of Vagabonds.’ Would finding me really be a problem?

This woman had lived for centuries. She could no longer even be called human.

I quietly averted my gaze and hopped down from the sofa.

Just as I dusted myself off and gave a small bow to leave, a lazy laugh echoed from behind.

“See you again, Your Highness.”

My body froze instantly.

‘She knew.’

I turned stiffly, like someone struck in the heart, and saw Hella waving at me with that familiar, relaxed expression.

“Uh… goodbye.”

Bang.

The door closed.

In the Moonlight Trading Hall room, Lorea had disappeared.

Hella stretched her long legs and sat sideways in the chair, tapping her fingers lightly on the armrest.

“Hmm.”

She recalled the bold expression Lorea had worn while demanding the Holy Sword and giggled as if it amused her.

“Somehow, our princess seems to be getting bolder and bolder.”

A princess with brown hair.

And a face that looked barely ten years old at most.

Hella’s expression carried a subtle emotion as she fell into thought.

“I hope it’s less tiring this time.”

She slowly rose from her seat.

The Holy Sword, huh.

I’ll gladly find it for her.

When I returned to the inn, everything was quiet.

The darkness was deeper, and the moon hung high in the night sky.

A pocket watch showed it had been about three hours.

Since nothing seemed to be amiss, Damian still apparently didn’t know I had left the room.

‘Good. If I just quietly go upstairs, it’ll be a perfect crime.’

I gently opened the inn door and tried to cross the darkened first-floor hall to the upper level.

Creak.

Startled.

The old wooden stairs groaned loudly, echoing through the inn.

I froze in place like a statue.

‘Why is it that noises sound so loud only at times like this?’

Could stairs really make such a sound?

I had only ever stepped on grand marble stairs covered with carpets, or the stone steps leading down to the underground prison. I had never realized how unsettling wooden steps could sound when they warped.

“What?”

At that moment.

A voice came from upstairs.

“…Your Highness?”

Damian stood at the top of the stairs, holding a sword, his messy hair unkempt.

Could he have appeared instantly just because he heard a sound?

The private room was supposed to be at the very top—how did he get there so quickly?

Damian, scanning me with displeasure, half-sheathed his sword.

“What is this… a mouse?”

Carlos had called me a mouse too. Damian said the same thing.

“Your Highness, why are you out and about wearing that suspicious robe at this hour?”

He strode down and yanked the hood off my head.

His sharp green eyes flashed dangerously close.

So close.

“When you recite your protection prayers, you do it properly, yet here you are wandering alone at this late hour?”

His gaze sharpened, more suspicion than concern.

‘…Hmm.’

Should I be relieved that I was caught on the way back? Or disappointed that my perfect crime failed?

I rolled my eyes and murmured, answering hastily:

“…I was hungry.”

“Excuse me? Speak properly.”

“I said I was hungry.”

…Growl.

Just as if to support my excuse, my stomach let out a loud rumble.

Silence fell.

Come to think of it, since leaving at 5 a.m., I hadn’t eaten anything. I had been too busy to think about food, and staying awake past midnight when I normally slept made hunger inevitable.

With my stomach’s help, I straightened my back and puffed out my chest, addressing him confidently:

“I just went to see if there was anything to eat. Why, am I not allowed to be hungry, Your Highness?”

“No, it’s just…”

“Being hungry is part of being properly guarded… hmm.”

“Alright, enough. Quiet.”

Damian sighed deeply as he looked up at the quiet inn’s upper floor.

He seemed worried about waking the other guests.

“…Follow me for now.”

Damian turned and led the way.