Chapter 87 – 087. Labyrinth Expedition Organization (2)
“Do you know the purpose of the princess?”
“Since she didn’t want to be swayed by other people’s will, including being sold out in an arranged marriage, she said she wanted to grow her own power.”
“You spoke in such detail…”
Alex’s expression darkened.
It was a pity for Alex, who knew that Yuria was not the type to express her feelings to others with whom she had no connection at all.
Noticing the change in his expression, Eun-hyun frowned and asked Alex.
“You, please… ?”
“I never thought I could hide it from you anyway. I want to help the princess. That’s why I want to borrow your strength.”
“…”
When Eun-hyeon narrowed her eyes and stared at Alex without answering, an awkward silence lingered between the two.
It was Eunhyeon who broke the silence first.
“I didn’t know you would ask for such a favor out of personal feelings.”
Eun-hyeon’s first impression of Alex was that, unlike Ashton, at least, his rational and cool-headed side resembled his father, Avros.
That’s why it was even more unexpected for Eunhyeon to make such a request.
“I am very surprised to be able to make such a choice and request.”
Alex responded to Eunhyun’s words and smiled as if he was laughing himself.
“Okay. Because I have no idea what to say to your heart. I’ve heard your private reasons for wanting to include her on her expedition, then tell me her public reasons.”
[Still, doesn’t the child intend to listen to that child’s request?]
‘No matter how much you listen to that child’s true heart, how do you listen to him? I also need a legitimate noble family, so I can persuade her princess and take her with me.’
This was also a process for Eunhyeon and Alex to coordinate their opinions and match their words in order to persuade YuRia.
[Does that mean that she is pretending not to like her, but in fact it is a process to do her favor?]
‘Well, something like that.’
[Is this what that tsundere is?]
Something different, no more than that
‘Goddess, who did you hear that from?’
[Whoever said the words in the child’s memory.]
‘…’
It was a big deal.
As the boundary between Eunhyeon and Belldandy gradually faded, the secret between them was disappearing.
[What kind of sad thoughts are you thinking? Now, the child and I are not together forever. There shouldn’t be any secrets between us.]
‘This is unfair. I can’t read the thoughts of the goddess.’
[Ah, child. It is a challenge to God.]
While a goddess and an apostle were arguing in their hearts, Alex, unaware of the circumstances, opened his mouth to persuade Eun-hyun.
“Simple. As the princess grows and her status within the royal family of Pernias improves, you have the advantage that the support directed at you also improves. As long as you decide to show up in this country without hiding your identity, the support of the royal family is a merit that cannot be compared to anything else.”
“It would be better than nothing at all. In fact, in the last serial raid case, I also benefited from the personal connections of Princess Yuria and Helena Hubie. But I don’t think she will readily accept your offer, do you?”
Alex nodded his head obediently and continued.
“But if you propose, I think the princess will accept it.”
At Alex’s strangely confident tone, Eun-hyeon narrowed his eyes and looked at him.
“Because it seems like you and the princess share a secret that you haven’t told anyone.”
“…”
Recognizing that also meant that Alex was looking at Princess Yuria.
How did Alex feel when he did not rely on himself, confessed to a man he had never confided to, and watched the two share a secret from the sidelines?
“Are you sad?”
“No, the princess’s emotions are the princess’s emotions. Just because I have feelings for him, there is no law that says he has to respond to me.”
“…”
Eunhyun didn’t say anything and looked away from Alex.
It wasn’t revealed through her expression, but Eunhyun’s inner side was clearly embarrassed.
‘What is this pure macho…’
Embarrassed by her straight and pure heart, Eun-hyeon was unable to speak, and instead, the embarrassing Eun-hyeon turned her head away.
[Isn’t he a pretty innocent and upright child?]
The only one who liked Alex’s appearance was Belldandi.
“I think you are misunderstanding something. Between me and the princess, there is nothing like what you think.”
“Know. You can tell by looking at the princess that the secret between you and the princess is not such a secret. It’s just that I didn’t trust the princess more than you… It was just unfortunate.”
“… Okay. Got it!”
Scratching her head, Eun-hyeon couldn’t overcome Alex’s mood, and eventually expressed her intention to accept.
“Thanks.”
Eun-hyeon frowned at Alex’s quick-tempered reaction.
“I’m asking because I really want to know. That was just acting, wasn’t it?”
“No way. It was sincere.”
“Under…”
Eun-hyeon put on an expression that she didn’t like Alex’s idea of using even her sincerity to get Eun-hyeon to agree.
“Surprisingly. It was your way too.”
It was also Eun-hyeon’s way to create the results and situations she wanted by using everything she could.
Like the way he manipulates the situation and forces the other person’s actions to go the way he wants, Alex shows his feelings and elicits a feeling of sympathy, making Eun-hyeon obliged to do his favor.
“That’s why I’m not feeling well. You have no choice but to listen.”
In fact, he could have rejected it if he didn’t like it, but now Eun-hyeon didn’t.
At the time of the raid, after the conversation with Belldandy, Eun-hyeon had clearly changed.
‘This is all because of the goddess.’
[Huhu, aren’t you smiling while saying that? It’s so nice to be able to see the child’s change up close. It’s worthwhile to use her hand in the underworld.]
If efficiency and a smooth process are valued, it is natural to oppose the incorporation of Yuria into this expedition.
There are many reasons, but first, revealing that he has a cooperative relationship between himself and the Duke of Armitas, and that he has a connection with Princess Helena Hubei and Princess Yuria, can cause other aristocratic factions to be wary.
It hasn’t even been a month since I started revealing my identity, but I didn’t want to make the other person wary of me already.
The second is because of Erin.
The plot of the web novel called ‘Merchen Pioneering Destiny’ is still deeply embedded in Princess Yuria’s mind like a stereotype.
In her mind, the perception that the existence of ‘Erin Hersha’ was a mad killer who turned into a nine-tailed fox for unknown reasons, turned Pernin, the capital of the Fernias kingdom, into a sea of fire, and slaughtered many people.
‘While she was imprisoned, she was able to clear up the misunderstanding by telling the story of Erwin and Erin, but breaking this stereotype isn’t that simple.’
That’s why, at least at this stage, Eunhyeon wanted to avoid contact with Princess Yuria as much as possible.
If you think about it rationally, this would be the right decision, but Alex’s request kept spinning in Eun-hyeon’s head.
Eunhyun couldn’t even imagine how he would feel.
She must see that the woman she has a crush on is dependent on a man other than herself and must hide her heart.
At the same time, Eun-hyun does not know how Alex feels when she has to bend her pride and ask the man who is superior to her to ask for a woman who has a crush on her.
However, he couldn’t bend his pride and turn down Alex’s request.
“You, don’t regret it.”
“Regret?”
“You already know that the purpose of this expedition is not actually to explore ruins or treasure, right?”
“Of course.”
“As long as I am in charge, there is no princess, nobility, or anything else. That I would never treat that woman as her princess. Okay?”
“Know.”
“And you too, come along.”
“Me too?”
“So you were thinking of leaving me in charge of that woman and staying in her capital and sucking her finger? Get ready now. After all, you can use her princess escort as an excuse to participate together.”
“Right.”
Alex nodded and smiled at Eunhyun’s unexpected consideration.
“It’s just fine. I have a role for you to play.”
“Role?”
“Ah, I have one more question than that.”
“What?”
“There is a common saying. The most fun thing in the world is watching a fight and listening to other people’s love stories.”
“…”
As Eunhyeon started to rush, Alex’s expression and body stiffened.
Looking at Alex with such a clumsy appearance, Eunhyun smiled and asked.
“Since when?”
◆ ◆ ◆
The stairs to the basement were not that long.
She must have walked for about 5 minutes, relying on the sight illuminated by the magic lights installed in each section. Every time Yuria felt the vibrations in the underground facility, her body trembled slightly and moved her steps.
“What is this mana…”
The vibrations and sounds that hit her body, and the tremendous amount of magical energy she felt beyond the end of the stairs made her nervous.
Yuria swallowed her saliva, carefully opened the tightly closed door, and entered her inside.
‘Didn’t he imprison at least one witchbeast?’
It was the car that Yuria, who was frightened by the tremendous spirit she felt beyond her door, harbored an unknown sense of fear at the existence beyond her door.
“Person? Female?”
YuRia couldn’t help but look at a girl who threw away her rapier from her hand and sat down on the floor.
‘Did he release that incredible amount of magic earlier?’
In terms of magic power alone, among the people of this country, those who have the most outstanding talent are the royal family of this country.
That’s the same story for Yuria, and for her, who was born with a bloodline superior to those of her peers, she had a body that was gifted with a tremendous amount of magical power that was unmatched by her peers.
The reason why nobles and royals of other countries, including their own country, look up to the nobles and royals of Pernias and have a good relationship with them is because of the body that has a lot of mana innately from this lineage.
‘If they were similar to me, they were similar, but they were never inferior in quantity and quality. Who the hell is that?’
I looked at the girl sprawled on the floor with a nervous expression, and the girl started moving.
He started moving slowly, and then the girl opened her mouth.
“It’s hard!”
“Huh… ?”
“I’m hungry… Oh, I don’t even have the strength to shout…”
The girl’s cry, which had been screaming vigorously, gets weaker and weaker as time passes, and her strength drains away.
Yuria, who had a very different impression from the one she first imagined of her terrifying beast, put on a puzzled expression.
“Huh?”
Erin, who suddenly felt her presence, turned her head to stare at her exit to the upper floor, and then found Yuria standing there blankly.
Erin, who swayed and raised her body, stared at Yuria, sending her a puzzled gaze.
“Who are you?”
“Ah, I… That is…”
After a moment of hesitation about what to say, Erin opened her mouth again.
“Ah, before Hyuni asked her name, I said it was polite to introduce herself first. Whoops!”
Yuria’s eyebrows twitched when she realized that ‘Hyeoni’ meant the man named ‘Eunhyeon’.
And she gradually looked at Erin with a puzzled expression.
Although her tired expression was evident, Erin, who managed to get her body up, introduced herself through a formal greeting she had learned from Eunhyun.
“Hello. My name is ‘Erin Hersha’. Excuse me, may I ask your name?”
“…”
Realizing that her guess was correct, Yuria’s expression hardened.
‘Is that man really intending to raise this child?’
As soon as she confirmed that it was true that she was taking care of a woman who, driven by her vengeance, was slaughtering civilians and burning the entire city with no involvement, she cursed at Yuria in her heart.
After checking Yuria’s rapidly hardened complexion, Erin approached her with a worried heart.
“Me, why are you like that? Where are you sick?”
“Go, don’t come any closer!”
The moment Erin tried to put her hand on Yuria’s body, wondering if it was something wrong with her body, Yuria was startled and shook her hand away from her and stepped backwards to increase the distance between her and Erin.
“Uh… ?”
Erin looked at Yuria in bewilderment at her completely unexpected behavior, and Erin read a certain emotion in her eyes.
‘Fear? Are you scared me… ?’
