The S-Class Hunter Doesn't Want To Be A Villainous Princess - Chapter 9
“Mm, I slept well.”
She woke beneath bright, glimmering sunlight—for the first time in a long while. It truly had been a long time. Until now, she had been forced to eat and sleep inside the Tower.
A place where not even a single ray of light entered, where no normal life could exist.
‘…It was dreadful.’
She won't go back there again.
Unlike before, Renee rose with a cold expression in her eyes.
‘Cedin must be awake by now.’
Cedin is her guest.She should treat him properly.
She opened the wardrobe to change her clothes.
Knock, knock.
A sound came from the door.
Since arriving in this world, Renee had deliberately suppressed most of her sensory perception. Unless it posed a real threat, she didn’t bother reacting.
Keeping her senses active at all times was irritating—and more importantly—
‘There’s no one in this world capable of even touching a single hair on my head.’
[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> worries that you should not let your guard down.]
[The <Ruler of Temptation> laughs saying even if you do to let your guard down, all you would get is a scratch.]
Tsk.
Renee closed the chat window.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and several maids entered.
‘…Servants of the ducal estate.’
Renee opened the status window of one of them.
<Status Window>
Name: Eren
Reputation: 12
Title: <Maidservant of the Duchy>, <Despises Renee Markious>, <Dexterous Hands>
Power: 3
Stealth: 2
Stamina: 5
Wisdom: 9
Luck: -13
Affinity: -480
They were all more or less the same.
Low stats—and even lower affinity.
That wasn’t the real problem, though.
“What is it?”
“You’re being summoned downstairs.”
It was the way they spoke that was the issue.
“…By whom? And where?”
At her question, the maids exchanged glances—then giggled among themselves.
“My lady, are you seriously asking because you don’t know?”
“How many people do you think would ask for you in this manor? Is there anyone else besides Lord Ante, who always trying to reprimand you?”
Laughter burst out again.
…Unbelievable.
Renee looked at them with a flat expression.
“You still don’t understand your place, do you? You’re not just a Markious—you’re the disgrace of House Markious.”
“The only weakling in a family of swordsmen who can’t even hold a sword.”
Hmm.
Renee listened with mild curiosity.
So this body was looked down on for being weak.
“Then at least you should have a decent personality. But you don’t—and you’re useless—so no one seeks you out.”
Clearly, this wasn’t the first time.
How predictable.
Renee fell briefly into thought.
This household—
was far too hostile.
Far too arrogant.
Using a skill would make them obedient for a moment…
“This place really does revolve around status, doesn’t it?”
But she needed something more lasting.
“…?”
Fear.
Renee stepped toward the maids, releasing the aura she had been suppressing.
She was being considerate—letting ordinary people breathe.
But if this is how they act, why bother?
“What exactly are you relying on to behave like this?”
The maids couldn’t answer.
“Status?”
No—
they couldn’t answer.
“Power?”
Those who could even breathe under her pressure—
“No. You simply relied on numbers.”
Even in her previous life, among the strongest, those who could withstand her were rare.
“When you’re part of a majority, it makes you feel like you’re something.”
Now, the maids trembled violently, collapsing before her.
‘And this is just a fraction of my aura.’
“H-help…!”
“Tch.”
Thud.
She withdrew her aura.
“Huff—huff…!”
“P-please…!”
Gone were the smug expressions from before.
Now they knelt at her feet.
“Please spare us! Just spare us…!”
“We were wrong, my lady!”
“Knees that bend so easily.”
Her voice carried a trace of quiet bitterness.
This again.
It had always been like this.
In her first life—and every life after—
she had always been underestimated.
Because she appeared weak.
Young. Fragile.
“Why do you behave so foolishly?”
“…Yes…?”
But it was never the strong who underestimated her.
It was always—
“What I can’t understand…”
Those too weak to even perceive her level.
Those who survived only by clinging to the strong.
“I truly cannot understand.”
Why they threw themselves into danger.
Why the weak preyed on the weak.
She had never understood it—
not when she was weak, nor when she became strong.
Leaving the trembling maids behind, Renee stepped out of the room.
And immediately—
she found someone waiting.
“So you weren’t just a cat… but a stray one.”
Cedin Ansirad.
Renee smiled slightly.
But he did not return it.
“I felt a dangerous aura. I had no choice but to come.”
“Oh? It reached you?”
She feigned ignorance.
“…Are you alright?”
“Hm?”
“You’re not going to blame me?”
“Why would I?”
“Everyone I’ve met here seems to think everything is my fault.”
Cedin’s brows furrowed.
“I know better than anyone that it isn’t. I heard everything.”
“…I showed my guest something embarrassing.”
Renee smiled stiffly.
“Have you… always been treated like that?”
“…Seems so.”
The original owner of this body must have endured it all along.
“Does the young duke—or the duke—know?”
“….”
“They should. I will inform—”
“No.”
Renee grabbed his arm as he turned.
“Even if they know, nothing will change.”
“But we can’t simply stand by.”
“Who said I would?”
“!”
She tightened her grip—careful not to break his arm.
“I’m just choosing a more efficient method.”
Because the one most angered—
was herself.
---
“Explain yourself.”
The moment Renee and Cedin entered the dining room for breakfast, Ante thrust a newspaper at her.
Renee tore it cleanly in half and walked past him.
Cedin suppressed a laugh as he followed her.
“Renee Markious!”
Ante sat across from her, glaring.
‘That brat… needs to be taught some manners.’
[The <Ruthless Blood Leader> volunteers to educate him personally.]
No thanks. That starts with broken bones.
"What more do you want me to explain?"
Renee furrowed her brows at his arrogant attitude.
"I'm talking about this article!"
"What about it? Don't you know how to read? Do you need me to read it for you?"
"Why you...!"
"My lord, please stay calm."
Cedin’s quiet intervention forced Ante to sit back down.
“You couldn’t blame anyone else, so you blamed the Crown Prince?!”
“It’s not blame. It’s reasonable suspicion.”
“You didn’t even consider Father is at the palace because of you!”
“He never considers me. Why should I?”
“Do you have any idea what this does to our family?”
“Ante.”
Renee cut a piece of meat and held it out to him.
"You seem irritable because you're hungry, so why don't you take the first bite?"
[The <Ruler of Temptation> says even a spoonful is wasted on him.]
"Answer me."
"I told you I was going to prove my innocence. Didn't you see the priest's testimony? I did play around with his name a little, but he wasn't lying."
She kindly gave the priest the alias Etna Diputs (Stupid Ante). She should have taught him to read it backward.
[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> approves of the prank.]
[The <Ruthless Blood Leader> complains you should’ve used harsher words.]
“Is it reliable?”
“Ask him.”
She gestured at Cedin.
“It is true such testimony was given.”
“And is it credible?”
“I cannot be certain. But there must be a reason His Highness attempted to conceal it.”
Ante’s expression darkened.
The balance was tipping toward truth.
If so—
they had wronged Renee.
‘No. She brought it upon herself.’
That’s what he told himself.
"Why did you come all the way here, Sir Cedin?"
"I was dispatched under the orders of His Highness the Crown Prince to investigate the case."
"Why did you come to our manor instead of visiting the territory?"
No matter how forcefully Ante spoke, Cedin didn't bat an eye.
"I am working on this case as a knight of the empire who has been ordered to expose the truth."
"You call revealing evidence to my sister, a suspect, working on the investigation?"
"What a strange thing to say. Do you find it uncomfortable that I, a commoner, am helping your lordship's sister? or are you worried that her ladyship will be released from the charges?"
Nice one, Cedin. He’s doing well.
If Renee were the protagonist of a novel, she would have heard an alarm like this.
[Renee Markious' Affinity increases by 100!]
[<Renee Markious> cheers, saying ‘Raven is the best!’]
"I didn't even realize that you two knew each other."
"Of course, you didn't... because we didn't."
"Then why..."
"I was hoping we could become better acquainted from now on."
"!"
Ante was at a loss for words at Cedin's firm statement. In fact, Renee was the same. These kids really know how to embarrass themselves.
"All right, now it's your turn."
"My turn?"
"It's time for you to apologize. Now! Did you forget how you offended my guest last night?"
Renee said it as if it were obvious. And it was indeed obvious. Ante was the one who spoke without even asking Cedin's identity.
"Sir Cedin, I committed an error."
"I don't need an apology, my lord, but there is someone else who does."
"That's right! You should apologize to me too."
Renee pointed at herself with her fork.
Her already shining blue eyes sparkled even more.
"Why should I apologize? You were named a suspect because of how you've been carrying yourself. Moreover, you don't any real evidence proving that the things in this article are true. I will apologize once you bring me something more concrete."
[The <Ruthless Blood Leader> gnashes his teeth, saying he'll turn that bastard into a hopping zombie.]
[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> quietly gets ready to boil some water.]
[The <Ruler of Temptation> prepares a magic circle to summon the demon king.]
'Everyone, calm down. This is not the first or second time he's done this.'
<Special Quest - Innocence>
You have made a deal with Ante Markious to prove your innocence within one month.
Clear Condition: Prove your innocence.
Clear Reward:
- One wish granted by Ante Markious
- Kyril Markious Affinity +100
Not cleared yet.
So I need stronger evidence.
“Evidence?”
Renee shrugged.
“I expected you wouldn’t believe me—so I prepared something extra.”
She placed an item on the table.
A small scripture.
And a note.
Ante picked it up.
“…An address?”
“Yes.”
“What does it mean?”
“It’s where the Saintess was seen.”
A pause.
“Three days ago.”
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