The S-Class Hunter Doesn't Want To Be A Villainous Princess - Chapter 21

"Now, asking for the title of Marquis at this point?"

Ishir smiled mockingly.

Cedin, whom he believed to be his faithful follower, turned out not to be his dog, but someone else's dog.

And it was 'Renee Marchius' dog.

"...Wasn't it supposed to be given to me originally?"

"And you refused. Have you forgotten?"

Cedin stood silently, looking down. Ishir placed his left hand, with an engagement ring on it, on the desk.

As if to show it to Cedin.

It was a clear provocation.

"You haven't even gotten engaged yet."

"But everyone thinks I have. Isn't that important?"

"No, it's not."

Cedin knew the meaning behind the provocation.

"If you can't give it to me, I'll ask another Empire."

"Ha!"

Ishir let out a short breath. He could roughly guess why Cedin was asking for the title of Marquis at this point.

'After having something precious taken away once, did he realize how important status is?'

Even if a mere wandering knight couldn't address the Crown Prince of the Empire, the Marquis could show his teeth.

The intention was too obvious, and Ishir was reluctant to grant the title.

But he couldn't refuse.

Cedin was one of the few sword masters on the continent.

If he naturalized in another empire, the Emperor would not forgive Ishir.

It was obvious that he would fall behind in the succession war for the throne.

'Cedin wouldn't miss this opportunity.'

Yet, simply giving away the title like this would not sit well with his pride.

In the end, Ishir spoke up.

"I have a condition."

"...Please, go on."

"There have been reports of suspicious movements in the northern border recently."

"What do you mean by suspicious movements?"

Ishir found a report from the stack of documents and handed it to Cedin.

"It's a report from the Border Guard stating that the number of monsters is increasing, and there are outbreaks of disease and famine. You should be able to roughly understand it by reading this."

"Dark magic?"

"Probably."

"Then it seems like a matter that not just an inspector can handle, but the temple should intervene."

At Cedin's hesitant objection, Ishir smirked.

"I know. But the temple is so fearful. I would like you to investigate what happened when you accompanied them."

"After this is done, will you grant me the title immediately?"

"Yes."

However, when that is done, the person you wanted will be in my hands.

Ishir reached out his hand perfectly concealing his true intentions. Cedin reluctantly shook his hand with a displeased face.

"I will prepare and depart immediately."

"That's what you should do. Winter is coming."

Instead of replying, Cedin simply bowed briefly and tried to leave. But just before reaching the door, Ishir stopped him.

"Was Renee Marchius that important to you?"

"...What kind of answer are you expecting?"

"An honest one."

Cedin stared at the door without turning around. Was she that important to him?

It hadn't been long since they met, but was that person making a significant impact on Cedin?

"I don't know."

"Then why?"

"I simply think she means more to you than to me."

Thud.

Without listening to Ishir's response, Cedin left the office.

Ishir pondered Cedin's answer for a moment, then looked down at the ring.

Yes, Cedin was right.

She was just a person with no real significance. It wasn't the first time he had pretended false affection.

For the sake of the throne, he could be with anyone other than Renee.

So why did it bother him so much?

Why didn't the ring on someone else's hand bother him?

***

[Quest Window]

<Main Quest - Adaptation 2>

You are now the lover(?) of Ishir von Lambdish, the Crown Prince of the Lambdish Empire.

However, there are still people who doubt you and Ishir. Restore your reputation completely and protect Ishir.

Clear Condition: Reach Fame 0.

Clear Reward: <<What If An S-Class Hunter Becomes A Villainess?>> Volume 2.

'A new main quest.'

This time, the clear reward is volume 2.

She closed the quest window and took out volume 1 of <<What If An S-Class Hunter Becomes A Villainess?>>.

She wonders how many volumes this novel has.

'The content wasn't very helpful.'

Most of the novel's content was already known to Renee.

The fact that Lianne and Ishir were in a loveless engagement,

That Lianne and Renee were friends,

That Renee was not a villain but just a victim.

'But still, I discovered a few events that will happen in the future, so it's a big harvest.'

With some information this time, it should be easier to clear the next quest.

'But there's something strange.'

She continued to search through the book. There was a name she was looking for.

But no matter how much she searched, that name didn't appear.

It was impossible to find a name that didn't exist.

'Cedin doesn't appear in this novel at all.'

Was he originally just an extra character?

But based on the current development, he doesn't seem like an extra character. At least he seems to be a supporting character.

'Did I change the novel too much?'

If the novel's content has changed so much because Renee has changed, it would be a big problem.

That means, even the information written here cannot be completely trusted.

'But how can I do not change it?'

She's just being taken advantage of!

'Damn.'

But she never expected to end up in a relationship that didn't even exist in the original novel. She put the book in her inventory. She had read enough.

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> asks if you're going to get married.]

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> says settling down in this life isn't a bad thing.]

[The <Emperor of Temptation> knows a good place for a honeymoon.]

'Everyone, please be quiet.'

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> says you absolutely shouldn't get married.]

"Are you doing this just because you want to? How much younger are you? Would you want to marry someone hundreds of years younger?"

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> demands that you break off the engagement immediately.]

"That's not possible. Haven't you read the quest? I'm supposed to protect Ishir."

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> says you can't get married even if dirt gets in my eyes.]

"No, why are you so concerned about other people's marriages? Mind your own business."

[Would you like to block the chat from the <Lord of Vicious Blood>? (Yes/No)]

Of course.

Renee turned off the chat for a moment and lay down. She really wanted to rest. She couldn't even take a break because she was constantly clearing quests. What is this?

"Young Lady, can I come in?"

But it seemed like the system had no intention of letting her rest. Judging by the sound of Cedin's voice outside the door.

Renee cursed the system hundreds of times in her mind and opened the door.

"Why?"

"Why? Do you not want me here?"

If Cedin had puppy ears, she imagined that he would have been droopy by now, so she shook her head.

What did this poor guy do wrong?

"No, I'm just tired. Come in."

She gestured for Cedin to come in, and she even placed a bottle in front of her.

Cedin seemed a bit shocked, but he seemed to be trying his best not to show it.

'Should I say he's cute or pitiful?'

"What's the matter?"

"I heard that you forgave Lady Cyprus."

"Yeah."

"You decided not to send her to prison and instead keep her at the duchy."

"Yeah. I made her patrol the training grounds all day. Hopefully, her body will give in before her mind does."

"Is that all she deserves?"

"She probably deserves more than that. I heard her crying this morning too."

Renee shrugged as if it didn't matter. But Cedin still had a serious expression on his face.

"Why are you like this? That person-"

"Yeah. She tormented me, slandered me, and framed me. But she's not the murderer who killed Lianne."

Renee waved her hand and took a sip of her drink. She was a bit annoyed because she had already talked about this when Ishir came.

Oh well. It's not her who should punish her, but Renee herself.

When she comes back, she'll give her a suitable punishment.

"How can you be so sure? It could be the work of Lady Cyprus?"

"Look at her. She's just a mischievous kid. Do you think she has the ability to burn a corpse and inject divinity?"

"...That may not be the case."

Renee's firm words made Cedin have no choice but to agree.

"Leave her alone. We need to find the real culprit. I may have acted harshly at the party to clear my name, but I don't care about her anymore."

"Understood."

Hmm, this feels awkward. Renee felt awkward when Cedin agreed so readily.

Unlike Ishir, who always argues about everything, it makes Renee feel uneasy.

"Is that all?"

"No."

"Well?"

"...Why didn't you tell me?"

Tell what? Renee raised an eyebrow at the inexplicable sound.

"What do you mean?"

"Your Highness... and such."

"Oh, you mean the contract relationship with Ishir?"

"Have you already reached the point of calling each other by name with His Highness?"

Uh... Renee couldn't come up with an answer.

No, she calls him by his name like she would call the male protagonist in a novel. But it seems to have become something else.

But Cedin was already deeply hurt.

Renee tried to avoid the wounded puppy's eyes and defended herself.

"It's not a real relationship, it's a relationship based on mutual needs, you know that too."

"Then can't you at least tell me?"

"I didn't know either. Ishir suddenly confessed. The agreement we made was just about admitting that we have feelings for each other."

"...Admitting that we have feelings? Is that what the agreement was about?"

"Then should we do it impulsively? Isn't that even stranger?"

Cedin stared blankly into space for a while. Renee silently waited for him to regain his composure.

"...I understand. I will adapt."

"Adapt?"

"Yes. If I want to be by Young Lady's side, I have to adapt, don't I?"

Does he really have to go that far?

Renee couldn't answer.

"Why did you come here?"

Cedin looked at Renee for a moment and then looked down. It seemed that his reaction just now hurt him even more.

"I don't think I can come for a while."

"Why? Are you busy?"

"...Something like that."

An awkward silence fell between the two. Unable to bear the silence, Renee spoke first.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to the northern border."

"Why there? Is something happening?"

"It's nothing major. There have been reports of abnormal phenomena occurring in that region, and I'm going to investigate."

"Abnormal phenomena?"

Is there such a thing in this world? Renee furrowed his brow.

"What kind of phenomena?"

"Just traces of dark magic that occasionally appear. The only difference this time is that... there have been reports of seeing illusions of the tower."

...Tower?

Renee's heart sank, and she felt a wave of unease. What do they see right now? A tower?

[Storms are brewing around <Queen of Waves and Healing>.]

[The <Emperor of Temptation> is opening the gates of hell!]

"What... a tower?"

"Don't worry about it. Occasionally, people in the cold regions see all sorts of illusions."

"But there must be some description of what the tower looks like!"

As Renee raised his voice, Cedin seemed taken aback. But Renee didn't have the luxury to care about Cedin's feelings right now.

A tower.

The tower that had sent countless people to hell in her past life also appeared here.

'It can't be.'

It can't be. She gasped for breath. She couldn't go through that hell again.

"...It's black, and it's very tall. They say the top is so high that you can't see the end-"

"Cedin."

Renee stood up abruptly and grabbed Cedin's shoulders.

"...Young Lady?"

"I have to go there too."

"What? But... why would you go?"

As Cedin asked with a bewildered expression, Renee smiled bitterly.

For a reason. Well, she couldn't even explain it herself.

Why would she willingly go back to that dreadful place?

"It's nothing special."

Just when she had barely escaped from there, she crawled back into that tower again.

And it was her own choice.

But of course, she had her reasons too.

Renee changed her expression as if asking when she had gotten angry and smiled.

"If that tower is the one I'm thinking of, there's someone I need to seek revenge on."

Definitely.

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