The S-Class Hunter Doesn't Want To Be A Villainous Princess - Chapter 29

"What evidence is it?"

In response to Edin's question, Renee showed the traces discovered by <Queen of Waves and Healing>. And then, Edin's expression changed. The reason was-

"What is this?"

It was a bone.

"It's a deer bone."

"How can a deer bone be evidence?"

"I can feel a strong divinity from this bone."

Renee quickly put together some parts of the bone, creating the shape of a deer's hind leg. And she pointed to the knee part.

"Do you see this part?"

"It looks like a deer's knee. But I don't feel anything strange about it."

"That's the problem. This deer had its knee completely shattered when it was caught in a trap."

"...The knee was shattered?"

Edin touched the bone and murmured.

"Yes. But it was perfectly restored by some kind of divinity. Without a trace. It turns out that people with that level of power are very rare. And someone who would use that power on a mere deer is even rarer."

"..."

"A person with strong divinity. And a person who is willing to use that divinity generously on a mere creature. How many people do you think fit that description? I can only think of one."

Just in case, Renee had asked <Queen of Waves and Healing> to investigate if any priests had been in the vicinity.

As expected, no priests had been in the area.

Edin pondered for a long time, lost in thought. Then suddenly, she smiled leisurely and spoke.

"Interesting, Lady Marchius."

"I agree, so this evidence-"

"No, not that evidence. Your words."

"Me?"

"The person who least wants the Saint to return is you, yet you are so enthusiastic about finding her."

Edin's words clearly had a bone to pick. But instead of answering, Renee bowed her head and narrowed her eyes at her.

"I hope for Lianne's return."

"Well, even if the Saint returns, you will be rejected, won't you?"

"Rejected? That won't happen."

In response to Renee's absurd statement, Edin's eyes widened slightly, as if surprised.

"Surely my brother didn't tell you that?"

"What are you talking about...?"

"The engagement between my brother and Lianne Karis was not a simple engagement. It was a pact between the temple and my brother. The pact between the weak Crown Prince and the Pope who sought to control the temple with the power of the Imperial family."

She'd never heard of this before. Renee listened to Edin's words in surprise. Why did Ishir hide something like this?

"Now that the central figure, Lianne, has disappeared, even if the Crown Prince brings in a new lover, the Pope won't be able to say anything. But what if Lianne returns?"

"..."

"And will my brother choose you instead of the throne?"

She can't be sure about that. No, honestly, she was convinced that it would never happen.

Renee couldn't give any answer and remained silent.

'Don't speak out of turn.'

Damn it. She never expected Ishir to have such a situation. It's her fault for not being fully prepared.

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> suggests just smashing everything and you become the Emperor.]

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> gets angry and suggests that the male lead should just be Cedin.]

"It seems like you've prepared diligently, but unfortunately, it didn't work out, Lady Marchius. You should stop the search now-"

"No."

At that moment, a voice rang in Renee's ears. This voice... Renee was taken aback and turned her head towards the direction where the voice was coming from.

There, Ishir, who had become much thinner and disheveled than before, was standing.

"...Ishir?"

Like autumn flowing through a wheat field, shimmering golden hair.

It was written like that in the first volume.

Renee loved that hair so much. At that time, she didn't understand, but-

"I'll answer in your place, Edin."

Now, she can vaguely imagine what kind of feeling it was.

"I didn't know you were here, Brother."

Ishir approached Renee from behind, standing next to Edin and looking down at him with the same red eyes.

"There's no need to give up the throne."

"Hah! Saying such rude things in front of the Lady-"

...As expected.

She knew it, but for some reason, when she heard the sound of his voice weakening, Renee slightly lowered her head.

However, at that moment, Ishir's hand reached up to Renee's shoulder. Renee was surprised and raised her head at the sudden warmth.

But it wasn't just because his hand touched her. What really surprised her was-

That hand,

"But that doesn't mean I have any intention of blaming Renee."

He was trembling.

"Blame? Ah, I see."

Edin nodded slowly as if she knew.

"Yeah. The two of them couldn't stand each other. It was all just an act, to the point where I wondered if it was really acting. Was it really acting?"

"Whether you believe it or not, it doesn't matter, Edin."

As soon as Ishir spoke, he lifted Renee up. Renee couldn't even resist and was trapped in Ishir's arms.

"But don't ever speak to my lover like that again."

"..."

In his low voice, Edin tilted her head slightly as if stepping back.

But it wasn't a sign of surrender. It was just a gesture allowing a temporary ceasefire.

"Well then, if you'll excuse us."

Ishir held Renee's hand and walked outside. Renee followed Ishir in a daze, but as soon as he lost sight of the watching eyes, he pulled her back.

"Now, let's talk about this..."

Who does he think he is, holding someone's hand... Ah, right, he's the protagonist. Renee reluctantly admitted.

"Don't change the subject."

"Change the subject?"

How absurd. No, what did she do?

"Just a moment. Can you explain at what point you got angry?"

"Lady Marchius. It seems like you're misunderstanding something."

"What do you mean?"

Why is he getting so angry about this? Renee was bewildered and let out a hollow laugh.

"Why did Edin want to meet?"

"Because I had something to discuss."

"What does that have to do with you?"

What kind of logic is this again? Renee couldn't believe it and asked.

"No, what does it matter to you who I meet?"

"Do you think you can handle Edin? Just because I let you get close to the Princess, do you think you've become something?"

[The <Lord of Vicious Blood> is starting to read your mood.]

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> puts a towel on your head.]

"So you were angry because of that?"

Not because of Edin, but because of her?

"Could it be that you were angry because you thought I might leak information to Princess Edin, and that's why you thought I would be a nuisance to you?"

Renee suppressed the boiling anger quietly. Now, the reason for his anger was just that?

Ishir also held his breath for a moment after hearing Renee's words. Conflict flickered in his eyes.

But that conflict didn't last long.

"Has anything good happened because you intervened?"

Even a small tea party ended in a mess when Renee appeared.

Ishir vividly remembered all of those things.

"Your job is to fill in for Lianne until she returns. That's all."

Fill in...?

"I hope you don't try to get involved in politics just because you've become a swordsman."

Those words broke Renee's, no, Iyoung's last bit of patience.

"Don't cross the line. If you just stay still-"

"I have one question."

This person and that person.

"What will happen to me when Lianne returns?"

In response to Renee's question, Ishir closed his mouth again.

That silence felt like an affirmation to Renee. At least a minimal affirmation with a conscience.

"Am I just a substitute for Lianne? A replacement?"

"..."

Ishir remained silent, as if frozen, unable to utter a word. Renee's anger was building up.

Still, she wanted to believe that he wasn't such a bad person. She hoped that Ishir would deny it.

Because Ishir was the person that the real Renee liked.

He was the person she would choose when she returned to her own body someday.

With that hope in mind, she didn't give up on Ishir, even considering him as a potential male lead and accepting his sudden proposal.

For the sake of the returning Renee.

So she didn't lose hope. She believed that the person Renee liked couldn't be that bad. No, he shouldn't be.

"...I don't want to lie."

But the moment she heard Ishir's words, Renee thought to herself. This person really won't do it. It was the moment when she felt ridiculous for even having a moment of sympathy.

"Yes, I understand."

"Renee."

"But..."

Renee held onto it tightly.

"I am not your doll or tool."

"...!"

"Why should I just stay still for you? I have intelligence and feelings. I have many qualities that are far better than you. It seems like you lack both."

Although she felt sorry for the real 'Renee Marchuis', she had to say these words. This person didn't even see Renee as a human.

"Even if I were to hinder your bright future, you don't have the right to treat me like this."

"Lady Marchius."

Why does he keep calling her? Rene sighed as if annoyed.

"Do you feel better if you blame others for your own shortcomings?"

"I didn't mean it in that way-"

As if not wanting to hear any more, Renee raised her hand.

"Don't worry. Unfortunately, I also need this relationship. So I have no intention of breaking it off."

Renee shrugged her shoulders as if it didn't matter.

"So let's just end it as a relationship where we use each other."

She left Ishir behind and walked away without looking back. She continued to descend to a place where her mood could truly calm down.

Why did she like such a person?

And why did she have even a moment of hope for such a person?

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