The S-Class Hunter Doesn't Want To Be A Villainous Princess - Chapter 10

“What does this address mean?”

“It’s the place where the Saintess was seen. And that was three days ago.”

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> is pleased, claiming the credit.]

The <Queen of Waves and Healing> was telling the truth.

She had located traces of the Saintess in just a single day.

And this—was the first piece of evidence.

Renee lightly dabbed her lips with a napkin.

Now that she had finished her meal, it was time for dessert. A very sweet dessert.

“Three days ago? What do you mean by that? The Saintess went missing a week ago—”

“Do you understand now?”

Ante froze in place. Renee curled her lips into a slow smile.

“Then… are you saying the Saintess is alive?”

“Well, unless there’s magic that can make a dead person walk around, I suppose so?”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“You probably won’t.”

Renee leaned back in her chair, completely uninterested.

She had expected this reaction.

Judging by how things looked, the original owner of this body—someone practically labeled a ‘disgrace’—clearly had no talent for this sort of thing.

“So I’ll send this address to Princess Edin. Not you—to the Princess.”

Unlike the original, she do have a talent for it.

Only then did Ante’s expression begin to shift.

It seemed he had finally realized that Renee wasn’t bluffing.

“Princess Edin would probably be the next person who wants this address after me.”

“You won’t be able to do that.”

“What do you know?”

Renee smiled faintly as she flicked the note in her hand.

“You don’t know anything about me, Ante Markious.”

“…!”

“If I go myself, you’ll just start rambling about fabricated evidence or whatever else. So let’s hand it over to a third party.”

“…Fine. Let’s assume, for argument’s sake, that the address and the sighting are real.”

“They are real. You really don’t trust people.”

Ignoring her complaint, Ante continued.

“Even so, the Princess cannot be impartial. With the imperial succession war underway, she would naturally want to undermine His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“And?”

Renee crossed her arms and looked up at him.

Ante frowned at her arrogant posture—

but couldn’t openly rebuke her like before.

Because beside her, Cedin was staring at him with sharp, unwavering eyes.

“And? What kind of careless answer is that—!”

“No, I’m saying it doesn’t matter to me whether it’s a succession war or an all-out conflict. What matters to me is proving my innocence. And if someone can prove that—whether it’s the Princess or a demon—what difference does it make?”

Ante let out a long sigh and set the note down.

“I knew you were selfish, but I didn’t think it was to this extent. The moment you send that note to the Princess, our entire house will be dragged into that war. We’ll have to abandon the neutrality we’ve barely managed to maintain.”

“Ante, I knew you were stupid, but I didn’t realize you were this stupid.”

She picked up the torn newspaper and pointed at the glossy portrait of Crown Prince Isyre.

[The <Ruthless Blood Leader> expresses disdain for the Crown Prince.]

“We lost neutrality the moment that damned Crown Prince framed me. Do you really think that once he becomes Emperor, he’ll spare you just because you tried to stay neutral?”

“…!”

“No. The moment he ascends the throne, he’ll use me as an excuse and cut off all your heads.”

Why does this idiot understand one thing but not the next?

Did he really think the Crown Prince was grieving his fiancée and clinging to her out of sorrow?

‘He’s just trying to eliminate potential threats before becoming Emperor. A ducal house holds significant power—better to subdue it early.’

Renee considered explaining that this was nothing more than a power struggle—

but decided against it.

One disciple was already more than enough.

“Figure the rest out yourself—and prepare to receive our guest. I was informed this morning that someone will be arriving.”

Fresh information from the Water lady.

They probably planned to show up unannounced and catch me off guard—

but that’s not happening.

“A guest? Did you summon someone again?”

“No. This time, they’re coming of their own accord.”

Ignoring Ante’s confusion, Renee stood up.

She’d finished dessert—time for a proper aftertaste.

“They’re coming on their own? What does that even—”

At that moment, the door burst open, and the butler rushed in, whispering urgently into Ante’s ear.

Ante’s face instantly drained of color.

He whipped his head toward Renee.

“…What exactly did you do?”

“Me? What did I do?”

Renee shrugged innocently.

Ante immediately rushed outside.

Renee signaled to Cedin to follow.

“There’s another guest besides me?”

“Yeah. But not a guest—an uninvited one.”

“An intruder?”

Renee tilted her chin toward the door.

See for yourself.

Cedin turned—and saw him.

A man stood there.

Tall, strikingly handsome, dressed in a black uniform, a long sword hanging at his side.

“Sir Cedin.”

[The <Ruthless Blood Leader> grumbles about there being too many handsome men in this world.]
[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> smiles contentedly.]
[The <Ruler of Temptation> opens a bag of popcorn at the arrival of Cedin’s rival.]

Wait—why is he Cedin’s rival? That’s completely wrong!

Renee internally scolded the increasingly unhinged astras.

Then—

the man’s gaze shifted toward her.

A deeply unpleasant look.

Ah.

There it is.

‘The scent of someone like me.’

And it seemed she wasn’t the only one who noticed.

“And… Lady Renee Markious.”

Renee gracefully lifted the hem of her dress and greeted the uninvited guest who spoke her name so freely.

His face twisted slightly.

Hmm. Better looking in person than in the portrait.

She forced a polite smile and extended her hand.

[Isyre's Affinity decreases by 10!]

Just for offering a handshake? Seriously?

Renee’s expression soured as she looked at the ill-mannered Crown Prince.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Though it was their first meeting—

she had a feeling.

<Status Window>

Name: Isyre von Ramdisha
Family: Imperial Family of the Ramdisha Empire.
Reputation: 837
Title: <Hope of Ramdisha>, <Crown Prince of Ramdisha>, <?????>, <??>, <Sword Master>

Power: 890
Stealth: 799
Stamina: 910
Wisdom: 810
Luck: 886
Affinity: -?92

The system was clearly determined to entangle them thoroughly.

---

Renee carefully examined Isyre’s status window.

Look at those stats. Flashy. Reputation, titles—everything.

‘So this is the kind of man who becomes the male lead.’

The problem is—

She's not the female lead.

Being the villainess is already bad enough.

And that affinity? It’s not just negative—it’s digging underground.

‘…Why is he staring at me like that?’

Isyre was staring at her—shamelessly so.

Without taking her hand, he simply looked down at it.

Is he going to take it or not? This is irritating.

‘Should I just kill him? What happens if I do? Does the story end?’

[The <Ruthless Blood Leader> encourages you to try.]

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> warns you'll regret it.]

[The <Ruler of Temptation> continue eating popcorn.]

“Your Highness, what brings you here without prior notice?”

Even at Ante’s question, Isyre didn’t take his eyes off Renee.

“Your Highness?”

“…Strange.”

“…Pardon?”

When Ante asked back with a bewildered face, Isyre spoke while looking straight into Renee's eyes.

“You’ve changed.”

His gaze slowly traveled downward—

an openly appraising look.

Renee’s hand tensed slightly.

This one’s not easy.

“You’re not even trying to hide it.”

“What do you mean? Are you speaking about my sister?”

“Renee Markious.”

He completely ignored Ante.

Renee tilted her head.

“So you finally sold your soul to a demon.”

“Your Highness! Even if it is Renee, such words toward House Markious—”

“And if I did… Your Highness?”

Honestly, she hate speaking politely.

“Then I’d like to know how.”

“Die and come back to life fifty-eight times. That’s all it takes.”

But truthfully—

Renee was intrigued.

He noticed.

He recognized that she wasn’t the same Renee Markious—

but something far more.

After Cedin, he was the second.

And unlike Cedin—

he saw through her without her using any power.

“Stop joking and tell me the truth.”

“I am telling the truth.”

At that, Isyre’s aura began to rise.

It was now at a level an ordinary person couldn’t endure.

Surprisingly—

"Your Highness, I don't think it's appropriate to exert this kind of power in front of a lady who hasn't even learned how to wield a sword."

Ante stepped forward, trying to block him.

‘Oh. So he’s not completely hopeless.’

Pass.

“A woman who has never held a sword—yet possesses this kind of presence?”

Isyre didn’t believe a word.

His hand slowly moved toward his sword.

“When Leanne disappeared without a trace, I found no explanation.”

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> warns of danger!]
[The <Ruthless Blood Leader> prepares to release power.]

“But if someone like you exists—everything makes sense.”

Killing intent slowly filled his expression.

‘He’s misunderstanding things. Severely.’

But Renee had no intention of backing down.

“Where is Leanne?”

“That has nothing to do with me, Your Highness.”

“And you expect me to believe that?”

Acting—or sincerity?

Renee studied him carefully.

If it was an act, he was good enough to be a professional.

“I should be asking you that. What did you do to the Saintess?”

“How dare you—”

“Wait.”

Cedin stepped between them.

He had judged correctly—

at this rate, one of them would strike.

“Both of you, please calm down.”

“…Cedin. Move.”

Isyre ground his teeth, glaring.

But Cedin didn’t budge.

“I understand why Your Highness suspects her. But I do not believe Lady Renee is the culprit.”

“You’re taking her side?”

“I’m not taking sides—”

“She sent forty assassination attempts at Leanne. Poison alone, over a hundred times.”

…Seriously?

Renee flushed despite it not being her doing.

What kind of life did this body live?

“If someone of her caliber wanted to kill, there are far more efficient methods.”

“….”

Good job, Cedin.

Isyre didn’t argue—only clenched his jaw.

He had calmed down.

“If Your Highness truly wishes to find the Saintess, cooperation is necessary.”

“But she tried to frame me. How do you explain that?”

“That… I apologize for. I truly believed it was you.”

And honestly—

I’m still not entirely convinced..

‘I’ve seen too many liars in my previous life.’

“…You dared to suspect me.”

Though his hand left the sword, his gaze remained cold—

filled with contempt.

“Let us continue this discussion over tea.”

Ante stepped between them once more, his expression firm.

“Like Your Highness, House Markious also wishes to resolve this matter.”

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