The S-Class Hunter Doesn't Want To Be A Villainous Princess - Chapter 24

Confused.

 

What is this sound?

Well, it's nothing. It's the sound of Renee Marchius, who was scammed in a quest, coming back.

As soon as she confirmed the trial of the tower, Renee quietly left the tower.

Not only the three male lead candidates, but no one else could be of any use.

Even the Constellations, who would usually urge her to quickly complete the quest, couldn't dare to open their mouths at that moment.

The moment they opened their mouths, they knew that Renee would really destroy everything.

"Renee!"

"Young Lady!"

When she returned to where the people with divinity gathered in one place, Ishir and Cedin noticed her and ran towards her.

Normally, she would have raised their hands to greet them, but now she didn't feel like doing that at all.

She looked at the two of them with sharp eyes, then sat down.

"Young Lady, there's snow piled up. Your clothes are wet. Sit on my cloak."

"Why can't you stand up? Did you get hurt somewhere? Priest! Someone here is injured!"

Whether the two men lifted her up or not, Renee just stared into space.

'Surely they won't choose them as the male lead candidates.'

Surely. It won't happen. Please.

'Yeah, am I the only one in this relationship? Even if I choose them as the male lead candidates, if they don't like me, it's over, right? I can just completely detach my affection for them.'

[The <Queen of Waves and Healing> strongly agrees.]

[The <Emperor of Temptation> says they won't be interested in you anyway.]

"I was worried, Young Lady. Where on earth were you? Please don't do that again."

"Why do you disappear and appear on your own? Was it all a lie that we were on the same ship?"

....

[The <Emperor of Temptation> falls silent again.]

Renee, whose wrinkles were increasing even where wrinkles shouldn't exist.

"Hey. I'm fine, so you don't have to worry."

"But how can I not worry? You're sitting in a cold place."

When Cedin spoke with a worried tone, Renee patted his shoulder once.

But at that moment, her body floated up.

'...Float?'

She looked down at her legs. It was Ishir who had grabbed her legs and lifted her up.

"Ishir put me down right now."

"I can't do that."

"I warned you to put me down before I use my strength."

When Renee opened her eyes wide and came out firmly, Ishir fixed his gaze on Cedin and spoke.

"You are my lover."

"So what?"

"I can't tolerate you treating others so casually."

"Who cares if someone sees?"

"...I see."

"You see, so what does it matter?"

Renee couldn't understand why Ishir, the joint of his shoulder, was acting like this.

He doesn't like Renee. Why is he doing this?

She stared at Ishir with eyes full of doubt and suspicion.

"...Renee, there are many people who doubt our relationship."

"Still? But it seemed like most people believed it."

"By announcing that we are true lovers, the public opinion has calmed down a lot. But there are still those who claim that it is a contractual relationship for public opinion."

"Who?"

"Everyone who wants to bring me down."

Ishir added with a bitter smile.

"And the many people who have been insulted by you."

Renee gritted her teeth as if chewing on a stone. It's not like she's innocent, so she can't say anything.

"But still, put me down. And then let's talk with the three of us."

Ishir reluctantly let her down as if there was no other choice.

As soon as Renee's feet touched the ground, she led the two men into an empty cabin.

"Look. Let's organize things now."

Renee pressed the shoulders of the two men, forcibly sat them down, and sat across from them.

"I understood that Your Highness was being overly kind and considerate to me because you didn't want our relationship to be doubted. Honestly, it doesn't sit well with me, but I understand that you do it in front of others."

"I'm being overly kind...?"

Ishir's expression crumpled at Renee's words. On the other hand, Cedin's expression was becoming brighter than ever.

But that brightness didn't last long.

"But Cedin."

"Yes, Renee."

"I don't like being overprotected."

Renee said very firmly. It didn't make sense to her that Cedin, who was much weaker than her, treated her like a child.

And Renee was extremely disgusted by what she couldn't understand rationally.

"...I apologize if it made you uncomfortable. But it's because I worry."

"There's no need to worry. I'm not so weak that I need protection from others."

[Ishir von Lambdish's favorability has increased by 50! Current Favorability: ???]

[Unable to check Ishir von Lambdish's favorability. (Reason: Error due to drastic numerical changes)]

Why can't she check Ishir's favorability?

Renee tilted her head. She'll figure that out later.

"...".

Renee frustrated that Cedin remained silent with his eyes downcast and didn't respond.

But Cedin seemed so serious that she couldn't force him to speak. Ishir watched Cedin's reaction anxiously.

 

'That bastard, you're not going to play first, are you?'

 

They decided to fight fair and square. Damn. He was a fool for believing that. Ishir gritted his teeth quietly. 

"Is it that you don't like me worrying, or is it that you don't like me?"

"Huh?"

"If you simply don't like me worrying, then I'll stop. But if you don't like me, I can't stop."

Renee was taken aback by Cedin's firmness, a side of him she had never seen before. Ishir felt the same.

"I don't... like worrying."

Cedin's expression softened at those words.

"So you're saying you don't dislike me."

Is that so?

Renee blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of the situation.

"Alright then. I won't do anything that you dislike, Young Lady."

[Cedin Anshirad's favorability has increased by 100! Current Favorability: 412]

What? What is this? Renee felt herself sinking further into confusion.

At first, she thought Cedin was like a cat, then like a dog. But it wasn't that...

'Is he a fox?'

Renee couldn't open her mouth, overwhelmed by the confusing emotions.

But Ishir, sensing something amiss, intervened between the two.

"By the way, Lady Marchius. Where did you go?"

"Just went out for a moment. It's unrelated to you, Your Highness."

"But-"

"Cedin, could you give us a moment?"

Cedin hesitated for a moment, then left the room.

As soon as Renee was sure that Cedin was far away, she turned to Ishir.

"Your Highness, just a month ago, you despised me."

Renee had seen it all in the novel.

How Ishir was cold and cruel to her.

And how it made Renee miserable.

"It's a bit uncomfortable to see someone like that suddenly show such excessive interest."

"..."

Ishir's eyes went blank at Renee's words.

But Renee remained dumbfounded.

Her words were all true.

'Your Highness, please listen to me.'

The original novel began with Renee confessing her feelings to Ishir.

Renee, who was infamous as a villainess, confesses her feelings to Ishir for the first time.

'...What's going on?'

Finally, when Ishir's vacant gaze met Renee's, she unconsciously took a step closer to him.

Now she felt like she could reach him.

'I know that Your Highness is already engaged. But still, my feelings-'

'Lady Marchius.'

Ishir, with a sincerely tired expression, shook his head as Renee approached.

'I hope you would stop. Your feelings have nothing to do with me.'

The Ishir she saw there was truly...

'He was so cold and heartless towards Renee and Lianne.'

Although she couldn't blame him since he had always been that way...

But still, there was no need to go that far.

Renee already pitied Renee from the original novel, so even if it wasn't something she personally experienced, she disliked Ishir for it.

'But still, seeing him with such a wounded expression makes me feel uneasy.'

She couldn't help but speak first.

"I didn't mean to say something so harsh."

"No. I crossed the line."

When Ishir came out much more docile than expected, Renee felt awkward and speechless.

After a moment of thought, Ishir returned to his usual arrogant and indifferent expression.

"You're right."

Huh?

"I realize now that I have been crossing the line."

"Well, it was for public reasons-"

"Considering my actions, your behavior has been perfectly justified."

Ishir nodded once.

Then, he looked straight at Renee and spoke.

"So I will step back."

"Uh... to that extent?"

What's gotten into him? Why is he suddenly like this?

Renee couldn't adapt to Ishir's sudden politeness.

But Ishir stood up straight, even preparing to leave.

"I will return to the Capital first."

"Uh... okay. Are you sure it's alright?"

"From the beginning, it wasn't my place to be here."

Ishir picked up his cloak and draped it over his shoulders, then walked briskly towards the barracks door.

"But, Lady Marchius."

And right in front of the door, he abruptly stopped.

"I have grown up learning that there is no line that is forbidden to me."

So, he cannot guarantee when that line will be crossed.

Ishir smiled bitterly.

***

After Isnir left, Cedin quietly returned to the barracks.

Cedin didn't even ask why Ishir left.

Instead, he sat in the chair next to Renee's bed and silently waited for her.

Then, he gently touched his fingertips to her fingertips, which were carelessly placed.

It was such a small contact that Renee couldn't even perceive it. She didn't even realize that it was just a coincidence.

"Young Lady."

"Yes?"

"I want to call you too."

He said that, and this time he placed his index finger on top of Renee's pinky finger.

 

Very, very slowly.

So slowly that Renee could hardly perceive it.

"What for?"

"A name."

Cedin was urging her with innocent eyes. What is this guy again? Why did he change from a fox to a puppy?

"My name? Renee?"

"Yes."

With a rather sudden request, Renee tilted her head in confusion.

"Sure. Do as you please."

But well, it was a request that she couldn't refuse.

"Renee."

Cedin called her name and placed his palm on top of her hand.

This time, it was a definite contact. Even Renee, who was dull, could notice it.

"Cedin."

Renee withdrew her hand and pushed Cedin away.

"To be honest, accepting the master-disciple relationship was very difficult for me."

Cheeky. I untied one string and now he's trying to cross the wall. Young people.

"I like you."

One of the things she learned in her past life was not to give affection to people. Humans could die at any time and connections could be severed at any time.

"But I can't be the person you want."

Giving affection to such people would only be detrimental to her. And that thought seemed unlikely to change even if she returned to her original world.

"I will always just be me."

Renee stroked Cedin's head. Cedin lowered his eyes and thought for a moment before smiling.

[Cedin Anshirad's favorability has increased by 100! Current Favorability: 512]

Why is the favorability increasing here? Renee frowned.

"Yes, Renee."

However, Cedin replied after passing her hair to the side.

"And I will follow you no matter who you are, Renee."

Is it an agreement? She pinched Cedin's cheeks.

And she looked into his eyes.

"Because I am a good disciple."

She thought she was adept at reading people's hearts, but sometimes Cedin confused her. Especially at times like this.

"Yeah. You're a good disciple."

She liked that about Cedin, not knowing if he was a fox or a dog.

Even though he seemed to be going his own way, in the end, he came into her hands.

But- still, she was used to being alone.

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