I Became the Maid of the Lout Prince

T/N: This bonus chapter is sponsored by James B. (5/14). If you enjoy reading and are willing to help me catch up to the latest chapters faster by sponsoring bonus chapters, see my Ko-fi.

“Ugh, urghh…”

After Ethan and Machart clashed one-on-one, the pained voice of one of the men reached my ears.

Naturally, it wasn’t Ethan’s. After the final battle that lasted but a moment, Ethan was the only one standing on both feet.

“…”

Ethan had one foot on Machart’s chest as he lay on the ground, holding a sword to his throat. Approaching to confirm the result of the battle, I could clearly see that Ethan had emerged victorious in the final confrontation.

“Urk, AAAAAAARGH!!”

Machart was not only groaning on the ground, but both his arms had been severed at the elbow and shoulder, lying discarded on the floor. I had asked Ethan not to kill him outright, and he had complied to the letter—leaving Machart alive, but just barely.

With that level of blood loss, he wouldn’t die immediately, but it was certainly better than leaving him an opportunity for retaliation. [Only on DarkStar Translations! / Axiomatic]

“Atone for your crimes against Lilith with your death, Machart Paris Valtoria.”

“W-wait…! C-calm down! Don’t do something you’ll regret; think carefully!”

“What could I possibly regret more than not killing you here? Of all the people I’ve encountered, you’ve threatened and tormented Lilith the longest. What reason could I possibly have for not ending your life?”

“I-if you kill me like this, what will become of you?! If I die, you’ll be trapped in this world forever, unable to leave! If you want to be eternally imprisoned here with that woman, unable to die, then go ahead!”

“…”

“That’s a lie, Ethan. This world is a fake created by that man’s unique magic. When the mage dies, the world will naturally dissolve.”

“…I see, Lilith. Thank you for telling me.”

…Ethan seemed to have a strangely pleased expression when he heard Machart’s words just now. Surely he wasn’t moved by the idea of living with me in this world forever?

Reassured by my words, Ethan’s blade pressed a little closer to Machart’s neck, and the sharply honed edge slightly nicked his throat.

Swish.

“Eeeek, eeeeeeeeek…!!”

“And even if what you said wasn’t a lie but the truth, my choice wouldn’t have changed. No matter what you say, there’s no way for you to survive, so accept your death quietly.”

“W-wait…! You do know that the punishment for regicide is the extermination of three generations, right?! E-even if you’re the only son of Duke Blackwood, you can’t escape unscathed after killing me…”

“What nonsense are you spouting, when you’re closer to a demon than a human? I wonder if you’d still say the same thing after it’s revealed to everyone that you’re a demon.”

“H-how are you going to prove that I’m a demon?! Do you really think I’ll confess to being a demon before I die?!”

“…”

“Let me tell you one thing for certain. If I die, not only you but your father and that woman beside you will all be executed for regicide. If you want to accompany me to the afterlife that badly, go ahead and kill me! AHAHAHAHAHA…!!”

Whether he had gone mad with the fear of death, or truly believed his life held such value, Machart burst into laughter with a rather confident expression.

Ethan merely looked down at Machart with a contemptuous expression.

“Originally, it would have been impossible to prove you’re a demon when you’ve only accepted demonic power but haven’t fully transformed.”

“That’s right! The moment you cut my throat, you’ll inevitably be accused of regicide! I’ll die as a member of the Royal Family until my last moment!” [Only on DarkStar Translations! / Axiomatic]

“…No, you’ll die as a demon. Your name, tainted by demons, will be erased from the family register and every other record as a disgrace to the Royal Family.”

“How can you be so sure? Don’t tell me you believe in the Hero? Do you really think everyone will acknowledge me as a demon just because that guy goes around saying so?!”

“Are you an idiot? What’s the point of spouting such nonsense that even an elementary school student wouldn’t believe?”

“…Elementary school student? Is that some kind of monster name, Lilith?”

“…”

Setting aside whether an elementary school student is a type of monster or not, I once again clearly explained to Machart, who was looking at me with a confident expression, the situation he was in.

“Why would we use such an absurd method when we have the power of the Saint? Just using the Mirror of Truth would be enough to show everyone that demon blood flows through half your body.”

“Th-the power of the Saint?”

“Yes, the power of the Saint.”

“Ha, haha…! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…!!”

…Has this madman finally lost his mind?

Hearing my words, Machart grabbed his head… or rather, tried to, but with no hands left, he could only twitch his remaining elbows as he let out a frivolous laugh with all his remaining strength.

“Ah, HAHAHA…! So that’s why…! That’s why you could be so confident!”

“…”

“…”

“To think that the reason you brought that woman to this noble gathering, even going so far as to put a ridiculous mask on her, was for this! AHAHAHAHA…!! Ugh, urghh…!”

Machart, who had shouted at Ethan and me as if he was about to pass out, smiled a sinister grin, and I had a vague feeling I knew why he was reacting this way.

Being a member of the Royal Family, at this point, it seemed Machart knew the fact that Seriste hadn’t received the power of the Saint.

“Yes… It would be as you say… If there was the power of the Saint, evidence of my use of demonic power would inevitably come to light…”

“…”

“…”

“That is, of course, assuming the woman you brought is the real Saint…!”

As Machart shouted his final words, the gray background surrounding Ethan and me, like that of a black-and-white film, was lifted, and once again, the backyard of the annex palace, brilliantly lit with dazzling lights, revealed itself.

The splendid lighting seeped from inside the annex to the outside, and the faint sound of music seemed to echo from the Banquet Hall to where we stood.

…Also, the numerous exchange participants, along with the security guards of the annex, had gathered at some point.

“Kyaaaaaaah!! P-Prince Machart!!”

Starting with the scream of a young lady in a red dress, words began to spill from the mouths of each person gathered in the backyard.

“W-what are you doing to the Prince!! P-put that sword away immediately!!”

“G-good heavens… H-he’s already wounded…”

“How can someone be so cruel… To do such a thing to Prince Machart…”

…I’m pretty sure I sent a signal to gather in the backyard ‘without attracting attention from others’.

I suddenly wondered if I had sent the wrong content in the signal, but fortunately, it seemed that wasn’t the reason for this large crowd gathering.

Among this crowd and confusion, I caught sight of a brown-haired young lady smiling calmly, ‘the flirtatious woman Evelyn’.

‘Shit, is this that woman’s doing again?’

She probably sensed that Machart’s trap wasn’t going well and gathered this large crowd to bring them to the backyard to save him. Or there might be some kind of communication method that can be used between Machart, who uses demonic power, and that woman.

In any case, this gathering of unexpected personnel was something I hadn’t anticipated. Especially the public opinion created by showing only this fragmented situation was disadvantageous to Ethan in many ways. [Only on DarkStar Translations! / Axiomatic]

To anyone looking at the current situation, it would only appear as if Ethan was about to kill Machart after a quarrel, not as a knight drawing his sword to execute Machart for using demonic power.

‘The public opinion is too negative. I wonder if I can suppress it even for a moment?’

Once we show evidence that Machart is a demon, all these criticisms would disappear, but the problem was that it wasn’t easy to show evidence that he was a demon in this situation.

Ordinary people tend to see only what they ‘want to see’. In a situation like this where anyone could see Ethan as the aggressor and Machart as the victim, using the Mirror of Truth wouldn’t be convincing. Even if we showed evidence that Machart was a demon, people might cover their own eyes and ears, saying it couldn’t be true.

If we could at least properly focus their attention during the process of Machart transforming into a demon, it might be possible, but in this situation, no one would seriously listen to the words of a mere baroness’s daughter.

“S-step away from the Prince, Young Master Ethan!”

“Young Master Ethan! If you don’t put that sword away, even if you’re the only son of the Blackwood family, the responsibility for regicide…”

“Your Highness, please come to your senses! Your High-“

“Everyone, be quiet…!!!”

“…”

“…”

“…”

In the backyard that had become like a noisy marketplace with noble ladies and gentlemen, palace guards, and various other servants all speaking their minds, someone’s resounding voice echoed.

A sharp, high-pitched shout was sufficient to draw everyone’s attention, and someone with an appearance equally capable of captivating everyone’s gaze quietly stepped forward from among the crowd.

Step, step.

With her appearance, born of a bloodline that no one present could dare interrupt, the noisy backyard suddenly fell silent. …Including myself.

I hadn’t imagined that she would show herself at this noble exchange meeting.

As Seraphine, who had appeared captivating everyone’s attention, moved her steps to the center of the annex’s backyard, her long blonde hair swaying, a dull impression swept through my mind along with the suddenly changed atmosphere due to her appearance.

‘Why is she coming out here?’

T/N

Hello! Axiomatic here.

Thanks for reading, see you tomorrow!