The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

26 – Those Reeking of Malice (3)

It’s not yet confirmed that Dagilek Branon is a mine.

There was a foul smell.

It was difficult to judge based on that alone.

The smell of rotten earth. Rusty metal.

Certainly, the repulsive odor was a characteristic feature of mines. In fact, during the racial wars, mines hiding among the crowds were identified by their odor. However, the Branon family, which sent Dagilek as the suitor, was a prestigious family in the western part of the empire, so they couldn’t hastily treat him as a criminal.

“It feels refreshing to drive away all these repulsive suitors.”

Elizabeth stretched her back and yawned.

The Fiancé Slayer.

A young woman who had chased away up to fifteen suitors.

Witnessing the dignitaries of the Baltaria Empire return with disappointed steps, they had bestowed such a nickname upon Elizabeth.

It was a praise aimed at the Platinum Princess who had expelled a whopping fifteen suitors.

“Your Highness…! Surely, Her Majesty will scold you! Even now, with Princess Ludmilla departing to the North, Her Majesty must feel uncomfortable…”

“Would she punish me again this time? Could she possibly reprimand her beloved youngest daughter?”

The chief maid, visibly flustered, stuttered while rolling her eyes.

To this, Elizabeth responded with a grim expression.

A maid serving the antagonist heroine,

Could there be a more arduous and thankless profession in the world? Elizabeth genuinely felt pity.

Having received unilateral rejections, the prestigious families that sent suitors would likely express their displeasure. They might even protest, claiming that the princess had besmirched their family’s honor.

It was only natural for the chief maid, speculating on this, to fret and protest aloud.

“By the way, haven’t seen such earrings before? They’re incredibly beautiful.”

“Ah, yes…”

The chief maid’s chattering continued.

Elizabeth attempted to divert the topic somehow.

“It seems Sekri has a boyfriend now. Starting a secret relationship, how scandalous.”

“Your Highness!”

The princess’s chief maid exclaimed, her face turning red with embarrassment. In her earlobes gleamed beautifully adorned earrings with a subtle shade that Elizabeth hadn’t noticed yesterday.

I hadn’t seen those before…

Who on earth gifted the princess’s chief maid?

Fueled by curiosity, Elizabeth asked the maid, who was continuing their conversation.

“It was a gift from the Branon family’s gentleman… before he left.”

“Really?”

If it had been a gift from another suitor, it might have been dismissed as inconsequential. However, the suitor who had gifted the maid was a suspect in the ongoing investigation.

Was it really a coincidence?

It might simply have been a gesture of goodwill.

It could have been presented as a warning to Elizabeth. After all, for nobles, gifts often conveyed more than just generosity; they symbolized ulterior motives.

But I interpreted it not as a gift, but as ‘malice.’

“Sekri, can you show me the earring?”

“Yes? Uh, yes…”

Elizabeth, sensing an unusual atmosphere, asked the maid for a favor. The maid hesitated but eventually handed me the earring.

Twitch-.

As the earring touched, an indescribable ominous feeling permeated. And a slight sense of similarity followed.

It wasn’t an ordinary gem.

Certainly, it must have contained magic or sorcery inside.

Probably a trick to block the formidable barrier magic of the imperial palace. The jewel emitting a strange color was likely used as a disguise to deceive the barrier magic.

It was almost certain, given the deception experienced during the time I marched with the holy party.

“It seems that we may need the assistance of the lady to analyze it in detail.”

An item related to socializing.

If anyone could discern it skillfully, it would be the saint of the flourishing kingdom.

Javelin and her subordinates enjoying tea time in the reception room were called.

“But how did he conceal his identity and infiltrate the palace?”

Even during the Third Race War, which stained the entire continent with bloody conflicts, the Valtarian Empire’s imperial palace acted as an impregnable fortress. Until now, there had never been a precedent for the palace being breached.

If Dagrak Branon is indeed a mine, it will be recorded as an unprecedented event. It was a situation where the stringent defense network of the palace had been breached by a filthy mine.

Many individuals must have been involved.

Moreover, it would have taken a long time and effort.

It was definitely not a solo act.

There might be an armed group formed by mines and socialites behind it.

As my thoughts reached that point, impatience began to creep in. There was even a sense of urgency to wipe them out as quickly as possible.

“Your Imperial Highness, and Lady Saint.”

Elizabeth.

And Javelin, accompanied by the priests.

While looking at them, I explained the hastily prepared contingency plan.

Although Rudmila had left for the north, we couldn’t just leave the mines infiltrating the empire unchecked. After explaining to Elizabeth and Rudmila, I also planned to inform Emperor Barbarossa about the infiltration of the mines.

* * *

After the breakdown of the secret meeting,

The monster that had covered up Dagrak’s disappearance was residing in a villa located near the imperial capital.

It was not as prominent as the Hohenberg family, but the Branon family, which boasted outstanding fame in the west, had already become a stronghold for mines and socialites for a long time.

“Dagilek Branon was murdered.

Moreover, his family and the servants of his lineage were all exterminated.

Those currently staying in the mansion were nothing but impostors disguised as the Branon family. The ‘Leaders,’ who had infiltrated the palace to kidnap Princess Elizaveta, were accelerating their next plan.

“It won’t be long before it’s set in motion. The Princess’s fate is already firmly within our grasp.”

The hoary old man spoke with a raspy voice.

The advent of the divine was imminent.

The old man blinked his eyes, exuding a filthy sense of anticipation.

It was a perilous plan, yet there had been no variables thus far. The incompetent fools of the empire remained unaware that even their vaunted, imposing defenses had been breached.

Mockery arose at the thought of wielding the Batariya Empire, which ruled the continent, as they pleased.

“Sir Vergis, a missive has arrived from the palace.”

“The palace?”

A missive from the palace.

More precisely, it was sent by Princess Elizaveta.

An elder named Vergis expressed doubt at the report from his subordinate.

“It can’t possibly have been exposed… That’s quite an unexpected turn.”

Elizaveta sent handwritten letters to the suitors who had been dismissed.

She wanted to apologize for her rudeness.

A banquet was arranged for the disheartened suitors.

The handwritten letter from the palace, upon arriving at the mansion, was an invitation for reconciliation. As Vergis read the letter, he chuckled, revealing his yellowed teeth.

“Mayros, the Princess has invited you. She says she wants to apologize for her rudeness.”

“Oh!?”

Vergis spoke while gazing at the scene of repentance.

A monster.

The man with the elongated head was lashing himself.

He wielded a whip upon his own flesh, proclaiming repentance for the sins and foolishness of humans. With the sound of splitting skin, blood and flesh flowed.

Nevertheless, the monstrous figure, with his throat convulsing, continued the self-flagellation.

“To meet the Princess, as radiant as platinum! Ah, this is undoubtedly a divine prophecy! It’s an opportunity bestowed upon us by the all-powerful god!!”

The man, covered in blood from relentless whipping, cried out in madness.

His chilling sight even unnerved the zealous adherents pledged to him.

“But it’s strange. The location for the banquet is not the palace but a nearby mansion. It’s said to be hosted at a mansion owned by the Batariya Royal Family, not the palace.”

“All the other suitors have also received letters. If that’s the case, it can’t be a trap.”

Verghis nodded at his subordinate’s words.

It couldn’t be a trap.

The imperial folks were still in a state akin to being blindfolded.

He decided to attend.

He had already secured Elizabeth’s safety. But he accepted the proposal to strive for perfection.

The beggar disguised as Dagilek Branon yearned intensely for a reunion with the beautiful princess.

* * *

The suitors who received handwritten letters from Elizabeth gathered at the Valtaria Imperial Villa, where a grand banquet was being held.

Why did they want to receive apologies so desperately?

No, the suitors had a different goal.

It was the resumption of the marriage negotiation that had been mercilessly interrupted by the villainous heroine.

If they failed in the negotiation and returned to their families, the disfavor of the clan was inevitable. Therefore, the suitors were determined to somehow win Elizabeth’s heart.

The ambition to become the companion of the Platinum Princess and wield power once again ignited the hearts of the suitors.

“It seems I wasn’t in my right mind due to the shock of the unfortunate separation. I sincerely apologize to the distinguished guests attending the banquet.”

As the beautiful princess, dressed in an evening dress of ivory, bowed her head and apologized, the discomfort that lingered in the hearts of the suitors melted away like ice.

A platinum blonde as dazzling as a white snowflake.

Emerald eyes that sparkled vividly.

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A face as radiant as a goddess.

Elizabeth, who possessed beauty and charm that surpassed even the famous beauties, made it easy to captivate hearts.

The Platinum Princess quickly smiled at the suitors who showed awkward reactions.

“It’s, it’s perfectly fine! We are not offended at all!”

“Yes! How could we dare harbor any ill feelings?!”

Enchanted by her bewitching beauty, the suitors exclaimed with excitement.

Competing among themselves like a display of courtship, they showered compliments on the princess.

“Please make way for a moment…! The wine is passing by! Oh no, it spilled!!”

As the competition for the loyalty of the suitors unfolded, with each vying to become the queen bee, a girl with green hair took tentative steps forward, beginning to serve.

Crash-!

Clang!!

The wine glass shattered.

She even went as far as breaking plates.

Compared to the skilled servants of the noble family, the fiancés couldn’t hide their discomfort at the clumsy actions of the girl.

However, in front of the platinum princess whom they ardently adored, they exercised patience and endured the unseemly behavior.

“Ahem!”

“Do you know how expensive this suit is…!”

Wine glasses were placed in front of each fiancé.

It was an exquisite white grape wine with a subtle flavor.

Was the main dish a fish dish?

The fiancés sipped the white grape wine, speculating on the upcoming dinner.

“I haven’t seen you like this in a while. How have you been?”

“…Ugh!”

As the adorable girl approached, Dagilek Branon greeted her with a bright smile. The girl, however, spilled a sigh and quickly fled.

What’s going on?

Running around like that…

Despite seeing her serving wine glasses, there was no trace of etiquette and refinement in the carefree girl. Why entrust serving to such a girl?

It was truly a strange affair.

“Hmm?”

Dagilek, who was staring at the girl’s retreating figure, suddenly voiced a puzzled tone.

The radiant red wine.

The other fiancés received white grape wine.

But why was he the only one given red grape wine?

Staring at the blood-red red grape wine, Dagilek felt a sharp sense of danger piercing through his chest.

Instinctively, he tried to stand up from his seat.

“There’s only one sneaky rat that’s slipped in.”

“Cough!!”

Without warning, a man who had approached drew his sword and stabbed Dagilek in the chest.

Allowing the first strike, Dagilek let out a scream and collapsed to the ground.

“This, what is this…!!”

She tried to shout at the man who had launched the attack, blood flowing freely.

However,

She couldn’t bring herself to open her mouth.

As if all the formidable barriers and protections of the Hwangseong’s solemn defense network were echoing screams, they all began to tremble as if vomiting out a scream.

It was because of the blow she had just received.

Her whole body bubbled and boiled, emitting a pungent smoke without mercy.

“Graaah!! Graaaahhh!!”

The face of the once-useful Dagilek Branon melted away.

And not only that.

Including the face, all the flesh of the entire body dripped like wax.

The revealed monster, despite screaming, looked at the blood-red blade that had pierced itself. Then it turned its gaze towards the man who had swung the sword behind it.

“How many spells and protections did you break to make your whole body melt like this?”

The man took out a pistol.

And without hesitation, he pulled the trigger on the monster’s head.