X Trash…… bastard……?
“I didn’t think I’d be backstabbed like that. Even after 20 years, I still can’t forget it.”
“M-Mother’s…… backstabbing……”
“It’s alright. I smacked that bastard’s forehead in return. Three times.”
“……”
“I should have smacked him thirty, no, three hundred times. Looking back, I regret that.”
Mother laughed out loud, watching me gape in bewilderment.
What on earth could have happened to make Mother, who rarely shows emotion, react like this……?
“I brought up this unpleasant memory to give you advice. Don’t trust men too much, Luibel.”
“Thank you for the advice, Mother. But Prince Anselot is someone I can trust.”
As I carefully added that, Mother’s lips curved in amusement.
“So you trust him.”
Yes, well….. I firmly trust that he’s using me to get rid of the Light Dragon…..
I swallowed the words I couldn’t bring myself to say in front of Mother.
“If you return safely after proving the prophecy, the empire’s future might change.”
“……”
The empire’s future Mother spoke of must refer to the dynamics surrounding the next imperial succession.
I still had no interest in the imperial succession, but it was more convenient to let Mother think that way, so I didn’t say anything more.
“Anyway, take care, Luibel. Please be careful.”
“Yes, Mother. I’ll be back.”
I bowed with a bright smile and left the imperial palace.
Three white horses were waiting for us outside.
The one at the very front was wearing a flower crown and neighing softly.
Seeing the Azester imperial crest on the saddle, I knew that was my horse.
As I walked confidently towards it to mount, Anselot and Klaus called out to me.
“Your Highness.”
“Your Highness.”
The two men who simultaneously extended their hands to me frowned at each other in displeasure.
“Your Highness, let me help you.”
Anselot turned to me first with a gentle smile.
“Your Highness, allow me to assist you in mounting.”
Klaus also stepped forward, not backing down.
I had thought their relationship wasn’t good before, but seeing them engage in a battle of nerves from the start of the journey gave me a headache.
“I can mount a horse by myself!”
I ignored both their hands and boldly climbed onto the horse alone.
Anselot and Klaus followed behind me with disappointed looks, mounting their own horses.
When we arrived at the main gate of the palace, a crowd had gathered to see me off.
“Lulu! Be careful on your journey!”
Elder sister Elizabeth sniffled as she bid farewell.
“Yes, elder sister. I’ll be careful.”
Beside her, elder sister Gloria was looking at me with a stern expression.
“Thanks to you, one of Azester’s worries has been resolved. Thank you, Luibel.”
Though it seemed like a formal greeting at first glance, I blinked in surprise when I looked above Gloria’s head.
It was because Gloria’s favorability had increased slightly.
Azester Empire’s First Imperial Princess
Favorability: 68
In , numbers only become significant above 100, so a small favorability of 68 wasn’t much different from indifference.
However, I was surprised that the favorability, which had been 0, had risen that much.
Gloria had originally been in opposition with elder brother Orent over the next imperial succession, and if it weren’t for me, she would have secured the position of crown princess without much fuss now that Orent had been driven out.
But with me, who had already caught people’s attention by awakening as a Swordmaster, declaring that I would leave for the , a new dynamic arose surrounding the next imperial succession.
So Gloria should have been wary and reluctant towards me.
In such a situation, that slightly increased favorability meant…..
‘Gloria truly is grateful. For me resolving Azester’s concern.’
It showed that her thoughts for the empire were sincere.
Unlike Orent, who tried to grasp the next imperial succession even at the cost of harming innocent people.
“It’s nothing. I’m glad I can fulfill my duty as a member of the imperial family in this way.”
Gloria’s lips curved gently at my response.
[SYSTEM] ‘s favorability has increased by +8. (Favorability: 76)“Take care on your journey, Luibel.”
“Yes, elder sister.”
I responded to her with a bright smile.
Among the crowd seeing us off was Sylvia, waving a handkerchief.
“Your Highness, please take good care of elder brother Klaus.”
“I should be the one entrusted to Sir Klaus.”
With a subtle hint of sarcasm, I glanced at Klaus’s level and replied sulkily.
“He’s the man who killed a bear at six years old.”
Sylvia clapped her hands and agreed.
“Oh my, Your Highness is right. Did you hear that, elder brother? Make sure to take good care of our Imperial Princess and bring her back safely!”
“I would do so even without your reminder.”
As Klaus replied gruffly, Anselot snorted beside him.
Before the two could face off again, I quickly urged my horse through the endless crowd of well-wishers.
[This is the timeline separator] [Main Quest: Forest of Dreams (1/3)]The Forest of Dreams, standing in the way to the Grand Temple, is causing people to tremble in fear. Defeat the monsters of the Forest of Dreams and spread your heroic poetry!
â–·Clear Condition: Defeat 500 monsters in the Forest of Dreams
â–¶Reward upon Success: Experience +12500, Skill Points +10
The second scenario Piya brought takes place in a location called the Forest of Dreams.
This forest was located on the fastest route from the Azester Empire to the Grand Temple.
‘500 monsters. Is this a grind?’
I stared at the quest notification window’s clear condition with cold eyes.
In the original work, Hezen met his second companion, the Light Sage Iley, here.
But the problem with this forest wasn’t just the rampaging of fierce monsters.
The real thing to be careful of in this forest was not the monsters, but Iley’s illusions.
‘It was a place that dug into people’s weaknesses and gave them trials.’
The original Hezen also overcame the trials splendidly.
‘The problem is that I’m a different person from Hezen. The trials I’ll face will be different from those in the original work.’
So even though I knew the original story, it would be quite a tricky quest.
‘Well, it should be fine……?’
Just as I was trying to suppress my worries and anxieties with a sigh.
“Your Highness, do you have any concerns?”
Klaus approached me.
“No, what concerns?”
[SYSTEM] ‘s favorability has decreased by −10. (Favorability: −170)As I waved my hand with a bright smile, Klaus’s favorability dropped.
‘Damn it.’
I spoke to him in a solemn tone.
“Do you still see me as a woman you need to protect, Sir?”
[SYSTEM] ‘s favorability has increased by +10. (Favorability: −160)“I apologize, Your Highness. That was not my intention at all.”
“Then it would be better not to worry rashly, Sir. I didn’t ask you to join this journey to lean on you and act childishly.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
[SYSTEM] ‘s favorability has increased by +10. (Favorability: −150)That favorability, which rises and falls in exact multiples of ten every time, truly resembles his honest personality.
Klaus’s favorability jumped up and down every time we conversed, but I found a general rule after a few days.
It seemed that when I acted like the ‘Luibel’ of his ideal type, his favorability dropped due to his ascetic trait, and when I showed the image of the lord he had sworn allegiance to, his favorability rose again.
Thanks to figuring out that difference, Klaus’s favorability had recovered considerably now, but.
‘Still in the negative. This is a bit sad.’
I looked at Klaus and Anselot, lowering my eyes dejectedly.
How did I end up departing like this, accompanied by a man who tried to kill me from our first meeting, and another whose favorability drops every time he sees my face, making me wonder when he might harbor murderous intent?
‘My fate is truly pitiful.’
As I lamented inwardly like that, we finally reached the entrance of the forest.
[SYSTEM] You have arrived at a new location! [SYSTEM] The mini-map of has been unlocked!“This must be that forest.”
Klaus said, assuming a cautious stance.
Thanks to the people we met on the way here unanimously expressing the dangers of the forest, his vigilance was at its peak.
“I’ll scout ahead.”
Klaus dismounted to reconnoiter.
“It’s just a few monsters, no need for scouting.”
Anselot mocked Klaus, but Klaus looked around with quite a solemn expression.
And just as he was about to take a step into the forest.
A huge teddy bear appeared!
And with a level of 30, no less!
Bweet! Bweeet!
―It’s a Forest of Dreams Teddy Bear! Despite its cute appearance, it’s a very ferocious monster!
‘No, it doesn’t look cute at all!’
I was shocked at the sight of the giant 3-meter tall teddy bear.
“Your Highness, be careful!”
Klaus stepped forward and blocked the teddy bear’s attack with his shield.
Oh, as expected of a prodigy who beat a bear at six years old.
Grrr! Grrrr!
The teddy bear growled fiercely.
Klaus swung the sword in his right hand and cut down the teddy bear.
[SYSTEM] You have defeated ! [SYSTEM] You have gained 500 experience points. [Quest in Progress]Thanks to me registering Klaus as a helper, the monsters he defeated were being counted.
‘So we have to beat down 499 more like that.’
Just as I was about to feel dizzy at the staggering number.
Grrr!
“Sir Klaus! On the side too……”
I shouted as I spotted another teddy bear approaching from the left.
There wasn’t just one teddy bear.
As if my shout was a signal, teddy bears revealed themselves from all around.
“There are too many!”
“Don’t worry, Your Highness.”
Klaus stepped forward towards the teddy bears and said in a solemn voice.
“I would risk death to protect Your Highness.”
“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
The one who responded to those words was none other than Anselot.
“You go ahead and risk death, Klaus Winster.”
“W-What……”
Klaus, who was about to face the teddy bears, turned to him in bewilderment.
Anselot nimbly jumped onto my horse.
Pressing close behind me, he overlapped his hand on mine holding the reins and whispered.
“Your Highness, let’s escape to a safe place while he’s risking his life.”
“Uh, okay?”
And then, before I could answer, he started urging the horse in the opposite direction from Klaus.
Neigh!
The horse let out a loud cry and bolted from the spot.
So right now, Anselot has abandoned Klaus to sacrifice himself alone and run off with just me!
______
In This Life, I Won’t Be Foolish To Lose You Again (Female-dominant)
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
