Faust bid farewell to Her Highness the Imperial Princess and departed from the conservatory.
Although Artedinis had spoken a great deal of nonsense earlier, her intent was actually quite simple.
It boiled down to: "I have taken an interest in you, so I am informing you that I will be keeping a close watch on you from now on."
Faust quite admired Artedinis’s life philosophy—that she would stop at nothing to obtain what she desired, acting entirely according to her own whims.
However, if he were the prey being targeted, the feeling was not nearly as pleasant.
But that was fine. Just as Artedinis had developed a deep interest in him, was Faust not also harboring his own expectations for her?
To desire possession upon seeing something beautiful, to desire interference upon seeing something interesting—it was merely a matter of who had the greater ability. Faust was far from being pure or kind.
I gaze upon the green mountains and find them charming; surely the mountains gaze upon me in the same way.
【That is enough. You describe such an astral pursuit so elegantly, when you simply want to conquer her.】
Faust sighed. "Ah, I do not know how to communicate with you, but this impulse is not merely about conquest; it is a unique form of pleasure."
"If someone wishes to treat me as prey, then I shall enjoy the process of this competitive pursuit. It is a clash of spirits, do you understand?"
【So, you do not want to conquer her?】
"...I do."
Faust was likely influenced by the 【Great Thunder Mark (Incomplete)】; he felt the urge to conquer every peerless beauty in the world, though his rationality was still able to restrain his more feral nature.
【That Imperial Princess is quite a promising specimen.】
Mephisto continued to discuss Artedinis, saying:
【As a fate-defier, she possesses qualities just as precious as your own, namely her attitude toward fate.】
【Although there are several sons of man who possess the fate-star of the brave one, by all logic, she is the one most likely to ultimately seize the true position of the brave one. Come to think of it, she would also make a suitable contractor.】
Faust frowned. "What is this? At this late stage, don't tell me you are thinking of changing your affections?"
【Hm? Are you feeling jealous?】
"No, I am merely following your example."
Faust still remembered how Mephisto would show undisguised possessiveness whenever other fairies were involved.
Thus, the prince understood that this was likely Mephisto’s sensitive point; fairies were particularly concerned with the exclusivity of their contracts.
Not long after Faust left the conservatory, at a corner of the corridor, a beautiful and petite girl was sitting on a sun-warmed windowsill, swinging her smooth, slender legs.
The tips of her pale golden hair had green highlights, a shade that nearly blended into the curtains behind her, making it difficult to distinguish.
Upon seeing Faust, Eleanor lifted her chin and scoffed:
"Hmph, you man, come here. Tell me what my imperial sister said to you?"
Faust stopped in his tracks. "No, I have been wanting to ask this for a while: do you always speak like this? Always 'man this, man that.' Is it possible to use respectful language when addressing someone?"
"Hmph, because men are inherently filthy and vulgar, with heads full of nothing but sowing seeds. Even when you are allowed to step into the palace, one must be careful to dismiss the maids."
Eleanor pinched her delicate nose in disgust:
"The lingering stench on your body can be smelled from far away. If a maid with no resistance were to get too close, she would absolutely end up pregnant."
"...Hm?"
For a moment, Faust did not know how to retort. As a dignified occult noble and a practitioner of a high-tier path, he was always clean and tidy.
The scent Eleanor referred to was likely the pheromones emanating from the prince—a result of his mystery trait. There was no helping that.
However, to those who adored Faust, this was considered the "most mellow and exquisite wine," and the 【witch】 was particularly obsessed with it; she was quite fond of that specific scent.
This was the first time Faust had been told he "smelled bad" by someone of the opposite sex.
The behavior of this young girl was far too characteristic of a brat who sought attention, repeatedly emphasizing that "men have a stench."
Faust even suspected that she was deliberately provoking him. Just look at how she was acting!
But he was not entirely certain.
Because the royal family of the Radiant Dynasty consisted almost exclusively of imperial princesses; imperial princes were born only rarely, and they seldom interacted with one another.
Given the state of the imperial family, which was completely isolated from ordinary people, it was possible that Eleanor’s only companions were her maids and her imperial sister, with no exposure to the opposite sex at all.
Having grown up under such influences, she might genuinely hold some rather peculiar notions.
In that case, she really was a natural-born magnet brat.
"Furthermore, is there any need for a noble descendant of the Radiant Dynasty to pay respects to the monarch of a borderland kingdom?"
Just as Faust was lamenting the bizarre personalities of the imperial royals, Eleanor jumped down from the wide windowsill and said haughtily:
"Being allowed to approach and speak is already a rare favor. You should be gratef—wait, what are you holding in your hand?"
The naive imperial princess noticed the flower crown in Faust’s hand, and her expression turned to one of utter shock.
Faust toyed with the crown and said:
"This? This is a gift from Artedinis."
"A... a gift?"
Eleanor could naturally tell that this was indeed Artedinis’s handiwork, and she stamped her feet in anxiety:
"How could the imperial sister give you a gift?"
Faust laughed upon seeing this. "Why not? We had a very pleasant conversation. I am currently considering what to give in return."
The girl’s face flushed red. "That is impossible! The imperial sister might have some interest in you, but that is merely a passing whim! You shouldn't even dare to look the imperial sister in the eyes!"
Ugh, that is enough. She is an imperial princess and I am a prince; why would I not dare to look her in the eyes?
"The facts are as they are. Could it be... that you have never received a gift from Artedinis?"
As soon as Faust finished speaking, Eleanor’s eyes welled up with tears, and she glared viciously at the man.
Since the girl had so obviously exposed her weakness, the prince could not be blamed for continuing to press the advantage:
"It seems that in the eyes of Her Highness Artedinis, an outsider like me, whom she has only just met, is more likable than you. I suppose this is what they call attraction between the opposite sex; perhaps we are quite compatible."
"How about this? I shall put in the effort to see if I can become your brother-in-law."
"Shut up!"
The girl’s bright, clear eyes turned visibly red and swollen.
"You... you are rude! Extremely rude! Shameless! You are no better than a beast! You are truly audacious!"
Even when scolding him, Eleanor had no bite at all. Seeing that Faust remained completely unmoved, she turned and bolted away.
No, she just covered her face and fled? What kind of high-offense, low-defense character was this? Oh, she didn't even have high offense—she was a total weakling in every sense.
How could anyone be such a weakling?
Faust frowned. At this rate, rumors about him would likely spread like wildfire before long.
He did not mind being the subject of gossip, but the supposed target of his affections should at least be accurate. Damn it all, he didn't want everyone questioning whether his tastes had changed; that would truly be the ruin of his reputation.
Faust shook his head and sighed, placing a hand over his heart:
"I am devoted only to those of the motherly type."
Rate on N.U.
