“Your Highness, Fourth Princess, please show some self-respect.”
As Cinerella pressed Lulumia further, Eno suddenly pulled Lulumia to her side, her face displeased as she warned, “Lulumia now belongs to the Istelle Church.”
Lulumia, realizing the situation, quickly pretended to be weak and stammered a reply.
“I am who I am… It—it was Your Highness, Fourth Princess, who made me realize my past mistakes, so I tried my best to change. If there is anything Your Highness is dissatisfied with, I… I can correct it…”
Cinerella glanced at Lulumia with hidden meaning, then stood up and looked at Eno.
“I’m just curious about what happened to her. Don’t you think so, Holy Son Eno? A prodigal, reckless fool suddenly becoming a genius capable of creating such a machine overnight, even her way of speaking is clear and logical, using everything at hand as a weapon…”
“So what? It’s only natural that a magitek puppet would be different from a human, besides, she learned all this thanks to Your Highness’s guidance.”
“Oh? You seem quite displeased with me.”
Faced with Eno’s barbed reply, Cinerella raised an eyebrow.
There were countless people in this world who disliked her, but Eno was the first to so openly display her disdain at their very first meeting.
Her interest in Lulumia vanished completely, and Cinerella began to seriously size up the Holy Son before her.
Suddenly, Cinerella’s lips curved with interest—a smile that sent a chill through Lulumia, full of malice and ill intent, as if she had shifted her sights onto Eno.
That’s right, she should be able to see the Fourth Princess’s information now.
Lulumia quietly opened her panel, only to discover that the flame surrounding Cinerella was as grand as Eno’s.
The difference was that Eno’s flame was golden, while Cinerella’s was a nearly black shade of purple.
As for titles, apart from the first one visible, ‘Bookworm,’ there were also ‘Seventh Princess of the Serran Empire,’ ‘Fourth Princess of the Ounheim Holy Nation,’ ‘Death Herald Witch,’ ‘Silent Dark Moon,’ ‘Favored of Fire and Darkness,’ ‘Neglected Crown Prince,’ and ‘Paranoid.’ Of course, there were many more titles that Lulumia couldn’t see.
Moreover, Cinerella had more titles than anyone Lulumia had met so far—more than herself and Eno combined.
She murmured softly.
“The Immaculate Holy Son, hmm… You’re different from any other Holy Son I’ve met. Very interesting. Both your looks and strength pass muster. When you fail in the Holy Son competition, why not come serve me in the Serran Empire? With you as my confidante, I’d have far fewer worries.”
“I have already devoted my body and soul to Lady Istelle, so I’m afraid I cannot serve Your Highness,” Eno pressed her right hand to her chest and bowed slightly.
“Besides, I may not lose the Holy Son competition.”
“Is that so.”
Not angry, Cinerella gently shook her head.
“You will come to me in the end. Your abilities aren’t enough to change the current situation.”
It was like a cat eyeing a mouse, a carnivorous gaze that seemed to say she could have Eno in her grasp at any moment.
If Lulumia’s mental age were any younger, she would have put on her yuri goggles to watch the Fourth Princess and Eno—their completely different auras paired with their stunning looks really did create a certain mood.
“Even as a member of both the Serran Empire and Ounheim Holy Nation’s royalty, your words go too far.”
The blunt words made Eno raise her eyebrows, her tone carrying an unmistakable anger.
“Check your arrogance, Cinerella Sienheim Atenasheim Shelen. I am a Holy Son candidate blessed by Lady Istelle. If you persist, your actions and words will be seen as a provocation against the Church. The Istelle Church will not allow the blessed to be insulted.”
Eno was truly angry.
It was the first time Lulumia had seen Eno speak so stiffly, so formally that it seemed if the Fourth Princess uttered one more word of provocation, she would place her hand on the ornate silver cross-shaped sword at her waist.
Lulumia couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
This all started because of her; if things got out of hand, who knew what would happen.
Fortunately, Cinerella stopped short, waving her hand with disinterest.
“Let’s hope so. I’m quite interested in this thing—I’d like to bring it back to Serran. But since it can’t produce magic books or scrolls, its value can’t be high—two hundred gold coins at most. The remaining four thousand eight hundred… With a blessed Holy Son as your support, I doubt it will be a problem?”
As she finished, Cinerella’s teasing gaze fell on Eno, clearly seeing Lulumia as nothing more than a tool to taunt Eno.
Eno remained expressionless.
“I will of course settle her debt. If Your Highness, Fourth Princess, has nothing further, we shall take our leave.”
“W-wait, Eno.”
In her haste, Lulumia even forgot to add the usual sweet “sister” after Eno’s name.
If she let Eno pay back those five thousand gold coins for her, she would truly become Eno’s possession; her fate should be in her own hands.
She spoke firmly.
“The printing press is just the beginning. I owe this debt to the Fourth Princess, so I should be the one to repay it.”
“You? With what will you repay it!”
Seeing that Lulumia was about to stir up trouble again, Lain barked harshly, but Lulumia didn’t even glance at him, stubbornly insisting.
“I’ll pay off the five thousand gold coins within two years at most.”
“Delusional! I say I could make five hundred thousand gold in two years!”
“Two years is too long.”
Unlike the furious Lain, Cinerella put away her folding fan and calmly shook her head.
“I’ll be returning to Serran in at most half a year. Who knows when I’ll be back again.”
“But I have a compromise.”
At this, a contemplative look appeared on Cinerella’s cold face.
She seemed unwilling to stay much longer, nor willing to give Lulumia any leeway.
She turned and walked toward the door, her voice echoing faintly.
“The Holy Son competition results will be out in half a year. At that time, whether the Holy Son at your side wins or loses, she will have a period of freedom. If you haven’t paid off the debt by then, the Holy Son at your side must face me in a match. If she wins, I’ll consider the debt erased. If she loses, she’ll have to accompany me to the Serran Empire for a time. I don’t need her to do anything—just stay by my side.”
That’s just making things difficult.
She had no right to decide Eno’s comings and goings.
Besides, it was her own debt—it had nothing to do with Eno.
But before Lulumia could protest, Eno stepped forward, an unyielding light in her pale blue eyes.
“No need to wait half a year. We can settle this right now.”
“…Not now. You’re no match for me, arrogant Holy Maiden.”
Her words barely faded when a whirlwind of countless black particles whipped madly toward Cinerella, then with a faint “pop,” the black motes suddenly exploded.
As if mocking Eno, the particles merged with the air before touching her, becoming a breeze that ruffled her hair.
Cinerella was already nowhere to be seen.
Fifth-Tier Dark Attribute Magic, Cinerella’s signature skill—’Return of the Dark Moon.’
“My apologies, Holy Son, President Lain. Please allow me to convey Her Highness’s greetings to the Archbishop on her behalf.”
Falias, left in the room, bowed to Eno and Lain, then led the other attendants out.
The room fell silent.
Lulumia looked up at Eno with worry.
Eno’s face was visibly grim, her right hand pressed tightly to the cross-shaped sword at her waist.
“Eno sis…”
It wasn’t until Lulumia’s small hand rested on the back of Eno’s that the tension in Eno’s expression eased.
She took a deep breath to adjust her mood, then smiled at Lulumia.
“It’s nothing. I was careless. I’m indeed no match for her right now. Let’s go back. And remember to tell me your plans to earn money.”
“I’ll definitely make enough to pay the five thousand gold and protect Eno sis!”
“Then I’ll be counting on you to protect me.”
Eno affectionately patted Lulumia’s head, then glanced back at the glass window where the breeze had gone.
“I was naive this time too…”
[Title lost: ‘Puppet of the Fourth Princess (Temporary)’, ‘Commoner Trainee’]
[Title gained: ‘Silver-Tongued’, ‘Budding Talent’, ‘Inventor of the Printing Press’, ‘Magitek Puppet of the Immaculate Holy Son’, ‘Witch of Death’s Attention’]
[Positive Thought Value: 17↑ (increased by 7)]
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