Chapter: 7. Don’t Be Afraid!
“Ah, alright, alright, don’t cry, don’t cry! I heard it. That person called Belis really has a devilish way of speaking! But you can’t let her scare you to tears, come on, you’re a princess too, have some dignity and earn yourself some face!”
“Wuwuwu… Miss Shaya! I’m not crying because Princess Belis is scary… I’m crying because you keep talking about me… That’s why I’m losing face and can’t control my tears…!”
At first, Livra had her face buried in her hands, crying genuinely scared by the negotiating momentum. She had held it in for so long that she needed to cry it out to relieve the pressure and fear that she couldn’t express.
But as Miss Shaya approached to comfort her, handing her tissues and occasionally standing on tiptoes to gently rub Livra’s hair and pat her head, Livra felt her dignity as a princess swiftly fading!
“Ugh… Miss Shaya, please don’t comfort me anymore, it’s too painful.”
“Hey! Why are you being so ungrateful? I’m just trying to help you, and you treat my goodwill like it’s nothing—I’m done.”
“Wuwu!”
Seeing the princess about to be humiliated by Xue Fei again to the point of crying out loud, Xiya quickly supported Xue Fei under her arms and pulled her aside to keep her from tormenting the princess any further.
In a way, Xue Fei was scarier than Belis!
With Xue Fei’s verbal onslaught halted, Livra finally had a moment to take the tissue and press it against her eyes, returning to her seat to rest.
She patted her chest to ease the mix of emotions while also politely waving her trembling hand to indicate to Xiya and Shaya to sit down, rather than standing.
The Council Chamber was empty and quiet.
It was hard to imagine that not long ago, this place had witnessed a crisis debate concerning the fate of the kingdom.
Xiya tidied up the disorganized documents on the table while also acknowledging Livra’s earlier performance.
“Princess Livra, please have more confidence. Your performance was already excellent. The things you said were things I hadn’t considered. Honestly, it exceeded my expectations.”
“Th-thank you, Lord Xiya! You’re overpraising me! I still have a long way to go!”
“……”
Just from a single compliment, Livra hurriedly stood up and nodded in thanks to Xiya, which made it seem that she indeed had a long way to go.
Some things were inappropriate to say from Xiya’s position.
But Xue Fei wouldn’t hold back.
Miss Shaya was folding useless papers on the table into various shapes of magical beasts, her skill leaving Livra in awe.
Before Livra could marvel at how Shaya always had such strange talents, Shaya casually threw out the words Xiya wanted to say as well.
“Livra, I’m not saying that you’re usually stupid, but sometimes you can be surprisingly smart, right? Like just now, both Xiya and I thought you were going to say something wrong, but you didn’t mess up at all and even did quite well! How unexpected.”
“This… isn’t about saying I’m usually stupid, right…”
“Of course not! The fact that you can recognize this means you’re not actually that stupid.”
Livra pouted, mumbling under her breath, seeming a bit unconvinced.
But being unconvinced didn’t matter. Livra knew what kind of person she was; her little brain didn’t work fast.
She also tried to fold the paper into other shapes on the table.
However, even after awkwardly folding the paper for a long time, it remained unfolded, only creased here and there.
“Actually, I don’t really know. Sometimes I feel like I ‘should do something,’ and my head clears up, making me think I might really be able to do it…! Um… maybe it’s just an illusion, or maybe I’m too lazy and don’t think about anything usually? So I said I don’t really know what’s going on…”
“Oh, I know how to explain that state!”
“Mm? Miss Shaya, do you know something?!”
“Isn’t this just the saying that fools have good fortune?!”
“Wuwu…! Miss Shaya…!”
“?!”
Thank goodness I dodged quickly; this simpleton Livra actually dared to mimic Xiya’s hand chop to hit my head?
Unfortunately, that light, leisurely chop couldn’t even get to Xue Fei’s head.
She elegantly dodged and hopped down from her chair, making a face at Livra before laughing and running away.
Livra, not willing to let it go, chased after her.
The two childish girls spun in circles around the negotiating table, making Xiya feel dizzy.
Ugh… There’s no need to mention Xue Fei; she’s always playful and nonsensical.
But Princess Livra…!
You’re behaving so differently now compared to the moment at the negotiating table just before!
In some respect, Xiya had her speculations.
The royal family of Aulus Kingdom historically had all sorts of extraordinary potentials, such as remarkable archery skills, superb swordsmanship, or exceptional magical talents, and there were even those who could catch fish out of thin air!
Princess Livra had trained diligently since childhood but had progressed slowly, still at the third tier now. Could it represent she has a certain potential ability in other aspects…?
Occasional quick thinking might be related to that potential; however, Xiya wasn’t entirely sure.
Shaking her head to bury that thought, Xiya felt there was no need to tell Livra. Often, the more one focuses on the potential one might have, the less it gets developed.
It would be better to let the princess discover and grow on her own later, as Xiya couldn’t quite say what unique abilities she possessed.
Compared to all this…
“Shaya, Princess Livra, please stop fooling around for now.”
“Ah…! I can stop, of course, but Xiya! That fool Livra said the lava monster fish I folded isn’t pretty!”
“Isn’t it because Miss Shaya’s folds looked so good that I’m envious and said something different from my heart?! I actually think your lava monster fish is beautiful! I really like it!”
“……”
Oh… If you say it like that, I won’t be mad anymore.
Livra’s face flushed as she stamped her feet in anger, almost in a state of powerless rage, making Xue Fei want to pat her head and say it’s okay.
As a token of reconciliation, Xue Fei reluctantly lifted her hands high, offering the folded paper lava monster fish to Livra.
“Ah… Livra, here, take this. Believe in your own hands; one day, you will be able to do it too.”
“Miss Shaya… why did you suddenly… can I really accept this?”
“Of course… Livra, you take this as a proof of our friendship. As for what you owe me in return… I won’t force you, but you just need to give me a real lava monster fish, then our friendship will be unbreakable.”
“Wuwu… Miss Shaya, you’re so gentle! I’ll go find a lava monster tomorrow… huh? Something seems off…?”
Indeed, something was off. First, let’s rule out your silly little head; it’s perfectly normal.
“Um… Can I exchange the lava monster fish for a frost monster fish… I’m quite afraid of lava.”
“Hm? Who just spoke?”
Livra heard a strange voice and turned to look back.
But besides Lord Xiya, there was no one else speaking.
Only Lord Xiya was tapping her holy sword sheath with her hand. What was going on?
At that moment, Shaya stepped forward again.
“It’s nothing; this is my ventriloquism. I can mimic other voices, just like just now. Isn’t it amazing?”
“Is it for real… Miss Shaya has other talents? Even geniuses don’t possess that level! Wuwu… I really envy you.”
“That’s right~ Oh, and forget about the lava monster fish; let’s change it to a frost monster fish instead. Here, let me fold it for you. Done!”
“……”
In just a few moves, Miss Shaya took back the lava monster fish and folded it into a frost monster fish, handing it back to herself.
Livra, being so silly, obviously didn’t grasp what had just happened.
Only Xiya understood…
—What a gentle act Xue Fei had just performed.
Look, the magic of the holy sword had turned so quiet and peaceful.
Even though the figure of Xialet couldn’t be seen, one could vaguely sense the innocent and grateful smile of the blue-haired girl.
Livra held the delicately folded paper frost monster fish, her eyes sparkling, unable to put it down.
This was the first time in her life someone had given her a “proof of friendship”!
It was clear that Livra truly cherished it; she would likely display this paper in the castle.
But now, Xiya had something important to say.
Let’s set aside the clowning around for now.
Xiya shook her golden hair that fell on her shoulders and pressed her hands down to signal Xue Fei to wait before continuing.
Once Xue Fei stood firm, promising to stay quiet, Xiya’s gaze turned to Livra, who was carefully putting away the frost monster fish.
“Your Highness, what do you plan to do next?”
“Next… I plan to return to the castle.”
“And then?”
“To put this paper on display in the castle…”
“I didn’t ask you that!”
“Yah!”
The second princess of the Demon Race is frightening, and our kingdom’s hero seems frightening as well!
Xiya sighed, feeling exasperated. She had been worried but now felt utterly confused by Livra’s antics.
“Weren’t you the one who made a promise to Princess Belis just now? You said you would personally meet Princess Xue Fei. What do you intend to do about that?”
“Oh no…” Livra’s cheeks turned visibly pale, “I just remembered… Part of the reason I cried just now was because of this; I have to meet the First Princess of the Demon Race… she is so brutal… I might not make it out alive!”
“You forgot about this just now?!”
“Lord Xiya! Don’t remind me! I can’t remember… I can’t remember!”
“Please don’t evade reality… There’s no turning back on what you said.”
At times like this, it would actually be appropriate to comfort Livra; after all, who wouldn’t feel fear when facing the unknown? Even royalty would feel the same.
And our gentle Miss Shaya understood that well.
She raised her arm and patted Livra on the shoulder, cheering her on!
“Livra, do you have any last words? I suggest if you write well, you could even pen a will!”
“Ahhhh…! Miss Shaya, are you a devil? You really are a devil, aren’t you!!”
“Oh dear… I’m getting a bit dizzy.”
From the way Livra anxiously grasped Shaya’s shoulder and shook it vigorously, it was clear she was really scared.
Xue Fei and Xiya exchanged glances.
In that instant, they communicated a lot of unspoken information.
Honestly, sending Livra to meet Xue Fei would genuinely be a hassle since Xue Fei wasn’t sealed away; she was right there before Livra, being shaken uncontrollably.
Moreover, seeing Livra so scared, perhaps she wouldn’t dare to go; did she only utter those grandiose statements out of pressure during negotiations?
In that case, that would work out well.
If she didn’t dare go, it perfectly provided Xiya with the opportunity to resolve this matter.
“Your Highness, how about this? Considering your safety, you don’t have to go personally. I’ll take the task of persuading Xue Fei for you. If you have anything you want me to convey, just tell me. It would be safer this way.”
“Ah?”
Shaya stopped shaking.
Livra lowered her arms, turning back with slightly widened emerald eyes as if contemplating what Xiya had just said.
Xiya guessed that Livra would find this proposal more reasonable and would agree, right?
But to her astonishment…
Livra actually smiled bitterly and waved her hand, rejecting Xiya’s proposal.
“Ahaha… I appreciate Lord Xiya’s kindness, but… I feel this is something I must complete personally, right? Since I said it like that… And moreover, the Demon Princess’s seal was primarily your doing; she will certainly hold resentment towards you. It would probably be much harder for you to communicate with her, right?”
“Um… Well, that’s not necessarily… cough, but you just said you were very scared, didn’t you? Besides, I already said, if you appear at the sealed place, your safety cannot be guaranteed. Even with me around, I can’t fully assure your safety; it’s one thing if it were someone else, but this is that Princess Xue Fei, who is very frightening.”
“It’s alright.”
Amidst her bitter smile, Livra, with her clumsily bright gaze, seemed to possess a readiness for death.
But not entirely so.
The flip side of the readiness for death harbored an innocence and a somewhat resolute glimmer of hope.
“What I said at the negotiating table wasn’t just talking big or joking around…
? I genuinely hope that this country won’t have to suffer from the ravages of war anymore. It’s not just the capital… even the residents in the border towns shouldn’t have to sell grains at night for money. I hope they can build their homes proudly under the blue sky and white clouds… being able to build without fearing their houses burning down in fires of war, and no nobility coming to extort them… Ha, these words surely sound childish, right? I know that… But I just feel that even if it’s childish, I want to give it a try. If I succeed, then I’ll have truly ‘punished the wicked and rewarded the good’; if I don’t… well, it’s just my small life!”
Wuwu… That’s still quite scary!
Xue Fei had already walked back to Xiya’s side.
The tall and short pair exchanged glances, and smiles appeared on both their faces.
Livra, despite trembling in fear, stood her ground and showed a semblance of what it means to be a princess of a nation!
In some respects, Livra’s thoughts were similar to Xue Fei’s.
Livra hoped to take a step further, stepping toward a consensus between the human race and the demon race.
Xue Fei hoped to retreat one step back, using herself as a shield to stop the flames of conflict.
Whether advancing or retreating.
They were both attempting to change something in extremely childish and naive ways.
And often, the most effective methods are the most direct, the most “childish.”
Today’s Livra truly deserved a thumbs up from Shaya!
“Well done! Livra, since you put it that way, then the task of negotiating with the Demon Princess should be yours to handle. Xiya, let’s just leave it to her, right? If Xue Fei ends up consuming this person, we might be helpless to do anything~”
“Right.” Xiya played along, raising her hands to express her agreement. “All we can do is help Princess Livra prepare the venue and conditions for meeting with Princess Xue Fei. As for the safety issue I mentioned earlier, Your Highness might bravely fall at any moment, so just give it your all. We’ll support you.”
“Ah…!! You mean to say I’m definitely doomed, but I still have a glimmer of hope, right? Right?!”
“……” “……”
Your silence spoke volumes.
Your smiles seemed to laugh, yet felt like a farewell sendoff.
Seeing Livra’s eyes redden and ready to cry again, Shaya quickly comforted her that it was okay.
If it really came to that, we’d help you deal with the aftermath!
Today, Princess Livra’s cries echoed throughout the Council Chamber.
Those weren’t tears of fear; they were tears of frustration.
Miss Shaya… the words that came from your mouth…
They truly are… incredibly hard to hear!
