The Hero is Standing in My Way - Chapter 28

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(A) “Why not? My life is more comfortable just by looking at you, Your Highness.”

Siegfried should realize that he actually had a lot of benefits. It was understandable he didn’t know now since he was run out of the Imperial Palace because he couldn’t stand Eisa’s bullying, but his future was nothing but a flowery path. Not only did he have wealth, power, and status from birth, but also a peerless beauty that fully matured when he turned 15.

What could be your reason for trying to sway me,  a person who only wants to live a peaceful life, though I can be thankful for being so close to him? Moreover, I, who wanted to lead a peaceful life, was way older than Siegfried.

I smiled happily as my heart wavered like an older sister who was looking at her younger brother. Then Siegfried showed signs that he was uneasy. One of his pretty eyebrows became twisted.

(S) “I’m uncomfortable with this. You’ve made me feel defeated and frustrated for the  first time in my life.”

(A) “Yes?”

You should feel that way towards Eisa, so why me? I frowned as I felt puzzled.

Siegfried’s eyes turned to me. It wasn’t the eyes of a person who felt defeated and frustrated, more than that, it was drowsy and soft to the point it made me jump out of my seat. Even if he keeps on going like that, I will be able to survive the depths of this Venus flytrap if I keep my senses intact.

(T/N: Venus Flytrap attracts its prey on the basis of food smell mimicry. When their prey is near, they will trap it inside and digest it. According to the context above, Siegfried was like a Venus Flytrap that if Ariel happened to lose her sense once, she couldn’t get out of his trap. )

(A) “Y-you’re just saying that, right? Did the innkeeper add alcohol in the glass of milk for Your Highness? Why are your eyes like that, Your Highness?”

(S) “Then how else do I open them?”

(A) “It’s very deep….”

(S) “My eyes were naturally deep so they looked fierce.”

(A) “I don’t mean that. Who are you? Who taught Our Highness the Crown Prince how to make use of your  beauty? You just….”

(S) “Sit down first.” Siegfried said as he tapped the seat beside him. “Our Highness the Crown Prince, huh,” muttered as if the words were stuck to his head.

He liked his lips and smiled. At his words, I couldn’t help but be stunned.

(S) “Those words felt so good.”

(A) “… Where did you learn this random flirting? Tell me honestly, you’re a pretty boy outside but there’s a thousand-year-old snake living inside you, right?”

(S) “I said sit down. I came here to see your tired face. You’re not going to push me away like this, right?”

… how can you say that? I sat down as if I was hypnotized.

(S) “And also let me tell you: I am past the age to drink milk.”

Siegfried said as he glanced at my glass of wine. I think I was already drunk even if I didn’t drink the wine. I grabbed his hand.

(A) “Natural attempts were good, but you picked the wrong opponent.”

(S) “Because you keep treating me like a child.”

(A) “….”

Siegfried stared at me without saying anything. It wasn’t scary but rather cute. It made me want to stroke his hair. This little thing is getting cheeky.

(A) “Hey, it’s already twelve o’clock.”

(S) “So what.”

Seeing him behaving rashly like this, it was obvious that he was near to falling asleep. Or maybe he was angry that his flirting didn’t work with me.

(A) “You already heard about my ideal type. He must be 190cm tall or taller.”

(S) “I am still growing up.”

(A) “That’s what I’m saying. If you badly wanted to grow up well you should sleep well, I think it’s too late for you to go to dreamland now.”

(S) “D**n it.”

Siegfried got up, angrily ruffling his hair. It was as if he realized that words couldn’t defeat me. I laughed out loud at my victory. He still had a long way to go.

If he wants to defeat me then he should come at me five years later when he is a 20-year-old adult. Of course at that time, I can’t  guarantee that I won’t be married by then.

In order to avoid my role as the Prince’s fiancée, it was better to get married as soon as possible. I’m just not engaged yet because my standards are quite high.

(S) “Don’t think this will be the end.”

I don’t know where in the world someone spit out such a third-rate villain.

Siegfried looked back at me again as a warning and went upstairs, but he kept on rudely glaring at me like a dog that wants to be called back by his master. Of course, there was no way I would make his wish come true.

* * *

It was early the next morning.

Unlike the soft matures in the Ellifritz mansion, I opened my eyes to the stiff texture and hard mattress.

“Hmmm.”

I stretched out and got out of bed then washed my face  with cold water in a wooden basin. I pulled down the curtains and opened the window to hear the birds chirping on the branches. The sunlight poured out from the window and around me as I walked around the room and changed into the navy blue Ellifritz uniform.

I took my sword and several daggers that had been stationed at the corner of the room. The party had already eaten breakfast when I  went down to the dining room.

Until yesterday, they were eating and drinking and playing, but today I was able to read the tension from their facial expressions. There were only a few of the trained knights who lost their lives while defending against the Sirens. However, the number of injuries was higher than expected.

With a woman’s face and a bird or fish body, Sirens were the size of an adult human male and had surprisingly sharp nails. There were many instances where one arm would fly away when you look away for a moment. It would be fortunate if Sirens were easy to deal with or the only thing to deal with, but there were also monster crows that devoured the leftover corpses around the Siren territory.

The thought of subjugating them all made me feel a bit sick in my head. That’s why Abbysion was restless now and was giving Siegfried warning.

(Ab) “Your Highness, you mustn’t be seduced by the Siren’s singing. If you fall asleep then your heart would’ve already been eaten by them.”

(S) “I’ve only read it in a book. It said that we shouldn’t even make eye contact with them and cover our ears.”

Abbysion seemed to be worried about it now after bringing Siegfried all the way here.

Siegfried is the male protagonist so it wasn’t a big deal at all, he just has to be careful like Abbysion said. I smiled and exchanged morning greetings with Milliard who was nearby and was sitting amongst the other nobles, wearing the same navy blue uniform as me.

Like Siegfried, it was also his first time experiencing a monster subjugation. He had a playful smile on his face but he was trying no to show it, but as his older sister, I could tell that Milliard was more excited than usual.

(N) “Young Lady Ariel, I am willing to sacrifice my body in order to protect you,” one of the nobles said as he clutched his chest. Looking at him, I just wish he won’t die by drowning in the sea.

(N1) “Is this your first time taking part in a monster subjugation? It was said that Young Lady Ariel was the one who killed the most Siren last year.”

One noble, who looked like a middle-aged man, said as he chuckled. The young nobleman who had promised to protect me with his body quickly shuddered and withdrew.

(N) “I-is that so? She looked skinny. In fact, I knew that Young Lady came here with us to heal the wounded.”

(N1) “That’s what priests who live in the village do. Why would she do it?”

(N) “I apologize for any inconvenience I caused you.”

(A) “No, it’s okay. Just don’t die.”

I smiled sincerely and shook my head. It makes me feel good that I was a little sarcastic. Come to think of it, is this where Siegfried picked up his habit? Why did he only imitate strange things? 

(A) “Now, it’s time to leave. Let’s stop here.”

Abbysion opened his mouth to lighten the awkward atmosphere. The nobles then rose up one by one not forgetting their swords. I also walked with Abbysion and Killian also joined the group at some point.

With Abbysion leading the group, we headed to the Siren’s habitat. It was surrounded with steep slopes so it was impossible to ride a horse.

(K) “So, is it alright to just aim for their hearts and necks? Ariella, the one who won first place in last year’s monster subjugation.”

Killian sneaked to me and asked. Isn’t it time for this guy to realize that it wasn’t fun to keep on calling me Ariella? 

(A) “Just call me Ariel.”

(K) “It was like a nickname.”

(A) “What nickname is longer than your real name?”

(K) “So, isn’t it more special?”

(A) “We don’t have a particularly special relationship so I refuse.”

(K) “This is so sad, Ariel.”

I was startled at the sound of Killian’s weeping. Abbysion turned his head towards Milliard after talking to Siegfried. Then Siegfried’s pace started to slow down. No way, does he want to walk with me…. 

(S) “Don’t stick with that guy.”

That’s right, how can he not always deviate from my expectations of him? 

(A) “ ‘That guy’? Killian is Your Highness’ slave.”

(K) “ ‘Slave’? I’m just an employee.”

(S) “ ‘Employee’? It’s right that you’re my slave.”

I sighed at the content of our conversation, not knowing what the hell was going on. Siegfried looked at me as he slightly tilted his head.

(S) “Your hair is stuck here.” He patted his cheek as he said that.

He had his hair tied back for fear that the Siren’s blood would get on his face.

Did my hair stick to my cheek? I wiped the cheek on the side Siegfried was talking about. But on my fingertips, I could only feel a soft skin texture.