Stigma Effect

Biggest thanks to Skye, SE’s previous translator who proofread this chapter! <3

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Yuriel wrote down a reply letter as Helio advised.

She politely and solemnly wrote that she would attend the banquet, and sent the letter in a luxurious envelope. The reply from the Imperial Palace was quick. The reply arrived as if it had been waiting for Yuriel's letter.

Helio, who was reading the reply she received, said with a bitter smile.

“It seems that the Princess is very angry.”

It was a polite letter to thank Yuriel for replying. There weren't any words in particular to indicate the Princess was angry.

There were words saying that they were building a beautiful banquet to repay Yuriel who answered the invitation, and that they would serve the guest satisfactorily.

Helio kept a slanted smile and pointed to the words.

“You can look forward to the guests invited by the Princess. I’m sure Miss Yuriel wouldn’t even imagine it.”

＊＊＊

“Princess, the reply has arrived.”

“Did the rude one reply in her stead again? Then, this time, I will have to go and read the letter in front of her.”

Princess Ithaca Armand said with her golden eyes twinkling. Short reddish blonde hair was scattered around her ear.

Hearing the news of a woman named Yuriel, she sent invitations ten times already.

The Princess's thin patience was about to run out. Raphlet Mogris, the first commander of Albraka and the protagonist of prophecy. His reply was beyond rude.

Cannot attend, cannot attend. Cannot attend!

Every time she received the reply that started with the words ‘cannot attend’ to the invitation, the Princess didn’t think that even tearing or burning those letters would help subside her anger. She thought she would need to grab the finger of the man who wrote the reply and drown him.

The Princess mumbled in a room lined with magical tools made by extracting the core of a monster. In fact, even the core Raphlet had in his chest was one that was supposed to go towards making a tool for herself!

She didn't like it from the moment he put it on his chest. Had he not been able to withstand the energy of the core, he would’ve died and the core would have returned to her possession but the man survived tirelessly and began to be worshipped as the saint, the protagonist of the prophecy.

The servant, trembling at the sound of her voice full of displeasure, posted a letter in front of her. The envelope placed on the tray was luxurious unlike any Raphlet Mogris had ever sent.

“This time, Yuriel sent a reply directly.”

"Really?"

The Princess's voice subsided a little. She took a deep breath and lifted her finger.

After cutting the seal with a paper knife, the servant took the letter out of the envelope and placed it in her hand.

"Well."

The Princess shed a satisfied sigh as she read her letter.

“It’s better than I thought. I like it. Did you say she was originally a maid?”

"Yes. It is said that she is still working as an exclusive maid for Raphlet Mogris and in the Albraka strategy room.”

“She seems like a hardworking kid.”

She liked the neat handwriting, and also the words that were clearly chosen with care. Best of all, it didn’t smell of that rude Raphlet Mogris.

The Princess who put the letter to the tip of her nose and smelled the scent raised the corners of her lips with satisfaction.

When Yuriel wrote this letter, it was clear that she had not received any help from Raphlet Mogris at all.

However, that did not completely subdue the anger of the Princess who had been rejected nine times.

The Princess dropped the letter on the floor, and said.

“I want this banquet to be a little special. I’ve been rejected nine times, so the next chance might be nine more times later. So now, I have to faithfully make preparations for this banquet.”

“Please give your orders.”

“Make a maze in the garden. We should also invite guests for Yuriel. When you make a maze, unleash a monster there. Remember, it's a maze, not a labyrinth. I think she’ll like it."

"Yes."

“If I like her, I’ll have to take her under me.”

The Princess muttered quietly.

“I hope this child is useful.”

Hanging her arms around the armrests and waving her fingers, the Princess added, as if thinking of something funny.

“As for the monster, use the one who breathes aphrodisiacs. Prepare a lot of servants. If we satisfy her, I’m sure she’ll come crawling to me on her own.

A voice wet with joy continued.

“No, I think knights will be better than servants. If it were Raphlet Mogris's maid, average people wouldn't be enough to satisfy her. Do you think a lowly servant's thing would satisfy someone whose partner is the Knights Commander?”

A vulgar joke leaked out of the Princess's mouth. In the room where no one answered, she laughed high and sharp.

“Yes, nine. Prepare nine.”

＊＊＊

After hearing that she had accepted the invitation of the Princess, Raphlet visited Yuriel. Raphlet, who found Yuriel in the distance, came straight to her.

“Yuriel. I heard that you replied to the Princess's invitation. Is it true?”

“Ah, that…. Yes."

“Did Commander Helio ask you to reply?”

Raphlet accurately predicted the course of events and asked. Knowing that Helio was the only one who could help Yuriel like that, his name came out as if it was natural.

Yuriel murmured and nodded her head.

Raphlet let out a long sigh as he ruffled his neatly arranged hair with one hand. Helio, he didn’t know what he wanted by encouraging Yuriel.

It's not enough to bring Yuriel to the alchemy tower, so now he’s urging her to answer the Princess' invitation?

Raphlet's teeth were clenched. He didn't mind if he hated Raphlet. But why even Yuriel…!

His lips were dry as he imagined Yuriel participating in the Princess's banquet.

It was difficult to judge precisely because he had never attended the Princess's banquet, but he thought that the Princess did not invite Yuriel with good intentions.

In the first place, it was a fact known to any nobles who stayed in the Imperial Palace that the Princess was not a person who moved with ‘good intentions’.

The Princess was only kind to those who benefited her. She didn't hesitate to get rid of people if she judged it as threatening.

Raphlet knew that there was a newspaper article about Yuriel. He took the article down, but he couldn't stop the story that had already spread.

Since then, invitations have been received from the Princess. There was no way that a Princess interested in monsters would miss the rumor.

“Let’s meet with Commander Helio and talk. It will be difficult, but it would be better to have a discussion to refuse the invitation again.”

“No, Lord Raphlet. The Princess has already sent a reply. Sir Helio said that if I refuse in this state, I don’t know how the Princess will come out, so I think I have to go ....”

Raphlet, who was going to visit Helio, turned to Yuriel and said,

“Yuriel, it’s not too late to reconsider returning to the Mogris estate now. Please, please wait in a safe place....”

He pleaded with an unresponsive, soft tone.

“I’m sorry, Lord Raphlet. I don’t want that.”

This is a matter that cannot be compromised, so Yuriel firmly shook her head.

She doesn't know if anything dangerous would happen to Raphlet because of her confidence. Rather, she had no intention of returning to the Mogris estate if it was simply a risk to herself.

＊＊＊

A meeting was held to protect Yuriel from the Princess’s scheme. It was led by Raphlet, attended by Helio and Baraha. Yuriel was also sitting there.

The only enthusiastic participant was Raphlet. Yuriel herself kept her mouth shut, and the others were expressing their opinions in moderation as if it was okay for Yuriel to do anything.

Helio said calmly first.

“The Princess loves Commander Baraha, so it would be better to send him along. If Commander Baraha goes with her, the Princess’ interest in Miss Yuriel will diminish a little bit. And he just needs to take care of Miss Yuriel at the same time.”

The plan was to hand everything over to Baraha. He said he would help Yuriel, but he didn't want to have a relationship with the Princess.

Baraha, who was sagging, answered.

“I am not confident in my protection. I'd rather you tell me to kill the Princess."

“You mean to kill the Princess for one of the staff in the strategy room? What a joke.”

“I’m not joking….”

“Stop joking, both of you. I didn’t come here to waste time needlessly.”

Raphlet interrupted their conversation. It was clear that the Princess's purpose was Yuriel's foresight ability. But he couldn't predict what the Princess would do.

After attending a banquet held by the Princess, there was a considerable number of people who became the Princess’ underlings.

Raphlet hastily clenched his fist.

He realized from the conversation a few days ago that Yuriel would never leave Raphlet, but he couldn't help but worry.

“You don't have to worry too much. Commander Raphlet, although Miss Yuriel is a commoner, she is a member of Albraka. Even the Princess won't do anything harsh."

Helio said to Raphlet, who was anxious, as if comforting him.

Yuriel, who was listening quietly, frowned.

“Well, am I not invited to a banquet? Don’t I just have to put on a dress and dance?”

“I hope that is the case Miss Yuriel.”

The banquet that Yuriel knew was a luxurious event where nobles gathered in a large hall, laughed and talked to each other and danced to pass time.

Even if the Princess said she held the banquet herself, she wouldn't deviate from that frame. Why was everyone feeling so restless?

Yuriel had no idea what the royal banquet was like, so she only tilted her head.

Note:

- [Do you think a lowly servant's thing would satisfy someone ….?], uh this meant that thing, thing, underneath ._.