The Daughter of Evil - Volume 1 - Chapter 1.03

♦Allen ~Lucifenia Kingdom’s “Anonymous Coast”~

After leaving behind the forest, I reached the coast. A little further away towards the west, there was a small port city, as well as a convent that had been built as a donation from a prosperous merchant of Elphegort, Keel Freesis. But at that time, that wasn’t my objective.

As I neared the port, I spotted a small horse. It was Josephine.

It must have been difficult for the horse to run through that forest without paths. But Josephine showed no signs of tiredness, and just stood there placidly. She was a splendid horse.

And then…when I saw the girl sitting there by her side, gazing in a daze at the sea, I let out a sigh of relief without thinking.

“Riliane…Your Highness.”

Riliane’s body quivered for an instant, startled by my voice, but she soon returned to her nonchalant attitude when she turned to face me and spoke.

“Why, if it isn’t Allen.”

Riliane Lucifen d'Autriche: a girl celebrating her fourteen birthday that very day, she was the current sovereign of theKingdom of Lucifenia. By all rights, she should have been called “Queen” instead of “Princess”, but apparently due to a sense of respect for her mother, the previous monarch Queen Anne, she had elected to keep reigning as “Princess” without being enthroned, until she came to age.

“How did you know of this place?”

Without answering Riliane’s question, I approached her and noted, “Commander Leonhart is worried.”

Riliane’s expression became a little grim at that.

“Hmph, serves him right.”

I had a good inkling of why she had escaped home this time. It was probably a result of her quarrel with Leonhart the day before.

“Oh, if I hadn’t been found before the ball, that man’s head might have rolled. How vexing this is,” Riliane petulantly snorted. Actually, perhaps that had been her objective in the first place.

If her adversary weren’t Leonhart, Riliane wouldn’t have resorted to such indirect tactics.

Officially, as sole successor of the line of the previous monarch, King Alth, she was the absolute ruler of Lucifenia; with just one word, she had no difficulty in ordering the decapitation of one of her vassals.

The only reason she couldn’t eliminate him was that Leonhart was one of the Three Heroes, loyal retainers of King Alth and former saviors of the kingdom. There were many among both the aristocrats and the common people who adored him still, and even an existence that seemed to be comprised of pure haughtiness like Riliane understood the degree of animosity she would earn from beheading him carelessly.

“I’m really…. SICK OF THIS! I’M SICK OF THIS!”

Riliane suddenly lost her temper, perhaps angered when reminded of Leonhart’s privileged position. However, she seemed to calm down quickly. Emotional outbursts such as this, which were only seen when she was in front of the people she trusted, were the most characteristic aspect of Riliane’s personality.

“Good grief! Thanks to you, my plan is ruined.”

“…Forgive me.”

There shouldn’t have been any reason for her to become angry at me, but in any case, it was probably better to apologize at that point. I wouldn’t gain anything from displeasing her any further.

“Well, there is nothing to be done about it now. I’m going back.”

When Riliane attempted to get up, I spotted a small scratch in the back of her right hand. Perhaps she had injured herself with a branch or something similar when she came out the forest.

“Please wait, Your Highness.”

I took out some ointment from my pocket and softly touched Riliane’s right hand.

“…Wh-WHAT ARE DOING, YOU INSOLENT BOY?!” she shouted and slapped my cheek.

“Your hand is injured, it needs to be treated.”

My cheek was burning, but without paying attention to it, I took off the lid of the ointment and applied a small amount to the wound. It was a special ointment made by Elluka, the court sorceress. A small scratch like the one she suffered would likely be mended right away with it.

Riliane may have understood my actions then, as she stared while I rubbed the ointment on her hand, her anger forgotten.

 “…That’s right. Perhaps I shall convict Leonhart using this scratch as an excuse…Hm… But, maybe an injury this slight is too unconvincing as a reason to ruin him…,”she grumbled to herself in this manner.

As I treated her hand, my mind once more returned to the memories of my childhood.

At that time, you also…that’s right, when we were playing on this beach, you fell down and grazed your knee, and I treated the wound, like this, right? But you probably don’t remember. About that time, about the old legend I told you, and…

I could feel Riliane’s body warmth, reaching me through her right hand. The hand of a girl infamous for her cruel and inhuman acts; so why was it so warm?

And why do I…when I feel the warmth of her hand…feel so at peace?

But it’s natural, since we are…

“It’s done, isn’t it? Release me.”

Riliane’s voice brought back to my senses. Even though I was done curing the scratch, I was still grasping her hand and Riliane stared at me with suspicion.

“…..GAH! I’M…. SORRY!”  

“….Ha ha ha”

For some reason, Riliane then laughed.

“First time I see her like this. You didn’t lose your cool when I slapped you, but now you are that flustered?”

“No…er, my apologies.”I was quite aware that her words made my face go redder than when she slapped me.

“Haha, well, it’s time to go back. The sun already is setting.”The sun had already sunk halfway into the sea.

“Let’s go back taking the coastal route to the port, instead of crossing the woods,” when I said that, Riliane looked a bit surprised.

“…You’ve come to this place from there before?”

“Yes, taking that way is much faster.”

“….I-I knew that!”

With a completely red face, Riliane then suddenly started running towards the port.

“Please wait, Princess Riliane!”

“Well, hurry up!!”

“Do you intend to leave Josephine here?”

”…Ah”

As if on cue, Josephine gave a desolate neigh, almost like she was stricken with the prospect of being left behind. “When we reach the port city, let’s use a beacon and call the Royal Guard. Please return with them to the castle, Princess Riliane.”

“Are you not coming with us, Allen?”

“I don’t know how to ride a horse, so I’ll follow behind on foot.”

That was a lie. Leonhart had instructed me on the basics of both horse-riding and sword-fencing. However, to have a mere servant mastering such skills was unfathomable.

“I see. Let’s reach the port city together, then. Come on.”

With practiced movements, Riliane was in Josephine’s saddle again. With this plan, it seemed likely that she reach the castle in time for the ball. 

Sitting on her mare, Riliane stared at the sunset.

"You were looking at the setting sun before, weren’t you?”

“The sun is always alone, isn’t it…?” Riliane said distractedly without turning her eyes away from the sunset. She might have not even heard my words.

That was true. But if there were two or three suns, we would all perish from the heat.

“Just like…me…”

Why did Rillianne say something like that all of the sudden? Not really understanding her train of thought, I lead her horse by the bridle.

Riliane Lucifen d'Autriche:

Protagonist of that night’s ball…

Absolute ruler of Lucifenia…

And…

My twin elder sister.