The Clumsy Princess

I was prepared to find the assassin or someone else, but I never thought that the person hiding in the library, and who I mistook for the killer, would be Princess Kathleen. Why was she running from me, or rather why is she here?

"P-Please, let me go. Y-You are hurting me..." The princess said in a shaky voice with her gaze on her hand.

I looked at my hand and noticed that I was still holding her arm. "I-I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention. I-I thought it was someone else."

I let go of her hand, and she took two steps back.

“N-no, it’s my fault.” Princess Kathleen stutters.

I noticed that she was carrying two books about healing magic. When she realized that I was looking at her books, the princess tried to hide them behind her.

"I-I was just a little interested... Y-Yes, I had nothing else to read, therefore I'm not learning healing magic or anything like that, s-so don't get it wrong." Kathleen said, still with a shaky voice.

"I see..."

Why is the princess trying to justify herself for these books?

Just then, I realized something. When looking around, there was no one else. Why would the princess be alone here when a murderer is on the loose? Shouldn't she be under more security now!?

"Your grace. Are you by any chance alone in this place?"

The princess reacted surprised. "I-I... you see..."

The princess clearly didn't know how to answer. Did she come by herself? Whenever I see her, she is accompanied by guards and maids.

"Princess, I don't know if you heard, but there is a murderer on the loose. I don't think it's a good idea for you to be alone and even more at night. If you like, I can go find a guard or someone to accompany you."

"WAIT! P-Please, don't tell anyone you saw me here. If mom... I-I mean, if the queen finds out that I went out alone, she will place more vigilance on me, and I don't want that."

So she did go out on her own. I suppose that always being surrounded by guards and maids must be exhausting. I don't blame her for it, but it's still really dangerous right now for her to be alone. What should I do? Should I stay with her until she decides to leave and escort her to a safe place?

The princess sat on one of the chairs, so I did the same.

"You are Darx, right?" Kathleen asked me.

I was surprised that the princess knew who I am. "Ah, yes."

"I heard you say Syvis's name while you were walking around the library a moment ago. You don't know where she is either?"

"Either!? Are you looking for her too? If she's not here, she'll probably be in the greenhouse at this time." I reply.

"W-What? N-Not really. Why would I be looking for her? It was just out of curiosity. ha-ha..."

Princess Kathleen is a worse liar than me and that's saying a lot.

I wonder what their relationship is. If the princess wanted to talk to Syvis, I'm sure she would only have to ask to call her and Syvis would have **** but to go. Although perhaps with the rumors that there are about Syvis now, it is not so easy.

"May I ask what your relationship with Syvis is? Do you also think that she is the murderer?" I asked.

Kathleen stood up looking annoyed and said, "O-Of course not! I know her well and I know Syvis would never be able to do something like that. Those rumors are lies!"

"So you do know each other!?" I declared.

"WHAT? W-Well, yes... but not so much. ha-ha... Syvis is not my only friend... Syvis is just my magic teacher. Yes! Just that. Just..."

"Magic teacher!?" I asked, "Does that mean you are an adventurer?"

Hearing my words, the princess's face turned completely red, and her eyes turned to tears. Kathleen sat down once more, putting her head on the table and covering her face with her arms.

"P-Princess?"

Is she crying? Did I say something bad? What should I do?

"P-Princess, please don't cry. I apologize if I offended you in any way."

"...Don't tell anyone." The princess said, still with her head on the table.

"Of course!" I said without knowing exactly what. "But what shouldn't I say?"

The princess finally raised her head and said, "The royal family cannot take the adventurer ritual so, p-please don't tell anyone."

The royal family can't take the adventurer ritual!? I didn't know that. Even so, I think it is more strange to think that the princess wants to be an adventurer since she gives the impression of being a delicate girl.

"I guess you're confused, so let me explain." The princess said. "S-Sneakily from mom... I-I mean the queen, I took the ritual with Harold's help. So please don't tell anyone. No one can find out."

"Harold helped you?" I asked.

Still nervous, the princess continued, "Harold has always been good to me, and when I asked him after he thought about it for a while, he helped me take the ritual in secret from everyone, and not only that, he also introduced me to Syvis to teach me about magic."

"I see, so that's how you know Syvis."

"T-That's right, and also why I know about you, since Syvis often talks about you." Kathleen reply.

"Syvis talks about me with you?" I asked.

The princess's face once again turned completely red, and her tears started to appear again, then she said, "D-Don't tell her I told you, please..."

I am really curious to know what they have been talking about me, but seeing the princess on the verge of tears, I don't think it's a good idea to ask further. Knowing more about the princess, I am quite surprised that she has managed to keep the secret about her awakening. Maybe I should change the subject. I assume it would help Kathleen feel more relaxed if I show myself more calm and relaxed as well.

"May I ask what is your class?” I asked.

“I’m a… uhm… Cleric?” Kathleen reply, "A C-Rank Cleric."

Since she is a Cleric, she automatically has healing magic. I never thought of princesses as shy individuals, but her shyness made talking to Kathleen feel more like talking to a regular person.

"D-Darx, have you talked to Syvis?"

"Not really. And you?"

Kathleen replied with a sad face, "Syvis hasn't come to teach me since the rumors about her began to spread."

If someone were to see Syvis with the princess alone right now, it could be not good.

"It is possible that she will stay away until the culprit is found and her name cleared." I reply.

"Darx, can you help me talk to her, p-please?" The princess said with a worried expression. "She is not the culprit. I was with her that night, and I think I saw the person responsible for the ****. I-I have to tell her."

What the princess told me left me in shock. Does she know who the killer is?

"Did you really see the culprit that night?" I asked.

"Well... That night I was heading to the library, and I saw Syvis arguing with Darren. He was threatening her that if Syvis didn't accept, he would put her in jail. I got so angry that I-I came out of hiding and confronted Darren, even knowing that I shouldn't let anyone see me without guards. Darren left, and Syvis angrily took me to the library to scold me for letting him see me. One of the promises I made to Syvis to teach me is that no one should know."

"Did you happen to be with her in the reading room on the first floor that night?" I asked.

"Y-Yes! But how did you know?"

So the princess was the other person I saw Syvis with and not Darren as I originally thought. That removes more suspicion from Syvis. I need to know more.

"I saw Syvis by chance but tell me what happened next? Who is the murderer?"

The princess thought for a moment and replied, "Do you know how I escape from my bedroom without anyone knowing every time I come to see Syvis?"

"How?"

"In the castle, there are many secret paths, and one of them led to my bedroom. I know every route. That night after Syvis's scolding, I returned to the secret path, but instead of taking the path to my room, I took the one that leads to Darren's office. I don't know what I planned to do, I was just mad at the way he treated Syvis and wanted to do something. At that moment, I saw someone's shadow."

"Was it the killer?" I asked.

"I'm sure it is. When I saw the shadow, I was scared, and I hid, but I'm sure that person went to Darren's office." Kathleen continued, "W-Whoever the killer is, knows about the secret paths of the castle, and that is a top-secret, and not many know that information."

"Have you said this to someone else?" I asked.

"No... If I say something, they'll find out that I've been escaping and that I've been hanging out with Syvis to learn magic. It won't take long for them to know I took the ritual, and that's why I need to talk to Syvis first to ask her what to do."

I see. It is true that she cannot say what she knows freely without being discovered. It makes me think that Kathleen is really interested in learning more about magic and adventurers. I can perceive something similar in her to myself when I was in the village. Always eager to want to know more about the world. Maybe that's the reason why she watches us train from the top of the castle almost every day.

"Why don't you tell Harold? He already knows your secret, so I'm sure he can help you." I said.

"I've thought about it, but it's difficult to contact him and be alone with him. There's always a maid behind me."

"I see..., in that case, what if I talk to him and ask him to find a way to talk to you alone."

"Would you do that for me?" The princess said cheerfully.

"Of course!"

"Thank you! What Syvis says about you is true." Kathleen said smiling.

"What did she say?" I asked.

Her face once again turned red, and she said, "I-I think I better go now."

"Okay..." I can see a couple of tears in her eyes again. She really cries easily.

"Can you turn around, please?" The princess said.

"Yes..." Why does she want me to turn around?

Soon after, I heard a strange noise and then I didn't hear Kathleen anymore.

"Your grace!?"

Hearing no response, I turned around again, and she was nowhere to be found. I see, she used one of those secret paths to go. I guess there is one in the library too. I should go to my room too since tomorrow, a difficult day awaits me. I will go find Harold, and then we will train with the new mentor. After that, I have to find a way to talk to Syvis.

In the morning, I went to Harold's office so I could talk to him. When I got to the door, two girls were leaving. I know both of them, although I have never spoken to them. They are members of the team that has mostly women.

The first to leave the office is a pretty brunette with brown eyes in a fancy aquamarine dress. It makes me feel like she’s from a wealthy family. She also looks a bit ditsy, and her boobs are so big, I fear they might pop out of her dress.

"Good morning, Darx!" She said.

"Ah, good morning!"

The second to come out is a girl who also has slanted eyes similar to Shalia. Except her hair is black and tied up in a ponytail. The armor she always wears is made of a lot of black leather, with some spots further reinforced with bands of metal stitched onto her clothes. I’m guessing she's of a fighter class.

She just bowed her head a little in greeting and continued on her way.

"Good morning," I replied.

Now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever heard her voice.

Seeing them leave, I went into Harold's office.

"Good morning! Do you have time to talk?" I asked.

"Of course! Come in! What do you want to talk about?"

I began by explaining how I met the princess and how she confessed to me about taking the ritual. I told him that she knows something important, but she is afraid that the queen will find out about her if she speaks.

Harold adjusted his glasses and replied, "I comprehend. All that is true and I would like to know what she knows. Would you mind telling me what she said to you?"

"Won't there be a problem with the queen?" I asked.

"Don't worry about that. The queen knows everything."

"Wait, does the queen know? I thought it was a secret between you and the princess."

"The princess indeed come to me asking for this favor, but it is not something that I can decide. I consulted with the queen before making a decision."

"I thought it was forbidden for the royal family to take the ritual. Why did the queen accept?"

Harold adjusted his glasses and answered, "What did you think of the princess after talking to her? She is a shy and kind girl, don't you think!? But if something were to happen to queen Zara, she would be the new ruler. Do you think Kathleen is ready for that role?"

I cannot imagine princess Kathleen in command of everything. She gives off a completely different aura than her mother's. The princess is probably the shyest person I have ever met.

Harold continued explaining, "The princess is always shy and never shows initiative for anything. That is why when the princess asked me to help her take the ritual, I was quite surprised. It was the first time that she went against the rules and made a decision on her own. Maybe if she learns more about an adventurer's life, she can gain more confidence in herself. At least that's what the queen and I want to believe. And that's why we let the princess believe that no one knows. The queen wants the princess to learn to fend for herself. Plus, it would be troublesome if someone else found out. So I ask you to keep it a secret, especially from the princess and other nobles."

Makes sense. At least from experience, I have realized that the stronger I get, the more confident I also feel. Besides, from what I noticed, the princess has no idea about that. I'm going to feel bad with the princess for not telling her if I see her again, but I think it's the best for her.

"Why is it forbidden for royalty to take the ritual?" I asked.

"It is something that was decided many years ago for the welfare of the royal family. As you already know, Riledo was the name of the first king after the fall of [Zrephia]. The small city where he was born changed its name to his, and that small city became the city you now know. Besides being a king, Riledo was also considered a hero since all nations' combined army managed to defeat the demon's invasion under his command. The new royal family began, and their descendants continued their legacy, but unfortunately, not everything went well. Since they were descendants of Riledo, a lot was expected from them. So when a king or queen received a low rank, it was considered a great disappointment and he was despised. Nobody knows how the goddess grants the ranks, so there is no way to control that. Some others received a good rank but died for wanting to be on the battlefield, leaving the kingdom in chaos, so it was considered that the best thing for the royal family is that they shouldn't take the ritual to protect both their prestige and their lives."

Putting it that way, I think it is the best for everyone.

"Darx, would you mind going back to the other topic and telling me what the princess told you?"

"Ah, yes."

I know the princess wanted to tell him on her own, but I guess it's okay if I'm the one who tells him. I told Harold about the shadow that Kathleen saw, someone heading into Darren's office using the secret passageways.

"I know well about the existence of those secret passageways, and it is something that I had considered when the guards did not see anyone enter through the door. Only a few nobles know about the existence of these paths. I will investigate those who know about them and what they were doing around the time the princess saw the person going to Darren's office. For now, keep this a secret as it can be a good way to set a trap for the murderer."

"Of course. Still no more clues about the culprit?" I asked. "I'm sure the suspicions about Syvis are false."

"Don't worry too much about it as I know Syvis is not responsible. If the suspicion was only due to arguments with Darren, I might have more."

"More?"

Harold adjusted his glasses and replied, "That is correct! When my master died, Darren wanted the position of advisor to the queen, and when it was given to me, he always resented me for that."

"I see..."

How complicated are the relationships of the nobles.

"You have a new mentor today, correct? You better go back to your partners for today, and please keep our conversations a secret."

I said goodbye to Harold and left his office and headed for the dining room.

Today I have to speak to Syvis no matter what. At the moment, I will concentrate on training with the new mentor, but at night I will go find her one more time. I met my friends in the dining room, and together we went to the patio where the teams are distributed. This time we will have Kiara. Dark Dragons's mentor.

On the way to the patio, I felt that someone was following me, so I turned around quickly to see who it was, but there was no one.

"Is something wrong, Darx?" Shalia asked.

"Ah, it's nothing. Let's continue."

Was it my imagination?