The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated
chapter-164

Afterwards, Shien left the palace straight away without so much as the slightest pause.

Ancil and Aldia watched as they left. However, one was gazing at Shien's back with unknown thoughts, while the other was watching Diere with a cold expression. The whole atmosphere in the reception room continued to be heavy until everyone left, and the entire time Lumia and Melika had no idea what to do.

Lucy on the other hand had a somewhat thoughtful expression toward the situation. Vivian also had a complicated expression on her face like she knew something about it.

In the end, Shien only got more confused.

"Just what kind of stupid development is this?"

That was Shien's first reaction.

Thus, Shien doesn't really want to follow up on this matter. He seriously didn't want to.

However, Lucy suddenly caught up to him a this time and, ignoring the surprise of Vivian and the rest, dragged Shien to the side.

"Hey, make sure to look after Diere for the next while." Lucy whispered to Shien just as he was about to try to resist, "If I'm not wrong, there should be a number of people who might try to go after her if they find out that she's back in the capital. Although that girl probably shouldn't need to fear them, there are a ton of nobles who's good at intrigue here in the capital. I'm a bit worried that Diere might end up getting framed for something, so please help keep an eye out for her."

Those words made Shien stop his struggling.

"… Just what is it?"

Shien sighed and in the end, was forced to look into the matter despite himself.

It couldn't be helped. Diere did kind of count as his teacher. Much like Vivian, Diere had taken care of him quite a bit, so no matter how much Shien disliked trouble, there's no way that he could turn a blind eye to any suffering that might befall her.

However, Lucy didn't explain further.

"You should go ask for the details yourself. This is somewhat of a taboo here in the capital, so it's best if that girl told you herself." Lucy started and stopped before finally speaking, "Before, Lieli, Diere, and I had a pretty good relationship, but as more and more work got piled onto me, my relationship with Diere ended up turning distant. After Aldia became my teacher, Diere was even more reluctant to speak to me, so only Leili and Vivian were left to take care of her."

Perhaps that's the reason why, after Diere reached adulthood, that Lieli and Vivian invited Diere to Lamdrion.

"Truth be told, I've been wanting to have a proper talk with that girl for a while. She also shouldn't hate me either. I could tell that much at least, but she doesn't want to have any real relationship with me anymore." Lucy spoke in with a complicated tone, "Right now, Leili isn't around. It's hard to say whether Vivian alone would be able to really help Diere. Originally, I had actually planned to get involved a little, but since you're here, it might be better if you took care of things instead."

Then, Lucy handed an object to Shien.

It was a pendant with an engraving on it.

The engraving was in the form of a sword.

Shien could tell with a single glance that the sword imaged engraved on the pendent was the Hero's Holly Sword.

"What's this?"

Shien blinked.

Lucy also blinked, but she didn't explain further. She only said, "Well, simply put it's a kind of proof of identity. If you meet anyone who tries to bully you via status, you can just show this thing off."

In response, Shien frowned.

"This wouldn't happen to be some kind of royal token, where anyone who holds it is pretty much considered a representative of the royal family, right?"

Shien stared intently at Lucy.

Lucy stopped talking.

Thus, Shien understood.

"Alright, let's throw it away."

"I knew that you'd do that! That's why I didn't want to say anything!"

"Duh! If I showed that thing off outside, it's pretty much blatantly telling everyone that I have some kind of relations with the royalty!"

"Isn't that fine? A lot of people only wish they could have that!"

"Then go give it to someone else then! If some Old Demon Faction or jealous noble saw it, then I'd instantly end up with a target on me right? There's no way I'd want that!"

"You're taking it even if you don't want it! Put it on, now!"

"I refuse!"

"Why you…! This is something only the direct royal line can have! Plus, each person only gets one! Right now, it's only me, father, and my elder sister who has one! Throwing it away is an execution worthy offense!"

"Tsk…"

"Do you really need to dislike it that much? Damn it! Anyway, put it on!"

Shien and Lucy started arguing like so. In the end, they even started getting physical. It looks like they were practically wrestling with each other. It ended up seriously give Vivian, Lumia, and Melika, who were looking from afar, a serious scare.

Finally, Shien was forced to put the pendant on in the end.

"Listen up, you're not allowed to take it off." Lucy threatened, "If I find out that you've taken it off, I'll publicly announce that I'm going to marry you."

Shien completely froze in terror at that statement.

Seeing Shien super reluctantly stop his motion to take off the pendant, Lucy rather had the urge to tear his head off.

She's a universally beloved princess you know. The number one genius and beauty in the world. All the people in the Kingdom, no matter their station, were her fanatical fans. The sons of great nobles, princes of other nations, and various great personages of other races would stop at nothing to marry her. They'd seek her out practically daily all for the sake of trying gain her favor and leave a good impression. Yet, this man acts so unhappy at the thought of her announcing that she'd marry him. It seriously makes her want to give him a serious beating.

That said though…

(It's exactly because he's this way that I can trust him.)

Lucy let out a sigh in her mind.

She reminisced over her interactions with Shien and the feeling of not needing to hide herself or mind the gazes of others. Lucy doesn't even remember just how long it had been since the last time she felt so relaxed and free.

Lucy looked at Shien with a very complicated expression and, after a bit of hesitation, finally spoke up again.

"If you use that pendant, you'll be able to freely enter and leave the palace without being stopped. If you have some time free, then make sure to come by every so often."

The hidden meaning behind Lucy's words was so clear that there was no real need to further explain it.

Of course, given Shien's personality, Lucy felt like he's definitely say something like "who the heck would come to a place like this".

Thus, Lucy hurriedly added something on.

"If you dare to refuse, then I'm going to be taking payment for those three sealing rings."

"You're despicable!" Shien could only curse her back.

But Lucy was left in a much better mood. She completely ignore Shien's insult, turned around, and left in a visibly great mood.

All Shien could do was sullenly return to Vivian and her group.

What welcomed Shien back though were a number of strange expressions on the faces of Vivian and her group.

"You seem quite close with her highness?" Vivian spoke with a somewhat uncertain tone.

In response, Lumia and Melika by her side rapidly nodded.

Shien immediately replied back.

"I'm not. I didn't. Don't speak nonsense."

Vivian and the rest didn't believe those words at all.

Thus, the entire group chattered on their way out of the palace.

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