The Devil Does Not Need to Be Defeated

"Y-Your highness…?"

When Lucy dragged Shien out from her room, a number of shaken voices rang out around her.

When she hear those voices, Lucy stopped for a moment and her heart thumped as she registered what was around her.

A number of female knights stood guard outside her room. They were all staring at the scene of Lucy dragging Shien along with wide eyes.

As expected, for their princess, who had never shown any real attention to any man, be they young noblemen, princes of other nations, or important personages of other races, to be currently dragging a man along. Of course those female knights would be shocked.

Lucy also only now remembered such an important fact now.

It wasn't that Lucy was to slow. It's that due to the fact that she had never shown her true self to anyone before, and this time she got off everything on her chest to Shien, she ended up relaxing a bit too much. Thus, she had actually forgotten to put her mask on for the moment.

However, Lucy was no ordinary person after all. Given that she had been hiding her true self from everyone for so long, this much wasn't enough to make her panic.

Thus, Lucy quickly calmed down and not only did she not release her grasp, she instead maintained her current situation and just continued to walk forward.

After all, if she were to let go in a panic now, it would instead give the impression that she's trying to hide something.

In that case, it's better to simple continue on without any hesitance. Only then can she continue to maintain her image as a cool and collected princess.

Plus, the fact that she had never paid attention to any man wasn't actually because she looked down on them.

Although she was indeed talented, and one could even say that she's the most talented in the world, Lucy had never really believed that her future partner has to match up to herself or be however capable.

Since there wasn't going to be anyone more capable than herself anyways, Lucy had even thought that, for her future partner, it'd be fine even if he was a completely normal person.

But this was very unlikely to happen.

A normal man, partnered up with the number one princess in the world. Putting aside whether or not Lucy herself might mind, there were sure to be many others who would strenuously object.

Never mind the fact that the royalty won't allow it, even the citizenry might riot, thinking that said partner wasn't worthy of the perfect Lucy, right?

Although, given Lucy's capabilities, it's not impossible for her to withstand such pressures either. However, even if she could, it didn't mean that a normal man could.

At that point, the pressures that others have piled upon him would doubtlessly crush him utterly.

Thus, Lucy fully recognized the reality. Even if she didn't mind what her other half's background or strength might be, the basic reality of it is that the person in question must at least have the talent and capability to withstand such pressures.

Thus, Lucy wasn't actually all that opposed to those who sought her hand. For the sake of continuing the royal bloodline, she could mentally ready herself to accept marriage.

However, what's also reality is the fact that none of the ones who have sought her hand qualifies.

It's because none of them know Lucy's true self. Nor did they know that Lucy's perfect image was all just on the surface.

Lucy could fool others just fine, including her own parents and siblings, but could she really continue to fool the husband sharing her own bed?

Well, if she really had to, it's not like it's really impossible for her. However, in such a case, Lucy would not only have to maintain her perfect facade outside but even when in private. For Lucy, she felt like if she had to do that, then she'd definitely break and collapse some day.

Given all that, Lucy could only just drag it on.

Thankfully, since Lucy herself was so talented, even the gods paid quite some attention to the issue of her marriage. Thus, not even the royalty could dare to casually use her marriage as a political tool. Plus, Lucy also inherited the Holy Sword and became the Hero of the current era, so her own words held great weight. Thus, forcing her into a marriage without her approval is basically a fool's dream.

Although her perfect image has let to the citizenry to become a bit too fanatic about her, fanaticism has its own advantages. If Lucy really didn't want to get married, then she would but need to leak a word outside and, most likely, the citizenry would be willing to hold protests and demonstrations for her all around. If that happened, then not even the royalty would be able to do anything about that.

Thus, Lucy just kept on dragging it out. Drag until it can't be dragged out anymore. Then, at that point, she'd go looking for a method for immortality.

If she could become immortal, then she won't be dying of aging and will be able to continue acting as the Hero of the current era and keep protecting the royal house and the Kingdom. In that case, even if she didn't get married or leave behind a bloodline, there still shouldn't be too much objections, right?

In other words, Lucy had basically already prepared herself for a life all alone.

Thus, as mentioned above, the reason Lucy had never gotten closed to any male wasn't because she looked down on anyone, but rather because it's just the reality. It couldn't be helped.

However, this time Lucy had already exposed her true self to Shien, so there's no point in keeping any distance or whatever from him anymore.

As for outside reactions, it's not like Lucy getting close to a man will be enough to expose her true self, right?

What Lucy's priority was maintaining her perfect princess image, not being a cold person who disliked men.

Thus, it didn't really matter to her if anyone else was surprised or shocked at it. It's all fine so long as she'd not exposed.

With that in mind, Lucy continued to drag Shien along without any intention of letting go. The only difference is that her expression was no longer slothful and instead cool like before.

However, Lucy had forgotten that this was a matter involving two individuals, not just herself. It's pointless if she's the only one who thinks it fine.

"Slap!"

At a certain moment, a clear sound rang out.

"Ah!"

Lucy just felt a pain on the back of her hand, lightly cried out, and reflexively withdrew her hand.

"Your highness…!?"

"Your highness…!"

The female knights around them gasped in surprise once more.

Lucy also looked behind he in bewilderment.

There, Shien rotated his own wrist and rolled his eyes at Lucy, "Didn't I say to wait up? It's not like I'm refusing, so what are you dragging me for?"

Shien's tone was filled with annoyance. His attitude hadn't changed at all either, still utterly lacking in deference.

"You…"

Lucy got mad for a moment. She looked at the wide-eyed and still stunned knights around them with resignation.

Getting hit by a man in public. Getting treated so impolitely by a man as well. This was the first time that Lucy had experienced such things since her birth.

However, in the face of Shien's unchanging attitude despite the change in setting, Lucy for some reason breathed a sigh of relief while at the same time somewhat admiring it.

Shien didn't know what Lucy was thinking though.

All he knew was he wasn't willing to be dragged along in front of so many people. He's got his reputation to think of, alright?

Plus, he could easily imagine just how troublesome things would get if this was scene by those young noblemen outside.

Back some time ago, back at the Lamdrion adventurer's guild, so many things ended up happening just because he got pulled along a bit by Vivian. This time, if he got dragged along by Lucy in front of everyone, the troubles that would cause will definitely be endless.

Thus, Shien would say no thanks to that.

"Cough." Shien coughed then and purposefully spoke to Lucy with pretend politeness, "Well then your highness, let's go."

It was an obvious act to made distance between them.

Lucy got mad in her mind again as she grumbled.

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