Chapter 301: Were Like Brothers.

Shien was indeed cursed.

And its an unknown curse at that.

The evidence is the mark on his hand. It didnt disappear even after several days have passed.

This really did make Shien a bit scared.

isnt it just a kiss? Its not like you didnt agree to it yourself, right? Why else did you close your eyes first?

Shien felt like he was the innocent party here.

He did feel great at the time. After all, it was his first time taking the absolute initiative. Not at all like the previous two times where he was the one being forcefully kissed. Yet, if the cost of a moment of joy is actually that huge, then Shien really does want to back step now.

As for relying on his resistance skills and just ignoring it, thats completely impossible for him.

Who knows if resistance skills will actually work on it?

If it does work, then why did it not have any effect at all when he was being bitten?

Shien strongly suspect that the princess in question has certain abilities to nullify resistance skills.

Thus, during the next few days, Shien constantly tried to get some information out of Lucy without making it seem like thats what hes doing. Unfortunately, he failed every time.

I dont know what youre talking about.

The princess just pretended to be innocent, making Shien grind his teeth hatefully.

Of course, what Shien doesnt know is that Lucy was also grinding her teeth even more hatefully at him.

The reason for that is because the day after the kiss, Lucy asked him something without showing a hint of what shes thinking.

So what are we to each other right now?

The meaning behind those words were unbelievably obvious.

At the very least, Shien could feel that if he just put a bit more effort into it, then it shouldnt be hard for him to completely push the princess down.

Only, if he really did push the princess down, then Shien feels like hes definitely going to end up directly engaged and forced to marry that girl.

Thats how love among royalty is. Everything directly progresses to marriage from the very start. Theres no word at all about dating or anything. It just progresses directly to marriage. Otherwise, theyll have to break up. Theres no other possibility aside from that.

Shien really doesnt want to directly progress into marriage negotiations.

At the very least not yet.

Otherwise, hell end up completely entrapped by this Kingdom and be forced to willingly work himself to death for them.

Thus, Shien gave a strange response.

Were like brothers.

That day, Shien was beaten up by Lucy.

This is what No do, no die means.

Lucy held a grudge in her heart for that. Thats something completely normal.

Thus, Shien was unable to get any answer the entire time and was forced to give up in the end.

I refuse to believe that youd curse me dead.

With such a thought, Shien just set this matter aside.

Although its supposed to have been set aside, Shiens own feelings toward Lucy has definitely changed.

Naturally, Lucy is also unable to consider Shien the same way as before.

That kiss created a change in the twos relationship.

Even if neither brought the matter up, some things dont need to be said for everyone to understand.

Thus, afterwards, Shien felt like the times when hes consciously and unconsciously looking at Lucy had obviously increased. Lucy too would similarly finish her work ahead of time as if by unspoken agreement so as to purposefully clear out time to stay with Shien for two or three hours.

However, the way the two act together didnt change at all. Just like with before, sometimes theyd quarrel, sometimes theyd complain to each other, sometimes theyd chat and laugh, and sometimes theyd act awkwardly like theyre little kids. They continued acting like they always have.

The only change is probably that the two started acting even more daring and unrestrained with each other?

For example, previously, Shiens teasing previously was restrained to just words, but now he dares to get hands on with her. As for Lucy, her own acts of pulling, dragging, grabbing, or hugging Shien became far more frequent like she no longer held back anymore.

If any outsider were to see this scene, then their eyes would definitely fall out of their sockets in shock.

For one, they really are acting too much like close lovers.

For two, for the Treasure of the Kingdom to act so defenseless toward someone of the opposite gender is something that would shock the entire world.

With all that going on, its not like nothing else was happening.

For example, Shien had already sent Lasha off to deal with the residence. He was certain that on the day of the ennobling, hell have a magnificent banquet waiting for him.

For the sake of the banquet, Shien had handed a full thousand gold to Lasha, telling her to make it as big and magnificent as she can.

It cant be helped.

No matter what, its the house that the princess gave me, so I cant let the banquet be too poor looking.

If its too poor looking, then the ones to lose face wouldnt just be Shien and Lucy, but also the royal family.

After all, this residence was originally the side residence of the founding Hero Mitra. It has a direct relationship with the royal family.

If anything unworthy appeared there, then the royal family would definitely feel shamed.

Its even to the point where they cant let too few people come to the banquet, or for those people to have too low statuses.

Those are all possible issues that could bring shame to the residence and the royal family. Its not something that can be allowed.

As a result, Shien himself was forced to write up a number of invitations out to invite a number of highly placed nobles to join the banquet.

Shit. Why do I feel like things have just gotten more and more complicated?

Shien really wanted to slam his head into the wall.

As I thought. A princesss lips arent something so easily tasted.

But what else can he do?

He just had to give it his all then!

Thankfully, its not like Shien doesnt have anyone to invite within the Capital.

First of all, I definitely have to invite Mister Megis. Although hes an honorary marquis and among the top of the Kingdoms administrative nobles, and thus most normal viscounts wouldnt even have the right to try to invite him. That said, Mister Megis would definitely accept my invitation.

And if Mister Megis is willing to accept my invitation, all the noble vassal families of the Latrard family will also accept, so Ill sent them all an invitation as well.

Besides that, I should also invite everyone who was on my side during the audience.

Alright, thats what Ill do then.

After finalizing his plans, Shien discovered that he really did have a lot of people to invite. They arent lacking in status or authority either.

This basically counts as Shiens connections in the Capital.

The invitations that Shien sent out had also ended up in the hands of the intended recipients without any issues.

Ill definitely personally come when its time.

Megis easily made such a promise.

The rest of the people invited were the same. Each and every one of them gave Shien a great deal of face.

This let Shien finally know that he didnt just have enemies in the Capital.

Although some of them were just banking on his future potential. They knew that Shien had a bright path ahead of him, and so they want to establish connections, and thats why they so easily agreed to show up. Shien doesnt mind that however.

Its just forming connections. Shien wouldnt mind that much.

If they really want to deepen those connections though, that would require further considerations then.

Just like that, the matters on Shiens side progressed very smoothly. There were practically no issues at all.

On the other hand, the fact that Shein was planing on living in Mitras resistance obviously made huge waves with the outside world.

Why!?

A mere viscount is actually moving into the center of the noble district?

Does he plan on looking down on all high class nobles?

No! This cannot be allowed!

Those nobles who disliked Shien from the start finally lit up in rage.

Its a matter that affected their own status and prestige. Never mind the fact that the person in question was someone that they disliked from the start, even if it was someone they liked, those nobles would flip their lids without hesitation after learning that someone climbed over everyones head without any humility like that.

However, just as they were about to make make problems, a piece of news arrived.

It was an announcement from Lucy.

Its my gift to Shien for his ennobling. You may come find me if you have any issues with that.

That single statement made a vast number of nobles lose their voices.

Its not that theyre not angry, but that they dont dare to speak even if theyre angry.

If the person in question was anyone else, even if its the King himself, they would still dare to petition him and beg him to rethink things.

But with the person in question being Lucy, they had no idea what to do.

Lucy might not be the king, but her authority is even heavier than that of the King within the Kingdom.

Shien is someone that I personally recognizes. He achieved two great merits while at such a young age, and even has the capabilities to tame the black dragon of Ataru. Does everyone really think such a gift is too much for such a talented individual?

It doesnt matter if the nobles were willing to accept those words that Lucy tossed out, given that the citizenry accepted it.

Since its someone that her highness considers important, then thats not too much after all.

Besides, he really did achieve a great deal despite being so young, so Hes indeed worthy of her highnesss consideration.

Compared to those nobles who just knows to intrigue and quarrel every day, that adventurer named Shien instead got so far on his own strength. Its only natural that hes worthy of such treatment, right?

Thats right.

The citizenry had slowly accepted this point despite their surprise.

All the nobles who understood all this seriously wanted to loudly tell them something though.

Do you not know that the person that youre supporting now may very well steal her highness away?

Consideration? Of course she has high consideration for him! Hes the only one that her highness is favoring here!

Do you not know how close they are normally?

They even stay in the same room all day by themselves. And every single stay ends up going the entire day!

Your beloved princess is on the verge of being stolen here, and yet youre still supporting him? You foolish peasants!

Those nobles were mad enough to spit blood.

However, they really do not dare to recklessly say such things.

If they did, then the Capital may definitely end up experiencing a riot.

When that happens, as one of the parties who provoked it, they wont be able to carry the weight of such a thing.

In the end, those nobles could only swallow their bitterness while secretly planning to show Shien what for in order to get him to withdraw from that residence.

There were even a portion of them who planned on sending some people to go and make trouble in order to force Shien out.

They had no idea what kind of hell awaited them though.

Thats because

Roar-!!!

Following a draconic roar that rang out through the entire noble district, a pitch black dragon excitedly flew into the extremely large residence.

Yulin!

Shien stood in the garden and waved at Yulin, who was up in the sky.

Roar!

Yulin excitedly roared out again like she was venting her frustration from being trapped in the northern districts stables during all this time. She then charged into the grounds, flapped her wings, and descended while creating great gusts of wind.

Haha!

Shien hugged Yulins head, which impatiently nuzzled him. As he loudly laughed, he also pushed wave after waves of magic power into Yulins body.

Yulins comfortable and excited roars rang out over and over, not stopping for some time.

Airi then leaped down from up on Yulins back.

So this is where youll be staying from now on huh?

The little girl scanned that residence while hugging her pillow before nodding in satisfaction.

Hn. Not bad. It can nearly match up to her own home, so its quite suitable for her to stay in.