Reincarnated as the Descendant of a Fallen Noble

Chapter 70:  Princess, Can We Talk? (1)

“Hey, isn’t this a bit too much?!”

Just as Hardin was furiously shaking the iron bars and shouting in protest—

A knight standing in front of the cell furrowed his brow and said,

“Shut that mouth of yours, will you? You're too loud.”

A rough-looking young man with an eyepatch over one eye.

It was Benjamin, the aide of Princess Medeia.

Hardin pouted and stretched his arm out through the bars as he spoke.

“Sir Knight, is this how you treat someone who saved your life? I mean, we helped out in a crisis and this is how you repay us—by locking us up?”

Benjamin let out a deep sigh and replied,

“Do you really not know why you're imprisoned?”

“Of course not! You should at least explain why...”

“For recklessly grabbing the princess’s hand and insulting her. Isn’t that reason enough?”

Hardin’s eyes widened for a moment. He waved his hand vehemently and said,

“That was an accident! She was wearing a helmet! How was I supposed to know she was the princess and not just some random knight?”

“Silence! That’s not the only reason we have to detain you.”

“What else then?”

When Hardin shrugged his shoulders, Benjamin ground his teeth and answered.

“What else? You're suspicious.”

“Suspicious of what? We’ve got nothing to hide!”

“And yet you show up in this remote place with over ten mana users and expect me to buy that?”

“I told you, we came to help the princess!”

“Then how did you even know Her Highness was here in the first place?!”

“I told you, it’s written in the journal!”

“Shut up!”

Benjamin’s face twisted further in anger. Behind him, Malion lowered his voice and gave a cautious warning.

“Brother, please just shut up…”

“What did I do?”

“Stop provoking him. It’s already dangerous enough as it is.”

Malion’s eyes turned bloodshot as he abruptly reached out and clamped a hand over Hardin’s mouth.

‘I’ve got to stop him, even if it means shutting his mouth myself!’

If I can’t stop my brother from spouting nonsense now, we—no, our house—might be doomed!

Thwack!

But despite Malion’s desperation, Hardin easily swatted his hand away and said,

“Get off me.”

“I can’t.”

“I said, get off.”

“I can’t! You keep spewing nonsense, Brother!”

“What nonsense? I’m just speaking the truth! Hey, Sir Knight. This fortress isn’t in good shape, right? We can help, you know?”

Benjamin’s voice rose even more.

“And how the hell would you know that? No one outside the royal family should know about it!”

“Well…”

“No! Brother, shut your mouth!”

As Hardin and Malion wrestled in a frantic scuffle—

“Beryl, what should we do?”

“What else? Pretend we don’t know anything…”

That way, our chances of survival might just go up.

The Maw mercenaries desperately averted their gazes and backed away into the corner of the cell.

“Hey, Sir Knight! Bring the princess here! Princess! I need to speak to her right now!”

“Is the princess your friend or something?! Please, stop!”

“She’s not a friend, but I still have things I need to say!”

Just then, a cold voice came from the opposite side of where Benjamin was standing.

“She’s right here.”

“Huh?”

When he quickly turned his head, there stood a woman with silver hair in a feline face, flanked by knights.

It was none other than Princess Medeia, whom Hardin had so desperately (?) been calling for.

“……”

Ah… we’re screwed.

Malion and the Maw mercenaries froze in place like statues.

But unlike them—

Crack!

A vein bulged on Hardin’s forehead.

“Princess, is it really okay to lock people up without warning like this? We risked our lives to help you, you know?”

Tremble tremble.

‘Is this guy insane?’

‘…This is the end.’

Everyone was too stunned to speak, their bodies trembling with dread.

Meanwhile, Princess Medeia ignored Hardin and turned to ask,

“Benjamin, what did you find out?”

“They already seem to know the situation within the fortress.”

Malion’s face turned to one of utter despair.

I told you to keep your mouth shut… Why, why did you have to go and ruin everything?!

Whoosh!

He whipped his head around and glared at Hardin with a face full of resentment, cursing him silently with his eyes.

Meanwhile, Princess Medeia turned her gaze back to Hardin and asked,

“What is your purpose for coming here?”

“Ehh… you’re being too stiff about this.”

When Hardin replied playfully—

Shing!

The princess drew her sword and held it forward as she continued.

“Answer.”

“Ah, I apologize!”

Hardin quickly bowed his head. His eyebrows twitched in constant frustration.

‘The world’s really going to hell…’

Back in the day, even those imperial princes used to call me “brother” (even though they were older than me), and treated me like their savior. And now, I get treated like this by the Fourth Princess?

She barely looks like she could be my granddaughter’s age…

But what can you do.

‘A mere viscounty dog like me has to obey orders.’

After all, we’re the ones who came here begging.

With a deep exhale through his nose, Hardin answered.

“We came because we wanted to help you, Princess. The situation here doesn’t look good.”

“This information shouldn’t have been leaked outside.”

Hardin shrugged.

“Still, there are things that are just too obvious. If someone like the princess heads to the north for inspection and then doesn’t return for eight months, well… it’s pretty clear something’s wrong, isn’t it?”

Princess Medeia and the surrounding knights slightly furrowed their brows.

“…That alone made you come here?”

“Yes, I’ve always had good instincts.”

Hardin’s eyes casually swept over the inside of the fortress.

Everywhere he looked, there were soldiers clearly worn out from exhaustion.

They all had dark circles under their eyes, looked emaciated, and the place was filled with the injured.

There were also people mixed in who clearly looked like civilians at a glance.

They were probably refugees gathered from nearby villages.

Hardin quickly organized his thoughts and spoke.

“My guess is... monsters started appearing more frequently in this area, and because of that, Your Highness came here in haste with your knights for an inspection, but ended up being stuck in the fortress. Something along those lines, right?”

“……”

“And those people must be ones you rescued from the nearby villages…”

Malion, who had been watching nervously, opened his eyes wide.

‘How does he know all that?’

We didn’t get any specific information… did we?

Princess Medeia narrowed her eyes and asked,

“Who exactly are you?”

“Me? I’m Hardin, the Great Young Master of the Daphne Viscounty.”

When Hardin quickly pulled out his noble crest and waved it, a trace of confusion appeared on Medeia’s face.

“Daphne? The one where Varlach Daphne was from?”

“Yes, that’s right. Do you know us?”

Heh, as expected. I’m not forgotten after all. (And he really was still alive.)

Even after 80 years, there are people who still remember me.

Princess Medeia frowned and said,

“You don’t look like him.”

“Pardon? Who doesn’t?”

“I heard Varlach Daphne was an extraordinary knight... but you’re hardly worthy of being his descendant.”

“…Excuse me? Me?”

Wait, but I’m the actual Varlach…

“Uh, I think there’s been a misunderstanding, Your Highness. Lord Varlach was indeed an amazing person… but I’m quite decent myself, you know?”

“…You dishonor even your ancestor so casually. How disgraceful.”

“That’s not what I meant. I know Lord Varlach Daphne very well, and in fact, we’re pretty alike in a lot of ways!”

“That can’t be.”

“Excuse me?”

When the princess scoffed with an expression of disbelief, a vein throbbed on Hardin’s forehead.

‘I am Varlach Daphne, you damn brat…’

Hardin gripped the bars tightly, clenched his teeth, and let out a low voice through them.

“Even if you’re a princess, isn’t it a bit much to insult my ancestor like that?”

Almost immediately—

“Hold your tongue!”

“How dare you speak like that in her presence!”

Shing!

The other knights drew their swords toward the cell, their eyes filled with murderous intent.

“I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry!”

“Brother! Please, just stay quiet for the love of—!”

Just stay still, please!

Malion and the Maw mercenaries turned pale and bowed their heads desperately.

Then, Princess Medeia let out a quiet sigh and raised her hand slightly.

As the knights lowered their swords and their threatening glares faded, she continued speaking.

“So, tell me specifically how you plan to help.”

“It’s a bit long to explain everything, but if you just leave it to us, we’ll get you out of this fortress for sure. One month is all we need.”

“…And what makes you so confident?”

“My faith in myself? I’ve inherited some of Lord Varlach’s traits, you see. And my subordinates are quite capable too.”

Hardin shrugged and glanced back at the Maw mercenaries.

Of course, the people in question…

‘Me?’

‘Capable?’

...felt like their blood was draining out by the second.

Princess Medeia took a moment to think, then let out a sharp sigh and asked again,

“Then, what do you want in return?”

“Oh come on, I’m not doing this expecting something in return. I just came all this way out of sheer devotion to help the princess who’s working so tirelessly day and night…”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Whoa, she’s quick on the uptake.

Hardin grinned and said,

“Our house is planning to build a trade port. We’re in need of some investment capital. Around ten million gold, roughly.”

The moment the words “ten million gold” were spoken, everyone flinched.

Hardin didn’t miss the timing and quickly continued.

“Ah, I know you don’t have that kind of money. So, I was hoping you’d grant us a Fabione.”

“……”

Fabione.

A system that only those of the sun god Fabian’s bloodline can use once in their lifetime.

In short, it’s a way to receive money from the royal family.

It serves as a financial foundation for princes who did not ascend to the throne, and as a dowry for princesses who are to marry into another house.

Depending on the applicant’s status and reputation, the amount could range from several hundred to over ten million gold.

‘He’s insane…’

‘Brother, have you lost your mind?’

So this was the investment plan? This was the grand idea?

Malion and the Maw mercenaries were left speechless, mouths agape, while fury bloomed across the knights’ faces.

In contrast, Princess Medeia’s expression turned completely emotionless as she asked,

“Do you even understand what you're saying?”

“Yes, I understand it well.”

“If you’re just trying to spout nonsense…”

“Don’t worry so much. All I’m asking is for you to apply for the Fabione. You don’t actually need to give me any money.”

Hardin waved his hands dismissively, prompting a curious glint in Medeia’s eyes.

“You’re saying you don’t want the money?”

“Yes, I do have some sense of conscience. Instead, I want you to say that the money from the Fabione was invested in us. Publicly, I mean.”

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Everyone tilted their heads in confusion, unable to follow the logic of the conversation.

Princess Medeia stared straight at Hardin and said,

“You want to borrow my name… That’s it, isn’t it.”

“Exactly! Sharp as ever, Your Highness.”

Princess Medeia.

Even as merely the fourth princess, she was well-known—ranked among the Empire’s Seven Beauties according to the journal.

A princess like her, investing the entirety of her Fabione into the construction of a single family's port?

If such a thing happened, the rumors would spread across the Empire, and everyone would inevitably come to the same conclusion.

‘They’ll think our family has something special.’

Back when I was still Varlach, there was one thing my eldest brother always drilled into my ears every time he managed to secure a large investment from somewhere.

 Varlach, when it comes to receiving investment, it’s not about whether something actually exists or not.

 Then what’s important?

 It’s far more important to make the other person believe that something is there.

 …You sound like a con artist.

 Ahem! A con artist, you say?

That lesson my brother taught me back then… I’ll put it to good use now.

Hardin grinned and said,

“It’s a win-win. The princess gets out of here, and we get the investment we need! Isn’t this the perfect deal for both sides?”

When Medeia didn’t respond immediately and kept her mouth shut, the nearby knights, clearly angered, began shouting.

“Princess, just ignore him. He’s clearly insane.”

“If you give the order, we’ll cut off his head immediately.”

Medeia, who had been silent, slowly turned her body and opened her eyes as she spoke.

“Benjamin, keep a close watch on them. I’ll decide what to do with them… after further discussion.”

“Yes, understood!”

As Aide Benjamin bowed his head, Princess Medeia quickly began to leave the area.

“Your Highness.”

At that moment, Hardin exhaled deeply and wiped the expression from his face, speaking in a cold, flat tone.

“If you step into a trap, you can’t escape alone.”

Tap!

Medeia’s steps halted.

Her pupils trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.

“…What do you mean?”

A short question from the princess.

Hardin reached his arm through the bars and said,

“To get out of a trap, someone has to take your hand. And only when you get out can there be another opportunity.”

A trap? Take a hand? What’s he talking about?

Malion looked at Hardin with a confused expression.

“……”

Medeia stood frozen in place, staring directly at Hardin for a long while.

Her hands and face trembled ever so slightly, barely noticeable, and faint wrinkles formed on her brow.

The surrounding noise faded, leaving only a high-pitched ringing in her ears.

How long she stood there in that trance-like state, no one could say.

“Princess Medeia?”

A knight standing nearby called out, snapping her back to reality.

At this, Medeia slowly closed and opened her eyes before speaking.

“All of you, follow me. We’ll… discuss this.”

“Yes!”

Medeia and the knights turned and disappeared beyond the edge of the corridor.