Chapter 6: Chapter 5: Is This a Deal With the Devil?

The Second Princess of the Adustio Empire did not betray her bloodline, in spite of being abandoned. Through her young features, you could vaguely sense the similarities to her ancestors.

"Hmph, Helen Adustio Inveras. I can see Argonte's, that maniac's face, overlapping over hers."

Seeing her sitting on her little rocking chair, her posture gave me a sense of familiarity. And behind her eyes I could sense a light that didn't belong to the young Highness. I had a sense of premonition.

I did a formal bow, as Adustian etiquette went. Right hand over the heart and left hand idle with a slight inclination. The Princess stared at me.

"That's not a very good bow for a subordinate." 

"I am a guard, your Highness. I have not taken a pledge of allegiance, so I am not bound by a..." Raising my head a little, I went on, "... subordinate's etiquette."

Holding my stare, she seemed entertained. With a small twinkle in her eyes, she got off her chair towards me. I kept my slight bow.

As Omen refrained to continue his past words, the little girl continued quietly onwards, reaching my front. She raised her right hand, smiling. 

She then proceeded to hit my forehead with her open palm, with a loud smacking sound. It didn't hurt at all, but Marie at my side seemed startled.

"..."

Did she just—

"Hit you. Yes, yes she did."

...

...?

Looking at the confusion on my face, maybe she found it funny, but she took in a mouthful of air and started laughing without any sense of elegance, the laughs bouncing of the walls with the liveliness of a small child.

Holding her stomach and wiping the small tears off the corner of her eyes, she signaled for the startled Marie to leave. Once she had done so, she closed in again while I processed the situation.

Turning her head to the door and then towards me, she asked, "Is she there?"

I shaked my head.

"Then I'd like to ask," the Princess looked back at me, "you're one too, aren't you?"

"Say what?"

"C'mon. You know what I mean."

"What's she talking about?"

Ignoring Omen, I thought quickly. Raising an eyebrow, I noticed the expectation on her face.

Biting the bullet, I answered, "What was the name of the biggest empire back where you're from?"

"A lot of people think it was the Romans, but it was actually the mon—"

"The Mongols." Nodding our heads in unison, we shared a moment of appreciation.

"Deneve? What is she talking about?"

"I'll tell you later."

Romans and Mongols do not exist in this world, so I believed her. Ignoring the fact she had slapped me, I was somewhat happy that someone else shared my experience.

After a few more moments of silence and thinking, I decided to ask more.

"Why did you want to confirm this? You and I know very well what kind of position we have in this world.

No matter how glad I am to find someone with similar circumstances, this doesn't guarantee any sort of friendship, does it?"

As far as she knows, even if I am from earth, what use is it? She's an abandoned Princess bound to die in this Palace, and I am a Lucerne bound to be thrown to war at age twelve.

The Princess stayed quiet for a few moments, then grabbed me to sit by her rocking chair with her.

"None of us two cares for this place's rules of nobility, so I'll be honest.

I will be used as a pawn in that bastard's plan to have you and your House die, and then thrown into a political marriage.

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You, unfortunate fellow, are not better off. He won't wait for war, you can be sure he'll kill you indirectly before you have a chance to even grow stronger."

That bastard was definitely referring to the Emperor, and the latter parts were clear for both of us. I didn't say anything, but she understood.

Frowning, the Princess continued pleading the case, "I don't ask for friendship, I ask for cooperation. Neither of us have much power, but if you're willing I can certainly come up with something that will give us a chance to survive.

A mere promise I will trust. No one else in these lands will help us except ourselves, and no one else but me can simpathize sincerely with your situation.

You might find better support among those old, rat assholes of the big noble Houses, but will they be honest with you? Will they offer mutually beneficial situations? Will they not treat you like a dog to be used?"

Having finished her rant for now, she gripped the arm she led me by with as much strength her body could muster. I knew she was right, and I also knew that sense of desperation.

Wasn't I the same after all? She wasn't stupid, that's for sure. She could tell I was thinking of seeking patronage among the big Houses, but that was very shaky. I'd be covering a hole just to make another one. But even then, was I supposed to trust her with my life based on just this?

Her laugh earlier was merely an attempt to hide her current feelings. I could survive, if barely, by seeking subordination to another's plan, however humiliating it would be, but she could not.

She was trapped strongly in her father's clutches, and she did not have the Lucerne identity as a bargaining chip. She could die far more easily than I could, and to top it off, her plan offered me no guarantees. It was a desperate, on the spot plan.

"How did you know I was from Earth? Does your whole plan depend on me?" If it did, I wanted out. I would not wager my life on someone this unstable.

"It doesn't. I've made up my mind up from the start." She stood up, suddenly.

"I didn't know you were like me until I saw you. And I will tell you, as well, that I find it rude that you think of me as desperate.

Don't look surprised, I'm not that dumb, alright? You look all apprehensive about it, how can I not notice?

I already know what I will do. You being from Earth was a welcome surprise, as it makes it easier to cooperate."

Still not elaborating on her plan, she stood in front of the door, as if to tell me to listen first. I simply stayed sitting.

"If you had been a normal kid, the plan would have taken longer, because I would have had to raise you as a loyal subordinate. Five year old children aren't too hard to manipulate.

And about making sure you stayed alive, I had a few ideas. If I could make you look like a very loyal subject of the crown, the Emperor would certainly keep you alive.

The current you cannot do that. I can tell by looking at you, that you can't hide the maturity that doesn't belong to that body. He would be suspicious no matter what you did."

"You say a lot, but I still don't see why I should stand with you and not the rat nobles?"

Although I no longer though of her badly and was partial to believing her, there was something lacking.

She smiled, and walked closer to me again, this time not sitting but holding me by the shoulders and lowering her head, putting us at eye level.

"I won't constrain you. We won't have to doubt each other at every turn. I won't ask you to dedicate every part of you."

My eyebrow twitched.

Knowing she had already succeeded, she said her final string of words, "The moment our survival is guaranteed, I'll free you from service. You'll have peace."

Was I really this easy to read? For her to realize so easily that I disliked conflict the most.

Looking for the last time into her eyes, I could see they were clear. I stood up, reciprocated in putting my hands her shoulders as well, turned her around and guided her to sit on her rocking chair.

I stepped back, letting go when she did. I rearranged my uniform, straightened my collar and fixed my posture.

"I have no idea what that was, kid, but this Princess of yours looks like a devil to me."

I patted my chest, to reassure Omen. With a deep breath, I told my new boss:

"You have yourself a partner in crime then. Try and make it so that we don't die stupidly."

She nodded, content. And determined.

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AN: Hey, my good folk! Today's update is here! Thanks for reading, and thanks to the nice readers that point out the typos! 

If you feel you signed up for more action, no worries, you'll have some tomorrow! *Wink* *Wink*

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