Vol 2 Chapter 8 (1/2)

Chapter 8

Chapter 2, Episode 8: The Widow’s Trap

(Why— did she show up now?)

He did expect her to come in contact with him eventually

But not now It should have been at a later time

(Could it be that she’s that cornered right now? No, even if she were, it’s still too soon for her to come in contact with me)

He doesn’t have ti He can’t let her know that he’s analyzing the situation right now

Even if she is Liz’s older sister, currently, she is the acting head of the Kelheit house

It’s almost certain that she approached Hiro with the intention of using him

The more he wavers, the more the situation will be in her favor

He absolutely does not want to give her the initiative, so Hiro puts on a calm face and points his hand to the space beside him

「Please No one is sitting here, so go ahead」

「Thank you I appreciate that」

Rosa was holding a glass in each hand She placed one filled with a red liquid on the table before Hiro

It’s likely wine or so similar, but because Hiro had never drunk alcohol before, he decided to decline the drink

「Umm, I can’t drink alcohol…」

「Oh, I didn’t realize Well, this one’s water, so don’t worry」

She says as she switches the glass with the one filled with the clear liquid— the water

As she sat down next to hirance of roses tickled his nose

「What business ht Liz’s sister have with me?」

「Well, my little sister wrote about you in a letter You’ve done a lot for her and all, so I thought I should coreet you」

「I see… Liz actually did a lot for me too, so it’s an honor to meet her sister」

「Ahh, your Highness Hiro, there’s no need to be so formal Let’s be coher position than I a to set a bad example for the others」

「I understand— Yeah, alright Is this okay?」

「Yeah, that’s good You should understand your position a little better」

She laughs cheerfully and takes a sip of her wine

She drank her wine slowly to savor the taste She then slass

「It’s tragic that you can’t drink such delicious wine」

「I can’t do alcohol」

Hiro shrugs his shoulders

He can’t say that he’s underage— This is because you’re considered an adult at 15 in this world

「What a waste Considering the future, it would be beneficial in various ways for you to drink」

「There are a lot of dangers lately, so I think it’s better that I can’t drink for now」

「Heh, I can’t tell if you’re cautious or a coward I wonder which you are」

「It’s because I’m a coward」

「I can’t inified in the throne room would say that Do you mind if I ask why?」

Hiro put on an indifferent expression towards the woreat interest

「I’ So— no s for their life, I get an urge to kill them」

「…」

「Although the boundary for that “regret” is auous」

It’s unsure whether she looks befuddled because the young boy changed his expression, or because she beca deep within him

Rosa takes a gulp frolass and elass of wine

She enjoyed the fragrance of the white wine brought by the server before speaking again

「How old will you be this year?」

「Seventeen Why do you ask?」

「You’re terribly twisted for your age I would even call you haughty Hehe, I’m curious about your past now」

「My past isn’t anything special I just survived a number of hellish battles」

「Is that so? Then— if I happened to become your enemy here and noould happen?」

He doesn’t knohat she’s trying to probe for, but Hiro decides to answer honestly

「I wouldn’t do anything I would draw a line though— If you crossed that line, I’d go after your head eventually」

「You wouldn’t kill ht away?」

「If I did that, wouldn’t that just htless」

「So you act after thinking things through」

「If you lose your reason, you’re no different from a beast That would only increase the nu You would cause trouble for your allies too, and rets」

He speaks al this to himself

There was an obscure color of regret in Hiro’s distant eyes, but it was only for a moment and it didn’t seem like Rosa noticed

As if scrutinizing Hiro’s words, Rosa nods a nu her chest

「Hmm Do you mean like my brother, Schtobel?」

Hiro broods over Rosa’s words, but he couldn’t come up with a precise answer

「I can’t say for sure But… I think he’s more twisted than I am」

「Hehe, that’s correct Though, he was once aan emperor」

「What happened?」

「Schtobel earned the favor of 「Mjölnir」 when he was 18 That’s when he started to change He becas of the weak He seriously thinks that the strong are just and the weak are wicked That’s why he’s extre」

「… He really is twisted」

「There are no bounds to the desires of hty power, that would es your personality You should be careful, too」

「I’ll keep that in mind」

After hearing Hiro’s reply, Rosa nodded as if satisfied, then spoke once more

「—I’uess I’ll cut to the chase now」

She licks her lips and her mouth forms into a smile

(So, this is where we really get started…)

Unless he prepares himself, this leopardess will likely take his head

He doesn’t want to allow her the initiative He wants to take this in a direction that is advantageous for him

(There’s no need for us to probe each other)

After collecting his thoughts, Hiro decides to boldly cut in to make the first move

「Did you come to talk to ht now?」

Her eyes becaly sharp for a moment in response to Hiro’s words

「So you realized… How diligent of you No, 」

「I probably wouldn’t have noticed if the eastern nobles were united though」

「I guess there’s no need to hide the fact if you already know that uessed, the eastern nobles are on the brink of splitting In an age where men have the power, there are a lot of s head」

「Well, the Grantz Grand Empire is set up to have male successors So even the Five Great nobles can’t exist without heirs」

「That’s right Which is why I have the proble me」

「Well, it’s the perfect chance to raise their faain all the reputation the Kelheit house has built up until now」

Rosa nodded in response, as if satisfied with Hiro’s words

「You sure know your stuff However, I don’t want to take in any dreg-like second sons from other houses」

「I’ them, too」

「There probably are if I looked But I need someone without any ties」

「… But even if you take et the result you’re hoping for」

Rosa shakes her head and refutes Hiro’s words

「I won’t tell you to be room I doubt you have such intentions anyway」

「Then do you plan to use the position of the Fourth Imperial Prince? I’ht to meddle in the matters of your house」

「… You’re right But there is one way to solve this problem」

「Which is?」

「Before I get to that, is it okay if I take that water?」

Perhaps it was because she drank too lass in front of Hiro

Although Rosa placed it there for Hiro, he didn’t drink it because of the possibility of so mixed into it

「Sure」

「Thanks」

As Rosa holds the water in her rabs Hiro’s collar

He looks at her puzzled while she has a devilish smile on her face

「What are you doing all of a— h?!」