How to Survive as a Princess in a Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 94
Could it really be Meliana?
As I lifted my gaze, our eyes met. Beneath the hood of her robe, the face I saw was unmistakably hers.
“How did you end up here……?”
“I heard rumors about a princess appearing in the streets, so I came to see for myself. And lo and behold, it’s you. A princess handing out things to commoners with her own hands—how utterly ridiculous.”
Instead of answering my question, Meliana idly tapped the edge of a wooden box with her fingertips.
“And to top it off, you’re distributing something that was stolen—imitating someone else’s design and pretending it’s your own.”
“Stolen? I’ve done no such thing.”
“Don’t deny it. Even the commoners on this street know that these supplements were first distributed by the House of Futurum.”
Meliana scoffed, her fingers tapping the box once more as if to mock me.
“Well, I suppose it’s too much to expect someone like you to understand the concept of shame.”
Meliana’s curled lips and icy gaze radiated contempt, just as they had when I first encountered her alongside Reno.
Yet, her accusations were so utterly baseless that I wasn’t angry—just incredulous.
‘Does she really not know?’
If Meliana was unaware that Morris Futurum had ordered Cirilla to spy on me and had stolen the concept, her words made some sense. Otherwise, she was even more shameless than I’d imagined.
“You…….”
“Mind your disrespectful tongue.”
Before I could form a proper response, Isaac spoke, his voice a low warning at my side.
Only then did Meliana seem to take notice of the two men flanking me.
“What’s this? Lord Isaac and even that Medietas?”
Her gaze flicked between Isaac and Reno, her disdainful tone unrelenting.
“Well, I suppose it makes sense. You’ve always been so delicate. Can’t even use magic properly. Always collapsing at the slightest thing. Didn’t you faint in front of everyone just the other day?”
“Is she talking about the time I nearly had a mana outburst?”
I had thought I’d concealed it well, pretending everything was fine. But it seemed my poor condition hadn’t gone unnoticed after all.
Even though Evgenia hadn’t said anything, I had assumed she didn’t know…….
“Don’t cause trouble with that frail body of yours. Just focus on recovering. Not that you’ll ever become Evgenia, but even if you did, do you think you’d be able to handle it properly?”
Her sharp tone carried an undercurrent of biting criticism, and I couldn’t help but flinch.
“She seems quite capable to me.”
“What?”
“Reno……?”
“At the very least, our princess doesn’t judge people by their status. She cares deeply for the kingdom’s citizens. Isn’t that the foundation of government? Without citizens, there is no nation.”
“You filthy half-breed! How dare you talk back to me…….”
“Even a filthy half-breed like me understands this basic principle. Yet you, a princess, seem to lack that knowledge. Do you truly believe you are fit to become Evgenia?”
“You dare presume to judge me? You insolent—!”
Meliana reached out threateningly. I didn’t know what she intended, but the sense of danger was unmistakable. I moved to stop her, but someone else was faster.
A firm hand grabbed Meliana’s wrist, halting her movement. At the same time, the unmistakable sound of swords being drawn echoed all around.
I hadn’t even noticed them before, but as soon as the swords were unsheathed, I recognized their faces—they were Meliana’s guardians.
The sharp friction of steel on steel rang out, and the atmosphere instantly turned tense. The sudden emergence of armed individuals startled the crowd gathered for the iron supplement distribution.
Startled cries filled the air, and a few quick-footed individuals even fled the scene. Despite the charged atmosphere, Isaac’s voice remained calm and steady as he spoke.
“Please restrain yourself, Princess Meliana Via Anesis.”
“This isn’t a matter for you to intervene in, Lord Isaac.”
“As the head of House Harsen and Reno Harsen’s guardian, I offer my sincerest apologies. However, I ask for your leniency, considering he acted solely to protect the princess he serves.”
“You expect me to let it slide after that thing dared insult royalty?”
“Do as you wish. However, it will also be difficult to overlook the fact that Your Highness’s guardians have threatened royalty.”
“Are you trying to intimidate me right now?” Meliana’s voice sharpened.
“Of course not. I merely hope for your understanding.”
Even to my ears, it sounded like a threat. But I had no desire to take Meliana’s side or to try to understand her. She had initiated the provocation, after all.
Besides, I’d forgotten until now, but this wasn’t the first time her guardians had drawn their swords in such a manner.
Previously, I let it slide because I didn’t know any better. But based on what Killis had told me and Isaac’s reaction now, pointing a sword at royalty was far from normal.
“Meliana, your guardians have pointed their swords at me again. Once, I was generous enough to dismiss it as a show of loyalty, but…….”
I paused, letting my gaze linger on each armed guardian before continuing.
“Twice? It leaves me no choice but to suspect your intentions. Are you drawing your swords to harm me?”
“Oh, my. How could you jump to such a conclusion? If you had even a shred of sense, you’d know that no one would try to harm you in front of this many witnesses.”
“Ah, I see, so what you’re saying is, if no one were around, you would harm me?”
“What are you saying? Stop making assumptions…….!”
