Who Could Have Loved the Monster Princess? - Chapter 40
5. Reap What You Sow
I returned to the palace immediately after the incident. Many others, like me, had abandoned their flag searches and come back after the sudden chaos.
Even if someone didn’t officially withdraw, if they felt they had gotten what they needed, they were allowed to return.
When the tournament ended, the gathering spot was the fountain garden near the east gate. There, the emperor’s stage and the seats for the nobles were arranged by rank, with the height of the seats reflecting their status.
The emperor’s seat was at the highest point.
So high that the nobles had to tilt their heads back just to get a glimpse of it.
The seats for the five heroes were placed in a separate area, far from the nobles’ section. Lavishly decorated, the seats were a true spectacle, fit for receiving heroes with the highest honor.
Yet, those seats had never actually been occupied by the heroes.
‘They’re just for show.’
The royal family had never invited the heroes. The seats were there simply to give the appearance that the emperor held the heroes in high regard, as if to say, Look, I acknowledge them.
‘The nobles don’t look kindly on heroes who ignore the emperor’s favors.’
The emperor, in turn, used such gestures to keep the heroes, who enjoyed the support of the people, in check.
I glanced at the seat set aside for the Duke of Staedt’s family. It was placed among the other noble seats.
‘They want me to be content with this, don’t they?’
As I was lost in thought, my maidservants and knights from the duchy rushed toward me.
“My Lady!”
“I’m so glad you’re safe!”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
They seemed relieved to see that I had no visible injuries…
“Your hair’s damaged!”
Rose, who primarily handled my grooming, was as sharp as ever. She pointed out a small section of my hair that had been cut off when I was giving out charms to protect the people who insulted me from being possessed by the evil spirit. I couldn’t even remember where I had cut it, but she noticed right away.
“Well, that happened.”
The maidservants’ faces darkened at my indifferent response. It seemed they realized I had been the one to cut it myself.
“Understood, my Lady.”
Despite their disappointment, they accepted it quietly. I took my seat and waited for the end of the tournament.
The atmosphere was chaotic. Parents of young nobles who had gone to search for the flags were anxiously waiting for news. Some were also worried that their hired mercenaries had fled, frightened off by the wraith.
“Why haven’t we received any official notice about the attacks?”
“How bad is the damage?”
“Has anyone hired a mercenary mage? Have you heard anything from them?”
The tournament officials, who had been receiving updates on the situation, remained silent, offering no formal announcements.
‘Of course. They’ve always been this way — no response, no action, just waiting for things to resolve themselves. I should’ve known better.’
Absentmindedly, I rolled the object I had found earlier in my hand.
Ken’s mana stone. What was its significance?
The more I pondered, the more the unsettling thought gnawed at me. Could Ken somehow be involved in all of this?
‘I don’t think so.’
From what I had gathered, Sean had healed all the injured, but there were whispers of casualties already.
The Crown Prince, too, seemed occupied with the aftermath — no doubt doing damage control for the event.
A few nobles, their faces etched with unease, approached the tournament official.
“What will become of the tournament now?”
“I’ve heard there have been quite a few fatalities. When will we know the identities of the deceased?”
The tournament official responded in a matter-of-fact tone.
“There will be no changes to the progression of the tournament. The identities of the victims will be communicated to the relevant parties and clients as soon as they are confirmed.”
“No changes to the progression? What about compensation for the victims of the monster attacks?”
”Why do you think there is no limit on the number of knights and escorts at this tournament? We provided prior warnings about the potential risks.”
Nobles continued to protest, but the official merely repeated that if they had issues with the process, they should bring them up at the next noble council meeting. But it was clear that the issue of the tournament’s safety would never actually make it to the agenda.
‘The reason is obvious.’
At first, the nobles were uneasy, but as they received updates on the situation, their faces gradually brightened. They were the lucky ones — those who hadn’t been affected. Of course, there were a few who had received bad news, but they were in the minority.
The tournament, where finding the flag was sure to bring immense benefit to any family, seemed like a risk worth taking for those unaffected by the attacks. Since they had suffered no harm, it was easy to disregard the danger. Even families that gained nothing from the event would still support holding it again under the same conditions next time. After all, knowing the existing rules allowed them to plan for profits, but if the rules were altered or the tournament ceased altogether, it would be a loss.
The unfortunate accident that occurred during the tournament was now almost forgotten. Once rumors spread that it was the high priest, Sean Onra, who had defeated the attacking monsters, everyone was confident that no further incidents would happen.
‘Well…’
As soon as Sean’s name came up, talk also turned to the flag he was after — the Emperor’s flag.
“What do you think Sean Onra will request from His Majesty?”
“Perhaps it’s a reward for slaying the Demon King?”
“That’s something you’ll have to ask the temple.”
“As you know, the temple is….”
“Ah, that’s right. Didn’t the temple claim that all of Sean Onra’s heroic deeds were solely the temple’s doing?”
“Yes.”
The temple’s attitude toward Sean was something that even the nobles found baffling. After Sean Onra, the High Priest who had defeated the Demon King, performed his heroic acts, the temple had expelled him. Their justification was that they were merely recommending he retire to a peaceful countryside for rest, but in reality, it was a form of exile.
Sean, like my parents, seemed content with his quiet life. But could he really have no resentment toward the temple or the gods?
‘It didn’t look like it, but….’
I wasn’t sure what he truly felt deep down.
“The hero of this flag hunt will be Sean Onra, it seems.”
Everyone was certain that the flag Sean would bring back would be the Emperor’s flag.
‘Speaking of which, why did he take our family’s flag? If he just asked me directly, I would’ve done almost anything for him. Is he trying to ask for something difficult?’
I couldn’t understand. All I knew was that I never denied Sean’s requests, even if it did mean putting myself in a lot of trouble or losing money.
As a High Priest, Sean treated the wounded on the front lines of the battlefield. I owed him my life as well.
‘Come to think of it, didn’t he say it was a favor for a friend?’
Whether someone was using Sean to pass along a request, or asking him directly to retrieve a flag, it all amounted to the same thing.
Even the Crown Prince was after the flag of House Staedt.
‘What is going on with everyone…?’
The tournament was nearing its end. Nearly all the knights wearing armbands had returned.
A trumpet sounded, announcing thirty minutes until the end.
‘Just about time to wrap it up.’
In the end, the tournament ran right up to the final minute.
As the event wound down, the crowd’s attention shifted to a new topic: who would become the new lord of the Bittern estate.
