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Volume 3 Chapter 46

 

Rifa’s Secret Mission

Good morning. It is I, Rifa.

First, let me introduce myself with a little more detail. I am Rifa-Alheim, the second princess of the elven nation of Alheim, and last night I was given an important mission by my father, the Elf King.

Currently I am studying magic at the Ifrus Magic Academy. And out of my classmates there, I have to marry one of them. Namely Haruto-san, within about a month.

Yesterday, Haruto-san married Tina, the hero of the elves. If you are wondering why I have to be wed to Haruto-san who has just recently been married, then I will tell you how it led up to that.

Last night, my father and the ministers were talking about the future of Haruto-san and Tina-sensei.

I had overheard the conversation when I was about to go to see my father for an errand.

[Don’t make me repeat myself… we can’t let Haruto and Tina be held to us against their will.]

[But my lord, we can’t just simply let those two who have so much power go free. We need an assurance to keep them from making a stand against our country!]

[That’s right. If they won’t accept the title, then there’s no other choice left. We need to use the braces of servitude to bind that human to our will. Then Lady Tina will obey us.]

[I won’t let that happen!]

[Oh my God!]

The ministers were out of control.

Father was trying his best to stop them, but they all seemed to want to take Haruto into custody.

I have to tell Haruto and Tina-sensei!

Even if it’s an act of treachery against the country, I still wanted to help them both.

The slave bracelet that the minister mentioned is one of the magical treasures that are handed down in Alheim in generations. It is a powerful brainwashing spell that is continuously cast on the user, making it so that they have to rely on the mercy of their bounder. The bracelet was also effective against the elves, which are a race that are naturally resistant to mental attacks.

And If you use it on a human like Haruto-san… even if I took off the bracelet, he might not be able to go back to normal.

That’s why I was about to go to Haruto-san’s room, when something else seemed to come into my father’s office.

[!?]

It can’t be!

[Sylph-sama, what are you doing here?]

It seems that Sylph-sama has made his appearance. I could feel the ministers’ panic with just his appearance.

[Hey, what do you mean by that? What’s this all about, huh?]

[You talked about using a servitude bracelet on Hurt early didn’t you… were you serious about that?]

An icy chill was felt across the entire room. It was Sylph-sama’s killing intent, and he was angry.

M-my legs are shaking, and I can’t move.

[We can’t help it! If that human becomes an enemy of this country, it would be the end for us! After all, even Tina, who is the only force that can oppose us, is now with him as well]

[Hmmm, so you think Haruto might become the enemy of this country, is that it?]

[Exactly, which is why we have to squash as many chances he could take against us as possible! It’s very possible that he,a human, will wage war against this country for the sake of the World Tree!]

[In that case, if you’re going to assume that Haruto can become an enemy of this country, you have to assume the same for me as well.[

[…Eh?]

The ministers all questioned at once.

[You, Sylph-sama, the elven guardian of the World Tree, an enemy?]

[Why!?]

[Because Haruto is my contractor. If you call Haruto an enemy, you will become my enemy as well.]

What is going on?

Sylph-sama said he had a contract with Haruto-san…

I knew that he had a contract with the Spirit King Efreet, the Spirit King of Fire and Undine, the Spirit King of Water. But even Sylph-sama?

It’s just too much to even be funny.

Now I realize how ridiculous it was for me to even worry about Haruto-san.

With that, I crawled back to my room. Though I couldn’t move my legs as much as I wanted to because of Sylph-sama’s killing intent.

I was a little, just a little bit startled, and thus had to change my underwear.

You scare me too much, Sylph-sama

After arriving in my room, I called a maid to help me change and bathe. Somehow, I managed to lie down on my bed after it all.

I decided then that I would try to forget everything I had heard today.

After that, I tried to sleep, but…

[Rifa, are you awake? We need to talk.]

Father came to see me.

[Father, what is it?]

My normally cool father looked terribly impatient, and his forehead was severly sweating.

[I’m sorry, Rifa, I’m sorry. I want you to be Halt’s concubine!

……Hah?

[What are you talking about!?]

My father explained his reasoning.

It seems like after I left the front of his office, my father and the ministers continued to apologize to Sylph-sama until his anger was quelled.

But in exchange for forgiving my father, Sylph-sama made a condition.

[You said that you needed a wedge to wedge Haruto in a way that he wouldn’t turn against this country, right? Hmmm, how about we just marry the princess with Haruto?[]

Yes, it seems that Sylph-sama had said that. Needless to say, the ministers were furious.

But…

[If you don’t want to, that’s fine. But I won’t give you any more blessings from the World Tree as punishment for unilaterally trying to enslave my contractor.]

The ministers were speechless at those words. If the blessings of the World Tree were to disappear, Alfheim would cease to exist

The World Tree protected the country from demons and in addition, the miasma of this land is so strong that plants cannot grow here, and it was only due to the World Tree that we are able to farm here and get food.

That’s why, my father decided to send me to Haruto-san’s family.

I was prepared to marry through a political marriage, since I’m the second princess after all. I had long resigned myself to the fact that I couldn’t have a free love.

However, I talk with Haruto-san at the Magic Academy, and he has saved me from demons before. It’s a bit easier to go to someone you know a little bit.

Haruto-san is a good person, and most importantly, he is also the husband of Tina-sama, whom I have always admired since my childhood. Tina can be a rightful wife and I can stay on the sidelines, so it’s not a problem.

After all, wouldn’t it be nice to have someone that also managed to marry Tina-sama to be your husband?

I was looking at this marriage story in a positive light.

[Just don’t try to force yourself into it, is what I’ve been told. You only need to be liked by Haruto, and to create a bond with him.]

Well, the bar has been raised a bit.

But I think it’s going to be okay.

It might take some time to get to know Haruto-san and marry him as well.But I’m Rifa-Alheim, the second princess of the Kingdom of Alheim.

And while I don’t have that much experience in combat, I have learned the art of cajoling men.

So for my country, I’ll do it. Just leave it to me.

[Oh, thank you my daughter! Ah by the way, Sylph-sama also ordered me to have you married while you are in the country.]

[Eh?]

[Also, I actually asked Haruto yesterday if Rifa could become his concubine, but he refused. I know it’s not easy, but I hope you’ll manage.]

Wait, what do you think you’re saying?

What the hell am I going to do then?

I don’t have enough time for this.

And without my knowledge, I think I was actually rejected by Haruto-san.

I’ve taken a slight psychological toll.