I, Mo Li, fifteen years old, just an ordinary, nameless assassin, am currently being pinned against the wall by the princess of the Papal State in a certain inn in Sesi City, feeling completely at a loss.
“I’m very curious, where exactly did you learn these secrets about me?” Mo Li couldn’t say anything about this matter, nor could he remain silent.
He couldn’t possibly tell this princess that he was a reincarnator, her arch-enemy in his previous life, always playing the antagonist against her, and thus knew some of her secrets inside out, right? But given the assertiveness of this Phoenix Princess, Mo Li felt that if he didn’t say anything, she definitely wouldn’t let him go easily, and any casual excuse would only increase his suspiciousness in Emilia’s eyes.
He began to calmly analyze and then organized his words.
“As you said, Your Highness, would someone like me, a socially awkward recluse, have heard such things from others?”
“Oh?” Emilia squinted her eyes, waiting for Mo Li to continue.
“After all this roundabout talk, is this all Your Highness wants to know? … Actually, it’s quite simple, it doesn’t require anyone to tell me, just a little observation is enough to see.”
Mo Li gradually regained his composure.
“It’s easy to judge, Your Highness presents yourself too perfectly in public, so perfect that it’s not human.
The blind masses might attribute it to your lineage, but as the saying goes, too much is as bad as too little.
Your Highness acts too deliberately, after all, as long as one is human, there will be weaknesses and flaws… I can see some clues about the personality you hide from trivial matters.”
Mo Li paused, starting to make things up.
“For example?”
“Being a popular princess must be very tiring.” Mo Li sighed, putting on a knowing look, though he actually understood nothing, just saying it based on Emilia’s situation.
He just wanted to brush it off quickly.
Who knew that when he said this, Emilia unexpectedly fell silent, and upon closer observation, one could see her hand pinning Mo Li against the wall trembling slightly.
“I see, I really am a strange person, aren’t I?” Emilia murmured, as if speaking to Mo Li, or perhaps just talking to herself.
“To be seen through by someone, I haven’t done well enough…”
“…” Mo Li’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, he truly hadn’t expected Emilia to say such self-denying words.
In his eyes, Emilia was a strong-willed, extremely self-confident queen.
Could it be that she also doubted herself?
“Why would you say such a thing, Your Highness?” Mo Li couldn’t help but ask.
“People will have desires and personal feelings, whether it’s unattainable perfection or inevitable character flaws, these are all human nature, right? It’s because of these that people are ‘human’ and not monsters.”
“… Then in your eyes, what kind of person am I?” Emilia’s eyes moved slightly.
“Probably, a girl who takes everything very seriously, aside from having some eccentricities in her personality.” Also an incurable sadist and a ruthless carnivore… Of course, Mo Li didn’t dare to say these words out loud.
Emilia was silent for a long time, and finally, she let go of the hand pinning Mo Li against the wall.
“Your Highness?” Mo Li breathed a sigh of relief, seeing Emilia not speaking for a long time, feeling that her state seemed a bit strange, he tried calling out.
“Don’t call me Your Highness, use another title.”
“Uh, how about, Your Majesty?”
“… Don’t call me princess.”
“Okay, I understand, then, Queen Arelinde?” As soon as Mo Li finished speaking, he felt his nose being lightly poked.
“?!”
Covering his nose, Mo Li was not only a bit pained but also amazed by this overly intimate gesture.
“Call me by my name, Emilia.”
“I dare not.” Mo Li decisively refused, calling her by name, not to mention whether it was appropriate given their status, just think about how many noble suitors would be green with envy… Mo Li felt that if he really called her that, he wouldn’t be far from death.
“When I tell you to call me that, you call me that, understand?” Emilia’s words were indisputable.
“… How about a compromise, call you Lady Emilia?”
“No, that’s not okay.” Emilia had a look that didn’t allow for bargaining.
“Alright, alright, Emilia, stop pulling my clothes, if passersby see it, it’ll be troublesome, you don’t want your scandal to spread everywhere, right? Especially with someone like me, an illegitimate child.” The public assumed, and Mo Li, no matter how helpless, could only let these nobles solidify his identity.
Who knew Emilia would raise her little head, looking very unconvinced.
“What, are you aggrieved to have a scandal with this princess?”
Damn, why are you so competitive about this kind of thing??
“Not aggrieved, not aggrieved, I’m worried about you being aggrieved, Your Highness.” Mo Li was very helpless, this living Bodhisattva in front of him, he couldn’t beat her, couldn’t provoke her, couldn’t brush her off, and couldn’t avoid her, what could he do? He was also very helpless.
Hearing Mo Li say this, Emilia finally let go of Mo Li’s sleeve, but then squinted her eyes, as if she had noticed something, her head slightly leaned closer.
“?… Your Highness, what are you doing?”
“What did you call me?”
“Ah, Emilia.”
“Hmph.” Seeing Mo Li change his address, Emilia snorted, speaking in a long tone.
“Did you spray perfume?”
“You’re overthinking it, I’m someone who can’t even afford to eat, where would I get the money for such fancy things.” Mo Li rolled his eyes.
“Then, why do you smell so, fragrant?” Emilia’s tone carried a hint of doubt.
“Like a girl.”
“… Your Highness… Emilia, please don’t do things that might cause misunderstandings, didn’t you just mention finding a mentor? You just switched groups, shouldn’t you inform the mentor?” Mo Li changed the subject.
As a royal princess, such unreserved behavior of leaning close to the opposite sex, pulling sleeves, sniffing continuously, or even pinning someone against the wall in public is absolutely not allowed, ordinary women couldn’t do such things, but Emilia could.
Not for any other reason, just because she is Emilia, a carnivorous sadist queen.
After searching fruitlessly, Emilia had to give up, then stared intently at Mo Li.
“Mr. Mo Li, I’m becoming more and more interested in you.” Emilia grinned, filled with a strange allure, clearly a holy goddess pope, yet this smile was full of the wicked charm of a succubus, leaving Mo Li momentarily dazed.
“…”
“Let’s go, Mr. Mo Li.” Returning to her usual dignified princess image, Emilia spoke, and at the same time, Mo Li felt that the distance that had suddenly disappeared rose again.
