Chapter 2

Credo Island was as beautiful as paradise. The breeze brushing against the skin was just right and cool, and the sound of waves crashing against the beach pleasantly soaked the ears.

It was excruciating to wait while the crew dropped anchor and furled the sails. Clinging to the bow and gazing out at the island, Nephitia’s eyes twinkled incessantly as she busily took in her surroundings.

“It really is as beautiful as they said.”

“Hasn’t Shadia ever been here before?”

“They say other kingdoms send royals without succession rights to this tournament too, but Kepet’s laws are different, so I’ve never been.”

“I see.”

The dense jungle, which could never be seen in the desert, caught her eye first. What kind of things were inside that dark forest? Oh, what was that? Spotting a small beast running out of the forest on two hind legs, Nephitia widened her eyes. It was a brown-furred animal with a tail as long as its torso, walking upright like a human.

“…Is that a monkey? It looks different from ours.”

“That is correct, Your Highness. It is because there are various species.”

The baby monkey nimbly climbed up a tree, deftly plucked a coconut, and sprinted back the way it came, vanishing without a trace.

“Ah, so cute! I want to pet it.”

Unlike the heavily excited Nephitia, Shadia’s expression was far from bright.

“It would be a big deal if you got bitten, so you must be careful.”

Tsk. Thinking that Shadia truly lived up to being an aunt burdened with perpetual worry, Nephitia busily looked around. With such a gorgeous landscape right in front of them, how could anyone be so full of anxiety!

“They say this Credo Island was formed when a god threw an axe and gouged the earth.”

Shadia grabbed Nephitia’s arm and made her step back so she could take in the entire view of the island. Sure enough, the island’s topography was unique. She had expected it to bulge in the middle like a volcanic island, but it looked more like a giant pillar had been sliced away diagonally.

“This area is low-land, but the upper end over there is a cliff. Do you see that roof over there? That must be the temple.”

To see the peak of the island, one had to tilt their head back further. Nephitia stood on tiptoe and pointed at the towering rocky mountain.

“It’s quite high up.”

Passing through the forest past the wide and shallow sandbar, it seemed to be an uphill climb all the way from about the middle of the island. Beyond that, jagged rocky mountains continued all the way to the summit. Amidst that massive pile of grayish rock, the blue-painted roof of a temple was faintly visible. It was only visible as a mere fingertip’s length, but judging by its location and the rounded shape of the roof, it was unmistakably the famous temple of Credo Island.

“So when the tournament ends… that’s where I’ll receive the second oracle?”

“Yes, that is correct. The priests of Credo Island will explain it gradually. Oh, more importantly, Your Highness, please wear this…”

When Shadia, holding out a gorgeous robe with both hands, bowed her head, Nephitia furrowed her brows.

“Shadia, this is cumbersome. It’s stuffy and hot.”

“Unlike Kepet’s climate, it is cool here, so I am worried your precious body might take a chill. Please put on the outer garment.”

“It’s not that chilly yet. Not at all.”

“I would prefer it if you wore it outside. You may take it off inside your lodging, though.”

“You said clothes are given to be worn as they are provided, didn’t you? That’s why you didn’t even let me bring my wardrobe.”

Ah. Shadia bit her lip. Leaving behind all of Nephitia’s mountain of accessories and outfits, she had forgotten she had mentioned that beforehand.

“Then please just wear it until the opening ceremony.”

Ha… Nephitia chewed her lip in annoyance. Looking at Shadia, who refused to budge on her stubbornness, a sigh naturally escaped. Why was Aunt Shadia making such a fuss over everything? Ever since they set out from Kepet, the two of them had been engaged in a subtle war of nerves over one thing after another. The moment they barely moved past one issue, she nagged about another, leaving Nephitia filled with the desire to part ways as soon as possible.

“If I’m just going to take it off shortly anyway, there’s no troublesome reason to wear it. I honestly don’t understand why you’re so obsessed with an outer robe.”

When Nephitia snapped bluntly, Shadia wore an extremely troubled expression.

“This is a gathering of princes and princesses around Your Highness’s age. You must leave a good first impression if possible.”

“They should be trying to impress me, is there any reason I need to impress them?”

“That is…”

Shadia carefully continued her words.

“Unlike our Kepet, women in other countries are extremely reluctant to show their skin.”

“So? That’s their custom, isn’t it? I can just live according to the customs of my own country.”

“Well, that is true, but Your Highness is currently…”

Shadia swallowed hard. Since King Mahati had repeatedly implored her, she had to make her wear the clothes somehow.

“Shadia, once you land on Credo Island, please persuade the princess to wear at least a light outer robe. I am worried about the gazes of the men that will flock to Nephitia. Persuasion from you, having seen many worlds, is bound to work.”

“I am worried as well, but I am not sure if Her Highness will comply. Even though she has spent quite a bit of time with me now, her stubbornness is still…”

“Yes, that child is headstrong. The problem is that everyone follows the princess’s words as gospel because of the oracle. A large part of that is my fault.”

Princess Nephitia and her attendants firmly believed this journey would not face any threats, but King Mahati herself grew increasingly sensitive ahead of the training tournament. The power of the oracle did not seem much of a comfort when she thought about having to part with her precious daughter for a full six months.

Of course, Shadia, who watched over Nephitia, felt the exact same way.

The princess, who had just grown into a full-fledged adult, was sensuality walking on two feet. Inside Kepet, no one would ever dare harass the princess, but it was obvious what kind of looks men in the outside world would cast her way.

Her soft movements walking lightly like a slender leopard, her haughty, elegant golden eyes and alluring black eyelashes. The corners of her eyes turned up slightly, a high nose bridge, and full lips…

She was a princess with a face like that, entirely innocent and unaware of the world’s dangers. It wouldn’t be strange if she stirred up all sorts of trouble with hot-blooded princes over the next six months. What if some wicked prince deployed a cunning tongue to seduce the naive princess? Just imagining it gave her goosebumps.

Moreover, if there was one more critical issue adding to her worries…

“Your Highness, I picked an apple from the island. You must be hungry, so please have a taste.”

While their conversation temporarily paused, a laborer seemed to have plucked a well-ripened fruit from the island in the meantime. Nephitia, accepting the apple with a smiling face, reached out and lightly stroked the man’s head. It was a gesture of bestowing divine blessing upon a loyal subject. The porter, at a loss for where to put himself out of sheer awe, placed a hand over his chest and bowed repeatedly, then withdrew with an expression overflowing with deep emotion.

“…Your Highness, this is not Kepet. From now on, you must be careful about touching people.”

“I know. They are not Kepet’s subjects, so I must be cautious.”

Thinking it was perhaps a relief that she at least understood the hands she extended without formality, Shadia brought up the clothing issue again.

“Your attire as well. If you land on the island just like this, there will surely be men who dare harbor profane delusions about our sacred and noble princess.”

“Profane delusions?”

“Yes. Or, princesses from other countries might look down on Princess Nephitia, or slightly…”

“Slightly?”

“Well… they might think… there is a flaw…”

“Me?”

Nephitia was appalled. Rather than feeling offended, she seemed unable to grasp the fact—the very possibility—that someone could view her with dissatisfaction.

Shadia closed her mouth for a moment. She felt as though she had struck a massive, unyielding wall.

“Lady Shadia! What should we do with the tributes?”

Because an attendant urgently sought Shadia out, the conversation was interrupted once more. There was no time left. Unable to hesitate any longer, Shadia unfolded the robe and forced it around Nephitia’s shoulders.

“Your Highness, please wear this just for this aunt’s sake. It is a plea to Your Highness as a subject of Kepet and as your aunt.”

As Shadia practically begged, Nephitia sighed and put on the garment.

“If I get hot, I’m taking it off.”

“Please bear with it for a moment, Your Highness. Once the opening ceremony is over, they will give out training uniforms soon.”

Even though she had put it on, it was merely draped precariously over her shoulders, to the point where it wouldn’t have been strange if the robe slid right down at any moment, but Shadia decided to back down at that level for now.

At least her slender, long legs were covered. With the long slits on both sides of the skirt revealing her thighs and calves so refreshingly, it had made her so nervous. Even though the thin fabric fluttering precariously over her chest still looked perilous.

“Then I will be right back, Your Highness. If you stay here for a moment, I will tidy up the luggage and come back up. I’ll be quick, so please stay right here.”

“…Alright.”

Nephitia, giving a reluctant answer, stared intently at Shadia’s hurriedly retreating back. Or rather, she glared at it out of the corner of her eye.

That nagging, nagging, it was driving her crazy!

Her body was itching with the urge to dash into the new world, yet she was being told to wait indefinitely.

The moment Shadia stepped off the ship with the attendants, Nephitia yanked off the robe and threw it onto the floor.

If a pair of watching eyes was the problem, she could just pluck those eyeballs out—why on earth should she cover her own body? Aunt Shadia must have spent far too much time mingling with commoners, that was the root of the issue.

Kicking the robe away with the tip of her foot, Nephitia walked over to the opposite deck where no one was around.

It was then that she spotted a rope ladder hanging long from the railing down to the beach. Looking down, the tip of the dangling rope ladder was dipping into the seawater, which rose up to about her ankles, and splashing gently.

As Nephitia gauged the distance to the floor, a playful grin gradually spread across her face.

This height was enough to climb down, wasn’t it? She could just catch some fresh air for a moment.

Lightly vaulting over the railing, the princess hooked one leg onto the rope ladder. Suppressing a snicker, she carefully descended the swaying ladder. Not a single person witnessed the princess escaping in search of freedom.