Chapter 4: Loyalty!

Someone was trying to assassinate the Princess!

Rita instantly understood what was happening.

But the speeding arrow had already grazed past her head, whistling straight toward the Princess.

As all eyes were drawn to the arrow, several figures in the crowd gripped hidden weapons and charged toward the platform, heads lowered.

At this critical moment, the city lord rushed in front of the Princess like a charging bull, his gem-encrusted metal staff thrusting toward her like a sword.

A piercing clash of metal rang out, forcing many to cover their ears, followed by a faint pfft. The arrow meant for the Princess fell onto the red carpet.

The city lord hurled his staff to the side, piercing the shoulder of a flower girl in the crowd, pinning her to the ground.

With a clatter, the miniature crossbow hidden in her bouquet, along with several bolts, fell to the ground.

‘So fast.’

Even Rita, with her succubus-enhanced physique far surpassing most humans, couldn’t help but marvel.

“Protect Her Highness!” the city lord shouted, drawing his sword from his waist.

The sudden chaos caused the Princess, at the center of the turmoil, to shrink her pupils and sway slightly.

Yet, even after brushing with death, she only stepped back twice, taking cover behind the city lord and the spear-wielding guards who rushed to her side.

As the soldiers began to react, the lead assassin brandished a gleaming weapon and launched a reckless charge.

“Up! Get up there!”

The assassins raised their blades, onlookers scattered in panic, and soldiers fought back.

As for the Holy Knight candidates, some stood frozen, some drew their swords to help, and others fled with the crowd.

Rita’s heart was in chaos. To anyone watching, it would seem like she had distracted the soldiers, setting the stage for this assassination attempt.

But the chaotic environment was perfect for her to slip away.

No—running now would not only risk soldiers stopping her, but she’d never clear her name later!

With that thought, Rita drew her sword from its sheath, mimicking the city lord’s cry: “Protect Her Highness!”

The moment her hand gripped the hilt, a chill ran up her spine.

With a quick glance back, her eyes briefly met the city lord’s, who was directing the fight from the platform.

A wave of dread washed over her. One wrong move, and she’d end up like that flower girl.

Rita wasn’t afraid of direct conflict, but exposing her succubus identity and being hunted to the ends of the earth? That was her fear.

‘Tch, I just had two days of peace, and now trouble finds me again.’

“Don’t get in my way!”

A burly man clutching a wooden club shouted, seizing a gap in the soldiers’ formation to charge toward the Princess. He reached to shove Rita, who was looking at the city lord, out of his way.

The moment he was about to touch her, Rita whipped her head around. Her free fist slammed into his stomach, making him clutch his belly and collapse in pain.

Rita raised her boot and stomped on his back.

“Assassination, huh!”

Thud, thud, thud.

“Get in my way, huh!”

Thud, thud, thud.

“Drag me into this, huh!”

Thud, thud, thud.

Rita lost count of how many kicks she landed, but she discovered how satisfying it felt to vent.

The frustration of being transmigrated, the exhaustion of fleeing, and the anger of nearly being used as a pawn poured out. If a soldier hadn’t grabbed her, saying, “The fight’s over,” she could’ve kicked all day.

By the time Rita was pulled back, the situation was under control. The assassins were subdued by the city lord’s soldiers and some Holy Knight candidates, leaving only chaos in their wake.

“Citizens of Solus City,” a gentle yet firm voice rang out across the square. “The assassins have been subdued. I, the Fourth Princess, am unharmed.”

Rita let out a relieved breath.

If the Princess had been stabbed, sure, the witness and victim of last night’s fiasco would be gone, but Rita would definitely be implicated.

And she didn’t want to see the Princess suffer, whether out of whimsy or kindness.

“It was not my strength that subdued the assassins, but the valor of the city lord’s warriors and the future Holy Knights.”

Cecilia continued, but the crowd didn’t erupt in cheers. Instead, a strange tension brewed.

The city lord turned and knelt on one knee before Cecilia. “Your Highness, please forgive my…”

“No need for self-blame,” the Princess interrupted, raising a hand. “My visit to Solus City was known only to the capital and my entourage, so this attack was long planned. It just happened to occur here.”

“You’re absolutely right,” the city lord said, his bearded jaw shifting. Though his words excused himself, he felt no relief. “If I had heightened security and thoroughly checked passersby, this could’ve been prevented.”

“Today is the Holy Knight examination. Many come to witness the glory, and with such a crowd, it’s impossible to screen everyone. Future Holy Knights would never lay down their blades.”

Cecilia spoke, making a gesture to help the city lord up without touching him.

“Your army’s swift response quelled this chaos. Such a well-trained force shouldn’t face further criticism.”

Cecilia’s words were true, but from the city lord, they’d sound like excuses. From the Princess, they were a deliberate olive branch.

The city lord, of course, wouldn’t let the noble Princess physically help him, despite her unique status among the princesses.

At this perfect moment to rise, an ill-timed voice interrupted, halting his movement.

“Lady Cecilia.”

The robed woman, who hadn’t stirred during the chaos, slowly rose from her chair.

“My magic is too powerful. To avoid turning Solus City into a sea of flames, I had to stay on the sidelines.”

‘What kind of after-the-fact nonsense is this?’

Rita sensed something off about the woman speaking up now.

Her earlier inaction, plus calling the Princess by name, showed complete disregard.

Yet the Princess seemed unfazed by the arrogance. “Lady Dorothy, your judgment matches your magic’s brilliance. That’s why you’re an examiner alongside me.”

The mage, Dorothy, gave a soft huff and said no more. The city lord seized the moment to order soldiers to restore order and bring the assassins forward.

‘Looks like I’m in the clear.’

Time to go.

Rita sheathed her sword and calmly moved with the chaotic crowd toward the square’s edge.

“Wait.” A spear blocked her path. Pointing a weapon at a Holy Knight candidate showed the man’s attitude.

Rita gripped her sword and looked up at the officer. “What is it?”

“Her Highness requests your presence.”