Chapter 4: Subjugation
4-1 Summer Retreat
My engagement to Lord Edward was established quickly, about a year earlier than in my previous life.
Of course, there’s no problem with it being early.
However, despite longing to become his fiancée again, I didn’t feel the joy I had expected. Perhaps it was because of the dogs.
Moreover, Lord Edward, whom I had thought so wonderful in my previous life, somehow felt lacking now.
He seemed less appealing than even Oscar, Richard, or Louis.
Was it because I had lived for over thirty years, counting both lives? I couldn’t quite understand my own feelings.
Amidst my confusion, Louis made an outrageous proposal.
“Lady Selina, since you’re engaged to the dog-loving Crown Prince, don’t you think you should interact with dogs every day?”
What on earth was he suggesting? Interact with dogs every day? Was this some kind of torture? Had he figured out my dislike for dogs?
“…What are you trying to say?”
I tried to maintain a calm facade, but cold sweat was running down my entire body.
“How about setting aside an hour each day to play with our dogs?”
“An hour?”
Louis’s proposal seemed nothing short of harassment, perhaps payback for all the training I had put him through.
Moreover, by linking it to my engagement with the Crown Prince, it was extremely difficult to refuse. How cunning!
“Is that too short?”
“No! It’s a good suggestion. As expected of my attendant. I commend you.”
With an innocent face, he was rebelling against his master. How terrifying. It made Oscar and Isabel seem adorable in comparison.
I reluctantly decided to adopt Louis’s proposal.
“Thank you very much! Then I’ll bring the dogs right away!”
Before I could stop him, Louis left the room, leading the other attendants.
What? lie? Starting today?
If I had to compare this moment to something, it would be similar to that time in my previous life when I sat in a room waiting for my execution.
I prayed to God. In this brief moment, I hoped that all the dogs had somehow contracted a disease and perished.
However, such a modest wish didn’t reach God, and six attendants brought in six dogs. They were full of energy, which saddened me.
“Please, take your time,”
Louis announced the death sentence with a warm voice.
The dogs were released from their owners all at once. They had grown larger than when they had attacked me before, truly like blood-thirsty beasts.
“Huff huff!” “Woof woof!” “Bark bark!” “Arf arf!” “Sniff sniff!” “Growl growl!”
“Eek, eeeek!”
Unable to endure, I let out a scream.
But the beasts showed no mercy. First, Richard’s large dog knocked me down. Then the other five dogs joined in, trampling me.
They did as they pleased – tugging at my clothes, stepping on me, gently biting my hands and feet, rubbing their bottoms against me.
What? This continues for an hour? Impossible, I’ll die!
I looked towards the attendants, seeking help.
However, there stood six demons, grinning as they watched my misfortune.
(Ah, I’ve been tricked)
I didn’t have a single ally.
They must have been waiting for an opportunity to take revenge on me since they arrived at this mansion.
However, I am Selina Rosenberg. The daughter of a duke’s family. I’m also the person who will eventually rule this country as queen. It wouldn’t do to succumb to this level of harassment.
I stood up. I managed to stand even while being trampled by dogs.
I want someone to praise this feat. I’d even like to have a statue made of my current state, to be remembered for eternity.
[Selina Rosenberg Facing the Beasts]
What a wonderful title for a statue.
…While distracting myself with such delusions, I forced a smile and dealt with the dogs, enduring the hour of torment while standing. My clothes were drenched in dog drool.
How’s that for the pride of a duke’s daughter!
I glared at my attendants.
They were laughing. The meaning behind their laughter was clear: “We’ll let you off the hook for today.”
Yes, this hell would continue every day from tomorrow. I cried while taking a bath.
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Setting aside the dogs for now, I had something to do. The engagement was established, but as things stood, it was obvious that it would be ruined by that Eleanor, just like in my previous life.
To prevent that, what I needed to do was to steal Eleanor’s achievement.
In my previous life, when I turned fifteen, Eleanor subdued a monster with her holy power, making her name known throughout the country. That’s where the legend of the saint began. But if I defeat that monster first, that legend would end before it even starts.
And this year, I turn fifteen.
Finally, the time has come to show my power.
“Everyone, attention!”
At Oscar’s command, all the attendants lined up, ready to hear my voice.
“We will now head to Lake Elfen. Everyone, be prepared.”
This summer, a giant snake monster is supposed to rampage at Lake Elfen. We’re going there to defeat it before Eleanor does.
“Lady Selina, what business do we have there?”
Isabel raised her hand slightly and asked.
“A snake monster will appear at Lake Elfen. Our goal is to subjugate it.”
“A snake monster at Lake Elfen…?”
Isabel looked perplexed. Lake Elfen is famous as a summer retreat for nobles, and there have been no recent reports of monster appearances.
“Do you doubt my words?”
“No, I apologize! There’s no mistake in what Lady Selina says!”
Isabel saluted and apologized for her misconduct.
“The information about the snake monster is known only to me, so keep it confidential. Understood?”
“Sir, yes sir!”
The attendants responded in unison. They are tight-lipped, so there’s no worry about the information leaking.
“This is not a battle for training like before. It will be the first real combat for both me and you. And in this battle, we need to make my existence known throughout the country. However, the opponent is a powerful monster. Never let your guard down. Make sure to prepare thoroughly without fail. Understood?”
“Sir, yes sir!”
I wonder when they’ll stop with that response.
Now, while I explained to the attendants that we would “defeat the snake monster,” I couldn’t tell my father such a story.
So, I gave him a safe explanation.
“I’ll be going to Lake Elfen for a summer retreat,” I said.
Of course, Father smiled and gave his permission.
“Selina, what is that?”
On the day we were to depart for Lake Elfen, Father came to see us off.
He pointed at the carriage loaded with luggage for our trip.
“Of course, it’s the luggage for this summer retreat, Father.”
The carriage was loaded with armor, helmets, shields, swords, spears, bows and arrows, all gleaming ominously in the sunlight. There were also barrels filled with recovery potions. From any angle, it looked like a military carriage.
“…That is, you say?”
“I’ve heard that the roads have become dangerous recently.”
“I haven’t received any such reports…”
He didn’t seem very convinced, but Father shifted his gaze elsewhere.
“…What are they doing?”
His gaze fell on my attendants. They were forming a circle and shouting something in preparation for the journey.
! Image
“Do we love Lady Selina?!”
Oscar shouted. Everyone responded in unison.
“Lifelong loyalty! With our lives! Loyalty! Loyalty! Loyalty!”
“What nurtures us?!”
Isabel shouted.
“Blood! Blood! Blood!”
“What is our reason for existence?!”
Richard shouted.
“Killing! Killing! Killing!”
The attendants resembled a band of battle-hardened mercenaries.
“Since this is their first trip far away as attendants, they’re psyching themselves up like that.”
That’s how I explained it.
It’s not a lie. Though they might be a bit too zealous.
“…They seem to be using rather violent language for attendants, don’t they?”
Father’s usual smile was strained.
“Indeed. I suppose some of the bad language from their orphanage days still remains.”
At this point, I decided to blame everything on the orphanage.
“Was the orphanage really like that?”
Father didn’t seem entirely convinced.
Of course, I pretended not to hear that.
And so, leaving behind a perplexed Father, we set off for Lake Elfen.
TLNOTE : While waiting, I implore you dear readers to read other masterpiece novels that also written by the same author :
- When the Monster Meat I Ate Led Me to the Throne
- Who killed the Hero?
- The Suspects of Necromancy
- The Exiled Merchant Saves the World with the Power of Gold (translated by my friend meerkat)
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