Chapter Seventy-Four: Do You Still Want to Win My Heart?

"This is truly outrageous!"

In the living room of the Mayuna residence, the smile that was always present on Tinasia’s face had vanished, replaced by anger and resentment. This sudden change made everyone else in the room pause in their activities, uncertain about what had provoked such fury in this usually silly girl.

"What happened?"

Seeing that the others were content to merely watch in silence, Ruby was the first to speak up.

"It's like this..." Tinasia recounted to Ruby what had happened during her patrol that day. The imperial capital had strict laws prohibiting riding on the streets, as all beasts capable of carrying people were powerful and dangerous; a collision could easily be fatal. Today, she received a report that a noble had ridden a unicorn into the commoners' district, overturning many stalls and injuring several bystanders. The most grievously hurt was a ten-year-old child whose ribs had been broken.

Naturally, upon learning of this, Her Highness the Imperial Princess rushed to apprehend the culprit. But instead, she was met by a servant sent to confess in the noble’s place. It was immediately clear to the princess that this was a mere scapegoat. She very much wanted to drag the true culprit back to justice, but to her astonishment, none of the victims were willing to testify against the noble. Instead, they all pointed to the servant. As she was unceremoniously shown out, she caught sight of a pile of gold coins on the family's table.

"Did that noble at least offer compensation?"

"Compensation? Yes, but isn't it only right that those who commit crimes are arrested? Didn’t you once say that even the emperor is not above the law?"

"That's true, but the emperor doesn’t allow others to catch him in the act. They have the wealth and resources to cover up their crimes. You must understand that."

"I refuse to accept this! I am the princess who stands for justice and peace. I will never bow to such evil!"

Tinasia clenched her fists, unmoved by Ruby’s reasoning. Instead, she became even more stubborn.

"So what then? Should you barge in and kill him?"

"Feiloxis!"

Feiloxis's soft, languid voice drifted over to the two of them. Ruby shot her a glare, warning her not to stir up trouble, to which Feiloxis merely stuck out her tongue.

"I... His attitude is the real problem. If the law cannot punish him, then I will!" Tinasia did not truly intend to kill him. She had tried multiple times to meet with the noble and ask him to apologize to the commoners he had hurt, but he had always ignored her. That someone like him could escape the law felt unbearably unjust. The princess, caught in her sense of righteousness, began to consider teaching him a lesson herself, so that he might understand the pain he had caused.

"Let it go. Your relentless pursuit will do no one any good."

"You—you’re saying I’m being relentless? Do you think the commoners should just accept being hurt? Are you really fine with a noble going unpunished?"

Tinasia could hardly believe her ears. Ruby sounded as if she thought Tinasia was in the wrong. A flood of grievance washed over her. She had thought Ruby, who always supported her, would stand with her in this. But now, she felt betrayed.

"Calm down. You are the empire’s princess, not a lone wanderer. This time you may be able to take justice into your own hands, but once you start, it will become an addiction—like a drug. Every time the law fails, you’ll want to act yourself. In the end, your own sense of justice will destroy you!"

Ruby held Tinasia by the shoulders and spoke earnestly. Taking the law into one’s own hands might sound heroic, but Tinasia was still a princess. Sooner or later, the emperor would learn of her actions. Punishing a noble without evidence, on her own authority, amounted to malicious assault. Even the emperor would be forced to yield before the wrath of the nobility, and in the end, it would be Tinasia who suffered.

"Then what do you suggest? If there were no nobles, no hierarchy..."

Tinasia's eyes were brimming with tears as she listened to Ruby’s reasoning. She genuinely wanted to do something for the commoners, but reality was cruel, leaving her powerless.

"I regret to tell you this, but throughout human history, rulers have always been necessary. Without them, humanity is nothing but loose sand—they need someone to bind them together and lead them to prosperity."

"If you were someone like Mayuna or Feiloxis, whose strength surpassed even imperial authority, you could act. But you are not. Even if you forced the commoners to testify, they would not thank you. Instead, they would be threatened or persecuted by the nobility. For them, this is already the best possible outcome."

"Enough! I shouldn’t have come to you!"

Tinasia shrugged off Ruby’s hands, her eyes shining with tears, and stormed out, leaving only the sound of her retreating footsteps echoing down the corridor.

"Trying to reason with an idiot is a waste of time," Mayuna finally spoke, having observed in silence until now. She wasn’t sure what the others thought, but to her, it was just the sight of a fool repeatedly banging her head against a wall—a comedy that failed to amuse.

"She may be a fool, but if there were more people like her in this world, perhaps there would be no more wars. She’s still young; given time, she’ll become a good princess."

"Don’t make yourself sound like an old man."

"And what would you do in her place?"

"Isn’t it obvious? I’d march right in and break his legs. Anyone who objects, I’d deal with them too."

Mayuna’s expression made it clear she knew exactly how she’d act. Ruby could only flick her forehead lightly, chiding her for her arrogance.

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PS. Demonic Overlord: There’s nothing in this world I can’t handle! Well, except a forehead flick.