Chapter 77: What’s Wrong with Liking Cute Girls?

"According to our wager, you ought to apologize to those people." Though it was a narrow victory, a win was a win, and as the judge, Lane arrived at just the right moment to press Vanza.

"I can't believe I have to apologize to commoners—such a thing is beyond me!" The young rider could not accept his defeat. He shouted hysterically, even preparing to resort to force, but before he could summon his magic, Lane extinguished it with a firm hand.

"What on earth have you been through?" Vanza's reaction made Ruby frown slightly. This wasn't mere dislike for commoners; it seemed as though, psychologically, he simply couldn't accept them.

"Commoners are greedy and foolish—I’ve believed that since I was a child. Back then, the stable hands, all commoners, bought poor-quality feed just to pocket a little extra profit. Do you know how many unicorns died because of that? People like them..." Vanza's face was full of fury. The perpetrators had been sentenced to death, but the nightmare left him with lasting trauma; even now, he was unable to accept commoners.

"There are good and bad people among both commoners and nobles. You’re far too one-sided."

"I know, of course I understand, but you can't tell good from bad just by looking. If I avoid commoners, I won’t get hurt. Do you understand?"

"If you don’t honor the wager, Lane will spread word of what you’ve done. Then, both your reputation and your family's will suffer." Ruby, unable to reason with someone so stubborn, decided to use a threat instead.

"I—I understand." Vanza’s expression shifted several times. He finally recognized the captain of the Golden Sword Lions and realized Ruby wasn't joking, so he bowed his head and agreed.

Afterwards, Ruby took Vanza from house to house to apologize to the injured. Vanza had already paid the compensation, and the commoners were utterly astonished to have a noble apologize in person, protesting that it was unnecessary. Vanza's face had turned pale; had Venus not been there to support him, he might have fainted.

"This is the last house, and the injured party is just a child. Try to relax your expression—you’re here to apologize, not to claim a life." Ruby was speechless at Vanza's grim demeanor. At his prompting, Vanza managed to suppress his look of deep anguish, settling into a blank expression.

The little girl, Luna, who’d suffered two broken ribs, was an ordinary child of humble parents, their livelihood sustained by a small grocery shop. Her parents, after learning Vanza’s purpose, led the group to a room at the back of their house.

"Why are you here?" As Ruby pushed open the door, she was surprised to find Tinaesha inside. The green-haired imperial princess was equally astonished, remembering her own childish tantrum the previous day and feeling somewhat embarrassed to face Ruby.

"I'm merely a companion." Ruby nodded at Tinaesha, stepping aside so Vanza could enter the room.

"It's you! You murderer!" The moment Tinaesha saw Vanza, she couldn’t contain herself, shouting loudly. Had space permitted, she might have lunged at him.

"Princess, what’s wrong?" The little girl lying in bed, unable to move, was startled by Tinaesha’s outburst. Her bright eyes blinked adorably, black hair braided and resting atop her pillow, her face full of puzzlement as she asked.

"It’s nothing, nothing."

"He’s here to apologize."

"Apologize?"

"I’m sorry for what I did to you." Seeing Luna bedridden, Vanza felt a pang of guilt. After all, a child could evoke far more sympathy than a burly man.

"Are you the big brother who rode the horse?" Luna seemed to remember Vanza; it was only yesterday, after all. She showed no fear, only curiosity.

"You remember me?"

"Mm. Everyone says it’s wrong to ride horses on the street. Will the little horse be taken away? Can you spare it, please? I’m fine." Luna nodded her little head. She’d never seen a unicorn, thinking it was just another horse.

"You don’t blame us at all?"

"I love animals. If the little horse is taken away because of me, I’d be very sad." Luna gave Vanza a gentle smile, and in the face of such innocence, he couldn’t help but clasp her tiny hand and declare, "An angel—there’s an angel here!”

He’d thought he’d only ever marry a unicorn, but now, to his surprise, he’d encountered an angel, albeit a young one.

"No, that’s just a child," Ruby couldn’t help but retort, then opened the window so Venus could poke its head in and offer Luna an apology.

"You’re saying sorry? It’s all right. Just don’t do it again next time," Luna’s eyes brightened at the sight of Venus, and she responded with a cheerful smile.

"Wait—you can understand Venus?"

"Yes. After I was hit yesterday, I could understand what animals were saying. This morning, I heard the birds chatting about how many worms they’d caught, and the mice were complaining about how little food they’ve had lately."

"Let me see." Luna’s reaction piqued Lane’s curiosity. No longer content to play the bystander, he approached and used his magic to examine her, quickly coming to a conclusion.

"She’s a Listener; there’s no mistake."

"A Listener? Is that true? Why did such a talent only now..." Tinaesha was taken aback. Listeners can comprehend the meaning that non-human creatures wish to convey—a rare gift. Yet, in her records, Luna was noted only for her love of animals, with no sign of such an ability.

"Perhaps yesterday’s incident triggered her awakening. After all, talent isn’t always easy to explain."

"An angel, indeed! Please marry me!" Vanza squeezed Luna’s hand even tighter. No one present understood as well as he did how much the Listener talent meant to his family. Unicorns, though intelligent, cannot speak; their ailments can only be detected by their keepers. With a translator, training and treatment would be twice as effective. His family had once offered ten thousand gold coins for a Listener, but to no avail. Luna’s gentle nature and rare gift made her heaven’s angel to him, despite her young age.

"Let go, you criminal!" Tinaesha, veins bulging, chased the shameless lolicon from the house, warning him never to come near again, then set off with Ruby for home.

"Ruby, did you bring Vanza here to apologize?"

Ruby nodded.

"Why did you do it—was it because..." Tinaesha, having been rebuffed by Vanza before, knew how much he hated commoners. She had no idea how much effort Ruby had spent persuading him, but the thought that he’d done it for her made her inexplicably happy. For a fleeting moment, she even imagined holding him in her arms, though the feeling quickly vanished.

"If this isn’t resolved, it will weigh on your heart. I don’t want it to trouble you. This is the last thing I can do for you in the capital. From now on, you’ll have to deal with such matters yourself.”

"What? You’re leaving?!"

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PS: Please bookmark, please recommend.

PS: Vanza: I would rather die, right outside the stables, than ever have any fondness for commoners... Lolis are angels!

PS: Thanks to Dark Sword Madman for the 500 reward, and Admiral Take Island for the 100 reward.