At this point, Shien basically understood.
(This princess might look like she's just playful, but in reality, she's not just playing around.)
She was testing Shien.
She uses her playful attitude as a weapon to numb others' guard and hide her own intentions. Then, she'll attack at just the right moment. That is the person known as Liadella.
(No matter what, she's still royalty huh?)
As royalty, of the direct line at that, if she didn't have some capabilities, then there's no way that she could have become the first place in the line of succession, right?
Even if Lucy had given up on the throne of her own accord, if Lia really was a princess who only knew how to play around, then there's no way she could have been handed the position as first in the line of succession.
Perhaps Lia wasn't a match for Lucy when it came to strength and talent, but when it comes to brains and strategy, Lia should be above Lucy.
After understanding this point, Shien withdrew his uncaring attitude and instead looked deeply at Lia.
Lia was also paying a strange amount of attention toward Shien. There was an interest that's hard for others to understand in her eyes.
The two simply stared off like that, making the atmosphere weirder and weirder.
Given all that, how could Lucy possibly not understand just what's going on?
"Big sis Lia."
Lucy spoke up.
The voice was passive and calm, but it also carried with it an unfathomable amount of pressure.
With the interjection of that voice, the strange atmosphere shook, as if it was on the verge of shattering.
Charl, standing behind Lia, also started. She almost couldn't hold herself back from reaching for her sword.
Lia also started before letting out a bitter laugh.
"It looks like Lucy's mad."
Lia showed a resigned expression as she raised her hands in surrender.
Shien looked at Lucy with a slightly surprised expression.
Lucy however was still as calm and passive as always.
"I know what you're worried about." Lucy pursed her lips as she spoke quietly, "Given my situation, for an unfamiliar man to suddenly get so close to me. I understand full well what kind of worries and considerations you might have toward that."
"However, I'm not a child. Nor am I ignorant." Lucy moved her gaze to Lia as she clearly spoke each word, "I had chosen to have contact with him with the full understanding of the situation. So can you please withdraw your concerns?"
In response, Lia fell sitlent.
Shien also fell silent while letting out a small sigh in his mind.
He could understand the situation as well.
It's because Lucy was just too special, so a lot of people will try to get close to her for various motives. In that case, as her family and as royalty, it's only natural for Lia and her father to be worried over this.
What if Shien really is trying to approach Lucy with impure motives?
If Lucy ended up getting hurt by Shien because she put too much faith in him, then what?
As Lucy's family, and as royalty, Lia and the King has no choice but to consider this question.
Thus, when Ancil tried to pull Shien in and give him a noble title, it's not impossible that he wanted to use that to bind and monitor Shien. Lia attempted to test Shien for the same reason.
Unfortunately, both of them somewhat underestimated Lucy.
Lucy was telling Lia that the things that they could think of, she too could as well.
Even so, she had still chosen to continue her relationship with Shien. That means that she, after understanding all of the issues and concerns with it, still made that choice.
Given that, if Lia and them still held worries over this, then that's equivalent to suspecting her judgment.
That's what Lucy wanted to say.
Lia understood.
Thus…
"Alright, I'll admit that father and I were overthinking things." Lia relaxed like she really has surrendered this time and let out a bitter laugh, "Thinking about it, that's true enough. Since he was able to gain your recognition, then that basically proves that Shien is trustworthy. We've long since stopped doubting your talent."
With that, Lia stood up.
"Sorry about that just now for trying to test you there. Please forgive me."
Lia so apologized to Shien and even bowed.
"Your highness!?"
Charl was shocked and tried to do something in a panic.
But Lia stopped her.
"This apology must be given. It's also for Lucy, so don't go trying to stop me with some reason like a princess shouldn't lower her head to an adventurer. Otherwise, I'd be the one to doubt your quality as a knight, Charl."
Lia's words had completely shut the cold female knight down.
It's obvious that the knight's belief is that her mistress shouldn't lower her head so easily.
Not even Lucy imagined that Lia would end up going so far, so she too was struck speechless for a moment.
On the other hand, Shien, after his own stunned moment, who ended up rather impressed with bowing princess before him.
Thus…
"Raise your head, princess Lia."
Shien finally spoke up.
"It's not that big a deal for me." Shien spoke with a lazy smile, "Compared to those nobles that I dislike, your highness's testing is quite cute in comparison. It wasn't that big a deal you know?"
"That's good then." Lia smiled, "I just hope that my actions didn't affect your relationship. Otherwise, Lucy might end up hating me for the rest of her life."
"Rest of my life?" Lucy couldn't resist retorting, "Aren't you exaggerating?"
"Is it really exaggerating though?" Lia was grinning though, "At the very least, this is the first time that I've even seen you get angry for someone else. You can't deny that."
Lucy was once again speechless.
Shien also couldn't help but give that princess a glance while laughing in his mind.
He didn't expect it either, for Lucy to get angry on his behalf.
Hn. It looks like buying all those desserts wasn't a waste after all.
With that, everyone ended up moving past the whole matter.
Afterwards, Lia once again went back to how she was at the beginning, constantly teasing the two of them.
Only, this time, there was much less meaning or calculation involved.
This made Shien change his views again.
Originally, he had thought that Lia's playful attitude was just a smokescreen, but from the looks of it, although it does serve as a method of trickery, the playful attitude doesn't seem to be faked either.
Afterwards, Lucy spoke.
"Although big sis Lia will show herself to be quite calculating sometimes, she is indeed actually that playful."
"When you think that she's just playing about, she's in reality planning something."
"And when you think that she's planning something, she really is just playing about."
"It's exactly because it's so hard to tell when she's playing about or using her playfulness as a smokescreen to trick people that, big sis Lia is actually quite respected by others. Most of the nobility have gotten quite a number of headaches from that."
"Therefore, although she herself had said so, don't go actually believing that no one would support big sis Lia as the next queen of the kingdom."
"In reality, there are unexpectedly many people who support big sis Lia as the next successor to the throne you know?"
That's how it is.
However, that bit has nothing to do with Shien.
Just like that, the three of them managed to break the ice with this incident and ended up getting to know each other a bit.
It's only until an hour later that Shien finally spoke his goodbyes and headed off to the underground magic books library below the palace along with Lucy.
Lia watched the two of them leave with a small grin on her face.
"The relationship between those two seems to be even better than I thought."
It's unknown if Lia found it satisfying or funny, but she lifted her tea cup and started sipping away at the red tea within.
"Shien…"
The cold knight Charl standing behind Lia muttered as she watched Shien leave.
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