# Soul Flower
"Soul Flower."
Also known as the Emperor's Flower.
Lancel recalled the name of the flower inside the vase.
"We're back."
The brief body swap between Lancel and Marigold had reversed exactly after one minute.
Just moments ago, Lancel had been in Marigold's body, and Marigold in Lancel's.
If he hadn't been hallucinating, it was undeniable.
And that was precisely this flower's ability.
Its effect was to randomly swap the souls of all beings in the vicinity of the flower.
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Item: Soul Flower.
Effect: Randomly swaps souls within a 2-meter radius for 1 minute.
â»The effect activates immediately when the petals receive light, once per year.
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Right.
For exactly one minute.
"Lord Lancel, was that just...?"
"Shh. You didn't know anything. You didn't see anything, and nothing happened. Understood?"
Lancel's voice was quiet.
Marigold quickly covered her mouth. She squeezed her eyes shut and nodded vigorously. She seemed to have noticed the seriousness in his expression.
*Why has something that should be kept hidden made its way here?*
Lancel furrowed his brow.
It bothered him greatly how an item that should have been carefully preserved in imperial records had ended up among mere plunder.
"Lord Lancel? I think the navy has arrived outside?"
Marigold tugged at his sleeve.
Judging by the commotion coming from the upper deck, it seemed the reinforcements had arrived.
Lancel stared at the vase in his hand before placing it back in the box.
*The flower's effect only returns once a year. So for now, it's just an ornamental plant.*
He didn't know anything.
He hadn't seen anything.
The only witness, Marigold, didn't seem to think much about what had just happened. She apparently didn't even understand what had occurred, which was fortunate if anything.
"Before the navy arrives... should we take a bit more?"
"You'll end up in prison if you get caught."
"Just this one thing!"
Marigold found a ring and slipped it onto her ring finger.
It was a gold ring similar to the one Lancel had.
.
.
.
"Lancel Dante! I hear you've made quite a catch! As I expected, you're suited for either the navy or piracy. My predictions are never wrong!"
When they arrived with the captured pirate ship, Guard Captain Baron Coral greeted him, slapping his back enthusiastically.
"I heard the spoils were plentiful. Did you take anything for yourself?"
"Well, just this much."
Lancel raised both hands. A gold ring glinted on his ring finger.
"Just a pair of rings? Tsk, tsk, what a modest naval officer you are."
He looked disappointed.
"I'll set aside a few items for you later. While regular soldiers go to prison if caught, officers should have some fun."
Baron Coral lowered his voice and slapped Lancel's back again.
"Hahaha!"
The slaps were so forceful they made his eyeballs vibrate.
In response, Lancel grabbed Marigold, who had been lingering nearby for no apparent reason.
"Lord Lancel? Ugh! Ack! Uwak! Keeng! Ugh!"
Thump, thump, thump.
He pounded her back with the same force as Baron Coral's slaps.
"Lancel."
"Yes, Baron."
"Have you heard?"
"...?"
"The 3rd Princess is coming to the archipelago. I see you haven't heard."
"...What?"
Lancel released Marigold and opened his eyes wide.
"Is that true?"
"Of course. I received the news directly from the Count. She's already aboard a ship heading here, so she should arrive by tomorrow evening at the latest."
"What brings her here?"
Why.
For what reason.
Why the 3rd Princess of all people?
"I don't know. But she wouldn't come all this way for no reason, would she? Someone from the busy imperial family wouldn't travel to this remote place just for a vacation."
They were indeed busy.
Busy with affairs, parties, pleasures, luxuries, and gambling—they never had a day of rest.
Whether they had failed at raising children or were genuinely busy with affairs of state, they were certainly occupied people.
This was the first time in dozens of playthroughs that he'd seen one of them appear in the archipelago. Talk about bad timing.
"You know the rumors about the 3rd Princess, right?"
"One wouldn't be a citizen of the Empire if they didn't."
"Then we understand each other. Use this opportunity to get fitted for new clothes, fix your hair, and make yourself presentable. The Count has generously offered to lend you whatever you need."
"...Yes. But instead of maids, I'd like to bring this one along."
"Uwah!"
Lancel grabbed Marigold by the back of her collar as she was eavesdropping with perked ears.
She looked like a helpless mouse caught stealing.
"She's been secretly listening this whole time. I'll take her along to make sure she keeps quiet."
"The Princess's visit isn't exactly a secret, but whatever suits you. Go ahead. Since this is your first watch this week, make sure you're back by dawn at the latest."
# 7
"Is the 3rd Princess a frightening person?"
On the way to the Count's mansion, Lancel pondered Marigold's question, thinking about "that woman."
3rd Princess Claria Arild Phrygia.
To describe her in one phrase:
"She's what you'd call a looks-obsessed fanatic."
"Looks... obsessed?"
"Simply put, she's fixated on people's appearances. Beauty and handsomeness, you know."
"Ah!"
In the game, she had explicitly taken on the role of a villainess.
She was a woman who refused to let anyone take away a man she fancied.
Just imagine how terrifying it would be if a regular noble lady were managing her "harem"—now imagine that woman as a princess. Truly frightening.
Naturally, there were numerous scenes where she focused her interference on Marigold, the game's protagonist.
She was the quintessential villain heroine.
At a certain count's banquet where he first saw her, she had been cruel to a servant simply because she found their face unpleasant.
His relationship with her wasn't good either.
—Well, I'd give you a 9 out of 100, Lancel Dante.
—What's the maximum score, Your Highness?
—Obviously 100 points.
Damn it.
He hadn't realized that woman was the Claria from the game.
"Hmm..."
"Why so serious all of a sudden?"
"It's nothing."
Marigold suddenly looked troubled.
While Lancel was wondering why she was acting that way, they arrived at the Count's mansion.
"Pleased to meet you, Sir Lancel Dante. I am Anselo, Count Ruin's beautician."
"The pleasure is mine."
"And that naval officer...?"
He could feel it.
The beautician was alternately looking at the rings on Lancel and Marigold's fingers.
He was clearly imagining some complicated romantic relationship.
"Ahem."
Marigold pretended to be distracted while deliberately making her ring finger more visible.
"...She's just my subordinate, so don't get any strange ideas."
"Ah, yes..."
His response was unconvinced.
"My, my... you haven't had your hair styled for quite some time. You must have been too focused on your knightly duties. Let's give you a proper trim."
"I appreciate it."
Lancel closed his eyes.
He could hear only the distant sound of waves, the scissors trimming his hair, and the beautician occasionally holding his breath in concentration.
When he became drowsy from the breeze coming through the window, he felt something strange and opened his eyes. Marigold was leaning in right in front of him.
"What are you doing?"
"Lord Lancel."
Snip, snip.
As locks of hair fell, Marigold asked with a worried expression:
"Am I also that looks... obsessed?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Sigh."
So that's what she'd been quiet about.
She seemed to be genuinely troubled.
"How do you like it, Sir Lancel?"
"It's excellent, as expected from the Count's beautician."
"You flatter me. The tailor will fit you for clothes in the next room."
After changing into neat attire, Marigold's concerns seemed to have deepened.
"I'm truly a terrible person, Lord Lancel."
"I don't know what you're worried about, but I think you're mistaken."
Being looks-obsessed wasn't necessarily bad. Besides, Lancel had often been told he was handsome, but by the Princess's standards, he was only 9 out of 100. By her standards.
*Actually, maybe I'm quite good-looking by this world's standards?*
Yes.
Perhaps the 3rd Princess had unusual tastes, and someone like him might have high appeal in this world.
*Right. I'm not bad. I exercise and keep in shape.*
===============
[Game Guide]
-Undiscovered achievement found.
1. Not caring about appearances at all.
2. Experience with only one person (30 playthroughs). -A Rank!-
3. Lover of only one person (30 playthroughs). -A Rank!-
4. Navy couple in workplace romance.
5. ???
â»Diversification of gameplay needed.
===============
"What the...?"
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. I wasn't talking to you."
Not caring about appearances "at all"?
*Surely Marigold has eyes, so that can't be entirely true.*
.
.
.
"Your face looks like a crustacean clinging to the shore, Lancel Dante."
The next day, a cold voice fell upon Lancel.
# 8
"What an impressive arrival."
That afternoon, the archipelago's harbor was bustling with ships.
Imperial vessels from the capital filled the piers, with boats stacked two and three deep.
A spectacular scene unfolded as navy personnel, laborers, and locals were all mobilized to unload cargo from the ships.
"Start with the light items!"
"Careful, careful! Don't spill anything!"
"Stay off Ship Number 1! How many times do I have to tell you it's an imperial vessel!"
Marigold was among them.
"Huff, huff!"
She hurried below deck with quick steps.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
-Squeak!
A small birdcage caught her attention.
It seemed to be a bird kept by the sailors, with bread crumbs scattered on the floor as feed.
"A bird!"
Marigold inserted her finger into the cage.
Just as she was carefully trying to stroke its head feathers, the beak opened wide. Her fingertip was bitten mercilessly.
"Ouch!"
Blood formed at the tip.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
-Squeak!
"Okay, okay, don't be angry. I won't touch you. I'll just look. Just look... hehe."
It was a beautiful bird.
Blue wings, orange body, a beak that gleamed like obsidian. It stared at Marigold with its head held high.
It was far more beautiful than the fierce seagulls that flew around the archipelago.
"Ah."
As if entranced, Marigold picked up the cage.
The bird fluttered its wings in surprise, and she tried to calm it with "It's okay, it's okay."
"Sergeant! Should I take this down too?"
"What's that?"
"A bird! A beautiful bird, sir!"
"Just bring everything down for now!"
"Yes, sir!"
.
.
.
"Your face looks like a crustacean clinging to the shore, Lancel Dante."
Around them, party attendees could be heard suppressing their laughter. Everyone had taken turns being insulted, and now that even Lancel, who had been somewhat respected, was being targeted, they all seemed resigned.
That much was fine—it was a common tactic for the Princess to intimidate people upon first meeting.
"I don't need your gift, so please disappear from my sight."
A woman with a veil.
3rd Princess Claria Arild Phrygia.
Upon hearing her voice, Lancel was certain of something.
*This seems a bit mild.*
The Princess's insults seemed weaker than usual. The Scoville rating was somehow lacking.
While most nobles would find even this level of criticism stinging, that was the kind of thinking only archipelago nobles not yet accustomed to the capital would have.
—I'd rather look at a sea roach crushed underfoot on the shore.
The tone, content, force in the voice, and contemptuous emotion—none of it matched the 3rd Princess.
Lancel felt something was off about her from the start, beginning with the veil covering her face.
The Princess's looks-obsessed philosophy was rooted in confidence in her own beauty.
So why cover her face?
It definitely wasn't like her.
*A body double?*
What kind of imperial court can't function without body doubles?