A Blend of Romance and Fantasy Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“I’m sooo hungry…”

William frowned as he wiped sticky black blood from his sword, clearly annoyed by Eric’s complaint.

This was hardly a place that made anyone think of food.

An endless desert stretched beneath a blazing sun. Scattered across the sand were mangled monster corpses and pools of thick, black blood.

This was the Resher Desert, lying along the route from the Blake Empire, through Servi, to Singcester.

A road of death—scorching heat by day, freezing cold by night, and swarming with monsters. It wasn’t a place just anyone could survive.

And yet, the group of armored men standing there looked perfectly at home.

They were the delegation of Blake—and the personal guard of the Sixth Prince, Leonard Blake.

“You’re looking at charred monster corpses and still talking about food? You’ve got quite the appetite.”

“But it’s already been three days since we lost the supply wagon and started wandering this desert. In this heat, I’d kill just to grill something.”

Eric spoke as he sat on a rock, cleaning his sword.

“What about you, Your Highness? You’re not exactly picky, are you?”

The man turned his gaze toward him.

The first thing anyone noticed were his eyes—burning like flames.

They carried the heat of battle, like fire constantly on the verge of erupting.

But even more striking was his hair.

Under the harsh sunlight, his vivid red hair blazed so brightly it almost looked golden.

The Sixth Prince, Leonard.

“If we want to reach Singcester alive, we’ll have to eat whatever we can find.”

He picked up a severed piece of a scorpion.

“Though this one’s poisonous. Not an option.”

As black blood dripped onto the rock, it sizzled, melting the surface. Eric clicked his tongue.

“Damn Singcester… it’s ridiculously far.”

At his subordinate’s complaint, Leonard let out a short, amused breath.

He walked over to the horses and pulled something from a cloak draped across one of the saddles.

A small rolled parchment.

He tossed it toward them.

“This is what we’ll be dealing with when we arrive.”

Eric and William caught it with ease.

Written across the thin parchment was text in a rare language—one not used anywhere else on the continent.

“Endure a little longer,” Leonard said. “Singcester is just ahead.”

My nineteenth birthday banquet was fast approaching.

I’d gone through this before, but preparing a royal banquet was still overwhelming.

From deciding the menu to choosing outfits for nearly a month—even the color of the hallway curtains had to be personally approved by me, the acting lady of the kingdom.

In novels, banquet prep takes one episode—half an episode at most.

So why does it take months in reality?

“Princess, please try this dress too!”

“And this one as well!!”

I was currently in the powder room, doing the final dress fitting for the banquet.

I had no idea how many hours had passed.

I felt like I was about to collapse, but the maids were giggling like they were dressing up a doll.

“I think the purple dress suits you best. You should wear it on the first day.”

“Are you blind? She has to wear the golden one from earlier! It’s the most dazzling!”

As the maids began arguing, I clutched my empty stomach.

Unbelievable.

This world had fireball magic—but no magic to slim your waist.

Honestly, what were mages even good for?

Instead of lightning spells, they should’ve invented zero-calorie fried chicken and made a fortune.

“Ahem.”

Driven by hunger, I carefully glanced behind me.

Thankfully, there was a three-tier tray of finger foods waiting.

Just as I reached for it—

I froze.

A chilling presence crept up behind me.

“A-Abigail…”

“Princess. No snacks until tomorrow.”

I made my most pitiful expression, but Abigail Everhart was unmoved.

After successfully marrying off all three of her daughters to wealthy, handsome nobles, she was now determined to turn me—the one she had raised—into the perfect bride.

“There will be over twenty eligible bachelors at the banquet. It would be unfortunate if your dress didn’t fit or you lost your rhythm while dancing.”

She smiled gracefully and picked up a gold waist corset.

That smile was terrifying.

I slowly withdrew my hand from the food.

“Now then, the corset.”

She approached.

The golden corset, embroidered with lilies, looked less like clothing and more like an execution device.

It tightened around my waist.

“Ghk—!”

Just as a strangled sound escaped me, there was a knock.

“Princess, the Saintess has arrived.”

“Save me, Aurora! Abigail is trying to kill me with this corset!”

Dignity? Elegance? Forget that—survival came first.

I shouted desperately, and the door burst open.

“Charlotte? Oh my goodness!”

Aurora rushed in, her dress wrinkling as she hurried.

“Lady Everhart, stop trying to kill Charlotte with that corset! It won’t shrink her waist anyway!”

…What?

Even as I struggled to breathe, my eyes widened at my supposed friend’s words.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t deny them.

Abigail seemed to agree, loosening the corset—which somehow made it worse.

“Have the mages invent waist-slimming magic immediately!”

“Charlotte, calm down. As a princess, you should maintain composure in front of your maids.”

“I can’t calm down! That’s easy for you to say—you have a naturally slim waist!”

“That’s why you shouldn’t have taken over that dessert shop a month ago. Eating cake every day won’t help.”

“That shop uses zero-sugar ingredients. It’s perfectly healthy!”

Grumbling, I slipped out of Abigail’s grasp and clung to Aurora.

If I had to choose, I’d take Aurora—who wounded my pride—over Abigail, who attacked my waist.

Hiding behind her, I pleaded,

“Merciful Abigail, shall we stop the dress fitting here? Whether I wear Madame Everlot’s dress or a sack, I’ll still be beautiful.”

“Princess. A royal of the sacred kingdom must remain humble, especially when they are exceptional.”

“So you admit I’m exceptional?”

“…”

Abigail said nothing.

I took that as a yes.

Seizing the moment, Aurora stepped in.

“She’s right, Lady Everhart. Let’s stop here. Charlotte also needs to visit the Altar of Sacred Blood.”

“…Very well.”

Though reluctant, Abigail finally relented and left with the maids.

“Charlotte, you must be exhausted from all this preparation.”

Aurora smiled gently and patted my shoulder.

I collapsed onto the sofa with a sigh.

“Exactly. Why are there so many banquets? Founding celebrations, birthdays, memorials, prayer ceremonies… I thought being a princess meant lounging around.”

“Aren’t you already lounging around most of the time?”

“Excuse me? I want to lounge even more.”

Like letting others handle everything while I just sit around as a figurehead.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option.

If I wanted a happy future, I had to interfere with the original story at least a little.

It’s definitely not because I wanted to get involved with all the handsome male leads.

“Honestly, Princess Charlotte…”

Aurora shook her head.

“You’re hopeless. Now come on—we need to go to the Altar of Sacred Blood.”