Bols's Daughter

When Kaguya looked back, she saw that the unfortunate Dr. Stylish had already been reduced to a pile of flesh by the violent blows of the stone statue. Even his internal organs were exposed to the outside. What had once been a massive body resembling a mountain of flesh was now nothing more than a heap of rotten meat.

Kaguya wrinkled her delicate brows and covered her dainty nose with her hand.

The stench was unbearable. It wasn't just the typical smell of blood; it had a foul, decayed odor mixed in, likely due to the modifications made to Dr. Stylish's body. The scent was so pungent that it almost smelled rotten.

With a wave of Kaguya's pale arm, the stone statue, which had still been swinging its fists, suddenly halted. With a rumbling sound, the statue disintegrated back into a pile of ordinary rocks, burying the heap of rotten flesh beneath them.

Having such a disgusting mess lying around was definitely bad for the mood.

Suddenly, the corners of Kaguya's lips curled slightly as she turned her head, her clear eyes gazing toward a small mound of dirt not far away. With a faint smile, she said, "Did you really think hiding there would keep me from noticing you?"

The surrounding area was deathly silent, with no sound at all, save for the howling of the northern wind.

"Come out, I've already found you. If you don't, I'll have to come and get you myself," Kaguya said as she walked gracefully toward the mound, laughing softly. "It seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish."

Just as Kaguya raised her arm and aimed at the mound, there was a muffled bang, and the dirt pile suddenly exploded. Soil and snow flew everywhere as a figure burst out from the ground.

"Oh, I didn't expect it to be you," Kaguya said with mild surprise as she saw who it was. "I didn't think you were still alive."

The person before her was a tall, muscular man with a strong, well-built body. His upper body was bare, revealing sculpted muscles that looked as if they had been chiseled from stone, like those of a bodybuilder. He wore a mask on his head that resembled a gas mask, which, combined with his towering physique, gave him a somewhat comical appearance, like a bank robber.

If Kaguya wasn't mistaken, this man was an Imperial soldier named Bols.

"Princess... Your Highness," Bols stammered, clutching his flame-thrower Teigu. Although his face was hidden, his voice revealed his nervousness.

"So, we meet again, Bols," Kaguya said with a smile as she approached him.

"Ah, yes," Bols replied, clearly flustered by Kaguya's demeanor. "I didn't expect to encounter you here."

Kaguya walked right up to him, smiling as she said, "So, are you planning to oppose me?"

"N-no," Bols quickly stowed away his flame-thrower, waving his hands frantically.

"How's your daughter? Is she doing well?" Kaguya asked with a gentle smile.

Back in the capital, Kaguya had once encountered Bols in the Imperial army, and had also met his wife and daughter by chance. His wife, just as described in the original story, was incredibly beautiful. His daughter, too, was a bright-eyed beauty in the making, a lively little girl who had cheerfully called out "Princess, Princess!" upon seeing Kaguya, making a very endearing impression.

"Ah, she's fine, she's fine," Bols replied hurriedly. "She misses you a lot, always asking when she'll get to see you again."

"When?" Kaguya turned her clear eyes southward. "Perhaps very soon."

Hearing Kaguya's words, Bols stiffened. He seemed to grasp the underlying meaning, and the relief he had felt began to fade away, replaced by a renewed tension.

"You can go," Kaguya said softly.

"Ah?" Bols was momentarily stunned.

"I said you can go," Kaguya repeated, turning to him with a soft smile on her pink cheeks. "You're not really a bad person, so I won't make things difficult for you this time. But you may not be so lucky next time. However, if you feel the Empire is no longer a place for you, you're welcome to bring your family to my territory. You'll be welcomed anytime."

"Thank you, Princess," Bols said, bowing deeply, just as he would have when Kaguya was still with the Imperial army. "But my family is in the capital, and with the strict security there now, I fear I won't be able to take advantage of your kind offer."

Kaguya nodded, understanding.

The Empire's military maintained strict control over its personnel. To prevent infiltration by the Revolutionary Army, there were rigorous registration systems in place. If anything suspicious occurred, the Imperial army would know immediately. With Bols's family in the capital, escaping would be nearly impossible.

"Very well, I won't press the matter," Kaguya said with a light smile, unconcerned. "You may go."

"Thank you, Princess," Bols said, bowing again before turning to leave. He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, as though he had just survived a great ordeal. His back was drenched in sweat.

Facing the formidable Princess, he knew he had no hope of victory, and even escaping seemed like an impossible dream. After all, even Dr. Stylish, transformed into a powerful danger beast, had been no match for her. How could he stand a chance?

At the same time, a sense of gratitude welled up in his heart. He had faced death without fear—he wasn't a man who clung desperately to life. But what weighed heavily on his mind was his wife and daughter. He had been prepared to fight to the death, yet the Princess had shown him mercy and spared him.

"Wait."

Just then, a melodious voice called out from behind, causing Bols to freeze in his tracks, his heart pounding.

Could the Princess have changed her mind?

"I almost forgot something," Kaguya said with a smile as she walked up to him, extending her pale arm. "This is for your daughter. I remember promising to give her a birthday gift, and I'm sorry I didn't deliver on that."

Bols let out a sigh of relief and turned around. In the silver-haired girl's hand was a delicate pink hairpin. The hairpin was shaped like a butterfly, with intricate detailing and adorned with sparkling rubies, making it exceptionally beautiful.

Of course, this wasn't the hairpin Kaguya had just picked up—it was one she often wore herself.

"This gift is far too precious," Bols said, waving his hands in refusal. "I can't accept it."

"It's not for you; it's for your daughter. Take it," Kaguya said with a light laugh, pressing the butterfly hairpin into his hand before turning to leave. "Be sure to give little Logue my regards."

Logue was Bols's daughter's name.

As he watched the Princess walk away, Bols gripped the butterfly hairpin tightly in his hand.