REAPER SCANS
THE S-CLASS HUNTER DOESN’T WANT TO BE A VILLAINOUS PRINCESS
[Translator – Woni]
[Proofreader – Leef]
Chapter 46
Sedin Ansirad—The Light of the Empire.
His title was not without reason.
He was the first swordmaster on the continent to rise from common origins, igniting hope among commoners that they, too, could reach such heights. That hope made him their guiding light. Swordsmanship had long been a noble’s art, while the blades of commoners were little more than extensions of brawling. Sedin’s mastery defied that divide, making him both an inspiration and a legend.
To the nobles, however, he was an insult.
A man with no lineage, no resources, no secret techniques—yet he had surpassed them all. They wanted his strength under their command but refused to see him as an equal. When he rejected a peerage, they sneered. Even with a title, he would never truly be one of them. No high society would claim him, and no aristocrat would offer their daughter’s hand. To them, he was a shadow, a reminder of their own inadequacies.
The commoners revered him. The nobles envied him.
Sedin wanted neither.
The commoners worshipped him, but none asked to learn his ways. The nobles sought his secret, but they constantly undermined him.
As contradicting as they seemed, they were both driven by the same hunger. Their expectations forged an illusion—a version of him that had never existed. They wanted a symbol, not a man. But Sedin Ansirad had never desired to be either light or shadow.
He had only ever been himself.
That was why.
That was why, standing amid the shattered swords, drifting butterflies, and sea of crimson flowers, his gaze found only Renee at her very core, amidst the overwhelming show of power.
The swords were less broken than she was, the butterflies were less fleeting, and the flowers were pale in contrast to her presence.
And that was why he moved toward her, all reason slipping away.
Because he understood.
Because he had lived that loneliness—the loneliness of never being truly seen.
Yet even as he held her, uncertainty gnawed at him. He knew his own heart—but what of hers?
She felt more like a whisper of a dream than the illusions she had created, something that could slip away at any moment.
Then, he felt her hand on his head.
In that moment, he felt… blessed. Forgiven.
Or perhaps cursed, bound to her in shackles.
He decided then and there that, no matter where her heart lay, he would be both light and shadow for this person.
***
“I get it. Now, will you stop following me?”
So annoying. This was the seventy-third time Renee had sent away a knight blubbering for forgiveness. So what if you apologize to me while crying now? Don’t you know not to take things for granted?
“B-but if I don’t apologize to you, Lady Makius…”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m telling you I don’t need an apology.”
“Shall I cut him, Renee?”
A whisper tickled her ear.
She shot Sedin a look.
“I will cut anyone who bothers you, Renee.”
I feel like everyone in this novel is a little deranged…
“Do you want me to exterminate his bloodline?”
Renee slowly turned to Isir, who stood on the other side of her.
I’ll ruin their family if you like. I have the power to do so.
“Don’t you think collective punishment is a bit harsh…?”
“It’s harsh? Do you mean it’s not enough? I can kill all of their friends as well.”
“I keep mine moderate, right, Renee?” Sedin added smoothly.
Forget it, both of you.
Renee lightly pushed Sedin’s face away. That cunning little fox. As cute as he is… murderously inclined people like him will only cause trouble.
She waved her hand at the knight, who was on the verge of passing out from Sedin’s venomous words.
“See how mad this guy is? On your way now.”
With a casual flick of her power, she suppressed Sedin’s energy, unbinding the shackles on the knight. As his knees finally gave out, he shot to his feet and ran.
He’s pathetic even when he runs. Anyway, that’s not important.
“At least I know how to conceal my energy. Unlike that commoner,” Isir muttered.
I don’t think you do.
Renee glanced at his hand, already hovering next to his sword.
“Sedin.”
“Yes, Renee.”
“And Isir.”
“...Speak.”
What do I do with these guys? Both of them had a mad look in their eyes.
Just then—
“Lady Makius.”
The source of all this trouble, Dillon, approached. Renee’s expression grew cold.
“Do you still have something to say?” Sedin’s voice was laced with barely concealed irritation.
Feeling murder emanating from him, Renee reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. Sedin’s face flushed, and he took a step back.
“I’m sure you have a reason for coming back to me,” she said, leveling Dillon with a steady gaze. “Go ahead.”
Dillon broke out of his frozen trance and hesitantly stepped forward.
“I wanted to apologize for my past discourtesy,” he said.
“Discourtesy, you say.”
Renee took a deep breath.
“Yes. My lowly eyes did not recognize Lady Re—”
“I won’t accept your apology.”
The two men beside her, as well as Dillon, turned to her in surprise.
“The reason I showed you my power wasn’t to get an apology from you all.”
“T-Then…?”
Dillon looked up at her, stunned. Despite being at least three heads taller than her, he couldn’t help but lower himself.
“It was to rule over you.”
They all stood frozen at the words.
[The <Temptation Monarch> smiles in delight.]
“Just where would I use your apologies? They’re all abominable, cowardly, and useless.”
Even in her past life, Renee had never accepted anyone’s apologies or remorse. Everywhere she went, fools repeated the same foolish decisions.
She didn’t appear strong at first glance. Only a rare few could recognize her strength for what it was. People always misconstrued her.
“It was a misunderstanding.
“I’m sorry I looked down on you. It won’t happen again.”
None of those words were new to her. They meant nothing—not because she couldn’t forgive, but simply because she didn’t care.
Had she not been strong, they would never have apologized. That alone rendered their apologies meaningless. If it wasn’t fear compelling them, would they have ever lowered their heads? Even if, by some slim chance, their regret was genuine… what did that matter?
“I don’t trust you moving forward,” she continued, her tone unwavering. “And I won’t see you all as my people.”
All of you are nothing but tools, anyway.
“I’ll simply rule over you.”
Dillon’s face crumbled, and Renee felt a peculiar sense of satisfaction. She didn’t enjoy tyrannizing the weak, but…
“So if you want to keep yourselves and your foolish comrades alive,” she added, lips curling in amusement.
…Intimidating them was another matter entirely.
“You better act accordingly.”
[You are now ruling over the esteemed Makius knights.]
[You have obtained 50 renown!]
[Current Renown: -214]
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – Woni]
[Proofreader – Leef]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
After Dillon retreated, hollow-eyed and shaken, Renee settled into the reception room with Isir and Sedin.
“L-Lady Renee?”
The servants froze in shock at the sight.
Renee rarely left her quarters, let alone entered a space like the reception room. But more than that—her company…
“G-Greetings, Your Majesty…”
The imperial prince.
Despite the official announcement of his relationship with the troublesome ducal princess, many of the servants still had their doubts.
And rightfully so.
Everyone in the duchy knew how much Isir had despised Renee.
First of all, the prince had never accepted a single one of Renee’s invitations. Nor had he ever sent her one. Every invitation he sent had been addressed to the duke, to Ante, to Kirill—but never to Renee. The neglect was impossible to ignore.
Each time she discovered she was the only one excluded, she would spend the entire day in tears. Every single servant had heard her cries. Time and time again.
“Get out.”
Yet here was their lady, in the same space as the imperial prince. She didn’t seem subordinate to him at all, on top of everything.
“B-But this is,” the maid stuttered.
This space is usually only used by the duke or Ante... Before, she wouldn’t have hesitated to remind Renee that she wasn’t allowed here. But now…
“Is there a problem?” Renee asked, her voice calm yet laced with something chilling.
“I-It’s just...” The maid’s lips trembled.
Something had changed.
Under the imperial prince’s protection, Renee’s status in the duchy was shifting. Her personal maids—once dismissive of her—were now terrified.
And more than that...
“Get out.”
There was a danger about her now that hadn’t been there before.
“Yes, ma’am!”
The maid scurried out without another word.
I can’t believe I need permission everywhere I go. It seems there’s a long way to go before Renee gains the respect of the people here.
Renee leaned back on the sofa with a huff, resting one leg over the other. There wasn’t an ounce of elegance in her posture.
[The <Evil Blood Lord> criticizes you, saying to sit with grace, please!]
Grace? Me? I don’t know such a thing.
[The <Temptation Monarch> says being strong is grace.]
Her lips finally curved into a smirk.
“So,” she finally said, turning to the two men beside her, who were still dazed from the scene earlier.
“Why are you two here?”
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