REAPER SCANS
THE S-CLASS HUNTER DOESN’T WANT TO BE A VILLAINOUS PRINCESS
[Translator – Woni]
[Proofreader – Leef]
Chapter 52
Two carriages arrived at the Makius Duchy in the capital. One bore the luxurious seal of the imperial palace, while the other displayed only the simple insignia of the Sira Guild.
As they approached the front gates, the two horsemen locked eyes.
This feels familiar for some reason… A strange sense of déjà vu prickled at their skin.
Then, at the exact same moment, the windows—usually kept tightly shut—jerked open.
A pair of glares met in the space between them.
That shameless snake…
Ungrateful bastard…
And just as quickly, the windows slammed shut.
The gates creaked open, allowing both carriages inside. They rolled forward, coming to a stop at the grand entrance of the duchy.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Where is Renee?”
The butler barely had time to finish his bow before Isir stepped out, completely disregarding the formal reception.
He said ‘Renee’…
The butler stiffened. Something serious was going on. Only those with the closest of relationships called each other by name—especially when addressing her.
But this wasn’t just anybody. This was Isir von Ramdisha, the imperial prince rumored to bleed metal if cut.
The duke was right. He had been warned in advance to take extra care when serving the imperial prince.
As the heir of the dukedom, maintaining a good relationship with Isir was crucial for Ante’s future. The empire’s public opinion was entirely in his favor. And, whether they liked it or not, the Makius family had already tied itself to him—their only daughter had been publicly declared as the prince’s lover.
It was a ship they could no longer disembark from.
The problem, however, was the prince’s heart.
His grace advised me specifically to ensure he doesn’t stray from the princess.
The line between friend and foe is often paper-thin. It takes only an instant for the closest of friends to become the most dangerous enemies. So, too, is the line between lover and foe. It’s crucial to note that they were partners, not engaged. The moment something goes wrong, the relationship between the two houses is bound to deteriorate.
His Grace had given strict orders.
“Keep the prince attached to the princess, no matter what.”
The butler was going to follow them for the sake of how own life.
“I apologize that Lady Makius could not greet you directly…”
“Why are you apologizing?”
The butler’s head snapped up.
“Pardon?”
“She is a lady. Of course, I should be the one escorting her. She shouldn’t be coming out to greet me—that would be beneath her honor.” Isir’s tone was edged with irritation. “You speak of your lady as if she were a trull.”
The butler stood in shock. This isn’t what I was going for. He then lowered his head instantly.
“That was not my intention, Your Highness. Please forgive me.”
“Piss off.” Isir brushed past him without another glance. Is there truly no one normal in this damned duchy?
“Y-Your Highness.”
“Did you not hear me? I said, piss off.”
“It’s not that…” The butler swallowed hard, his voice rushed with panic. “L-Lady Makius isn’t present in the duchy at the moment!”
For the first time, Isir hesitated.
From behind him, another voice cut in.
“Is there a problem, sir?”
“...No.”
Sedin, who had just entered the duchy behind the prince, raised an eyebrow. Though curiosity flickered in his gaze, he masked it with a neutral expression.
Now’s not the time to react.
Not when this woman was standing right in front of him.
With practiced ease, Sedin buried his boredom and turned his attention to the woman Isir had forced upon him.
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – Woni]
[Proofreader – Leef]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
Marie Garde. The second daughter of Baron Garde.
He had been prepared to reject her outright, regardless of the prince’s matchmaking attempts. And yet... he hadn’t.
Not because of Isir. It was all for Renee.
He was going to put an end to the scandal she had worried about. Completely.
And… for some reason, a bitter grit settled in his chest.
I didn’t know she would send me away so easily. Am I really just your ‘lacking mentee,’ no matter what I do?
He nearly said it aloud the last time they met.
Sedin understood why Isir had to be her partner—that wasn’t what angered him. That was just politics. That was just duty.
But sending me to someone else… that has nothing to do with professionalism, Renee.
Still, he concealed everything behind a bitter smile.
He knew he was pushing things. He knew it was wrong to harbor these feelings for her, especially given their difference in status.
But in the end... he was just a man.
And sometimes the heart moves before the brain.
Today was one of those days.
Still, I shouldn’t have left like that.
Sedin gritted his teeth. The reason he brought this innocent lady to the party was to atone—to show Renee that he regretted walking away, that he was sorry, and that he wanted her to forgive him. He wanted to tell her that he desired to be hers, to beg her not to cast him aside.
Every time Sedin saw Renee, an inexplicable fear swept over him.
At times, she would stare off into space, as if she were looking at someone else entirely. Whenever she moved her lips in silence, it felt like she was speaking to someone who wasn’t there. And every time he caught a glimpse of those moments, he had the terrifying sense that she could vanish at any second.
Her eyes held no yearning or attachment for anything. And that terrified him.
It feels like I’ll never have a place in those eyes.
He could face an army of hundreds alone, but not this. The thought that Renee’s interest in him might one day disappear was more terrifying than any battle.
“...Sir?”
Sedin blinked. Marie’s nervous voice brought him back to reality.
“I apologize, my lady. That was rude of me.”
“Shall we head inside?”
“Yes, sir.”
Marie hesitated but kept her thoughts to herself.
The House of Baron Garde was nobility, yes, and technically, Marie’s status was above Sedin’s. But no one saw it that way.
Sedin Ansirad was the Light of the Empire, one of only two swordmasters in the entire kingdom. Everyone knew that either of the two imperial successors could name him a duke if it meant securing his loyalty. It was no secret that he remained untitled simply out of disinterest.
And that wasn’t all.
Recent events had revealed that he owned not only the Sira Guild but several dozen other guilds and merchant groups. He neither confirmed nor denied the speculations, and his indifference only fueled public fascination.
Fame, wealth, power—what didn’t he have?
The only man who could rival him was Prince Isir himself.
Marie Garde was far too lacking to stand beside such a man. Even if she had her noble birth to give her confidence, it meant little in the face of everything else he possessed.
She knew the only reason she had been chosen as his partner was because of the imperial prince’s calculated intervention. Isir wanted Sedin under his control, but he couldn’t allow him to become too powerful. A lady from a house too noble was out of the question, yet someone too lowly wouldn’t do either.
A quiet noblewoman from a modest but respectable house was the perfect compromise. And that just so happened to be Marie.
She couldn't refuse the arrangement—not when she knew she would never have another chance to stand beside a man of his caliber.
Marie felt a flicker of greed.
Maybe, just maybe, if fate was on her side, this knight could come to love her.
But that’s not going to happen. Marie was well aware of herself. It was hopeless.
From the beginning, Sedin had treated her with the utmost politeness. And only politeness. He never spoke of anything personal and only conversed when necessary. His unwavering courtesy was more humiliating than outright rejection.
Marie just wanted to go home.
Everything about this situation made her uncomfortable.
“Presenting Lady Marie Garde and Sir Sedin Ansirad!”
Her discomfort faded the moment she stepped into the grand hall. For the first time in her life, all eyes were on her.
And she was the subject of envy.
Even Lady Anika, the woman Marie had always envied, watched her with jealousy in her gaze.
“Would you like something to drink, my lady?”
“Oh, yes…!” Marie nodded eagerly.
Yeah, what does it matter why this man is here with me? I just have to enjoy the moment.
Tonight, she was the main character. She nervously glanced at her partner.
Sedin’s fame wasn’t just due to his swordsmanship—his looks also played no small part in it. He wasn’t just handsome; he had an aura about him.
His rare black hair should have given him a dark, ominous presence. But it didn’t. In fact, it was the opposite. His energy was strikingly pure and composed. Only when one looked closely into his green eyes could they see it.
Beneath that strength, if only for a fleeting moment, there was something else—
“My lady.”
Marie flinched. “Yes?”
“Have I made a mistake…?”
His tone remained respectful, but the meaning was clear.
It’s rude to stare like that.
Her face burned with embarrassment.
“N-No!” she stammered
“That’s a relief,” he said flatly. “I was concerned I may have been discourteous, as I am not well-versed in these events.”
“You’re not discourteous at all…”
“Please inform me if there is anything you require.”
His words were polite. But his voice carried nothing—no warmth, no interest, no emotion at all.
Marie felt small.
Is there anyone who can move this man? Will there ever be a woman who can stir something in those cold eyes?
She almost laughed at the thought. It was impossible. And at least that meant she wouldn’t have to suffer further humiliation.
At that moment, a voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Presenting His Highness, Isir Von Ramdisha, and Lady Renee Makius!”
Marie’s fleeting hope shattered in an instant.
“They’re beautiful together,” someone murmured.
“There’s no better match,” another agreed.
And they were right.
The prince and the ducal princess were nothing short of otherworldly as they entered.
Their elegance was almost unreal, as though they had been sculpted from marble. There was no room for envy, only awe and longing.
Marie, like everyone else, could only watch them in admiration.
Both of them looked flawless, but tonight, the ducal princess was particularly breathtaking.
Renee Makius had always been known for her beauty, but her infamous villainous reputation had long overshadowed any mention of it.
Tonight, however, she was dignified. Elegant.
Was the ducal princess always like this? She looks like she was born to be an empress!
In that moment, she forgot everything.
In genuine admiration, she even began to say, “Lady Makius looks stunning today. They look great togeth—”
But her words faltered.
Because when she turned to her partner, she saw something she had never expected.
In those usually placid eyes, was a storm of emotion.
Every possible emotion.
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
