"Hey, Shirou, don't go!"
Ariel saw that Shirou looked angry, so she quickly chased after him.
She grabbed Shirou's arm and said with a smile, "I'm sorry, okay? I apologize! I was wrong, I didn't mean to joke with you."
"..."
Shirou hesitated, seeing Ariel's behavior which was nothing like a princess. In the end, he sighed helplessly.
He still didn't really understand what Ariel was thinking.
He didn't understand why she wanted to win him over, nor did he understand if she really wanted to become the king of this country.
Ariel wore too many masks, and even she probably didn't know what she was like under the masks.
Shirou calmed down a bit, looked at Ariel, and asked, "Let's forget about what happened just now. By the way, why are you still staying in Boreas Castle? Eris's birthday party is already over, right?"
"Who said I came to the Boreas family to attend Eris's birthday party?"
"What?"
Seeing Ariel's calm words, Shirou was confused.
Ariel said calmly, "Although I used that as a reason to convince Derrick and Luke, and to convince the nobles above, my real purpose in coming to the Boreas family was just to find the blacksmith Muramasa."
"Why do you want to see Muramasa so much?"
Shirou looked puzzled. He knew Ariel had spent a lot of money to buy the weapon he forged—Durandal. But even though that weapon was special, it shouldn't be worth a princess traveling so far just to find the blacksmith himself.
At least Shirou didn't understand why Ariel wanted to find him.
Regarding Shirou's confusion, Ariel finally showed a bit of seriousness and slowly said, "Why do I want to see Muramasa? Simply put, I'm just curious about what kind of person could forge this sword, that's all."
As she spoke, Ariel took out Durandal, which was hanging on her waist.
Shirou then realized that Ariel had specially brought this weapon he forged today.
Ariel continued, "Shirou, you know, the palace is not a fun place. It's full of complex power struggles and chaotic political competition. As the second princess, my status is second only to my brother Gravel, but I still don't live peacefully. Or rather, because there are too many benefits associated with me, countless people flock to me, hoping that I can inherit the throne and rule this country."
"That's only natural."
Shirou said quietly. He didn't understand politics very well, but he understood human nature to some extent.
As the second princess, Ariel couldn't escape the erosion of people's desires. Moreover, she wasn't stupid and had plenty of ability.
Ariel sighed and slowly said, "Is it only natural? But I've never really wanted to accept this 'only natural' thing. After all, it's a responsibility that has nothing to do with me, and it's even the Root of my suffering. If I could, I would rather give up my identity as a princess and start over as an ordinary person."
"But that's impossible."
Shirou clearly denied Ariel's idea.
Ariel couldn't become an ordinary person, not only because of her identity as a princess, but also because of her skills and ability to see through people's hearts.
Especially the latter.
As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility.
Ariel had great potential, so naturally she couldn't escape her responsibilities.
Ariel herself also knew this. She said quietly, "Even if it's impossible, I can't become queen. I have two older brothers and an older sister above me. Although my sister has already decided where to marry, my brothers are currently competing fiercely for the throne. As long as they're around, I have no chance of becoming queen."
"..."
Shirou didn't understand the power struggles for the throne, so he didn't comment.
"And even if I chose to fight, what could I do? I have neither talent to fight with, nor a shield to protect me. My brothers only need to send an assassin to kill me, and they can easily erase me. Among my subordinates, only Derrick has illusory hopes that I'll become queen, and the others just want to benefit from the throne struggle."
Ariel was a smart person, so she had already seen through the situation.
Even if she had a high-ranking right to inherit the throne, she was losing to her two older brothers in terms of age and number of allies, so her chances of winning were very low.
So it's better to give up that unattainable dream of becoming queen early and live a life of enjoyment.
Because even if she couldn't become king, Ariel was still a princess of the world's largest country, Asura, and of course she could enjoy herself.
No one could blame Ariel for her thoughts.
Because it was understandable.
Anyone else in the same situation would probably make a similar decision.
No one would voluntarily take on responsibilities beyond their ability.
Ariel saw that Shirou seemed to understand her thoughts, and a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. She continued, "However, my thoughts changed after seeing this sword."
"Seeing this sword?"
"Yeah."
Ariel had a nostalgic expression, as if she was recalling the first time she saw [Durandal]. "Maybe it's because I've been in the palace since I was little, but my eyes have become able to see the more essential things in things. Some people's souls are dim and obscure, like worthless rotten wood, and some people's souls are hot and fiery, just like you, Shirou, like a quenched blade that has been tempered for a long time and is now shining."
"..."
Shirou didn't expect Ariel to be able to see through so much. He finally realized why Ariel had been so interested in him.
Ariel continued to talk to herself:
"So, when I saw [Durandal], I didn't see a sword, but a light. It was so bright, as if someone had polished their soul to the extreme and condensed their spirit and will into one point. That's not a technique that ordinary people can do; it's a peak that extraordinary people can reach after challenging themselves countless times."
"When I touched this weapon, that feeling became even stronger, as if I saw someone climbing a mountain with no visible top. Even knowing that if they fell, there would be a bottomless cliff below, they still didn't stop their hands and feet, and under the pressure of possibly being crushed to pieces at any time, they continued to challenge their own limits."
"Every time I touched this weapon, it was like hearing Muramasa speaking to me. He was questioning me, 'Have you really reached your limit?' It was just my own imagination, but I really felt a strong sense of unwillingness, like a child being scolded by their parents for making a mistake..."
Ariel's words were very sincere. She was obviously saying what she really felt in her heart at this moment.
Shirou forgot about the bad impression this princess had given him before and asked, "Then, why are you looking for Muramasa?"
"Just for self-satisfaction."
Ariel said with a smile, "I'm just thinking that if I could see someone who surpassed their own limits but never stopped because they were afraid, would that make me feel a strong sense of inferiority? I even look forward to being scolded and blamed by such a capable person, and being judged as a coward who doesn't dare to take responsibility..."
"No one will blame you."
"Ordinary people might be like that, but if it's a master like Muramasa, he would probably see through my cowardice in an instant and mock my stupidity."
Ariel said with a lot of emotion.
Shirou's face was full of embarrassment. As the blacksmith Muramasa himself, he obviously didn't have the sharpness that Ariel expected.
He didn't even know until now what this princess was carrying on her shoulders.
After saying what she said, Ariel slowed down a bit and continued, "Besides the things above, the biggest reason I want to see Muramasa is because I long to see such a capable person. Maybe after seeing him, I can think more about becoming queen. If I'm lucky enough to recruit such a capable person, that would be a dream come true."
That was obviously Ariel's biggest thought.
Shirou understood Ariel, but he obviously couldn't let Ariel get what she wanted.
The blacksmith Muramasa was one of his secrets. Even the Boreas family didn't know it, so naturally he couldn't just tell Ariel.
While Shirou was deep in thought, Ariel said with a smile:
"So, I'll be staying in Boreas's castle until I find the blacksmith Muramasa. Please take care of me during this time, Shirou."
"Okay."
Faced with Ariel, who had made up her mind and wouldn't change her mind, Shirou sighed helplessly.
However, seeing Ariel's appearance, Shirou thought that he might be able to disguise himself later and meet Ariel as Muramasa.
Although he might not be able to say what Ariel wanted to hear, he could at least fulfill her wish.
And as long as she saw Muramasa, Ariel probably wouldn't stay in Boreas Castle anymore, and she wouldn't torment him here anymore, right?
Shirou secretly prayed, hoping that this Princess Ariel would know when to stop, and go back to the capital obediently after seeing Muramasa, and definitely not bother him again!
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