The Crimson General Desires no Prince! (GL)
Chapter 52 - 48: Congratulations to the General (VII).

Chapter 52: Chapter 48: Congratulations to the General (VII).

Chapter 48: Congratulations to the General (VII).

"So what do you say, General?"

The question lingered in the air for a while.

’Urk... Did I make a wrong move? Why isn’t the system saying anything now? This whole time I’ve been being spammed with so many notifications of her mood.’ Ever since she exited the carriage, complimented her for being well liked around the village and the fact she even initiated to start a party...

[System Notification]

[Notification: Heroine is impatient on wanting to bring the princess home safely]!

[Notification: Heroine is happy that princess is liking Rosewood village].

[Notification: Heroine doesn’t want to party, must bring princess home].

[Notification: Heroine is scared that the princess will be sad if there’s no party].

{Points Update}

[Happiness: -10].

[Happiness: +15].

[Happiness: -10].

[Happiness: -20].

[Sanity: -5].

"You need to rest," Rowan said, her voice calm but firm, the kind that didn’t invite protest. "Are you not tired, your highness?"

"...ahaha." Her eyes twitched in wonder.

Will the days ahead of her marriage life will always be like this?

The change in the crimson generals’ mood is harder than the stock market of the wall street crash of 1929. It was hard trying not to look at these many notifications, but in order to make Rowan happy and earn points... because technically she’s the love interest now-

"Princess... I-" (Rowan) scratches the back of her head before looking towards the sea of villagers slowly standing up. She could tell they were eager to know her better as well.

Wouldn’t it be a good thing if they stayed a bit longer?

[Notification: Rowan wants to keep the princess all to herself]!

[Notification: Rowan realizes that’s bad and unhealthy].

{Points Decrease}

[Happiness: -10].

[Health: -10].

[Wisdom: -10].

’Holy shit what’s going on in her mind that it went ahead and even damaged a bit of her health?! Doesn’t that usually do physical damage? Why does it deal mental health damage too?!’ (Princess Camille) was trying not to drop her jaw at this phenomenon called indecisiveness.

This has been the second time that has happened.

"A-Ahem I could really use something to eat too." (Princess Camille) coughed slightly, taking a glance at the crimson general’s worried expression on her face. "I want to dance and have fun. I never get to have fun inside my palace."

As the words left her lips, something softened in Rowan’s heart- and in that moment, she finally decided they should stay for the party.

"I suppose we can celebrate a little before heading home..." Rowan said. The villagers erupted into cheer- the general had just given them permission to party all night!

"Wonderful!"

"Do you perhaps have music around?"

"The princess requests music! Come everybody, let’s dance!"

"I’ll accompany the princess-!" Before she could accompany the princess, an eager group of villagers surged forward, some pulling her off her horse, others dragging her toward the feast with excited shouts.

Someone draped a flower wreath over her shoulders before being led into the circle by an elder woman. "Come, young one, you need to dance! You’ll become weak old bones if you don’t exercise those hips!"

"A-Ah!"

[Notification: The Heroine is being pulled away from the princess]!

[Happiness: -10].

Seeing the clinginess of the heroine is really hilarious sometimes, the scene where she just gets dragged so easily by the villagers was funny.

"One, two, three lads! Bring in the music!"

Drums joined in, thumping like a heartbeat passed from one soul to the next. Villagers poured into the square, feet stomping in time, cheeks flushed with excitement, and eyes gleaming as they prepared to welcome home their hero.

From the crowd emerged the elders first, bowing low in gratitude. Then came the musicians, forming a loose half-circle as they played a sprightly tune.

"One, two, three!"

The villagers began their dance- an age-old tradition reserved only for the most triumphant of homecomings.

They formed a wide ring, hands held and arms swinging, moving in a steady rhythm.

"Um-! Your highness...!" (Rowan) called out and Princess Camille held her belly to laugh as the grandmother started swaying her hands, twirling around and had the crimson general at her fingertips.

The fearsome general could only swallow her pride and started dancing.

Princess Camille chuckled at the sight, then raised her hands to her mouth and called out, "Please don’t flirt with my fiancée too much! She might leave me for a wonderful dancer like you, milady!"

The elderly woman laughed, showing a few moves before waving to the princess.

"My oh my! Your highness, I would never! Your fiance is too young for me!"

"I would cry if you take her away~!" She yelled in reply earning a slight blush from Rowan and the grandmother noticed her reaction teasing her a little.

"You got yourself a pretty nice fish out of all of them in the sea. Nice catch, youngin’ I wish I had thought of marrying a girl when I was your age perhaps then my life would’ve been a lot easier hahaha!" The grandmother jested.

"Pfft-! Hahaha!" And for the first time in what felt like years, Rowan allowed herself to laugh.

Tonight, there were no battles to fight.

Tonight, she wasn’t just a soldier.

Tonight, she was home.

It was time to change partners.

"Would you like to dance with me, General Rowan?" A young woman curtsies and Rowan could only nod in reply, glancing back at the princess making sure that she was safe and near her.

"Y-Yes... I would um... love to."

Every few bars, when the melody shifted- marked by a playful trill on the flute or the bright strum of a harp- they would break formation to exchange partners with whoever stood nearest, laughing as they spun and flowed like water.

"Hahaha!" (Princess Camille) stood just outside the circle, her royal gown a gentle contrast to the homespun fabrics around her. She clapped along, lips curved in a smile, though her posture remained reserved to an elegant observer to a celebration she admired from a distance.

But joy has a way of reaching even the most guarded hearts.

"Your highness!" A small girl, no older than ten, broke from the line of dancers and tugged gently at Camille’s hand.

"Oh hello!" (Princess Camille) was surprised but comfortable with the touch. "Do you need something?"

"C-Can you dance with me?" Her fingers were calloused, her palms dusty from playing, but her grip was surprisingly sure. The princess blinked, startled at first but then allowed herself to be led forward, laughter bubbling from her chest.

"Of course, darling. I would be delighted to dance with you." As she stepped into the ring, a new note sounded- richer, deeper.

The circle re-formed around her, and the rhythm carried on. She found herself spun into the arms of a young farmer, then a baker, then an elder with silver-streaked hair and eyes that sparkled with mischief. With each pass, the movements grew smoother, her laughter freer.

"A wonderful day to dance your highness. It is nice to meet you."

"Welcome to our village, please take care of our kindhearted general."

"We hope you’d come to know and love this place for years to come, your highness."

Each one of them welcomed her warmly.

"Thank you." (Princess Camille) smiled.

Rowan stood at the edge, watching the princess with quiet awe. She had seen Princess Camille in courtly grace and whispered defiance at their first meeting- but never like this.

"General, excuse me- we’re still in the middle of the dance and you stepped on my feet." The girl clicks her tongue realizing that stealing this woman’s heart won’t be easy with the princess taking her attention.

"M-My apologies!" (Rowan) apologized, lowering her head in embarrassment.

[Notification: Heroine is sad that she stepped on someone’s foot].

[Notification: Heroine is jealous she’s dancing with someone else].

[Confidence: -20].

[Charisma: -20].

[Resolve: -20].

Twice the notification buzzed.

Princess Camille who was conversing with her dance partner couldn’t help but read the system’s notification and watched as Rowan apologized to the girl who was making unwanted advances.

’Oh... Rowan.’ It seems that Rowan was watching her the whole time that she forgot about her own dancing partner.

As the notes shifted once more it was time to change partners.

Rowan stepped forward, offering her hand to the next person in line.

"Oh general! Just who I was hoping to meet." (Princess Camille) greets her winking. For some reason this style of wild dancing fits her more than the ones back home. "Your people here have been nothing but welcoming."

[Notification: Heroine is happy to have the princess as a dance partner].

[Love Meter MAX].

[Happiness: MAX].

[Sanity: +5].

"Your highness!" (Rowan) was happy to see her and almost broke her composure to hug her. "I-I stepped on someone’s foot..."

Princess Camille sighed a breath of relief that the damage this time wasn’t too bad. "I’m sure you didn’t mean it. I could tell that you were looking at me after all."

"Y-You noticed?" (Rowan) shyly chuckles, continuing. "...it’s because you dance so beautifully, your highness. My eyes kept following your figure and my feet did not see where they were going."

This time, the music slowed just enough to make the moment linger.

Their hands met leather-rough calluses against regal softness and for a beat, they simply stood there, the world around them spinning with color and sound. ’

"And I’m glad you agreed to take part in the celebration. It would be a shame if you didn’t. I could tell that they’ve been preparing this surprise for you for quite a while."

Then, the rhythm beckoned, and they danced.

"I thought you were tired... I wanted you to rest."

"Partying is also a form of resting."

They danced and danced until it was time to change partners, two of the people in line looked at each other and scratched their heads. One of them tried reminding them that there are other people in line but-

"Excuse me- you have to change dancers-"

"Shhh! What are you doing you fool let them be! We’re not only here to celebrate the victory against demons but the romance between these two as well! Can’t you tell that they’re in love?" A man scolds a woman who huffs away.

The two couldn’t hear anything and focused on their dance, as if they were stuck in their own little world together. "There’s barely festive dances like these back home in the palace; it’s always either waltz or a minuet. I do enjoy them but the thought of socializing with the other nobles of the game made me a bit stiff. They only either talk about politics, arranged marriages or senseless gossip."

Rowan smiles softly pointing to herself, "Do you enjoy dancing with me, princess?"

Princess Camille raises a brow, her little puppy is fetching for compliments. "Ahem... what do you think, General Rowan? We’ve already skipped about three people’s turns now haven’t we?"

Rowan turned around and saw that the line broke down because of them, finally realizing that she turned even more red. For some reason when she’s with her highness her ability to think fades away.

"O-Oh...!" (Rowan) considers bringing back the proper line. "My apologies, I did not realize that the circle had already moved. W-We could go back into the line and-!"

The princess stares at her ruby red eyes before smiling and leading Rowan’s hands to her waist. "Don’t apologize, I would like no one else but you to be my partner this time. You’ve given me everything that I could ever dream of."

Freedom and the dream to finally break the system.