Chapter 28

Chapter 28

As the Emperor listened to the report, he frowned.

The endemic disease in the west coast had always been a long standing headache.

Until it was discovered that the Pharim herb could be a solution to it, the western region was only a vast land that was nearly neglected.

“How did he arrive at the conclusion that it’s artificial?”

There was no one else in this continent who knew just how important it was to manage the endemic disease.

Nevertheless, it shouldn’t be possible in any sensible way for it to be spread artificially.

“When the Captain arrived, the first thing he did was to obtain a map indicating where the epidemic was more intensive so that he may lead the transport of herbs more efficiently.”

“Map?”

“Yes, sire. Here.”

Then, the chancellor handed the map to him.

It would have been better if the captain was here to report directly, but he was quarantining himself for the time being since he had been in a dangerous area.

“It’s definitely suspicious.”

On the map, the area where the epidemic had spread prominently was separated at extremely uniform intervals.

As if someone had spread the illness evenly.

Looking at the suspicious marks on the map, the chancellor inwardly sweated.

Something huge was going on.

“Did the King of Garambell say anything else?”

“Most of the royal family members had suffered from the disease. As you can see, the royal palace was also an area where the disease had spread intensively.”

“Hmm.”

As the Emperor tapped on the throne at a regular tempo, the sound rang out through the throne room for a while.

Hex could only think that it was a sound that made people feel nervous even though they had no sin.

“It almost seems coincidental.”

Emperor Alderuan recalled how the medicinal herbs that were headed to Garambell back then had been lost once.

And it was even at the opportune time just before the storm season began.

“Come to think of it, the Pharim herbs that were destroyed by the bandits had left later than usual.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty. Due to the circumstances of Marquis Parma while he was in charge of transporting the Pharim…”

The chancellor trailed off. There were too many coincidences surrounding the herbs.

When coincidences like these overlapped, it seemed inevitable.

“Even if something seems strange, this is a time when we can’t move.”

The officers in charge of the transport who raised such suspicions hurriedly left Garambell anyway because they had to return before the storm season began.

Even if they tried to investigate and delve into the matter deeper, it would be difficult to move within the empire for the next month.

And there would be ample enough time to destroy evidence.

“Look into Marquis Parma first.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Keep silent for now in case there are spies.”

There might be someone inside the palace who had colluded with this conspiracy.

He went through the names of some households in his mind, but it wasn’t easy to come up with suspects who had any motive to drive a distant kingdom close to ruin.

At that time, Chancellor Hex cautiously spoke to the Emperor who was irked, lost in thought.

“But the damage will not be as significant due to the timely arrival of the Pharim herbs.”

“That’s good.”

“Isn’t this all thanks to Your Majesty’s insight for heeding Her Highness’ request?”

At Hex’s comment, Emperor Alderuan’s lips, which had been distorted in displeasure since earlier, had instantly loosened.

Whatever they were planning, they failed this time.

“It’s all thanks to my daughter.”

And after hearing something like that, Hex could feel himself sweating.

He was also aware of the rumors circulating in the palace.

The princess’ small action was being blown up in proportion little by little. Even if this was something related to the Imperial Family, the rate of how the rumors were spreading was a little excessive.

“She hasn’t even started her formal education yet, but I can’t believe she knows the importance of promises well. I’m so proud of her.”

Some rumors were crossing the line, saying that the Emperor himself was being swayed by the princess.

The Emperor didn’t care about it at all, even though he knew it.

Rather, they were busy praising the princess.

There were some things that Hex had a hard time agreeing with.

“As expected, my daughter has a good heart because she resembles this father. She bravely offered to save a kingdom that she didn’t even know the position of in the map.”

By staying silent, Hex wisely dealt with this absurd situation.

The rumors were mostly true about the Emperor.

Anyway, he already knew that the Emperor liked the princess, but Hex still couldn’t believe how much his frosty personality would soften at the mere mention of her.

Hex was very good at keeping his shock hidden from his expression. Meanwhile, he interpreted the situation in his own way.

Since the princess was so very cute, it couldn’t be helped.

The storm season had begun.

It was constantly cold in the northern region, but for the next month, it would be wracked with storms and blizzards.

The bitter weather would last for just a month, and after the season, it would still be cold but at least it would be bearable.

No one knew why the storms were concentrated only during this season.

‘Right, it’s almost my birthday.’

Siervian’s birthday happened to be in the middle of the storm season, when the weather was the coldest and the most severe.

And in her previous life, her sixth birthday passed quietly without even a celebration.

‘I wasn’t in a situation to have a party back then.’

Public opinion of her wasn’t good at that time because the food waste incident had broken out.

In addition, the news that Garambell was on the verge of destruction swept through the empire only after the storm season had begun. It was through magic communication that the Imperial Palace heard the news.

So the Empress came forward and suggested that they should let this time pass quietly.

‘Mm, I don’t remember much.”

The Empress said that they could quietly celebrate Siervian’s birthday later, pretending that it was for her sake.

She said that it was to manage the princess’ reputation to protect her, and the Empress declared this as though she was showing off.

Siervian could still remember one thing clearly.

On her birthday, she sat in a cold, dark room and only looked out the window to watch the blizzard.

‘This time, will it be a little different?’

Many things had changed since then.

Garambell didn’t fall to ruin and she wasn’t caught up in unsavory rumors. So maybe there would be a banquet for her birthday. It was a custom, after all.

But she shouldn’t expect too much.

‘Anyway, I’ll be able to eat with Father or Brother.’

It would be scary if she’s too greedy.

Now, the fact that there would be someone with her was enough to warm her heart. Unlike the stormy scenery outside.

“Princess, His Highness the Crown Prince has come to see you.”

At that time while she was lost in thought staring out the window, Jane carefully approached her to let her know.

Ellie, who was next to Siervian, widened her eyes.

“Shall I invite His Highness to your room, Princess?”

It was sudden, but the ladies-in-waiting calmly welcomed the crown prince. They had adapted recently because he’d been coming by more often.

Both the crown prince and the princess were still young, so there were no problems with etiquette about entering each other’s rooms.

Siervian, who had become dejected as she watched the storm outside, nodded slightly because she was too listless to go outside.

“Siervian.”

[ Damian Erveldote ]

Favorability: 90,014,687

It was slightly lower than her father’s, but her brother’s favorability caught her eye.

She was thinking about her lonesome past, so it was comforting.

But anyway, what’s going on?

“Bwother.”

Unlike the Emperor, Damien had yet to return to the usual breakfasts. The Emperor told Siervian that he was very busy finishing work outside.

Siervian didn’t ask in detail because she didn’t want to bother him. She just thought that he was amazing to do all that even though he was still young.

“…Siervian.”

“Yees.”

But today, he came in a hurry, and it seemed like he was hesitating to speak. Even today, his expression was stiff.

She was wondering what had happened, so she looked at him. But then something random came out of his lips.

“I heard you cried.”

“But I didn’t cwy…”

Well she did, but she didn’t.

Her brother must have heard the strange rumors.

She didn’t want him to misunderstand, so she thought she should explain, but then something white popped out in front of her.

“It’s a present.”

“Huh?”

It was snow that was shaped like a real rabbit.

But it was a bit odd. One ear was somewhat crushed, and the rabbit’s two buck teeth were uneven.

“…I’ll make it better next time.”

He made it himself.

Siervian accepted what he gave her.

It was amazing that she couldn’t even feel how cold it was. Perhaps it was because of its preservation magic.

But why was he giving her a gift all of a sudden?”

[ Damian Erveldote ]

Thoughts: I heard that Siervian was worried, that’s why I helped out with work. I didn’t know you were feeling lonely. I should have just come to eat.

It was only after seeing his thoughts that Siervian understood his random gift.

This was like an apology to her.

Gently touching the rabbit’s crushed ear with a small hand, she knew that it wasn’t perfect, but it was a gift that was clearly something that was made with a lot of effort.

Her gray heart strangely turned white just like the rabbit.

“Thank yew.”

[ Damian Erveldote ]

Favorability: +100

Siervian managed to express her gratitude, and his favorability rose.

She didn’t forget to say that she’ll decorate her room with the rabbit.

The crown prince nodded silently as he heard this.

“Okay. See you tomorrow morning.”

“Okayy!”

As though he was done with his task here, the crown prince turned around without any regrets and left the room.

But as he did, he could feel the tips of his ears heating up. Seeing Siervian hug the rabbit that was the same size as her face was just… so fatally cute.

Siervian smiled secretly at the adorable rabbit that was in her hands.

The rabbit that the crown prince had given her yesterday was on the window frame. It caught her eye every time she looked out the window.

‘I wish I could continue living like this.’

She wasn’t expecting much.

How great would it be to have a life where she could feel even a little bit of warmth?

‘How much can I change?’

Before she was framed for a crime she didn’t do in her previous life, there were some talks about her political engagement with a kingdom in the south. The Empress was the one strongly supporting this union.

She still didn’t know why it happened to be the southern kingdom. In any case, a political marriage was still inevitable as long as she was a princess.

‘But I don’t want to go that far away.’

When she found out that there were marriage talks with her and a faraway kingdom, Siervian had visited her father of her own volition for the first time in her life.

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