Chapter 41

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Chapter 41

Even at one slight glance, what’s written was very clear—and it was a ridiculous amount of gold.

‘Why is there this much?’

Ellie calmly placed the list in front of Siervian and continued to explain.

The emperor was the one taking charge of her right now, but as an imperial princess, she must know how to manage this herself in the future.

“It’s alright, Princess. You can read all the letters slowly once you’re learned them.”

Siervian continued to read the list as though she’d become possessed, and then she blinked in surprise. She forgot that she hadn’t officially learned to read just yet.

First of all, she calmed down her pounding heart and quickly gulped.

“I brought it for Your Highness to see how it is today.”

Fortunately, Ellie seemed to think that it was only curiosity compelling Siervian’s gaze to linger on those letters and numbers for a long time.

Soon after she skimmed the property list, the ladies-in-waiting led Siervian to a different place inside the Princess’ Palace.

In her previous life, the palace was blanketed with dust and had always been empty, but now it was decorated generously and had soft carpets on the ground.

“Look, Princess. You’ve received so many presents!”

The room was entirely full of gifts, both big and small. Looking at the piles of gifts that were taller than herself, Siervian looked around with confusion.

“All pwesents are for Sebi…?”

“Yes, Princess.”

Of course, since they were in her palace, they must be gifts for her. But it still didn’t feel real.

In her previous life, no one would convey such devotion towards a disgraceful and temperamental imperial princess.

“Would you like to open them one by one?”

“Yeah!”

[ Ellie ]

Thoughts: They’ve been filtered already, but I’ll have to be by Your Highness’ side just in case. Our precious Princess can’t get hurt.

Reading the status windows of the ladies-in-waiting next to her, Siervian found out that these gifts had already gone through a magic scan before.

It was amazing because it all seemed to be things that were natural for a princess to have.

Like it was natural that she was being cherished like this.

“Right, Your Highness. Just as you mentioned, the macarons had been given to the people of the slums.”

Jane said this while she was handing over a gift to Siervian.

“Mmh. Thank yew.”

[ Jane ]

Favorability: +50

“Our Princess, goodness. You have a beautiful heart.”

The macaron house that she received from her father was really touching, but there was one unfortunate fact.

That the macarons could only be eaten after a certain time had passed.

‘No more wasting food!’

Of course, Siervian learned about this in her previous life.

Nevertheless, as she was surrounded by love all around her now, she still carried that lesson with her.

The reason why they were all so angry about food being thrown away at that time.

‘It’s an important issue for the commoners. So as a princess, I shouldn’t be a wasteful person.’

So as she was enlightened, she used the pain she experienced in her previous life and turned it into something new.

She wanted to be an even more honorable imperial princess that her family could be proud of.

“Eri, your sibwing? Did you give some macawon? Jane also? Did you give to your family?”

That’s why she asked her father about it, for the food to be shared with the children of the slums instead of being thrown away.

She had already asked him for a different wish then, but her father was rather willing to grant her another one.

“Of course, Princess. Thanks to Your Highness, my sibling ate something very tasty. Thank you.”

“My family as well. Thank you, Princess.”

“Hehe…”

At the tender words of the ladies-in-waiting, Siervian bowed her head out of shyness.

Even though she habitually hugged her doll tightly, strangely, a smile was on her lips.

“Oh my.”

“Princess!”

[ Favorability: +50 ]

[ Favorability: +50 ]

[ Favorability: +50 ]

[ Favorability: +50 ]

Whenever she thought of the slums, she was reminded of Karmen. She sent him more macarons in particular, so he must have shared them with the kids he considered to be younger siblings.

Though his way of speaking was blunt, Karmen himself must have eaten many macarons!

“After this, would you like to have some refreshments?”

“Yees!”

Recently, Siervian had discovered how tasty fruit juice was.

It was great now that they could eat fruits from the south because the storm season had ended.

And once the storm season was over, it meant that the social season would soon be in full swing.

‘I don’t have any good memories of high society, but still.’

She was very happy that she could enjoy these various fruits, which couldn’t come into the empire before.

‘But you know, I kinda have a lot of money.’

Her heart sped up when she thought about the grand total that she saw at the bottom of the property list.

However, on one hand, she still wanted to learn more.

She wanted to know how large exactly that total was, and she wanted to know what she had to do to stay with her family.

‘I need someone to guide me.’

That’s why Siervian desperately felt the need to have a teacher.

Not just in history class, but a teacher who would tell Siervian the true reality of the world.

‘And I need someone to move for me.’

This time, the innocent ladies-in-waiting almost got hurt trying to catch the thief.

Siervian herself also might have gotten put into danger if her father hadn’t given her an escort knight in advance.

‘I don’t want anyone to be in danger.’

As she let go of the gift in her small hands, she was deeply lost in thought.

Who should she look for?

Peep.

“…….”

Snoop, peep.

“……”

Over the past few days, Siervian had been eagerly going in and out of the lower administration office.

And the young man who caught her eyes was from the Ministry of Finance.

‘What about that person?’

She had many conditions for the teacher she was looking for considering that they would be teaching her about life.

First of all, it should be someone who wouldn’t hold back telling her the truth, even with her status as a princess.

And while they shouldn’t be a bad person, they should also have adequate enough favorability points for Siervian.

‘And it has to be someone who can be my hands and feet.’

Although she didn’t know how to deal with other people, she knew that a one-sided relationship wouldn’t last long.

In her previous life, there was also someone else who approached her despite being known as a wicked princess. But soon, that person got disappointed in her when it was found out that Siervian couldn’t give anything back.

That much necessity was important to humans. Unlike when she was known as a wicked princess, it would be better if she could have a give-and-take relationship with her new teacher.

‘As expected, it has to be him.’

In that sense, one such appropriate person caught her eyes.

[ Marco William ]

Occupation: Junior Administrative Officer of the Ministry of Finance (Lv.56)

Favorability: 5,030

Mood: Contemplative

Thoughts: I knew it, I’ll have to leave this month’s payroll to Gabriel’s firm. 13% of the annual interest might disappear in the future. Ah, I want to earn a lot of money. I want to be like those nouveau riche. I wish I could pick up one huge chunk of gold on the side of the road or something.

Wouldn’t it be better to find someone from the Ministry of Finance when it came to asking about money?

With such a simple idea in mind, Siervian found a tremendous talent in this place.

The princess had been snooping behind him for several days.

“……”

With the back of his head feeling hot because of her persistent gaze, Marco awkwardly organized the documents in front of him.

The princess had been coming to the lower administrative office everyday lately, and to everyone else, she was like a celebrity.

Though of course, everyone pretended not to see her.

This was because of the emperor’s strict order to allow the princess to move freely because she was very shy.

The emperor said this command in such a graceful manner, but it wasn’t really clear what he meant. Maybe just cover their eyes well so that the princess wouldn’t be flustered?

“Hm, hmmm.”

Unexpectedly, the princess only continued to look around the office without bothering any of them.

She seemed just like a curious child who was exploring this place and that.

Thanks to this, those who were afraid of being caught went about their ways stiffly at first, but at some point, most people got used to the cute princess who was waddling around the office.

All except for Marco.

‘But why—why does it feel like you’re observing me though?!’

The first time he found the princess hiding behind a wall and peeping with her head out, Marco smiled inwardly and tried to hide it.

If he would get caught, they’d say he was being disrespectful, but he did also think of his youngest sibling at home.

‘I guess I’ll spend a little time in that corner in the garden.’

But strangely, he felt that the princess’ gaze seemed to be directed only at him.

He had nothing to be guilty about, but any interest from the imperial family was burdensome.

He could feel the cold sweat trickling down, but Marco tried to naturally, casually, run away to the corner of the garden.

“Phew…”

But the moment he tried to catch his breath,

“Hi!”

“Hiiiek!”

The princess popped out of a bush and greeted him.

Marco was just trying to avoid her, but now he freaked out without showing any dignity.

“I greet Your Highness, the Imperial Princess. I am Marco William, a junior administrative officer at the Minister of Finance.”

“……”

But he managed to pull himself together and politely greeted her according to the proper etiquette.

Even so, the lively little princess looked up at her with the unique blue eyes of the imperial family.

“I-Is there something the matter, Princess?”

No matter how much he wracked his head, he couldn’t think of anything he did wrong.

While he was working at the Ministry of Finance, he worked while thinking of the Mana God! There was nothing for him to be ashamed of!

“You know.”

“…Yes, Princess.”

Siervian, who had just been observing him until now, finally broached the subject.

She also got a little taken aback when he suddenly ran away from her.

“Sebiii, you know, Sebi wants to learn something.”

“From me, Your Highness?”

“Yeah!”

Hearing the sudden words, Marco was entirely flustered.

In an imperial palace full of renowned scholars, why on earth would she choose him?

“With all due respect, Your Highness. My views are limited as I am only a junior administrative officer. It is concerning that I might only hinder the Princess.”

“Hnnn…”

Marco began explaining to Siervian very gracefully and politely, also not forgetting to describe slowly how incompetent he was in consideration to her, who was still a child.

However, Siervian clearly knew that he had a higher level than other junior officials.

And, his inner thoughts.

[ Marco William ]

Thoughts: No, no. It won’t be profitable. I’ll get cursed at if I’m a good teacher, and I’ll get cursed at if I’m bad. More than anything, the money! It won’t work! I can afford getting cursed at a little, but no, no. I can’t do this.

Startled by how frankly he thought of his priorities, Siervian urgently shouted.

“Sebi will give you money!”

No matter how much she thought about it, she wouldn’t be able to find another person as serious about money matters more than him.

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