Chapter 71

“… No need to worry, I could sneak the one given to me so we could finally study it.”

The way he spoke was so eloquent Siervian believed she could receive all the secrets of the harmin grass by the next day.

But Karmen’s inner thoughts were shaking.

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Thoughts: Ah, you must be disappointed, probably? What if you don’t want to see me again? Oh, should I ask Damien too?

She didn’t pay attention to his thoughts as she was surprised by something else.

In a quick movement, she grabbed Karmen’s hand.

“You can’t do that! That’s bad!”

“Huh? Uh…”

[ Favorability: +100 ]

That plan was indeed absurd, and Karmen is still young so drinking harmin tea regularly is a must.

The thought of him using his tea for research concerned Siervian.

“What if Karmen gets ill later on? That’s why drinking harmin is a must! Don’t do that, all right?”

“Yes, okay.”

[ Favorability +100 ]

[ Favorability +100 ]

[ Favorability +100 ]

[ Favorability +100 ]

[ Favorability +100 ]

Karmen gave a nod very calmly, but for some reason, his innermost thoughts were calm as well.

As the situation began to cool down, Siervian sighed.

She didn’t want to say it out loud, it was as if her thoughts were suddenly connected to her mouth.

“Let’s find another plan, so in the meantime we would still be playing games together.”

When she let go of his hand, Karmen rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

It was not long after his ears turned red.

“And even if we can’t find one, Sebi will continue to play games with Karmen.”

[ Favorability +100 ]

[ Favorability +100 ]

[ Favorability +100 ]

[ Favorability +100 ]

“Ahem- hmm, all right, but why are you whispering like that?”

Resisting the ticklish feeling from his ear, Karmen tried to change the topic.

“Princess!”

Just then, there was a distant sound searching for the Princess.

“Your maids must have come here to look for you.”

“Noo…”

Recognizing the voice from afar, Siervian replied with a dark face.

“What’s wrong?”

Karmen asked the gloomy cute girl, but only to find her sighing again.

* * *

“Princess! Found you.”

The two exited from their hideout for now.

The reason was that Karmen didn’t want people to know their secret place.

Leaving the garden, they headed towards the Princess’s Palace, but soon got caught by Lara in the way.

“Oh, who is this? My name is Lara.”

Lara greeted Karmen with a lovely smile on her face.

At first glance, Lara looked like she’s shy about meeting a new person.

[ Lara ]

Thoughts: Is he the student of the Lord of the magic tower? Revealing myself as a similar commoner should be a key for him favoring me in the future.

Siervian felt uneasy before she even knew it.

Anyways, not greeting the Princess’s friend out in the public would be strange, for the both of them.

It was when Siervian raised her hand to introduce Lara, though feeling a bit reluctant to do so.

“Aah, ho, I’m very sorry, Princess.”

Lara suddenly wrapped her hands around her head and apologized to Siervian.

The Princess’s eyes widened at this bizarre action.

She only reached out her hand to introduce her playmate, but Lara acted like she was about to get hit by the Princess! Another bizarre act!

‘How unfair!’

She has now been stuck in a crack.

There would be only one goal of Lara why she was doing this in front of Karmen.

“Oh, why now…Lara made a mistake, Princess.”

No words came out of Siervian’s mouth as she was surprised by this professional work of Lara.

Siervian prepared herself in situations like this, but she wouldn’t be able to limit herself if Lara chooses to do this every time.

She hugged her doll like it was her defense mechanism, then a rough noise was heard.

“What are you doing?”

Her heart sank with a thud.

Siervian quickly looked at Karmen, wondering if it came from him.

But Karmen’s eyes are only crooked towards Lara.

“Yes, yes? Lara is just, habitually…”

“Habits can only happen when some other obvious circumstances occur. Then, what are you doing?”

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Thoughts: What kind of trick is this? And what is this mud thing? It’s next to Siervian.

A strange feeling of injustice entered in Karmen’s tone.

Perhaps the same was true for Lara, who was flustered and even stepped back.

“Lara… made a mistake. “

Lara had her hands around her mouth, trembling.

She looked so pitiful that even Siervian, who knows her innermost thoughts, had a sympathetic look.

Karmen, however, simply did not care and just ignored it.

“Who is this?”

“That’s… Sebi’s playm…”

“Lara is the Princess’s playmate!”

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Thoughts: Okay, so?

Karmen’s innermost thoughts, at the moment, are exactly like his personality.

Thanks to this rather unpleasant thought, Siervian had a hard time holding back her laughter in this serious matter.

“Anything else?”

Karmen spat out like he was an Imperial aristocrat; this apparent disregard made Lara furious.

“Lara is the daughter of Count Mirccino!”

In the end, Karmen raised his eyebrows and continued his remarks.

“So what? So what if you’re the playmate? Stop talking to me!”

“La-Lara isn’t like any…”

[ Lara ]

Thoughts: Ha, I was originally going to say that I too am a commoner! What is all this about?

In fact, Karmen was right to be rude in terms of etiquette.

However, it seemed that Lara looked really hateful because of what happened earlier.

“Did you come out here to meet this kid?”

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Thoughts: I feel uncanny about this kid. Siervian’s expression wasn’t so good after being called. Is she being bullied secretly? That’s probably the case.

Siervian only came out of the hideout because she didn’t want Lara to know about it.

But there was no earlier agreement to meet with Lara at this time of the day.

Lara must have been chasing Siervian in order to plot something again.

“Lara is the Princess’s closest playmate! I can see her anytime!”

Karmen turned his back, trying to leave, but that’s when Lara shouted.

Karmen, who made an impression at once, pointed at Lara mercilessly. It was a different level of bitterness than of Jane, the most strict among the maids.

“That’s nonsense. The Princess has much higher authority, how can you decide that?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Is there some rule that the two of the playmates should always be together?”

Lara has been persistently chasing after the little Princess, Siervian was only avoiding her on days like this.

Finally, she was pushed aback by Karmen’s words.

[ Lara ]

Favorability: -50

Thoughts: Need to get her there as soon as possible. But what is this? Why are you interrupting?

The moment Lara was unable to say anything, Karmen shrugged it all off.

He whispered in the Princess’s ear, only she could hear.

“Run.”

The tone was so mischievous that Siervian burst into laughter without realizing it.

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Favorability + 100

Karmen carefully grabbed her by the arm.

Then he began to run forward.

[ Karmen Kasselov ]

Thoughts: Hhmm, can you still stay with Siervian as her playmate? If I tell that old man I’m going to quit being his student, would something go wrong? No, it’s probably only something a noble can do.

Karmen’s anguish came into Siervian’s eyes as the two were running.

Siervian, who was reading his thoughts with a weird expression, closed her mouth and only held back her laughter.

For the sake of the Lord of the magic tower’s health, Siervian decided to keep it a secret that Lara was a commoner.

* * *

“Are you talking about the welfare foundation?”

“Yes!”

The day was sunny like the eyes of the pure Imperial Princess.

Marco, who entered the Palace at the invitation of the Imperial Princess for the first time in forever, had a curious face.

Because a charity foundation was such an unexpected proposal.

“Princess, this must be your own proposal, am I correct?”

“Yes, it is Sebi’s idea.”

Marco checked if the Emperor was still involved.

In front of him was Siervian with an aura of strong ambition.

“Sebi will make people happy.”

“That is very wise of you to say…”

Marco showed reluctance in a blink of an eye.

But Siervian’s face showed strong determination, and he is the only one she could talk to about this.

“I beg your pardon, Princess. But the welfare foundation eats a lot of funds.”

“Sebi has a lot, how much is it!?”

Siervian knew that much, so she shouted proudly.

Nevertheless, Marco couldn’t undo his perplexity.

“Do you have this much?”

He then whispered what was the amount needed.

Thanks to him she can finally see what amount is needed…

But Siervian’s face turned white.

“Hhmm, first of all, if we have the right amount, we could keep the foundation stable.”

“That is so much, so much…”

“Yes, Princess. It’s not just about helping people right away.”

The moment Siervian heard the explanation, she clearly understood.

Siervian especially wanted to help children. Children who have nowhere to go, no one to rely on, just like her in her previous life.

It will certainly be a long journey until the children are all grown up and be able to stand on their own.

“Yes, yes, I understand.”

The money she had was never low, nor realistically enough to keep a foundation standing.

It has only been a few years since the finances of the Princess’s Palace were stabilized.

“Why don’t you put it up the top first?”

“Top?”

At that moment, Marco thought hard to come up with an alternative on the spot.

“Yeah, we’re going to set up a top first, then secure the funding, and have the foundation that’s linked.”

“Oh…”

The explanation made her very excited at first.

But it only made Siervian in deep contemplation.

Suddenly, she finally brought up the question she wanted to ask.

“Why are we hiding here to talk?”