Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Lilica got up a little later than usual. Perhaps it’s because of that that the fatigue from yesterday had completely disappeared.

Rather than that, her attention was attracted to a different thought first.

“Gold coins!”

She jumped out of bed and dashed towards the glass bottle that’s by the window.

“Wow!”

The gold coins glistened. Of course, it was underneath the sunlight, so it was natural for them to glisten.

However, they seemed to have more lustre than ordinary gold coins.

She reached into the glass bottle carefully and took out the gold coins. A dragon was embossed onto the gold coins.

Even if she touched it carefully, the coins’ lustre didn’t vanish at all.

‘As expected, magic is very impressive.’

Although Lilica knew that there were wizards that blew out fire from their mouths or made coins appear from the back of their ears, she’d never actually seen them.

She only heard the kids talking about it. But, to think that she was learning magic like this.

Lilica couldn’t wait to show them to Brynn.

“Brynn, Brynn.”

“Yes, my princess. Oh my, you’re still in your nightgown.”

With a smile, she quickly wrapped a triangular shawl around Lilica’s shoulders. Lilica disregarded that and extended her hands.

“Look at this.”

“It’s the gold coins. Hmm?”

The gold coins immediately caught the gaze of Brynn, who liked things that sparkled. She’d seen enough of ordinary gold coins, but this gold coin was different.

It was even more lustrous.

“This gold coin has a really beautiful sheen.”

“It’s because the moonlight fairy shared its strength.”

At Lilica’s whisper, Brynn replied, “I see,” but she was unable to take her gaze off the gold coin.

Lilica giggled.

“You know, I’ll make one for Brynn, too.”

“Really?”

Her purple eyes sparkled as she looked at Lilica.

“Yes, of course. I’d intended to make one for Brynn from the very beginning. All that’s left to be done is to wrap this gold coin in a white handkerchief and it’s finished.”

“If that’s done, it will fall out too easily, so let’s place the gold coins into a handkerchief that’s folded into a square and seal the entrance.”

“That would be great.”

Lilica wanted to finish quickly, but Brynn said that breakfast came first.

After a quick breakfast, she received a soft linen handkerchief.

With a horizontal fold and a vertical fold, the handkerchief was folded neatly into a square shape, and the edges were sewn shut with blue thread after gold coins were placed within.

Under Brynn’s guidance, Lilica carefully sewed the edge of the handkerchief with her small hands.

“It’s done.”

“It’s neat and pretty. The gold coins definitely won’t drop out.”

“Yes.”

Lilica looked at the talisman quietly.

‘I hope that this can protect Atil.’

She prayed from the bottom of her heart.

Brynn cleared her throat lightly and said softly.

“By the way, Princess.”

“Hmm?”

“Can you give me a silver coin, instead of a gold coin?”

“Silver coin?”

“Yes, I prefer silver coins to gold coins.”

“Really? Hmm…… Will the moonlight fairy like it?”

“If it’s an amiable fairy, it will definitely help you, even if it’s a silver coin. Also, isn’t the moon at dawn silver in colour?”

Lilica nodded at Brynn’s desperate words. Those words made a lot of sense.

“I don’t mind making a gold coin for Brynn. Then I’ll try a silver coin for now.”

“Not just any silver coin, but this.”

Brynn quickly took out a newly minted silver coin. The new silver coin shone without a speck of dust.

The silver coins bear the side profile of a person…

“Is this Mother?”

Lilica asked, surprised, and Brynn smiled and nodded.

“Isn’t it pretty? The empress’ side profile is supposed to be embossed on silver coins each time. The silver coin of this round turned out to be rather pretty.”

“Yes, it’s really pretty.”

Her wavy hair was delicately crafted and turned out beautifully. Brynn grinned.

“Do you want me to bring you one, too?”

“Really?”

“Yes, indeed. I’ll bring you a freshly minted silver coin. The silver coins that had just come out of the mould are so pretty.”

After making a raptured expression, Brynn quickly fixed her expression.

“Don’t worry. I’ll find a pretty one for you.”

“Mm.”

Lilica smiled and nodded. She fiddled with the amulet and said.

“Atil, is he still mad?”

“Even if he’s angry, he’ll be mollified after seeing the talisman.”

“I hope that’s the case.”

Lilica got up from her seat.

Just then, a maid approached cautiously and said.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has sent an attendant over.”

“Let him enter.”

Atil? An attendant?

What’s going on?

Brann came in as Lilica tilted her head. Lilica stood up and welcomed him.

“Brann!”

“Good morning, my princess.”

“What’s going on?”

He smiled at Lilica’s question and said.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince has invited you to the stables.”

“Stables?”

Why was he suddenly talking about the stables?

Brann whispered softly as Lilica tilted her head.

“His Highness is reflecting on himself for the events that happened yesterday.”

“Atil?”

She couldn’t even imagine a reflecting Atil. But she soon nodded her head and indicated her acceptance.

Didn’t she have something to pass to him anyways?

“Alright. When?”

“Right now.”

Lilica laughed when he added with a troubled expression.

“As expected of Atil.”

“Also, please change into comfortable clothes.”

Brynn seemed to have noticed something and spoke while smiling.

“Alright. Please come here, princess.”

After a while, Lilica, dressed in a fairly decent riding suit, smiled and chattered excitedly while internally thinking, ‘Don’t tell me.’

“Is Atil going to make me ride a horse? What is he thinking? It’s my first time riding a horse.”

“Please look forward to it.”

As Brann answered with a gentle smile, Lilica’s expectations swelled even further.

Perhaps I’ll be riding a horse by myself. Isn’t that a little scary?

No. Someone would be holding the reins and leading it?

The stable was quite a distance away from the Sun Palace.

When she approached, she could see why it was built far away, because it smelled like animals and fresh hay.

Atil, who was also dressed in horseback riding clothes, stood at the entrance to the stable.

“Atil.”

After running over, Lilica paused. Perhaps his anger wasn’t completely mollified yet.

When she looked up at him with a tilted head, Atil was silent. Pi, who stood next to him, jabbed him in the ribs.

“Oh, come on.”

Atil got angry with him and let out a deep sigh. He looked away and said.

“I’m sorry about yesterday.”

Astonished, Lilica’s eyes widened and she smiled.

“I’ve already forgiven you. But thank you for apologising.”

Atil looked at Lilica in surprise. Pi also let out an exclamation ‘Oh,’ and Brynn nodded.

It’s not the same as ‘It’s alright’, or ‘Not at all’.

Yes, your actions were rather rude. But I’ll forgive you. And I still like you.

That’s what Lilica was saying. She quickly took the talisman out of her pocket.

“Also, this is a gift.”

“Gift?”

When Pi craned his neck and crept closer, Atil turned around.

“Can I open it?”

“No, it’s a talisman that’ll protect you. I’ve worked hard to make it, so please keep it on you at all times.”

“Talisman?”

“Yes. It’s a protective talisman for someone that you love.”

Atil’s brows narrowed at Lilica’s words, and his lips became tightly pursed.

‘Are you angry…?’

As she was flustered, he shoved the talisman deep into his pocket and said.

“Hmph, is there a need for that?”

‘Ah!’

Only then did Lilica realise that that look was him holding back his embarrassment or laughter.

‘He can just smile though.’

Lilica smiled and clung to him, speaking playfully.

“I’d worked hard to make it, but if you don’t need it, please give it back to me.”

When Atil saw his sister talking with a smile, he replied.

“I heard that you’ve worked hard to make this. I’ll accept it on the account of your sincerity.”

Lilica didn’t tease him any further, but stood beside him with a wide smile. Atil grabbed her hand.

“Since I’ve received a present, shouldn’t I give you a present in return?”

He whistled and a pony was quickly led out from within the stables.

Lilica’s eyes grew huge.

It was a beautiful brown pony.

It had a velvety and lustrous coat and a very bright cream coloured mane. It looked like platinum blonde from certain angles.

There was a small star-shaped dot on its forehead.

“It’s yours.”

Atil looked at Lilica’s face and his expression turned triumphant.

“M, mine?”

As Lilica stammered back, Atil nodded, “Yes.”

“Why don’t you give it a name?”

Pi suggested from the side.

“Sure, sure.”

Lilica extended a hand out slowly. Unlike the other large horses, a pony wasn’t threatening.

When her hand became outstretched, the horse examined her hand with its snout, like it was checking to see if she was holding anything in her hand.

It then snorted.

Lilica smiled broadly.

“I’ll go with Saebyeol. Because it has a star on its forehead.”

[T/N: The name is in korean and translates to new star, and I’ve opted to keep it korean.]

“Saebyeol. That’s nice. I think it’s a name that will remain in the century.”

Pi said with a grin. Atil covered his mouth and spoke to Lilica.

“Now, ride on it.”

“Ride?”

How was she going to ride on it?

Even if Saebyeol was a pony, it was bigger than Lilica. She just couldn’t climb up.

“Like this.”

Atil lifted her up and settled her on the saddle gently.

Lilica didn’t even have the time to be surprised.

“I’ll hold onto it, so place your feet into the stirrups. Yes.”

He also personally adjusted the length of the stirrups.

“Well, then, what should I do now?”

“Don’t ever bend down and keep your back straight. Use strength in the feet that’s inside the stirrups.”

While Atil explained, he smacked the horse’s rear gently.

“You’ll understand after riding it.”

“Kyaahh!”

“Your Highness!”

“Princess!”

On the lightly running horse, Lilica desperately tried to straighten her back.

‘I, I, It—it’s shaking so much.”

Were horses creatures that swayed so much?

Then, the horse stopped. Lilica let out an exhale.

Before she knew it, Lauv was standing beside her with the reins in hand.

“L, Lauv.”

“Are you alright?”

“Mm.”

Lilica nodded. She smiled.

“I wasn’t scared, but it shook so much that it was hard to keep my back straight.”

“You’ve kept it quite straight.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Lauv replied with a faint smile. Afterwards, everyone in the group began speaking one by one.

“Well, you rode it well enough.”

“Atil, please.”

“You didn’t look like a beginner when you were riding, Princess.”

“I was worried about what if you fell?”

Under Lauv’s guidance, Lilica diligently learnt how to ride. Afterwards, she wanted to speed up a little more.

When Lauv let the horse go faster, Lilica again held onto the horse’s swaying body.

Lilica’s face turned as red as an apple after doing that a few times, and she was drenched in sweat.

Brynn dissuaded Lilica.

“If you suddenly overdo it like this, you won’t be able to move tomorrow.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, you can ride as much as you want in the future, so shall we halt for today?”

“Yes, it must be hard for Saebyeol.”

Lauv helped Lilica off. Lilica decided to make something like a stool next time.

“M—my legs are shaking.”

Once she came down to the ground, her knees couldn’t help but buckle, and Lilica was surprised.

Brynn laughed.

“Look at that. It’ll get better with a little rest.”

“I’ve prepared something simple to eat and drink at a slight distance away. Let’s head there.”

Brann spoke warmly. Lilica let out an interjection, ‘As expected of the model of a competent servant.’

The servants brought chairs, tables, and a parasol, creating a simple diner.

Perhaps because she was thirsty, she kept drinking cold lemonade.

Why was it so cold during summer?

“There’s an ice storage house.”

“Ice storage house?”

“Yes, let’s explore that place together next time. It’s very cool inside.”

Lilica nodded at Brynn’s words. There was always something exciting about the word ‘explore’.

After drinking cold beverages until she became tired of it, Lilica ended up with an upset stomach that evening.

Brynn was rather surprised when the doctor diagnosed that, “It’s because too much cold beverages was ingested.”

“Its because of the cold beverages?”

“Yes. Most children would get an upset stomach if they drink too many cold beverages on a hot day.”

The doctor informed Brynn amicably. At the unexpected information, Brynn’s face turned serious.

Although she’d told Lilica that the bluebloods were oddly sturdy, her mistake of not knowing Lilica well enough was painful.

“Then what should I do?”

Warm her stomach and drink warm ginger tea.

“I’ll make some medicine for her.”

Brynn nodded and moved diligently.

She made a lot of warm ginger tea and made a warming pouch out of fried oats.

Brynn placed it on Lilica’s stomach and asked.

“Is it heavy? Is it too hot?”

“It’s alright…”

Lilica answered with a groan. Her stomach kept hurting even though she went in and out of the bathroom.

After hearing the news, Ludia came running at once. She was dressed fancily, perhaps because she was in the middle of a salon meeting.

“Lily.”

“Motherrr…”

It hurt so much that she couldn’t help but speak weakly. Ludia quickly climbed onto the bed without caring much about her clothes.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

“Mm.”

When Lilica was held in Ludia’s arms, she detected a faint smell of powder and her mother’s scent.

Ludia placed her hand on the pouch of oats to warm it up, and began rubbing Lilica’s stomach.

Rub, rub.

Strangely, the pain gradually began to subside while her palm rubbed on Lilica’s stomach.

Ludia said quietly.

“Mom will stay with you, so take a nap.”

She gently rubbed her belly and hummed a lullaby.

As she inhaled her mother’s scent, Lilica slowly fell asleep.

* * *