CH 81

“Yeah?”

“I think I have troubled Brother.”

Both hands on top of her skirt wiggled. Her hands felt empty because she couldn’t bring a doll outside.

Siervian thought she should have told him in advance when she wanted to go out in the city, and she would take it even if her brother got angry.

“Siervy.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s not something you should apologize for.”

But her brother spoke in a caring voice.

“Really?”

“Yes. If there is no problem, the duke will be cleared of the charges even if we investigate.”

However, her brother couldn’t hide his bitter expression.

[Damian Elverdotte]

Thoughts: I hope so, but I don’t know. There are so many things I don’t even know about Harmin.

She didn’t think the empress would have kept the Duke’s secret from him because she cherished the Crown Prince.

However, she could uncover an unexpected fact in Damian’s thoughts. Recently, her brother hadn’t been as close to the Duke as he used to be.

[Damian Elverdotte]

Thoughts: As I told father, I’m on Siervian’s side. This also means that Siervy trusts me.

‘It’s because of me!’

The cause for the Crown Prince distancing himself from the Duke was none other than Siervian herself.

Unbeknownst to her, the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Duke was distant, unlike in her previous life.

She was taken aback when she understood the unexpected situation.

“So I’m fine, Siervy.”

[Damian Elverdotte]

Thoughts: I’m the Crown Prince of this empire. So the duke should be punished accordingly if he is guilty of any crime.

The duke had been the head of the aristocracy for many years. Although the situation had become more subtle as an unusual marriage to the Imperial family had been made this time.

‘Come to think of it, the duke had avoided marriage to the Imperial family.’

Seeing her brother’s serious face, Siervian hesitated and clutched her hands which had only been hovering around the skirt.

It was different from her simple wish to live near the Imperial Palace in the future.

She thought her brother would have a lot of trouble in his position as the Crown Prince.

“I’ll protect you!”

She cried out because her heart suddenly swelled up.

She was grateful for her brother who believed in her as a family even in such a chaotic situation.

“Haha. My sister is so reliable.”

[Favorability: +100] [Favorability: +100] [Favorability: +100] [Favorability: +100] [Favorability: +100]

Her older brother smiled broadly after he had been gloomy the whole time.

Siervian nodded firmly in a situation where flowers seemed to have bloomed in the carriage.

Her young body shouted impulsively, but the pledge to protect him was not a lie.

Siervian was determined to do her best with her special ability.

* * *

At the beginning of winter, with the storm season just around the corner, the Welfare Foundation was successfully established.

It was said countless ministers shouted against the idea of entrusting the foundation to a seven-year-old princess.

‘As expected, I must be careful in everything I do.’

Siervian learned anew that there might be such opposition when she just wanted to do something good.

The foundation was established safely because she had built her image well, unlike in her previous life.

“… The welfare foundation’s name is unique, isn’t it?”

“….”

That was how Siervian and Marco attended the foundation’s founding banquet.

The two of them couldn’t conceal their reluctant expressions as they saw the foundation’s name which was decided with difficulty until the very end.

“Your Highness?”

They were there in advance to inspect the party hall before the banquet began.

Luxurious silk fabric was hanging from the ceiling to the floor in the party hall. The foundation’s name was delicately embroidered on silk with a magically shining thread.

Ultimately, the foundation’s name was decided to be the Mana Fairy Welfare Foundation.

“Siervy didn’t create it.”

Siervian hastily denied the foundation’s name creation without realizing it.

The servants were seen sweating inside and repeating the welfare foundation’s name.

“What? Then who made such….”

[Marco William]

Thoughts: A childish name…….

“Siervy’s dad named it.”

“…. I thought it was such a wonderful and elegant name, as expected it was His Majesty who made it!”

“….”

That’s right.

A luxurious insignia embroidered with the foundation’s name was also a gift from the emperor.

According to Hex’s graceful explanation, it was a precious name that contained the Emperor’s affection for the Princess.

[Hex]

Thoughts: No wonder there was more opposition to that name than to leaving the foundation to the princess.

And yet you’re being stubborn, whoo…. (TN: The Korean uses an exclamation uttered to express disappointment but I couldn’t find an exact translation for that.)

Contrary to his words, this was what he felt inside.

“Anyway, it’s like a dream. I didn’t expect it to work.”

“That’s right.”

The Ministry of Finance’s head had decided to manage the foundation for the time being on behalf of the young princess.

It was natural for Marco to be chosen as the right person for the job as he was cherished by the Minister of Finance, Marquis Navier.

Thanks to this, the ministers seemed to understand that the welfare establishment was the emperor’s will.

Marquis of Navier was famous for his loyalty to the emperor.

‘He must be thinking the emperor is using a detour to help children.’

It was also a way for the Imperial Palace to look after children.

However, in that case, it could be seen as a problem because the Imperial Palace seemed to discriminate against other citizens.

Many causes of poverty in the slums had not yet been resolved besides children.

“Oh, the children are coming.”

Although it was their second banquet, the children timidly appeared in the party hall.

She asked the children directly while establishing this welfare foundation.

Will they remain in the palace only until the storm season passes or will they start a new life under the newly established foundation?

“Most children said they would come to the foundation, right?”

“Yeah. That’s a good thing.”

“But, as you said, I’ll ask the remaining children after the storm season is over.”

“Yeah! Thanks.”

The children who remain in the Imperial Palace must have various circumstances.

Either they intend to find their lost family in person or haven’t given up on securing aristocrats as patrons yet.

In particular, the brilliant children preferred to have aristocrats as sponsors.

[Angel]

Thoughts: C-c-can I live well even if I go to the foundation?

What if I go and am forced to work? Huh, will I have to catch monsters? How can I beat a monster?!

Angel said she would safely entrust herself to the foundation, and Siervian had been paying attention to her.

Siervian was going to recommend Angel to study magic tricks with Tanka, but she was also worried.

[Zecko]

Thoughts: Haha. The banquet hall’s air. Hmm, this exhilarating smell of betrayal and opportunity.

Oh, it’s chocolate.

“….”

And surprisingly, Navapal’s spy, Zecko, also expressed his intention to come to the foundation.

Siervian was confused because she thought he would naturally remain in the palace.

‘If you want to be a spy, shouldn’t you stay in the palace a little longer?’

Entering the palace might be the most challenging part of espionage.

He did it naturally, but it was strange to come out again.

‘It also would be a way to naturally enter the Imperial Palace in the future with the support of an aristocrat connected to Navapal. There would be no other approach than that.’

Some children were belatedly sponsored by the aristocracy.

The aristocrats who judged the elements of the children saved directly by the Crown Prince were useful in the future.

The Crown Prince had strictly advised the children not to be exploited.

“Y-y-your Highness. H-how dare I come to a place like this?”

A trembling voice sounded behind me.

It was doctor Madeline.

Ellie was now quite close to her and patted Madeline on the back.

Apparently, Ellie’s brother and Madeline’s daughter are getting along.

“Hello!”

The welfare foundation had decided to establish itself in the commoner district.

Siervian recommended Madeline as a doctor to reside there.

Fortunately, the foundation’s salary was not bad, so Madeline accepted it.

[Madeline]

Thoughts: This is where I’m going to work and dedicate my life, the Mana Fairy Welfare Foundation…!

She still had an excessive sense of debt to Siervian.

“Shall we go, princess?”

“Yeah!”

Siervian could not hide her excitement while looking at the party hall, where preparations were almost completed.

The welfare foundations and the building were also set up in the city.

She was ready to take a step into the world in earnest.

Thanks to this, Siervian was looking forward to next year.

* * *

The storm season had returned.

The empire once again went into a crouch, with a storm sweeping around it like a lock.

On the night before the princess’s birthday which the emperor most anticipated throughout the entire year, unexpected news arrived.

“… What is this?”

Alderuan’s eyebrows soared into the sky as if he had heard something very unexpected,

He was holding a small red mana bead.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but that is believed to be the first Emperor’s blood.”

“…!”

And this mana bead was possessed by a thief who dared to rob the Imperial Palace’s treasure.

“Is that for sure?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I have checked it many times.”

After a long research period, the lord of the Magic Tower eventually could not doubt this fact and bowed his head.

He was also bewildered to see the first emperor’s blood appearing out of nowhere.

“Well…”

Alderuan could not sit back and watch.

The fact that the thief had the “blood” of the first emperor meant that he knew the internal situation very well.

The fact that it was lost had never leaked except for the Imperial Family’s bloodline, so what happened?

“The Lord of the Magic Tower should keep this information for the time being.”

A cool hunch swept over the Emperor like a storm.