CH 30

“…I wonder whether you’re weak, or smart.”

“What?!”

“Nothing. Anyway, I don’t think the vassals will object to this.”

After I finished my words, he barely nodded his head.

Could he not think of anything to refute?

He was about to get up late, yet he hurriedly looked at me with rabbit eyes.

“By the way, are you alright? Don’t listen to what Duke Bluebell said earlier.”

“I’m Vallois. I don’t get hurt by that.”

Let’s cross my arms and snort.

“I see, you’re fine.”

A bewildered answer followed.

His gaze, which only looked at me as a child, was strangely different.

***

[At the age of five, she expressed her intention to observe the regular meeting. As expected of Vallois. Despite being born with the blood of the Vallois family heads, she resembles Vivian’s quick action….]

“…”

A hook that came in out of nowhere.

Agasa, whose eyes were tightly closed, skipped that part, and read the letter again.

[I will be absent from this regular meeting. I trust you will take care of it as usual.]

In conclusion, Cassis also didn’t attend the regular meeting.

And Princess Billishia was allowed to attend the regular meeting.

“…I should also write about what happened today.”

After Cassis left for the Tundra.

They were exchanging messages once a day.

In fact, Agasa was very concerned.

Apart from orders to do everything in his power to ensure the safety of the Princess, he felt sorry for the five-year-old Billishia.

It’s the Princess who lost her mother early and lived her life as a slave.

‘Yet for her to hear such a thing in front of Duke Bell.’

Although he took his life to deal with it, Agasa decided to set aside the regular meeting and take care of the Princess for a while.

But, well.

[I’m Vallois. I don’t get hurt by that.]

To be honest, he was a little surprised.

Vallois’s Magi was permeated in the spirited tone of saying, “Be good to yourself as a temporary leader.”

She’s not a normal baby.

She’s a prophet and has great momentum.

He tried to write down a message like that. However.

‘She said it was a secret.’

Agasa, who made a noise, hmm, thought.

‘She said that only I knew the truth. So, I guess I’ll leave out the prophet part.’

The corner of his lips, which was closed in a straight line, somehow went up smoothly.

The sound of humming and crunching pens resounded in the peaceful drawing room.

[Your Grace. It seems that the regular meeting will proceed without a hitch as scheduled. By the way, Duke Bell suddenly came to our castle. I’m worried that the Princess was hurt.]

While thinking about Billishia’s daily life, he thought of one more thing and wrote something down.

Squeak.

The letter that had been burned by Magi landed on Cassis’ light pants.

[There’s something else I want to tell you. The slave that was treated at that time. The Princess seems to like him and says she will make him a servant of Vallois. Today, he walked around holding Miss Baby’s hand. Miss Baby didn’t even seem to hate it…]

“Your Grace. Her Imperial Majesty will arrive tomorrow morning…”

“We’re leaving for Vallois’ Castle now.”

“…Pardon?”

Tundra zone.

In the middle of the white snow, on which it was so hard to breathe.

[Today, he walked around holding Miss Baby’s hand.]

They held hands.

He said that my daughter, who is only five years old, has joined hands with an unknown beast.

Grit.

Cassis, who was grinding her teeth, crushed the letter.

“Can’t you understand? We’re leaving right now.”

The knight who was clearing his eyes was taken aback.

“Pardon me? Yes, but Her Imperial Majesty the Empress, tomorrow morning…”

“Let’s go.”

Ignoring the knight’s words, he started the carriage.

It was a week before the regular meeting in Vallois.

***

A week later.

The long-awaited regular meeting was just around the corner.

It was when the bedroom door creaked open after I had finished dressing up with the help of Lisa and the maids.

“Princess! The paper!”

“You didn’t take the paper!”

“… Oops, the paper… the paper…”

There were four hours left before the regular meeting began.

My mind was already blank.

Hearing Lisa’s cry, I hurriedly returned to the bedroom, took the precious paper, and went out into the hallway.

Agasa was waiting in advance in the corridor.

“Aga!”

His blue hair was combed back to reveal a broad forehead, and he seemed to have just finished dressing up.

A classy yet inconspicuous dark gray robe.

Agasa, dressed in an assortment of colors, bent his knees and made eye contact with me.

“Good morning. Then, let’s check the Princess’s condition, now. Clothes.”

I thought of a pose the night before.

I put my cotton fist proudly on my waist.

“They completed you with pants and blouses that highlight the Princess’ strengths, your ability to act quickly, and even the pendant that symbolizes Vallois. As expected, the maids in charge of tenacity. They’re thorough.”

“Hmmm!”

Agasa nodded his head in recognition.

The maid sisters behind me snorted sternly.

“Now then, hairstyle.”

Swooshㅡ

Aga stared intently at me as I swayed the two pigtails that I had lifted up.

“As expected, they picked the pin in the shape of a black leopard, the symbol of Vallois. Great. Since it’s your first meeting with the vassals, it’s good to show off as Vallois.”

Well, just looking at Miss Baby’s face, it’s His Grace’s mini-image.

At the thorough preparation, Agasa’s expression softened, as if there was nothing to worry about.

“Next, hands.”

Shakingㅡ

‘Calm down. The meeting hasn’t even started yet.’

I tried to calm down as much as possible.

In the end, all I could give was a trembling, insignificant hand.

Let’s put out my hand holding the paper like that.

“At the regular meeting, I will convey the Princess’ opinion instead, but it’s essential for you to research the data to give the image that you’re  interested in this meeting.”

I don’t know anything, but I think Agasa’s words are all right.

Nod, nodㅡ 

“Great. Now, the Princess can take this piece of paper and sit down. Then someone will ask about the paper. You just need to get a good image like that.”

“T-The vassals will ask me directly?”

“Yes. Since this is their first meeting with the Princess, of course they have a lot of questions…”

At that timeㅡ

“A-Aw.”

“Princess!”

“Miss Baby!”

Plopㅡ 

I kept my hands on my waist to not tremble, yet I collapsed at Agasa’s decisive remark.

Tremble, trembleㅡ 

My short legs, which had collapsed as it were, had no intention of stopping the shaking.

Sensing the bitter taste of life, I tightly closed my eyes and clenched my fists, hap! Hitting them on the floor.

‘Damn it! This is the first official meeting in my 100 lifetimes.’

All my lives ended at a young age so far.

Of course, I had never attended a meeting where only adults attended.

‘I’ve been using my past life memories to create favorable situations, yet now I can’t use them either.’

“I’m the Princess of Vallois, w-why am I so nervous…”

I was sitting on the floor in a sense of defeat.

“Don’t worry.”

A soft hand grabbed my armpit.

He pulled me up so that I could stand on my own two legs.

“What vassals want isn’t a cold-hearted Vallois. It’s a Vallois who desperately wants the revival of the family.”

I thought he would be disappointed with my clumsy appearance.

A rare friendly voice echoed over the top of my head.

“Everyone will like the Princess. Let’s go now.”

Agasa, who gave a rare light cheer, smiled and held out his hand.

I was encouraged by his cheering and nodded my head.

***

The regular meeting at Vallois began quietly.

When I arrived at the huge dome-shaped meeting room in advance, the maids who were waiting in advance arranged twelve pens and papers on the table.

‘…If there are twelve. That includes me.’

My stomach hurt for no reason, so I looked outside through the glass window to relieve tension.

A carriage appeared amid heightened security for the access of outsiders.

‘It’s a family crest.’

It’s not even the appointment time yet, are they coming already?

My whole body hardened like an ice cube.

“Phew. Calm down. I can do it.”

When the carriage appeared, I ran over and took my seat.

Looking back on my memories from my previous life, the vassals were generally good people.

‘The bad one was Dad.’

The honor of the direct lineage is the honor of the vassals.

Since the head of Vallois, who reigned as the four largest families of the Empire, went crazy, it was only natural that they were having a hard time.

Thanks to this, they were caught off guard in society.

And in the distant future, after Cassis was executed, they dispersed and naturally lost their pulse.

‘Of course, the Bluebell family, who were eagerly seeking the direct lineage of Vallois, is excluded.’

I heard they abandoned the name of Vallois on the spot.

It was the true extinction of Vallois.

[What vassals want isn’t a cold-hearted Vallois. It’s a Vallois who desperately wants the revival of the family.]

As I was sitting on the chair, my chubby legs shaking, I suddenly remembered Agasa’s words.

‘They have the same goals as me.’

Alright. Great.

Everyone will be motivated, so my sincerity will work.

It was a time when I mustered up courage and checked my clothes.

“Viscount Candice of the Swittie family is entering.”

Beyond the closed door.

A maid opened the door, announcing the entrance of the first guest.

“It’s been a while. Viscount Candice…”

It was time to chase after Agasa, who was greeting him.

“…He’s not here either.”

My footsteps stopped at the sound of a drooping voice just by listening to it.

“I expected to some extent that His Grace didn’t participate in the regular meeting, but…”

Viscount Candice glanced at us with a grim gaze.

In particular, he stared at me and sat down on his chair as if he was collapsing while walking with his head down.

“…The Dells family…”

“You don’t even need to introduce yourself. It’s a formality anyway.”

“As expected, His Grace isn’t here.”

“What Duke Bluebell said is true. I heard that he doesn’t seem to love the Princess as much as I thought…”

So did the people who came in after them.

“…Let’s go roughly.”

“That’s right. I’m sure you agree with the withdrawal of the Law Kingdom’s fund at all costs.”

“I thought there would be a change in the Vallois family, but… Anyway, I agree.”

The meeting began without Agasa’s progress.

I shed Agasa with rabbit eyes.

He, too, was sending a puzzled look as if he hadn’t known that the reaction would be dead.

Click, click.

In the meantime, red chips, which signify approval, piled up on the round table.

Agree, they say?

The meeting hasn’t even started yet, though?

“I agree too.”

“I vote for it too. Let’s end the meeting quickly…”

It was when tired voices came out one by one.

Rollㅡ

Clickㅡ

A blue chip, which means opposition, broke into the red chips piled up.

“…?”

People’s eyes stared at the maple leaf-like hand protruding from the desk.

Bewildered by the sudden gaze, I grinned.

“Vallois disagrees.”