/
Ellie, who was comforting the princess, prepared to go out immediately.
Siervian was feeling anxious, and she hurried to the drawing room, frustrated that her small body wouldn’t move as fast as her heart beats.
“I greet Your Imperial Highness, the Princess.”
Originally, it would be rude to ask an audience with a princess in such a hurry. But seeing Hex’s urgent expression, she couldn’t find the leisure for propriety.
‘What’s going on?’
It had already been two weeks since Siervian asked her father to help Garambell at his private garden. Now, the storm season was just right around the corner.
“Your Highness, I’m here because I have something urgent to inform you. Please forgive me for being rude.”
Siervian nodded gracefully, expressing that it was alright. And she tried to relax. If there really was something wrong, the knights would come, not the chancellor. Didn’t she already experience that?
‘Let’s calm down now.’
Hex felt the urge to clutch his heart as he saw Siervian’s clumsy attempt at an elegant nod, but he soon came to his senses.
[ Hex ]
Thoughts: Oh my. The princess doesn’t seem to be feeling well.
Reading the status window, Siervian felt more relaxed thanks to this. It seemed like he was worried about her.
“Princess, please listen, but don’t be too surprised.”
“Okayy.”
If you tell someone not to be surprised, would that be all the more reason to be surprised after anticipating it? The fingers that she fumbled together fidgeted. As the owner of this palace, she wanted to show a more dignified impression of a princess, but it wasn’t easy.
[ Hex ]
Favorability: +50
“It is said that there are now many cases of the epidemic in Garambell. The rapid spread of the illness is causing extreme damage to the kingdom.”
“Ah.”
What she had been worrying about eventually happened.
Forgetting that she was concerned about the bad rumors that might spread about her, Siervian hurriedly implored the chancellor, her eyes wide.
This was a big problem. A lot of people were going to die.
“What’ll happwen, the people…”
[ Hex ]
Favorability: +30
She couldn’t stop worrying, and it eventually spilled through her lips.
She was surprised, too. Even she didn’t know that she was able to worry about others like this.
“You don’t have to worry, Princess.”
“Weally?”
“Yes. Thanks to the Emperor’s wisdom, the Empire sent Pharim herbs in advance.”
Hex said that they hurriedly sent supplies with the intention of sending them before the storm season came. It’s true that this inflated the cost more, but the Empire actively sent this support.
The supplies had arrived just in time while the epidemic was in full swing in Garambell.
“Your Highness’ decision saved the west coast.”
Hex said that they were able to help in time because of her urgency.
Of all things, the epidemic had spread outside Garambell, since it was a key transportation hub in the western region. The medicinal herbs arrived at the right moment, so the impact was much greater.
“Me…?”
Siervian widened her eyes, thinking that it was fortunate that nothing bad happened since she remembered the event vaguely.
Hex’s words permeated straight into her heart like a small budding seed.
‘I saved people.’
Of course, she knew that what she did was just ask for a small request. But as she knew the future, she clearly knew what would have happened without her little action.
‘It feels strange…!’
It made her think that she did something worthwhile for the first time in her life.
Her heart was full. It was so strange. This feeling made her heart swell so much, but it was a little scary.
For a moment, Siervian basked in this strange excitement.
“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”
At that time, the maid outside the drawing room announced an unexpected visit.
She was about to thank Hex for the good news, but she quickly looked towards the door.
[ Hex ]
Thoughts: Your Majesty told me to hurry up and tell the princess, but why did you end up coming in person anyway?
Siervain was surprised by the sudden visit, but she was even more curious after reading Hex’s thoughts. The chancellor came to tell this news because it was an order from her father.
“Siervy.”
[ Alderuan Erveldote ]
Favorability: 90,995,984
Today, her father’s favorability stood out.
“Your Majwesty! Aaack!”
She got up quickly to greet him, but her feet got twisted a little.
Even before she could even politely curtsy, her father had already approached her. At the sight of his urgent steps, Siervian began to worry if something happened in Garambell.
“I heard that you haven’t been eating well, Siervy.”
The Emperor, who lifted up her small staggering body, placed his daughter on a chair.
He was in the middle of a meeting when he heard this shocking news, and it felt like all his mana had been sucked out of him. That’s why, as he was on one knee, the expression he had on his face as he looked at his daughter was serious.
[ Alderuan Erveldote ]
Thoughts: I came as soon as I heard. Is it serious? You don’t look so good.
Siervian couldn’t hide her puzzled expression.
What did he just say?
She wondered if he really came running after hearing the news that she hadn’t been eating a lot.
Did he really?
“I’ll call a doctor for you.”
The Emperor turned around, and he was about to give an order right away.
But Siervian reflexively reached out to his sleeve and clutched it tight with both hands.
“What’s wrong?”
“That’s not twue. I’m not swick.”
She really wasn’t, so even if he called a doctor, it would be for nothing.
She didn’t want such a situation.
“If you’re not sick, why aren’t you eating well?”
The Emperor, this clumsy father, was speaking in a tone that was more apt for an interrogation.
Hex, who was standing next to him, began to feel restless.
He was afraid that the princess wouldn’t know, that’s why he was worrying.
[ Alderuan Erveldote ]
Thoughts: Mm. Were you concerned about Garambell’s situation? Hex, that scoundrel… he must have said something wrong.
Without knowing Hex’s loyalty, the Emperor frowned and glared at the chancellor next to him.
There was no way for him to know his thoughts, so Hex could only step back, startled.
Siervian, who was reading it all, pulled her father’s sleeve. She intended to catch his attention so that he wouldn’t hound the chancellor.
“Jwust… I don’t have an appwetite…”
There were days like that.
Looking back, there were days when she was extremely hungry after just drinking black tea all day. But sometimes, there were also days when she could manage with just a cup.
Siervian thought that this was normal because of her memories of those days.
She was sorry to have worried everyone.
“Right, your appetite… could disappear, too, right.”
[ Alderuan Erveldote ]
Thoughts: No way. My daughter isn’t like that. Even if you have a stomachache, you still eat at least soup well. Darn.
‘Father. Have I only been showing you how well I eat?’
It seemed difficult to refute her father’s strong belief that she could never have a day when she had no appetite.
It was something that made her reflect on her past actions, whether she had been too greedy.
‘There’s no time for this.’
Shaking her head, Siervian pushed away those scattered thoughts.
This was a busy time where there must be preparations to do for the storm season.
She had yet to learn anything about state affairs, but she could at least remember that everyone was busy during this time.
That’s why she shouldn’t be holding back her father for such a trivial problem like the matter of her food.
“Serbian is okay. Your Majwesty is busy so I dwon’t want to annoy you…”
“……”
She also wanted to say that in the future, she was going to tell the maids not to send bothersome reports anymore.
However, it was still difficult for her to speak coherently. She tried to say something similar to it, but as expected, the word choices were still off.
Seeing her father’s expression hardening was so scary.
“Your Highness…”
“My goodness, Princess…”
For some reason, there was a chorus of sighs around her. Siervian’s heart dropped again. She couldn’t believe she made a mistake here again.
She urgently looked around, trying to see their status windows. That’s how she could prepare herself.
Yet somehow, the windows that were usually so bright, interfering with her vision from time to time, were quiet.
It was frightening.
‘What do I do…?’
She let go of the hands that reflexively held onto her father. Then, she hugged the doll that she had been carrying all the time.
Now, her heart felt at peace.
“Siervian.”
“Yees…”
She still felt heavy, but she answered calmly. She’s glad that she didn’t cry.
That would only have troubled her father more, which would contradict what she just said.
“You don’t annoy me. I don’t find you troublesome at all. Why on earth are you saying that?”
At that time, her father’s firm tone reached Siervian.
“Sebi’s… not… annoying…?”
“That’s right. Never. That’s why you can tell me. Why aren’t you eating well?”
Everyone around them nodded desperately in line with the Emperor’s pleading.
As if they all really wanted to know the reason.
‘Ah.’
Only then did the realization hit Siervian.
The fact that she wasn’t eating well was very important to her father and to others.
Dazed by the situation, she tried to understand. Other people can also think that she was important.
[ Alderuan Erveldote ]
Thoughts: Maybe the ladies in waiting are playing tricks on you again. I need to look into it.
However, while Siervian was agonizing over this, the Emperor’s dangerous thought flashed before her.
At this rate, Ellie and the others were going to be in danger.
Unlike before, they were all good people who took care of her properly. She couldn’t let her father misunderstand.
“T-To be hwonest…”
“Yes, what is it?”
Her heart was thumping.
Her father really didn’t find her annoying.
And today, Hex said that she saved a lot of people.
These two things filled her mind for a while, comforting her.
‘A little, just a little.’
She hugged her doll and clutched her father’s sleeve—very tightly with both hands.
Since she saved so many people, can’t she be a little spoiled today?
“Sebi… doesn’t wanna eat alone…”