/
“Huwaa, mistake…”
“Lara, please calm down, we’re not scolding you.”
“W-We were playing hide-and-seek huhu-, and someone hurt me and left, an adult in a hurry.”
Lara successfully made an excuse on the spot.
She wanted to express herself, but after seeing someone carrying a block of papers in a hurry, Siervian just set it aside.
While she was in the grass, the adult accidentally bumped into and hurriedly left.
“S-So I was shaken-up and came alone, hicc-.”
[ Lara ]
Thoughts: Phew-, good thing I didn’t say the Princess did it.
Anyway it was plausible for a very quick excuse.
And it was something an embarrassed wounded child would do.
“I-I should have come back with the Princess, I am very sorry.”
“Ah.”
Sir Roid nodded normally again, it all seemed just like a normal accident.
[ Lara ]
Thoughts: Damn it, damn it, damn it!
Thanks to Sir Lloyd’s proper testimony, all of the main questions of the ladies’ were cleared.
Siervian sighed in relief as she looked around her.
Watching Lara still playing a character, Siervian made up her mind.
A few more, a little bit more.
* * *
Few days have passed by since Lara’s little accident; Lara has been keeping a low profile while observing the situation.
Damien visited the Princess’s after a long time.
“The daughter of Count Mirccino, please join us.”
[ Damien Erveldote ]
Thoughts: This is Siervian’s friend, I need to be nice then. Peers of our age in the Imperial Palace are precious.
She understood her brother’s good intentions, but she was sad.
Lara has been intervening in this place to the extent that it was almost impossible to get informed that the Crown Prince arrived.
“Oh, really? Lara is really happy!”
[ Ellie ]
Thoughts: His Highness the Crown Prince must be curious, I suppose I need to inform him later.
Lara was usually well-behaved, the maids turned a blind eye to her rudeness for now.
Moreover, the Crown Prince also ignored it, it must be because he just came back, not knowing everything.
“Oh, but…if the Princess doesn’t like it, Lara will leave immediately. Lara is sorry for coming in without notice.”
“Haha, Siervian is not like that, do not worry, Lady Mirccino.”
As expected, the peculiar words of Lara.
The Crown Prince, who met her for the first time, continued without much thought, but the maids tilted their heads all at once.
[ Jane Millas ]
Thoughts: I certainly thought for sure the two of you were doing well, maybe I’m wrong?
Siervian clenched her little fist.
The Prince deliberately pushed the cookies, bought by his own, in front of Lara.
“Let us now eat together!”
Of course, Siervian was constantly hesitant at first, no matter how hard she tried, she was afraid that it would happen again.
But she was soon able to come to her senses, all because of the good people around her showing strong belief and trust.
‘I have changed it before, and I will do it again.’
Just like the terrible food waste incident was erased from history, and so will this one.
She could transfer Lara out right now, but information is needed to know what Count Mirccino was up to.
Even though Siervian’s favorite cake was on the table, Lara lowered her gaze sadly.
“Thank you very much, Lara has never eaten such good food.”
The adults couldn’t hide their pity for a moment.
Lara repeatedly told her sad story of the Count adopting her, who had lived in difficulty while staying here.
And the situation was clearly compared with that of a very wealthy Imperial lady.
[ Lara ]
Thoughts: The Crown Prince is close to a commoner wizard, right? I’m sure he’s not as good as them.
The terrible contents of the status window made Siervian gnash her teeth.
She keeps commenting on Karmen and her elder brother like this in her mind.
But it applied to her since everyone doesn’t know if the Prince is a good person regardless of his status.
‘We even ate cake together yesterday too!’
Above all, her remark sounded like the Palace wasn’t treating her well.
[ Jane Millas ]
Thoughts: Hmm, that kid is a little bit…
Jane suddenly narrowed her eyes as if she was suspicious this time. She was accustomed to this situation, being from a noble family.
Siervian then suppressed her resentment for that reason.
It’s good for Lara in both ways to look perfect in front of the Crown Prince, however, she may have been overdoing it.
‘What? Did the Count order her to do this?’
At the end of such an awkward meal, the Crown Prince rose from his seat.
“I’m sorry I can’t stay here any longer, Siervian.”
“Yes, brother must be busy, it’s all right.”
With a warm smile, Damien patted his little sister carefully on the head.
That’s when a strange status window came into sight.
[ Lara ]
Emotions: Nervousness
Thoughts: Who the hell? I was forced to intervene so I couldn’t receive it quickly. Then who am I supposed to follow?
At the same moment, Siervian followed Lara’s gaze.
A line of servants from the Crown Prince’s Palace was seen.
‘What were you supposed to get?’
Looking at Siervian glancing at the same thing, Lara quickly recovered her expression.
“Lara wants to see Your Highness the Crown Prince again in the future…but it won’t be possible, will it?”
“Haha, there will be another opportunity next time with Siervian.”
Damien turned around gently and spoke in a courteous way.
Lara’s behavior, which made him uncomfortable, caught his attention since the start of the meal.
He held back since Lara was Siervian’s playmate.
“I’ll be back again, Siervian.”
“Yes!”
She tried to answer cheerfully, but her eyes slightly shook in anxiety.
Because Lara was up to something again.
* * *
‘I will have to wait and see.’
Wearing a cheerful look with her nervousness trying to shake her, she did her best to play with the doll.
Lara then acted casually as soon as the Crown Prince went out along with his attendants.
’Oh, Lara forgot something, have to deliver it to the Crown Prince! This is an order from the Cooouunt!’
With a small package, Lara ran for the Crown Prince.
Attendants would stop her if something appeared to be a problem, but the maids nodded to give permission.
The reason was the name of the Count was given, there was no particular reason to stop it at that time.
‘That’s weird, you said you had something to receive, you must have gotten it beforehand.’
Looking at the calm snow mountain outside the window, Siervian made her next plan.
Lara reappeared still thinking about what the object was.
“Princess! Lara’s back.”
“Yes.”
Seeing Lara along with her cheerfulness again made her flustered.
[ Lara ]
Thoughts: Did no one see it? Now, if I use the thing properly I will be able to…
Contrary to what she thought, Lara’s thoughts did not provide any clear answer.
‘You’ve already hid it!’
She continues staring at Lara’s face to find the right hint.
Nervousness finally got to her, not expecting things would escalate so quickly.
‘The situation is not good in many ways.’
Knowing the thing was a problem itself, and she couldn’t even ask the maids to check strange items in the palace.
Things wouldn’t have gotten to this in the first place.
“Princess?”
“Yes.”
“I suppose you don’t want to talk to Lara…Shall I leave for today?”
“No! Don’t go!”
Lara’s eyes grew as she was caught off guard by Siervian.
But she smiled more brightly and then nodded.
“Yes! Let’s play together!”
[ Lara ]
Thoughts: As I predicted, you’re now relying on me because of how many times we played. Now, if you let me just go to that place…
‘What Place!’
With the indescribable stress, Siervian was forced to seize Lara
But, there was no great income until Lara returned to the Count’s residence that day.
* * *
Autumn is the harvesting season for harmin.
The harmin was usually harvested at this time and is well dried; It is stored for the people of the Empire throughout the following year.
“Sorry, I couldn’t get it.”
The plan Karmen thought of was to gather some harmin for research.
However, the teacher, who seemed to have regretted things unlike the Emperor, could not obtain as much harmin like tea leaves.
“I see…”
She didn’t think it would be easy, but the law and the people managing the harmin grass seemed heavily strict.
As the darkness eats up Siervian, Karmen begins to kick the ground again.
Now she’s worried about the wisteria roots being in the wrong place.
[ Karmen Kasselov ]
Thoughts: Aa, old man. You said you’d be able to do it for your disciple! I should set his garden on fire, it doesn’t have any harmin grass.
No, don’t do it!
“Teacher even strangely said he had never studied harmin grass.”
Siervian beckoned Karmen cautiously fearing that the wisteria they used for their hideout would be damaged.
Also partially worried about the precious garden of the Lord.
“Why is that?”
“Sit here!”
“Hey, do you think I’m the kind of guy who goes because you want me to?”
Yes, he is that kind of person.
Saying that, Karmen calmly sat next to Siervian.
He didn’t seem to be conscious of what he looked like.
‘Cute.’
Without knowing what the much smaller Princess was thinking, Karmen burst into anger.
She shouted to do research, but it was over without even a glimpse of the grass.
“Is it the Duke? It can only be managed there. No matter how much I did, it was weird that I didn’t give a single waiver even though I was researching at the tower.
“You studied?”
“Yeah! Shouldn’t we do more studies about such an important grass?”
Siervian nodded at the wise words.
But Karmen coughed again like he was regretting the reasonable words he just spit out.
“Oh, well…my teacher said I shouldn’t, in fear I’ll find weak points after researching. That’s true, but…”
“Is that so?”
It turned out that he was right, too.
Harmin was a grass that the entire Empire needed to consume immediately.
But, after finding out in a research that such a medicine could sicken others, it could be exploited.
“Argh.”
Nothing went in her way these days, Siervian sighed without realizing it.
Suddenly, Karmen’s body next to her trembled.