The princess didnât force her to do anything, nor did she try to convince her about what was right and wrong.
Gardening was fun.
Diare purely felt joy.
Nothing was there to oppress her.
She was acknowledged for her work, and her efforts werenât dismissed.
The talks about whether she resembled Sandra or Wolfe more became rather distant.
When she stood next to the lovely princess that was smaller than her, she wanted to protect her.
It felt like sheâd found a place of her own.
âLike Iâve become someone worthy.â
She wasnât Diare, who didnât belong to neither Wolfe nor Sandar.
She wasnât called a little one, and she wasnât jostled away while someone said, âIsnât it tiring for you? Go there.â
Despite everything that happened, Lilica casually gave her a place beside her.
âA conversational partnerâŚâ
She couldnât help but murmur her position softly.
âThe number of conversational partners will increase in the future.â
Diare was well aware of that.
Most of the imperial family were like that. Lilica and Atil belonged in an extremely small minority.
She wished that it would continue to be the case.
She hoped that Lilica would continue being only her princess.
She also had such a thought.
âFjord Barat.â
However, that couldnât be the case, since the name of another potential conversational partner has appeared.
Although the princess said she was her first conversational partner, she wanted to win this position with her own power.
She truly wanted to become friends, and not end up as conversational partners for political purposes.
She really wanted to become Princess Lilicaâs precious person.
âI seem to understand why Lauv chose her.â
Diare could understand why he, who was always wandering in solitude, remained beside the princess meekly.
At that moment, Lilica exclaimed.
âI think I can jump like Diare!â
âItâs dangerous,â Brynn said, but Lilica shook her head.
âNo, I think I can do it.â
She swooshed past and said.
âIf I fail, Lauv will catch me, right?â
Lauv replied unhesitatingly.
âOf course.â
Upon receiving his response, Lilica jumped off at the highest point like Diare did.
âPrincess!â
Brynn dashed out, but Lauv was a step faster than her.
Lilica fell into Lauvâs arms with a plop. Lauv fell backwards and cut the impact into half.
Brynn ran over.
âItâs dangerous, PrincessâŚ!â
Lilica gasped.
It was much higher than sheâd thought, and she fell much faster than sheâd anticipated.
If Lauv hadnât caught her, she would definitely have hurt her ankle.
But she felt like sheâd become an extremely brave person. Delighted laughter escaped from her lips.
It was a reckless act that I wouldnât have done normally.
She spoke.
âItâs dangerous, but I knew Lauv would catch me.â
After saying that Lilica asked Lauv.
âRight?â
Lauv blinked and smiled. It was quite rare to see him smiling sincerely, so Lilica brightened up.
He helped her up and got up afterwards.
âIâll catch you whenever you need me to.â
His tone was firm and confident.
Was there anything sweeter than words of trust in him by his lord?
No matter where she falls from, heâll catch her.
He didnât ever want to give up on his position at the bottom of the cliff, and neither did he want to accede to another.
At Lauvâs words, Brynn folded her arms while Lilica laughed.
Diare felt left out for some reason, so she held the princessâ hands.
â?â
Despite being startled, the princess still held her hands tightly. Diare averted her gaze out of embarrassment.
Brynn said.
âThen shall we go back now? I think the gardening work can be left to Ulrang now.â
âYes, but Iâll tend to it from time to time.â
âJust as a hobby though. If you keep this up, your hands will become rough.â
Lilica nodded at Brynâs concern, wondering âIs that so?â
Sheâll do her best to learn now, and when she leaves the palace later on, sheâll have to work on it personally then.
Keeping her hands white and smooth was also a part of being an outstanding princess.
âCome to think of it.â
She was reminded of Fjord at the mention of white and smooth hands.
âThatâs what Diare said, but I donât think Fjord wouldnât just not send a reply.â
Whatâs going on?
She didnât know whatâs really going on.
Lilica began to worry again, so she decided to send another letter.
* * *
Lilica felt that there was something strange with her front teeth.
âWhatâs going on?â
After breakfast, Lilica spole to Brynn with a serious expression.
âMy front teeth are really weird.â
At Lilicaâs words, Brynn said, âPlease give me a moment,â and looked at her front teeth.
âPardon me.â
Brynn tried shaking Lilicaâs front teeth.
â!!â
Lilica turned stiff, but Brynn removed her hand and said.
âItâs time to extract your teeth.â
âExtract my teeth?â
Brynn nodded at Lilicaâs question.
âYouâre about to grow new teeth. The new teeth will only grow out beautifully when the shaking teeth are extracted.â
âT, thatâs⌠ButâŚâ
Extracting her teeth, of all things!
At the sight of the flustered and panicking Lilica, Brynn said again, âTry going ahh.â
Lilica opened her mouth with an âAhh,â and Brynn continued.
âI think we still have some more time. Then Iâll extract it two days later instead. By then, I should be able to extract it cleanly and painlessly.â
âReally?â
âOf course Iâm telling you the truth.â
Brynnâs words of assurance calmed Lilica down. In any case, she was glad that she didnât need to extract it now.
Immediately after breakfast, Lilica wrote a letter to Fjord. This was already her second letter.
As she didnât get any sort of contact or response, Liliva thought that something had happened.
As such, Brynn reassured her that if something happened to Young Duke Barat, sheâd know immediately.
This time, the letter was filled with words of concern, and she went out for a walk afterwards.
The weather was already in the midst of summer. The perfect time to take a walk was in the early morning or late afternoon.
After looking around the crowded Sky Palace, Lilica was on the path back to the Sun Palace.
Atil seemed to head to the Sky Palace rather frequently for meetings with lower-ranked aristocrats, but Lilica didnât have any confidence in that aspect.
She didnât know how she should behave when meeting other aristocrats.
âBut having tea parties with dolls every day wasâŚâ
Of course, she was very happy with dolls and tea parties, but it would probably be more fun with friends.
Is there no way that she can make friends, even without being a conversational partner like Diare?
While agonising over this, Lilica walked through the garden. She was holding a new parasol.
The new parasol that her mother made was lighter and in a brilliant yellow colour, so Lilica liked it a lot.
The roses have already withered, and now, red crape myrtles and large peony flowers are in full bloom.
âItâs been a while, my robin princess.â
Fjord suddenly popped up from amongst the garden shrubs. Lilica looked at him in surprise.
âFjord!â
She ran over jubilantly, but then she paused.
âFjord, are you okay?â
His face was pale, and a mark of being hit was evident on the corner of his mouth.
It matched with his splendid appearance, creating a strange, and if she had to describe, morbid beauty.
Fjord laughed.
âYes, Iâm fine. How have you been, my princess?â
Lilica looked around. There wasnât anyone other than Lauv and Brynn standing behind her.
Thinking that itâs impossible, Lilica asked.
âWere you waiting for me?â
âIâve waited for a short while.â
Lilica approached him bewilderedly.
âWhatâs the matter? Are you okay?â
âYes, Iâve already said that Iâm fine.â
She could sense something strange in his smiling face.
Lilica couldnât help but hold his hand. She was startled after holding it.
âFjoâŚrdâŚâ
His hand was really hot.
His face was so pale, and his hands were burning hot.
Lilica quickly noticed that this wasnât normal. Her face stiffened.
âFjord, letâs go to my room right now, andâŚâ
She was going to say that sheâll call for an imperial physician, but Fjord said.
âI donât want to.â
âFjord.â
âIâm fine.â
After repeating himself again, he took a deep breath and spoke gently.
âThank you for recommending me to be your conversational partner. But the duke is strongly opposed to it. Iâm sorry to say this even though I had mentioned this firstâŚâŚâ
He held her hand tightly. It was a strong force that bordered on being painful.
âI donât think I can be a conversational partner of yours.â
Lilica stamped her feet.
âThatâs fine. Thereâs no need for Fjord to apologise. More than that, are you really alright? No, you arenât fine. What about a physician? Have you seen one?â
âAre you okay?â
He blinked.
It seemed like he didnât hear any of the words sheâd said following that. His grip tightened even further.
âI asked if youâre alright?â
Just as Lilicaâs face became distorted, Lauv grabbed his arm.
ââ!â
Fjord twisted the caught arm and pulled Lauv in by his wrist, before striking him with the elbow of his other arm.
Lauv also caught the attacking hand with his other hand.
The next moment, Fjord remained still, while Lauv bounced backwards and pushed Lilica behind him.
Lilica saw Fjordâs eyes turn unfocused.
There wasnât a breeze, but his hair began fluttering in the air. The air turned prickly.
Small stones began rattling.
Alarm bells rang wildly in her head.
âFjord!â
At Lilicaâs shout, he immediately paused and looked back at Lilica.
Her gaze met his. Lilica looked straight into his somewhat confused eyes.
His hair slowly fell back in place and the air turned gentle again.
He collapsed on the spot like a marionette with broken strings. Lauv stopped the astonished Lilica from trying to run over.
Lauv only examined Fjordâs condition when Brynn came over and stood in front of her.
âI think he fainted.â
âLetâs take him to the cabin.â
At Lilicaâs words, Brynn asked, âIs that alright?â
Lilica nodded.
âI donât think he should be seen like this by anyone else. But we also canât just leave him here like this.â
If Atil knew that sheâd brought Fjord into the secret garden, he might become furious, no, heâll definitely be furious.
âI donât know of any other way.â
She couldnât take Fjord to the White Dragon Chamber, and she also couldnât just leave him here.
Lauv carried Fjord on his back. Brynn said.
âAlright, then please come this way.â
The party managed to avoid anyone and arrived at the cabin.
Lauv put Fjord down on the bed.
By that time, his face became so red that his pale face from before seemed like a lie.
His breathing turned rough and laboured.
Lauv told Lilica.
âI think Young Duke Barat is injured.â
âInjured?â
âYes, I detected the smell of blood.â
Brynn said.
âIn that case, his clothes have to be taken off first. The princess and I canât do that.â
Brynn gave Lauv a pointed look.
Lauv lowered his gaze to Lilica and swallowed a sigh at the sight of her not knowing what to do.
âAlright.â
After a while, Lauv exited the bedroom with a tired look.
Lilica, who was waiting in the living room, jumped up immediately.
âHow is it? Is it a serious wound?â
âHis upper body was covered with scars. Itâs like a variety of weapons were being tested, from the oldest ones to the newest, itâs relatively systematicââ
As he was speaking, the sight of Lilicaâs face turning pale caused him to stop.
Brynn shot Lauv an undisguised frown and then said.
âIâll go and get some medicine and bandages first. Have you done any basic treatment?â
When Lauv nodded, Brynn tilted her head, saying, âDidnât you say that you knew how to speak?â
Lauv cleared his throat.
âAlthough Iâve done some basic treatment, the wound has to be cleaned again and rewrapped with bandages after medicine has been applied.â
âI see. Would you like to come with me, princess?â
âNo, Iâll wait here.â
Lilica shook her head.
âAlright.â
After Brynn walked out of the cabin at a quick pace, Lilica looked at Lauv with a glum face.
âDid it seem really serious?â
Lauv pondered how he should answer her.
Honestly speaking, it was too cruel for the young princess. However, it wasnât a part of his nature to lie to his lord.
While he hesitated and was unable to answer her, Lilica closed her eyes and reopened them.