Just as Pi was about to bend down, Lauv stepped up.
âIâll do it.â
He scooped Lilica up quickly. Now, he could hold her in a secure manner.
Pi also added something that would help Atil in passing.
âIf youâre curious about what conversations we had with the people at Sky Palace, you can ask His Highness.â
âOh, thatâs right.â
Lilica nodded.
Soon, the party arrived in front of the Black Dragon Chamber.
The shiny black dragon that was carved on the door was a delicate craft out of obsidian.
âYou can let me down now.â
While Lauv lowered Lilica to the ground, Pi opened the door personally.
The foyerâs door was already open.
Brann came out to meet her with swift steps.
âWelcome, my princess.â
âHello, Brann.â
After saying hello, Lilica gave a curtsey.
âGreetings, my prince.â
Atilâs eyebrows shot up at that term of address.
But he didnât say anything immediately. Itâs because he was guilty of committing a crime.
âSit down.â
When Lilica sat down, Brann soon served ice cream in a long glass.
Raspberries that were preserved in sugar filled the spaces between vanilla ice cream.
A raspberry-shaped candy made of sugar topped the entire dessert.
Lilica couldnât help but let out a sigh of admiration.
âWowââ
Relief flashed past Atilâs face. He held out a long silver spoon.
âHere you go.â
After Lilica accepted the silver spoon, Atil explained.
âYou can eat it after breaking the candy on the top lightly.â
At those words, Lilica tapped the raspberry-shaped candy with her spoon, and red syrup flowed out of the broken candy.
Lilica let out another sigh of admiration.
The weather was still blazingly hot, so the lemon sherbetâs chill quickly disappeared.
Sheâd even broken out in sweat while walking over.
Lilica enjoyed the vanilla ice cream with raspberry syrup.
âItâs very delicious.â
Lilicaâs exclamations caused Atil to bite his lip gently.
âI knew it.â
Lilica looked at Atil.
As expected, from his expression, he was holding back his laughter.
When their eyes met, it turned into a soft smile.
âIs it yummy?â
Lilica answered obediently.
âYes.â
Itâs because delicious things are delicious!
âPlease take your time, my princess.â
Brann spoke from the side, worried that she might have a stomachache.
Lilicaâs hands slowed down. She would also get stomachaches, too.
âHas the blood stopped now?â
âYes.â
Lilica nodded. She looked back at Lauv and said.
âSir Lauv threw the tooth onto the roof.â
âAh.â
Atil thought that that was a superstition, but he didnât bother to voice it.
He dismissed it because his sister, who was diligently eating the ice cream, looked too cute.
He glanced at Brann.
Brann smiled.
Brann was the one that prepared this ice cream.
His trust in his confidants naturally rose.
When Pi sat down, Brann served two cups of cold tea.
Lilica asked.
âArenât you going to eat ice cream, Your Highness?â
âItâs fine. You can have more.â
At his words, Lilica tilted her head and scooped up a spoonful of ice cream.
âEven so, here.â
Atil was flustered upon seeing the ice cream that was suddenly beside his lips, but he still opened his mouth meekly.
Atil wiped the corner of his mouth and commented briefly.
âItâs not bad.â
âItâs yummy, isnât it?â
Lilica smiled.
At that, her missing front tooth was revealed so starkly that Atil laughed.
âPfft.â
He barely managed to hold back his laughter, but his shoulders continued trembling.
Lilica asked flusteredly.
âHuh? Your Highness, did you choke because you heard that? Are you alright?â
Atil shook his head.
If he burst into laughter here, it might end up badly. He coughed a few times before the urge to laugh calmed down.
âNo, Iâm fine. Ahem, ahem.â
While clearing his throat, Atil saw Lilicaâs worried expression.
He glanced back down at the glass bowl and said.
âItâs alright, so continue eating.â
âYes, Your Highness.â
At those final words, Atil finally asked.
âAre you going to continue calling me that?â
âWhat do you mean, Your Highness?â
âCalling me âYour Highnessâ.â
âBut if a princess of my background doesnât call you Your Highness, what would that make you, Your Highness?â
âWhatâs the point of just addressing me in that manner?â
Atilâs eyebrows knitted together before he let out an exhale.
He has to give a good answer here.
After much contemplation, he spoke.
âRegardless of her origins, my sister is still my sister.â
Lilica stared straight at Atil, causing him to become restless with anxiety.
After a while, Lilica nodded.
âIf thatâs what Atil thinks.â
âGreat.â
Atil clenched his fist under the table and gave a faint smile.
Once the first problem between the both of them was resolved, Pi opened his mouth.
âBy the way, I heard that the princess allowed Fjord Barat to stay in the cabin.â
âMmâŚâŚâ
Lilica nodded quietly, and Pi shook his head.
âNo, Iâm not trying to interrogate you, but Iâm just wondering why you did that.â
âThatâs because Fjord wasnât feeling very well.â
Lilica muttered and looked up.
âWhen I met him in the garden, he suddenly collapsed. He was also running a high fever. But I couldnât just leave him in the garden, and I thought that my presence there shouldnât be known, so thatâs the only place that I could think of.â
âI see.â
Pi nodded.
It would be an unfavourable story for both sides if it was known that Fjord Barat collapsed right after meeting the princess.
The princessâs judgement to hide it was right.
The problem was why did that have to be the hiding place, of all places.
âWhy did he collapse?â
Lilica averted her eyes while answering Piâs question.
âHe wasnât feeling well.â
She didnât want to tell him about his serious injuries.
That seemed to be a matter of Fjordâs pride.
Wasnât it a little odd for her to talk about it in detail when everyone was present, even though she too was unaware?
Pi grinned.
âUnderstood.â
Instead, Lilica was surprised by his quick response.
Pi answered softly.
âIt could happen if he wasnât feeling well. So, is he alright now?â
âYes, so I sent him home.â
Her tone made it sound like she treated an injured animal and released it back into the wild.
Pi glanced at Atil.
Pi and Atil had heard about the rumours circulating the Barat ducal family.
Atil folded his arms.
Pi asked Lilica.
âWill you continue interacting with him?â
Lilica nodded and said, âAh!â
âIâve also got permission from Mother. Iâll have to end my friendship with him if any bad rumours about Fjord start to circulate around, and I said okay.â
âI see.â
Pi nodded and stole another glance at Atil again.
Lilica also looked at Atil.
The current topic of Fjord seemed like Pi was asking questions on Atilâs behalf.
Atil sighed.
âIf Aunt said so, she must have her own reason.â
As long as it concerned Lilica, his aunt would be the first to shoot blue flames out of her eyes.
If his aunt gave permission, he wouldnât be a threat to Lilica.
Then the only thing that remained was his personal feelings.
The corners of Atilâs mouth became twisted.
âIsnât it virtuous of me to show generosity to a future subject of mine?â
After the incident earlier, it felt like he was behaving too agitatedly.
And that was when heâs in front of Fjord Barat.
Fjord looked much more relaxed than he was.
It got on Atilâs nerves.
In that case, he also didnât have a reason not to show leniency.
Itâs annoying, but.
He propped up his chin and said.
âDo as you please.â
Lilica jumped up from her seat, âReally?â
âI wonât say it twice.â
At Atilâs words, Lilica ran over and gave him a hug.
âThank you.â
Atil squished her cheek and said.
âBut donât forget, that punkâs a stranger.â
Weâre a family, weâre connected together.
Unlike that guy, who was completely outside the family tree.
Only with that could he make things clear.
Lilica nodded her head.
âI know.â
âReally?â
âYes, Atil always comes first.â
At Lilicaâs blatant words, Atil nodded brazenly, âItâs fine then, since you know that.â
She laughed and was about to get out of his arms, but Atil said, âWhatâs wrong?â, before picking her up and sitting her on his lap.
Brann, who was standing at a side, quickly brought the glass and spoon in front of Lilica.
When Lilica turned her head around and looked up at Atil, Atil lifted the spoon and asked.
âDo you need me to feed you?â
âNo, I donât.â
Lilica quickly snatched back the spoon.
The sound of the silver spoon hitting against the glass made a clattering sound.
Lilica spoke.
âBy the way, Atil.â
âHmm.â
âDonât you go to the Sky Palace often? What do you talk to the people you meet about?â
âWhat do you mean, what do we talk about? We just talk.â
Lilica frowned when Atil answered reluctantly.
Her small heel tapped Atilâs shin lightly.
âGeez, itâs not like that. What do you really talk about? When I see someone that greets me, I want to return their greetings, but then weâll have to talk, wonât we?â
âIs it necessary to return their greetings back?â
âIf you continue to ignore them, wonât your reputation worsen?â
âRather than dealing with them perfunctorily, itâs better to not deal with them at all. Youâll have to deal with them when youâve reached ten years old anyways.â
At Atilâs insensitive words, Lilica nodded after much consideration.
Atil was right.
Given her current self, she might get swept away with an, âUhhh.â
âIâll study hard for the next two years.â
When she turns ten, sheâll have to participate in public events, whether she likes it or not.
âIâll make sure that I donât make any mistakes then.â
She felt apologetic when children of my age give me sparkling eyes, but she should stay like this for the time being.
âBecause thereâs Diare and Fjord. Even so, she wouldnât be bored.â
The thought of Diare made her happy.
Diare, who was always honest, clumsy and yet considerate of her, was very cute.
Above all, anyone would love that rich, pink hair colour of hers.
Of course, if they reach out their hands thinking that she looks cute just based on her appearance, theyâll get bitten.
âWhat are you thinking about?â
âOh, Diare.â
âIs she bothering you?â
Lilica burst into laughter at Atilâs words.
âNo, she isnât.â
Lilica leaned against his chest, and said.
âEven so, it feels good to have someone thatâll take my side if Iâm bullied.â
âYouâd mentioned it before. That you were jealous of that. So if you are bullied by someone, call me. Do you understand?
âYes.â
Lilica nodded.
Though thereâs no one that would bully her in the palace.
* * *
A few days later, just as her mother had mentioned, Uva returned.
The ships, filled with items that heâd returned with, caused quite a stir.
Uva brought along some plants and rare items and visited Lilica first.
âUva!â
Lilica ran towards him with a big smile.
Uva, who was kneeling on the floor while waiting, smiled and greeted her after taking off his hat.
The feathers on his hat were still big and extravagant.
âI greet the Princess.â
âYes, Iâm also very happy to see you again! Iâm glad that youâre okay.â
At Lilicaâs words, Uva stretched out his hands in an attempt to lift her up, but he was stopped by Lauv.
His blue-grey eyes were rather fierce-looking.
Lilica spoke flusteredly, like an owner that forgot to mention that she had a fierce dog in her house.
âLauv, itâs alright. Uva, this is my escort, Lauv. This is Uva, the adventurer that Iâve invested in.â
Lauv blinked once slowly, before greeting with a faint smile.
âIâm Lauv Wolfe.â
The confused Uva also greeted back.
âMy name is Uva.â
âAh, thereâs that sense of incompatibility again.â
She felt another sense of heterogeneity from Lauvâs face again.
As it was hard for her to put her finger on, Lilica decided to observe for another period of time.
Uva smiled.
âIt should be done by your escort. When my identity has become clearer in the future, then.â
Uva lowered his hand disappointedly and bowed his head.
A polite tone rang out.
âIâve come to the princess, whoâd made a huge investment, first. Please be the first to select an item.â
âMe? Not Mother?â
âIâll visit the empress right afterwards, so please donât worry.â
When Uva stood up and sent an eye signal, the servants quickly lined up the goods.
There were plants in small pots, minerals in boxes, and berries from trees etc.
âI couldnât bring all of them in, so hereâs a catalogue.â
Brynn took the catalogue from Uva and unfolded it for Lilica.
Lilica looked at the catalogue with amazement and turned her gaze towards the real thing.
âThis is really pretty.â
Uva pointed to a mineral that glistened like a snowball and said.
âApparently, when you light it on fire, youâll get a beautiful blue flame. Itâs rather bright and lasts for a long period of time.â
âReally?â
âYes.â
âItâs fascinatingâŚâ
After placing a finger on the stone, Lilica gave up.
It was only right for something amazing and wonderful to go to her mother.
Lilica pointed towards the most modest plant that only had leaves.
âWhatâs this?â
âThereâs a large, radish-like root beneath this, and itâs very sweet.â
âSweet radish?â
âThatâs right.â
Lilica looked at the plant quietly.
This was neither fancy nor pretty, so itâll be alright for her to choose this, wouldnât it?
If she planted this around the cabin, sheâd be able to eat a lot of sweet things.
And she can replant it again when she buys a house in the future.
âThen Iâll take this.â
âAlright.â
Uva gave a happy smile. Lilica looked at him and said.
âActually, I wanted to hear about the stories of your adventure, but youâre going over to Mother, right?â
âYes, if you invite me again later, Iâll bring over all the sweet radishes on the ship.â
âMm!â
Lilica nodded.
After another loud greeting, Uva walked away.
Lilica looked at the plant in the pot.
âWill it be very sweet? Does Brynn know anything about sweet plants?â
âFrom what I know, sugar is made from the sugarcanes that are grown in the south.â
âSugar comes from a plant?â
Lilica asked in astonishment, and Brynn nodded.
âYes, if youâre curious about it, would you like to look it up in the encyclopedia?â
âYes, letâs go, letâs go.â
While Lilica was preparing to head to the library, Uva met Her Majesty the Empress.
All the items that filled the three ships heâd brought back with him were of high value.
Ludia smiled happily as she looked over the items one by one.
But the more she looked, the dimmer her expression became.
âThereâs no sugar radish?â
One of the most profitable items that could be gained from this voyage was the sugar radish.
Sugarcanes in the south, and sugar radishes in the north.
Thanks to this, the price of sugar became much cheaper than it was now, and demand grew explosively.
Thanks to that, the northern territories also gained a speciality.
âAnd those foolish humans would only grow sugar radishes instead of wheat and rye. Great job.â
However, the plan couldnât be implemented unless sugar radish was discovered and brought back from the Sea of Trees.
âShould I just be satisfied with coffee? Perhaps the story has changed due to my intervention. Itâll probably be brought back on the next voyage.â
Ludia smiled.
âYou did a great job, Uva. Other than the items that I want, letâs split the profits as per the contract.â
âThis is all possible because of Her Majesty the Empressâs assistance.â