NOVEL NEXT Chapter 195
* * *
As soon as I arrived at the duchy, I asked Eloise, who came to greet me, “Why did Father ask me to come back quickly?”
“Chief Aide Jeffrey has arrived.”
Jeffrey was the aide to the emperor, the man who had escorted me when I was invited to the Sun Palace.
The emperor has sent a message.
I quickened my pace and asked Eloise about something I had secretly instructed her to do before leaving for Ozworld’s mansion.
“What about Damian?”
Raul believed with absolute certainty that Damian was the one I was preparing to marry. Therefore, up to now, there had been no attempt to look for traces of Damian. A watchful eye had always been on me. Now that I had left for Ozworld’s mansion alone, Eloise had the chance to investigate Damian’s whereabouts, as I had asked her to.
“It seems he hasn’t been home since the day Milady mentioned. He has also lost contact with those who could be considered acquaintances. His whereabouts are completely unknown.”
“I see… Keep checking, just in case.”
“Understood.”
As we entered the lobby, we instinctively fell silent as if by agreement. I approached Jeffrey, who had arrived with the imperial servants and paid my respects.
“It’s been a long time, Lord Jeffrey.”
Jeffrey was delighted to see me, spreading his arms wide in welcome. “Oh, it’s good to see you, Princess. It’s indeed been a long time, hasn’t it? I’ve come to convey His Majesty’s will.”
“It’s an honor.”
After exchanging pleasantries, I went to my family to prepare to receive the emperor’s message. Jeffrey lifted the emperor’s letter from a red cushion held by a page. The emperor’s letter was then read aloud.
“I wish to seek Princess Theresa Squire’s innovative methods in magical plant farm management for an upcoming national project. Royal personnel will be sent tomorrow, and I request your cooperation.”
That was the end of the message. Jeffrey summarized the contents in simpler terms for me.
“Therefore, you must accompany me to the magical plant farm tomorrow.”
Due to the emperor’s sudden… command rather than wrath, the duchy was thrown into chaos by evening. While there was a definite plan to visit the magic farm, Ozworld’s stay had caused those plans to fade, leaving us unprepared. Consequently, I had to hurriedly prepare to leave, frantically packing into my inventory brooch.
Giuseppe seemed displeased by my actions, clearly showing his disapproval. “What sort of work does a noble intend to do? Do you want to make a mockery of our house?”
Nobles do not labor. A laboring noble essentially kicks away their noble status. In fact, my powerful status as a princess could wrap this act as having a peculiar character. Otherwise, it would have been scorned in society. Thus, it was all the more reason for someone of my status to step forward.
“Those who wish to change the world must move themselves. And I have the power to do so, don’t I?”
“…” Giuseppe seemed shocked, unable to utter a word.
I bid farewell to my family. “I’ll be back then.”
My family, unable to hold me back, reluctantly wished me to take care. Upon meeting with the imperial personnel at the arranged spot, I was met with a procession of an immense scale.
“Chief Chamberlain?”
Surprisingly, the person who came to greet me was Bein, the emperor’s chief chamberlain.
“It’s good to see you, Princess Squire.”
I greeted him back, albeit puzzled and bewildered. “Good to see you, Chief Chamberlain Bein.”
I had expected field workers from the imperial message, but why had the chief chamberlain, who should be attending to the emperor, come instead?
…? Could it be?
A chill ran down my spine as I lifted my gaze to find Euges smiling from behind the most luxurious carriage window.
“It’s been a while, Princess.”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘True Romanticist Euges’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Is this the scale of the emperor’s date?
ㄷㄷ
.]
How should I react to this crazy situation where the emperor himself has appeared instead of sending personnel?
I paid my respects before he could nitpicked me. “Greetings to Your Majesty the Emperor.”
Euges motioned for me to come closer with a dismissive gesture. I reluctantly moved towards him, wondering what he wanted to say.
“Get in.”
I barely managed not to ask, ‘Why?’
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Rofan-Addicted Young Lady’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[It seems the wound on his hand has healed.]
At that comment, I inadvertently glanced at Euges’s hand.
Indeed.
While I was closely examining his hand, a servant brought a step and placed it below, opening the carriage door.
“Please, Princess.”
Suppressing my uneasy feelings, I climbed into the carriage. “Does Your Majesty have something urgent to tell me?”
My hopeful thinking that he had something private to say crumbled with Euges’s indifferent remark.
“Try not to bore me on the way to the garden.”
“…Me?”
“Would I have called Princess to entertain myself?”
I really wanted to smack him just once.
“I’m not particularly entertaining, so I’m not sure how to amuse Your Majesty…”
“If you wish to enjoy the privilege of sharing a carriage with me, you must make corresponding efforts.” Euges lit a cigarette as if it were none of his concern, blowing smoke into the air.
“
Cough
…!” Caught off guard, I coughed as I failed to hold my breath in time. I covered my mouth in panic.
Euges detested the sound of coughing; one wrong move, and I could be thrown out of the carriage.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘No Smoking Campaign’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[I wish he would quit smoking!]
As I tried to hold my breath to avoid the smoke, my face turning red, Euges chuckled at the sight. “Are you trying to make me feel guilty?”
“It’s not that,
cough
!”
Huff,
Holding my breath again, Euges sighed and extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray.
“Being with Princess seems to extend my life. How very grateful I am.”
At his sarcasm, I inwardly lifted my middle finger while bowing. “…My apologies, Your Majesty.”
“You apologize for extending my life? Does that mean you wish for my early demise?”
“Did I say that? I meant to express my awe but misspoke due to my foolishness. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
“
Ah
, if that’s the issue, then.”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Emperor Euges’s Sunfish’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[If he were slightly less handsome, it would be straight to the coup d’état ending…]
Sigh. Why did our team decide to create such a character as a male lead? If I could go back, I’d make sure to create a lazy, incompetent, and utterly pathetic male lead.
While I internally ranted, Euges appeared to be in a good mood, smiling lightly. “Seeing Princess always improves my mood, but it’s so hard to get a glimpse of your face.”
“Yes… Is that so…”
Regrettably, it hadn’t been long since I last encountered Euges, so his comment about it being hard to see me didn’t resonate with me at all. It would have been better if it had been more difficult; why is something not even mentioned in the original?
At least it seems he doesn’t remember when the butterfly took me to his bedroom.
I found that somewhat relieving.
“But, Princess, something strange has happened to me recently. Would you solve this problem for me?”
“What kind of problem are you referring to?”
“The other day was the anniversary of my mother’s death.”
…Why mention that day all of a sudden?
Euges gazed at his hand, continuing, “I always end up hurting my hand on that day. But this time, it was magically healed.”
“
Ah
…?”
“Moreover, I remembered ordering to purchase and renovate a mansion in the countryside. Why did I do that?”
“Why did Your Majesty do that…?”
“That’s not it, Princess.”
What does he mean by that’s not it?
“You should come up with an answer here.”
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Shaman’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Wow, what is this?]
Euges stared at me intently, trying to hide my confusion. “How exactly did you enter my bedroom?”