Chapter 115

I was preparing to leave the royal palace and couldn’t hide my shock at the size of my luggage.

 

“Why is it so big…?”

 

When I first entered the palace, all I had were a couple of dresses and some fabric. But now, the pile of luggage before me looked like a small mountain.

 

It was all because of Jonas, who had come running as soon as he heard the news of my departure, handing over countless accessories and dresses.

 

“Jonas, you really didn’t need to pack all this.”

 

“I feel like I haven’t yet repaid the kindness I received from the Vice Head Leader… I thought I’d feel better if I could at least do this…”

 

“But it’s still too much.”

 

Since I had already been reimbursed for the fabric I gave to Cyad, our accounts were settled. Despite that, the kind-hearted Jonas insisted that the Princess’s victory in the outfit competition was all thanks to me.

 

“Please just think of it as my heart and accept it!”

 

“It’s so heavy I can’t even carry it by myself.”

 

The weight was substantial, making it difficult to lift even with both hands.

 

“Shall I move it for you personally?!”

 

“You, Jonas?”

 

I shook my head as I looked at Jonas, who was nodding eagerly. I thought it would be better for me to carry it than him; the bone-thin Jonas looked far too frail to be hauling such heavy luggage.

 

“Merchant Guild Big Sister! Then shall I carry it for you?”

 

Cyad, who had been sitting in a chair eating cake, spoke to me while swinging his feet.

 

“You’ll help me, Cyad?”

 

“Yeah! I’m super strong!”

 

Cyad shouted, clenching his fist reliably.

 

“I’m the tallest and strongest among all my friends! And I’m even stronger than you, Bro!”

 

“Then shall I ask you for a favor?”

 

“Of course!”

 

Cyad set his fork down on the table, hopped off the sofa, and grabbed the luggage handle with one hand.

 

“Let’s go!”

 

With a confident attitude, Cyad tried to lift the suitcase that came up to his chest. Soon, strained groaning sounds escaped his lips.

 

“Why is this so heavy…?”

 

Cyad tried again with both hands, but the suitcase didn’t budge an inch. As Jonas shook his head in embarrassment while watching Cyad struggle, someone entered the room.

 

“Hu—huff, Noona! Is there a boulder inside this or something…?”

 

Exhausted, Cyad slumped to the floor, gasping for breath. Being so worn out, he didn’t even notice the newcomer’s approach.

 

“Lilithia.”

 

“Your— I mean, Lord Kyle.”

 

“Is this the last of the luggage?”

 

I nodded, looking at the suitcase.

 

Freyer made a mockery of Cyad’s earlier declaration that absolutely no one could lift it and that it had been a “good battle.”

 

He lifted the heavy luggage effortlessly with one hand. Seeing the suitcase floating in the air, Cyad’s eyes went wide—looking at him as if he were a hero who had just pulled Excalibur from the stone.

 

“Shall we go?”

 

“Brother!”

 

Suddenly being called “Brother,” Freyer looked toward the source of the voice and made eye contact with Cyad.

 

“Brother, who are you?”

 

“Well, this person is…”

 

Since it was the first time Cyad and Freyer had met, I agonized over how to introduce him—should I say he was a Prince, or part of the delegation? I was stuck in a complicated dilemma regarding his status.

 

Just then, Cyad jumped up, his eyes sparkling with curiosity as he asked Freyer again.

 

“Brother, arm-wrestle with me! Can we have a match to see if I win or you win?”

 

“I’m not particularly interested.”

 

Cyad began pouring out comments like, “Is it because I’m young?” or “Are you afraid you’ll lose?” Jonas and I stomped our feet in embarrassment at the brazen words only a child could say.

 

“Cyad! That is rude!”

 

“That brother said he won’t arm-wrestle me! Then what do I have to do to get a match!?”

 

“I only duel with knights.”

 

Cyad repeated the word “Knight?” several times, his spirit momentarily dampened. But he quickly regained his energy, clenching his fists and looking up at Freyer.

 

“Then, if I become a knight, will you compete with me!?”

 

“I’ll think about it.”

 

Cyad stood there blinking, and I was inwardly impressed. To handle a child’s tantrum like that and quiet him down—Freyer was quite a pro at dealing with children.

 

“Let’s go, Lilithia.”

 

I followed Freyer as he stepped out first. Beyond the closing door, I could hear Cyad’s ambitious voice.

 

“I! I’m going to become a knight! And I’m going to beat that brother!”

 

Thanks to the child’s simple, competitive logic, Freyer had inadvertently planted the seed of a knight in Cyad’s heart.

 

 

***

 

 

Thanks to Scarlet, who prepared a carriage so we could travel comfortably to the shop, Freyer and I arrived safely at the temporary merchant base.

 

As I arrived in front of the merchant guild, I was met with a bewildering scene.

 

“Wow.”

 

The front of the shop was crowded with a long line of people. Inside, I could see Winnie running around frantically and Sir Derek helping to guide the line.

 

It seemed the rumors had spread—that this was the fabric used for the winning dress in the Princess’s competition, along with word of the skin beauty products that were currently the talk of the town among the nobles.

 

No wonder Winnie had asked me to check the documents quickly. I also realized that the “busy work” Sir Derek said he had to return for was helping out at the hectic shop.

 

I couldn’t just stand there staring for long. There was no time to daze off.

 

“Your Highness. I’m going to head inside for the shop business first!”

 

“I’ll bring the luggage in.”

 

“Please, I’m counting on you.”

 

I rolled up my sleeves and hurried into the shop. Winnie, looking frantic, spotted me and her eyes went wide.

 

“My Lady!”

 

I gave Winnie a bright smile in return and raised my hand at the counter to start organizing the bustling shop.

 

“Please come to me for checkout!”

 

With an extra hand, the shop began to run a bit more smoothly. Immersed in the busy operation, I didn’t even notice how much time was passing.

 

 

***

 

 

“My Lady! I didn’t know you were coming from the palace today!”

 

“I wanted to come sooner. Sorry, Winnie.”

 

“No, it’s fine! I’m just so happy you’re back.”

 

After expressing how much she had missed me during just one week, Winnie’s eyes darted around before she whispered to me.

 

“But, My Lady, that gentleman over there…?”

 

Winnie’s gaze landed on Freyer, who was sitting next to us savoring his tea. When I opened my mouth to explain, Winnie’s subsequent words left me completely flustered.

 

“Is he perhaps the man you met during the festival? Then what about Prince Freyer?”

 

“Eh…?”

 

“Even if you miss Prince Freyer dearly, meeting someone who looks like him is a bit…”

 

Glancing at Freyer, Winnie hurriedly grabbed my hand, trying to persuade me.

 

“Even if your heart is broken because the Prince left…”

 

“What are you talking about?!”

 

Faced with such a massive misunderstanding, I waved my hands frantically.

 

“This person is…”

 

“This person is?”

 

“He is Prince Freyer…”

 

“Don’t say such nonsense! How could this person be Prince Freyer?”

 

Even though I told her the truth, Winnie didn’t lower her suspicious gaze. I gestured to him, and Freyer chimed in.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

“Even the voice is exactly the same…!”

 

Winnie wore an expression as if she had just heard a shocking truth on par with a secret birth. I let out a deep sigh and spoke.

 

“He really is Prince Freyer.”

 

“Why is he in this form…?”

 

I didn’t know the specific details of why Freyer was changing his appearance either. When I looked at Freyer as if asking for an explanation, he squinted his eyes and smiled.

 

“I think I told you. I wanted to surprise you.”

 

Dumbfounded, Winnie blurted out.

 

“He must have been bored. To play a prank like this.”

 

Surprised by her own words, Winnie quickly covered her mouth with both hands. Freyer simply arched an eyebrow instead of adding anything. To change the atmosphere, I quickly spread out the documents I brought from my bag on the desk and said,

 

“Ah, right. Winnie, I’ve checked all the documents. But I have something to discuss regarding these details…”

 

I glanced briefly toward Freyer and made a cautious request.

 

“Could you excuse us for a moment so we can talk?”

 

“Of course.”

 

Freyer stood up at my request. I watched his retreating figure before turning my eyes back to the documents.

 

“What kind of content?”

 

“I’m torn between deciding whether to set up the workshop near the capital or somewhere further away.”

 

Somehow, Winnie’s borderline rude comments seemed to have been settled for now.

 

 

***

 

 

Derek naturally stood by Freyer’s side and spoke.

 

“It has been a few days.”

 

“Has it been two days?”

 

“Yes.”

 

When he had visited the palace to deliver documents to Lady Lilithia, Derek had recognized Freyer at a glance while watching the men sparring at the training grounds.

 

Specifically, he noted the black string wrapped around the sword hilt. It was something belonging to Lady Lilithia Baimery, which he always cherished like a precious jewel.

 

“I was worried because I couldn’t reach Your Highness.”

 

“I had a lot to deal with.”

 

Freyer’s expression twisted into a complicated frown as he began to recount the events.

 

Starting from the assassination attempt in the Kingdom of Oneren and how he used an alchemy potion to change the assassin’s corpse into his own likeness, the story continued until Derek’s expression gradually hardened.

 

“Ricardo’s group and the body should be arriving by now.”

 

“Then the one who rejoices upon hearing the news of Your Highness’s death must be the culprit.”

 

“Likely so.”

 

“Could it be the Crown Prince, after all?”

 

“Who knows.”

 

It was then. The communication device in Freyer’s pocket vibrated and rang. As soon as he pulled it out, Jaybil’s face appeared.

 

– Your Highness. Ricardo’s group has arrived at the Imperial Palace… I think I need to show you this situation, so I contacted you.

 

Jaybil, who was hiding in a secluded spot, turned the communication device to show the scene unfolding. There stood Ivailo, frowning deeply as he looked at Freyer lying in the coffin, and the Empress, who was crying out and wailing with exaggerated grief.

 

– It’s just a guess… but it seems the mastermind behind the attempt on Your Highness’s life is the Empress.