Chapter 87

Evan kindly offered advice from beside me on how to keep my balance on the horse’s back.

“Shall we depart?”

“Ah… yes!”

Everyone had been waiting for me. My face flushed red with embarrassment.

Evan urged the horse forward gently, but my hips bounced with every movement. It was definitely uncomfortable; my seat was starting to ache.

However, more than the physical discomfort, the sensation of him behind me made things difficult—not to mention his breath, which felt like it was teasing my earlobe. I tried my best to calm my pounding heart.

As I gripped the reins tightly and held my body stiff, Evan laughed mischievously.

“Relax, Lep. Lean back on me. Why are you keeping so much distance?”

‘Because of you!’

I had put so much effort into maintaining that gap, only for him to make it go up in smoke in an instant.

“It’s dangerous if you wobble. I told you, you can lean back comfortably. It’s not like we haven’t slept in the same bed before.”

I swallowed a scream.

‘In front of all these people?!’

I frantically checked my surroundings. Count Delta was looking at us with a dubious expression—a smile on his lips, but his eyes were twitching slightly. Fedeshar looked as though he understood the situation perfectly, while Bastien’s mouth was set in a hard line.

Wait, let’s think about this. Wouldn’t it actually be better to show off our affection in front of Bastien?

I changed my tune immediately. Acting as if I had never tried to keep a distance, I pressed myself firmly against Evan’s back. I tilted my head back, looked straight into his eyes, and said: “Actually, I’d prefer a bed.”

I meant it, too. At least a bed is soft on the back. The gazes piercing into us became even more blatant.

Evan murmured quietly.

“I want to go to a bed right now…”

‘W-we just started? And what’s with that look? Did I choose the wrong words?’

Evan’s eyes smoldered like someone who had completely lost their sense of focus.

“……The two of you certainly get along well.”

“Of course. We’ve spent so much time stuck together. We’ve even spent all day together. In a room. Right?”

When Evan blithely admitted that, Count Delta looked utterly dumbfounded. He glanced at me sideways with a very strange look.

‘Excuse me, please don’t get the wrong idea! I was just doing this for show…’

“If you count the nights we spent together, it’d be hard to keep track. Wouldn’t it?”

Evan let out a pleasant laugh. He pulled me into a tight embrace and rubbed his face against my neck as if he couldn’t contain himself.

“I don’t think such remarks are good for you or the Young Lady. Bad rumors might…”

Evan let out a scoffing laugh at Bastien’s words.

“What does it matter? Lep and I have promised our futures to each other. I don’t know what ‘bad rumors’ you’re referring to, but I won’t forgive anyone who spreads groundless gossip.”

“Meaning you won’t leave even the slightest opening…”

I flinched inwardly. Just as Bastien said, I had made those comments specifically to leave no opening. Fortunately, the war of nerves didn’t continue past that point. However, I immediately faced a different problem.

The heat. Setting aside the lack of rain due to the drought, the sunlight was brutally intense.

Ah, it was hot and stifling. The beating sun felt like it was scorching my skin. Even Count Delta loosened his tie slightly, looking breathless just from standing still.

In contrast, Evan, Bastien, and Fedeshar were perfectly fine. Is this what they call the “love interests” of an otome game? They rode their horses with perfect posture and unchanging expressions as if they couldn’t even feel the heat.

I looked up at the sky. Even the trees looked parched from the fierce sun. The leaves that should have been lush were withered and limp, offering no shade. The horses seemed exhausted too, as their pace slowed.

Between the burning sun above and the radiant heat from below, it was sweltering. Since the trees had no water to absorb, they couldn’t transpire, making the air even hotter. Well, based on modern knowledge, there are various causes, but I’m no expert.

“Count, when did the drought begin?”

Since no one else was asking, I spoke up. He began to explain, as if he had almost forgotten.

“It started quite a long time ago. At first, we didn’t think much of it. There are years with poor harvests, after all. But then the poor harvests continued the next year, and the year after that, and the days without rain persisted uniquely long. Then, the ground began to crack.”

I looked down at the earth. It was soil where even common weeds wouldn’t grow. The cracked earth was clearly visible.

“It’s frustrating because I don’t even know the exact cause. Our people have been struggling more and more with hunger. His Majesty exempted us from taxes, but since there’s nothing to harvest, it’s hard to make a living regardless of taxes. Some merchants even demanded ridiculous amounts of money just to provide water.”

Count Delta vented his frustration. Considering the hardships he had endured over the past few years, his lament was only natural. After a brief pause, he looked at Bastien and Fedeshar and said: “That is why I cannot tell you how happy I was to hear that Your Highnesses were coming.”

“I am glad if even my meager strength can be of help. I cannot moisten the entire land, but I can at least bring a bit of rain.”

“That alone is a massive help! My thanks to you as well, Prince Fedeshar, for showing such concern. We’ve been able to hold on this far thanks to His Majesty opening the national treasury.”

“I will relay that to my father.”

The Count’s attempt to include Fedeshar was obvious, but the Prince replied calmly as if it didn’t bother him.

“My father opened the treasury, but just as he cannot feed many citizens for years on end, my brother cannot keep bringing rain forever. Have you found a solution?”

“I haven’t found one myself, but Lady Clies here holds the key to solving the food problem.”

“Yes. There are some minor issues, but nothing major.”

“……Pardon?”

Count Delta looked at me inquisitively, saying he hadn’t heard this before. I had been so mentally frazzled yesterday that I forgot to mention it, but don’t worry. It’s nothing big.

“As long as it’s food that humans can eat, what could be the problem?”

“I-I suppose so.”

‘You better not take those words back later.’

I smiled slyly.

After talking for quite a while, we arrived at a village. Upon arrival, we saw people walking around with visibly gaunt faces. It was understandable, given they had no food from the parched land and no water to drink.

“Th-the Count is here!!”

Having already heard the news, everyone from the elderly to young children rushed out and bowed their heads.

“Prince Bastien, Prince Fedeshar. Welcome!”

“Everyone, rise.”

The villagers didn’t budge even at Bastien’s command. A man who appeared to be the village chief held out his hands and implored: “Please, give us rain…”

His eyes were as hollow and sunken as a dried-up well. Even without them looking up, I could guess what the eyes of the others looked like.

Only after Count Delta urged the villagers to stand did they slowly get up one by one. It was impossible not to feel pity.

“Your Highness, I beg of you.”

Count Delta also bowed his head.

At their earnest request, Bastien immediately dismounted. Given his nature, there was no way he would ignore them. A small light of hope flickered in the eyes of the people watching him.

Bastien walked straight to the dried-up well. He closed his eyes softly and spoke.

“Please.”

A blue sphere of light formed above his palm and began to swirl in the air.

When the brilliant blue flash faded, a miracle occurred. In the place where the light had been, a powerful stream of water gushed out. it felt like watching a waterfall.

“Finally…!”

Exclamations of awe were cut short by choked-up sobs. People wept as the water poured in with enough force to fill the entire dried-up well.

The villagers’ reaction was as intense as the stream of water. Some fell to their knees and pressed their foreheads to the ground.

However, the limit was visible. Beads of sweat formed on Bastien’s forehead. He looked burdened.

It was only natural. Nothing comes without a price. Using power consumes a significant amount of mana. That’s why no one could deal with this quickly. Even if mages were sent, it was just a way to survive for a day. It was the same logic as to why the Emperor hadn’t sent mages.

They probably knew that, but they had no choice but to lean on him. There was a reason the Empress had mentioned this to me.

Still, it was true that he was working hard. The well was filled with clear, sparkling water. The villagers were as joyful as if they were seeing water in a well for the first time. Simultaneously, Bastien swayed slightly.

“Brother, are you alright?”

“Yes…”

“You worked hard, Your Highness. Look at how happy everyone is. This was achieved through your power.”

“Aren’t you praising another man too much in front of me? Especially…….”

‘To someone who has feelings for you.’

It seemed Bastien was more than just a minor eyesore to Evan.

“Evan, are you trying to announce it to the whole neighborhood? Besides, it would be strange to just stand by and watch in this situation.”

I whispered quietly to soothe Evan. Then, I held out a handkerchief to Bastien. I had enough humanity to offer a handkerchief to someone who had worked hard. The fact that he exerted himself for the villagers didn’t change.

“Thank you. I’ll wash it and—”

As Bastien reached for the handkerchief in my hand, someone else snatched it away instantly. In its place, a simple handkerchief was offered instead of my lace-trimmed one.

“Wipe with this. For the record, you don’t need to give it back. Throw it away or do whatever you want.”

It was Evan. Bastien shrugged and wiped his face, acting as if he didn’t care either way.