Chapter 71

Debt…? I blinked at the unexpected words. Looking at Orca’s smiling face, waiting for my answer, it didn’t seem like he was making it up. But Altear owing Prince Orca?

‘He’s not the type to do that…’

And it’s not as if Eilsford’s situation was so dire that he would owe someone money. In fact, we were in a position to lend money to other estates if they were in a pinch.

“Eh…”

Opening my mouth in confusion at the incomprehensible situation, Prince Orca’s smile deepened, as if he was expecting an answer.

“How much?”

“How much?”

“How much to pay off the debt…”

“With money?”

“Yes?”

We both stared at each other with wide eyes, neither understanding the other. Amidst this, Prince Orca’s crimson eyes stood out sharply.

‘His eyes are beautiful.’

It was a purely aesthetic observation. Prince Orca always had a smile on his face, so I rarely got to see his eyes like this. Moreover, when he wasn’t smiling, his eyes made him seem a bit cold, almost as if his entire demeanor changed. It was quite intriguing.

‘Altear always looks like a scary villain, whether he’s smiling or not.’

In fact, Prince Orca was an even more villainous character.

‘Altear might feel wronged about that.’

At that moment, Prince Orca, who had been staring at me with wide eyes, burst into laughter.

“Hahaha!”

It didn’t seem like his usual sly laugh but a genuinely joyful one. I looked at him with suspicion, wondering why this suspicious prince was suddenly acting this way, and he finally managed to control his laughter, shaking his head.

“More than I always thought.”

The word ‘always’ made me feel strange. Isn’t that something you’d say to someone you’ve known for a long time?

“The nobleman didn’t take money. So, I don’t need to get money back either.”

“Then…”

“Hmm. I helped the nobleman out of a difficult situation. So, the nobleman should help me out of my difficult situation as a return. A little… interest would be even better.”

“The lord will not forget your kindness.”

“Of course. I know he’s the type who wouldn’t.”

This too was something you’d say to someone you’ve known for a long time. Prince Orca and Eilsford’s connection only started with the recent eastern assembly. I couldn’t hide my confusion and slightly furrowed my brow, and the perceptive Prince Orca shrugged.

“I’m good at reading people. Maybe it’s because I’ve been eating a lot of ‘rice with a side of hints’ since I was young. Haha.”

‘Rice with a side of hints…’

I had only read the novel 50 times, but I knew enough about Prince Orca’s past. It’s true that he traveled around the empire under the pretense of convalescence and that the nobles didn’t treat him well, but he wasn’t the type to eat ‘rice with a side of hints.’

‘He’s the type who wouldn’t budge even if people tried to give him hints.’

In fact, his specialty was observing such people and subtly bringing about their downfall. I reluctantly responded, “Is that so…” and Prince Orca, with a smile that only reached his eyes, leaned in closer.

“However…”

Surprised by the sudden closeness, I shrank back, and Prince Orca tilted his head.

“No matter how I look at it, I can’t figure out the lady.”

“But, I’m the easiest person to understand… My face and actions show my timid nature, so what don’t you understand?”

“Then, you don’t know yourself well. I… can tell what you’re thinking now, but I can’t tell what you’ll do in the future. You’re unpredictable. That unpredictability hits a strangely important spot…”

“Your Highness.”

As he continued to speak, Pavel, sensing the awkwardness, interjected.

“Forgive me, but I’m worried that the servants might misunderstand due to the close distance. There are not only Eilsford people in the castle…”

“Oh. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Then, it’s troublesome.”

A butler’s criticism could have been annoying, but Prince Orca straightened up and took a step back. I let out a sigh of relief, realizing that being close to someone I wasn’t used to was still very nerve-wracking.

“Lady.”

“Yes?”

“Is the story about you being my fan still valid?”

At the word ‘fan,’ Pavel looked at me with a peculiar expression, as if questioning whether it was true.

‘A story I made up to get out of a situation, and it’s coming back to haunt me…’

The sudden change in topic made me break out in a cold sweat, but I couldn’t deny it.

“O-of course. I’m a passionate fan of Your Highness! Ahaha…”

I tried to laugh awkwardly and clenched my fists. Prince Orca’s face became strange. He silently moved his lips, and it looked like he was saying… “Liar.” However, his gaze wasn’t accusatory, just complex.

“When we meet again in the capital.”

As I tried to read his expression, he spoke.

“I plan to receive the repayment for the debt I placed on the nobleman. You will inevitably be involved in this ‘repayment’… I wanted to let you know in advance.”

It didn’t seem like he was waiting for an answer, as he turned to look out the window. The peaceful and serene countryside spread outside.

“It’s a good estate. I heard a festival is coming up, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to see it. I doubt I’ll have the chance in the future.”

Prince Orca’s life will change completely after the Silver Jubilee. He had already foreseen this. It was something he had planned. However, his face, as he looked out the window, didn’t seem at ease. It was as if he was being forced to walk a path he didn’t want to take… But when he turned back to me, his usual radiant smile was all that remained.

“When the broken wheel is fixed, I’ll leave for the capital. Will you see me off on the day I leave?”

“…Of course. It’s only natural to see off a guest.”

“Great. Let’s meet again in the capital.”

His farewell was strange. We would meet again before the capital, on the day he left for the capital. I quickly understood the meaning of his words. *** Prince Orca’s party left Eilsford Castle early in the morning, leaving only a short note. According to Pavel, they didn’t seem to be in a hurry. It wasn’t that their schedule had changed, but that they had planned to leave this way from the beginning.

‘If that’s the case, why did Prince Orca keep talking about seeing us off?’

He was truly an enigmatic person. Anyway, with Prince Orca’s party gone, the Eilsford people, who had been on edge from hosting guests, finally relaxed. The disappearance of the troublesome Melissa made it even more refreshing. I felt the same way. With the uncomfortable people gone, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief. However, it was only temporary, as I would soon meet them again, along with many others, in the capital. The estate now busied itself with preparing for the upcoming festival. According to Pavel, it was true that the men of Eilsford traditionally took the lead in preparing the festival. I had almost no role to play in the preparations. When I asked if I could really do nothing, the native Eilsford resident, Anna, was surprised and said, “Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?”

In the capital, it was completely different. Preparing for the festival was the responsibility of the mistress, and women took the lead in organizing the events. The founding festival, organized by the royal family, was led by the empress, with the help of various noblewomen. Even experienced Marie found this situation intriguing. With the unexpected free time, we decided to prepare for our trip to the capital in advance. To avoid being late for the Silver Jubilee, we needed to leave as soon as the Eilsford Harvest Festival ended. With the experience from the eastern assembly, both Marie and Anna handled the situation skillfully. Thinking back to when Anna knew nothing about the basics when we first arrived at Eilsford Castle… it was a significant improvement.

‘The only worry is the von Baine family.’

I couldn’t tell what my uncle’s intentions were in inviting Altear and me to his mansion.

‘Could he be trying to extort more money? Probably.’

The news of Eilsford’s wealth had likely reached the capital, and my greedy uncle would naturally be tempted. Just thinking about it made my heart race and cold sweat break out. In the past, as Nadia ‘Baine,’ I would have given everything away without a fight, but now I’m Nadia ‘Eilsford,’ so I need to be on my guard.

‘The gift for the emperor is also important.’

I had already prepared the finest magic stones for the jewelry. I decided to make a crown, as it was fitting for the 25th anniversary celebration. The plan was to make the crown emit a gentle light when worn, enhancing the emperor’s majesty. Initially, there was a suggestion to make the crown defend against attacks, but it was a very complex process and didn’t suit the emperor’s showy nature.

‘The emperor likes things that are visibly impressive.’

So, a sparkling crown would be perfect. Considering it as a promotion for magic stones, a visually impactful effect would be beneficial for us. Everything proceeded smoothly, and the day of the Harvest Festival arrived. On that day, Eilsford Castle became unusually quiet, as most of the knights left to attend the festival, leaving only the servants and a minimal defense force.

“I’ll dress you up to match the Harvest Festival!”

Usually, Marie took the lead in dressing up, but today, Anna was the star. She enthusiastically chose the outfit, styled my hair, and even did my makeup. When I looked in the mirror after the dressing….

‘A, a shepherdess?!”

A clumsy shepherdess girl stood there.

‘Like an Alpine girl…’

In the capital, noblewomen wore elaborate dresses and adorned themselves with expensive jewels during festivals. Would this outfit be appropriate here? I looked at Anna with doubt, but she was dressed similarly. Marie, standing next to her, was also awkwardly adjusting her skirt.

“It’s the traditional eastern attire! Everyone wears this today. We need to enjoy drinking and dancing all day, so no ‘lady dresses’!”

“Huh?”

‘Enjoy drinking and dancing?’

I was about to protest, saying I had never heard of this, when a loud voice came from outside the door.

“Lady! The festival has started! I’m here to escort you!”

It was Cain.