Chapter 20

Lirika stood by the window, gazing at the distant mountains while deeply reflecting on yesterday's events. She had eaten a hearty breakfast and carefully braided her hair, as this was the first time she was meeting an outsider. Lirika had memorized the greeting several times.

Behind her, Laub now stood like a shadow. He was not in his guard uniform but wore light leather armor and had a sword on his back.

Lirika handed him a pearl, and Laub carefully placed it in his chest.

Fjord arrived sharply between 3 and 5 PM, the time generally known as teatime.

He was not as disheveled as before but was neatly dressed.

"But Lirika, why don't you have a knight?"

"Yes."

Lirika nodded. Fjord smiled.

"Surely there's a reason. Why can't Princess Lirika of Takar have a knight from the Royal Guard? Is it because she's an adopted daughter?"

Lirika blinked.

She looked down at her teacup and then at Fjord.

"Just because I'm adopted doesn't mean I'm not Takar, right?"

No matter what others said behind her back, a contract was a contract. It was an undeniable fact that she had been a princess for eight years.

Lirika's words made Fjord's golden eyes, tinged with red, gleam with pleasure.

"Of course."

It was a truly Takar-like arrogant and insolent remark, and Fjord felt good about it. A dragon soaring freely in the sky that Barat could never reach, even if they stretched their hands.

In the place where Barat's nobility had been trying to become dragons by mixing blood, an outsider confidently declared herself as 'Takar.'

If the Duke of Barat had heard Lirika's words, he would have wanted to tear her apart. After all, he was the one who clung most to Takar's legitimacy.

"Mosquitoes buzzing are nothing to a dragon."

When Fjord finished, Lirika looked troubled. She said softly,

"No, even dragons would find mosquitoes annoying. Quite a bit."

Isn't the top annoyance during summer nights mosquitoes?

When you enter the smoke from dry grass, liquid immediately starts dripping from your eyes and nose. But to avoid mosquitoes, you can stay in there for as long as you need.

Often, the anxiety about tomorrow is less powerful than a single mosquito keeping you awake.

Fjord nodded at Lirika's words.

"That's true."

Mosquitoes are indeed annoying.

Lirika smiled and said,

"Besides, when it comes to royal matters, I don't know much. I think His Majesty will take care of it."

She hinted at the most powerful backing in the world and then put a fluffy Castella cake in her mouth.

'Delicious.'

The cook had used a special yeast to make it fluffy, or so she had heard.

The cook, with the help of the Empress, always presented the new pastries on the Princess's table first.

In the court's social circle, those of high status were always the trendsetters. Whatever they did, the attention was always on the royals and the high nobles.

Thus, who brought something new and how much that 'new thing' spread became a measure of influence in the social circle.

Imitation is the purest form of flattery.

Rudia gradually released new recipes, clothing styles, accessories, and makeup techniques, each causing a significant reaction.

Lirika, being outside the social circle, didn't know about these great reactions, but she knew that her mother's cook made very delicious desserts.

Lirika offered the Castella to Fjord.

"This is a new pastry made by Her Majesty. Try it, it's delicious."

"I know. The rumor about Castella has already spread. Our family's cook is trying to recreate it, but it's not going well."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Lirika didn't ask what was really true because everything he said was a fact.

Fjord put the Castella in his mouth and was satisfied with its softness and not overly sweet taste.

Until now, the trend had been to use a lot of expensive sugar to show off wealth, making sugary foods extremely sweet.

However, the desserts Rudia presented were not overly sweet and pursued harmony with tea, offering various textures.

The Castella disappeared in an instant, and a maid quickly brought a new piece.

Fjord, like a boy his age, ate very well, and Lirika happily entertained him.

She asked about the social circle, and Fjord answered without reservation.

Lirika was repeatedly amazed by the stories about the Empress, her mother. The stories Fjord told were ones she had never heard before.

Her mother had humbled a proud marchioness in the social circle, amazed everyone with new pastries at a tea salon, and even—

"Calmed a frightened horse?"

"Yes, Her Majesty calmed the mare that Lady Erin rode, which was running wild. Her fiancé's side was very grateful."

Her mother?

With a horse?

'She seems different from the mother I know.'

Was it the same person? Of course, her mother was the most beautiful and kind, but Lirika always thought she needed to protect her...

Fjord asked,

"Does the Princess not have a companion?"

"Bryn is my companion."

At Lirika's words, Fjord slightly smiled and shook his head.

"No, I mean a companion sent from a noble family. It seems you've never heard social circle stories, so I assume you don't have a companion."

He added meaningfully,

"Companions are often arranged for various reasons, such as fostering ties between families or as an attendant. Anyway, they are arranged by the powerful."

"Hmm."

Lirika sighed.

"Then I guess I'm not powerful enough yet."

She was just a 'beginner in power' who had just tasted the flavor of power, so no arrangements had been made for her.

'Now that I think about it, Attil also had a companion. Is Pai Attil's companion?'

At Lirika's words, Fjord's lips trembled slightly. He hurriedly swallowed the tea in his mouth.

In fact, while Lirika didn't realize it, she was currently the hottest topic in the capital, second only to the Empress.

But for some reason, he didn't want to tell her that.

He wanted this Princess to know only him.

Lirika felt a bit disappointed. She wanted to have friends. Of course, she had Bryn, but Bryn was a maid and always kept her place, never playing or chatting like a friend.

'Friends.'

In the slums, she was too busy working to have friends. If she had sold flowers or tried to be a pickpocket, she might have had companions more easily.

'But since I finally got a job, I didn't want to give it up.'

Imagining what noble friends would do when they gathered, Lirika swallowed her sigh.

Companions are arranged...

Would there ever be a day when they would be arranged for her?

'No, don't be disappointed! If I become an excellent Princess, people will want to be my companion.'

Since she wasn't an excellent Princess yet, she just needed to work harder. Lirika straightened her back.

Her frustration and determination were clearly visible on her face, and Fjord suppressed a smile again.

Lirika looked at Fjord. This was the first step to becoming an excellent Princess.

"Teach me how to curtsey."

* * *

Fjord demonstrated a graceful curtsey. It was so light and beautiful that Lirika clapped without realizing it.

"How do you do that?"

"What do you think about when you curtsey, Princess?"

"Um, I think about bending my knees this much and standing up... I need to stand up slowly to look graceful..."

"Forget that. Think that you are the most beautiful person in the world."

"Huh?"

"Try it. I am the most beautiful person in the world."

"I, I am the most beautiful person in the world."

The voice sounded like she didn't believe it at all.

"Well, it's true, isn't it?"

Lirika didn't have beautiful, wavy blonde hair like her mother...

"Princess."

Fjord bowed. Looking into her teal eyes, he whispered,

"Princess, you are beautiful. Your chestnut-colored hair is like a tree sprite, and your eyes are like Lake Ludin in the sunlight."

Lirika's eyes widened at the praise she had never heard before. Fjord smiled.

"You can have confidence. Try it again."

"Huh?"

"I am the most beautiful person in the world."

"I, I am the most beautiful person in the world."

Her face flushed. She never thought she would say such words in front of someone more beautiful than herself.

"Try it once."

At Fjord's words, Lirika curtseyed. Perhaps because she was embarrassed, her body became even stiffer.

Fjord tilted his head and asked,

"Princess, you don't have to curtsey much anyway. Is there a reason to learn it so formally?"

"I want to show it to the few people I do curtsey to."

She wanted to show how well she could do it to her mother, His Majesty, and Attil.

It would be even better if she got compliments.

Her mother would surely praise her generously.

Fjord looked at Lirika and said,

"They already think you are beautiful. So..."

"Oh, right!"

Lirika turned to Fjord.

"Instead of beautiful, I can think of something else. Hmm, I am the cutest and most lovable person in the world...!"

This also made her face turn red, but it was something her mother said every day.

Cute Lirika, my Lirika, the most lovable Lirika in the world.

Thinking that way in front of someone who thought of her that way wasn't difficult.

Being beautiful might be a stretch, but this she could do.

'I am cute, I am cute, I am cute. Yes!'

Repeating the words in her mind, Lirika curtseyed. It was a spirited and cute curtsey, and Fjord couldn't help but laugh.

Lirika, startled, looked at him.

"Was something wrong?"

"No, it's just that..."

Fjord gently touched the red ribbon around her neck and smiled.

"You looked like a little bird."

"A little bird?"

She looked at her ribbon and then at Fjord.

"Yes, a lovely little bird Princess."

He smiled.

Lirika, feeling praised, wanted to compliment him in return.

After some thought, she said,

"Fjord is like a silver ornament."

Fjord raised an eyebrow and then smiled. He said,

"I would like to apply to be the Princess's companion."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then—"

Just as Lirika opened her mouth, Bryn timely intervened.

"Both of you must be tired. Let's have a cold juice."

"Ah, thank you, Bryn."

Two glasses of sweet and cold strawberry juice were prepared.

Since it was impolite to stand and eat or drink, the two of them sat at the table.

The sweet and cold juice quickly lifted their spirits. She sighed.

"I can't be like Fjord."

"Isn't that okay? The Princess can do it in her own way."

Cute and lovable.

Isn't that enough?

Just as Fjord thought this, the front door burst open.

"Lirika, yesterday I—"

Attil, who had cleared his throat and started to speak, stopped when he saw the situation in the parlor.

His gaze fixed on Fjord.

Fjord slowly stood up and greeted him.

"Fjord Barat, the Imperial Crown Prince—"

Before he could finish, Attil ran over and grabbed his collar.

Startled, Lirika jumped up from her seat.

"Attil!"

Ignoring her call, Attil growled,

"What are you doing here, you brat?"

"I was invited."

"Invited?"

"Yes, Attil. I invited him. So—"

Suddenly unsure of the situation, Lirika fidgeted and looked around. Pai, who had entered with Attil, also had a serious face.

"How dare you seduce my sister? Is that it? Did you charm her with your good looks and sweet talk?"

Attil's words became even harsher, and Fjord smiled.

"The Princess asked me to come."

As soon as he finished, Attil slapped his face.