Chapter 44

Fjord looked at Diale. His deep green eyes, resembling moss, were cold and businesslike.

Fjord was used to such gazes. The kind of look that reassesses who he is.

Fjord did not avoid that gaze. He could somewhat understand Diale Wolf’s reaction.

“I understand.”

At Fjord’s words, Diale frowned, then quickly switched to a smile.

“So we’re making up, then.”

Diale shook hands with Lirika, who was holding his hand, back and forth.

“Princess, we’ve made up. I apologized. Right?”

“Yes.”

With Fjord’s support from the side, Lirika finally glanced between the two. Fjord said,

“The food will get cold.”

“Yeah, and I’m even hungrier after the bath.”

“Alright, then.”

Lirika let go of their hands and quickly picked up her teacup. Bryn asked,

“Shall I pour some more?”

“No, I prefer it a bit cooled.”

Diale’s hand quickly reached for the cookies. The sweet smell had been hard to resist all along.

The soft and light bread cookies melted in his mouth almost instantly. A maid quickly replaced the plate with a new one.

Lirika also tasted the soft golden cookie and nodded. She was indeed hungry, and the sweetness spread on her tongue.

“I love playing with the princess because I can eat as many cookies as I want.”

At Diale’s words, Lirika asked curiously,

“Don’t you eat a lot of cookies in the Wolf family?”

“Hmm, we are many, so even if we buy cookies, we each get only one piece.”

“I see.”

Lirika laughed softly.

“I’ve had that experience too. Once, I got some leftover cookies by chance, and they were so delicious. I thought I’d break them into pieces and eat a little each day.”

She sighed deeply.

“But the ants took them all. I really regret not eating them all at once.”

Fjord and Diale’s eyes wavered. Diale, regaining her composure, pushed her plate of cookies toward the princess.

“Please, have more!”

“Ah, I’m already eating a lot, so it’s fine. Diale, you should eat more.”

She pushed the plate back to Diale. Fjord, watching this, said,

“Soon, the Wolf family will be able to eat as many cookies as they want.”

Diale and Lirika turned their gazes to him simultaneously. Fjord moistened his lips with tea and said,

“Once sugar starts being produced in the north, the northern nobles will no longer be so frugal.”

“Frugal?”

Bryn explained,

“It means they can’t afford to have what they need because their lives are not comfortable.”

Diale retorted,

“It’s not that bad.”

Fjord put down his teacup and said, “I apologize.”

“Everyone knows that the Wolf family’s territory, which has long supported the imperial faction, is not very productive.”

Not wearing luxury items is partly due to the family’s unique knightly spirit, but also because they don’t have the money for it.

Mostly covered by vast forests and barren land, the northern nobles, including the Wolf family, and many imperial families, often rely on the stipends provided by the state.

So, they can hardly bring back more than a box of cookies.

Lirika was shocked.

‘That candy, Tan must have spent a lot of money on it!’

She thought he just handed over the candy bottle casually, but now she understood how much care Tan had shown.

“But the southern nobles must be in an uproar.”

Fjord continued, and Lirika nodded. Indeed, something happened in the afternoon.

Diale, indignant, said,

“Why are you telling the princess such things?”

“Well… Isn’t that what a conversation partner does?”

Fjord tilted his head and said,

“I’m not a conversation partner, but a friend of the princess. She should know necessary information.”

It would be troublesome if she were caught off guard, wouldn’t it?

Diale had no response. She looked at Lirika with teary eyes.

“I don’t know much about such matters.”

Lirika smiled and placed another cookie in Diale’s hand.

“It’s okay, Diale. You played with me so much today.”

Diale, munching on the golden cookie, resolved to pay more attention to the news.

Lirika agreed with Fjord. If Attila hadn’t told her in the morning, she would have been more surprised when they suddenly started cursing behind her back.

‘But it would have been fine if Diale was with me.’

She secretly gave Diale another cookie and patted her head, making her blush shyly.

‘So cute.’

She wondered if it was okay to do this to someone older than her, but Diale was indeed cute.

‘Now that I think about it, Laub is also cute sometimes. Maybe the Wolf family is just cute.’

Deciding to be bold and find them cute, Lirika looked at Fjord. She was worried and had a lot to say, but couldn’t with Diale around.

When she extended her hand, Fjord gently took it. Lirika smiled.

“Today, Diale and I played in the water, and it was really refreshing and fun. I think it would be nice to go with Fjord sometime.”

Fjord, understanding it as a suggestion to spend time together later, agreed.

“That would be very enjoyable.”

“Right?”

Lirika nodded and continued,

“But about that sugar. Is it really okay to oppose it so much?”

“There’s no reason it shouldn’t be. The sugar from the south is currently in a monopoly.”

Fjord’s answer was smooth.

“Monopoly?”

“Yes, the southern alliance is colluding to set sugar prices. But if sugar starts being produced in the north, the southern sugar alliance, bound by profit, will break. This will also somewhat diminish the prestige of the Sandar family, who are essentially the leaders of the southern nobles.”

Fjord smiled.

“But the price of sugar will inevitably drop. Additionally,”

Fjord looked at Lirika and smiled elegantly and perfectly cold.

“How will the northern nobles react to this sudden profit? And how will Her Majesty the Empress handle this matter?”

Mentioning her mother, Lirika’s eyebrows drooped.

“How can I help Mother?”

“You seem to be talking to the new merchant leader.”

“Oh, right. I’m supposed to meet him.”

“You can get more detailed information by talking to him.”

“Yeah, thanks. Fjord.”

She quietly replied and looked at Fjord. His father, the Duke Barat, would probably dislike Fjord talking about such matters.

If he meets with her and goes back, will he get scolded? Will he get hurt again like last time?

Is he enduring the pain alone? Is he okay today?

Seeing Lirika’s complicated expression, Fjord asked,

“Do you not want to be with me?”

“Of course not!”

Lirika raised her voice. Diale, nodding behind her, looked pitiful.

“Alright, then.”

Saying this casually, Fjord smiled, and Diale looked dejected.

The conversation continued, but with Diale and Fjord together, it became superficial and boring.

Lirika was trying to stay awake, but sleepiness was overwhelming her after the bath, warm tea, and a full stomach.

Noticing this, Fjord offered to leave first, and Bryn gave a hint, so Diale also left with him.

Lirika went to bed earlier than usual.

* * *

Stars were falling.

Looking down, the ground was covered in yellow sand. The sand shone white under the moonlight, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Her hair gently blew in the wind.

She lifted her head and looked at the sky again.

Under the moonlight, a beautiful creature was slowly swimming. Its massive body moved gracefully, reflecting the starlight.

She extended both hands.

The creature, made of air and fire, seemed too high to reach.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

* * *

‘Wow…’

Tears streamed down her temples. Lirika slowly closed her eyes and savored the dream she had just had.

It was a very vivid and beautiful dream.

‘But it was sad.’

In the dream, she was very sad. She remembered the dragon that cut through the night sky, shining white.

It was so large, even at such a height, which was amazing.

She sighed, admiring it anew.

‘A dream about a dragon. Is this because I’m a Taka? It feels like I’ve really become a Taka.’

Lirika smiled. The idea of Attila or His Majesty being such a dragon made her even happier.

Lirika slowly sat up. Reaching out, she shook the porcelain bell on the side table, and Bryn came in.

“You woke up early today. Are you getting up right away?”

“Yes.”

Lirika nodded, and the maids came in.

They opened the curtains and brought in clothes and washing water. The weather was very nice.

While washing and changing clothes, Lirika asked,

“Bryn, can you ask Mother if I can meet the merchant leader today?”

“Of course.”

Bryn bowed slightly and asked,

“Did you have a bad dream?”

Bryn, who noticed that the princess had been crying.

“No, it was a very beautiful dream.”

Shaking her head, Bryn seemed convinced and stepped back.

After breakfast,