Chapter 62

Pie came and asked for a favor, the incident where Raub was attacked by the Shadow Jaguar. The people who appeared and made a fuss, and how Pie took her and ran away, and so on.

After hearing her story, the three people looked at each other.

"Your statement is consistent."

"It's really absurd."

While Altair and Rudy sighed, Attil became angry.

"Putting Raub as a bodyguard was a mistake. Didn't I tell you from the beginning? Huh?"

"It's not Raub's fault."

When Lirika defended him, Attil's irritation flared up. It was as strong as his worry had been.

"Hey, what do you mean it's not Raub's fault? If he hadn't gone berserk and taken you away, it wouldn't have come to this!"

Attil pinched Lirika's cheek in frustration.

"Ouch—"

"What's ouch? Do you know how much I suffered? Pie came carrying Feri and said Raub had taken you and disappeared... You weren't even visible. I thought you might have been taken by the Southern Union."

"It's fine. Why are you like this?"

"Sorry. It's just that, it keeps happening."

He can't control his emotions. They were swirling out of control.

"You're fine."

Altair said, looking surprised.

If his emotions were swirling like that, the monster's blood should also be raging. But now, Raub was fine without the control device Lirika had given him.

Lirika said,

"Because I cast a spell on him. He's fine now."

If it were a disease, it would be like being cured without additional treatment.

Altair's expression became interesting. Exchanging a glance with Rudy, Altair said,

"Then we'll leave Raub's punishment to Lirika. And Sandar... Raub, go with him."

"No way!"

Attil openly expressed his dissatisfaction, but when Altair shook his head, he shut his mouth.

Lirika said, "Thank you!" and smiled brightly.

Taking Raub, who had stopped crying, with her, Lirika went to Sandar's tent.

On the way, she looked around and said,

"Raub, I have a favor to ask."

"Anything, my lord."

Lirika smiled slightly at his words.

"Fjord. When you meet Fjord and me, can you stay ten steps away? It's a promise, okay?"

"Such—"

"Raub, who are we?"

Raub tilted his head at Lirika's words. Lirika stomped her foot.

"Well, we're the Wild Strawberry Alliance, aren't we?"

"Ah."

Lirika said again,

"Who are we?"

"The Wild Strawberry Alliance."

"Right, members of the Wild Strawberry Alliance aren't afraid of picking wild strawberries and always trust each other."

She smiled.

"Fjord is also a member, so trust him. Just like I trust you, Raub."

Raub slowly lowered his eyes. He said,

"It might be hard to trust me like you do, but I'll try."

"That's enough. Thank you."

"No, my lord."

Raub shook his head. If she hadn't trusted him, would he be here now?

Probably not.

He would have been hunted and killed.

If the princess he trusted believed in someone else, he should trust them too.

As soon as they arrived at Sandar's tent, they were warmly welcomed inside.

In front of her, on the upper seat, boxes were lined up.

'What's this?'

Confused, a tall man entered. She recognized him immediately.

'Sandar Viscount.'

Following him, Pie and Feri entered. Lirika was surprised.

"Pie? What happened to your face?"

Pie's face was swollen to the point of being unrecognizable. Pie tried to smile but stopped. It would have looked strange with that face.

"There were various circumstances. It looks bad, but I'm fine."

"It doesn't look fine..."

"I'm fine. My limbs and head are still attached. It's a lenient punishment."

Laughing softly, Lirika reconsidered the nobility's resilience.

The Sandar Viscount bowed deeply, a custom of the southern region.

"I deeply thank the princess. Thanks to you, my child was saved. Feri, greet the princess."

At his words, Feri quickly pulled up her robe. Lirika's face brightened.

"You're better!"

"Yes, Princess. Thanks to you."

Feri's face was now that of an ordinary girl. Her eyes were still vertically elongated, but that was no big deal.

Her hair had grown, and her beige hair now covered her shoulders. She even had proper eyebrows.

She had a very cute face.

Feri also bowed and said,

"Since you saved my life, my life is now yours, Princess. Do with me as you will, whether to kill or to save me."

If Lirika were a man, he would have taken her as a concubine or a bed servant, but as a viscount, it was unfortunate that Lirika was a woman.

Lirika was taken aback by Feri's words, but the viscount said,

"You can use her as a maid or give her menial tasks."

Lirika frowned and said,

"I don't want to."

She leaned her chin on her hand.

"I fixed Feri just to help, not because I wanted her life."

She didn't want to take on more responsibilities. Raub was enough.

Declining, Feri knelt and said,

"I can really do anything, Princess. Please, I beg you."

Lirika grimaced.

'I don't want to take on more people... Hmm... Got it!'

Lirika decided not to think about it anymore.

Wasn't there someone who could solve difficult problems?

She had never thought of this when she worked alone, but the image of a large hand roughly tousling her hair came to mind.

'I'll leave it to His Majesty.'

She asked Feri,

"Why go to such lengths?"

"Sandar repays debts clearly."

At Feri's words, Lirika nodded and thought for a moment before raising her head.

"Since I saved Feri's life, her fate is in my hands, right?"

"Yes."

At the viscount's words, Lirika said,

"And Feri's guardian is the viscount, right?"

"Excuse me?"

"Feri is from Sandar. The head of Sandar is the viscount, so you are, right? Just like Wolf's guardian is Tan."

Since Wolf brought it up, he couldn't deny it, and it was true.

"Right."

"Then you should take responsibility, not a child like her. This is a matter between Takar and Sandar, so I'll leave it to the viscount and His Majesty."

She easily pushed it off as 'an adult's matter.' The viscount swallowed a sigh, and Pie smiled awkwardly.

Of course, he would separately apologize to His Majesty, but if the princess had accepted Feri, the story would have been different. However, she didn't.

This princess seems very careless, but she has no loose ends.

Lirika said,

"I'll send ointment to Pie. It's definitely Attil, right?"

At Lirika's words, Pie bowed and said,

"It's fine. This is the punishment I deserve."

"I don't like that. I prefer clear rewards. I'll send the ointment as soon as I get back."

Pie chuckled but stopped because of his torn mouth. Attil would have another fit if he heard this.

Though he didn't plan to use the ointment, he still thanked her.

"Thank you, Princess."

Lirika stood up.

"Is that all?"

"No, no. Please accept the boxes in front of you."

Opening the intricately inlaid boxes, they were filled with various jewels and rare spices. There were more than ten of them.

"I wanted to give them with Feri, but please accept at least this much as a token of gratitude. It's a very small apology for Pie's rudeness."

"Sure, I'll take them."

Lirika, who never refused gifts, said.

Feri hesitated and stepped forward. After a moment, she raised her head.

"Princess, I really want to be by your side."

Her eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands. How cool was it to see her use magic?

Moreover, she was now completely fine. Everyone had been holding back their tears and laughter from last night.

The viscount had also hugged Feri and cried when he saw her.

Feri was happy that she wouldn't have to see her family suffer anymore and that she was free from the fear of death.

She was willing to dedicate her life to the princess.

Moreover, the princess seemed to have taken out the protagonist from 'The Song of Pearls.' Feri, who loved that book, wanted to be by Lirika's side.

Lirika said,

"Later, come play with Pie, not as a maid or servant."

"Yes, yes!"

Feri smiled brightly.

Lirika waved and left Sandar's tent, with Lat following her. Surprised, she turned to him, and Lat quietly said,

"Princess, can we walk for a bit?"

"Sure."

Lat glanced at Raub, and Lirika gestured for him to stay back. Raub stepped back exactly five steps.

Lirika and Lat walked silently for a while. They moved away from the tent village.

It was summer, so the sun was hot even before noon. Lirika and Lat entered the shade of a tree.

Sunlight filtered through the branches like sand. The pleasant scent of the trees and the cheerful chirping of birds filled the air.

Enjoying the gentle silence, Lat spoke.

"Princess."

"Yeah."

"Thank you."

Lirika turned to look at Lat.

"No, I'm glad I could fix her with my artifact. I couldn't completely fix her eyes, though."

There wasn't enough time.

"That's enough. The fact that the child can walk on two legs, show her face, and talk to others is—"

Lat shook his head.

"Miraculous."

"True, I was also surprised when her condition suddenly worsened. Pie did act rashly, but if not, it might have been too late."

"I didn't know Sandar had such reckless blood. Well, he'll pay the price for his recklessness."

He spoke about his nephew's actions as if they were someone else's. Lirika knew Lat had deep feelings, though. She chuckled.

"Lat, you say things so coldly, but you actually worry."

Knowing he was a good person, Lat looked at her and smiled.

This princess really is something.

He smiled and said,

"Lord Tan recently had a close meeting with Duke Barat."

"!!"

Lirika stopped and turned to Lat.