Chapter 63

"How did you know? You knew about Feri's existence and that she was sick. The roots of Barat are truly deep and wide."

Lirika's gaze remained calm as Lat continued speaking.

"Well, the content was simple. It was about a medicine that could improve the condition of an unsuitable person."

"!!"

Lirika was startled.

"Even more, it mentioned that it could turn someone back to human form. The head of the family went to verify it himself."

Lat paused for a moment and looked at Lirika. She had a very serious expression. Lat smiled and continued.

"You must have been troubled by the ambiguous price. Barat wanted just one cooperation, they said."

"Can I tell this to others?"

"Only you, the princess, can decide that. I just shared some stories while taking a walk."

"Those kinds of stories."

"Exactly those kinds of stories."

Lat, with a nonchalant attitude and face, looked at the princess who had just solved the biggest problem and bowed deeply before leaving.

Lirika organized the story in her mind and thought she should quickly tell the Emperor before she forgot.

'Barat is said to be strong with medicine, and they really make all kinds of medicines.'

She glanced at the path behind her and then looked ahead. The arched trees had not yet ended. Tempted to walk further and then return, Lirika started walking. She noticed that the path curved in a large U-shape, encircling the tent village.

"Wow—"

The tree species had changed halfway, and the branches were full of white flowers. A sweet fragrance filled the air. The white flowers, hanging like clusters of grapes, swayed in the wind.

And under the swaying flower shadows, Fjord stood like a painting.

"Fjord!"

Lirika ran over with a wide smile, and Fjord felt relieved seeing her.

"Lir, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Lirika spun around to show him. Fjord held her hand tightly. The height difference between them was significant, so he had to bend deeply.

His beautiful amber eyes carefully examined her.

The gentle wind. The sweet fragrance of flowers. The sunlight breaking through the leaves.

His lips slightly parted. Fjord whispered softly.

"You were scared, weren't you?"

Tears slowly welled up in Lirika's eyes. Fjord gently pulled her into a hug. Lirika clung to him tightly.

She was scared.

Really scared.

But if she said she was scared, everyone would worry. She didn't want to worry her already anxious mother.

I'm fine. I'm really fine.

She was definitely fine. But still, she was scared.

Fine, but scared. Fine, but trembling.

Lirika began to sob softly. In Fjord's embrace, the scent of soft grass and flowers filled her nose. She buried her heated face in his cool, smooth clothes and felt the strong arms that held her tightly, letting out a mix of tears and a sigh of relief.

After releasing everything that had been bottled up, her body felt drained. She lifted her head slightly, and Fjord brushed her forehead.

Lirika exhaled.

"Thank you, Fjord."

"For what?"

Fjord smiled and lifted her. Their gazes met. Though he looked like a delicate boy, his body was solid and unwavering.

Lirika held onto his shoulder. Fjord grinned.

"You always make me happy."

"By crying?"

"Yes, very much."

Lirika looked at him with a puzzled expression, but he just smiled.

"My lovely crying princess."

Lirika's cheeks flushed at his whisper. She quickly covered his mouth with her palm. Fjord's eyes widened. Lirika fidgeted.

"Embarrassing."

Fjord chuckled, a mischievous laugh similar to the one Athil used when teasing her.

"No, you're not going to tease me again, are you?"

She didn't remove her hand, and Fjord looked troubled.

"Will you not tease me?"

Nod, nod

Lirika slowly removed her hand, and Fjord continued.

"There's no such medicine that can be bought with money. Life cannot be valued, after all."

"True."

"So, we plan to keep Feri's recovery a secret."

Fjord placed a finger to his lips and smiled. Lirika nodded, saying, "Ah..."

Lirika asked softly.

"Can I tell this story to others?"

"That's up to you, the princess. I just shared some stories while walking."

"Those kinds of stories."

"Exactly those kinds of stories."

Fjord, with a casual attitude and face, looked at the princess who had just solved the biggest problem and bowed deeply before leaving.

Lirika organized the story in her mind and thought she should quickly tell the Emperor before she forgot.

'Barat is said to be strong with medicine, and they really make all kinds of medicines.'

She glanced at the path behind her and then looked ahead. The arched trees had not yet ended. Tempted to walk further and then return, Lirika started walking. She noticed that the path curved in a large U-shape, encircling the tent village.

"Wow—"

The tree species had changed halfway, and the branches were full of white flowers. A sweet fragrance filled the air. The white flowers, hanging like clusters of grapes, swayed in the wind.

And under the swaying flower shadows, Fjord stood like a painting.

"Fjord!"

Lirika ran over with a wide smile, and Fjord felt relieved seeing her.

"Lir, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Lirika spun around to show him. Fjord held her hand tightly. The height difference between them was significant, so he had to bend deeply.

His beautiful amber eyes carefully examined her.

The gentle wind. The sweet fragrance of flowers. The sunlight breaking through the leaves.

His lips slightly parted. Fjord whispered softly.

"You were scared, weren't you?"

Tears slowly welled up in Lirika's eyes. Fjord gently pulled her into a hug. Lirika clung to him tightly.

She was scared.

Really scared.

But if she said she was scared, everyone would worry. She didn't want to worry her already anxious mother.

I'm fine. I'm really fine.

She was definitely fine. But still, she was scared.

Fine, but scared. Fine, but trembling.

Lirika began to sob softly. In Fjord's embrace, the scent of soft grass and flowers filled her nose. She buried her heated face in his cool, smooth clothes and felt the strong arms that held her tightly, letting out a mix of tears and a sigh of relief.

After releasing everything that had been bottled up, her body felt drained. She lifted her head slightly, and Fjord brushed her forehead.

Lirika exhaled.

"Thank you, Fjord."

"For what?"

Fjord smiled and lifted her. Their gazes met. Though he looked like a delicate boy, his body was solid and unwavering.

Lirika held onto his shoulder. Fjord grinned.

"You always make me happy."

"By crying?"

"Yes, very much."

Lirika looked at him with a puzzled expression, but he just smiled.

"My lovely crying princess."

Lirika's cheeks flushed at his whisper. She quickly covered his mouth with her palm. Fjord's eyes widened. Lirika fidgeted.

"Embarrassing."

Fjord chuckled, a mischievous laugh similar to the one Athil used when teasing her.

"No, you're not going to tease me again, are you?"

She didn't remove her hand, and Fjord looked troubled.

"Will you not tease me?"

Nod, nod

Lirika slowly removed her hand, and Fjord continued.

"There's no such medicine that can be bought with money. Life cannot be valued, after all."

"True."

"So, we plan to keep Feri's recovery a secret."

Fjord placed a finger to his lips and smiled. Lirika nodded, saying, "Ah..."

Lirika asked softly.

"Can I tell this story to others?"

"That's up to you, the princess. I just shared some stories while walking."

"Those kinds of stories."

"Exactly those kinds of stories."

Fjord, with a casual attitude and face, looked at the princess who had just solved the biggest problem and bowed deeply before leaving.

Lirika understood what he meant. She was sure Fjord would be more troubled than she was.

'Barat Duke.'

Even though she had only seen him once, his gaze was unforgettable. Lirika whispered to Fjord.

"If anyone gives you trouble, tell me. I am the princess, after all."

"Thank you."

Fjord bowed, feeling a bit regretful that he couldn't express his gratitude more.

How could he describe the fact that her existence protected him in some form?

Fjord didn't know, so he just sent his thanks. As footsteps approached, he quickly leaned down, kissed the crying princess on the forehead, and disappeared into the trees.

"!!"

It felt like soft petals brushing past. Lirika rubbed her forehead, and Laub quickly approached.

People were just starting to appear from the other side. A nobleman, with a hunting rifle on his back, bowed upon seeing Lirika.

Lirika nodded and walked past them, returning to the tent.

From the looks of the people she passed, they seemed to be assessing whether she was truly unharmed.

Lirika recounted everything that happened in Sandar and what she heard from Lat to Altears and her mother.

Rudia said, "Oh, our daughter is really smart. A genius."

"You did well. But that medicine from Barat—"

"If Lirika hadn't solved it, Sandar would have betrayed us."

Rudia said this calmly, as if confirming something. Indeed, the reason for Sandar's betrayal was her daughter.

In the past, she might have been furious that someone would do such a thing just for their daughter. But now, she had Lirika too.

She understood the Duke of Sandar. And she thought of the Duke of Barat, who had used this as leverage.

"But does such a medicine really exist?"

Rudia murmured, still holding Lirika. Of course, given Sandar's betrayal, the medicine must have had some effect.

But it couldn't have been as effective as what Lirika had. If it were, Feri would have appeared in society.

But Feri never appeared in society.

Altears smiled faintly, a sharp, blade-like smile.

"I know Barat is up to something interesting."

At the mention of Barat, Lirika's ears perked up. Rudia also looked at him.

Altears continued.

"Such a medicine doesn't exist. At most, it might reduce pain or extend life a bit."

"I see."

Rudia nodded, appreciating the rational judgment. On the other hand, she was also puzzled by how much Sandar had betrayed Altears for such a medicine.

"What is Barat up to?"

Lirika couldn't contain her curiosity and asked. Altears answered gently.

"I'll tell you when it's certain."

Lirika nodded. She was curious, but accurate information was more important.

Athil entered the tent and said,

"The noon horn will be blown soon. We need to start the hunt again. And brat, you need to stick close to me."

"But you said you'd catch a tiger. I'm going to be the collection champion."

"No way."

"If you're worried, I'll bring Brin too. And I won't separate from the other kids."

"No way."

Lirika stomped her foot like a rabbit.

"Then Athil should come with me."

"What?"

"If you're worried, Athil should come with me, right?"

Lirika had no intention of giving up her chance to win.

Athil, with a deep voice and a frown, looked at her. The choice was between following the kids around during the annual hunt or having a successful hunt himself.

The fourteen-year-old boy's forehead was deeply furrowed.

Rudia said,

"Athil, just enjoy the hunt. Diares said she would go with Lirika."

"Ah..."

Diares, who never held back.

Lately, her skills had rapidly improved, and she was often mentioned as the best among the apprentice knights.

Athil nodded reluctantly.

"If Aunt says so, I understand."

Lirika quickly attached herself to her mother's side and stuck out her tongue.

"See?"

Altears stood up and offered his hand to Rudia. As the two of them walked ahead, Lirika and Athil followed, grumbling.

Despite the 'unpleasant incident,' the 'light-hearted commotion' couldn't end the hunt.

Altears briefly said this and declared the start of the second day of the hunt.

Lirika's group included Laub, Brin, Diares, and Pai.

"It's impossible to hunt in this condition."

Pai said matter-of-factly. Diares, impressed, said to Pai,

"Your eyes, tongue, and fingers are all fine? It seems the Emperor is in a very good mood lately."

Lirika grimaced at this, but Pai nodded calmly.

"All thanks to the princess."

"Ah, of course. That makes sense."

Diares smiled and raised her voice.

"Of course, it's the princess."

She then carefully examined Laub.

"Hmm."

She made a meaningful sound and held Lirika's hand tightly.

"Shall we go? The princess must win."

"Are you okay? You said you'd catch a tiger."

"I'm fine. The Wolf family's mistake should be compensated by the Wolf family."

Diares glanced at Laub and said. Lirika said, "No," and pulled Diares' hand.

Her eyes widened.

"Laub is not a Wolf, he's mine. The Wolf family doesn't need to take responsibility."

It was a firm statement. Diares frowned.

Lirika wondered why Diares disliked Laub so much and looked at her.

Diares sighed and smiled.

"Even if it's not for that reason. My reputation is important, but the princess is more precious to me. Come on, let's go."

"Okay, I'm much happier when you say that."

Lirika's honest words made Diares smile brightly.

"I'm your companion!"

"Right."

Diares whispered softly.

"And we're in the same alliance."

"Right!"

Lirika swung her net excitedly. Diares smiled.

Wolves enjoyed belonging to something. Honestly, if a Wolf was an outsider, it was a serious mental issue.

You never knew when they would go rogue.

So, Diares cherished the Wild Strawberry Alliance, a cute and lovely alliance.

Pai said,

"Let's get going. We'll fall behind if we don't."

"Okay!"

Lirika answered spiritedly and started walking at the front. Despite limping, Pai followed without difficulty.