Chapter 96

Without realizing it, her voice had sunk into a businesslike tone.

"Wouldn't it be better not to get too close, so that it's clear you're Attil's person?"

Fjord said, "Considering that you're from the slums, they might think you have someone from the Empress or Princess's side watching over you." Lirika tilted her head at this.

Fjord firmly said, "That's right," and Lirika readily agreed.

After all, Attil had already grabbed Jazz by the collar after seeing him greet Lirika and threatened him with something absurd like, "If you lay eyes on my sister, I'll kill you." There was no need for her to take the initiative to approach.

When she said this, Fjord replied, "His Highness is not without thought," and quickly became cheerful again.

Fjord had gradually told her about the work he was doing, but it felt like he wasn't talking about the really important things.

But Lirika understood well. She had plenty of secrets herself, like being a contract princess or a real magician.

After seeing Fjord off, Lirika returned to the palace. Hayah's class would start soon.

'Time seems to be passing very quickly lately.'

Lirika watched the snow melting. There were things happening in places she didn't know, but they weren't something she needed to worry about.

'I need to grow up quickly.'

If she grew up quickly and became an adult, she could walk around the slums with Attil and even travel with Diaire.

Once two more winters passed, she would be a teenager. There would be many more things she could do than now.

Looking forward to it, Lirika walked with a light step.

* * *

At first, she stumbled under the overwhelming amount, but now she was used to the classes with Hayah.

In the spring, a pile of letters expressing the desire to greet Hayah accumulated in front of her. Many people not only sent letters but also messengers to invite Hayah to their homes.

Hayah politely but firmly declined all the invitations, saying, "I am here only to teach the princess."

Lirika asked Hayah,

"Teacher, won't you be hated if you reject them so firmly?"

"It's better to reject firmly than to give a half-hearted refusal. And if someone hates me for that, it's better not to have a relationship with them in the first place."

It's a straightforward opinion.

"But can't you reject them more gently?"

"I have clearly stated my reason for rejection."

"Still, the other party might be hurt..."

"Why? I only said that I am here to teach the princess and will not do other things. I don't have the obligation to take responsibility for people who misinterpret that."

Hayah looked at Lirika with eyes that reflected everything faintly.

"Too much thinking can also consume oneself. It's better to let go of distractions."

"I will keep that in mind."

During this time, she felt that Hayah was like a priest. Thinking about it, living in a place far from the world and leading a life similar to a monk's.

When she mentioned this, Hayah smiled slightly.

"Perhaps it is similar in the sense of striving to keep a vow."

"Vow?"

"It means making a pledge and striving to keep it."

Lirika's eyes began to sparkle. Such old tales always made her excited.

"Is it the promise made with the dragon?"

When Lirika asked, Hayah seemed surprised and countered,

"Do you know about it?"

"Well, I only know that there's a promise between Inro and the dragon. But is it really true?"

"Yes, it is. It's a promise that has been made since the first Inro appeared."

"!!"

Without realizing it, Lirika pulled her chair closer to the desk and sat down. Hayah chuckled, covering her mouth with her long sleeves.

"Are you curious?"

"Yes, very."

"I vowed to lift the curse."

"Curse?"

"Yes."

"What kind of curse is it?"

"What kind of curse, I wonder."

Lirika frowned and crossed her arms, not thinking that Hayah was teasing her but trying to find the answer herself.

"Hmm, I see. A curse... hmm... did it put someone into a deep sleep?"

"No."

"Then did it change someone into a different form?"

Hayah hesitated for a moment and then nodded. Lirika said, "Ahem."

"In fairy tales, curses usually do that. Turn someone into a swan, or, fall into a deep sleep—something like that."

Hayah nodded at her confident voice.

"Indeed, it's a classic story."

While the background of the story isn't as simple, the result is like a fairy tale, so perhaps human thoughts don't stray far.

Suddenly, Lirika asked,

"Then, is the dragon still alive somewhere, in a different form?"

"Yes, according to the story."

"That must be very difficult. What form did it change into? A swan, perhaps? Or a frog? Hmm, a dragon turning into a frog seems too harsh. But is it harsh because it's a curse? How does Inro lift the curse?"

"That—"

Hayah, who was about to answer, closed her mouth. Lirika tilted her head. Hayah looked at her.

"I'm sorry, but it's a secret."

"Ah! Here!"

Lirika flailed her feet in disappointment, as if the old tale had stopped at a crucial point, and then nodded.

"It must be an important story for Inro, so I can't help it."

"Yes."

Indeed, it must be an important story—she almost told it without realizing. Even if the actual encounter with people is a different story.

It's scary to think that she almost revealed part of the family's secret and was about to spill the core of it.

Even the wise person who had practiced silence for a hundred years would probably write something with their fingers in front of her and tell a story.

To make someone spill their deepest secrets without any malice, enmity, strategy, or plot.

'Unlikely.'

Looking intently at Lirika, Hayah asked,

"Can you show me the artifact you have?"

"It's an important item, so I can't show it to just anyone."

"That's a wise decision."

"By the way, I heard that Inro has many dangerous artifacts."

"Yes, there are artifacts that are dangerous if released into the world, and some that should remain deeply asleep. There's also a list of items that need to be recovered. And most importantly—"

She is looking for a real magician.

Instead of saying that, Hayah chose different words.

"I am looking for something that can change fate."

After saying this, she paused.

She had definitely said this a while ago.

'So, the Empress definitely holds the key to something...'

But she didn't want to go against the dragon's mood. The head of the family had given the command to value her life, after all.

Lirika's eyes widened at this.

"Is there such an artifact?"

Lirika thought of the large celestial sphere she had seen recently. The celestial sphere that depicted the movement of the stars. Is the flow of fate something like that?

"But how would you know if fate has changed?"

Hayah smiled meaningfully and said, "I'm not sure." Lirika nodded, thinking she wouldn't be able to understand any further.

Just hearing this much must be a hidden story of the Inro family that others don't know.

Inro smiled.

"Indeed, I keep talking in front of the princess. It seems my practice is lacking."

"Maybe it's because you have a lot to say. It's okay to talk freely; I'll keep it a secret. Sometimes, just letting it out makes you feel better."

Hayah chuckled at the serious words of the young princess.

"I'll keep your suggestion in my heart."

Hayah said this, paused in thought, and then told Lirika,

"By the way, Princess. I will be away during the summer."

"During the summer?"

"Yes, the Empress knows, but I haven't told you yet. When the weather warms up, I plan to return to the Inro Dukedom. I'll come back when autumn begins."

"Can I ask why?"

At Lirika's question, Hayah smiled very sadly and answered,

"Because I can't endure the cold."

* * *

"—What do you think about that?"

Lirika said, looking at Bryn and Raub.

"No matter how I think about it, I can't understand the last thing Hayah said."

"She's going to a cold place in the summer? But why would she say she can't endure the cold? If she's sensitive to the cold, she should go south like Pai... stay in a warm place, right?"

But if she goes to the far north in the summer and says she can't endure the cold...

"Maybe she means the cold of the far north?"

At Bryn's words, Lirika looked up.

"Since the Inro Dukedom is her hometown, the standard for cold might be based on her hometown. She can't endure the cold of the far north, so she only goes there in the summer."

"Ah!"

Lirika slapped the armrest.

"Bryn, you're smart! I see. Since I don't have a specific hometown, I didn't realize..."

"Haha, the capital is like your hometown, Princess. If you go to another territory, you'll miss the capital."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then, how about Sol?"

"The Sol family isn't noble, so they don't have a territory. Like you, the capital is their hometown."

At this, Lirika's gaze shifted to Raub. Bryn's gaze also turned to him.

Raub hesitated for a moment and blinked.

"The Black Forest is incredibly beautiful."

A slight smile lingered on his lips, and from just those words, it was clear how much he cherished the forest.

"I see, I'd like to see it someday."

Raub nodded slightly instead of answering. Lirika smiled and leaned back in her chair.

"But saying she can't endure the cold... Pai and Lat also wrap themselves up in the winter... I think the teacher must find it hard too."

"Not everyone from Inro is like that. If they were, the entire family would have moved south."

"So, only the teacher is different?"

"If such a person exists."

Bryn pointed at Raub. In the past, he might have flinched, but Raub didn't move at all. His composure had grown impressively. Bryn drew a semicircle with the finger he had pointed at Raub, pointing 180 degrees in the opposite direction.

"There are also people on the opposite side."

"Ah, is the blood weaker?"

"Yes."

Lirika sighed. Indeed, she couldn't get used to such senses.

Since she isn't a noble, maybe she can't get used to it.

"Even the opposite side must be sad."

Being different from others is the same. Moreover, Inro's territory itself has a special location...

Bryn said, "But it doesn't matter," in a tone that suggested it wasn't a concern.

"At least it's fortunate that she can get a job in the south and come and go. It's also beneficial for us. If there was such a reason on her side, it makes sense."

It was a story that swept away her sentiment. Such coldness was something she lacked, so it was fortunate to have Bryn by her side.

Lirika found another benefit.

"And since classes will be on break during the summer, I'm looking forward to it."

"Indeed. In the summer, you should play to your heart's content like a child."

Bryn felt relieved. She had seen her study all winter. If this continued, she would have to discuss it with the Empress, but if she could rest during the summer, it was welcome.

'Ah, to worry about her studying hard...'

Compared to Bran, who was now taking stomach medicine because of Attil's constant chatter, it was paradise.

Thanks to her loving master, Bryn was happy today.

* * *

"Wow—!"

An exclamation slipped out.

"Wow!"

Diaire also exclaimed beside her.

"Amazing, this is the sea!"

It smelled salty. The blue horizon stretched endlessly. The wooden houses along the coast were painted in various colors and shone brightly under the summer sun.

"Princess, hurry up!"

Diaire, fidgeting, pulled Lirika's arm. Lirika, holding her hat, laughed and ran with Diaire to the beach.

"Waves!"

"Wow!"

The waves kept rushing onto the white sand. Diaire ran with the receding waves and then quickly ran away from the incoming waves.

"It's incredible."

Diaire shouted, unable to contain her excitement. Lirika nodded repeatedly.

The long journey by carriage was worth it for this view.

The beautiful coral islands on the western coast each have their own owner.

A few of these islands belong to the Imperial Domain. Her mother and father had gone to another island to enjoy their freedom, and they had given the largest island in the Imperial Domain to Lirika and Attil.