Chapter 5

Translated by KuroNeko Edited by KuroNeko

When they got to the castle town, they went to a farmer who rented out a stable and decided to temporarily leave Marron with him. The stable was a basic building with a roof and an enclosure made of wooden boards. Each horse has its own room, which is divided by a pillar.

“Marron, I’ll get you later.” Primrose took Marron to the stable, where she stroked his neck and gave him a sugar cube as a reward for riding with her. As if anticipating it, Marron pushed his face into the sugar cube in her palm and ate it whole.

一Ivey, on the other hand, paid the farmer who hired the stable his wages and informed him when he should return.

“So far, I’m impressed with your valet’s ability to ride a horse like a daughter. Nowadays, many females are so obsessed with their appearance that they would not even touch livestock.” The farmer stared at Primrose with genuine adoration, lifting the brim of his felt hat.

“Valet?” Ivy cocked her eyebrow for a moment, wondering what the farmer was saying, until she saw their clothing and realised. To the casual spectator, the postures of herself in a gown with her hair down and the princess in riding culottes looked to be inverted: the daughter of a good family and her servant.

As she overheard the talk, Primrose turned and grinned mischievously. “I’ll take you to the market right immediately, young lady.” Primrose bowed deeply to Ivy and went out of the stable, her hand in hers.

As part of King Buxton VI’s agricultural encouragement policy, many of the town’s citizens wear two shoes, one as a half farmer and the other as a half merchant. They harvest and sell their crops in the market in the fields located outside of the city. Beryllonite prefers light pastel colours, so the colourful rows of cottages seem as sweet as sugar candy and like something out of a storybook. Today was the penultimate day of the harvest festival, and the typically sleepy town was teeming with people of all ages. The area was studded with merchants selling one-of-a-kind things, while people bought meals and souvenirs.

“My lady, the market is this way.”

“…… Please don’t speak to me in that tone.” Ivey’s brows fell into a figure eight scowl of disapproval as Primrose continued to imitate the squire.

“No?”

“It is inappropriate for a noblewoman to address her inferiors in such a humble manner.” To avoid being overheard by passersby, Ivy kept her voice low and murmured. It sounded cold to Primrose.

“Yeesss” The princess sulked and turned away.

It was interesting to see how different I could be……

Ivy sighed as she headed straight to the plaza, preparing to follow her when she heard a man’s loud voice from the alleyway leading to the square. “The Legion of Honor is here! The Righteous Cross is who we are!” Five or six grizzled males in their twenties and thirties screamed at each other in the middle of the road. One of them was holding a black flag with a white flower and a crossed sword on it. This looked to be a portent. They are the “Volunteer Cross,” a rumoured anti-monarchy organisation. They look to be preparing to deliver a speech.

“There has been a lot of weak-kneed diplomacy recently! What is His Majesty the King’s present mental state? We, the Belironite, take priority over the Arcanet! Let us smash the self-serving bourgeoisie and do-gooder royal families to usher in a new era! Now is the time for justice to be served, comrades and sisters!”

Some people rushed through the words of the Volunteer Cross, avoiding eye contact, while others listened carefully. When their flag emerged, Ivy quickly averted her sight, but a chill raced down her spine …… The lily is the royal family’s emblem, and what a cruel and horrible people they are, flying a flag with a sword cutting through it!

Buxton VI was highly criticised for his petulance in surrendering to the Arcanets without a fight till the last end. During the ten-year war, the Belironites had the upper hand at times, and they should have held out until they saw a chance to win. However, it is only the final result, and much too much blood has been spent in the pursuit for previous glory. Many people have realised that reconstructing this country by the sword is no longer a viable option, and they are now living in peace with no end in sight. He, on the other hand, was furious with the king, who had no choice but to obey Arcanet’s commands. A pervasive feeling of despair pervades the whole country. The Arcanet Empire has inflicted the greatest curse upon them.

“Hey, shut up!” There must have been a call from someplace. Military police in leather armour rushed to the scene, brandishing long spears aloft and pressing forward, scattering the fleeing crowds.

“They’re so annoying.”

“Hey, aren’t they folks planning a coup d’état in the near future?”

“Don’t worry; their folks may still be in this area…….” The citizens who were witnessing it all were thrilled, and even in the midst of the celebration, the air in the city became briefly stagnant.

“……” Ivey was afraid that Primrose would alert the Volunteer Cross to her clandestine presence, so she kept her gaze downcast and her hand to her chest. Her expression, on the other hand, was not just one of long-lasting horror, but also of affirmation of some sort of inner resolve.

“Ivy! Which colour do you prefer: ivy, light blue, orange, or pink?” Primrose, who seemed unconcerned about the incident, yelled from a market stall. Ivy rushed over to her, startled. “Don’t raise your voice too loud!”

“Your voice is louder than mine. This jewellery, by the way, appeals to me. Which colour do you like best?” Despite the fact that she was aware that the group that had threatened her previously was nearby, Primrose seemed engrossed as she browsed the stalls, oblivious to the danger. Ivey’s shoulders sagged with fear, and she felt weaker than frustration.

“Huh… orange is a nice colour…… It’s usually bright and innocent……” Ivy didn’t pay much attention to the item, although she did make an implied remark. She has a faraway expression on her face as she looks up at the sky.

“OK, how much for everything?” Primrose asked the stall owner when she had completed her souvenir selection.

“This, and this, for a total of…..600 matches.” Ivey regained consciousness and looked around, stunned by the amount of money mentioned by the merchant. With that much money, she could buy enough food for three days.

“Uh, can’t it be a little cheaper? Like ……400 matches?”

“Young lady, we have our own lives to live, too.” The princess’s eyes were drawn to a small sachet the size of a palm, made of white silk and decorated with a light purple ribbon. It was a sachet, a scented packet containing herbs.

“This sachet is really lovely. And it smells wonderful……I assume it’s lavender.” Primrose breathed deeply after picking up the sachet.

“That is my daughter’s painstakingly crafted work of art. In case you were wondering, the amount of matches is 100.” The owner grinned even more. Beryllonite specialties are herbs and silk, and women and children are largely responsible for herb management and silk weaving.

“In that case, I’ll buy this sachet as well, so could you give me a discount on the one I just tried to buy? For instance, 500 matches for the whole……” The force with which it was flung astounded Ivy, who was standing next to Primrose. The store owner scratched his head, a wry grimace on his face.

“No, no, no, you’re right…. Then, you know, 650 for a 700 match discount!” Because it was the last day of the harvest festival, the merchant encouraged them to buy as many goods as possible, even if they were at a slightly discounted price. Primrose, on the other hand, was adamantly opposed to making a compromise.

“If it was a 500 match, I’d definitely purchase it……”

“600!”

“One more word.”

“550! Special service! I really can’t take it any more!”

“Then I’ll purchase it. Please only wrap the sachet separately.”

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