Chapter 37

"Your Highness, could you tell me who 'he' is that was searching our farm?"

The prince furrowed his brow, deep in thought.

"The person you, the Crown Prince, consider so troublesome must be from another country, right? The Kingdom of Barwara to the east is a country of your lineage. If we limit it to the countries bordering ours, the one who would secretly investigate us and require you to tail them would likely be from the Kingdom of Faril to the north."

"Actually, the Fourth Prince of Faril, Prince Heliod, is currently staying at the royal palace. He has recently visited our country under the pretext of studying."

I understood the meaning of 'troublesome.'

"Your Highness, that Prince of Faril is here, isn't he? How long will he be studying here?"

"I have no idea. The king of Faril suddenly asked me to have him stay at the palace."

If his study period is short, I could escape somewhere and wait for him to leave. But if it's long, that would be a problem. If I'm away for a long time, all the mulberry trees in the farm will wither. And many people who could have been saved while I restart the farm will die.

In that case, perhaps it's better to rely on the power of the royal family rather than run away.

"Your Highness, I know roughly what kind of country Faril is. I can also guess what he was looking for. If he was walking around the farm, he probably doesn't know about this fabric yet. If I tell you everything, including about the fabric, will you promise to protect not only me but everyone in the farm?"

Prince Markus seemed taken aback by my sudden condition.

"You are citizens of this country. Moreover, this fabric that can heal diseases and injuries. There's no way it should be handed over to another country, right?"

"Will you promise?"

"Of course. I swear by my parents' names."

I steeled myself and spoke.

"Your Highness, what he was probably looking for is the rain."

"Alesia!"

"Stop it!"

Father and Ethan shouted. I calmed them down with a small voice, assuring them it was okay.

"Father, we've managed for fourteen years. But I was prepared for a day like this. You must have thought the same, right? It's impossible to hide forever. Faril is a terrifying country. If we don't rely on the royal family now, we might all be attacked and taken to Faril one day."

Father was flustered by the sudden turn of events.

"Father, I think it's time to rely on the royal family's power rather than run or hide."

"Alesia, can you explain what you mean?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

I smiled at my parents and the Ethan family.

"To protect all of us and the farm, I need to talk to Your Highness. I want everyone to listen too."

......

"I see. No, I still don't fully understand. I've had doubts about the rain for a while. I wanted to know the connection between you and the rain. The desert farm was probably yours, right?"

Indeed, you noticed.

"I didn't report this to anyone because I knew your character. I thought it would be a greater loss for the country if you fled again, like in the desert farm."

"That's how it was."

"I believe in the power of silk, having experienced it twice. Still, to have been using that silk and studying its effects for three years. No, the rain started when Alesia was born, right? Fourteen years. You are truly remarkable."

"Your Highness, please protect Alesia. I beg of you."

Father bowed deeply. Mother, Uncle, and Aunt also bowed. Ethan bowed as well.

"I will definitely protect Alesia and all of you. I won't let Faril take her. I'll think of a way to protect this farm. Can you give me some time to think?"

He glanced at the unconscious Meir.

"How do we explain that Meir, who was pinned down by a puma, has no injuries..."

"Your Highness, fortunately, there's no moonlight tonight. Let's just say it was Meir's mistake. He wet himself, so we changed his clothes. That's it."

Uncle Nathan's suggestion was odd, but it seemed to be the only option.

The prince shook Meir awake and called out to Joachim, who was guarding the door.

"Oh, I caused trouble for the farm's people."

He laughed brightly.

"Your Highness! How is Meir?"

"He's fine. But Meir wet himself. We asked the farm's people to change his clothes."

"Really? Is he hurt?"

Joachim was surprised.

"He's not hurt. It was dark, and I was completely flustered."

The prince had changed into Father's clothes, and Meir, wearing only Uncle Nathan's pants from behind, came out looking embarrassed.

"I thought I was bleeding and in a lot of pain, but it seems I was mistaken. I was pinned down by the puma, but as you can see, I'm fine. I'm sorry for the commotion."

Meir pulled up his pants to show Joachim.

I felt bad for Meir, but we all told him he had wet himself. He had no choice but to believe it when he saw his legs, which had no cuts or blood.

Joachim laughed.

"Phew, I thought the puma had gotten you, Meir!"

"But the puma was real. There are footprints. The farm's people called the guards. The fruits from this farm are a favorite of the queen. It would be a problem if something happened while no guards were posted."

The guards arrived thanks to Uncle Nathan's call. The prince whispered to me, "I'll contact you later," and left.

On the way back, Meir's stomach growled loudly, and Joachim scolded him, "Cut it out! You made the prince clean up after you, and now you're making your stomach growl? You deserve to be beheaded!"

Meir was embarrassed the whole way back.

Later, the prince chuckled and told me, "Meir was really pitiful," recounting the scene on the way back.