Chapter – 13

“Your Highness, the princess… who exactly is this person…?”

“Calm down, Dora.”

Itern patted Dora’s arm gently with her small hand. It was oddly amusing—and somewhat strange—to see a childlike adult being comforted by an adult-like child.

“This person is…”

Itern, who had been patting Dora, cast a subtle glance at Zigkart.

If she spoke bluntly, Dora might actually faint. But well… what could be done about that?

“He is the young marquis from the Landshuter Duchy. You must have heard of him before, Dora, right?”

Dora’s face had turned as pale as a snowman. Even without using any abilities, Itern could clearly see what she was thinking, and a small pang of guilt struck her.

“Dora, could you prepare a tea table on the balcony? We have something to discuss.”

“Eh? Ah… understood, Your Highness.”

Dora hurriedly left, and Itern led Zigkart to the balcony.

Because all of her attention had been on Zigkart, the bright sunlight felt excessively glaring.

“Sit there.”

Itern gestured for Zigkart to take a seat, then herself sat opposite, letting out a deep sigh as if finishing a day’s labor.

But instead of immediately sitting, she carefully looked around the balcony.

Her gaze ran over the delicately decorated railing, the tiles, the protruding support wall with hanging bells and crystal ornaments, taking in every detail.

“It’s nicely decorated.”

Itern’s soft cheeks were pressed with her palms as she observed, and her heart skipped a beat.

‘So he can even say something like that…’

As she watched Zigkart examine the railing decorations, a subtle tightening in her chest began.

In the past, in her previous life, the young Zigkart she had seen had been like a colorless shadow.

He hadn’t marveled at beautiful things, nor grieved at the ugly. He seemed to know neither joy nor sorrow, sinking like a stone into a swamp, unresponsive to anything.

She hadn’t been particularly close to him, so she couldn’t claim to know everything about him, but seeing him genuinely exclaim “beautiful” at the balcony decorations was an unfamiliar and stirring feeling.

“I like pretty things.”

Zigkart turned his head while carefully touching the flowers. A fleeting, gentle smile appeared in his usually indifferent red eyes.

Itern, caught off guard by the unexpected gaze, felt her ears warm and gave a little wiggle of her legs as she seemed about to stand.

“If you like the flowers, you can take a few later. I’ll give them to you as a gift.”

“No thanks. They’ll all wither before long anyway.”

Zigkart responded coolly, much to her surprise, and finally placed his bag on the floor next to his chair.

As the awkward silence began to gnaw at her, a maid and Dora came out onto the balcony at just the right moment.

The sweet aroma of tea and pies topped with honey reached them. Itern waited until the maid and Dora stepped back before offering tea to Zigkart.

“Here you go, young marquis. And Dora, you don’t need to come in until I call. Close the door, please.”

“Your Highness, I can’t—”

“Do as I say, Dora. Nothing will happen, so don’t worry too much.”

Itern blinked her large eyes a couple of times, and Dora reluctantly stepped back. Though told to close the door, she left a small gap just wide enough to peek through, unable to suppress her concern.

“Truly a flower in a greenhouse, huh.”

Zigkart’s teasing words made Itern flush in indignation. She pursed her lips, then snorted.

“Of course. I am the Empire’s one and only princess, after all.”

“I’m also the sole heir of my duchy, yet I came all this way alone.”

So that must mean she’s not the flower in the greenhouse…? This time, Itern burst into genuine laughter.

“Did you pester your father and mother until they had no choice but to let you come?”

“You think so? Do you really think your father and mother would just let you travel alone to my duchy?”

Itern squinted her eyes as she popped a piece of pie into her mouth.

“So you’re telling me they just said ‘sure, go ahead’ even though you wanted to come here alone?”

The moment she swallowed, she added coquettishly,

“They didn’t, of course. I snuck out.”

As Itern sipped her tea, she nearly choked on it.

“What did you say?!”

“Exactly what I said. Do you really think they would let me go just like that? It’s not like I’m going to the market in front of the palace.”

“You snuck out? You really…!”

She had underestimated this child! Her head spun as if the room itself were rotating.

Even if it was just the recklessness of this mischievous person, if the Duchy were to make an issue out of this, it could lead to a diplomatic incident.

‘If that happens, my father will probably declare war immediately. My goodness! What is this kid thinking? How can I send him back? Maybe I should send a fast messenger to the Duchy…’

“I know what you’re thinking, but listen to me first.”

“If I listen to you and war breaks out, no one will be responsible!”

Zigkart stared at Itern as if questioning her sanity.

“Why would war break out? At most, you might get a scolding. Your father isn’t holding me captive.”

“I can’t guarantee that…”

“I’m telling you, just listen. There’s something more important.”

Zigkart, fiddling with his cup, froze for a moment. The sounds of breathing and the wind merged, tickling their sensitive ears.

“What if I told you I know a way to wake your mother?”

Itern stared at Zigkart, dumbfounded.

What astonished her most was that he showed no sign of lying.

“What did you say?”

“Your mother—the Empress Mama of Sidernel. She hasn’t woken up yet, right?”

“You….”

Itern wanted to ask how he knew, but immediately realized the question itself was foolish.

She wasn’t just any commoner, and it wasn’t like the fact that the empress of an entire empire hadn’t woken up for years without a special illness was a secret.

“…Mom isn’t sick? If you’re trying to convince me you know a cure…”

“I never said I’d cure her. I just said I know a way to wake her. The important part is that she wakes up. You know exactly what I mean.”

Itern was once again left speechless. This was a first, at least in this life.

At the same time, a suffocating sense of frustration pressed down on her.

If she couldn’t wake her mother quickly, the future would never be peaceful. Every day, Itern felt crushed by the weight of this reality.

The capable magicians had refused her father’s summons, and likely the others would react similarly.

If she didn’t do her best, the Empire would once again drown in despair and blood.

Even a leaf blown by the wind would be worth clutching if it offered a clue. Zigkart’s words were both a blessing and a source of doubt.

This child… how could he possibly wake my mother?

No, but right now, having no method is no different. Whatever he says is worth hearing.

Even if it turned out to be nonsense from an inexperienced child.

“Can you take responsibility for what you’re saying?”