Chapter 29:
I let out a small smirk and continued walking toward the tea table and chairs set up next to the fountain.
“Sit there.”
“Huh? You’re feeling a bit better now, right, Princess?”
“Stop saying pointless things.”
Despite my cold reply, Histe grinned cheerfully.
He obediently sat in the seat I pointed to.
I also sat across from him and asked,
“What brings you here? Has something changed with Moren?”
“You like to get straight to the point, huh?”
“Uninvited visitors don’t count as guests.”
“That’s a shame. But no problem.”
Histe snapped his fingers lightly.
Pop!
Two unfamiliar teacups appeared on the table.
They were filled with steaming tea.
My reflection shimmered in the clear, reddish liquid.
“This is…”
“Nobles build relationships by sharing tea, right? So I came prepared.”
He added with a grin, “I’ve been studying, so I can get closer to you, Princess!”
He picked up the teacup in front of him.
Whether he had really studied or not, his actions somewhat resembled the imperial etiquette.
Clumsy, as if freshly learned, but still recognizable.
“Ow, hot.”
Histe winced and set the cup down again, apparently burning his tongue with his awkward sip.
I watched silently and pushed my cup aside.
I had no intention of drinking anything offered by someone I had barely met.
Perhaps interpreting my actions, Histe blinked a few times and followed suit, pushing his cup away.
“Too hot, right? Seriously, how do people have conversations over this stuff?”
“Just tell me what you came for.”
“Huh? Ah—right. I forgot.”
He tapped the table with his index finger, grinning like a child.
“So, when are we going to visit the Pope?”
“What?”
I reflexively responded, and Histe suddenly held something out to me.
It was a thick notebook.
I didn’t take it, just stared down at it.
Histe shrugged and opened a page.
“To ease the doubts of our suspicious princess, I shall read it aloud.”
“…”
“Day 42 of being trapped in the Empire. Weather: Clear. Today, to keep my promise with Princess Neroli, I snuck into Moren’s palace. I teleported directly into his bedroom, and Moren fell on his butt in surprise.”
“Wait, what is that?”
“This?” Histe said proudly.
“A Moren Growth Diary, to reassure his guardian. Don’t people keep these kinds of journals when growing plants?”
Then he added sheepishly,
“I guess it’s partly become my personal diary, too.”
[Tsk tsk, I’ve never seen such a weirdo in all my life,]
Nesgal muttered, echoing my inner thoughts.
As I stared at him in disbelief, Histe dropped the playful expression and grew serious.
“Wouldn’t it be unsettling to leave your younger brother with someone and not get any updates?”
“…That’s true.”
That’s exactly why I placed my trusted informant, Modway, by Histe’s side.
Because I couldn’t fully trust him.
As if reading my thoughts, Histe continued,
“For the record, I didn’t write this to be funny. I noticed you’re really busy, Princess. So busy you can’t spare any time for your only sibling.”
“…”
“Well, that’s probably why you entrusted Moren to me. Not like the cautious princess I expected.”
Snap!
He closed the notebook with a loud sound.
“In this big, crowded imperial palace, no one’s really paying attention to Moren.”
His words struck a nerve, and I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.
I murmured quietly,
“A youngest prince without the emperor’s love will never draw people’s attention.”
Moren was precious to me.
But I didn’t have the luxury to endlessly dote on the last family member I had.
The moment I lowered my guard, both our lives would be at risk.
Moren and I, with no safe harbor, had to keep sailing endlessly.
Even if the waves were rough and the weather stormy—if we stopped moving, we would simply drift and be lost.
“So, just as you said… I made an uncharacteristic decision.”
Someone needed to check in on why Moren had suddenly secluded himself.
Even more welcome if that someone could nurture his talents.
That’s why I accepted this man’s offer—just from his identity as the Tower Master and the spirits’ reaction.
Without any proper verification.
Then, Histe offered the notebook to me again.
“I’ll leave this notebook here. You should read it. I worked hard to record how Moren has been doing. It might help ease your worries.”
I had thought he was just some eccentric oddball, but he had seen right through me.
I silently reached out and took the notebook.
“You’re a more attentive teacher than I expected.”
“Consider it my effort to earn the princess’s trust.”
Histe leaned on his hand with a satisfied tone.
“I’ll keep recording Moren’s updates in it.”
“You’re planning to come all the way to the greenhouse every time just to hand it over?”
“Hmm, that would be a hassle. Ah, you still have the business card I gave you, right?”
I had kept it, just in case.
When I nodded, Histe grinned mischievously.
“There’s a simple teleportation magic circle drawn on that card. It can transport small items. When you’re done reading, just place the notebook on the card—it’ll automatically come to me.”
“So the card wasn’t just for show?”
I murmured in admiration.
To think he drew a teleportation circle on that tiny piece of paper.
Even in simplified form, teleportation magic circles were known to be incredibly delicate and complex.
Truly, the Tower was the pinnacle of magical craft.
Seeing my impressed gaze, Histe smiled proudly.
“I told you—I’m a genius.”
“…Sure.”
“Don’t misunderstand, though. That magic is only on my cards.”
“Got it.”
“And I gave one to you, Princess. Can you feel my sincerity now?”
“…”
I didn’t bother answering that.
Even so, Histe seemed pleased, grinning from ear to ear.
I tilted my head and muttered,
“You approached me because you have an objective too, right?”
“Of course. You’re interesting.”
“Not because I’m the Child of God?”
Because he needed to take me to the Pope.
At my words, Histe gave a cryptic smile.
“That too.”
“That’s a vague answer.”
“Oh! I almost forgot—I brought you a present!”
Trying hard to change the subject, Histe pulled out another item.
A small glass box.
“What now…”
I was too stunned to finish my sentence.
Because I recognized what was inside, resting gently on fine silk.
With a trembling hand, I accepted the glass box.
No way.
The spirits, too, were gathering around the box in awe.
[Oh my~ It’s a seed of the ancient plant Gram!]
[Unbelievable… I thought it was extinct. Where on earth did he get that?]
[Wow! It’s still alive! If we plant it, it’ll bloom!]
“Do you like it?”
I couldn’t take my eyes off the seed inside the glass.
Watching me, Histe spoke proudly.
“There’s a sunken ancient ship off the western coast of the continent. Our Tower salvaged it. We found this there.”
He tapped the glass box on my hand.
“This seed was originally dead, but the Tower recently succeeded in restoring it with our new revival magic.”
“The Tower can do that?”
“With me there, of course it can. You like plants, so I made sure to bring it especially.”
Like it? That was an understatement.
Only then did I lift my gaze from the seed to look at him.
“Histe… do you know what kind of seed this is?”
For the first time, I called him softly.
Histe flinched slightly and scratched his cheek.
“Ahem, well, not exactly…”
“If you don’t know, then no one does.”
“At least, not in the Tower.”
Figures.
It was Lorernode in the past who caused Gram to go extinct.
Wiping out not just the records, but even the seeds.
And I’ve been searching for it more than anything.
Honestly, I hadn’t expected to get my hands on it.
My plan was simply to study related plants and find the closest match.
Who would’ve thought I’d get the real seed like this.
The sheer coincidence made me laugh genuinely.
“Thank you. Really.”
“Ah… you’re welcome.”
Our eyes met, and Histe awkwardly looked away.
His ears had turned red.
I didn’t miss it—and smiled even more deeply.
*
“To think His Highness the Crown Prince would protect that woman.”
“That’s the mistress he was hiding?”
Shrill voices pierced Agatha’s ears.
She clutched her ears and shook her head roughly.
“No! It’s not true!”
She cried out desperately, but the ear-piercing shrieks didn’t go away.
As she writhed in panic, Agatha saw a woman with shining platinum-blond hair.
A woman who always smiled like warm sunlight.
“Princess!”
Agatha rushed over to her in a frenzy.
If she could just get close to that radiant figure, maybe she could escape this suffocating darkness.
“Princess Neroli!”
She was just about to reach her when—
[Agatha.]
The sunlight that was trying to save her whispered with disdain.
[Do you really think you’ll be happy after repaying salvation like this?]
With those cold words, the light snuffed out completely.
