Chapter 10
“Didn’t the princess request purification agents from the Imperial Ability Research Institute?”
“I even heard she asked for fast production—and offered her own jewels as a reward!”
The one who was most shocked upon hearing this news was Giscard himself.
‘Could it be… is she really planning to send purification agents?’
Giscard blinked blankly.
“Purification agents are necessary, right? I’ll fund half a year’s supply first.”
Why was it?
Why did that confident voice keep echoing in his ears at this very moment?
Of course, the princess had promised to support them with purification agents.
But who had made that promise?
That damned Cassia.
The reckless princess who was constantly dragging Giscard’s reputation through the mud.
Honestly, Giscard would sooner believe that the sun rose in the west this morning than trust the princess.
But still…
“Are purification agents really coming?”
“Ha, half a year’s worth?”
“Then at least we won’t have to beg the Northern Command for supplies for six months!”
At this welcome news, the members of the Blue Radiance Knights burst into excited chatter.
“It’s surprising the princess is actually doing something helpful for us.”
“I never expected this.”
The knights, who had all been wearing gloomy expressions, finally looked bright for the first time in a while.
It was a pleasant sight—but at the same time, Giscard worried they might be disappointed even more deeply if they placed too much hope in her.
“Stop being reckless.”
So Giscard deliberately tightened discipline over them.
“Even if it’s that Cassia, don’t be so naive as to trust her completely.”
“……”
“……”
At his words, the atmosphere instantly cooled, as if cold water had been poured over them.
“Well… that is true.”
“I guess we got ahead of ourselves.”
The knights nodded, each looking deflated.
The arrogant, extravagant, infuriating princess—supposedly funding purification agents out of her own pocket?
And not just for Giscard, but for the entire Blue Radiance Knights?
‘Yeah. That’s impossible.’
As the knights forced down their excitement…
Another shocking piece of news arrived.
This time, it was a letter sent directly to Giscard by the director of the Imperial Ability Research Institute.
In short, it said:
[The purification agents have been completed and will be sent to the North.]
‘Lies.’
Giscard unfolded the letter again, even though he had already read it several times.
Three days had passed since he received it, but it still felt like a dream.
‘She really supported us with purification agents.’
His hand trembled slightly as he clenched the letter, overwhelmed by emotion.
A sense of gratitude, relief, peace, and comfort.
…And, though he absolutely refused to admit it, even a rising tide of gratitude toward that reckless princess.
When was the last time he had felt something so warm?
Just as his usually stiff expression softened slightly—
Giscard suddenly stiffened.
‘Wait.’
That night, when they had discussed sending purification agents…
Giscard had said something to Cassia.
“Rather than just talking about supporting us…”
“How about you join our knight order instead?”
Honestly, it had been a petty remark.
At the time, Cassia’s offer had sounded like nothing more than a pipe dream.
‘What did she say back then?’
Cold sweat ran down his spine.
He clearly remembered it…
“…Are you seriously suggesting I join your knight order?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
Giscard felt his mouth go dry.
Given the princess’s disturbingly high level of action-oriented determination…
She might actually come north and try to join the Blue Radiance Knights in person…
‘No, that can’t be.’
He quickly shook off the thought.
‘Why would a princess who lived her whole life in luxury ever serve in this miserable knight order? Impossible.’
The knights’ barracks alone looked like it was haunted.
‘I’m overthinking this. There’s no way she’d come all the way here.’
Just as Giscard was calming himself down—
Suddenly, commotion erupted outside.
“Huh? What’s that?”
“A supply carriage?!”
The knights shouted in confusion.
‘A supply carriage?’
Giscard shoved the letter into a drawer and rushed outside like a bullet.
And what unfolded before his eyes was—
‘Unbelievable.’
Giscard’s eyes widened in shock.
In the center of the barracks stood a massive modified transport carriage designed for moving supplies.
It was loaded with all kinds of goods.
Among them, crates marked with the seal of the Imperial Ability Research Institute stood out the most—especially the purification agents.
The brand-new, shining carriage looked completely out of place in the worn, shabby barracks.
But there was something even more out of place than that.
“Ah, Sir Lomanov!”
A woman standing in the carriage’s cargo bed waved brightly at him.
Her golden hair shimmered like sunlight on a clear day, finely spun and radiant.
Eyes like crimson rubies.
A beauty reminiscent of a rose crafted from gold and rubies smiled toward Giscard.
Cassia.
“I’m here!”
She shouted cheerfully and jumped down from the carriage, walking briskly toward Giscard.
“P-Princess?”
Giscard muttered, genuinely stunned.
Gone were her usual extravagant dresses.
Instead, she wore a light shirt and leather pants.
Her hair, always meticulously styled by attendants, was casually tied up.
“I’ve brought the purification agents—and myself as a bonus. No returns accepted.”
Cassia gave him a mischievous wink.
“We’re a 1+1 set deal. Me and the purification agents.”
For a moment, the surroundings fell silent.
“……”
“……”
At first, the knights had been peering into the supply carriage with curiosity and anticipation.
But now they were watching Cassia with wary eyes.
They likely remembered all the troublesome things she had done to Giscard.
‘Ah… maybe they really don’t like me?’
Cassia narrowed her eyes slightly.
‘Well, that’s possible. But—’
Could they really refuse this dazzling snack in front of them?!
She walked boldly toward the carriage and pulled out a large gift box decorated with ribbons.
Through the gaps, a sweet and rich aroma drifted out.
Instantly, all the knights’ eyes snapped toward it.
Cassia lifted her chin slightly and smiled like a fox.
“It’s my first visit to the knight order, so I thought I shouldn’t come empty-handed.”
Gulp.
The sound of swallowing echoed loudly among the knights.
Cassia continued gently, like a witch luring children with sweets.
“Do you like pie? We have apple pie, strawberry pie, cherry pie, chocolate pie… and even savory meat pies if you want something filling.”
She casually reached back into the carriage again.
From it, she pulled out jars of colorful candies and chocolates.
“There are also chocolates and sweets for snacks. I thought they’d be nice to eat after training.”
Finally, she revealed a box of tea leaves.
A famous luxury brand within the empire.
“Oh, and I also brought tea leaves, milk, cream, and sugar to go with it.”
How about that?
The princess’s luxurious gift set.
Don’t your homes have things like this, right?
“……”
“……”
Once again, silence fell.
But this time, it was a different kind of silence.
Before, they had been silent out of hostility toward Cassia.
Now, they were simply staring—hypnotized—at the snacks in her hands.
Gulp.
Someone’s loud swallow echoed clearly through the barracks.
