Chapter 20: 20

Lilica had a filling breakfast and her hair was done more carefully than usual.

It was her first time meeting with an outsider, so Lilica memorised a few greetings.

Lauv stood behind her like a shadow.

As he wasn’t an escort knight, he wasn’t dressed in uniform, but light leather armour and carried a sword on his back.

Lilica handed him a pearl, and Lauv pocketed it carefully.

Fjord arrived on the dot between 3 to 5 in the afternoon, the commonly known tea time.

He was dressed neatly, and wasn’t as dishevelled as he was previously.

But his glamourous looks that left Lilica stifled was still the same. She thought that those neat clothes emphasised his gorgeous looks even further.

“Fjord Barat greets Her Highness, Princess Lilica Nara Takar.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Her greeting came out more cheerfully and in a higher voice than she’d expected.

Lilica extended her hand, and Fjord kissed the back of her hand.

His golden eyes that were dyed with a reddish hue seemed too mild to be called ‘honey colour’.

His gleaming silver hair gave off a sheen that’s paler than the light of dawn.

‘Ah, as expected.’

He was gorgeous, but had an extremely sharp edge. An extremely well-crafted, weapon-like beauty existed in him.

Besides, it wasn’t just the curtsy from back then. Should she say that his movements were rather gentle? Should it be described as elegant?

Lilica spoke admiringly.

“It isn’t the curtsy today.”

Fjord grinned at the question, that wasn’t sarcastic, but filled with innocence.

“It’s because I’m giving my formal greetings. I didn’t think that you’d actually invite me.”

“Thank you for accepting my invitation.”

After the greetings, Lilica offered him a seat. They sat at the prepared tea table and shared the tea and snacks.

As the host, Lilica sampled the tea and snacks first, before tea time began in earnest.

Fjord spotted Lauv, who was standing behind Lilica, and asked Lilica.

“You didn’t hire a knight?”

“Mm.”

Lilica nodded. Fjord laughed.

“I’m sure there will be gossip. ‘Why couldn’t Princess Lilica have a knight from the Imperial Guard as her escort? Is she being discriminated against because she’s a foster daughter?’, and things like that.”

Lilica blinked.

She looked down at the teacup, before glancing at Fjord.

“That doesn’t mean I’m not a Takar, does it?”

No matter what others say behind their backs, a contract is a contract.

It’s clear that no one would be able to change the fact that she was a princess in these eight years.

At Lilica’s words, Fjord’s reddish gold eyes gleamed joyfully.

“But of course.”

Fjord felt better because she spoke in an arrogant tone that was much like Takar.

Just like a dragon that soared freely through the sky that Barat cannot reach even with a hand outstretched.

Amidst the struggle where Duke Barat says that they could also become dragons due to the mixed blood, someone without a drop of blood said that he was a ‘Takar’ proudly.

If Duke Barat had heard Lilica’s words, he would want to tear her apart and kill her.

In a way, the person that was most obsessed with the Takars’ legitimacy was Duke Barat.

“It’s the buzz made by mosquitoes. It’s nothing much to a dragon.”

Lilica made a troubled expression as soon as Fjord finished speaking. She spoke quietly.

“No, mosquitoes are annoying, even to dragons. Very much so.”

Weren’t mosquitoes the ones that kept everyone awake during summer nights?

After entering smoke kindled by dry grass, bodily fluids would flow out of your eyes and nose in an instant.

But you’d be willing to enter in order to avoid mosquitoes.

A situation where you were woken up by a mosquito occurs more frequently than anxiety about the future.

Fjord listened to Lilica’s words and nodded.

“That’s true.”

Mosquitoes are annoying indeed.

Lilica smiled and said,

“And I’m not well-informed about problems concerning the imperial family. I believe that His Majesty would take care of things.”

After hinting about the world’s greatest backer, Lilica placed a soft castella into her mouth.

‘It’s yummy.’

Apparently, a special kind of yeast, or something, was used to let it rise.

With the empress’ help, the chef was always able to bring out new snacks onto the princess’ table.

In the palace’s high society, a person with high status would always be a leader in fashion. No matter what they did, eyes would be trained upon the imperial family and the high-ranking aristocrats.

Therefore, the person that brought about new things and how popular those ‘new things’ became was also a measure of their influence on society.

Because imitation was the purest form of praise.

Little by little, Ludia unveiled new recipes, clothes, accessories, and makeup styles, and each of them invoked a great response.

Lilica was outside of society, and thus was unaware of that great response, but she knew that her mom’s chef would make desserts that were very delicious.

Lilica offered Fjord the castella.

“This is a new snack made by Her Majesty the Empress, try it. It’s delicious.”

“I know. The rumour about castella has already spreaded. Our chef was also trying to recreate it, but it doesn’t seem to be going well.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes.”

She didn’t ask what was true. It was because everything he’d said was the truth.

Fjord was satisfied by the fluffiness and adequately sweet taste of the castella in his mouth.

In the past, it was trendy to show off their wealth by using a lot of expensive sugar, and as such, foods that contained sugar were so sweet that it caused brain paralysis.

However, the desserts recommended by Ludia weren’t very sweet and sought to harmonise between the tea and various textures.

The castella vanished in an instant, and the maid quickly presented him with a newly cut slice of castella.

Fjord had a good appetite as expected of a boy of his age, and Lilica entertained him happily.

She asked a few questions about the social world that she was curious about, and Fjord answered without concealing anything.

Lilica couldn’t help but feel surprised upon hearing stories about Her Majesty the Empress, that is, about her mother, over and over again.

Fjord only told Lilica the stories that she had never heard.

Her mother flattened the nose of a certain Marchioness of society, or that everyone was surprised to see new snacks at the tea salon.

Even—

“She’d calmed down a startled horse?”

“Yes, the Empress stopped the mare that Young Lady Erin of the Erin Barony rode on from going wild. Due to that, her fiancé expressed gratitude towards her several times for this.”

Mother?

A horse?

‘No wonder she’s different from the mother that I know of.’

Lilica had even wondered if they were the same person. Of course, her mother was the most beautiful and kindest person in the world, but. She’d always thought to herself that she should protect her…

Lilica pondered for a moment, and Fjord asked.

“Does the Princess not have a companion?”

“Brynn’s my companion.”

At Lilica’s words, Fjord made a slight smile and shook his head.

“No, I’m not referring to that, but a friend of the same age from an aristocratic family. I don’t think you’ve heard any stories about high society, so it seems like you don’t even have a companion.”

He added profoundly.

“Whether it’s out of the friendship between families or as an aide, companions are always arranged for those in power for various reasons.”

“Well.”

Lilica sighed.

“Then I guess I’m not powerful enough yet.”

Since she was a ‘new person in power’ that has just gotten a taste of power, there weren’t any arrangements for her.

‘Come to think of it, Atil also has Pi. Is Pi Atil’s companion?’

At Lilica’s words, the corners of Fjord’s mouth trembled slightly. He hurriedly took a sip of tea.

In fact, Lilica was as popular of a conversational topic as the empress was in the imperial capital, but it’s just that she didn’t realise it.

But for some reason, he didn’t feel like letting her know about that at all.

It would be great if this princess only knows him.

Lilica felt regret. She also wished to have friends.

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Of course, she had Brynn, but Brynn maintained her position as a trusted lady-in-waiting and didn’t play with her like friends do.

‘A friend.’

It was hard working in the slums, so she didn’t have time to make friends. Of course, if Lilica had tried to sell flowers or be a pickpocket, it would be easier to find colleagues.

‘But I didn’t want to give it up as it was a job she found after much difficulty.’

Lilica let out a sigh as she imagined what she’d do with aristocratic friends when they gathered.

‘For a companion to be arranged… Will a day where that occurs ever come?’

‘No, let’s not be disappointed! If I become an outstanding princess, there will be people that’ll want to talk to me.’

She has yet to become an outstanding princess, so all she needed to do was try harder. Lilica stretched and spoke.

Her frustration and determination were written all over her face, and Fjord resisted the urge to laugh again.

Lilica looked at Fjord. A step towards becoming an outstanding princess.

“Now then, it’s time for you to teach me how to curtsy.”

* * *

Fjord dipped into a graceful curtsy.

As she watched the light and beautiful curtsy that was like flowing water once again, Lilica began clapping unwittingly.

“How do I do it like that?”

“What do you think about when you’re curtsying?”

“Oh, that I should bend my knees this much and straighten up? Or to rise slowly so that it’ll look elegant…”

“Put those thoughts aside, and ‘I’m the world’s most beautiful person’. That’s what you’ll think.”

“What?”

“Now, please follow me. I am the world’s most beautiful person.”

“I, I am the world’s most beautiful person.”

“Your voice sounds like you don’t believe it at all.”

“Well, I mean. Because it’s the truth.”

Lilica didn’t have beautifully wavy blonde hair like her mother…

“Princess.”

Fjord leaned over. He looked into her turquoise eyes and spoke softly.

“You are beautiful. Your walnut-coloured hair is like a tree nymph’s, and your eyes are like Lake Rudin under the dazzling sunshine.”

It was the first time she’d ever heard such praise, causing Lilica’s eyes to widen. Fjord smiled.

“You can be confident in yourself. Now, once more.”

“What?”

“I am the world’s most beautiful person.”

“I, I am the world’s most beautiful person.”

For some reason, her face burned up. She never thought that she’d say something like this in front of someone that’s much prettier than her.

“Here, give it a try.”

Lilica gave a curtsy at Fjord’s words. Her movements were even stiffer, perhaps because she was embarrassed.

Fjord asked with a tilt of his head.

“However, princess, you won’t have many people to curtsy to anyways. Is there a reason why you have to learn curtsying like this?”

“It’s because I want to show it to those few people.”

She wanted to show her mother, His Majesty, and Atil how outstanding she was.

It’s even better if she was complimented.

Her mother will definitely be generous with her praise.

Fjord looked at Lilica and said,

“They must already think that the Princess is beautiful. I mean……”

“Oh, that’s it!”

Lilica glanced back at Fjord.

“Something other than beautiful might work. Hm, I’m the cutest and most lovely person in the world…!”

Her face would also turn red at this, but isn’t this what her mother would say everyday?

Cute Lilica, my Lilica, the world’s loveliest Lilica.

She thought that it wouldn’t be that difficult in front of someone that thought so.

It’s a little far from being beautiful, but Lilica thinks that she can do this.

‘I’m very cute, I’m very cute, I’m very cute. Hap!’

After repeating it to herself, Lilica curtsied.

Fjord couldn’t help but snicker at Lilica, who was brave and cute.

Lilica looked back at him in bewilderment.

“Is it weird?”

“No, that’s.”

Fjord smiled and fiddled with the red ribbon she wore around her neck gently.

“It’s because you looked like a robin.”

“A robin?”

She glanced at her ribbon and then at Fjord.

“Yes, a lovely robin princess.”

He grinned.

Since Lilica was praised, she wanted to praise him in return.

After a long moment of contemplation, she said.

“Fjord is like silverware.”

Fjord raised an eyebrow and laughed. He spoke.

“I really want to apply to be the Princess’ companion.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then—”

Brynn cut in a timely manner as Lilica just opened her mouth.

“The both of you must be tired, so please have a glass of cold juice.”

“Oh, thank you, Brynn.”

Two glasses of raspberry juice were prepared with plenty of sugar added.

They definitely couldn’t eat and drink while standing, so the two sat at a nearby table.

The sweet and sour juice made her feel better quickly. She sighed.

“I guess I just can’t do it like Fjord.”

“But isn’t it alright? The Princess can do it in your own way.”

Cute and lovely.

Wasn’t that enough?

Just as Fjord thought so, the front door burst open.

“Lily, yesterday, I—”

Atil cleared his throat and was about to open his mouth, but stopped upon seeing the situation in the drawing room.

His gaze was fixed on Fjord.

Fjord rose slowly from his seat and gave his greetings.

“Fjord Barat greets the crown prince of the—”

Even before the word ‘empire’ was over, Atil ran up and grabbed him by the collar.

Startled, Lilica jumped out of her seat.

“Atil!”

Atil ignored her cries and growled.

“What are you doing here, you b*stard?”

“I was invited.

“Invited?”

“Yes, Atil. I invited him. So—”

Lilica, who suddenly didn’t know what was the current situation, looked around uneasily.

Pi, who’d entered with Atil, also has a serious expression.

“Hah, how dare you seduce my younger sister? Isn’t that so? Did you use your good looks and honeyed words to flirt with her?”

Atil’s words became rougher, and Fjord smiled.

“It was the princess that invited me.”

Atil slapped him on his face as soon as he finished speaking.

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