A loud shout echoed through the study of the Grand Duke of Proysen’s mansion, located in the capital city of Camelsie in the Adelhite Empire.
“What do you mean you couldn’t find them?”
Grand Duchess Christina glared with displeasure at the aide delivering the news.
“We couldn’t locate the person with the abilities you described.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Your Grace. We searched the entire empire thoroughly, but we found no one who matched the description.”
Grand Duchess Christina gritted her teeth.
“You must find them no matter what. Search the whole world if you have to.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
After sending the aide away, Christina began pacing around the room—an old habit that always surfaced when she was anxious.
“No… I have to find them…”
The one she was so desperate to find was the Guardian of the World Tree. With the Guardian, she could challenge the throne itself.
To make her one and only son, Raul, the next emperor, she needed the Guardian at all costs.
And so, she had hoped her aide would bring her the news she wanted.
A few days later, Felix came to visit Elia in her room again.
Elia was reading a fairy tale book.
“Reading fairy tales again?”
“Yeah. Again.”
“Is it fun?”
“I’m not reading for fun. I’m reading it out of respect for the Duke who gifted it to me.”
“Then why read it if it’s not fun?”
“I never said it wasn’t fun.”
Elia chuckled softly, closed the book, and looked at Felix intently.
“Seeing as you’re here, I guess you succeeded.”
“Yes, I did.”
Felix blinked in surprise, looking at her.
“How did you know right away?”
“Obviously… because—”
“‘Because you’re the Guardian of the World Tree’ isn’t a very convincing answer.”
“Is that important? What matters is that you succeeded.”
“It was a perfect combination.”
Elia nodded.
Felix took three medicine bottles out of his bag.
“Would you like to see?”
“I don’t need to.”
“Now we just have to…”
“Sell it.”
“You’re going to sell it?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”
“No, you should. I just meant—how?”
“I’m going to auction it.”
“Auction?”
“Yep. All three medicines are the kind nobles would go crazy over. They’ll sell for a very high price.”
“Will they…?”
Felix had a strange feeling he was being swept along by Elia’s pace again.
“You have a plan, right?”
“Yep. Leave it to me.”
“Alright. I’ll trust you.”
After reassuring Felix and sending him off, Gaji (Twig) spoke to her.
[Elly, do you really have a plan?]
‘I do. But there’s something we need to do first.’
[Something we need to do?]
‘To be exact, something you need to do.’
[You’re using me again?]
‘If you chose to stick with me in this life too, it’s only fair you help out.’
[Ugh, I can’t live like this…]
Gaji grumbled.
[What is it?]
‘Find out where the Unicorn’s Breath is.’
[Unicorn’s Breath? You mean that legendary herb?]
‘Yeah.’
[What for?]
‘Someone needs it.’
[Hold on.]
Gaji jumped down from Elia’s shoulder and walked to the window, tapping it.
Elia opened the window for him.
Gaji took a deep breath and stretched out his arms.
A soft light began to glow from his body, extending far toward the distant forest.
Gaji could communicate with all plants and animals. There was nothing he couldn’t find out.
Sounds like birdsong filled his ears, and he began piecing together the messages to extract the information.
Then, lowering his arms, he turned to Elia.
[Found it.]
‘Where is it?’
[In that forest.]
‘Forest?’
Elia’s gaze turned toward the woods.
‘The Monster Mountain Range?’
[Yeah.]
At his firm answer, Elia’s eyes gleamed sharply.
She immediately went to find Alexis.
“Welcome, Elly.”
Alexis had already prepared cookies, as if expecting her visit.
“You knew I’d come?”
“I always have cookies ready just in case you do.”
“And if I didn’t come?”
“Then I’d eat them all myself.”
She knew it was a joke, but it still felt nice.
“I have something to tell you.”
“Eat a cookie first. The chef worked really hard making them just for you.”
Elia obediently bit into the cookie.
Out of respect for the chef’s efforts, of course.
Truly—not even exaggerating—it was delicious.
It was shameful that such a talented chef’s skills had gone unused until now.
Elia also drank the juice thoroughly.
Alexis was genuinely devoted to feeding her, saying children should eat well.
“Now that I’ve eaten, I’ll tell you.”
“Go ahead.”
“You heard Felix developed a new medicine, right?”
“I did. He was bragging about it, all excited.”
“I’m going to sell it for him.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“To sell it, I need to win someone’s favor.”
“Favor?”
Elia just nodded.
“What do you need?”
“Unicorn’s Breath.”
“Unicorn’s Breath? You mean that legendary herb?”
“You know about it too?”
“Read about it in a book.”
Elia pointed out the window with her finger.
“It’s over there.”
“What?”
Alexis followed her gaze precisely.
Elia was pointing toward the Monster Mountain Range, second only to the Demon Forest in danger.
“Let’s go herb hunting.”
“‘Let’s’? You mean you’re coming too?”
“You won’t find it without me.”
“You’re saying you’ll guide the way?”
“Yes.”
“No, it’s too dangerous.”
“Did you forget who I am?”
As Elia met his gaze confidently, Alexis let out a small laugh.
“How could I forget? You’re our Guardian.”
Still smiling, Alexis spoke firmly.
“But it’s still dangerous.”
“Not if you protect me. Aren’t you a Sword Master? You can’t handle that?”
“It’s just… so risky.”
“If I end up in danger, that just means you failed to protect me. It means you’re not qualified as a Guardian.”
Alexis was troubled by how unyielding Elia was.
“Is it really necessary?”
“Yes. We must make a deal with that merchant group.”
“Why them specifically?”
“Because they’re the only group that can move through duchy territory without issue. We won’t even need to protect them.”
“You mean they’re strong?”
“Yes. They can easily handle the monsters in the wastelands. No other merchant group can do that.”
The duchy had also tried to open trade with that group.
There were limits to relying solely on commissions from counts like Holland or Jamel.
Moreover, the duchy had a vast territory.
To feed all those people, solid finances were a must—but the barren lands made that difficult.
And with the Imperial family and capital nobles constantly holding them in check, they received no outside help.
So all they could rely on was their military strength.
“I believe you’ll protect me.”
“Ha… Elly, you really…”
Elia refused to back down until the end.
In the end, Alexis gave in to her persuasion.
The herbal expedition team was quickly assembled the moment the Duke gave his permission, and they set out the very next day.
“My lady, it’s winter, so it’s cold. You need to bundle up.”
Meril helped Elia into a coat made of sable fur.
“Isn’t this expensive?”
“The Duke bought it for you.”
“He did?”
“Yes, the gloves and fur boots too—he picked them out himself.”
Elia looked down at the gloves on her hands.
They were very warm, a soft shade of purple.
The boots too—her feet weren’t cold at all.
“You need earmuffs too.”
Meril fitted earmuffs on her.
“Did the Duke give me these too?”
“No, these are from me.”
“Meril…”
“They’re not expensive, so don’t feel burdened.”
“Thank you, Meril.”
When Elia left the room fully dressed, Felix and the knights were already waiting.
Felix, who had begged to come along, had joined the team.
“Felix, are you moving house?”
“Ahem.”
Felix cleared his throat.
“These are all items needed to survive the harsh winter.”
“Why are you bringing a pot?”
A steel pot was strapped atop his backpack.
“We have to eat, don’t we?”
“You think we’ll have time to cook? If monsters show up, we’ll have to ditch it.”
Felix flinched and looked at the knights as if silently asking, Is that true?
