~Chapter 11~
“…What compensation do you expect, Princess?”
“Just enough not to feel slighted, considering my skill.”
“Hmm. Then would you come with me for a moment?”
Sir Gomez guided me to his office. I sat at a desk by the window and translated a page of a Setavian book he handed me into the imperial language. It was a general text—nothing requiring a dictionary at my level. After reading my work, he clicked his tongue in amazement.
“How about 25 silver per page? That’s 5 silver more than a mid-level royal translator.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t go below 30 silver.”
I sat up straight and made a bold counteroffer. I was nervous, but I tried not to show it.
I didn’t want to back down from valuing my own worth.
Sir Gomez hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.
I breathed a deep sigh of relief inwardly. I could never catch up to Joanna’s powers, but the time I’d spent struggling to match her had proven worthwhile.
From that day on, I began commuting to the imperial library for work.
Since my royal status prevented me from joining the other translators, I used Sir Gomez’s private office.
Every evening, I met him alone to settle the day’s wages. There was nothing to worry about—he was the head librarian and had no interest in anything but the manuscripts I submitted.
When I felt stuffy indoors, I worked in a small pavilion behind the library. There were wooden outdoor tables and chairs, open to the breeze, with birdsong drifting in from all directions.
The sparrow Polka would flutter in whenever she felt bored.
[Josephine, you really are a bookworm. First you read books, now you’re making them? I’m sick of it, I tell you!]
Polka hopped across the table, nagging. I was organizing translated manuscripts into a neat pile, which she mistook for me publishing books.
I broke up a biscuit from my pocket and offered it to her. Polka pecked every crumb clean.
[Mmm, definitely tastier than bugs!]
“Eat up, Polka.”
I smiled contentedly. I finally had enough money to buy snacks for the birds. If this work continued steadily, maybe one day I could afford a small house with a yard. A peaceful life with the birds sounded perfect…
Just then, a man came dashing across the lawn into the pavilion.
He panted heavily as he approached. Sweat dripped from his curly red hair, and his freckled face was deathly pale.
He was one of the princes living in Ruby Palace. If I remembered right, he was Adrian from the nation of Tegal.
“P-please! Just say you didn’t see me! Please!”
Adrian ducked beneath my table in a panic. I jumped up, startled.
Moments later, another man came charging into the pavilion—and the moment I saw his face, I froze.
Shoulder-length brown hair. Blue eyes. Mischievous, wicked expression.
It was Third Prince Javier.
He marched right up to me. It was the first time I’d seen him this close.
“Hey, you. Seen a red-haired guy around? About this tall, with a face full of freckles?”
“…Greetings, Your Highness. I believe I saw him run that way.”
I quickly pointed in a random direction, spreading my skirt to hide the space under the table. Javier took a few steps in that direction, then turned back toward me.
“Wait. You look familiar.”
“…I’m Josephine, from the Kingdom of Iote.”
Outwardly calm, but my heart dropped and my back stiffened.
It had been years, but I was finally face-to-face with the Third Prince again. I’d never sought it, but it was inevitable. Soon, I would have to introduce my sister to him at the banquet.
“Iote’s princess? So you live in Ruby Palace?”
Javier raised his eyebrows and pointed toward the northwest where the palace lay.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Ah, I remember now. You’re that gloomy girl who came here four or five years ago, right? Wow, you’ve grown. Have you had your coming-of-age ceremony?”
“I’m twenty this year.”
Unfortunately, the Third Prince remembered me. I clenched my fists behind my back, cursing his sharp memory.
“Still, what’s a Ruby Palace princess doing in clothes like that? I thought you were a librarian or something.”
“I apologize. But shouldn’t you be heading off quickly?”
“Oh, right. See you around, then.”
He strolled off in the direction I pointed.
Phew. Crisis averted—for now. I anxiously watched his retreating figure.
That’s when something splashed onto the top of his head—a pale, sticky liquid.
Polka was fluttering away overhead.
…That sparrow is truly unstoppable.
Javier paused, touched his head, and inspected the liquid that had landed on him.
“Aaaaargh! It’s bird poop!”
Realizing what it was, he shrieked and bolted toward his quarters like a madman.
Once he disappeared from view, I gestured under the table, signaling Adrian that it was safe.
He peeked around, then emerged.
“…Thank you, Princess Josephine.”
He sat down to catch his breath and thanked me sincerely.
“You’re welcome. Now you should hurry along.”
Adrian bowed his head politely before leaving.
I was about to return his smile when I froze.
Blood trickled from Adrian’s nose, and a smear of red colored his swollen lip.
Later, the owl Luna flew to my windowsill.
When I told her what had happened, she flapped her wings and shook her head fiercely.
[You thought they only beat newcomers? So naive! If they’re in a bad mood, they just beat people up! No reason needed!]
Luna loved gossiping about the princes’ dark sides.
“I had no idea. Really.”
I pressed my aching head against the wall.
I thought princes only suffered some hazing at the beginning. I didn’t realize they endured abuse even afterward.
[Usually they beat them where it doesn’t show. But the better-looking princes? They get hit in the face, too.]
Chills ran down my spine. I now viscerally understood that the Third Prince was the type to crush others without remorse.
I bit my lip. The idea of that man becoming my sister’s husband was unbearable.
[Anyway, the one you need to watch out for most is the Third Prince. He’s enemy number one. The First Prince is dumb, and the Second at least pretends to be decent.]
Luna kept rambling. I thought of Joanna’s tearful face when she held my hand and apologized for sending me here alone. It weighed heavily on my heart.
[Josephine, don’t let them know how pretty you are.]
This owl often said the most random things.
“…Don’t worry. I’m really not.”
Birds are generous with compliments—especially if you feed them.
Still, she gave me valuable intel, so I handed her some biscuit crumbs.
[I’m a carnivore, you know… but I always end up eating whatever you give me.]
Grumbling, Luna pecked at the crumbs and flew off.
I sat by the moonlit window, thinking.
When would my father’s reply arrive?
At least I’d get to see Joanna again soon. Surely, by now, she had grown into a proud and dignified crown princess.
I intended to tell my father plainly:
That Joanna should not marry the Third Prince.
But only a few days later, a reply came from my homeland.
“Joanna has broken off her engagement with Lord Voight. Your opinion on matters of royal marriage is irrelevant. Don’t speak of unnecessary things. This is all for the good of the kingdom.”
