Chapter 14
“Hmm, you think that’s cute? That rumor actually started among us royal siblings.”
By siblings, I meant the noble-born royal family members who hardly ever left the palace due to their lofty status.
At the mention of my connection to them, all the young ladies at the tea party turned their attention to me.
“A few years ago, there was a time when not a single tart-type dessert was served in the imperial palace. Do you know why?”
I deliberately lowered my voice to a whisper.
“There was a rumor that a young lady, who was overly infatuated with the Crown Prince, tried to pull something with the tart he was supposed to eat.”
“Oh my! What did she do?”
“There was such a rumor? I had no idea!”
As the ladies gasped in shock, I pressed my index finger to my lips.
“Shh.”
My gesture made them instinctively fall silent.
Handling them smoothly, I flashed a sweet smile.
“More importantly… the Crown Prince’s palace did change patissiers around that same time. So…”
At that moment, Hidya couldn’t contain herself and burst in.
“Your Highness! It’s inappropriate for a royal to speak of uncertain matters so carelessly! Please mind your dignity!”
“Oh dear? I only mentioned an old rumor, that’s all.”
I blinked innocently as if I didn’t understand the problem.
“All day, everyone’s been gossiping about the pink diamond and the missing tart incident. Aren’t they just the same? Just rumors?”
You all did your share of gossip. I just joined in.
Is that such a crime?
Tilting my head with that unspoken message, Hidya’s face turned bright red.
But she knew better than to argue further—it would only make her look guiltier. So she clamped her mouth shut.
I smiled brightly at her retreat.
‘That’s what you get for trying something so reckless.’
Like Aeb, she hadn’t been after the power of being Crown Princess. She had been one of those who simply had feelings for Gobard.
She must’ve desperately wanted to become his fiancée.
But when it seemed she’d lose in the dowry competition, she tried using a last resort—an aphrodisiac.
‘She supposedly bribed a maid from the Crown Prince’s palace to mix it into Gobard’s dessert.’
Of course, no drug works on a Lornod royal, whose body doesn’t react to any poison.
Gobard immediately identified those responsible, and the finance minister nearly suffered major consequences.
‘He avoided trouble by handing over an iron mine he owned at the time.’
Hidya was instantly knocked out of the running for Crown Princess.
The reason I even knew about an incident Gobard had buried himself was simple.
[Wow! That was the info I gave you, right, master?!]
Flutter—
Modeway, the spirit of wind, appeared in the air and landed on my shoulder.
‘Yes, good job, Modeway.’
At my praise, Modeway wiggled its tiny bottom happily.
As a wind spirit, Modeway had the ability to flit around like the wind and quickly gather information from wide areas.
‘And that tart aphrodisiac incident just happened to be among those.’
Watching Modeway’s little antics for a moment, I turned to the other young ladies.
Those watching from a distance flinched when I met their eyes.
Most of them were like Hidya—girls who had tried to use tricks on Gobard.
“Oh! Speaking of the missing tart, I just remembered some of the other rumors floating around back then!”
Some of the girls visibly avoided my gaze, clearly uneasy.
I calmly locked eyes with each of them and continued.
“But… how much truth can really be found in all those rumors? Don’t you agree?”
The girls who had sided with Hidya quickly changed course.
“Yes! Rumors can’t be trusted.”
“Most are just nonsense made up by people with nothing better to do!”
“Hohoho, exactly! Utter nonsense!”
As they flipped their attitudes on a dime, I nodded.
“So, the current gossip about the pink diamond must be just nonsense too. I trust Brillint’s character—she’s been my lady-in-waiting for a long time.”
To others, I was always a cheerful and energetic person.
Unfortunately, people often mistook that for weakness and tried to take advantage.
My specialty? Silencing those people with an innocent smile.
“It breaks my heart to think that someone close to me could be involved in such a shameful thing. I hope none of you believe those silly rumors.”
At my words, the ladies softened their sharp expressions and replied demurely.
“We may have spoken too rashly.”
“I feel ashamed for being so rude.”
“We’ll be more careful in the future.”
Who knows what they were really thinking, but none of them dared bare their fangs in front of me again.
Satisfied, I rose from my seat.
‘That should be enough.’
“Well then, I suppose it’s time for me to return!”
With that, I led Agasa and my other maids toward the carriage.
Just then, someone hurried after me.
“Princess Neroli!”
I turned to see Hidya Eogall rushing toward me.
Once close, she hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously.
“About what I said earlier… I didn’t mean to insult you or Lady Sandrine. I just lost my temper.”
I stared directly into her eyes, and she flinched, her cheeks slowly turning red.
“S-So, um…”
Her voice, once composed, began to tremble.
People who weren’t used to my face often became flustered under my gaze.
So I grinned.
“Oh! So you came to apologize?”
At my cheerful voice, Hidya finally came to her senses and nodded.
“Y-Yes. I wanted to apologize again, so I followed you.”
“It’s okay! I already forgave you! I know you’re not a bad person.”
“Thank you for saying that. And about the tart incident… if you could forget—”
“Hm? I was just making idle conversation.”
Of course, I had already figured out all the aftermath stemming from that incident.
‘Like what was discovered in the iron mine handed to Gobard, and how his relationship with the finance minister changed afterward.’
I wondered if Hidya knew any of that.
Probably not. Right now, she was just desperate to bury her past.
“Lady Hidya…”
When I narrowed my eyes slightly, she flinched again.
After studying her for a moment, I gave her a bright smile.
“Hehe, don’t worry! My lips are sealed!”
She brightened instantly at the words she’d been hoping to hear.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Don’t mention it! See you next time~!”
“Please take care on your way back.”
As she said that, her gaze flicked briefly to Agasa behind me.
In that fleeting moment, her eyes sharpened.
I didn’t miss that glance—and I smirked inwardly.
‘She must’ve noticed Agasa’s eye color.’
Well, that’s exactly why I brought the girl with me.
It’s about time the rumors started shifting direction.
‘Let’s see how long Agasa can endure.’
I walked away, already calculating the timeframe in my head.
*
Today, I didn’t leave the palace. Instead, I spent the day tending to the plants in the greenhouse.
There was no better place to be alone with Agasa.
‘I’ve always come here alone under the excuse of caring for sensitive plants anyway.’
Now I had a perfect excuse—Agasa was here to help with the flowers.
With practiced hands, I turned the soil and watered the plants, occasionally glancing sideways.
And there was Agasa, holding a flower pot.
She looked pale.
‘Not surprising.’
I had just revealed a harsh truth to her. How could her mind be calm?
I cleared my throat deliberately and spoke.
“Ahem, Agasa.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Have you been going through something difficult lately?”
“Pardon?”
Her eyes widened.
I spoke in a concerned tone.
“Ever since you came to my palace, you’ve looked unwell. You were crying when we first met, too.”
“It’s nothing, truly. I’m sorry to have worried you.”
She bowed quickly.
I stepped closer.
“I didn’t say that to get an apology. Um… if something’s bothering you, would you talk to me about it?”
“How could I trouble you with that…! I’m really fine.”
She stepped back exactly the same distance I had approached, avoiding my gaze even more.
She still wasn’t fully comfortable with me.
‘In that case…’
I set down my watering can and marched straight up to her.
Then I boldly looped my arm through hers.
“Agasa! Come with me!”
“Huh, what?!”
“Come on!”
“W-Wait, Your Highness!”
Agasa was completely flustered, and because she was holding a flower pot, she couldn’t move easily.
As we stepped outside together, the warm sun and cool breeze welcomed us.
Still, Agasa looked lost.
“H-How could someone as noble as you walk with someone like me!”
“Oh, don’t be silly!”
I led her to a large tree behind the greenhouse.
It had been in the princess’s palace for ages—so big and wide it would take four grown men holding hands to encircle it.
Shwaa—
The spring breeze rustled its leaves.
