TSFHV 74

Chapter 74

“How could dragon’s mana….”

The Emperor’s expression did not ease, as though he was far too shocked.

I watched his reaction and slowly let a frightened look creep across my face.

“Was it too sudden? I’m sorry. I just thought—the wound would heal quickly anyway.”

But it was as if he couldn’t even hear me. He stared at my face in a daze.

That gaze was far more persistent than usual, almost combative—like he was determined to find proof that I was not his daughter.

At last, Hidia, standing beside me, couldn’t bear the pressure and lowered her head.

“Hu—.”

A stifled sigh escaped from her lips.

Of course, the Emperor was never the sort to care about such things.

He continued to look at me without a word for a long while, before very slowly closing his eyes.

“……”

The suffocating silence stretched on.

The longer it went, the more everyone else’s tension mounted to the breaking point.

‘To them, does this feel like walking on thin ice?’

To me, who understood the meaning of this silence, it was all simply amusing.

‘How flustered you must be.’

He clearly prepared thoroughly to settle things with me today… yet the situation had suddenly gone off track.

‘So don’t go assuming so carelessly that I’m truly the child of God.’

The more you press me, the more desperately I’ll blind your eyes to the truth.

And in the end, I will hide it.

‘Just like now.’

Normally I let most things slide, but thinking that I had just ensnared the Emperor in his own trap made laughter rise in me on its own.

Well then, the evidence that I’m a genuine Lornord has now been displayed.

How will the Emperor respond?

I carefully observed him, hiding the excitement bubbling up inside me.

Perhaps sensing my gaze, he opened his eyes again.

His red irises had calmed considerably by then.

“Your dress… Yes, the dress. If it’s dirtied, you should simply buy a new one. When have I ever been stingy with money for you, Neroli?”

[Puhaha! Acting calm after being so shocked!]
[Only now you tell her to buy a dress~. Too late with that answer!]
[Stupid human! You were completely fooled!]
[A shame, though. If the master’s drug had worked on that Emperor, we could’ve siphoned some power from him.]

I also found that part a little disappointing.

There are levels among Lornords.

Someone like Bryndel, who is still only a prince, can barely be affected by my drugs. But the Emperor—after his coronation, having obtained a perfect and flawless body—could not be penetrated by any drug at all.

‘Still, that’s fine.’

For now, he had revealed his inner turmoil so transparently—what more could I want?

I flashed him a bright smile, full of mockery.

“Wow! Thank you!”

My innocent smile made him pull a complicated expression before murmuring softly.

“But this must be settled clearly. Neroli, why did you do that? You know how dearly this father cherishes you.”

Father, he says.

Feigning guilt, I lowered my head.

“Ah, that was… I’m sorry. I just wanted to show you clearly how ancient plants could be cultivated. I think I rushed things a little.”

“So, everything you did earlier was to grow an ancient plant?”

“Yes, Your Majesty! With dragon’s mana, I was able to grow an ancient plant! Isn’t that amazing?!”

Proudly, I said this. The Emperor glanced sideways.

At that, Cardinal Senfran—who had been tense all along—spoke up with difficulty.

“T-There are no such records in the Holy See. Ancient plants are blessed by God Himself. To claim they can grow through dragon’s mana—it makes no sense!”

“Hmm? But the flower actually grew, didn’t it?”

“Perhaps the Princess used divine power and pretended otherwise?”

“Eh? Divine power?”

“Without divine power, an ancient plant cannot possibly grow!”

“Then are the records wrong? I have no divine power at all!”

“The records of the Holy See are never mistaken!”

The spirits shook their heads at the Cardinal’s obstinacy.

[My, how narrow-minded.]
[Tsk tsk, so rigid in thought.]
[We know far better than you!]
[That human, so foolish!]

Together with the spirits, I put on a wide-eyed, innocent face—mocking him.

I knew exactly how to irritate these inflexible types.

“Wow! Then I must have made a brand new discovery! How exciting~!”

Hist always used to phrase it just like this.

With a cheerful smile, I brushed off the Cardinal’s words, and his face quickly reddened.

Perhaps feeling disrespected, he raised his voice.

“Princess Neroli!”

Just then—

The Emperor, who had been quietly observing, made a small gesture. Immediately, the chamberlain at his side restrained the Cardinal.

“You stand before His Majesty. Refrain from disgraceful conduct, Cardinal Senfran.”

Evidently, the Cardinal feared the Emperor, for he added no further words and followed the chamberlain out of the pergola.

Meanwhile, the Emperor turned back to me with a kindly smile.

“You say you grew an ancient plant with dragon’s mana?”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“The Cardinal wasn’t wrong either. Using dragon’s mana to grow an ancient plant is certainly… unusual. Neroli, how did you come upon such an idea?”

“Well, I really wanted to try growing the seeds Hebaro brought as tribute! I tried all sorts of methods, and finally—when I sprinkled some of my blood, the sprouts began to grow!”

“And why did you use your blood?”

“Ah… just because!”

I answered brightly, with the face of a thoughtless child.

“Ancient plants only exist in legends, right? And the dragon’s mana in our blood is practically legendary too! Legend plus legend! I thought it would be fun to try it!”

“Hm—.”

The Emperor drummed his fingers on the tea table with an unsatisfied look.

“If you wanted to use dragon’s mana to grow them, you could’ve just imbued mana directly.”

“Well… shamefully, I’m still clumsy at handling dragon’s mana. But my blood definitely carries it, so….”

Excuses for that came easily.

It was true that dragon’s mana was difficult to control, requiring steady training—and I had never received any such training.

So I murmured in a subdued voice.

“Was it… too reckless of me? But since I’m a Lornord too, I thought at least this much I could manage….”

I did not forget to emphasize that point.

For someone of Lornord blood, such wounds were trivial thanks to their innate healing ability.

And I possessed that very healing ability.

Therefore—

‘I am an unquestionable Lornord.’

The Emperor, deep in thought, watched me silently for a long while before slowly shaking his head.

“No, no. You’ve done well, Neroli. We’ll have to observe more, but if your theory is correct, then we too will be able to cultivate ancient plants.”

At that, I lifted my head like a praised puppy, eyes sparkling, and smiled harmlessly.

“That’s for sure! After all, I’m the witness!”

The Emperor did not respond.

But that didn’t matter.

I had escaped his trap cleanly, and even dropped a large bomb in return.

‘And that emphasis wasn’t only for the Emperor’s sake.’

I turned to look at Hidia, waiting nearby.

She tried to hide it, but her face already showed clear relief.

Patting her hand lightly, I whispered:

“You were really startled, weren’t you?”

“No, Princess. For a Lornord, this is nothing at all. I was just overreacting.”

“Hehe, that’s understandable. Ah, Hidia. Could you go back first with the girls and call a salon designer? Since His Majesty has granted permission, I’ll need to commission some more summer dresses~.”

“Yes, of course!”

Hidia bowed respectfully to both me and the Emperor, then hurried off with my maids in tow.

Watching her retreating figure, I smirked.

‘Her steps are light.’

Good. Go spread the word, Hidia.

Tell your father, Marquis Eogal. Tell all those whispering fools who claim I’m not a true princess.

‘That Princess Neroli is indeed a Lornord.’

That her wounds healed instantly, and her blood contained dragon’s mana.

And that not only you, but even the Emperor himself witnessed it.

That was precisely why I had brought you here today.

‘And as for what’s coming next—you won’t be needed.’

I shifted my expression and looked at the Emperor again.