Chapter 7
The court teacher’s face looked quite familiar. Why? Because he was the same man who, instead of focusing on teaching, was usually busy flattering Rellina.
Shairin crossed her arms and flattened her gaze as much as possible.
As her already unpleasant expression turned icy cold, the teacher began trembling as if he had come face to face with the god of death himself.
Shairin’s voice pierced through the court teacher.
“Your arrogance knows no bounds.”
“Y-Your Highness…”
“Why aren’t you saying anything? Go ahead, recite my shortcomings without holding back, just like earlier.”
Since fixing shortcomings is also the duty of royalty.
Her voice was as cold as a swirling blizzard, yet calm, urging a response. But the court teacher’s lips were sealed shut and wouldn’t part.
Naturally. The moment a backhanded remark becomes a frontal remark, the safety of one’s own neck could no longer be guaranteed.
The court teacher trembled, sank to the ground, and bowed his head.
“I-I have made a mistake, Your Highness. Please have mercy…”
“For what?”
“…As a court teacher… I failed to remain neutral and recklessly… revealed my narrow-minded views to my still-young pupil.”
“Knowing that, you still ran your mouth carelessly. You are unworthy of being a teacher. I will discuss this matter with Father.”
“Y-Your Highness!”
Before the teacher could say anything more, Shairin dismissed him.
Saying that she now wanted to spend quality time with her younger sister.
As if forgetting the teacher’s existence, Shairin smiled and reached out her hand to Rellina.
“Was studying hard on you?”
“Huh? Well, that is…”
“Come in. I came because I wanted to have some tea together.”
“Ah, yes, yes.”
Shairin personally closed the door. Rellina wore a bewildered expression as she sat down across from her.
She knew that Shairin’s feelings toward her had changed from negative to positive.
But Shairin only looked at her with affectionate eyes, never approaching beyond a certain distance.
Moreover, for some unknown reason, guilt could be felt in her older sister’s eyes lately.
As if she were constantly asking, ‘May I dare to approach you?’
Why had such an older sister suddenly come to see her? It felt so unfamiliar.
‘Someone I like, but find it hard to be close with.’
And… someone who, until crying in the dining hall, had been wrapped in invisible thorns and grieving alone.
Rellina’s eyes darted busily.
Since theirs was not an ordinary sisterly relationship, it was hard to express joy until she knew for sure what her sister’s intentions were.
Meanwhile, unaware of Rellina’s thoughts, Shairin remained silent.
‘How does one go about getting closer?’
Aside from the peculiar case of Erand, Shairin had never been the one to approach someone first.
Having been the strong candidate for the next monarch, people always came to talk to her even when she just stood still.
So she had absolutely no idea how to resolve this awkward sisterly relationship!
‘Damn it. What do kids these days even like?’
Since there was a considerable age gap with Rellina, she didn’t know what children were interested in.
Moreover, if this were her previous life, where she had been forcibly thrust to the forefront of trends, she might have picked up something.
But in this life, having lived in seclusion like a castaway on a deserted island, she didn’t even know the interests of noble society…!
‘I was middle-aged just before I died. And I didn’t even have children!’
She sighed inwardly.
If she had known this would happen, she should have studied a bit more.
But regretting wouldn’t turn back time. Shairin suddenly stood up.
“Rellina. Go get ready to go outside.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s go see the downtown area together.”
Why the sudden outing?
Rellina couldn’t keep up with Shairin’s bouncing thoughts.
“We can hide the guards among the passersby, so don’t worry about safety.”
“W-Well…”
“Doesn’t studying just give you a headache?”
For Rellina, studying was enjoyable, not difficult or hard.
“Not really…”
“Nevertheless, I believe experiencing the knowledge from books on-site is also a duty of royalty.”
“Still, the maids say the outside is dangerous…”
“I’m going with you as your guardian, so what’s so dangerous? And we’ll have plenty of guards stationed around.”
Saying it was still dangerous would be tantamount to doubting the guards’ abilities.
“Hmm…”
Rellina was conflicted. The thought that as royalty she shouldn’t move recklessly clashed violently with her curiosity about the outside world.
But she couldn’t deny that Shairin’s words were making her ears perk up.
In the end, curiosity won. Rellina also wanted to go outside.
Her heart gradually began to flutter at the thought of experiencing the world she had only known through books.
“I-I want to go too! I’ll go, Sister!”
“Then let’s meet at the main gate in one hour.”
It was a hastily made plan, but she was excited.
Rellina smiled and said to Shairin.
“Yes, see you later, Sister!”
A short while later, the two were riding a carriage out of the palace.
Rellina’s maids expressed concern over the sudden outing, but Shairin firmly dismissed them.
“How long are you going to keep the child so wrapped up? I believe Rellina also needs to see the wider world.”
The maids had no choice but to help the two sisters with their incognito excursion.
And so, after some twists and turns (?), the 1st Knight Division joined the outing.
Their main duty being royal protection, they disguised themselves and followed behind the two princesses.
Rellina swung her legs while looking at the scenery outside the window. She seemed excited.
Shairin chuckled at her younger sister’s cuteness, then turned her gaze to the window.
The tree-lined avenue, neatly planted by the gardeners, gradually receded.
In its place appeared raw, living scenes unseen inside the palace.
The haphazardly grown grass was rough, and the unpaved ground was rather bumpy for a carriage.
People dressed casually moved about busily.
It was a familiar yet precious sight.
“Cheap, cheap! Freshly caught fish, just 1 silver!”
“You won’t find fruit as fresh as ours anywhere else!”
The vibrant voices of the people.
Shairin still remembered.
The screams and cries they had let out when the Erosion swept across the continent.
To her, their voices were more enchanting than any orchestra.
So much so that she could close her eyes and listen all day long.
“I can feel happiness on the people’s faces.”
“Father is a wise ruler, so they naturally have some leisure.”
“Will we be able to protect that happiness?”
“…”
Shairin had failed. So she hoped Rellina would take on that role.
“I don’t know which of us will become the monarch, but we must work hard.”
“…Work hard, my little sister.”
“You have to work hard too, Sister.”
“Is that so?”
As Shairin was evading the question, the carriage came to a stop. The two princesses covered their heads with robes.
It was uncomfortable having their vision narrowed, but it was an unavoidable choice. The colors of their hair were rare even among nobles.
Meaning that someone with sharp eyes could see through their identities.
The sisters didn’t want people to be afraid because of them.
“Where would you like to go?”
“Hmm… I’m not sure.”
“Then may I make a recommendation?”
Honestly, anywhere was fine as far as Rellina was concerned, so Shairin took her younger sister’s hand and headed somewhere.
Rellina kept staring at the hand held tightly, as if never letting go.
Her heart fluttered at her sister’s unconscious affection.
It was awkward and unfamiliar, but she didn’t dislike it.
Before she knew it, Rellina’s face was also full of smiles.
How long had they walked?
Shairin muttered, sounding somewhat troubled.
“Oh dear, there are already so many people.”
With each step, the number of people increased.
Rellina, who had been looking only at their intertwined hands, raised her head.
The place was a square. But it was completely different from the scene she had heard about from the maids.
The large marble fountain was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, there was a wide, large platform, and in front of it, people sat in rows, eating or talking.
Nearby, a few touts shouted loudly, handing out papers.
“For just one day today! The play ‘The Girl Destined to Be a Hero’ is showing!”
“You won’t be able to see this play again for a while! So don’t miss it!”
“A play?”
“It’s a popular play among the commoners these days.”
“Can we… watch it too?”
“Of course. I brought you here because I wanted to watch it together.”
“Then let’s watch it together!”
Arriving at the crowded place, Rellina’s voice rose with excitement. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
