Chapter 12
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
As expected, the roots were firm. In the farthest corner of the herb garden—an eerie patch where the cries of beasts from the “Forest of Shadows” echoed—Seidin crouched and pulled up herbs, laughing brightly.
In the Kingdom of Herais, she had to scavenge discarded low-grade mana stones left behind by dark mages and endure the disdain of attendants while wandering around herb gardens. To practice the art of crafting mana stones, she needed plenty of materials after all.
‘But now—oh my gosh! I can get as many materials as I want without worrying about anyone else!’
Seidin beamed, thinking, ‘I’m seriously lucky!’, and then suddenly turned around.
The healers, who had been vigorously digging up herbs with pickaxes, jumped in surprise. Then, as if rehearsed, they all groaned in unison. But Seidin just snorted at them and put down her pickaxe.
Their faces lit up with hope after two hours of relentless digging.
‘F-finally a break?!’
But of course, it wasn’t. Seidin had simply stopped for another reason—she wanted to check on the beasts they’d brought back from the Forest of Shadows.
Feigning ignorance toward the healers’ obvious longing for rest, Seidin spoke gracefully.
“Rozen, shall we go check on the condition of the beasts? They’re going to provide the fertilizer that will determine the grade of the herbs, so I’m quite curious about their state.”
“Oh, as expected of you, Princess.”
Rozen was touched.
In the Holy Empire, dark magic was seen as a power contrary to the divine. Yet this princess used that power not to harm others, but to heal the Emperor.
To go against her own nature and heal the Emperor’s pain—she was doing something truly sacred.
‘What an admirable person!’
And Seidin, sensing his admiration, smirked.
‘To practice mana stone crafting, the more stones I have, the better.’
To Seidin, the healers wielding pickaxes were nothing but labor—good-quality labor at that.
‘Heh heh.’
So, exchanging looks of completely different intentions with Rozen, Seidin cheerfully headed toward the area where the beast cries echoed.
Toward the place filled with the beasts captured from the forest—the very place that once belonged to the original heroine.
Bubble, bubble.
That night, after the healers had gone home, Seidin was boiling the herbs that would become materials for the mana stones. Stirring with a ladle to keep them from hardening, she thought about the beasts’ condition.
‘As expected from creatures from the Forest of Shadows—they all had very unique appearances.’
Even the healers weren’t allowed inside the dangerous fenced area guarded by soldiers. So Seidin had only viewed them from a distance with Rozen. There were quite a few of them.
The beasts here weren’t real demonic creatures born in the Demon Realm, but regular animals that had evolved under the influence of demonic energy. Because of that, they retained their original forms, but something about each one had changed in bizarre ways—like having two heads, or looking like horses but covered in scales…
‘The original heroine supposedly lived hidden in the Forest of Shadows, befriending those kinds of creatures. How did she even survive? That’s amazing.’
Seidin shivered. Just remembering the terrifying howls and roars made her uneasy. The original heroine truly lived up to her title if she could tame such beasts.
‘Still, they seem healthy enough, so I should get plenty of fertilizer out of them.’
Of course, that might run out soon too.
Seidin looked into the steaming pot, thinking ahead to how Luan’s condition might worsen. Having spent all morning with the healers harvesting herbs, she figured there was enough material now to make mana stones. Still, anxiety gnawed at her.
‘Soon, when Luan heads into the Forest of Shadows for a subjugation mission, he’ll meet the heroine. Then I’ll just need to do my part. Until then, I’ll take good care of him…’
Rustle.
Lost in thought, Seidin turned toward the sound in the bushes. The source was Luan.
“……”
Seidin lowered her gaze and clasped her dry hands together. It was deliberate—she didn’t want to meet his eyes.
Luan, as if sensing she wanted silence, said nothing.
An emperor showing up in a secluded healer’s hut would shock most people. But to Seidin, it wasn’t surprising. She had a feeling they’d meet again today—and she knew he wasn’t the type to leave a conversation unfinished.
Clutching the hem of a different dress than the one she’d borrowed from his wardrobe earlier that morning, she finally spoke.
“I was in the herb garden, and the maids brought me new clothes later. Your Majesty, I may have fainted yesterday and needed their help, but I’m fine now. I don’t need personal attendants anymore.”
“Princess, from the day you arrived at the palace, I personally appointed those maids to serve you. Since Herais is different from here, I thought it might help you adjust.”
“I’m fine. In fact, you’ve already received a report saying I’ve adjusted so well that I’m bossing the healers around.”
Seidin grumbled, but Luan ignored her complaint and walked lightly through the grass. With a playful glint in his eye, he stood behind her and looked into the bubbling cauldron. His gaze at the potion was indifferent—like it wasn’t even his medicine.
Growing uneasy, Seidin licked her dry lips and spoke.
“Still playing tricks, Your Majesty?”
As the wind tousled Luan’s black hair, Seidin smiled faintly and said,
“Using your sacred power to make a clone isn’t good for your health.”
“Oh? Are you saying the me standing here is a kind of clone?”
“Of course I am.”
Seidin crossed her arms.
Creating clones had once been the only thing young Luan could do with his limited sacred power. And back then, he had been forced to demonstrate that power countless times in front of the royal family—who tortured him under the guise of “studying” sacred energy.
A flash of painful memory passed through her mind, and Seidin frowned. She knew that creating clones now wouldn’t be difficult for Luan—but sacred power, when overused, risked going berserk. She didn’t want him summoning old ghosts from the past like that anymore.
So she spoke first, seeing that Luan remained silent.
“Isn’t it inefficient for His Majesty the Emperor to sneak out of the palace just to visit someone like me? It’s not exactly a good look, either. Using a clone to meet me secretly—now that’s more efficient.”
“Ah.”
Luan nodded as if he understood. Seidin, who had been about to launch into a lecture about efficiency and how he shouldn’t come in person, shut her mouth.
‘Good. At least he got the point, right?’ Seidin grinned proudly and folded her arms tighter.
Just then, Luan nodded firmly and said,
“So you’re telling me not to use clones anymore, but to come meet you in person.”
“…?”
“Understood. Besides, everyone in the palace already knows I carried you gently into my chambers. There’s no point in hiding how much I love you anymore.”
“Your Majesty!”
“Ah, my apologies. You told me not to say I love you.”
“Ugh.”
“I’ll try to hold back from now on—with all my strength.”
Looking exactly like Luan, the supposed clone frowned in agony and clutched his chest. Seidin, staring at this handsome man tormented for all the wrong reasons, was dumbfounded.
“At this rate, it’s better I don’t see you at all. Whatever I say, you twist it your own way.”
“And even if I’m hurt, will you still not see me?”
“……”
“Oh dear. And here I thought you said you were my healer…”
He’s twisting your words. huh, just like a kid~