CHAPTER 106…………………….
Lirien’s popularity was truly swelling by the day.
Of course, after the incident at the Eve Festival, even the emperor’s children had started to act for the sake of the empire’s citizens.
For instance, Isavel personally raised troops and dispatched them to subjugate the bandit gangs who caused casualties in their territory every year.
Yevgeny, too, inspired by Lirien’s momentum, began offering ten times her donations to the temple.
As for Dmitri—his popularity had already been enormous, so that went without saying.
The sudden benevolence of the imperial family bewildered the citizens, yet at the same time they could not suppress their joy.
“These days, the royals often move for our sake, don’t they?”
“Mary, who do you like best? For me, of course, Prince Dmitri—ah, I mean, His Highness the Crown Prince!”
“Oh my, but lately Prince Isavel is no less! I heard from a traveling merchant that whenever he swings his sword through the blazing flames, bandits and monsters are all struck down in one blow! Even though he should be carefully guarding himself until the Eve Festival, he ignores that and comes to help us!”
“Goodness… perhaps the Second Prince is a truly admirable man after all?”
People squealed and praised without knowing whether this was the very reaction the royals wanted.
But soon, after being busy gossiping about the royal family, they all gathered their voices as one and cried out:
“Still, the most amazing one is of course Her Highness Lirien!”
No matter how admirable the others were, the First Princess Lirien, who had given them direct help until now, was the greatest of all.
The way the conversation so naturally, almost as if scripted, shifted to Lirien felt familiar and seamless.
And then—
A woman clutching a paper bag stuffed with goods slipped closer through the crowd and asked,
“Um… excuse me, but what are you all talking about? Is it alright for talk of the princess to be spreading around like this?”
“Oh my, are you perhaps an outsider?”
“Ah, yes, yes, that’s right. I’m from outside.”
The woman wore a dark blue robe, the bright sunlight casting shadows over her face so it could not be seen clearly.
The middle-aged woman she had questioned clapped her roughly on the shoulder and laughed heartily.
“Dangerous? Nonsense! It’s not as if we’re insulting her. And the First Princess’s good deeds in the capital are already widely known in whispers. No need to worry so much.”
“Ah, I see….”
The robed woman nodded half-heartedly, then glanced sideways at the busy streets. Everyone seemed preoccupied chattering among themselves.
“Rather, what brings you here from outside?”
“Ah, well…”
After a brief explanation, the woman looked back at the matron and spoke.
“I must say… I can’t agree with that opinion.”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“The First Princess. She’s very different from what I’ve heard.”
“W-what do you mean by that, miss…! Are you insulting Her Highness right now?!”
“…What…?”
At once, the matron’s harsh tone brought silence over the street. People frowned at the small-framed woman standing before her.
A young man working at a neighboring shop approached, sneering.
“Well, well? You look ordinary enough, so what makes you think you can speak ill of Her Highness the First Princess?”
The woman was silent.
“What’s wrong? You seemed fine talking before. So what did you hear, exactly, that makes you say such things?”
As the youth sneered, others on the street began whispering while staring at the woman.
She looked momentarily flustered, but soon regained her composure and spoke.
“B-but I did hear it. An acquaintance of mine serves a master who works within the palace, and that person said this.”
—The image of the First Princess, who, instead of showing gratitude, had shown irritation when her younger sibling worried for her!
“And, and also, when Prince Yevgeny cried because the medicine was bitter, she once forced him to take it! Of course she meant well, but surely His Highness could have managed with the attendants’ help? Acting high-handed like that seems wrong, doesn’t it?”
“But that’s only what your noble acquaintance said. How would we know if we haven’t seen it ourselves?”
“Exactly. He could have lied too, couldn’t he?”
“B-but still…”
As the woman faltered, people smirked at her as though savoring her defeat.
Yet she did have an ally. A passing merchant, having overheard, stepped in.
“Hey now, what’s all this ganging up on one person?”
“But this woman dares insult the First Princess!”
“How can she speak so about our benefactor…!”
The merchant chuckled awkwardly, then said with a sigh,
“I don’t know about the medicine, but I myself saw Her Highness snap at Princess Yevgeny out of worry.”
“! S-see? There, a witness! Someone saw it!”
Emboldened, the woman raised her voice to the crowd. A strange reaction spread among them. Some glanced between her and the merchant with doubtful eyes.
Most didn’t believe it, but in any crowd there were always varied temperaments.
“No wonder I thought it strange, why would such lofty royals care for us?”
“Now that you mention it, didn’t she once carry a shameful nickname? So she’s just shifting her target from nobles to us, isn’t she!”
Humans always felt a certain catharsis watching someone above them fall—
Even if that person had once helped them.
When others seemed happier, or succeeded in business, people might outwardly congratulate them, but secretly wished for their misfortune.
Of course, Lirien still had far more supporters.
But this was only one district. In another, who knew what might happen?
And so, people began scattering, eager to carry this rumor to other neighborhoods.
Left behind were only the young man and matron who had scolded the woman.
The young man, bristling with anger, turned to snap at her—
“Hey, you…! Wait, what—where’d she go?!”
The woman had vanished without a trace.
Frustrated at being unable to retort, the young man stomped the cobblestones.
He didn’t notice someone watching silently from a nearby alley.
“….”
“Mother?”
I tilted my head, watching my mother’s pale face. She looked as if she hadn’t slept all night, shadows dark beneath her eyes.
Puzzled, I glanced at Lina beside her. Lina, too, seemed to know the reason, for she met my gaze with a pained look and shook her head.
As I exchanged looks with Lina, my mother suddenly snapped out of her daze and looked at me.
Hesitating whether to say it or not, she clasped my hand tightly and forced a small smile.
Was it just me, or did her smile look sad?
“Liri, for the time being… don’t go outside at all.”
“Huh? Ah, of course. Until the Eve Festival, the other royals can’t go out either. Our activities are confined to the palace anyway.”
“That’s not what I mean…. Anyway, no matter what anyone says, just ignore it and let it pass.”
“Alright.”
I nodded obediently. At that, my mother let out a sigh of relief and rinsed her dry mouth with tea.
Something must have happened.
I glanced around. The attendants who met my eyes flinched guiltily.
Ah.
I narrowed my eyes, realizing the situation.
It seemed the people’s faith in me was starting to waver—even enough to reach my mother’s ears.
Inside my own palace, where everyone liked me, no one spoke of it, but outside I could sense it.
Now that I think about it, weren’t the servants and knights we passed on the way here looking at me rather disapprovingly?
I hummed to myself. Perhaps it was time to play that “card.”
“Sir Sorcier, today’s report on medicinal supplies is here.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Orca accepted the papers with dead eyes from his subordinate.
It had been seven years since he was appointed imperial physician.
And he hadn’t slept properly in days.
Back when he had been studying to become a palace doctor, he had endured such hardships easily. But unfortunately, people aged with time.
The fiery will and stamina of his teenage years had long since faded, replaced by a constant inner cry: ‘Just kill me already…’
Whenever he felt that way, Orca Sorcier would glance at his increasingly thick coin purse and sigh, ‘Hah… still, I must persevere…’
And so he worked diligently, checking scarce herbs, the royals’ health, and the knights’ conditions.
Suddenly, he sensed someone behind him.
Orca set down the document he was reading and turned.
“What is it, Miss Isavel?”
“Ah! Um, M-Master Sorcier….”
His colleague, Isavel Renya, startled and blushed when called. Orca looked at her with disinterest, then began turning back to his papers when—
“Um, the Empress has summoned you.”
“…So suddenly?”
Orca’s dead eyes sharpened as he furrowed his brow.
Luckily, Isavel was too oblivious to notice his subtle change in expression. She nodded.
“Y-yes. She said it’s urgent, and you must come quickly to the Empress’s Palace.”
“…Tch.”
Clicking his tongue quietly, Orca glanced at the pile of documents on his desk—all due today.
Noticing his trouble, Isavel nervously offered,
“I-I can take care of the paperwork! Please don’t worry and go. If Her Majesty is unwell, you must hurry.”
“…Then I’ll entrust it to you.”
“! Yes, sir!”
Her face brightened.
Orca passed her by and left the infirmary, all the while pondering what the Empress wanted.
What task will she burden me with this time…
The Empress usually had him act as a spy on Lirien—
to see what she was doing, or what schemes she might be plotting.
Since he had personal acquaintance with the First Princess, it was the natural choice.
But every time, guilt gnawed at him until he developed stress-induced gastritis.
Lirien knew as well.
Hadn’t she herself once said to him with a smile, ‘Go ahead and be Her Majesty’s spy~’?
Not understanding his feelings, she always cheerfully told him her plans, making him shake his head in secret.
How long had he walked?
Within thirty minutes, he arrived at the Empress’s palace.
“Ah, you’ve come.”
The guard greeted him familiarly, for Orca came and went often enough that they recognized each other.
“Her Majesty summoned me…”
“Yes, I was ordered to meet you. As always, she awaits you in the parlor. This way.”
“Understood.”
Orca didn’t need the escort—he knew the way all too well.
She must be suspicious I might leak something to Lirien’s agents on the way in. Always so meticulous…
He smirked twistedly at the thought.
“Here we are. Please enter.”
“Thank you.”
The guard opened the door for him, and Orca stepped inside.
The parlor was silent, filled with priceless treasures.
At its center sat the Empress, legs crossed gracefully, waiting.
As their eyes met, she smiled faintly. Orca approached and bowed.
“Orca Sorcier greets Her Majesty Dolores del Caliburg. May the blessing of the goddess Eridium be upon you.”
“Sit, Sir Sorcier. Today I specially procured the tea leaves you like.”
“My thanks.”
“There’s no need for such formality between us.”
The Empress chuckled softly.
Thanks to years of practice, Orca was now a man who could completely mask his true feelings.
Though moments ago his face had been sour as death, he now smiled as if honored beyond measure.
“May I ask the reason for your summons?”
“There’s always a reason. But today, shall we take our time first?”
“If that is Your Majesty’s wish, then I’ll set aside the main topic for now.”
“I like how quick you are to grasp things.”
She smiled, and he returned the gesture. Silence lingered, broken only by the sound of tea.
Finally, the Empress opened her mouth.
“Do you respect the First Princess?”
“…Pardon?”
The unexpected question made Orca’s eyes widen.
She laced her fingers atop her lap and continued.
“If I had been of Lirien’s generation, I might have respected her. Didn’t she develop medicine for those with magic deficiency at such a young age?”
“….”
A bead of cold sweat slid down Orca’s neck. Somehow, he already sensed why the Empress had called him.
