Chapter : 20
Zigkart tilted his head slightly. Iteurn did not yet understand what that gesture meant. At least, not until later.
“Even if you go back to your hometown, we can still exchange letters, right? Or do you think someone who only exchanges letters can’t be friends?”
What a strange kid, Iteurn thought. And only then did she realize her eyes were still damp, so she rubbed them again with her sleeve.
“If you keep rubbing them like that, your eyes will swell up and you’ll look like a toad.”
At Zigkart’s words, Iteurn flared up, clenching her fists and stamping her foot.
“I wasn’t crying that much!”
“If you keep rubbing, they’ll swell. Trust me. Anyway, are we friends or not?”
“Does friendship just happen because someone says ‘let’s be friends’?”
“You talk a lot. That means you want to be friends with me.”
How ridiculous!
Whether Iteurn was flustered or not, Zigkart turned away as if he had finished what he wanted to say. The way he moved on his toes like a child playing made Iteurn feel something strange again.
It felt as if she were seeing Zigkart’s childhood—a childhood he had never truly been able to enjoy in his previous life. The thought made something in her chest tighten like salt had been sprinkled on it.
“Aren’t you coming?”
Zigkart said, holding out his hand behind him. Iteurn looked down at it without realizing. It was a small hand, just like hers. A child’s hand.
When she quietly took it, Zigkart’s fingers twitched slightly. It was clear he hadn’t expected her to actually take his hand.
“Why are you flinching?”
Iteurn teased him this time. Zigkart looked down at their awkwardly joined hands, then quickly turned his head away.
“I didn’t flinch. You’re just holding too ticklishly. Girls are helpless like that. Ow!”
Zigkart widened his eyes and grabbed the spot where Iteurn had hit him.
“You just hit me?”
“You deserved it. What do you mean ‘girls are helpless’? What are you, an old man?”
“Old man?”
“Yeah, old man. Or should I call you ancestor instead?”
Zigkart laughed awkwardly, and Iteurn added,
“If you say things like that again, I won’t stop at just a hit next time.”
“What are you going to do? Hang me upside down on a tree?”
Iteurn stared at him in shock.
“What kind of savage idea is that? I was only going to poke your side at most!”
“With a pen nib?”
“Are you insane?”
In truth, she wanted to say something even harsher, but she held it back.
‘He’s only eight years old—what on earth did he grow up eating to think like this? I thought he became a tyrant because his father was so harsh on him, but maybe he was born a tyrant from the start?’
No, that couldn’t be left alone. Iteurn shook her head inwardly. If she left him like this, it would be a disaster.
The emperor of Wintier might look frightening, but Zigkart—who had such an innocent face yet the temperament of a tyrant—was even more dangerous.
‘We’re going to keep diplomatic relations with the principality. If no one realizes what kind of child he is and he becomes a Grand Duke…!’
It would only lead to a ruler who would be remembered in history—for all the wrong reasons.
‘I should at least try to give him some emotional education while he’s here. Maybe that’ll prevent the worst outcome.’
Unaware of Iteurn’s serious determination, Zigkart simply smiled innocently.
The two children walked through long corridors and arrived at the Sa-ui-seo.
Normally, they could have taken a shorter route, but Iteurn, feeling responsible for Zigkart’s emotional education, deliberately chose the scenic route through the garden, which took longer.
“You didn’t have to take such a long detour.”
Zigkart looked back at the path they had taken.
“Do you know what efficiency means?”
Iteurn narrowed her eyes.
“You said you wanted to see the palace, so I showed you around. And now you’re complaining?”
She shook her small fist at him, and Zigkart instinctively shrank his shoulders.
“Ah, I see. Understood. I was mistaken, Your Highness.”
“Now let’s go inside.”
Iteurn lifted her chin proudly and let out a small laugh.
As soon as they entered the Sa-ui-seo, all the attendants were startled and rushed about in confusion.
Thanks to prior instructions from the emperor regarding the young duke, no one stopped the sudden entrance of the young princess and the unknown boy.
“Your Highness the Princess, and Young Duke. What brings you here?”
An elderly court official responsible for the royal family stepped forward to greet them. Iteurn nodded slightly and smiled brightly.
“The Young Duke wanted to examine the medicinal herbs here. Would that be alright? We aren’t disturbing anything, are we?”
The old official’s face softened warmly. He had a grandson around Iteurn’s age. What grandfather could refuse such a request?
“Of course not. It is an honor to have Your Highness visit us. Young Duke, this way please. I will guide you.”
Zigkart followed the elderly official into the building without saying much.
Iteurn wanted to follow, but her dress and ornaments seemed cumbersome, so she stayed near the entrance instead.
‘Hmmm… this is my first time in the Sa-ui-seo. It’s quite systematically organized.’
It was one of the first times her knowledge from her second life truly shone.
Even Iteurn herself was surprised. She could read not only the imperial language but also foreign languages—and even ancient scripts whose origin she did not recognize.
She could easily understand the meanings behind herbal names, many of which carried layered significance. She could even distinguish which medicinal herbs were of high quality and which were not.
‘Maybe I should study this. Instead of magic, perhaps I should try pharmacology?’
No, doing both would be better. Now she had time—time far more peaceful than in her previous life.
Zigkart’s figure flickered inside the Sa-ui-seo as he spoke with the officials, who were clearly impressed.
‘Was he always this knowledgeable about medicine?’
She tried to recall her previous life, but it was useless. She remembered only the image of a madman laughing wildly while destroying vases in the imperial palace.
Then, another memory surfaced behind that chaotic image.
A younger Zigkart. A bit older than now—perhaps thirteen or fourteen.
‘Yes… that’s right. Back then…’
Iteurn stood still, unaware of the people moving around her, lost in the suddenly resurfaced memory.
‘Zigkart was very ill…’
