Chapter: 5
Behind the main building of the Duke of Aster’s estate lay a garden.
Tall trees had grown thick and lush, forming a verdant forest-like space.
And there, something unusual was happening.
“What is this?”
Lynette unconsciously stepped closer to the window.
On the garden path leading into the woods stood a rabbit she had never seen there before.
The rabbit merely stared at her with glossy black eyes, not moving an inch.
“Why are they acting like this?”
Lynette looked around.
There were more animals.
On a wooden bench a short distance away from the rabbit, a pair of squirrels sat, staring straight at her.
Looking more closely, she realized there weren’t just one or two of them.
Gregorian, having noticed as well, asked in a trembling voice.
[W-What is this supposed to be?]
“…I don’t know.”
The animals were lined up in a long row, as though forming a passageway.
[Pr-Princess!]
Lynette moved.
[You’re not thinking of going outside, are you? Absolutely not!]
Gregorian clung to her shoulder, trying to stop her, but Lynette ignored him and began walking. Somehow, she felt that her ability might be of help in this situation.
‘After all, I am a princess of the Holy Kingdom.’
As descendants of the Saintess, members of the Igraine royal family were born with special powers.
During the era when struggles for dominance raged across the continent, the royal family of the Holy Kingdom declared political neutrality, claiming that they would instead focus their innate powers on protecting humanity from demonic beasts.
That stance had not changed much even now.
Her mother, Queen Ferdia, and her younger sister had both contributed to strengthening the Holy Kingdom’s influence through their ability to control fire.
The problem was the first princess of the Holy Kingdom—Lynette Igraine herself.
‘A royal who’s completely useless to the Holy Kingdom.’
How much contempt had she endured from her own mother because of that? Despite being the eldest daughter, she had never been named Crown Princess for this very reason.
That was also why she had hidden the ability she discovered later in life. It was far removed from the kind of “useful power” her mother desired.
Still…
[Princesseee!]
“Shh, Gregorian. It’s fine. You know it too. They won’t harm me.”
Lynette smiled gently and approached the small door leading into the garden.
Though she didn’t know the exact criteria, Lynette could communicate with certain animals.
And regardless of whether words were exchanged or not, animals had always shown her goodwill.
That’s how she knew.
‘They definitely want something from me.’
Lynette stepped outside briefly and began walking along the path the animals had formed.
As she passed by, the animals turned their heads to follow her, watching her every move.
They stared without blinking, all the way to the end.
[This is kind of scary, Princess.]
Shivering, Gregorian clutched tightly onto her shoulder. As if afraid of being separated from her, he dug in his tiny claws.
Lynette stroked his head once and continued walking carefully without saying a word.
At last, an outdoor barbecue area came into view.
“Ah.”
A short sigh escaped her lips.
On top of a table lay a baby pig.
Its legs were bound, an apple stuffed in its mouth, tears welling in its eyes.
Lynette looked around.
The animals that had led her here were now hidden in the bushes, only their eyes peeking out as they stared at her.
As if begging her to save it.
‘You really want me to save it?’
She knew full well why the chef had left the pig here. Was it really right for her to interfere?
As she hesitated, a whisper echoed inside her head.
— Save it. One day, it will help you.
It was an elderly, deep, dignified voice.
Who was that? Who was speaking to her?
[Princess, what’s wrong? Did something happen?]
Gregorian asked in alarm as Lynette glanced around. His hind legs trembled even more as he clung to her shoulder.
But she had no presence of mind to answer.
The moment Lynette turned her gaze back to the pig—
“Guuu…”
Their eyes met.
Moisture pooled in the baby pig’s black eyes.
It was perfect.
Its pale pink skin gleamed softly, its plump little body, its short legs barely tied together.
There was nothing about it that wasn’t adorable.
As if enchanted, Lynette stepped toward the table prepared for the feast.
The pig trembled as it looked up at her.
Tears trickled down, piercing straight into the center of Lynette’s heart.
“My goodness…”
She reached out and removed the apple from its mouth.
It had been bitten down so tightly that when she pulled, it popped out with a soft sound.
As she stood there, lost in thought—
[Don’t tell me… you’re planning to save that pig?]
Gregorian tugged at her shoulder, his voice filled with disbelief.
“I’m… thinking about what to do.”
[You can’t!]
“……”
She didn’t say it aloud, but that deep voice from earlier was urging her again.
— Hurry and save it. You will need it.
This was already the second time.
‘This pig… I’ll need it?’
It was true that her heart had softened at the sight of the trembling pig. But still…
— Hurry. There’s no time.
The voice pressed her again.
Back in the Holy Kingdom, there had been several occasions when listening to such voices had saved her.
How many times had birds and squirrels blocked her path, helping her avoid traps her younger sister Seriana had set?
‘That’s right. Listening to animals has never led me astray.’
She didn’t know exactly what the voice was—but it had to be an animal, right…?
In the end, Lynette made up her mind.
She would save this cute, adorable baby pig.
[No, Princess! We don’t even have time to find the Star of Fortune, and you’re taking in extra baggage? Please, listen to my advice!]
“It’s fine, Gregorian. This child will help with my plans.”
The voice said so too.
[That’s ridiculous. How could a pig like that possibly help—]
Ignoring Gregorian’s desperate cries, Lynette scooped the pig into her arms.
Shocked that his words had been ignored, Gregorian froze in place, but there was no time to comfort him.
Lynette wrapped the pig in a nearby checkered cloth and hugged it tightly, hiding it in her arms.
That was when she heard a familiar voice.
“Isn’t that Princess Lynette?”
The chef from the kitchen approached her with a smile.
“Good evening.”
Lynette smiled calmly, trying to conceal the bundle of cloth. But its presence was far too obvious.
As she feared, the chef’s gaze shifted toward her arms.
“Did you want something to eat, perhaps… hmm? Princess, what is that…?”
“Oh, this? It’s nothing.”
She hesitated.
Lynette took a step back, smiling sweetly.
“Ah, yes, well… huh? Where did the pig go?”
The moment those words left his mouth, Lynette turned and ran.
She ran as hard as she could, just to get as far away from that place as possible.
* * *
“So, you’re telling me my fiancée ran off with tonight’s dinner.”
“Yes.”
“And her whereabouts are now unknown.”
“Yes……”
“She’s nowhere to be found in the estate.”
“……”
“Are you saying this with a straight face?”
“I sincerely apologize.”
The captain of the guard bowed his head deeply.
“So how exactly are you supposed to protect this estate if an entire force can’t even find one princess?”
The chill in Derbel’s voice made everyone fall silent.
The duke was clearly different from before.
No one knew what had happened during the recent subjugation of demonic beasts, but he now wielded his presence like a weapon.
Perhaps it was just their imagination, but his blue eyes seemed to flash with a sharp light. The murderous aura radiating from him made the captain shrink even further.
Just as the pressure grew so intense it felt hard to breathe—
“Shall we dispatch the knights?”
Sir Olof, the knight commander who had been quietly listening, stepped forward.
He was one of the few who could remain calm in the duke’s presence.
“Dispatch knights throughout Aster to capture the princess?”
A sneer crossed Derbel’s face.
“Must we disgrace the honor of the ducal house?”
No one dared to argue.
“Then why do you take pride in gossiping about the House of Chrystian?”
Only one person spoke up.
