Chapter 19
“Ugh…”
Seidin looked blankly at the healers pretending to cry and shook her head.
‘Ugh, my head hurts.’
Then, some maids — excited at the idea of scoring points with the hero of the Holy Empire and unrequited love interest of the Emperor himself — deliberately spoke loudly.
“Princess! Did you see? The healers happily scampered off after receiving their invitation, leaving you behind to go alone!”
“We’ll attend to you with all our heart!”
“No need!”
Seidin responded coldly. If she didn’t shut this down fast, the maids might drag her away to be dressed by the best designer in the land.
‘Forget the banquet. I’m in no state to go, you fools.’
It was the end of winter. Once the frozen ground thawed, Luan would begin his advance into the Shadow Forest. She couldn’t let the original female lead and male lead meet under such terrible circumstances as they had in the original novel.
Taking care of Luan, who would likely exhibit symptoms beyond just insomnia, was far more important than showing up at a grand banquet as the mysterious woman occupying the Emperor’s bedroom.
‘We don’t have enough mana stones, even if I started producing them nonstop right now…’
Bracing herself, Seidin spoke icily to the gloomy onlookers.
“I’m not going to the banquet. Pretending to be happy while twirling around in front of a crowd isn’t my hobby.”
She crossed her arms for effect and glanced at the disappointed healers before continuing.
“But as you all said, I wasn’t the only one invited. The healers were, too. Since this is a rare imperial banquet, I hope you enjoy it.”
“Oooooh!”
The healers, suddenly cheered up, raised their pickaxes in delight. In contrast, the maids were horrified by Seidin’s bombshell statement and wailed in shock.
“No, you can’t!”
“Princess! That completely misses the point!”
“What joy could His Majesty possibly feel if only the healers show up?”
“They’re useless anyway!”
“Ahem! Exclude me from that, please! I’m staying to work with Her Highness!”
Rozen shouted, as if making a difficult vow. As an apprentice healer, this was a rare opportunity to witness the Princess’s skills in healing the Emperor’s pain. A banquet was nothing in comparison.
“I—I can give it up!”
“Oh my, Rozen, are you crying?”
“I-It’s just… this would have been my first banquet in the Imperial Hall. I imagined how beautiful and grand it would be. I could picture it even with my eyes closed…”
Rozen looked downcast, but then clenched both fists, determined.
“But! How could I enjoy myself like the others when Her Highness is left working alone?!”
“Hm-hm, well then, Rozen, we all appreciate your noble heart, and the rest of us will attend the banquet on your behalf.”
“Support Her Highness well. Collect those damn herbs—no, I mean, those precious herbs—and scoop the monster dung properly.”
Trying to act like senior healers again, the others clasped their hands behind their backs and chuckled. With their well-rested and glowing complexions, the healers looked far too pleased with themselves, which irritated the maids to no end. You could say they were jealous.
Eventually, Jadin — the maid with the sharpest tongue — opened her mouth, capable of making threats more effectively than the others.
“I think we should report this to His Majesty. It seems these healers don’t know who the main character is…”
At the mention of “His Majesty,” the muscular healers’ faces instantly froze. The Emperor! He was their benevolent superior who drank his medicine without complaint — a living god. If he found out they’d gone to the palace banquet without the woman he adored…
“Jadin.”
Seidin cut through the tense silence, calling her name. It was the first time the Princess had called her directly. Jadin instinctively hunched her shoulders, feeling like she was about to get scolded.
Taking control of the atmosphere, Seidin lightly jumped onto a small rock so she could reach the taller Jadin’s shoulder. Resting her hand there, she sighed and said softly,
“Don’t say things like that.”
“Y-Your Highness?”
“These people spend all day helping me gather herbs and haul fertilizer. Should someone who serves the Emperor speak ill of them?”
“Ah…!”
“The Goddess values mercy above all. So please don’t speak harshly of them. And don’t mention anything to His Majesty. He’ll understand if I say I didn’t feel like going.”
At those words, the bulky healers began to fidget, shrinking like puppies in the rain. Rozen gasped at the ridiculous sight of these strong men trembling with pickaxes in hand.
But surprisingly, Jadin looked deeply moved by the Princess’s words.
“Oh my, Your Highness. You don’t want us speaking ill of the healers? You have such a kind heart.”
“No wonder His Majesty fell for you…!”
Emila said with sparkly eyes. Seidin, who was gently patting Jadin’s shoulder, immediately pursed her lips and sharply went, “Tsk!” like she was scolding a cat.
Startled by the reaction, Emila quickly shut her mouth.
Satisfied by the quick reflex, Seidin dropped her scolding tone and spoke kindly again.
“In the end, the healers go to the banquet like they wanted, and I stay behind to work. Isn’t this what everyone wanted?”
“Ah…”
Jadin tried to say something but sealed her lips again. If she spoke any further, the Princess might be disappointed in her. Holding back her tears, Jadin’s close friends and fellow senior maids — Emila and Kleine — shut their eyes in quiet solidarity.
Meanwhile, the healers — exempt from this emotional mess — were already thrilled to be going to the banquet. And Rozen, the lone one staying behind with the Princess, shouted with tears in her eyes,
“I-I’m happy too! To be working with Her Highness while everyone else is enjoying themselves. Sob!”
* * *
As Rozen sniffled, the healers danced with joy at being part of a historic imperial banquet. The three maids suffered silently as the grand palace banquet was officially announced.
Exactly a week later, the banquet really did take place.
Even though the Emperor had abruptly ordered preparations, the banquet was dazzlingly splendid. The number of attendees surpassed that of any previous palace banquet. Nobles from across the empire scrambled to attend, as if they had been waiting for this exact opportunity. Rumors spread that minor nobles from the frontiers sold their family heirlooms just to afford travel and banquet attire.
Within a week, the previously quiet Imperial Palace was teeming with people.
In the meantime, the three maids tried every temptation imaginable to change the Princess’s mind. But she wouldn’t budge. Clutching her pickaxe, she moved from herb garden to herb garden.
Eventually, the exhausted maids discovered something they never wanted to know — the Princess had an exceptional eye for monsters.
Banquet or not, Seidin increased her visits to the monster pens, taking Rozen along.
Though frightened at first by the grotesque beasts, she soon began inspecting their health in detail, always from behind the palace guards. The reason was simple — healthier monsters produced better fertilizer, which improved herb yields.
So focused was Seidin that the three maids couldn’t even distract her with their chattering. During one such rare moment of silence, Seidin chirped brightly to Rozen, who was shoveling dung.
“Rozen, don’t you think Sunbeam is drooling a little less than yesterday?”
“Uh? What?”
Rozen glanced at the creature, which resembled a horse with horns and three eyes. As soon as it sensed her gaze, the monster — now known as “Sunbeam” thanks to the Princess — smacked its lips.
Rozen shivered.
Sunbeam? A cute name like that for such a terrifying creature smacking its lips at her?
“…Judging by the way it’s smacking its lips at me, I don’t think it’s drooling any less.”
“No, that’s not it. Normally, when it’s in a bad mood, it spits everywhere. But right now, it’s not even spitting, right?”
“Huh?”
“When it sees you, it usually goes ‘ptooey ptooey’ in disgust…”
“……”
“But now it’s just smacking its lips. That means its mouth is dry. Oh dear.”
Seidin shook her head in pity and began writing in her Monster Observation Journal.
