Chapter 119 - The Princess's Visit

Hestia village was in an uproar upon suddenly receiving the news of the Princess's visit.

When the day arrived, the people stopped all their work and flocked to the streets.

"Isn't this a chance to see the Flower of the Empire?"

"Would she even show her face to people like us? Even those living right under her nose have never seen her."

"Still, if not a chance like this, when else would we get one?"

While most people praised her beauty, those who had actually seen her in person were extremely rare.

Since the majority of people living within the Empire had never seen Olivia's face either, they flocked there with the feeling that this was their first and last chance.

While the streets were buzzing with excitement, Luri was on edge even more than usual.

It was because she had prepared so thoroughly for an honored guest's arrival.

'No, that's not it.'

Since she could tear through the Empire's defensive barriers and enter if she set her mind to it, there was no way she would be that nervous.

Those sharp eyes were, of course, directed at Ferda.

Ferda roughly knew the reason.

Therefore, he spoke to her like this.

"The only one who holds my heart is Her Highness Valdrova."

"Did I say anything?"

As Luri sharply turned her head and walked away after saying that, Ferda was left wondering what that was all about.

A moment later, a pair of vanguard royal guards riding white horses emerged from the forest.

A long procession followed behind that vanguard, and only after about four minutes did a large carriage make its appearance.

Olivia Arken would undoubtedly be riding in that extravagant carriage.

Just as he was thinking he only needed to be loosely prepared, an unexpected situation occurred.

The carriage had stopped at the outer castle wall, which was not yet completely built.

"Why are they suddenly stopping and making a fuss over there?"

"I have no idea."

It was a situation Ferda had not anticipated.

At the same time, soldiers began to roll out a red carpet from the outer castle gate, extending it straight down the path.

Simultaneously, the royal guards stood at regular intervals on both sides of the red carpet to control the residents.

Ferda felt a sense of familiarity at the sight.

'Is she planning to hold a parade?'

Ferda's guess was correct.

Olivia Arken was preparing to transfer from the shell-like carriage that tightly concealed her presence into a carriage used for triumphal ceremonies.

Ferda frowned as he watched the scene.

"Doing something so troublesome..."

Muttering like that, Ferda spoke to Luri.

"Luri. I'll need to change the schedule a bit."

"What do you mean?"

"Could you take me toward the outer castle gate?"

"Are you planning to run straight to the Princess of the Empire's side?"

"I don't want any problems arising in Hestia village."

She glared at him with a sullen expression, but what could she do?

Luri ultimately granted Ferda's request.

From a certain height, Ferda descended directly using Heaven Stair and landed beside Olivia.

"I greet the Princess of the Empire."

"I greet the Regent of the Grand Duchy's territory. Did you come all this way just for me?"

"What is the meaning of this?"

Without getting swept up in Olivia's atmosphere, he asked point-blank.

Checking her face in a mirror, Olivia replied.

"What do you mean? Am I not trying to help you, Regent?"

"How is this helping?"

"I am simply trying to draw out rumors about Hestia village."

"What rumors are you talking about?"

"The Flower of the Empire made her entrance into Valdrova Castle, displaying her beautiful figure... Isn't that enough to get people talking?"

She slyly glanced at him with her sapphire eyes and smiled.

"If you're planning to bring ruin to Hestia village, then it's a truly excellent move. I thought you would be well aware of the reason for not showing your face to the crowds."

"I know. If it's said that 'The Princess of the Empire was hit by a rock or tomato thrown by the crowd,' that family would be annihilated."

In fact, such an incident had occurred during the 1st Prince's visit, and that noble disappeared without a trace.

For Olivia, whose beauty was admired by all, the consequences would undoubtedly be even worse.

"Don't worry. I am proceeding with this on my own, and I will hold the knight order responsible for failing to stop it. Wouldn't that solve it?"

"If everything in the world worked out so perfectly, it wouldn't matter."

"You don't seem to believe me."

"Yes."

"You're far too honest, as always."

Covering her mouth, Olivia let out a soft laugh.

"Then let me propose a compromise. Will you ride with me?"

"... Excuse me?"

"If someone throws a rock or a tomato, you can block it, Regent. Wouldn't that solve it?"

"..."

Olivia tapped her glossy lips with her folded fan.

"The Regent of Valdrova threw his body on the line for the Princess of the Empire. Chivalry for the Princess still remains. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have such a reputation?"

Stop spouting nonsense, pull the carriage back immediately, and return to your shell.

He wanted to say that, but she showed no signs of backing down.

He didn't like her unyielding attitude, but Ferda couldn't afford to be stubborn either.

As mentioned, he was in a situation where he needed to chew on even a pretty but sour apricot.

"Understood."

"Hehe. Then step up beside me."

And so, Ferda climbed aboard the Princess's carriage.

The royal guards and knights seemed unable to hide their surprise at the situation, but no one said a word.

Thus, the carriage procession began.

They crossed a long empty lot where only a road had been paved and entered the inner parts of Hestia village.

"Gasp!"

"It's the Princess!"

"The Flower of the Empire!"

The residents, who had never imagined there would be a public procession, were utterly shocked.

The residents let out breathtaking gasps and cheers of awe.

Not just the men, but even the women looked at her with eyes of admiration.

"Your hand."

"Pardon?"

"Please wave your hand. Even if you can't smile, you should at least do that much, shouldn't you?"

Olivia skillfully waved her hand toward the people.

She smiled even more brightly and warmly welcomed the children whose eyes were sparkling.

'Incredible.'

Watching her from beside her, Olivia truly seemed to glow.

Blonde hair and blue eyes.

She was wearing a dress that revealed her glamorous and voluptuous figure, which could easily have stirred up lust, but the smile on her face created an atmosphere that was completely overwhelming.

She was like a beautiful rose kept in a glass case, a goddess of beauty.

Everyone loved her, worshipped her, and unsparingly poured out their praises.

It could be felt all at once that she was loved by everyone.

While lost in those thoughts, he made eye contact with Olivia.

She smiled.

He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but for some reason, that fake brilliance felt even brighter.

To the point where he even felt the delusion that she was in love with him.

'So that's how much you have to smile.'

It was an appearance Ferda could probably never pull off.

He turned his eyes away again and checked to see if any pests were flocking over.

And as if it were a given, no one displayed any hatred toward her, and the procession concluded safely all the way to the inner castle.

"Show your respects!"

Inside the inner castle, the knights from Count Concillus's territory, who had been dispatched for the ceremony, knelt and paid their respects to the Princess.

Ferda stepped out of the carriage first.

He reached his hand out toward Olivia to show his manners.

"I will escort you."

"I apologize, Regent. Her Highness does not hold hands with unrelated men—"

The words were cut off.

Because, making that explanation pointless, Olivia grabbed Ferda's hand.

She was a woman who always avoided the hands of men escorting her under the excuse of preserving her chastity, so they had thought she would do the same this time.

She naturally held his hand and spoke amiably.

"Could you introduce me to the people in the castle?"

"Of course."

Ferda introduced the knights as well as the people he kept as his closest aides.

Among them was Burnel.

Even Burnel, who usually locked himself in his lab, had dropped everything and run out.

Like a researcher who had never held a woman's hand in his life, his face turned bright red the moment he saw Olivia.

Olivia pretended to know him, sending him a gaze full of admiration.

"Burnel Marquis. I know of you. I heard you achieved an incredible feat in Halim?"

"Y-Yes. T-That's correct!"

"The Empire is keeping a close eye on you. I'd like to request close cooperation regarding security... but prioritizing the safety of the far east comes first, doesn't it?"

"Of course, but when the time comes, I will be of great help to the Empire as well!"

"Hehe, I will be looking forward to it."

This woman is pulling some bullshit.

Burnel was completely captivated by the Princess's smiling face.

It wasn't just Burnel.

The golden rose of the Empire, whom every man wished to see in person at least once.

Who wouldn't be thrilled at the moment of greeting her?

Perhaps because of that, he suddenly remembered a certain 'entity' who was crazy about women and discreetly whispered to Zed.

"Where is Penelope?"

"She's tied up tight and locked away."

"Why?"

"The moment she saw the Princess, she started saying, 'Just one bite.' What else could I do?"

Paying silent respect to Zed's lightning-fast judgment, Ferda stood beside Olivia.

They smoothly entered the castle while keeping up their image-making.

Luri's glare was more piercing than ever.

She projected hostility, wearing a face that screamed I hate this even more than usual.

An ordinary person would have been crushed by that aura, but Olivia spoke to her without the slightest hint of tension.

"Luri... Silverwind, correct?"

"That is correct."

"I sometimes get confused. Especially when I hear that such a loyal attendant to Her Highness Valdrova is of Silverwind's bloodline."

Olivia smiled brightly, and Luri answered curtly.

"I appreciate your words, but I already know what the Empire thinks of my master. I have ears to hear with."

"Yes, it is an awkward matter. On behalf of the Arken family, I promise to improve that."

Making a promise with the status of a Princess.

Luri scoffed inwardly.

"I've wanted to give this to you someday; it is a small gift I brought."

As Olivia gestured behind her,

An accompanying knight took out a box he was carrying and showed it.

It was traditional flower confections.

Flower confections made by the greatest patissier in the Empire.

Sweet, yet far from cheap, with a suitably mature appearance.

"Oh."

Luri's eyes were sparkling so much that the vigilance she had shown just moments ago seemed entirely pointless.

"I felt bringing only one would be impolite, so I prepared three boxes."

"Hmm, I will gratefully accept your goodwill. Since I naturally cannot eat this alone, I will bring it out when we serve our guests."

"A deeply considerate judgment befitting the loyal attendant of Her Highness Valdrova."

Luri responded skillfully, and Olivia's talent for sweet-talking was extraordinary.

Ferda, who knew Luri well, thought differently.

'She's going crazy wanting to taste it right now.'

Rather than eating it after her duties were done, she probably just wanted to eat it right away on the spot while preparing it.

There were two more boxes given to her anyway, so she could just eat more after she finished.

'What an incredible woman.'

To even bribe a kid with food like this.

Ferda inwardly marveled as he escorted her to the drawing room.

"You said the name is Hestia village, right?"

Taking a bite of a flower confection and a sip of tea in the quiet atmosphere, Olivia brought up a topic of conversation.

"Hestia village. Wasn't that the name of the woman who guards the hearth?"

"Yes. It must have been a hard name to find, yet you know it."

"I only know of it because I heard it from others. I can only marvel at your profound knowledge to know such names."

"It's a story I wouldn't have known if I hadn't happened to hear about it by chance either."

"Most people can't even remember the things they hear by chance. Thanks to that, I've taken a liking to books about ancient myths. What kind of books are you reading lately, Regent?"

"I am..."

Under Olivia's lead, the conversation flowed continuously.

Ferda felt puzzled as he watched her.

'She feels different from usual.'

Up until now, conversing with Olivia gave off a strong feeling that someone was talking from behind a mask.

But right now, that mask could barely be felt.

'Has her acting improved that much in the meantime?'

After exchanging nothing but trivial matters, Olivia shifted the topic to something more constructive.

"I'd like to talk about Burnel Marquis."

I knew it.

Olivia revealed her true colors.

"Please, speak."

"To be blunt, I want to recruit him as an engineer for the Empire. I will make sure to compensate you properly for it, so could it be done?"

Is this woman kidding me right now?

Ferda was about to lose his temper but discreetly glanced toward the knights.

Since there were ears listening, Ferda politely refused.

"He is a precious asset of the Grand Duchy's territory."

"So you're really going to take that stance..."

Maintaining her smile, Olivia nodded her head and then turned it away.

"Captain of the guard."

"Yes, Princess."

"Could you leave us for a moment? It seems we need to have a private chat."

"... Understood."

Foreshadowing that an unusual conversation was about to take place, the Knight Captain left the room.

Although he left, Olivia merely sipped her tea and did not start any serious conversation.

Ferda was forced to ask her.

"What is it that you want to talk about?"

"Talk about what?"

Olivia fluttered her eyelashes innocently.

"Ah, you mean that atmosphere? I just needed an excuse to kick the Knight Captain out."

"Why?"

"Because he keeps trying to monitor my every move. If I say we're having a discussion between high-ranking officials, he'll understand and step back."

"Then what you did just a moment ago was..."

"Acting. Of course."

She spoke while savoring the aroma of the tea.

"The imperial capital is currently debating how to suppress the growth of the Grand Duchy's territory."

"I've heard roughly what the situation is."

"In such a situation, wouldn't it look good if the narrative was that the Princess made a move to transfer their main engineer?"

It would be good, of course, but Ferda did not absolutely trust Olivia.

"Are you sure you have no ulterior motives for the Empire?"

"Of course. Why would I do something those people would like?"

Olivia's eyes burned with ambition.

She was not the Flower of the Empire, nor a gem at an auction, nor a free butterfly.

She wore the face of a politician.

"Hestia village. We decided to make this place into a massive capital that could replace the Empire, didn't we?"