The Munchkin Princess Wants to Run Away Chapter 21

“If you were the emperor, would you simply stand by and let a princess abandoned by the imperial family perform miracles in the south?”

At the duke’s serious question, the count fell silent.

“Even so, hasn’t the imperial family been quiet since the marriage?”

The imperial family, which Cedric had expected to make all sorts of demands of House Reynold using the princess as an excuse, had remained silent until now.

“The Crown Prince agreed to handle things within reasonable limits.”

Cedric thought of the Crown Prince. They weren’t close enough to discuss personal matters, but the prince had even asked him to look after his younger sister.

It seemed he was watching over the princess in his own way.

“I’ve heard rumors that His Highness the Crown Prince has always been especially fond of the youngest princess.”

Stories about the First Prince carrying the little princess on his back and walking around the garden every day had circulated widely among the people.

“Even so, if rumors that the princess possesses divine power continue to spread, he might change his mind. Be more careful.”

“Understood. Also, my wife has requested a tea party with Her Highness the Princess. Would that be all right?”

At the count’s expectant expression, Cedric hesitated. Countess Lavern had been his etiquette tutor since childhood, but she was also an exceptionally skilled mage who served House Reynold.

There was no way he could refuse a request from a family that had served his house for generations.

“I’ll permit it.”

The count’s face brightened at once.

“My wife will be delighted to receive a guest for the first time in a while.”

With a happy expression, Count Lavern left the study.

 

***

 

“I hear strange rumors are circulating in the south.”

“Duke Reynold is currently inspecting his territory.”

Justin White Windsor answered the emperor respectfully. The two were drinking tea in the emperor’s private reception room.

Justin, with pale blue hair resembling Ivanna’s and vivid violet eyes, smiled gently.

“Are you still concerned about your youngest sister?”

“Father, how could I simply let go of my own sister?”

At his regretful tone, the emperor’s eyes wavered for an instant.

“She is married now. She has left this family.”

“Even so.”

Justin gave a faint, knowing smile, as though he understood the feelings behind his father’s cold words.

“We did our best when arranging her marriage. Surely she must be satisfied with the outcome.”

Justin paused at his father’s assertion that he had secured the very best for her. His father probably hadn’t seen his youngest daughter’s face even once since the Day of Divine Blessing.

Suppressing the sigh that threatened to escape, Justin reluctantly nodded.

“Rain falling only in the south…”

The emperor gazed at the sky beyond the reception room. The summer sky was bright and clear.

It hadn’t rained in the capital for a month.

The rain, and his youngest daughter.

Ivanna had not received divine power.

When his most beloved and precious little daughter, the one he cherished as dearly as his own life, failed to receive divine power, the emperor had felt as though his blood had run cold.

For a moment, he had suspected the empress of infidelity, but he had been mistaken.

He had ordered a paternity test again and again, but Ivanna was indeed his daughter.

A mistake by God. An omission.

Even he, the emperor, didn’t know how to define what had happened.

He had thought he would continue to love her regardless, but fierce criticism had erupted against a member of the imperial family who had failed to receive divine power.

The emperor had been far too busy trying to quell the uproar.

The empress had been in the same position.

It wasn’t that they hadn’t loved the girl.

But time couldn’t be turned back, and the child had married into a good family.

He had thought he’d done everything he needed to do.

“There’s no chance she received divine power a second time, is there?”

“We’ve checked countless times, but she had no divine power.”

Justin gave a bitter smile at the regret in his father’s voice. No report had come in claiming that Ivanna had received divine power.

“I almost wish God had taken pity on her. But we must prevent Reynold from gaining too much power.”

The emperor’s voice, previously filled with sympathy, grew firm.

“We don’t know whether this might be the key to ending the drought. If we act too hastily, won’t the people’s resentment turn toward the imperial family?”

“Isn’t the target of their resentment already decided?”

Justin swallowed at his father’s cold response.

“You’re being too cruel to Ivanna.”

“She is a member of the imperial family. She must fulfill her role, too.”

His father, once filled with regret and compassion, had retreated, leaving only the emperor in his place.

Justin clenched his fists at his father’s cold demeanor.

The imperial family was a place where even he could be discarded if a flaw were ever discovered in him.

He was relieved that he had entrusted his younger sister to Duke Reynold.

The duke was cold, but he wasn’t the kind of man who would break a contract.

Cedric Reynold, as Justin knew him, was someone who protected the people of his house without fail.

A true nobleman who understood responsibility and duty.

Justin bowed his head at his father’s order to keep an ear out for developments in the south.

As always, his heart felt heavy, but there was nothing he could do to change the situation.

 

***

 

“Where is Her Highness the Princess?”

Cedric, who had been reviewing reports from the count’s estate, looked at the darkening sky outside and asked a servant.

“She is in her bedroom.”

She’s still not coming out of her room.

Although it had been raining frequently since they arrived at the count’s estate, the princess had remained in her bedroom the entire time.

It was what he had wanted, yet Cedric couldn’t help thinking she was spending far too much time indoors.

By his standards, a healthy person couldn’t stay cooped up in a room all day.

Click.

When he entered the bedroom, the princess, already ready for bed, greeted him with a surprised expression.

“Welcome back.”

“You’re still awake rather late.”

“I was just about to go to sleep.”

Cedric studied the princess’s face carefully. She didn’t appear particularly tired or unwell.

After greeting him, the princess straightened her nightclothes and headed toward the bed.

“Countess Lavern has requested a tea party with you tomorrow.”

“With me?”

“Yes.”

The princess’s eyes widened at his words. For a moment, Cedric couldn’t tear his gaze away from those pale blue eyes, filled with curiosity and anticipation.

“Countess Lavern has served House Reynold for many years.”

Cedric quickly looked away before continuing.

“I understand.”

The princess hesitated briefly, then nodded.

“You aren’t being forced to attend.”

It would be better than spending all her time in the bedroom.

He knew it was unnecessary interference, but he had no choice if he wanted to protect the princess’s health.

Even a healthy person would become tired and lethargic without any physical activity. And the princess was supposedly frail, wasn’t she?

Cedric sincerely believed the princess was weak, and he was convinced that she needed to engage in ordinary daily activities to remedy the problem.

A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. That was an eternal truth.

“But I’ve already given my permission for the tea party, so I can’t take it back now.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t ask you beforehand.”

At his apology, the princess stared at his face for a moment, then said it was all right and slipped beneath the covers.

Why isn’t she happy?

Wasn’t she tired of staying in her bedroom all the time?

Cedric clenched his fists. He wasn’t supposed to pay attention to the princess. Yet her downcast expression, lowered eyebrows, and the way she turned her back on him irritated him.

“……”

Cedric had intended to tell her more about Countess Lavern, but he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

The princess lay with her back turned, showing no intention of talking to him.

It was an unmistakable rejection.

He had been busy lately and had acted indifferently toward her, but he hadn’t expected her to ignore him completely.

It’s not as though we need to have conversations with each other.

He understood that intellectually, but seeing the princess so blatantly turn away from him left him feeling strangely unsettled.

Perhaps it was because she was his wife that he couldn’t say anything about it.

He couldn’t become the sort of miserable man who treated his wife carelessly.

As long as the princess continued to honor their agreement, he could overlook a minor matter like this.

He had permitted the tea party out of goodwill toward the countess, who had served House Reynold for so long.

Of course, it had been his mistake not to ask the princess’s opinion beforehand.

But she had agreed to attend, too, so there was no real problem. And yet, he was inexplicably irritated.

Rustle.

The covers shifted slightly at the sound of clothes being removed.

Cedric leisurely took off his jacket and shirt.

Every time he moved, the rustling of fabric and the sound of clothes falling to the floor echoed through the room.

“Are you not going out again?”

“No.”

Under normal circumstances, he would have continued working on other matters until dawn, but he didn’t feel like doing so today.

“Go to sleep first.”

Cedric deliberately approached the bed as he spoke.

The princess, hidden beneath the covers, seemed to nod, making the blanket move slightly.

He glanced at the small bundle of blankets that looked like a ball of cotton before heading to the bathroom.

“Phew.”

As soon as the duke disappeared into the bathroom, Ivanna, who had been holding her breath, poked her head out from beneath the covers.

“Why is he going to bed early again today?”

The faint sound of running water came through the bathroom door. Ivanna pouted.

A tea party, out of nowhere? She couldn’t believe it.

And now she had to share a bed with him while still awake for the first time in ages. The faint sound of water coming from the bathroom seemed as loud as thunder.

Ivanna stared intently at the bathroom door.