They pinched Saya's cheek, saying it was cute, and fed her snacks, asking if she had ever eaten these.
As soon as it became known how Saya came to follow the Princess, the fierce territoriality began to noticeably disappear.
Because she was small and nimble and took on difficult tasks, Saya quickly settled into the Princess's palace.
"Your Highness, is it okay if I let Saya say that?"
Neril was worried that she might give an excuse to those who were watching her.
"It's okay. She's a smart kid."
Saya came to Medea first.
"Your Highness, I would like to talk to you like this, is it okay?"
Of course, she got permission in advance, but she also read Medea's inner thoughts well and made the first move quickly.
"Sister Medea! You were supposed to go to the Marquis's tea party with me today, wow, what?!"
"Oh my, what should I do, I'm sorry, Miss. Ugh, I'm still clumsy."
There was a time when Medea rejected Birna, who came and bothered her, on the pretext of ignorance.
"I think Your Highness is reluctant to Miss Birna. Did I think wrong?"
"Saya, you should say that she is Duke Claudio's daughter. I taught you etiquette."
"I'm sorry, Neril. However, Miss Birna calls Our Highness as sister. Where does that courtesy come from?"
Even Neril ended up laughing at the light-hearted yet blunt criticism.
There were frequent rumors that Duke Claudio's daughter was as ignorant of etiquette as a street kid who had just entered the palace.
"Your Highness. I know that you didn't avoid the rain that day for fear of me getting hit. I will never forget the grace that saved my life."
She lived alone in the slums for nearly three years.
Unconditional protection that could not be expected even from one's own brother. Medeq will never forget Saya, who was as small and delicate, and who stood in front of her without hesitation.
'How can I be of help to Our Highness?
So Saya constantly worried and tried to be of help to Medea.
Saya, who understood the situation in the palace, soon became friendly with the maids in other palaces.
"I heard that you saved a poor chiId. Well done. If you are a Princess, you must know how to take care of your people."
Medea was a little surprised when even the Queen Mother brought up the topic of Saya.
After that, no one mentioned Saya's identity.
Medea was given a positive reputation as a generous and warm Princess.
It is clear that Theo's brilliance, who was the head of the rebel army in her last life, was passed on to his twin sister.
"But, Your Highness. The day you brought Saya before she came to the palace, I told Tom to look for that strange old woman one more time."
When Medea said nothing, Neril continued.
"However, it is said that mercenaries from Façade other than us visited that street that day."
"Façade?"
Medea raised her head.
"Yes. Tom said, "I was trying to find out more about what they were doing, but their presence was so sharp that they caught me and chased me back."
"..."
"However, perhaps a high-ranking person on the Façade came, completely blocking the street control, and only after some time had passed did they disappear."
Medea frowned.
What business would a continent alarms dealer have in the slums of this small kingdom?
In her past life, the Façade had never surfaced. In other words, it meant that it was a new variable in this life.
'As the saying goes, it will help suppress the empire, but after that, I'll have to find an excuse to send him out.'
"I figured it out. Did Tom find that old woman?"
Neril shook his head.
"But, Your Highness, those are the strange things the old woman said that day. Do you believe it?"
"What? My future is full of chaos?"
When Medea asked teasingly, Neril was embarrassed and cried.
"No, your future will be brighter than the sun. For me, it's just the Dawn's Droplet... I was wondering if it might be of help to Your Highness in some way..."
"..."
"That's what the old woman said. Your Highness is the only person who can find it. The blood of the Sage on the continent and the bearer of the goddess will once flow through her body."
"Well. It seems like the conditions aren't right. My father was definitely Sage, but it wouldn't be too much of a leap to say he was the best on the continent."
Medea paused.
Once the Sage on the continent.
Sage.
And Valdina, the country protected by the Philosopher's Stone.
Perhaps, the reason why Valdina was able to beat the continent's great powers and obtain the Philosopher's Stone was because its owner was Valdina's ancestor?
"Your Highness...?"
"Wait a minute, I have somewhere to go."
Medea woke up with a thought passing through her head.
***
Medea's shadow fell on the stone wall.
The cool air welcomed her. The Philosopher's Stone was still emitting a blue light above the central altar.
"The blood of the Sage on the continent and the bearer of the goddess's will once flow through her body."
Even if the former was a Sage, the latter was still shrouded in mystery. Conveying the will of the goddess?
Medea's mother was a dancer. They said that her mother's country was destroyed a long time ago, and she lost her country and was left adrift.
So she was far from a goddess.
Medea stretched out her hand, feeling a little at a loss.
"Valdina's ancestor."
A familiar cold feeling wrapped around her fingertips.
He muttered while holding the Philosopher's Stone with both hands.
"Please tell us. Is there anything you want to tell me? What should I do-"
Then, suddenly, a stinging pain rose up from her fingertips.
It appears that there was a sharp part at the bottom of the stone that had not yet been polished.
There were incontinence-like wounds on her fingertips.
Finally, a drop of blood welled up from her index finger and fell on the stone. Something amazing happened.
The stone was split in half, and a vast white light came out.
"..."
Because Medea had witnessed many strange sights during her expeditions, she was able to maintain her composure even though it was difficult.
If it had been anyone other than her, they would have fainted at this miraculous event.
The light that filled the room slowly subsided.
Medea blinked her swollen eyes and checked the inside properly.
Inside the Philosopher's Stone, which was split in half, was a small cylinder the size of a finger.
When Medea picked up the cylinder, the Philosopher's Stone closed again.
The cracks were filled without a trace, and as if nothing had happened, it returned to its complete state.
If it weren't for the scars on her hands, she would have thought she was just dreaming.
Medea looked at the cylinder.
A goddess statue was engraved on the top of the cylinder, and a polka dot pattern was engraved on the bottom.
"Droplet...?"
As if answering Medea's self-talk, the silver liquid inside the cylinder was flowing.
***
District 1 Opera House on a sunny day.
"Your Highness, how was the performance?"
Catherine, dressed as brightly as a blooming rose, asked Medea. Birna was also by her side.
Duke Claudio's mother and daughter often took Medea on outings to various parts of the capital.
"How frustrating must it be for you to have stayed in the royal palace your entire life. Look, the world outside is so free and beautiful."
The world they showed was refreshing and safe.
Like a cage holding a bird.
"I remembered that Your Highness liked this opera, so I recruited a new orchestra and actors and performed it."
So, this time too, Catherine seemed to be trying to melt her niece's heart with these 'efforts'.
Medea looked at her aunt, who was naturally expecting an emotional greeting.
"I see. For some reason, it was annoying to my ears. Aria wasn't very good. It was because the orchestra and actors all changed."
Catherine's smiling face softened.
'Do you know how much money was spent to put on this opera?'
The heat bubbling up inside was a bonus.
But she suppressed the anger rising behind her smile.
"That's right, your qualifications were lacking and you displeased Your Highness. This aunt should have chosen more carefully, but she fell short."
Catherine, with her eyebrows drooping and a worried expression on her face, soon came over and firmly held Medea's hand in both of her hands.
"But you won't be disappointed at the banquet in the evening."
"A banquet?"
In response to Medea's question, she got to the point as if she had been waiting.
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