When Erdene pointed to the flower and asked, a genuine smile appeared on the face of Viscountess Wickes for the first time.
“That flower is a peony, Your Highness.”
Her answer showed a strange sense of pride, but Erdene did not find it unpleasant.
Erdene, who was looking at the flower as if it was curious, lightly touched the thin leaves of the peony with her fingers.
It was soft... and fragrant.
As Arkan’s face flashed through her mind, Erdene furrowed her brow and stepped back.
“Oh, Your Highness. What’s wrong? Was there a bug?”
The Viscountess hurriedly ran over and examined the flowers in the vase, but they were clean.
Erdene bit the finger that had been playing with the petals, then turned her head away.
“No, I just had an unpleasant thought.”
She followed the Viscountess around, going through several reception rooms, living rooms, private study rooms, tea rooms, and toilet rooms, biting a yawn.
'What is this? I need a map to find it.'
The Golden Castle of the Hirschsten Empire was unparalleled in scale, but it was mostly linear and monotonous, so it was easy to get confused.
Of course, it was also because she was born and raised there. She had learned from her teacher that the architecture of the inland was quite different from that of the Empire, but Erdene had thought that she might get lost in this palace someday.
It was at that moment that Erdene's eyes sparkled as she listened to the Viscountess's explanation, enduring her boredom. A single transparent flower was shining on a very narrow, long-legged chest of drawers that seemed like it could be used for decoration.
Judging by the size and the petals spread out like a skirt, it seemed to be the peony she had just seen, but strangely, it was made of glass.
“What is this? Is this made of glass?”
At Erdene’s words, Viscountess Wickes turned her head and nodded with a slightly nervous expression.
“Oh, Your Highness. Yes! That’s right. It’s a masterpiece created by the most famous glass craftsman in the inland after hundreds, of thousands of attempts. It’s a peony decoration that Her Majesty the Queen cherished so much. It’s...”
At that moment, a very small sound was heard.
Something... It was the sound of something very thin and weak being broken for no reason.
The Viscountess, with her eyes wide open, momentarily doubted her own ears.
No, she desperately hoped that her ears were wrong.
Erdene opened her eyes a little wider, though not as much as Viscountess Wickes.
In the meantime, the Viscountess had a strange thought, ‘That person is surprised too,’ but it didn’t last long.
Erdene moved her hand slightly, and the one-of-a-kind glass flower, created by the best craftsman with his soul, shattered and fell to the ground.
“...It’s broken, what should I do?”
Viscountess Wickes’s lips trembled and then quivered.
“Ah, no, that...Uh, how... Your Highness, uh, how hard did you grip it...”
Erdene furrowed her brow.
“I didn’t even grip it that hard. I just touched it lightly.”
If her aide, the talkative Thelma, were here, she would have definitely said something like this.
‘If Your Highness touches it lightly, even a walnut shell will shatter.’
Erdene slammed her fist into Thelma’s imaginary crown and placed the broken glass flower back on top of the drawer.
The cracked part must have been shocked by the wind and broke again with a thud.
“Your Highness, your hand... is your hand okay... Are you okay?”
“My hands aren’t delicate enough to get hurt by such thin glass. Anyway, thank you for asking.”
It was a good thing she asked, the Viscountess thought. However, she couldn’t just relax.
Of all things, that glass peony had to break!
“That flower is a peony, Your Highness.”
Her answer showed a strange sense of pride, but Erdene did not find it unpleasant.
Erdene, who was looking at the flower as if it was curious, lightly touched the thin leaves of the peony with her fingers.
It was soft... and fragrant.
As Arkan’s face flashed through her mind, Erdene furrowed her brow and stepped back.
“Oh, Your Highness. What’s wrong? Was there a bug?”
The Viscountess hurriedly ran over and examined the flowers in the vase, but they were clean.
Erdene bit the finger that had been playing with the petals, then turned her head away.
“No, I just had an unpleasant thought.”
She followed the Viscountess around, going through several reception rooms, living rooms, private study rooms, tea rooms, and toilet rooms, biting a yawn.
'What is this? I need a map to find it.'
The Golden Castle of the Hirschsten Empire was unparalleled in scale, but it was mostly linear and monotonous, so it was easy to get confused.
Of course, it was also because she was born and raised there. She had learned from her teacher that the architecture of the inland was quite different from that of the Empire, but Erdene had thought that she might get lost in this palace someday.
It was at that moment that Erdene's eyes sparkled as she listened to the Viscountess's explanation, enduring her boredom. A single transparent flower was shining on a very narrow, long-legged chest of drawers that seemed like it could be used for decoration.
Judging by the size and the petals spread out like a skirt, it seemed to be the peony she had just seen, but strangely, it was made of glass.
“What is this? Is this made of glass?”
At Erdene’s words, Viscountess Wickes turned her head and nodded with a slightly nervous expression.
“Oh, Your Highness. Yes! That’s right. It’s a masterpiece created by the most famous glass craftsman in the inland after hundreds, of thousands of attempts. It’s a peony decoration that Her Majesty the Queen cherished so much. It’s...”
At that moment, a very small sound was heard.
Something... It was the sound of something very thin and weak being broken for no reason.
The Viscountess, with her eyes wide open, momentarily doubted her own ears.
No, she desperately hoped that her ears were wrong.
Erdene opened her eyes a little wider, though not as much as Viscountess Wickes.
In the meantime, the Viscountess had a strange thought, ‘That person is surprised too,’ but it didn’t last long.
Erdene moved her hand slightly, and the one-of-a-kind glass flower, created by the best craftsman with his soul, shattered and fell to the ground.
“...It’s broken, what should I do?”
Viscountess Wickes’s lips trembled and then quivered.
“Ah, no, that...Uh, how... Your Highness, uh, how hard did you grip it...”
Erdene furrowed her brow.
“I didn’t even grip it that hard. I just touched it lightly.”
If her aide, the talkative Thelma, were here, she would have definitely said something like this.
‘If Your Highness touches it lightly, even a walnut shell will shatter.’
Erdene slammed her fist into Thelma’s imaginary crown and placed the broken glass flower back on top of the drawer.
The cracked part must have been shocked by the wind and broke again with a thud.
“Your Highness, your hand... is your hand okay... Are you okay?”
“My hands aren’t delicate enough to get hurt by such thin glass. Anyway, thank you for asking.”
It was a good thing she asked, the Viscountess thought. However, she couldn’t just relax.
Of all things, that glass peony had to break!
If the news had reached the ears of the former Queen’s close maid, the Marchioness Fiddlers, it would have caused quite a stir.
As the Viscountess was stamping her feet as she looked at the broken pieces, Erdene said.
“Why don’t you just have them remake that glass? It’s not like anyone died.”
However, the Viscountess’s sad expression showed no sign of lifting. Erdene continued.
“Bring that craftsman back tomorrow. I’ll have him make an identical piece within a week.”
“That would require digging a grave, Your Highness...”
Erdene sighed and placed her hand on her forehead.
“Why don’t you just have them remake that glass? It’s not like anyone died.”
However, the Viscountess’s sad expression showed no sign of lifting. Erdene continued.
“Bring that craftsman back tomorrow. I’ll have him make an identical piece within a week.”
“That would require digging a grave, Your Highness...”
Erdene sighed and placed her hand on her forehead.
Damn it, I didn’t think he’d be dead.
The Viscountess began to sob.
“Her Majesty the Queen was very fond of this, so His Majesty also treasures this glass peony very much.”
When the story of Arkan came up out of nowhere, Erdene suddenly felt the irritation that had disappeared surge again.
She felt a little sorry since it was something his mother had cherished, but Erdene deliberately replied in a twisted tone.
“At that age, how can he still hold onto his mother’s skirts and establish the dignity of the King? It’s time to get out of here.”
The Viscountess’s mouth fell open in shock.
It was at that moment that the chamberlain Plat came into the bedroom to find the two.
He had been relieved to hear the murmurings inside and thought that Viscountess Wickes was doing a good job.
However, as soon as he entered the bedroom, something small made a creaking sound under his shoes... Plat’s gaze naturally turned to the dresser where the glass peonies had been.
“Oh, how did that break!”
Plat shouted, and the Viscountess lowered her head in embarrassment.
Plat was the chief chamberlain, but he was also the King's confidant, so he was given a different status from other nobles.
He was not someone who could be looked down on as a 'royal employee'.
"Viscountess, what on earth is going on?"
While asking Viscountess Wickes, Plat's eyes were glancing at Erdene.
The Viscountess watched her and her shoulders trembled pitifully.
Erdene said.
"You seem to have poor eyesight."
"Yes?"
"Can't you see? I'm the one who broke this, so why are you asking Viscountess?"
Plat's face turned slightly red. He was angry, but he was also embarrassed because he was hit hard.
"Then, I will ask Your Highness the Princess. Did you hear that the glass peony was one of the most precious relics left by Her Majesty the former Queen?"
"I heard."
"But how did it come to this?"
Erdene looked down at her hands.
“I just squeezed it lightly and it broke.”
Now Plat was in the same situation as Viscountess Wickes. He was speechless.
Erdene, who looked back and forth between the two of them with similar expressions, said.
“If it’s a mother's relic, it's valuable even if it's not glass but a piece of cloth. I’ll go and apologize to His Majesty, so you can pretend not to know.”
She strode out of the bedroom without Plat or the Viscountess having a chance to stop her.
But before the footsteps had gotten very far, there was an ominous thud, and this time a loud crash.
Plat and the Viscountess ran out in a hurry, their mouths gaping at the sight of the vase lying in pieces under the heavy decorative table. Erdene, who was frowning with her toes slightly raised—she must have kicked the furniture because she wasn’t used to the structure—looked at their expressions and asked.
“You’re not thinking of calling this a relic, are you?”
The Viscountess swallowed dryly and shook her head slightly.
“Thank goodness.”
Plat said at that time.
“It’s not an heirloom, but it’s listed on the list of treasures of the Vetor.”
“Damn it.”
Erdene let out a soft curse, and Plat and the Viscountess’ eyes almost popped out.
“I’ll have to apologize twice.”
Erdene turned around with a low grunt, but Plat, who had come to his senses first, hurriedly blocked her path.
“Your Highness, His Majesty is currently on official business and will not be able to meet you.”
Wouldn’t she show a slightly embarrassed expression then? Plat subtly, no, very strongly... wanted Erdene to make an embarrassed expression. He didn’t want to believe that this shameless thing was her true self.
Not only did she smash the relics of the previous Queen, but she also smashed the royal treasures one after another—of course, it wasn’t intentional—and she was going to go apologize so calmly!
The Viscountess began to sob.
“Her Majesty the Queen was very fond of this, so His Majesty also treasures this glass peony very much.”
When the story of Arkan came up out of nowhere, Erdene suddenly felt the irritation that had disappeared surge again.
She felt a little sorry since it was something his mother had cherished, but Erdene deliberately replied in a twisted tone.
“At that age, how can he still hold onto his mother’s skirts and establish the dignity of the King? It’s time to get out of here.”
The Viscountess’s mouth fell open in shock.
It was at that moment that the chamberlain Plat came into the bedroom to find the two.
He had been relieved to hear the murmurings inside and thought that Viscountess Wickes was doing a good job.
However, as soon as he entered the bedroom, something small made a creaking sound under his shoes... Plat’s gaze naturally turned to the dresser where the glass peonies had been.
“Oh, how did that break!”
Plat shouted, and the Viscountess lowered her head in embarrassment.
Plat was the chief chamberlain, but he was also the King's confidant, so he was given a different status from other nobles.
He was not someone who could be looked down on as a 'royal employee'.
"Viscountess, what on earth is going on?"
While asking Viscountess Wickes, Plat's eyes were glancing at Erdene.
The Viscountess watched her and her shoulders trembled pitifully.
Erdene said.
"You seem to have poor eyesight."
"Yes?"
"Can't you see? I'm the one who broke this, so why are you asking Viscountess?"
Plat's face turned slightly red. He was angry, but he was also embarrassed because he was hit hard.
"Then, I will ask Your Highness the Princess. Did you hear that the glass peony was one of the most precious relics left by Her Majesty the former Queen?"
"I heard."
"But how did it come to this?"
Erdene looked down at her hands.
“I just squeezed it lightly and it broke.”
Now Plat was in the same situation as Viscountess Wickes. He was speechless.
Erdene, who looked back and forth between the two of them with similar expressions, said.
“If it’s a mother's relic, it's valuable even if it's not glass but a piece of cloth. I’ll go and apologize to His Majesty, so you can pretend not to know.”
She strode out of the bedroom without Plat or the Viscountess having a chance to stop her.
But before the footsteps had gotten very far, there was an ominous thud, and this time a loud crash.
Plat and the Viscountess ran out in a hurry, their mouths gaping at the sight of the vase lying in pieces under the heavy decorative table. Erdene, who was frowning with her toes slightly raised—she must have kicked the furniture because she wasn’t used to the structure—looked at their expressions and asked.
“You’re not thinking of calling this a relic, are you?”
The Viscountess swallowed dryly and shook her head slightly.
“Thank goodness.”
Plat said at that time.
“It’s not an heirloom, but it’s listed on the list of treasures of the Vetor.”
“Damn it.”
Erdene let out a soft curse, and Plat and the Viscountess’ eyes almost popped out.
“I’ll have to apologize twice.”
Erdene turned around with a low grunt, but Plat, who had come to his senses first, hurriedly blocked her path.
“Your Highness, His Majesty is currently on official business and will not be able to meet you.”
Wouldn’t she show a slightly embarrassed expression then? Plat subtly, no, very strongly... wanted Erdene to make an embarrassed expression. He didn’t want to believe that this shameless thing was her true self.
Not only did she smash the relics of the previous Queen, but she also smashed the royal treasures one after another—of course, it wasn’t intentional—and she was going to go apologize so calmly!
‘This is a completely different matter from breaking a window or two!’
So he wished that Erdene had at least shown that she was sorry.
He wanted to think that she was sorry inside, but that her pride was keeping her from doing so...
That day, Erdene smashed three things in total.
One was the glass peony that the previous Queen cherished—and that she would have to find a necromancer to recreate it—the crystal vase that was a treasure of the Vetor royal family, and even the slender expectations of Plat, the King’s chief chamberlain and close secretary.
“Then I’ll do it later.”
Plat felt a sense of loss as if the ground beneath his feet was collapsing.
The moment he saw Erdene turning away without any regrets as if she had said everything she wanted to say, he suddenly remembered that he had other business to attend to.
“Um, Your Highness.”
A slight look of annoyance appeared on Erdene's face as she turned her head to look at the flat.
“What else?”
“His Majesty asked me to ask what you would like for dinner. I’ll prepare something that will make you feel better, in case Your Royal Highness is tired from the travel...”
“Bring some alcohol.”
“Very well. Alcohol...”
Erdene said.
“Bring some alcohol. If possible, strong alcohol.”
The doors to the bedroom, which had been open on both sides, closed.
Plat and Viscountess Wickes stared at each other with blank expressions and then dispersed without saying a word.
So he wished that Erdene had at least shown that she was sorry.
He wanted to think that she was sorry inside, but that her pride was keeping her from doing so...
That day, Erdene smashed three things in total.
One was the glass peony that the previous Queen cherished—and that she would have to find a necromancer to recreate it—the crystal vase that was a treasure of the Vetor royal family, and even the slender expectations of Plat, the King’s chief chamberlain and close secretary.
“Then I’ll do it later.”
Plat felt a sense of loss as if the ground beneath his feet was collapsing.
The moment he saw Erdene turning away without any regrets as if she had said everything she wanted to say, he suddenly remembered that he had other business to attend to.
“Um, Your Highness.”
A slight look of annoyance appeared on Erdene's face as she turned her head to look at the flat.
“What else?”
“His Majesty asked me to ask what you would like for dinner. I’ll prepare something that will make you feel better, in case Your Royal Highness is tired from the travel...”
“Bring some alcohol.”
“Very well. Alcohol...”
Erdene said.
“Bring some alcohol. If possible, strong alcohol.”
The doors to the bedroom, which had been open on both sides, closed.
Plat and Viscountess Wickes stared at each other with blank expressions and then dispersed without saying a word.
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