"And you too! You could’ve driven a harder bargain! Instead, you settled for just the materials!"
"Ah, well… I mean…"
But come on, right?
If I can resolve all the legislative headaches with a single tsumami-zaiku** piece, it feels like a pretty good trade-off to me. Like, I might even be getting the better end of the deal.
Just as she said, the funding looks like it'll work out, and I’ll be getting some quality materials too. If you consider it both a hobby and a business venture, then it’s practically a perfect opportunity.
Well… I can’t say it won’t get messy later, but really, what could anyone even do to someone like me who barely leaves her own territory?
Besides, my future is already decided.
“…Very well. If you deemed it necessary, I won’t object. Now, hurry up and bring prosperity to your domain so I may finally watch a proper musical!”
"Understood. This is one step toward that goal. If the artisans become prosperous, that wealth will ripple outwards. And once people have a bit of financial breathing room, they’ll be able to afford education and entertainment too."
“Mm. Continue working hard, then.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Start with something small. Build it up, step by step, until you reach your goal. Right now, I’ve only just placed my foot on the first stair. Once I climb it, another step will be waiting. I need to look ahead and make sure my footing is solid.
As I looked down at my feet, a flash of red caught the corner of my eye.
When I turned toward the hedges to see what it was, I saw a vibrant red wild rose in bloom.
That’s strange. It’s not even the right season.
Regulus-kun noticed me looking and turned to see it too. Then he pointed at the flower.
“Princess, look! A flower bloomed!”
“Hmm… this isn’t good.”
Despite the rose’s beauty, the princess’s expression turned grave—quite unlike her usual serene face when admiring flowers.
It wasn’t anger—it was more like concern.
When I asked what was wrong, the princess drew a bolt of cloth from thin air. It shimmered with a strange hue, somewhere between white and silver, glowing faintly.
“I was asked by Igor to give you this. A gift—use it as you see fit.”
“A gift…?”
“Starting today, I will return to the heavens until spring. I will not appear on the earth until then.”
The words hit me like a slap—I froze, mouth agape.
A surge of panic rushed from my throat.
“Why!? Did I do something wrong!?”
“Princess, we won’t see you anymore!?”
“Calm yourselves. I said I would return in the spring.”
She gestured toward the out-of-place red rose.
“As long as I remain on earth, the flowers try to bloom out of season to please me. But that shortens their lives. That is not my wish. So I refrain from descending in winter. I bring the flowers to the heavens and admire them there.”
I see. She’s thinking of the flowers, so she chooses to step away during winter. That’s actually quite considerate. As a leader, I should learn from that.
Still, I’ll miss her.
Regulus-kun must feel the same. He squeezed my hand tightly.
“Don’t make such forlorn faces,” she said. “I already told you I’ll return in spring.”
“But… we’ll be lonely.”
My insistence made the princess raise her brows slightly.
I must have annoyed her. No one wants to deal with clingy children. Maybe I pushed too far.
But then she gently said, “Lift your head.”
“So even you can act your age and throw a tantrum. That’s rare. But… being so dearly missed doesn’t feel bad, I suppose.”
Her gentle laughter only made it clearer that she truly would be gone soon.
As I frowned, eyebrows drooping, the princess beckoned us forward.
When Regulus-kun and I approached, she held out a small brush and a pot of red pigment.
“To keep misfortune away while I’m gone, I shall grant you protection. Show me your foreheads.”
“Yes…”
“Okay!”
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Thank you for the visuals! I’m learning new things lol. And excellent translations…so smooth! 😁
ReplyDeleteThank you!! I'm glad the visuals help 🥹
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