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Chapter 9
After that, Iitana’s rescue-preparing army went to Edrion’s forces and joined them on their own.
The siblings wandered across the continent for more than five years, preparing for rebellion.
And finally, they joined hands with the Crown Prince, who had been quietly waiting for the right moment, and overthrew the tyrant Lazel. That was the ending of Part 1 of the original story.
“I heard the story. You did something to the World Tree?”
“Th-that is….”
Liris was pulled out of her thoughts by Iitana’s stern voice.
The day before, the “administrator trio” had clearly looked like they were about to run straight to the Emperor and Empress to report her.
They were especially weak when it came to the World Tree, so it was easy to imagine how much they must have pressured Iitana all night.
“Don’t panic, Liris. Stay sharp.”
She quietly looked up at Iitana’s face. It looked very bad.
Yes. This was the normal reaction.
They were told to manage the World Tree, but instead she was committing sacrilege?
If someone were happy about that, they would have to be crazy.
“If I were a commoner, I’d probably be a headless corpse by now.”
But she was from the Noela family, one of the four noble houses that supported the Empire.
Even the Empress could not freely take her life.
“So first, they will try to persuade me. They’ll try to calm things down and tell me to stop committing sacrilege.”
If she wanted to be expelled from the capital, she also had to be firm.
She needed to show that she was someone who could not be persuaded or pressured.
As a gardening expert, she had to make it clear that she would keep doing the same thing no matter what orders came from above.
“I heard there were many voices condemning your actions yesterday.”
“I understand.”
“Some even said you should be permanently expelled from the Imperial Palace.”
The weak trio did well.
Liris quietly gave a thumbs-up under the table while calmly nodding on the outside.
Iitana continued with her stern expression.
“You tore off World Tree leaves, cut its branches, and poured unpurified water on it.”
“……”
“Why did you do it? You didn’t think this was sacrilege, did you?”
Finally, the moment she had been waiting for arrived.
It was time to show that she was an unbending, stubborn scholar who could not be broken by money or power.
If she was lucky, Iitana might get completely fed up and find a way to cancel her engagement on her own.
There were things nobles could not do, but the royal family could…
“Yes. I know it is sacrilege. But I do not regret what I did.”
“You do not regret it?”
“The Emperor appointed me, a gardening expert, as the World Tree’s manager. So as a professional, I believe it is right to do everything I can based on my knowledge.”
“Even so, there is a line that must not be crossed.”
“However, if there is a dying tree right in front of me, how could I ignore it? As a gardener, my pride and identity would not allow it.”
Iitana’s burning gaze could clearly be felt.
Her heart was shaking like crazy, but Liris did not stop speaking.
“The World Tree’s leaves were yellow and faded. Anyone could see it was extremely withered. And its shape was so broken that trimming a few branches wouldn’t even make a difference.”
“……”
“With respect, from my view, the ones who neglected the World Tree were the real ones crossing the line.”
Liris finished speaking and lowered her head.
Knowing Iitana’s personality, the silence felt extremely dangerous.
‘Why isn’t she saying anything? Why is she so quiet?’
Her heart felt like it would burst.
She regretted adding that last line a little late, but she had no choice. She needed to show strong conviction.
“…I see.”
Iitana slowly rolled a large ring on her finger.
Her breathing also seemed slightly rough.
‘Why… why do I feel so uneasy?’
Iitana’s behavior looked exactly like someone warming up before throwing a punch.
The more she looked, the more obvious it felt!
‘I think I might be screwed…’
Liris trembled inside, her eyes shaking like beads as she looked up.
At the same time, Iitana was staring at the girl in front of her with sparkling eyes, lost in thought.
“Interesting.”
She looked like a fragile sugar doll that would break if touched.
Soft light pink hair like melted cotton candy, and clear eyes like a spring sky.
Even though she spoke bravely, her cheeks were red from nervousness.
She was said to be eighteen this year, but she looked so small and delicate that every movement felt like a tiny, fragile rabbit.
“I heard she is weak… but still.”
People from the Akshad family, which had produced four-star generals for generations, were all tall and strong.
Even the women were no exception. Iitana herself was nearly 180 cm tall.
To her, Liris looked like a living doll.
‘And this small girl did all that?’
Iitana slowly touched her wedding ring as she remembered her conversation with Kairos.
“The report was true. The World Tree has clearly changed.”
“So will you execute the Noela lady?”
“Execute…? No, listen to me first. Iitana, what I saw didn’t seem bad at all. It’s a strange way to say it, but it felt like the World Tree had color again.”
“Have you met Edrion?”
“Yes. I also heard what the Noela lady did to the World Tree.”
They said she tore off yellow leaves, trimmed branches, and poured unpurified water on it.
She even declared proudly that she was not afraid and would take responsibility for her actions, even when others tried to stop her.
“She is truly a talent.”
“Kairos?”
“No, never mind. True loyal talents don’t appear so easily… don’t worry about it. Go back to sleep, Iitana.”
Honestly, Iitana did not fully believe it.
It was her foolish younger brother reporting it, after all. Of course he would exaggerate things in favor of his fiancée.
Kairos was a born ruler, always desperate for capable talent.
Just a few days ago, he had rejected the 150th resignation request from the prime minister due to “health reasons.”
In Kairos’s belief, loyal subjects must work like oxen until they die.
‘But Edrion understands Kairos’s personality better than anyone.’
The administrators were naturally timid and tended to exaggerate small things, so she had ignored most of it.
But now, seeing Liris Noela in front of her, she was sure.
‘This girl is real.’
Small and fragile like a doll, trembling in fear of the Empress’s authority, fidgeting nervously—
But when she spoke about the World Tree, she stood as firm as a seventy-year-old prime minister.
Even in the face of the great sin of sacrilege, she did not bend.
This girl was truly reliable.
“Fufu.”
At Iitana’s soft laugh while rolling her ring, Liris flinched.
She looked like a small, fluffy rabbit…
‘Kind of cute.’
She didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt like punching a wall.
Suppressing her tightening chest, Iitana finally spoke.
“Lady.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“What do you think I will say?”
“I am ready to accept any punishment, since I do not regret my actions.”
Her eyes sparkled like stardust, as if she truly meant it.
That made the urge to break a wall even stronger.
“I will not punish you. Instead—”
“……”
“Make the World Tree bloom with flowers. I feel like you might be able to do it.”
“P-punishment… huh?”
Confused, Liris blinked her eyes.
Iitana extended a contract toward her.
“Everything is written here. Read it and sign it.”
“W-wait, Your Majesty?”
“Sign it after reading.”
Completely overwhelmed, Liris could not even speak properly.
Iitana gently handed her a pen dipped in ink, looking at her with a soft, warm gaze.
