MLWR 22

Chapter : 22

“Y-Your Highness, I will, I will do my best to carry out the order you gave me. T-Thank you for trusting me.”

After tidying up the commotion, Marianne immediately went to find the herbalist, Alain.
She had originally planned to call him again tomorrow, but she wanted to get the work done sooner.
Lusana’s reckless approach had left her uneasy.
And thanks to the knights’ competence, they had returned to the mansion earlier than expected, so staying idle didn’t appeal to her.

It would be best to remove the poison quickly and give it to Cedric.

Marianne nodded as she looked at the package Alain handed over, containing frost lilies, moss, and a small pouch of gold coins.

“Thank you, Alain. I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, y-yes! I’ll go and make sure to exchange them for proper herbs, I swear on my family’s honor!”

After giving him a few parting words to calm his still-trembling nerves, she let him leave.
Alain bowed repeatedly at the entrance and even to the now-invisible princess before finally departing from the duke’s mansion.

“Your Highness, where do you plan to plant the Potea fruit?”

Amelie asked, placing a steaming teacup and a plate of dried fruits on the table.

“There’s an unused greenhouse in the backyard. Maybe we could repair it a little… and use it?”

Marianne hesitated for a moment as she considered whether or not to eat the raspberry-like fruit.
I almost got distracted by the fruit and suggested using it like a plastic greenhouse.

Clearing her throat awkwardly, she raised her teacup to hide her flustered expression. But when she looked at Amelie, she paused again.
Amelie wore a look that was somehow sad, yet reminiscent of someone reflecting on distant memories.

“Am-Amelie… is the greenhouse… important?”

Marianne carefully added, rolling her eyes slightly.

Amelie, snapping out of her memories, hid the emotions on her face and smiled faintly.

“No. It’s not… I mean… it was a place tended by the Duchess.”

“Oh… Then I’ll look for somewhere else.”

Marianne shook her head, thinking it wouldn’t be right to use such a place as a plastic greenhouse. Amelie’s smile deepened slightly.
She glanced toward where the greenhouse stood before turning her head back.

“It’s true that it was neglected due to lack of help, but if Your Highness uses it for the villagers, the Duchess would be pleased.”

Marianne couldn’t shake her head any longer. Amelie had a point.

The Duke and Duchess always put the villagers first… If I harvest plenty of Potea fruit and share it with everyone, they’d be happy, right?

“Hmm, that’s a relief, then.”

“Yes. I’ll tell Laurent to repair the greenhouse.”

“Good. And… could you also find someone from the city… a farmer, perhaps… someone who knows how to grow fruit well? I think it’s better if an expert handles it.”

Marianne herself had no knowledge of farming, and the other servants and knights, being nobles, probably didn’t either.
Even if the Potea fruit grew well, if someone inexperienced tried to cultivate it, the fruits might not sprout at all or could rot.
If that happened, all the effort of traveling to the dangerous unexplored land would have been wasted, so it was better to bring someone skilled from the city.

And if that person could grow the fruit well, Marianne planned to be the first to taste it.
Even if the fruit had a bad reputation, if word spread that the princess had eaten it, people’s resistance would decrease.

Once people’s reluctance is eased, if I distribute it during a food shortage, they’ll accept it as an edible plant without issue. And if I share the seeds, no one will starve in winter.

Marianne’s eyes sparkled at the thought of almost completely solving the food problems in the north.

“Yes. I’ll try to bring someone as soon as tomorrow.”
“Alright. Thank you.”

Feeling relieved after accomplishing the hardest task, her body relaxed.
I need to go see Cedric.

Sitting by the warm fireplace, she felt her body melting into comfort.
Since Amelie had already served the tea, maybe she could rest just while drinking it. Marianne gazed absentmindedly at the flames, enjoying a leisurely tea time.

“Your Highness, shall I pour you some more tea?”
“No, I’m fine.”

When her teacup was empty, she placed it down, sharing her slight disappointment with the cup, and stood up.
Outside the window, it had already gotten dim. Checking the time, it wasn’t yet sunset, so it looked like it would snow tomorrow.

“I’ll have dinner with Cedric.”
“Yes. I’ll prepare it.”

Leaving the busy Amelie behind, Marianne headed to Cedric’s room. There, she found two knights standing silently like statues at the door.

Their names… Martin and Ines, right?

Even if Count Hill had spoken well to the knights, their personal impression of her might be low, so Marianne took a short, deep breath before approaching them.

The tall, lean knight bowed politely.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”
“Hello, Sir Martin, Sir Ines. I’m sorry for making you stand in the cold hallway.”
“Not at all. We are honored to serve Your Highness and the young duke.”
“And I am grateful to have been entrusted with this important duty.”

Marianne’s worries about whether they would dislike her for being a princess were unfounded. Martin and Ines were both friendly. The knight presumed to be Ines even curved his eyes softly in a gentle expression, making Marianne feel slightly proud.

It’s worth it to see Cedric and the mansion happy.

She thanked Martin and Ines and entered the room.
Cedric sat at the table, his face a little swollen from what seemed like a long nap. His red eyes widened slightly when he spotted Marianne.

“Wah, aah!”

“Cedric, hello. Have you been well?”

Approaching the crying Cedric who waved his arms, Marianne pinched his chubby cheeks and couldn’t help letting out a soft giggle.

“Ah, sorry. You’re just too cute.”

Cedric sobbed softly, lowered his head, and clutched Marianne’s clothes tightly. He then rubbed his face against her hand.

“Oh my. It seems Cedric has been waiting for Your Highness. This is the first time I’ve seen him greet someone like this.”

Chloe, who had quietly bowed earlier so Cedric could greet Marianne first, clasped her hands and alternated her gaze between Marianne and Cedric, giving a motherly smile.

“Is that so? You must have been very lonely, Cedric. I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”
“Wah!”

Marianne brushed Cedric’s hair as she sat beside him. He began crying again and kicking his feet.

I hope he’s happy that I came.

Realizing this, Marianne was pleasantly surprised. She had subconsciously recognized that she thought of Cedric as more than a child—he felt like family.

It was a joyful realization, bringing a bright smile to her face.

“Cedric, did you sleep well?”
“Wah!”

“Fortunately, you didn’t wake up last night and had a good nap. You slept well during your afternoon nap too. I think it’s because the weather wasn’t too bad.”

Chloe kept smiling like a mother as she updated Marianne on Cedric’s night. Marianne felt relieved, but imagining the heavy snow starting tomorrow made her heart ache a little.
She trusted that after taking the frost lilies to remove the poison, eating nutritious foods, and resting, Cedric would be fine.

So she deliberately smiled even more brightly and continued:

“That’s good news. Cedric, let’s have dinner together.”
“Now that I think of it, it’s almost time for your meal. I’ll get it ready.”

“Yes. I already told Amelie that you’ll be eating with Cedric, so she can go straight to the kitchen.”
“Yes. Thank you, Your Highness. Please wait a moment.”

Chloe returned shortly, carrying a tray. As she placed the dishes on the table, she whispered softly:

“Your Highness, the cleaning of the annex is finished.”
“Really? That was faster than expected. Thank you for letting me know.”

For some reason, Lusana hadn’t scolded the maids, so the plan worked out, and it was good to have plenty of firewood gathered quickly.

Starting tomorrow, the front of the mansion will be bustling.

Hoping the annex could be fully stocked before the heavy snow, Marianne placed a napkin on her lap.

“Today’s dishes are a stew full of carrots, onions, mushrooms, and beef. I also prepared a salad topped with dried nuts.”

The table was filled with a bowl of hearty stew and plates. Marianne broke the warm, freshly baked bread into pieces and dipped them into the stew.
The stew, simmered slowly for a long time, tasted delicious.

I guess I was hungrier than I thought.

After finishing a piece of bread in an instant, Marianne laughed awkwardly and raised her spoon—but then noticed something strange in Cedric’s stew bowl.

This kid… left only the vegetables.

“Cedric, you have to eat the carrots and onions too.”
“Wah…”

Cedric shook his head. Looking around as if seeking help, he found no one—though Chloe, preparing dessert nearby, sided with Marianne rather than him.

“Hehe. Your Highness is right. Eating a balanced meal helps you grow taller and healthier.”

“Come on, Cedric. If you eat everything without being picky, I’ll read you a storybook.”

Smiling, Marianne offered him a mushroom with her fork. The word storybook seemed to register even unconsciously. Cedric wiggled his fingers, squeezed his eyes shut, and opened his mouth.
He chewed the mushroom solemnly and swallowed it slowly.

A future cold northern man like Cedric crying because he didn’t want to eat vegetables—no one would believe it later.

Marianne chuckled quietly to herself and praised him.

“You’re a good boy, our Cedric.”