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chapter 39
“We’ll have to call the former farm owner back. Tell me the scale you want, and I’ll handle it right away.”
“Wait a minute!”
I grabbed Siegfried just as he was about to leave the dining hall. He looked at me curiously. This puppy doesn’t just throw money around for no reason!
“How did you come to that conclusion? It’s not just a basket of grapes—we’re talking about buying the whole vineyard!”
“Well, that’s the simpler way.”
Siegfried tilted his head as if he didn’t understand what he’d done wrong.
“Did I get it wrong again? Is this not how it’s supposed to be done?”
“It’s not wrong. It’s… very commendable. But why to me—? No, putting that aside, shouldn’t you have thought this through more?”
If it got out that Siegfried had officially gifted me a vineyard… the capital and the imperial palace would go into an uproar.
“I’m not accepting the vineyard. I have no reason to.”
I firmly shook my head. Siegfried’s smile disappeared like it had been wiped away.
“…Why? You were the one who said to show off with wealth.”
“I never said to do that to me, did I?”
“Then who else would I do it for?”
…Well, fair point. Who else but me…
I snapped back to my senses.
“I don’t know about that. Anyway, I’ll take the gesture, but that’s all.”
“I want Ariel to accept the vineyard along with my feelings.”
“…Are you writing in a diary or something?”
What’s with his tone? Siegfried looked sulky and was speaking strangely. The former owner of the vineyard, who had come down at some point, was now glancing between the two of us with a troubled face.
“His Highness already paid me for it last night. My lady, you should just accept it joyfully…”
But I refused firmly.
“Can’t it just be reverted back to His Highness’s possession?”
“What would I do with a vineyard?”
“Then what would I do with it?”
“You’d enjoy the grapes.”
…True. They would be delicious… I briefly imagined the taste of the grapes and almost faltered, but pulled myself together again. Damn it!
“Don’t be so harsh, my lady. I’ve heard His Highness bought the vineyard for your sake. Refusing him in front of so many witnesses… what will people think?”
Viscount Cariel, standing nearby, joined in. When the older nobleman took Siegfried’s side, the surrounding nobles began to chime in.
“Yes, just accept it. If it were me, I’d be crying tears of gratitude.”
“So that’s why His Highness so vehemently drove me out during the banquet…”
Even Manuel was mumbling now, as if it finally made sense.
“Who here doesn’t know the lady loves Corte grapes? Rumor has it she participates in the monster subjugation each year just for the grapes.”
It’s not a rumor—it’s true. That’s the whole reason. I let out a long sigh. Siegfried himself wasn’t saying much, but the pressure from everyone else only intensified.
Everyone in the dining hall was focused on me. So easy when it’s not their problem, huh?
“Well then, please sign the deed here.”
In the end, I had no choice but to take the document. As I finished signing, one of the nobles watching the situation asked,
“I’m so jealous, my lady. May I visit the estate sometimes?”
“Can I too?”
Other nobles also asked shyly. At that, Siegfried’s smile vanished again.
“Of course not. It’s a men-prohibited zone.”
“…Excuse me? But Count Elifritz is a man, isn’t he?”
“Then I guess he’s secretly a woman.”
Siegfried had clearly flipped again and was spouting nonsense. Why does he make claims he can’t even back up? And why is he changing someone’s gender without permission?
“Y-Your Highness is staying at the Elifritz estate as well…”
“Then I guess I’m a woman too.”
Stop it…! At this rate, he’ll be claiming he’s the female lead, not the male one. I quickly opened my mouth to cut him off.
“T-This is just you repaying me for saving your life before, right? Right?”
“Well, that too. But I also wanted to try this thing you mentioned… ‘flirting,’ wasn’t it?”
“…Excuse me? Did you mean business, not flirting?”
“Ariel, stop. It’s painful to watch.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Abision stepped in. I had gone a bit far, admittedly, and my brother had thankfully stopped me at the right moment.
“Since I’m a woman, I’ll be able to enjoy all the grapes at the Elifritz estate now.”
“You have my permission.”
Siegfried solemnly nodded. Could this even be called a conversation between a royal and a noble?
“We need to get going now. If we delay any further, we may have to camp outdoors.”
Just in time, Viscount Cariel returned from his smoke break and entered the dining hall. Miliaard followed closely behind. Abision cheerfully raised his hand.
“My beloved sister, I trust you packed everything?”
“…Huh? Are you drunk already this morning?”
Miliaard, clueless, gave Abision a strange look, then quickly lost interest and urged everyone to get moving. The rest of the group also gathered their things and followed.
Everyone would be heading home on separate paths. Those who left first might not be seen again until next year.
“Take care, everyone. Stay well.”
I greeted the nobles as they passed by. They nodded stiffly, looking awkward. Was it just me, or did it feel like they were avoiding me? Especially the younger ones…
“My lady, I hope you and His Highness have a wonderful time together.”
“…Excuse me?”
“No need to hide it. Everyone saw how close the two of you were throughout the subjugation.”
“That’s not true…”
We actually fought again, you know? Why was this noble speaking like Siegfried and I were officially a couple?
“Still, it’s surprising. Everyone admired the vineyard but never dared to actually buy it. For you to receive it as a gift means… well, you’re already His Highness’s…”
The noble trailed off with a knowing smile. I had no idea what was so funny.
If anything, I was panicking because this situation felt seriously screwed up. It was only a matter of time before the news about Siegfried gifting me a vineyard spread across the empire.
With a slightly frozen expression, I saw off the last of the departing nobles and slowly turned back around.
Siegfried, who didn’t know what I was really feeling, smiled brightly as soon as our eyes met.
“Your Highness, you look pleased.”
“Of course I do.”
“Why’s that?”
“What do you mean, why? Can’t I just be in a good mood?”
“Why?”
“Do you want me to be in a bad mood?”
“Why?”
“…I see. You’re angry.”
Siegfried, his ‘servant,’ and Count Elifritz’s group were traveling through the forest.
As one of the Elifritz party members, I was stuck close to Siegfried’s side, pestering him constantly. Yet he kept smiling like a blooming peach blossom, unbothered.
“I’m not mad, okay? I’m just picking a fight.”
“Come to think of it, you treat the royal family like they’re neighborhood dogs.”
“Would I really do that? I only act this way toward Your Highness. Just you.”
“What an honor. I’m being given special treatment.”
“…We are speaking the same Imperial language, right?”
“Maybe?”
Even Siegfried didn’t sound too sure. I let out a sigh.
“Let’s rest by that stream for a bit.”
Around midday, Abision returned with the knights who had gone ahead. I was actually starting to get hungry, so I welcomed their return.
Before long, we reached the stream he had mentioned.
I dismounted and walked toward the water. I dipped my hands into the cool stream for a moment. The southern regions had long, hot summers, so it was necessary to cool off like this now and then.
“Still angry?”
Siegfried cautiously approached me from behind and asked. I flicked my wet hand at him.
“I was never angry to begin with.”
“Then why are you acting like this?”
Siegfried gently frowned and wiped the droplets from his cheek. He crouched down beside me.
“It feels good, doesn’t it?”
“Then I’ll make sure you feel even better.”
Siegfried scooped up a large handful of water, grinning mischievously. I had only flicked a few drops—wasn’t this too much? I preemptively shielded my face, making him let out a small laugh.
“Fine, fine. I won’t.”
Only then did I lower my hand. In the distance, Miliaard called us over for lunch.
Lunch was a meat-filled sandwich we’d bought from an inn. After eating and rinsing with water, we mounted our horses again.
“We have to get out of the forest today if we want to rent a room in the village inn.”
Abision urged us to hurry. We nudged our horses to move faster.
For a while, everyone rode in silence. The forest grew deeper and denser, with tall trees so thick that sunlight barely reached us.
Even though I’d traveled this path before, the darkness made me tense.
Why did I feel so uneasy? Was it just the cool air? I looked around, puzzled. But no one else seemed to be shivering like I was.
Maybe I was catching a cold. I pulled my collar tighter. And then it happened—
—Screeeech!
Neighhh!
A sharp noise cut through the air. Siegfried’s horse reared up, screaming.
