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[CHAPTER 106]
Farmers who had heard the explanation wore perplexed expressions.
In fact, this aspect was a chronic flaw in all existing magical tools.
“The cycle is too short….”
“Indeed, and we can’t meet a mage that often.”
“Still, the fact that it only uses one-tenth of the strength is amazing. My shoulders usually hurt, but with this, it would hurt much less.”
Various evaluations about the magical sickle followed, and the presenter stepped forward.
“Then, the two of you will demonstrate this new farming tool.”
The presenter pointed to the stage where the Empress and I were standing.
“Shall we go together?”
The Empress invited me and rose from her seat, and I hurriedly followed her down from the stage.
The Empress and I each took a magical sickle.
“Come over here and do it like this….”
A farmer demonstrated in the air, and the Empress went first.
“Is this correct?”
“Yes, yes. Your Majesty. Just hold it like that and cut. Your Highness, please come this way as well.”
I stood a little away from the Empress, following the farmer’s guidance. Then the Empress awkwardly sliced some wheat.
Rustle, rustle—
“Well done, Your Majesty. You have talent!”
“Hehe, it seems the magical sickle performs very well.”
Watching the Empress cut a little wheat, the people around praised her. Then their gaze turned to me.
I roughly imitated her and lightly swung the sickle.
Swish, swish—
“Ugh?”
“Oh, what is that?”
In truth, I had overextended my swing, drawing a larger arc than intended, and the entire area got cut off.
The cleared area was surprisingly large, shocking both me and those around me.
“Oh, this….”
However, considering the farmer’s earlier demonstration, even a magical sickle wouldn’t cut so much from a mere swipe.
“Your Highness, you are truly skilled!”
“Have you ever used a sickle before?”
“Ah, well… a little when I was very young, just for fun.”
“I see. But to handle it so adeptly… remarkable!”
“Hahaha.”
I laughed awkwardly. Saying I had used a sickle as a child was a lie. I only said it to avoid making the situation too odd.
‘Why is this happening?’
I didn’t even feel it cutting. Inspecting the sickle, I noticed a red glow inside my sleeve.
‘Ah, this is the reason.’
Realizing the cause, I pulled my sleeve to hide the mana crystal bracelet deep inside my arm.
Since the mana crystal acted like a mana battery, it seemed to momentarily amplify the magical sickle’s performance.
‘I need to visit a mana crystal mine sometime, but I have no time.’
If the true power of the mana crystal were revealed, chaos would ensue. Originally, Sylvia was supposed to discover it….
“Your Highness, this is truly astonishing.”
“Here, please take this.”
I handed the sickle to the constantly admiring farmer with an awkward expression.
The Empress approached me with a similarly surprised look.
“Princess Wentworth, there is nothing you cannot do.”
“You flatter me. Somehow a lot of wheat got cut.”
“Still, much better than those who don’t even try.”
Her gaze turned to the noblewomen grimacing at the sickle.
They were supposed to demonstrate as well, but most nobles despised farming and hesitated even to try.
“By trying, one experiences the difficulties firsthand….”
The Empress clicked her tongue and returned to the stage, and I looked at the noblewomen quietly.
It wasn’t entirely their fault; the era’s disdain for farming was the problem.
I lightly ignored the disapproving glare from the Marchioness Wentworth and followed the Empress.
The rest of the event proceeded smoothly.
The Empress constantly looked after me, and the presenters and farmers treated me more respectfully.
By the time the harvest festival ended, even the noblewomen who had looked down on me had changed their expressions—except the Marchioness Wentworth.
‘Not that I expected it.’
I climbed into the carriage escorted by the guard Derek. Watching the golden wheat fields ripple, I organized my thoughts for the upcoming ball.
***
On the same day when the capital’s squares and streets were full of harvest festival celebrations, the royal ball was also held.
From around noon, Vivian moved busily. I too had been preoccupied since the morning, being washed and dried by Vivian and the other maids.
“You could go easy on it.”
“What do you mean! Princess, you must not lose!”
“Lose? To whom?”
“To whom, but to Sylvia… of course.”
“Hmm.”
I untied the towel wrapped around my head. My still-wet violet hair fell over my shoulders.
“Sylvia is pretty.”
“Princess, you are a hundred times prettier.”
“Pfft, yes. So go easy. Being a hundred times prettier doesn’t mean I can’t be called pretty no matter what.”
Vivian approached and began combing my hair.
“True, but somehow I don’t want to agree….”
Each stroke with the magical comb made my hair spring and curl beautifully. Compared to my previous world, this was far more convenient and amazing.
However, these magical tools required mages to charge them daily.
In the royal palace, mages visited regularly to recharge tools, but ordinary people could not even dream of it.
There were inexpensive disposable magical tools for the public, but even “cheap” ones were still too expensive for commoners.
Once mana crystals were discovered and developed, these problems would be solved at once.
Perhaps then I could tell Vincent too. Surely he wouldn’t take everything without giving me a single coin.
“Princess, please close your eyes.”
Vivian lifted the brush after finishing my hair. As I closed my eyes, I felt a tickling sensation on my eyelids.
“All done.”
I opened my eyes and looked in the mirror. A subtle golden shimmer adorned my eyelids, and my eyelashes stretched longer than usual, making my eyes stand out.
Vivian applied a gentle blush to my cheeks and pink lip gloss to my lips.
The makeup was neither too much nor too little. Seeing her do it so well without instruction showed Vivian had a very good sense.
“Now I’ll help you put on your dress and finish your hair.”
I obediently stood as Vivian instructed. The dress we had preselected last night was hanging on one wall.
With Vivian’s help, I put it on and looked at myself in the full-length mirror.
Today’s dress was made of golden silk and extravagant. Chosen specifically to match the golden wheat fields for the harvest festival.
The bodice had delicate gold thread embroidery, giving it both elegance and detail. The slightly exposed shoulders added grace.
The waist was accentuated, and the skirt flared out, sparkling as it caught the light.
“Beautiful.”
I admired myself in the mirror, and Vivian tidied the skirt, smiling warmly.
“Extravagant suits you perfectly.”
“Eh, I look good in anything.”
As Vivian smiled awkwardly, there was a cautious knock at the door.
Soon, Sylvia entered.
She wore a pastel blue dress, her silver hair neatly tied. Seeing me, she slightly opened her mouth and froze.
“Sylvia?”
At my call, Sylvia blinked, bewildered.
