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Chapter 10
“Did you hear? The Imperial Princess requested purification medicine from the Imperial Psychic Research Institute?”
“I even heard she asked for fast production—and offered one of her own jewels as a reward!”
The one most shocked by the news was Giscar himself.
‘No way… is she really going to send purification medicine?’
Giscar blinked blankly.
“Purification medicine, right? I’ll support you with half a year’s supply first.”
Why was it…
That confident voice kept echoing in his ears at this very moment.
Of course, the princess had promised to provide purification medicine.
But who was the one who made that promise?
That damned Cassia.
The reckless princess who was steadily dragging Giscar’s reputation into the mud.
Honestly, Giscar would trust the sun rising in the west more than he would trust the princess.
But still…
“Are we really getting purification medicine?”
“Half a year’s supply… seriously?”
“Then we won’t have to beg the Northern Command for supplies for at least half a year!”
At the welcome news, the members of the Blue Radiance Knights became excited and started chattering.
“So the princess is actually doing something helpful for once.”
“I never expected this.”
The knights, who had always worn dark expressions, finally looked bright for once.
It was a good sight… and yet Giscar also felt uneasy, worried that if they built hope, they might be even more disappointed later.
“Stop acting recklessly.”
So Giscar deliberately tightened discipline.
“Don’t trust it so easily just because it’s ‘that’ Princess Cassia.”
“……”
“……”
At his words, the atmosphere instantly turned cold, as if a bucket of water had been poured over them.
“Well… that’s true…”
“We may have expected too much.”
The knights nodded with disappointed faces.
The arrogant, wasteful, and infuriating princess—supporting them with her own money?
And not just Giscar, but the entire Blue Radiance Knights?
‘Yeah, right. That makes no sense.’
Just as they were suppressing their excitement…
Another shocking piece of news arrived.
This time, it was a letter directly from the director of the Imperial Psychic Research Institute addressed to Giscar.
In short,
[The purification medicine has been completed and will be sent to the North.]
‘Impossible.’
Giscar opened the letter again, even though he had already read it several times.
It had been three days since he received it, but it still felt unreal.
‘She really supported it.’
His hand trembled slightly as he clenched the letter, overwhelmed by emotion.
A mixture of relief, joy, peace, and comfort…
…and, though he hated to admit it, even gratitude toward that reckless princess surged in like a wave.
When was the last time he had felt warmth like this?
Just as his usually stiff face softened slightly…
Giscar suddenly froze.
‘Wait.’
That night when they discussed requesting purification medicine…
There was something he had said to Cassia.
“Rather than just saying you’ll support us…”
“Why don’t you join our knight order instead?”
It had been a sarcastic remark.
At the time, he thought her proposal was nothing more than nonsense.
‘What did she say then?’
A cold sweat ran down his spine.
She clearly said…
“Are you really saying you’d join our knight order?”
“Yes. I’d like that.”
Giscar’s mouth went dry.
Given the princess’s disturbingly strong sense of action…
She might actually come all the way to the North and try to join the Blue Radiance Knights.
‘No. That can’t be.’
He quickly shook off the thought.
‘Why would a spoiled princess ever serve in this harsh knight order? Impossible.’
She had lived her whole life in luxury.
And the barracks the knights were currently staying in were practically haunted ruins.
‘I’m overthinking this. There’s no way she’d come here.’
Just as he tried to calm himself—
Suddenly, noise erupted outside.
“Huh? What’s that?”
“A supply carriage?!”
The knights shouted in confusion.
‘A supply carriage?’
Giscar shoved the letter into a drawer and rushed outside like a bullet.
And what he saw was…
‘No way.’
His eyes widened in shock.
In the center of the camp stood a massive cargo carriage, specially modified for transporting supplies.
It was filled with all kinds of goods.
Among them, boxes stamped with the emblem of the Imperial Psychic Research Institute stood out.
The brand-new, shining carriage looked completely out of place in the worn-down barracks.
But there was something even more out of place.
“Ah, Sir Romano!”
A woman standing proudly on the cargo bed waved at Giscar.
Hair like golden sunlight spun into brilliance.
Eyes red like rubies.
A beauty like a rose crafted from gold and ruby smiled brightly at him.
It was Cassia.
“I’m here!”
Cassia shouted cheerfully and jumped down from the carriage, walking straight toward Giscar.
“Pri, Princess…?”
Giscar muttered, completely stunned.
Unlike her usual extravagant dresses, she wore a simple shirt and leather pants.
Her hair, usually styled by attendants, was casually tied up.
“I’ve brought the purification medicine—and myself as a bonus. No returns accepted.”
Cassia winked playfully.
“Treating us as a 1+1 package, you know?”
A brief silence fell.
“……”
“……”
At first, the knights had been curiously peeking at the supply carriage.
But now they stared at her with wary eyes, remembering all the trouble she had caused Giscar before.
‘…Do they hate me?’
Cassia narrowed her eyes slightly.
‘Well, that’s possible. But still.’
Could they really reject this dazzling snack in front of them?!
She walked confidently toward the cargo area.
Pulling out a large ribbon-wrapped box, a sweet and rich aroma leaked through the gaps.
The knights’ eyes immediately snapped toward it.
Cassia lifted her chin slightly and smiled like a fox.
“I thought it would be rude to visit the knight order empty-handed.”
Gulp.
Several knights swallowed hard.
Cassia continued softly, like a witch luring children with sweets.
“Do you like pie? Apple pie, strawberry pie, cherry pie, chocolate pie… and meat pie if you need something filling.”
She opened another box.
Colorful candies and chocolates filled glass jars.
“Light snacks like chocolate and candy too. Good for after training.”
Finally, she showed a box of tea leaves.
“A famous premium brand in the Empire. I also brought milk, cream, and sugar.”
So.
How about this luxurious gift set from the princess?
Don’t you wish you had this too?
“……”
“……”
Silence fell again.
But this silence was different.
Before, they were silent out of hostility.
Now, they were silent while staring blankly at the snacks in her hands.
Gulp.
Someone’s loud swallow echoed.
The knights slowly began to lean forward, their eyes fixed on the sweets like hypnotized children.
