Chapter 27

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Chapter 27 – It Would Be Game Over If My Father Is The Emperor

“Finished!!” Ashia closed the storage box and patted it with a satisfied expression on her face, then turned to Kaligo, who responded to her with a smile. “I filled up all the lockers I brought. Now I think I should pack our bags and go home.” She walked past him and towards the tent.

Kaligo’s expression slowly hardened. “Did you say we’re going back now?”

“Yes.”

“Do you mean that when you say the work is over then it’s over…?”

“Yes. It means that this trip is completely over.”

Kaligo’s eyes went back and forth busily with her on the snowfield. “…You said it would take a week, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did. But it was over quickly because you did better than I expected.”

Ashia scrunched her nose and smiled excitedly. Contrary to her joyful look, Kaligo’s face was dark. He thought there was still a lot of time left.

Of course, it was important to go back quickly and have a talk with her, but he also saw that this kind of opportunity might not come again.

But they were already going back.

Ashia’s light steps continued over the ankle-deep snow. No matter what kind of expression was on Kaligo’s face as he followed her, she was humming in happiness at the thought of going home. The time for them to part ways came sooner than he expected. Now, it was time to go back to their respective domains.

At the same time, in the capital city in a mansion overlooking the square, two gorgeously dressed women were chatting over tea.

“Lisa, how can all of Carmian’s buildings be so beautiful?”

“Hey, wasn’t the Etous Estate building more amazing, Princess?”

“Oh, right, it was!” Recalling the buildings and the scenery of the Etous Estate she had visited recently, she clapped her hands. “Yes. It was a place perfectly fit for the Grand Duke of the rumors—magnificent and dignified.” Sitting opposite Lisa, she smiled softly as if she could somehow imagine his face, which she had never seen before, since they were also a good match for each other.

“Since you sent him a letter again, the Grand Duke will call upon Miss Aileen when he returns. Then you can ask him to take you for a tour around.”

“But, Lisa, will you be okay?”

“Yes? About what?”

“You are the owner of the tower. You came out of the tower like this… and that was because of me.”

“Are you worrying about me?”

Lisa lowered her gaze, looking touched.

“Of course, we are friends.”

“…Friends.” For a brief moment, Lisa’s expression changed and then returned to normal. “That’s right, Princess. We are friends. So I want to help more.”

“Thank you, Lisa.” Aileen smiled happily.

Lisa did as well. “Obviously, the Grand Duke will also welcome you. I think it is a great blessing to have a beautiful woman like Miss Aileen as a wife.”

“Lisa, you’re really… I’m flattered.” The smile turned shy as she blushed.

Lisa chattered more. “You are the Imperial Princess of the Perthenia Empire, a country that is friendly with Karhan. Who would dare refuse the Imperial Princess’ proposal? You sent a wedding proposal in advance, so he will surely welcome the princess with open arms.”

Aileen answered with a soft smile and brought the teacup she was holding to her lips, “I wish he would.”

The third princess of the Perthenia Empire, Aileen Encherances.

For the first time in her life, she left her empire and came to Karhan. It was full of unfamiliar things, but she had warm anticipation and piqued curiosity. She was spending every day in excitement thinking that she would soon live in the Karhan Empire.

– I’ll be by your side until the drug is complete.

– I don’t think that can happen.

– Ashia…

– I’m not running away. I’ll make it asap and take it to you, so wait for me at your house, okay?

-…

Ashia returned Kaligo to his Grand Duke’s residence then went back and immediately prepared a potion for him. Perhaps because it was just for a very short period of time, Kaligo didn’t have a seizure throughout their trip. but since Ashia saw with her own eyes how he was when he was having his seizure, she knew how painful it was.

‘I have to bring it as soon as the sun rises tomorrow.’

She decided to make a week’s worth of potions. While sorting out the materials and tools, she found his torn shirt and the four-person bedding in her suitcase.

“Ah…”

She suddenly remembered what had happened in the Fairy Forest. It was a place that used to be filled with her cold and lonely memories, but when she thought of Kaligo being there, she thought that calling it a good memory wouldn’t be too bad at all.

Ashia carefully pulled out his shirt. She burst into laughter looking at the shirt with only the traces of buttons left.

‘It looks expensive, but can I get the same thing?’

She threw the shirt into the laundry basket and hurriedly started making the potions.

Without her realizing it, the sun that was floating in the middle of the sky disappeared over the mountain. After that came the moon and the stars embroidered beautifully at the stem of the Carmian River. Ashia was so concentrated that she had no time to see the beautiful night view of Carmian that she loved so much.

Then a new morning dawned.

“Yaaaawn!”

She opened her store then went back inside, blinking dazedly and stretching. At that time, Ashia turned around again when she heard the sound of knocking on the store door. “The store is open today.”

A man was leaning against the store door. “Ah…”

“…Ah?”

When she saw him, Ashia involuntarily let out a sigh. His blonde hair and golden eyes were shining in the sunlight. She could tell who it was even though it was the first time they met, just by looking at his rough appearance.

‘…This is driving me crazy.’

Besides, she remembered his voice. She was looking at his feet when she was at the Grand Duke’s residence. The owner of that voice was probably Crown Prince Desian.

“Just now, what does that ‘ah’ mean?”

“Ah, that you are an unwelcomed guest?” Ashia left him and turned away indifferently, stretching her stiff neck.

“…You haven’t invited me in yet.”

“…”

She had no energy to respond to him due to a lack of sleep. Ashia slowly walked to the counter, rubbing her neck and shoulders. And as usual, she stood upright. Standing on it, she put on her business smile. Obviously, she was just showing annoyance and treating him as a nuisance until a while ago.

“Welcome to Ashia’s Potion Shop. How can I help you?” She was smiling, but there was no emotion in her voice.

Desian sighed. “Wow… that’s a very heartfelt welcome.”

“…”

He then entered the store, glancing at the items on the wall and the display case, before turning to Ashia. When he met her flat gaze, Desian smiled blithely.

“Looking at your expression, you seem to know who I am.”

“…”

Just like the first time, she was just maintaining a business smile. Desian strode forward and stood right in front of her.

“…”

“…”

There was no change in Ashia’s expression.

He smirked. “Nice to meet you again. Right, wizard? I’m curious about someone, so it’s the first time I’ve come here in person.”

“…”

“Why aren’t you talking?” His eyes that were bent into crescents were both so beautiful and creepy that it gave her goosebumps.

“It’s amazing.”

“Um… Why?”

“Because this is not a place for a high-ranking person to come.”

He closed his eyes at her words and nodded. “Right? They would usually send their subordinates.”

“That’s right.”

Desian leaned against the counter and looked at Ashia.

“I thought Miss Wizard already had a good voice, but I didn’t expect that you also have a pretty face.”

“…”

“Why did you hide that pretty face before? It’s a shame.”

“…”

He tilted his head as he looked at Ashia, who was staring blankly, wordlessly. “I think you’ve heard that often seeing that it doesn’t excite you.”

“Yes, I hear it so often that it’s boring.”

“…Haa.”

He looked so surprised one moment then burst into laughter another. It wasn’t even that funny, but tears began to form in his eyes.

After he calmed down, he continued, “Just looking at you, I don’t think you are the type of person who wants to talk.”

“I am the type to tell the truth.”

“Hmm, that’s great. Usually, people value their necks more than telling the truth.”

“…”

Turning his back on her, Desian started to look around her store. “Did you say you could make any potion?”

“Yes, if you place an order.”

“Order… So, what kind of potion did you make for our Grand Duke Kaligo?”

“…Ask him yourself. It’s not my duty to tell you that.”

“Um… it’s not easy.” Desian continued to wander around the store, stroking his chin. Then he suddenly stopped and turned to Ashia. “Isn’t this store precious?”

“It is.”

“Don’t you know I am the type of person who can make this store disappear with a snap of a finger?” He raised his finger in a twirling motion.

“Do it if you want. Then I will set up another store at another place.”

“…What if I chase after that too and get rid of it?”

“I will find another place, of course. Is this the only empire on the continent? There are plenty of places to open up a store.”

“…Wow, doesn’t it bother you just thinking about it?”

“If you think it’s going to bother you, then you don’t have to do it.”

At her words, Desian raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Huh. Miss Wizard, I thought it was only your face that’s my type, but even your personality is just my taste.”

“Unfortunately, yours is not mine.”

“More and more.”

“…”

Desian walked back to Ashia, who was standing at the counter. “What do you think of me?”

“Nothing much.” Ashia spat out her answer as if she had been waiting for an opportunity to say it.

Desian tilted his head with a puzzled expression. “But why? I am the crown prince of this empire, and after that old emperor dies, that seat will be mine.”

Looking at him like that, Ashia calmly responded, “Well, I would do that too.”

“Huh?” His eyebrows shot up.

“It means that if my father is the emperor then I would remain in my high position—no matter how lazy, incompetent, and even if my reputation is at the bottom.”

“ …What?”

“What do you think, if my dad was the Emperor, then the game is over.”

Desian’s flattering, infinitely light atmosphere disappeared in an instant. Knowing that, Ashia didn’t stop talking.

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