Chapter 80
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The sound of applause rang out.
“Teacher Viaton!”
Isabel smiled brightly.
Morning puffiness was something that didn’t concern Viaton in the slightest.
‘He’s handsome today as well.’
Viaton’s beauty, flawless at any moment, shone brightly today as well.
Viaton said,
“I’ll actively support you.”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course. I was wondering how I could recruit someone like Chief Reporter Yuli-nim.”
Yuli and Viaton talked for quite a while.
Their goals were the same, and the atmosphere was quite amicable.
“It’s unexpected. Actually, the Sword Empire doesn’t pay attention to things like this, right?”
“That’s how it used to be.”
“Then why are you starting to pay attention now?”
“Because there’s a reason to pay attention?”
Viaton’s eyes turned to Isabel.
Isabel had washed her face bravely on her own without the help of a maid and had changed into clothes that were easy to volunteer in.
It was quite a different appearance from the ordinary noble ladies of this era.
To exaggerate a little, there were a considerable number of nobles who couldn’t even wash themselves without the help of maids or servants.
No, many considered it undignified to wash, eat, or dress themselves.
But Isabel was different.
“I have to protect her spirited appearance.”
“I see.”
Yuli easily understood.
Having watched Isabel from the side, no further explanation was needed.
“Then let’s talk about the details. As I told Your Highness, I don’t intend to receive a salary. Just take care of my room and board.”
“That’s a condition where I have nothing to lose. Alright.”
Viaton was pleased.
If this happened, Yuli would become a reporter personally hired by him.
Of course, it would be good to operate a press team officially after receiving approval from the Imperial Family, but there were risks involved.
Yuli’s writing itself had too much room for political interpretation.
‘It’s more convenient in many ways for me to personally hire her. Providing room and board should be manageable with my salary, huh huh.’
Yuli continued,
“And I think I’ll need to buy some equipment necessary for reporting.”
“Hmm? Don’t you already have equipment?”
“It was a free loan from Whisper. Since I resigned and left, I have to return all the equipment.”
Viaton became a little uneasy.
“……Is the equipment very expensive?”
“It varies greatly depending on the configuration.”
“What kind of equipment did you originally use?”
“The best quality. The chief reporters used the best things.”
“Hmm. Since she’s Your Highness’s exclusive reporter, she should at least use equipment comparable to that…… right?”
“That would be more convenient for me. I’m used to those things.”
Cold sweat ran down Viaton’s back.
He was the Chief Aide, practically the second most powerful person in the Empire, but in reality, his contract with Ron was close to a s*ave contract, so he wasn’t a civil servant who made much money.
He wasn’t particularly greedy for money, so he didn’t have any secret emergency funds saved up either.
“Okay. Make a list of the highest quality products.”
“I’ve already made one.”
As expected, being the Chief Aide of the Empire makes communication smooth. It seems like he’s very generous.
Yuli thought so and handed over the paper with a light heart.
Viaton’s eyes widened.
“9, 900 million Luden?”
This was about the price of a house in the capital.
For reference, Viaton was homeless.
“Yes. It’s less than I thought, right?”
“……”
“I kept it to a minimum since it’s the first time.”
Viaton’s face turned pale.
✦✦✦✦✦✦
Five days had passed since the promise with Duke Rovena.
The restoration of Linta region was almost complete.
The collapsed buildings had regained their original forms, and the desolate land now had the appearance of a proper city.
‘I’m so proud.’
The disaster victims who had taken refuge in the shelters began to return one by one.
They cried as they saw their neatly restored homes, and they bowed to the volunteers.
I hid inside the barracks and peeked at the people rejoicing.
‘It feels much better than I expected.’
This must be the joy of volunteering. The people who helped me in my past life must have helped me with this kind of heart, right?
I’m really glad I learned about their hearts.
While I was secretly feeling proud, Foreman Hector-ajusshi came up to me and said,
“Your Highness. Are you sure you don’t want to go out?”
“If I go out, it’ll be noisy.”
It’s a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but I was the…… what should I say, hmm, I’m not sure if this is the right expression, but anyway, I was like an idol at this disaster site.
It was probably because I was a young princess and a mage.
People must find me very fascinating and amazing.
“Still, many people are looking forward to meeting Your Highness. They would be very happy if you could just go out and wave your hand.”
“I’m so proud just watching from afar.”
It was obvious that if I went out, all the spotlight would be on me.
There were countless volunteers here, and they should all be the protagonists.
I was already being talked about by many people, and this was enough.
……I thought so, but not everything in the world goes my way.
✦✦✦✦✦✦
‘Wh, what is this?’
When did this happen?
Central Avenue, which runs through Linta region.
This was a huge road, wide enough for six carriages to pass each other.
Countless people were standing on both sides of the road.
There was a huge ‘Triumphal Arch’ beyond this road, and I had to pass through it.
‘How am I supposed to get through!’
This was a kind of event that Saint Rahella-nim had created.
An event where I was the protagonist.
If it hadn’t been revealed that I was a princess, it would have been a different story, but since it had already been revealed, she had planned a farewell ceremony for me.
Foreman Hector-ajusshi scratched the back of his head and said,
“Shall we…… go out now?”
“I, I’m embarrassed.”
I peeked my head out of the barracks and checked the situation outside.
The black flag symbolizing the Bilotian Empire.
People holding the black flag with two swords drawn on it were cheering for me.
“We have to go. Saint Rahella-nim is waiting for you under the Triumphal Arch.”
Rahella-unni was said to be out there herself.
I couldn’t delay any longer when someone of a higher rank than me was waiting.
“Le, let’s go.”
Beep beep━━━
Fortunately, Honey, my emotional stabilizer, was sitting on my shoulder.
‘It seems to have gotten smaller?’
I’ve been feeling it lately.
It seems like Honey’s size changes slightly depending on the situation, sometimes getting b*gger, sometimes smaller.
Of course, it must be my imagination, but it was a strange feeling anyway.
Teacher Viaton came into the barracks.
“Your Highness. I’ll e*cort you.”
Sir Viaton, wearing white gloves, knelt on one knee and offered me his hand.
Sir Viaton, who had taken my hand, stood up.
‘I’m realizing it again…… Sir Viaton is really tall.’
Sir Viaton was very tall.
I had to raise my arm high.
But my arm didn’t hurt.
It was partly because I was born with Bilotian’s special physique, but also because Sir Viaton was supporting my arm with mana.
Sir Viaton spoke to me so that I wouldn’t be too nervous.
“So many citizens of the kingdom are sending their love to Your Highness.”
“I, I see. I’m truly grateful.”
I was so shy and embarrassed.
Appearing in front of a camera and appearing in front of people directly were completely different things.
Countless people were applauding me.
I was so embarrassed, but on the other hand, I didn’t hate this situation.
‘There are so many people who like me.’
People were smiling brightly at me. They were waving black flags at me.
I hadn’t done anything that great, but these people were showing me great love and attention.
‘Feels good.’
I was definitely an attention seeker.
I regained some composure and walked lightly.
I could see the Triumphal Arch in the distance.
Under the Triumphal Arch, I could see Rahella-unni dressed in a white uniform.
She was holding a ceremonial sword in her right hand, and honestly, I almost fell for her.
‘Ah, I liked unni.’
Next to Rahella-unni, two standard-bearers were holding up a huge black flag and waiting for me.
Eventually, I arrived in front of Rahella-unni.
As I arrived, the two standard-bearers swung the black flag in the same motion.
Whoosh whoosh━━━
The majestic black flag moved with precision.
When the black flag stopped, the applause stopped as if on cue.
As a princess, I paid my respects to the Holy King.
“Greetings to the Holy King. I haven’t done much, but I’m at a loss for words because you’re giving me such a grand farewell. Thank you sincerely.”
“You haven’t done much?”
Rahella-unni spoke formally to me.
I could see her intention to elevate me in front of the people.
“It was also very grateful that you dedicated yourself to volunteering for Linta region. However, the reason I’m showing you such respect is for a different reason.”
At that moment, I felt something strange.
Rahella-unni’s voice was being transmitted throughout the kingdom through a voice amplifier and a transmission device.
‘Hmm?’
In other words, this was a kind of speech.
It didn’t seem like it was just an event to acknowledge my hard work and welcome me.
‘What is it?’
Rahella-unni continued,
“You, along with Chief Aide Sir Viaton, made a significant contribution to the kingdom’s safety by achieving a remarkable feat in subjugating the One-eyed Giant at the North Gate.”
This was information that wasn’t in the newsletter. Information that wasn’t well known to the outside world.
In fact, it wouldn’t be something the kingdom would want to reveal.
Because it could also be interpreted as meaning that the kingdom lacked power and had to get help from a 7-year-old princess.
It would become a disgrace that the kingdom couldn’t handle a situation that was so insignificant（?） that even a 7-year-old princess could help.
Nevertheless, Rahella-unni continued,
“You have shown a spirit of sacrifice by putting your life on the line and taking the initiative for the kingdom. Although you are small, the size of your heart was not small. Although you are young, you were more mature than anyone else. You led your small body and came to me, pleading and begging to be sent to the North Gate.”
That voice continued to be transmitted throughout the kingdom.
People held their breath and listened to that voice.
Countless gazes poured towards me.
‘Wh, what’s going on?’
Something unknown was happening.
