Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 103

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 103

Thump.

Heidi, who had been enjoying the cool night air on the balcony, pressed her hand to her chest. Her heart was still beating wildly.

“You did well. You were truly princess-like.”

“Did I get the right answer?”

“There was no right answer to begin with. Most things are like that. It’s rare for there to be a right answer. There’s only doing your best.”

“Doing my best…”

“Your best will restore the lives of the people here.”

A proud smile spread across Heidi’s lips as she savored Duke Delern’s praise. She murmured softly.

“I accomplished something with my own strength.”

Heidi realized that she had done something truly princess-like for the first time.

Heidi recalled the first assignment Duke Delern had given her. That very question that had tormented her for weeks.

“What do you think the position of princess entails?”

“Well…”

“The King’s daughter. First in line for succession and second in royal protocol. Yes, that’s the position. What do you think that means?”

Heidi felt she now vaguely understood the answer.

Living in a magnificent palace with countless maids and ladies-in-waiting, wearing pretty clothes and eating fine food… Dancing to music and gracefully waving her hand wasn’t all there was to being a princess.

The fate of everyone living in Panther rested on Heidi’s shoulders.

Her job was to help people live their given lives properly, to help them protect the land inherited from their ancestors.

‘I had thought about it too simply.’

When she had agreed to participate in Deshion’s plan to make her a princess, Heidi hadn’t thought at all about the weight of the position of ‘princess.’

She had been afraid of having to adapt to an unfamiliar environment and worried about getting caught up in complex power struggles, but that was all.

To Heidi, who had worked as a maid, royalty seemed like people who lived luxuriously in splendid palaces without lifting a finger.

Heidi belatedly realized how naive that thinking had been.

If someone had told her then about the duties and responsibilities of a princess, she probably would have run away saying she could never do such a thing. But… now it was a bit different.

‘I think I can do it. I want to do it.’

Even when she was a maid, Heidi had done her best.

She was always there whenever Eloise needed her, and she devoted herself to needlework, cutting into her sleep.

There wasn’t a single day when she hadn’t given her absolute best, yet Heidi’s best couldn’t even change her own life. No matter how hard she worked, medicine prices kept rising and her family grew poorer.

But now it was different. A princess’s best had power. With a single word from her, she could change the fate of an entire village.

‘It seems like quite a wonderful thing.’

Heidi took a deep breath to calm her overwhelming feelings. The cool night air felt pleasant. The moon was large and bright.

“I wonder what Deshion is doing right now.”

Heidi murmured absentmindedly.

It would be nice if she could share this overwhelming feeling with someone. It would be even better if that person were Deshion. He would understand this feeling the best.

“They said Deshion’s destination wasn’t far from here… I wonder if I’ll get to see him.”

* * *

“You’ll give me 50 silver coins?”

Coachman Norbert’s eyes widened.

Was he still sleepy from the morning? He began calculating with his groggy head.

Even assuming he worked without rest, the money he could earn in a year was about 80 silver coins. But to offer 50 silver coins for just two weeks of work.

‘I had planned never to go up to the Capital City until the day I died…’

The only flaw was having to travel to and from the Capital City, but faced with the temptation of 50 silver coins, his resolve flickered unsteadily like a candle in the wind.

Looking at the frighteningly neat man before him, Norbert asked in a trembling voice.

“What kind of work is it…”

“I need to transport some cargo to Hitchins Estate. Flour, vegetables, and such things, so it’ll be quite heavy. There won’t be much cargo to transport to the Capital City. If you need to find someone else, tell me quickly. Time is tight.”

Norbert jumped up and waved his hands.

“No! No, sir. I’ll do it. I can do anything. Just give me orders.”

“I’ll give you half now, and the other half when the work is finished. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Good.”

The handsome man handed Norbert a pouch of silver coins and said.

“We’ll depart from here in two hours. Don’t be late.”

Norbert bowed deeply toward his employer’s back.

They say there’s always a way out when you’re desperate, and it must be true! Norbert opened the pouch with trembling hands and counted the silver coins one by one. There were exactly twenty-five.

“With three silver coins I can settle my debts and several months’ rent…”

Norbert’s expression softened.

“With the rest of the money, Amanda won’t have to worry for a while. Alice will be able to get medicine too.”

After quickly delivering money to the innkeeper and Amanda, Norbert loaded the cargo. As Deshion had said, it was quite heavy, but his heart felt incredibly light.

Norbert skillfully drove the carriage toward Hitchens Domain. As he traveled across the endless plains, he suddenly became curious about the identity of the person who had hired him.

‘Even at a glance, he has an aristocratic air about him. Is he someone of high rank? Considering he needs to go to the Capital City, he might be from a family with considerable influence there. I should have asked for his name.’

After pondering for a moment, Norbert shook his head. You learn things doing this kind of rough work. Keep your mouth shut. Keep your movements light.

The higher someone’s rank, the more uncomfortable they often felt about revealing themselves. No superior was ever pleased to be questioned by a subordinate.

As they approached Hitchens Domain, the surrounding landscape gradually became more desolate. They said the drought was severe, and it seemed to be true.

After traveling for a while along the parched, cracked dirt road, Hichins Manor appeared in the distance. Guards were stationed every ten paces, facing forward.

‘Was the security around the Viscount’s Castle always this strict? It’s not even the Royal Palace…’

Norbert tilted his head in confusion and gripped the reins tighter.

As they approached the Viscount’s Castle with his doubts, two soldiers with swords at their sides blocked the carriage.

“Stop. Do you have entry permission?”

“Permission…”

“Carriages without prior authorization cannot enter. Turn back.”

As the flustered Norbert hesitated, the soldiers’ hands moved toward the sword hilts at their waists.

“…!”

Startled, Norbert flailed his arms.

“Wait.”

Just then, someone stepped in front of him like a savior. It was the noble man who had hired him.

“I am Deshion Carlos Haizen, the Viscount. Duke Delern will confirm my identity, so relay the message inside.”

“Yes, yes! Your Lordship. Please wait just a moment. I’ll be back quickly.”

The soldier, whose face had turned pale, rushed into the castle.

Watching from a step behind, Norbert’s eyes widened.

‘This can’t be. This man is Count Haizen?’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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