The Munchkin Princess Wants to Run Away - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Thank goodness the Duke visited the Territory because of his marriage to the Imperial Princess.”
A Territory resident drank the water distributed by the Ducal House and spoke with emotion, but the man beside him clicked his tongue.
“Gratitude to that useless princess? Rather, he should atone for not receiving a Divine Power that could benefit the Empire.”
He glared toward the Duke’s carriage with burning eyes.
“What if he’s arrested for Imperial Insult?”
“She’s a Duchess now, so what Imperial Family?”
The knights nearby tried to stop the man with sidelong glances, but he scoffed that no one cared about an incompetent princess.
“The other Imperial Family members are strengthening the Empire with their Divine Powers, so what kind of Imperial Family member is one who didn’t receive one?”
The man disparaging Ivanna seemed to take pride in the Imperial Family’s Divine Powers.
“There could be reasons for it. Be careful it doesn’t reach others’ ears. The Duke is visiting right now, after all.”
“What good is a Divine Power anyway? It’s not like it brings rain to our fields right now.”
Another man who had been listening quietly began to grumble.
“Now, watch your tongue!”
The villager trying to stop them hurried home with the distributed water, as if unwilling to be entangled with them.
‘No Divine Power, and yet claiming to be Imperial Family.’
The man disparaging the princess spat on the ground and turned away.
“If you command it, I shall execute him on the spot for Imperial Insult.”
It seemed the common sentiment toward the princess was indeed poor.
Ivanna, who had left the carriage under the pretense of a walk, shook her head at Ethan’s cool voice.
They needed someone to blame, that was all.
“Even the Emperor himself can be cursed when no one’s listening. You can’t punish the people over a few words.”
Ethan gazed quietly at the princess, who wore an awkward smile.
It was fortunate he’d been behind the supply wagon, wanting to inspect the organized provisions.
It had been a mistake to hide when the princess said she wanted to see how the villagers lived directly.
“Let’s go back.”
At the sight of the princess turning away with a sunken face, Ethan clenched his fist tightly.
‘I need to be careful about her appearing in front of people.’
Ivanna thought this as she returned to the temporary quarters with Ethan’s escort.
She knew many people disliked the princess for not receiving a Divine Power.
With the drought compounding matters, people had turned their arrows of resentment toward the princess who hadn’t received one.
“They are people of little education, Your Highness. Please do not take their words to heart.”
Upon arriving at the temporary quarters set up near the carriage, Ethan spoke carefully.
“I’m not bothered.”
Ivanna thought that Cedric had assigned her a decent escort and stepped into the quarters.
The small village had no proper lodging for them, so they had to set up military tents for their stay.
“What do you mean you’re not bothered?”
“Well…”
She hadn’t realized the Duke was back.
Cedric, removing his shirt, asked the question, and she found herself speechless. So it was true—when a person was terribly flustered, words simply wouldn’t come.
Ivanna immediately spun around.
Rustle.
The sound of Cedric changing his clothes in silence followed.
There’s even a changing screen—why is he changing out here!
Ivanna struggled to compose her flushed face.
She swore it was the first time she’d ever seen another person’s bare body.
The moment she saw Cedric, she’d squeezed her eyes shut, yet the pristine skin sculpted as if from fine clay, the broad shoulders, and the firm, defined muscles remained vivid in her mind.
It was as if someone were striking a massive drum in her ears.
“My apologies. I didn’t expect you to return so early.”
Before long, apparently finished changing, his voice came from behind her.
“So what exactly are you not bothered by?”
At what seemed a signal that he was done, a hand gently tapped her shoulder with a finger, and Ivanna turned around.
The large frame was once more covered in clothes.
She quickly redirected her gaze upward, away from his chest.
Ivanna forced herself to speak with feigned composure.
“I wanted to see the supplies. The drought has been so severe that I was concerned.”
There was no need to mention that the villagers had insulted her. Everyone had cursed the princess instead of the Imperial Court since the drought began.
If she thought of it as retribution for receiving a Divine Power yet not using it, it didn’t hurt so much.
Her conscience pricked a little, but she didn’t intend to remain ignorant of it forever.
Even before the marriage, she had slipped out of the Imperial Capital to secretly fill reservoirs in nearby regions with water, or coaxed down even a little rain.
The Divine Power granted by God was formidable. She wondered if her other brothers could accomplish such feats.
Distant regions were beyond her reach, but within the vicinity where she stood, she could summon rain across a day’s journey with mere words.
“It’s a problem affecting not just the Empire, but the entire continent, so there’s no help for it.”
The Duke nodded as if he understood.
“I do hope it rains today.”
Rain would fall regardless. She would use her Divine Power.
Yet Ivanna’s voice carried an almost desperate quality.
She merely wished they wouldn’t connect the rainfall to her—that no one would think to trace it back to her hand.
“One must pray for it earnestly.”
Cedric watched the Imperial Princess’s downcast face and sensed she was withholding something of importance.
He considered whether he ought to remind her that, for safety’s sake, she must hide nothing from him.
The Contract.
It was the strongest instrument binding them together.
He had drafted it with terms as favorable to the Imperial Princess as possible, conditioning it on the benefits granted by the Imperial Court.
The whispers at court that he had sold her off seemed to displease the Imperial Family as well.
“Should difficulties arise, speak of them. As you uphold the Contract, so too must I fulfill my duties as your husband.”
“Yes.”
Her expression gave no sign of comprehension.
Her gentle gaze and slender frame seemed as though they would never contest him, even should he fail to honor his vows.
“Do not forget that our relationship is founded upon this Contract.”
“I understand.”
She should not leave.
The moment Cedric finished speaking, Ivanna turned sharply on her heel.
That he should invoke the Contract again suggested her wandering beyond the tent had troubled him.
Sigh.
Was she not even permitted fresh air?
Ivanna suppressed her urge to complain and entered the screened partition.
“I shall summon a maidservant.”
At Cedric’s words, Ivanna shook her head.
She was perfectly capable of changing her clothes alone.
Ivanna had long managed her own bathing and meals when Anthony was occupied.
And with the Duke present, she had no wish to summon Anthony and burden him with extra duties.
Though Anthony would take care, she didn’t want to give him grounds for criticism.
Having donned a practical Dress for the journey, Ivanna swiftly changed into a Sleeping Gown.
The small quarters had a bathing area prepared for washing, and she entered carrying a towel.
She took care to make no sound, so as not to disturb the Duke.
He seemed to have no more to say, having settled at the desk to examine documents.
Splash.
Water for bathing, of all things.
The Village inhabitants lacked even drinking water, yet barely received enough, while they possessed a tub filled to the brim.
‘Excuse me. Would you bring rain tonight?’
Ideally as wide and far as possible. And I’d prefer it came while I slept.
Ivanna murmured to herself.
In truth, she need only snap her fingers—or merely envision rain, and it would fall.
Yet whenever she wielded her Divine Power greatly, Ivanna always spoke as if coaxing a need from God.
The lack of rain was God’s failure, after all.
Just as God had delayed granting her the Divine Power, she was simply rousing God from forgetfulness about the rain meant for the continent.
So that God would not abandon his purpose.
“It’s warm.”
If she refused the prepared water, suspicion would certainly fall upon her. Ivanna sank into the warm tub and exhaled quietly.
Days of travel by carriage had accumulated fatigue in her limbs. The Duke had glanced at her often enough, yet never once asked if she was weary.
The Imperial Family’s bodies were indeed resilient.
Those blessed by God’s blood did not lose their inheritance simply by lacking Divine Power.
Tomorrow, when rain fell, the people would rejoice. Ivanna lingered as long as she dared, then emerged from her bath.
She wished to delay the hour of lying beside Cedric under the same covers.
This was the seventh night sharing the same bed; she no longer felt the tension of those first days.
Yet discomfort remained unmistakable.
When he lay beside her, the mattress shifted slightly—a distraction. And she had not realized his body carried such warmth.
Rustle.
In conversation, she had nearly forgotten the Duke’s form, but now it returned vividly to her mind.
Are all knights built like that?
She’d never paid attention to another person’s body before, so there was nothing to compare it to.
Why did the Duke keep drifting into her thoughts?
Ivanna shook her head sharply, trying to scatter the thought away.
Better to wash up quickly and leave.
The moment she stepped into the bedroom, Ivanna found Cedric sitting on the bed.
‘God, why—why are you half-naked?!’

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