The Munchkin Princess Wants to Run Away - Chapter 17

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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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“I’m so sorry! So very sorry!”
Ivanna, startled, tumbled through a flurry of apologies while bowing her head—and with each one, her forehead knocked softly against Cedric’s chest.
“It’s all right, just… please, calm yourself!”
Cedric drew Ivanna close, hoping to steady her racing thoughts.
She gasped at his touch and, in her flustered state, suddenly found herself sitting directly on his stomach.
“Oh!”
“Your Highness?!”
When Ivanna’s cry echoed from the tent, Anthony stopped short just inside the entrance, startled.
The shock flickered across her brown eyes for a moment before a deep blush rushed to her cheeks.
“Forgive me!”
No, wait—Anthony, come back!
Before Ivanna could stop her, Anthony slipped out of the tent with obvious delight, and Ivanna stretched out her arm in vain.
“Sigh.”
“I—it’s all a misunderstanding—”
Ivanna stammered out an explanation at Cedric’s low sigh.
“I understand you were startled by the sudden situation.”
His tone was faster than usual—which somehow made it all the more mortifying.
Because his gaze wouldn’t quite meet hers; it slipped sideways, away.
‘I should just flee.’
She jolted up and tried to move aside, but her legs tangled with Cedric’s.
He caught her urgently as she stumbled forward.
“Are you… all right?”
“Yes, I… I’m fine.”
I’m going to die. Cause of death: mortification.
Ivanna trembled, her face burning scarlet.
“Will you keep doing that? Ahem.”
A low cough, and laughter threaded through it. Ivanna, who had buried her face in the blankets, stole a glance over.
The Duke was smiling, one large hand raised to his mouth as though caught off guard.
The smile itself was hidden behind that broad palm, but his usually austere grey eyes had softened at the corners, warm with amusement.
For a moment, Ivanna forgot her shame entirely, unable to look away from his laugh.
Cedric helped her to her feet with careful hands.
“I myself only realized this morning, so… you’re not the only one at fault.”
He finished speaking, then hesitated a moment before adding,
“So please, don’t be too hard on yourself.”
And with that, he headed straight for the washing room.
“Mmm.”
The moment Cedric disappeared into the washing room, Ivanna let out a low groan.
This is a disaster.
Of all things, to have fallen asleep clinging to the Duke!
‘What if he thinks I’m some kind of strange woman?!’
Throughout the journey, she’d been careful to sleep apart from him—but last night was the first time she’d drawn close.
I swear there was no intention behind it!
As water rushed from the washing room, Ivanna pulled the blanket up over her head.
Please, just let him leave.
And as if answering her prayer, the Duke soon finished preparing and left the tent, saying he’d go on ahead.
Ivanna didn’t notice that there was still a glint of amusement in his eyes as he glanced back at the bed before departing.
“Should be safe now, right?”
After some time had passed, once Ivanna rose and signaled that she was awake, Anthony came back inside.
“Well, when a young man and woman are close like that, something’s bound to happen.”
“Anthony. Stop. That’s not what this is.”
Ivanna shook her head rapidly at Anthony’s sly and expectant expression.
“I was cold. I made a mistake.”
“Really? But…”
Even so, the Duke’s face looked rather flushed too, didn’t it? Anthony’s eyes narrowed as she watched Ivanna’s irritated expression, clearly embarrassed.
She’s quite shy, it seems.
Stifling a laugh, Anthony decided to change the subject to spare Ivanna further blushes.
“It rained heavily all night, and it seems to have caused a problem.”
“What?!”
Ivanna’s eyes went wide at Anthony’s words.
‘Could it have been Your Highness?’
At that probing gaze, Ivanna faltered. That couldn’t be right. She’d carefully modulated her Divine Power to keep the rain from falling too heavily all at once.
“That can’t be.”
“Apparently, after the drought, the rain came down so suddenly and so hard that it triggered a landslide.”
“Good heavens.”
Ivanna covered her mouth as Anthony spoke in rapid succession.
But she hadn’t said it would rain this heavily! Ivanna protested to the heavens itself, then asked urgently, “How severe is the damage?”
“How bad is it?”
“A mountain at the pass leading to the next village collapsed somewhat.”
Anthony watched Ivanna’s face carefully.
This was bad.
Moderately, you say? Moderately?!
Ivanna demanded answers from the heavens themselves. She’d hardly released that much force—so why had so much rain fallen?
She understood that when water poured onto parched earth, the ground couldn’t absorb it all and would simply wash away.
That’s why she’d carefully controlled her power so the water would seep gradually into the soil and rain would fall only as much as the villagers needed.
She’d misused her Divine Power.
Ivanna’s face went pale and rigid.
“Still, they say a month’s worth of water has collected.”
Seeing Ivanna’s grave expression, Anthony added that there was no need for such concern.
“A month’s worth?!”
“Yes. Since the landslide was that severe, the reservoir His Grace hastily constructed yesterday is now completely full.”
Ivanna’s eyes widened as the thought that people might have been hurt cut through her self-reproach.
“Cedric built a reservoir yesterday?”
“Everyone’s marveling, wondering if the Duke perhaps has foresight.”
Anthony, alone in knowing the truth, bristled at the fact that they knew nothing.
It was because Your Highness had used her Divine Power that this happened. Yet some mere mortal was receiving credit, and she wasn’t pleased about it.
“I’d like to throw open the tent flap and shout the truth for all to hear.”
“Keep quiet for my sake.”
Ivanna shook her head in alarm. The last thing she wanted was for her possession of Divine Power to be revealed and find herself dragged back to the Imperial Palace.
The Palace would never leave alone anyone who possessed the power to end a drought.
And she doubted Cedric would protect her.
He might well gain even more advantage by returning her to the Imperial Palace as part of a bargain.
Anthony regarded Ivanna with sympathy.
“Well, at least that’s fortunate. But what about the landslide itself?”
Should she secretly use her power to wash away the soil underneath? Ivanna worried over how to resolve the landslide.
This Divine Power was causing her nothing but trouble.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
Ivanna rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
She worried for a moment that stepping forward might invite criticism, yet the sense of responsibility she felt wouldn’t fade.
“Go wash up first.”
Propelled toward the washing room by Anthony’s guiding hand, Ivanna moved her feet slowly.
* * *
“Hey! Watch yourselves there!”
“Hah-hah! We’ll clear away this dirt in half a day!”
The villagers worked to clear the tangled heap of soil and splintered wood, not a single one showing displeasure.
Though the night’s rain had severed the path connecting to the neighboring village, fortunately no one had been hurt, and they were satisfied that both drinking water and irrigation water had been secured.
The reservoir His Grace built was now completely full.
With Maintenance Magic and Purification Magic already in place, they wouldn’t suffer from water shortage for the next month.
“Our Duke truly is the best. Problems just solve themselves the moment he arrives.”
“With this rain, it really feels like we’ll survive.”
The nearby knights heard the villagers’ words and let out soft chuckles.
In truth, at first the knights had been reluctant about the work of constructing the reservoir in the village.
But faced with a situation more grave than the Lord had reported, they had no choice but to throw their backs into it.
Yet the moment the reservoir was finished, rain actually came.
“G-Good morning! Please be careful!”
Just as they were working with such enthusiasm, commotion suddenly broke out behind them.
The knights turned their gaze and spotted the princess beneath a white parasol embroidered with flowers. She had appeared at the restoration site.
The villagers who had been shoveling dirt straightened up to watch Ivanna approach.
For the villagers, it was their first time seeing someone of royal blood up this close.
“I heard a landslide occurred. Has anyone been injured?”
“It rained heavily yesterday, so no one was out and about last night.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Ivanna paused at the knight’s flustered response and surveyed the surroundings.
Ethan stood beside her, exchanging warm nods with the other soldiers.
“You’ve all worked hard through the night. Thank you for your efforts.”
As Ivanna’s gaze swept across the workers, it caught on one figure and lingered.
“Your hand appears injured—are you all right?”
A village resident was hauling piles of earth without Gloves, hands covered in cuts and abrasions.
“I—these are just minor scrapes! They’ll heal quickly!”
The worker bowed hastily at her attention, speaking in a rush.
“Aren’t there Gloves among the supplies?”
Ivanna turned to the knight overseeing the work.
“We didn’t anticipate this situation, so we weren’t prepared with those.”
“If people get injured, the repairs will fall behind.”
“We should have it finished by tomorrow.”
The knight smiled gently at Ivanna’s worried tone and answered reassuringly.
“I see. Please ensure anyone who’s injured receives proper treatment. And that tree looks unstable—it would be best to clear it away before anyone gets hurt.”
The knight nodded in understanding as she gestured toward the uprooted tree teetering precariously, then relayed her orders to the workers.
“Thank you for your efforts.”
Ivanna moved forward with deliberate composure, though she felt the weight of their gazes upon her back, and did not turn around.

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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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