The Munchkin Princess Wants to Run Away - Chapter 29

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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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“What method do you propose?”
“I know of a merchant guild that sells Water Purification Devices capable of obtaining cleaner water than most alternatives.”
Sedric’s eyebrows rose.
‘Is this connected to the Dandelion Merchant Guild?’
Sedric held back the refusal that threatened to escape his lips.
He needed to gather evidence—evidence of what relationship the Imperial Princess truly had with the guild, and whether the Dandelion Merchant Guild was genuinely involved in black-market dealings.
To do that, direct contact with the guild would be an excellent approach.
“A Water Purification Device? Could it be more convenient than inscribing Magic Circles directly?”
“Of course, a Purification Magic Circle is superior, but what this guild sells can provide high-quality water.”
Of course, if the Duke didn’t believe that, it would be useless. There was no method to prove the water was of superior quality.
People had merely tasted it and said it was far more delicious and energizing than any other water.
The device developed by the guild took pains to follow how Divine Power operated, unlike anything else.
Magic could purify it cleanly enough, but water purified through Divine Power would be something different.
So if possible, she wanted the Dandelion Merchant Guild’s Water Purification Device to outsell other guilds’ devices.
“Oh? A Circulation Magic Circle—that’s rather novel. Reducing the time water sits stagnant could certainly account for such claims.”
At Ivanna’s words, the Duke’s House mage showed interest.
“Yes. It appears the mages belonging to that guild developed it.”
When Elisa gathered mages, she imposed unusual conditions.
Freedom to conduct their desired experiments without restraint, and a commission paid from sales revenue.
Most turned away, doubting how much a small guild could possibly support them.
But adrift mages gradually gathered one by one, producing considerable results.
And after Elisa brought a remarkable mage from somewhere and placed him as overseer, the guild’s magical capacity became substantial.
“How intriguing. Won’t it take time to arrange delivery if we need to contact them?”
The Duke’s House mage expressed doubt, wondering if it could be managed given the urgency.
“I happened to anticipate we might need it, so I brought some along!”
She’d brought no fewer than five. She’d thought that even a small amount might be needed for water purification work.
Of course, when first told to bring Water Purification Devices along, Sola had wondered if such quantity was truly necessary. But when told you never knew what might happen, she’d quietly prepared a Lightweight Bag.
She hadn’t known the rain would fall so heavily, but regardless, it had turned out well. After all, a Water Purification Device couldn’t be spared when dealing with drought-related problems.
“Who has them?”
Sedric watched the Imperial Princess closely as she opened her mouth to speak, as if she’d been waiting for him to ask.
She was behaving like someone who’d anticipated such a situation.
Someone who’d known rain would fall, or who’d anticipated the Fiefdom’s water purification equipment would fail due to the drought.
Either way, she seemed far from ordinary.
“Please tell my attendant Sola to bring the Water Purification Devices.”
“Make haste.”
“Yes!”
Sedric, recalling the short-haired attendant who accompanied Ivanna, gave the order to a knight.
“I’m curious about this device. It’s the first I’ve heard of simply placing it on a Circulation Magic Circle.”
The Duke’s House mage turned to Ivanna with eager curiosity.
“I don’t understand the mechanics well myself. You’ll grasp it easily once you see it.”
She’d heard the operational principles and process explained multiple times, for hours at a stretch, and she knew them thoroughly.
But she couldn’t bring herself to explain it to this mage.
She had a distinct premonition she’d be trapped for hours just as long as when she was listening to the explanation.
* * *
“Splendid!”
Sola, who’d ridden urgently with the knight, installed the device atop the Circulation Magic Circle the mage had already inscribed, and the water slowly began to grow clear.
“Marvelous! By devising a simple circulation circuit, you’ve even reduced Mana consumption!”
Everyone merely nodded vaguely at the mage’s rapturous words.
They were already exhausted from the time the Circulation Magic Circle was first inscribed.
Moreover, when the Water Purification Device arrived, discussions multiplied as they reviewed concerns about whether it would function properly, so everyone simply accepted it.
“You said it was devised to improve the efficiency of Mana Stones…….”
Ivanna found herself speaking without thinking, then caught herself. The mage was looking at her with gleaming eyes.
“That’s all I’ll say.”
Heh heh heh. Laughing awkwardly, she quickly fled to Sedric’s side. Even this mage should know enough to fear the Duke.
The mage, who’d been following the Duchess with those wild, obsessed eyes, flinched back at the sight of the Duke, just as Ivanna had predicted.
“The purification speed is still slow, but the water is certainly becoming clean.”
“Since the water became corrupted in a short time, it takes time to circulate through the process.”
Sola answered respectfully on Ivanna’s behalf.
“Excellent. What is the price of the product?”
“Since it belongs to the Duchy’s fiefdom, I’ll give you a special discount.”
Ivanna’s eyes widened as she spoke. At last, she could recover some of the investment.
Elisa said she was making it for an uncertain future. Ivanna disliked that.
She didn’t want to waste someone else’s efforts just to hide her own Divine Power.
Since she had no intention of selling, there was almost no chance of recovering the investment.
“Twenty gold.”
“…….”
Silence fell over the Reservoir.
Had she quoted too high a price? That couldn’t be right.
Ivanna forced the corners of her mouth upward.
“It’s a special discount price.”
Since it was the occasion of the first sale, she wanted to give them the opportunity to purchase at a specially low price.
“The princess has never bought goods directly before, so she lacks an economic sense.”
“Hah. So that’s why you meant to let it go for such a pittance.”
As Sola opened her mouth with a gentle smile, the Baron cleared his throat and quickly chimed in.
When Ivanna rolled her eyes, Sedric fixed her with a steady gaze.
“Even the simplest magical item never sells for less than fifty gold.”
At Sedric’s words, Ivanna nodded while gauging his expression. She knew as much, but she’d wanted to curry favor with the Baron.
“Hah, I couldn’t possibly accept the Duchess’s goods at such a reduced price without shame.”
The Baron spoke with a laugh.
“Then as a gift…….”
Ivanna got no further than that before Sedric’s steady gaze left her no choice but to close her mouth.
So selling it cheap was out of the question, and a gift was forbidden—what did he want her to do?
“Baron, the cost of the goods will be processed through the Duke’s House. I’ll subsidize part of the sum.”
“Thank you!”
At Sedric’s words, the Baron quickly offered his gratitude.
“You will draw up the contract at the original price.”
“Yes. Don’t worry.”
At Sola’s cool gaze, Ivanna pouted slightly.
“I should be getting back now. My wife may be tired from me being away so long.”
Though the excuse was flimsy, Ivanna had no choice but to place her hand in Sedric’s as he extended it.
Still, she was pleased.
After the guild expanded and she’d handed everything over to Elisa to step back, this was the first time she’d felt like a proper merchant guild leader.
She’d brought the Water Purification Device thinking that after the drought eased, there would be many places needing to clean large quantities of water initially.
Even if it lost its usefulness later, she could pocket steady profits in the meantime.
She’d already completed free distribution to the Border region, so if word spread, buyers might line up.
Simply demonstrating the device’s performance to such a big player as the Duke had been a great gain.
“Leave all transaction matters to me from now on.”
“Pardon?”
The moment they boarded the carriage, Sedric spoke in a stern voice.
“I’d like to review the budget allotted as well, but I suppose that would be overstepping.”
“I don’t waste money on frivolous things. I don’t spend recklessly either.”
Ivanna let out a soft snort, bewildered by the exhaustion written across his face.
‘I almost blew it.’
Ivanna shot Sedric a sidelong glance. It was merely a shame to have missed an opportunity to win the Baron’s favor.
A person or two who held goodwill toward her should be secured beforehand—they might help when she needed to flee later.
Before leaving the Reservoir, she’d used her Divine Power without anyone noticing, so the water would purify faster than expected.
“I’m not doubting you, princess.”
That only made it worse. Anything further would sound like an excuse.
She chose to keep quiet. The Duke chose silence as well.
During the short ride to the Manor, a stifling silence filled the carriage.
‘I didn’t make such a grave mistake. Why does it feel like I’m being scolded?’
Ivanna felt deeply aggrieved, yet her lips kept wanting to curl upward. If the Duke weren’t in the carriage, she’d have stamped her feet and squealed.
Selling the Water Purification Device at fair market price!
It felt different from those childhood days when she’d sold water she’d purified herself. She had to forcibly suppress the smile threatening to bloom across her face.

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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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