The Munchkin Princess Wants to Run Away - Chapter 35

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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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“You’ve startled easily at the sight of injured people since you were young, haven’t you? And how you’d weep, clutching at the sick.”
“Me?”
Yet Anthony was recounting memories that Ivanna herself could not recall.
“Yes. Before the handmaidens were dismissed, you suffered greatly each time a fever took hold.”
Anthony smiled warmly, noting that childhood memories often slip away.
Sedric, who had come into the bathroom under the pretense of washing away blood, immediately extended his hand.
Thump-thump.
His fist remained clenched, hidden from the princess’s view, but the wound cut deep enough to scar the bone.
The Low-grade Potion had been applied just enough to seal the surface, yet the blade mark bore no trace whatsoever.
Sedric gave a hollow laugh at his palm, cleanly healed.
“So it’s true—she does possess the Healing Authority.”
And the princess herself remains unaware of this. From the circumstances, it appeared that her healing only took effect through direct physical contact.
‘Any time someone falls ill, I must spirit the princess away at once.’
He could not allow situations where the injured needed treatment to arise in the first place.
If people touched by the princess recovered with remarkable speed, suspicion would inevitably grow—one by one, they would begin to question her abilities.
Someone might come to suspect what her mother had suspected in a heartbeat: that the princess possessed such a gift.
An ordinary person would have dismissed such talk as absurdity, yet he himself had moved out of nothing but unease, hadn’t he?
She had healed Mana Erosion Syndrome, an incurable affliction. Had she been in the Imperial Household, she would have accepted enormous donations while treating patients.
Though he could not discern the difference between Imperial Authority and the sacred power of priestesses, he could plainly see that the princess’s strength exceeded at least that of a high-ranking priestess.
“Still, I cannot lock her in her room.”
Sedric clicked his tongue lightly and undressed to maintain the facade of bathing. Cool water cascaded down his firm shoulders.
Splash.
The princess, too, was wary of him. If matters continued as they were, it would prove difficult to preemptively forestall situations where she might use her authority.
Moreover, to prevent the Imperial Household’s future interference, he needed to give the princess reason to remain at the Duke’s Territory.
As his mother had counseled, for now he would have no choice but to cooperate with her to a reasonable degree.
As he gathered his thoughts in silence, the sound of water never ceased in the bathroom.
* * *
“Do you have no duties today?”
The next morning, well past dawn, Ivanna asked cautiously, observing the Duke still present in the bedroom.
“No. Today is my day off.”
Ah. So that’s why he’d remained here all morning.
When she woke this morning and found him still asleep beside her, she thought her heart would stop.
A person occupied what ought to have been empty—a space beside her.
He had remained at his post, taking breakfast with her in the room and even reading the newspaper.
‘So he does have days off.’
Ivanna felt as though she’d been sitting on pins and needles all morning.
At least the preparations for the Welcome Reception for Count Labern’s wife were not yet complete, so she would soon need to head to the garden to see Katerina.
“Please rest comfortably. I’ll go meet with Katerina about the reception preparations.”
“Let’s go together.”
“Pardon?”
Ivanna blinked at the unexpected words.
“Why not rest on your day off, rather than work?”
Where had that impulse come from?
“I’m curious what conversation you have with my mother.”
At the slight crease of Sedric’s eyes, Ivanna froze.
He—he smiled?
When those ashen eyes, so cold they seemed to hold no warmth, broke into a smile, the entire room felt bright.
She knew he was handsome, but seeing him smile in reality carried an impact she hadn’t anticipated.
She’d been told that appearance isn’t everything.
Yet she couldn’t tear her gaze away, so Ivanna forced the corners of her mouth upward.
It felt like a trial had been sent down upon a priestess who had devoted herself to serving the divine.
If she continued to see such a smile, she might become enchanted and answer anything he asked.
“It’s only deciding on dishes and choosing the color of the fabric—little more. There are so many varieties that it will surely be tedious, and you’d certainly grow bored.”
After all, shouldn’t one use a rare day off productively?
“Such matters also aid in cultivating one’s judgment. Does my presence trouble you?”
A perfectly reasonable question.
Ivanna’s eyes grew distant as she found herself unable to answer in the affirmative.
This is a test.
He’d warned her not to misbehave—he meant to monitor her conversation with Katerina.
Otherwise, he could find no reason for this man to involve himself in women’s affairs.
“There’s no reason to refuse if Katerina says it’s all right.”
I had no choice but to use the former Duchess as an excuse.
“Ask your mother if it’s permissible for you to spend time with your wife.”
He sent someone to Katerina at once.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you proper attention after we arrived at the Duke’s Territory, but this works out well.”
“I’m really fine.”
We had agreed from the start not to draw each other’s attention—wasn’t that the whole point of our contract? So when Sedric spoke as though that arrangement had never existed, Ivanna regarded him with suspicion.
Had he discovered my plan to escape? But only Anthony and Sola knew of that.
Sola and Elisa were to work out the specific details and have me confirm them just before execution.
Besides, that was something to be carried out in the distant future.
I couldn’t flee immediately anyway.
While Ivanna deliberated, the attendant who had gone to Katerina returned swiftly.
“Lady Katerina asks if you might join her for tea time in the Glass Greenhouse.”
“Tell her I’ll be ready.”
The Glass Greenhouse.
There was no time to intervene in the swift decision of mother and son. Sedric’s instructions were carried out quickly.
“It’s good to see your face after so long. Ivanna. Did you rest well yesterday?”
Katerina glanced at her son and the Imperial Princess before turning her gaze to the latter.
She had heard that it was the Imperial Princess who discovered the injured servant, but she hadn’t known the girl’s heart was so tender.
Or perhaps there was another reason.
Watching how her son moved about the Imperial Princess, another reason seemed far more likely. Katerina’s smile deepened.
“Thanks to your kindness, I rested well.”
When I mentioned being too exhausted to move, the former Duchess sent over every sort of medicine.
Apart from my childhood, it had been a long time since anyone showed concern when I was unwell.
“So the rumors about your frail constitution were true.”
“It’s not quite that serious…”
It was an excuse to keep the Imperial bloodline members without power confined.
I fell ill occasionally, but it was never anything grave. If anything, I was troublesomely robust.
“This happened to me before as well, when I was in Count Labern’s Territory.”
“Dear me, I should have tonics prepared for you.”
When Sedric naturally mentioned the incident in Count Labern’s household, Katerina spoke in a sympathetic tone.
“It’s good to take care of your health while you’re young. Once you’re older, no amount of care comes easily.”
“Yes, I will.”
Unable to refuse her gentle words, I reluctantly nodded in agreement.
“We’ve already decided on most of what we need, so let’s simply enjoy our tea today without fuss.”
“But don’t we still need to choose more flowers and decorations?”
“One cannot force an ailing person to labor.”
At her words that I could rest for a few more days, I found myself turning back to Sedric without thinking.
He must have come to watch what I might do. Would he simply leave?
He didn’t seem the type to listen to women’s chatter with boredom.
“We’ll be holding a party soon for the new Duchess. I would be grateful if you could help us, as you did this time.”
“Pardon?”
I had expected him to excuse himself again, claiming to be busy, so I opened my eyes wide at this unexpected announcement.
“I’m perfectly content as things are.”
“Content? You’ve just visited the Duke’s Territory for the first time after marriage. This is only proper.”
If a party were held, it would be far removed from living quietly.
In truth, organizing a party for the Countess of Labern was something only Katerina could manage.
“Actually, the wedding celebration should have taken place before the Countess of Labern’s visit, and I apologize for that.”
“The Countess’s recovery is truly remarkable, so I understand! Why don’t we combine them—instead of holding separate events, we could incorporate the party into the schedule for the Countess?”
“That won’t do. We must prepare a party befitting our station properly.”
The Welcome Reception was to span three days of evening banquets, followed by a tea gathering the next day.
No guests from other houses were invited—it was solely a celebration for the Count and Countess.
“What Sedric says is right. We actually intended to prepare a party in advance, but circumstances have changed so suddenly.”
So there was no need for her to apologize to me, yet seeing Katerina’s downturned eyes, I found myself at a loss.
“Mother is correct.”
“But won’t you be returning to the Capital soon?”
I asked, gauging Sedric’s reaction.
According to the original schedule, we were to depart for the Capital immediately after the Countess’s visit to the Duke’s household. A party made no sense now.

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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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