The Poisonous Princess Who Successfully Infiltrated the Enemy as an Employee - 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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Episode 15.

‘What on earth is he doing here?’
I stared at Cain blankly.
If memory served, the Western Crown Prince Palace where Cain stayed was situated at the opposite end of this Eastern Villa.
It wasn’t the sort of distance one covered by chance or a passing whim.
He had come here deliberately to the villa’s garden…….
‘Did he come to see Varkan?’
I glanced toward the garden’s entrance. The Grand Duchy’s knights who had been standing guard moments before were nowhere to be seen.
If a guard change was coming, it seemed the Crown Prince had slipped in during the gap.
Regardless of the reason, I wasn’t pleased to find myself alone with the novel’s male protagonist at this particular moment.
I hid my discomfort and kept my gaze on Cain.
‘He doesn’t seem to know who I am yet.’
But as if mocking my very expectation, Cain placed a hand over his heart and spoke as though he’d been waiting for me.
“I had no intention of startling you. It is my honor to meet such a distinguished guest from Delmar. I am Cain Castillo, Crown Prince of Castillo.”
“…….”
He already knew who I was.
Which meant he’d approached me fully aware I was the mad princess from Delmar…….
‘But why?’
Questions piled up, but I feigned surprise, widening my eyes before clearing them away, and lightly gathered the hem of my dress.
“So you are the Crown Prince of Castillo.”
I bowed my head slightly as I spoke.
“I am Evelina Delmar, the sixth princess of the Kingdom of Delmar, and I am honored to meet you, the first pride of Castillo. Please forgive any rudeness on my part.”
At that, the warmth in Cain’s eyes deepened.
“Rudeness? Rather, I fear I startled you by appearing so abruptly.”
I nodded calmly.
“True enough.”
Cain laughed lightly. “I welcome you to Castillo, Princess.”
“Thank you for the welcome.”
The formal pleasantries concluded, and a brief silence fell between us. Then Cain spoke first.
“You seem quite knowledgeable about flowers and trees. I noticed when you recognized the plum blossoms.”
“…….”
An unexpected hit, but I showed no reaction and smoothly steered the conversation elsewhere with a composed expression.
“Given that these were brought directly from the Eastern Continent, it seems you must have a hobby for cultivating gardens.”
Cain then carefully caressed one of the crimson flowers blooming beside him and continued.
“Is it strange, then? That the Empire’s Crown Prince takes an interest in gardening?”
I shook my head.
“Not at all. It’s unexpected, perhaps, but not strange. In fact, I find it rather enviable.”
“So the Princess is free of prejudice.”
“I hear that often enough.”
Cain chuckled softly at my self-satisfied tone.
“Some would call the cultivation of a garden nothing more than a self-indulgent luxury, a mere desire for beauty. But to me, this garden is another empire entirely.”
“An empire?”
“Yes. Through this small ecosystem, I am learning the principles of life. It is quite pleasant to observe the living things here flourish in diverse ways, shaped by how I control and nurture them. It is also the means by which my efforts are validated—confirmation that my judgment and decisions have been sound.”
“…….”
He had just compared a garden to an empire?
Truly, a fitting sentiment for a future emperor, and fitting for the novel’s male protagonist as well.
Of course, that didn’t mean I shared his view.
To me, a garden was divided only into what was edible and what wasn’t.
Talk of empires and the principles of life held no relevance for me. I had no interest in such things.
And yet.
Why did his words provoke a sense of resistance in me?
‘Am I being oversensitive?’
It sounded like dialogue befitting a righteous and noble male protagonist, but at the same time, it felt less like an affection for the garden and more like an enjoyment of controlling and dominating it according to his whim.
Particularly, his eyes gazing upon the garden didn’t shine with wonder at the blooming of life, but something else entirely.
Irritated without reason, I tilted my head and spoke.
“An empire, you say. Now that I think of it, you may be right.”

Then she continued, watching the flower that Cain’s hand had touched.
“This beautiful garden, now complete, must have endured the same arduous process as the empire’s founding. So many branches must have been pruned away—those that deviated from the plan, or simply didn’t please the eye.”
This garden’s beauty had been built upon countless sacrifices. It truly resembled the empire’s founding in that respect.
At that, Cain’s fingertips stilled above the petals. I watched him and smiled harmlessly. Then, as if to encourage him, I clenched my fist and shook it in front of my eyes.
“In Your Highness’s words, comparing this small garden to the empire, I could truly sense a resolve never to forget such sacrifices! You are truly remarkable!”
My innocent encouragement caused Cain to shift his expression at once. A slightly awkward smile played at his lips.
“……That is one way to view it, I suppose.”
“Oh, of course, my interpretation may be wrong. It’s absurd for me to even attempt to fathom the Crown Prince’s deeper meaning.”
Then, as if revealing a great secret, I lowered my voice to a whisper.
“In truth, I’m not in a calm enough state of mind to deeply empathize with anyone’s philosophy or ideals.”
I finished speaking and giggled as if amused. Then Cain regarded me with a bewildered look.
He was probably seeing his first princess who confessed her own madness.
So what if my words offended him? All he could do was dismiss them as the ravings of a mad princess.
I found it uncomfortable to linger, so I stepped back and spoke.
“I’ve stolen far too much of Your Highness’s time. Thank you for such edifying words. I also enjoyed touring this lovely garden.”
“Princess.”
I sensed him trying to reach for me. I quickly bowed my head before opening my mouth.
“We shall meet at the midday meal. Farewell!”
“…….”
I turned and hurried out of the garden, bidding him well.
I felt that sticky gaze clinging to the back of my head, but so what.
I quickened my pace further.

***

At the same moment, in the antechamber of Varkan’s bedroom on the First Floor of the Villa.
From the moment he’d arrived at the palace and unpacked his belongings until now, Varkan had not lifted his hands from the documents for a single moment.
Even after he’d come down from his early audience with the emperor, it was the same. He might have stepped into his bedroom to rest his eyes briefly, but instead he chose to sit on the antechamber’s sofa and take up the documents again.
The spacious antechamber held luxurious furniture and ornaments prepared for receiving guests. Yet the atmosphere of the room was no different from a desolate military barracks.
On the antechamber’s table lay documents brought from the Grand Duchy, stacked in layers, and beside them, adjutant Roan was rapidly compiling and summarizing their contents.
“A report has come in from the Serilldino Territory regarding this quarter’s timber shipment—the quality falls far short of the billed price. Contact the merchants immediately and have them inspect the distribution routes, and bring me the delivery ledgers.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Determine whether it was altered during transport or if the quantities contracted were different to begin with. If someone tampered with it, have them arrested and brought up at once.”
“It shall be done.”
Varkan’s gaze moved to the next document.
“And……what has become of the illegal trafficking in Osnis Claws?”
At Varkan’s cool question, Roan, standing beside him, replied with a hardened expression, rifling through the documents.
“We have arrested and interrogated the intermediary merchants, but for two years since then, the trail has gone cold and we cannot find any trace. Because Beast Venom components command such high prices on the black market, it appears the upper echelon severed all connections and has gone deep into hiding.”
At Roan’s cautious reply, Varkan’s fingertips pressed slowly against the edge of the documents.
“The fact that materials from Beasts are being smuggled at cut prices directly impacts the Northern Region’s finances. Treat it as highest priority.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I shall bear it in mind.”
Only when the time for the midday meal drew near did he set down the documents he held.
Varkan leaned the back of his head against the sofa’s backrest.
Exhaling deeply, he pressed his weary brow with the tips of his fingers and sighed softly.
“……There is no end to it.”
Roan, watching that exhausted figure, spoke with a rueful expression.
“In the first place, the distribution of a territory’s budget and the management of goods flowing in and out have been, generation after generation, the domain of the Mistress of the Household of the Grand Duchy—matters of internal affairs. The seat of the Grand Duchess has been vacant for far too long.”
“…….”
The reality was as he said.
From the budgeting for the knights’ Beast suppression campaigns, to fierce resource coordination with merchants within the territory, to the management of the Grand Duchy’s internal staff and the vast circulation of Beast byproducts.
All of this was originally the domain that the Grand Duchess—she who oversaw the household management of the Northern Region—should have led.
Yet since Varkan had taken his place as the head of the household, he had borne alone both standing at the forefront of the severe Beast suppression campaigns and shouldering the Grand Duchy’s vast internal affairs.
Though Varkan applied superhuman endurance and ability to do his utmost, the sheer volume of Beast suppression alone that poured down daily left him wanting ten bodies to manage it all.
He faced clear limitations in perfectly closing off every minor financial leak within the Grand Duchy.
It was precisely for this reason that the Escar Grand Duchy needed a Grand Duchess—more steadfast than any other family could provide.
He hoped for a capable and wise consort to appear, one who would allow him to focus entirely on Beast suppression while firmly grasping and taking responsibility for the tangled household management of the territory.
But.
‘Ah…….’
Roan swallowed his sigh inwardly.
The person the emperor had placed in that position was a foreign princess.
Roan bit his lip, his heart sinking.
That was when it happened.
Knock, knock-knock, knock, knock—!
A bright, cheerful rapping echoed through the antechamber.
Varkan and Roan’s eyes turned toward the door.
And before either could ask who it was, a clear voice burst through without ceremony.
“Your Highness, it’s me! I thought it was time for lunch, so I came to fetch you!”
……
……
It was the princess.

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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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