The Poisonous Princess Who Successfully Infiltrated the Enemy as an Employee - Chapter 27

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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 27.

Barcan’s eyes narrowed as he watched the Princess from behind.
Beneath the moonlight, she stood mysteriously, the Lake’s ethereal landscape framing her silhouette.
In truth, Barcan harbored suspicions about the Princess.
Though the degree of his doubt was not yet severe.
He merely kept her close, observing.
That was why he had come to the Lake with the Princess today.
If they remained where the Herb Shop was visible, she might attempt to go there.
But then—
“Thirty minutes ago, someone appeared at the Herb Shop and purchased an herb called Rumen.”
Thirty minutes ago, the Princess had been with Barcan. Moreover, in the middle of the Lake, where escape or taking a side path was impossible.
And that was only thirty minutes ago.
Since this morning, the Princess had remained within his sight the entire time.
Barcan pressed firmly against his throbbing temples.
‘That’s absurd. Impossible.’
It was strange enough that the Princess—the one who had bounded through the Snow Mountain in a blizzard and hung from windows scrubbing them—and the Herb Merchant, who was so versed in herbs and could detoxify poisons with ease, should overlap in his mind even for an instant.
‘Ridiculous.’
Simply because they had spoken similarly, to suspect based on a fleeting sense of deja vu—it was absurd.
He wondered if he too was beginning to lose his mind following the Princess, and the question troubled him deeply.
With a self-deprecating sigh, Barcan turned to Roan.
“Then. Did you confirm where that person lives?”
Roan’s expression stiffened visibly.
“We pursued him as soon as he left the shop, Your Highness. But he entered a forest northeast of the Capital, and vanished without a trace.”
……
A cold gleam passed through Barcan’s eyes.
“A trained knight lost him?”
“I beg your pardon, Your Highness.”
Barcan fixed his gaze on the Princess as he pressed further.
“You’re certain it was the same Herb Merchant from the shop?”
“According to the shop owner, yes. Though he wore a hood pulled low, the clothing, manner of speech, and build were identical. Most tellingly, he purchased the Rumen while referencing the events of that day, leaving no room for doubt.”
……
Roan bowed deeply again before his lord, whose thoughts had grown distant.
“This oversight in anticipation is my failure, Your Highness.”
Barcan withdrew his gaze from the Princess and shook his head calmly.
“It was unavoidable. I too did not foresee that the other party possessed such hidden skill. However, he may reappear, so continue to watch the shop.”
“Very good, Your Highness.”
“We return. Prepare the carriage.”
He had confirmed what needed confirming. There was no reason to linger here any longer, indulging in this meaningless Dating Game.
Barcan turned his steps toward the Princess, who stood in the distance watching the Lake’s surface shimmer beneath the moonlight.
It was time to leave.
Then it happened.
Whoooosh—! Crack! Bang!!
A tremendous explosion burst across the silent night sky above the Lake, scattering golden embers like flower petals, followed by a crimson cascade raining down like tears.
“Wow!”
The Princess gazed up at the night sky, exclaiming with childlike wonder.
The fireworks’ embers, pushing back the darkness and cascading down, bloomed anew within the blue depths of her eyes.
For a moment Barcan’s steps toward her faltered, and the Princess turned to face him, waving brightly.
“Your Highness! Look there! There are fireworks today too! They’re so beautiful! Come here, quickly! Let’s watch together! Hurry!”
……
After observing the Princess for a moment, Barcan spoke briefly to Roan, who remained behind him.
“……Stand by.”
With those words, Barcan moved toward the Princess. Roan bowed his head lightly, watching his lord’s back.
Barcan soon stood beside the Princess.
Looking up at Barcan beside her, the Princess chattered ceaselessly, while Barcan gazed at the night sky, quietly listening to her inconsequential words.
Roan watched the two of them in silence for a moment, then slowly turned away.
For even a mountain range that had endured the north wind alone for centuries would welcome the spring breeze.

***

The next morning.
I finished breakfast and made my way directly to the Imperial Princess Palace where Ellenor was staying.
As it happened, Ellenor was seated by the window, sipping tea.
Her expression was stolid as she regarded me, yet her crimson eyes danced with mischief.
“Welcome, my dear Princess.”
She was undoubtedly the most incorrigible Imperial Princess imaginable.
Ellenor seated me across from her and poured tea, displaying perfect composure even though she knew exactly why I had come—as though she hadn’t a care in the world.
Unable to contain myself any longer, I spoke first.
“That favor I asked for—did you succeed?”
At my question, Ellenor’s eyes crinkled in an almost melting smile.
“Not even time for a sip of tea?”
“Can’t you see my leg bouncing right now? Anyone would say I’m anything but composed.”
Aha, Ellenor burst into laughter. Then she glanced meaningfully at the Female Knight standing guard behind her.
“Bring it.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The Female Knight promptly set a paper envelope on the table.
I rushed to seize it and verify its contents.
Herbs and Rumen.
“Wow! You really pulled it off?!”
I glanced back and forth between Ellenor and the Female Knight in amazement. Ellenor nodded gracefully and replied with ease.
“I told you not to worry. My guard knight, for all appearances, is among the Imperial Palace’s most skilled warriors.”
As Ellenor gestured lightly, the knight who had been standing in the background slipped quietly from the chamber.
The door closed, leaving only Ellenor and me in the room.
I clutched the paper envelope tightly and spoke.
“Thank you. I really needed this.”
As I exhaled in relief, Ellenor narrowed her eyes and pressed me.
“What on earth is the story? Why are people chasing you?”
I cleared my throat softly.
“It’s not that they’re chasing me, exactly……”
“It’s not chasing, yet there were people lying in wait around that Herb Shop?”
“There were people lying in wait?”
Ellenor nodded.
“My guard had quite a time evading them. If you’d gone yourself, you’d have been caught on the spot.”
“……”
A certain figure came dimly to mind.
That masked knight.
‘Just as I thought……. She’s definitely looking for me.’
At Ellenor’s words, I lifted my shoulders with an unabashed expression.
“Who knows? Perhaps she fell for the sight of me grazing like some beast.”
Ellenor then shot me a look of exasperation.
“Fine. If you won’t tell me, don’t.”
Ellenor shook her head and I let out a quiet laugh.
It was yesterday.
Just before leaving the Imperial Princess Palace after lunch with Ellenor.
I had discreetly asked Ellenor to stop by the Herb Shop and purchase Rumen on my behalf.
Of course, it hadn’t been my initial plan.
We hadn’t built the kind of trust necessary for such a request.
Yet until the very last moment of our parting, Ellenor had shown genuine concern for me, offering earnest counsel to be wary of Desior Delkin, the Imperial Chancellor.
Perhaps that’s why I wanted to believe in her.
Above all, I needed Rumen, and I needed someone who could retrieve it while avoiding that masked knight.
I had broached my situation to Ellenor with some circumspection, braced for refusal, yet she had readily agreed to help without pressing me for details.
“But did the shop owner hand over the herbs without question?”
Ellenor set down her teacup and replied to my question.
“Apparently he kept repeating his thanks for having his life saved, and gave them over without the slightest suspicion.”
“……This old man, really.”
No matter that I’d appeared from the start with my face concealed, the fact that he handed them over without even proper verification was remarkable.
‘I realized his herb inventory was a mess from the beginning.’
Still, thanks to that carelessness of his, I’d managed to obtain the Rumen easily, so for now I’d call it the heavens taking my side.
I offered Ellenor a gentle smile.
“I’ll repay this kindness, I promise.”
“Kindness? Anyway, what are you planning to do with those herbs? Don’t tell me that’s another secret you can’t share?”
……
To Ellenor’s question, I answered once more with silence and a smile. Recognizing what my quiet refusal meant, Ellenor let out a soft sigh.
“Our mysterious friend certainly does have a lot of secrets.”
“Does that make you regret becoming friends with me?”
“Not at all.”
Ellenor gazed at me steadily, her smile faint and knowing.
“If anything, it makes me more curious — and more determined.”
“Determined?”
Ellenor rested her chin on her hand with elegant poise, her eyes fixed on mine.
“I’m going to make sure that one day, this aloof princess from an enemy nation will trust me completely and tell me everything of her own accord. That’s the kind of determination I’m talking about.”
I burst into laughter at her bold declaration.
Would such a day ever come for me, when everything about me is a lie?
And yet, even as I thought that, I felt a small, fragile hope flutter in my chest — that when and if the truth came to light, Ellenor wouldn’t hate me for it.
As I wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corners of my eyes while laughing, Ellenor suddenly seemed to remember something.
“Oh, on the Escar Grand Ducal House’s last day at the Imperial Palace, His Majesty has decided to hold a banquet.”
I blinked at her in surprise.
“All of a sudden?”
At that, Ellenor smiled wryly.
“Of course, his intentions won’t be pure or benevolent. You’ve already sensed that much, haven’t you?”
I nodded in agreement.
“……Is there really no possibility it could be well-intentioned? I’m already getting tired.”
“Unfortunately, no.”
“Ah, what a shame.”
As I groaned, Ellenor laughed softly.
“Every influential noble in the realm will be there.”
The Imperial Faction, the Nobility Faction, the Temple Faction — all of them.
I exhaled and let out a bitter chuckle.
“They’ll all come to see just how mad I am, and to witness what expression the Grand Duke will have when he must accept a mad princess as his wife.”
As I muttered this flatly, Ellenor fixed me with a serious gaze and spoke.
“Should I tell them you’re ill? I can help you avoid it.”
I could feel the genuine concern behind her words. Yet I slowly shook my head.
“……No. I won’t do that.”
“But……”
I smiled, eyes narrowed slightly, and replied.
“If I did, the Grand Duke would be left standing alone, and that would be too lonely.”
……
For some reason, in that moment,
I found myself thinking of Barcan — standing tall and solitary in the vast banquet hall, surrounded by countless eyes fixed upon him.
Of course, he would never be as pitiful as the Barcan I imagined.
At my answer, something in Ellenor’s eyes seemed to dim.
Without a word, Ellenor lifted her teacup, took a sip, and set it back down.
Then she looked at me and spoke.
“I’m just saying this because I want to be sure……”
Ellenor paused, choosing her words carefully, then continued.
“Don’t fall in love with the Grand Duke.”
“What? I— what do you mean, all of a sudden?”
Seeing my bewildered expression, Ellenor spoke with an even more hardened look.
“Because the Grand Duke already has a woman he loves.”

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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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