There were a lot of things we could do. We did manual labor in Aightz Village in order to repay the elders for their goodwill, but the work to be done increased in the Bellang Barony every time we took a breath. It was to be expected as the Baron and his wife looked after the territory without rest.

Of course, the two of them rejected our assistance. They gasped saying that they could not have esteemed guests who have traveled so far to come to do petty work.

‘Please don’t worry about it, your highness. These are all tasks that can be easily completed with the people in the territory. Our desperate plea is for our VIP guests to relax during your time here.’

They said things like that to make us feel relieved. However……

‘My Lord and young Baroness. We have received news about the flu spreading throughout the Empire from the Imperial Capital and the west. Her Majesty has urgently dispatched physicians throughout the Empire. They should arrive in our territory next week.’

The Chief of Staff of the Lord’s Castle whispered in the dining room. The Bellang father and daughter duo’s faces turned grim.

The Imperial Crown Prince and I, who were seated by them, naturally heard what was said. I was taking a big bite of warm pain aux noix with lemon marmalade at that time. The rough bread had the unique bitter taste of rye bread. Breakfast in Juliette Palace with soft wheat bread and roquefort was great as well, but this kind of breakfast was also delicious. I was biting on one of the walnuts in the bread when the middle-aged man looked at me with an awkward look on his face.

My instincts were telling me something. ‘We finally get to work!’

“Yes, your Royal Highness. You can proceed that way. You have talent for this, your Royal Highness.”

Currently, in the Lord’s Castle’s small living room…

“……”

The crown prince’s face was extremely serious as he received the Baron’s guidance. He was generally always serious, but right now, he looked as if he would burn the knitting needle in his hand with his gaze. Christelle peeked at him before biting down on her lips and chuckling.

‘How long are your shoulders going to be dancing?’

“Dame Sarnez, I think you missed a stitch.”

“Ah, it ended up like this again.” She calmed herself and went back over the part Sir Johann pointed out.

It wasn’t shocking that Sir Johann, who had high dexterity, was great at knitting, but I had no idea that the main character, who claimed to have knitting experience, would do worse than the crown prince who was challenging knitting for the first time in his life.

I smiled and focused on what I was knitting. I had knitted a scarf before, so it was easy to recall how to knit. Eunseo had given up on knitting it and I watched Youtube videos to finish it. It wasn’t too bad.

“These are treasures knitted by the most esteemed individuals of the Empire, so I’m sure that the children and elderly residents of the territory will healthily get through the winter. I truly thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

The Baron put down his knitting and warmly commented. The vest that he knitted so quickly was colorful and cute. Benjamin, Ganael, and David were all focused on knitting as well. It was fun and felt like we opened a knitting room in the countryside.

-Crack, crack.

The sound of the firewood cracking was nice to hear as well. The divine beasts were stuck to the carpet like pancakes with the kitty, Coco.

Similar to how the Baron’s family struggled to get by, the territory had a lot of people in poverty. Most of them only had winter clothes and firewood thanks to the territory Lord’s support. The residents were also used to helping each other out. However, there were a few old and infirm residents who had to survive the next month on their own. The Baron’s family was making caps, gloves, and other things for these people.

Normally, they would be able to finish these things by the end of the month, but we were in a rush because the flu was raging up north. I was glad that we were able to help out.

“Is the flu very dangerous?” Christelle stopped fixing the missing nose and asked. I was curious about that as well.

‘Is it similar to the flu in our world?’

“It is not an issue for the healthy and weak, but it is critical for the old and weak. Those who frequently overwork easily catch it as well…… We need to be careful as we lose some residents to it every year,” Elody, who had been focused on knitting, explained in a quiet voice. She seemed quite shy, but she, as a respectful young Baroness, knew the situation in her future territory.

The flu here seemed similar to the flu I knew.

“I heard that Marquis Duhem is sick as well. I wonder if he caught the flu?” Ganael whispered to me. My jaw dropped.

‘Our national MC, crazy magic tool researcher, and talented mage is sick in bed? That is hard to believe.’

“Is he really sick?”

“I heard rumors about it in the Imperial Palace, your highness. He’s usually missing around this time of year and there are talks of him being in bed in his Lord’s Castle. I don’t know the details either, your highness.” Ganael’s eyebrows sulked as he whispered.

I suddenly recalled Captain Hervé Duhem’s comment. ‘My brother…… Will be staying in the Duhem March for a while.’

The words Empress Frédérique said in the tulip garden weighed on me as well. ‘Tsk. Is it already that time?’

Was she talking about when he is sick? Maybe that was the reason my instructor looked sad as well? I had no idea what was going on. He didn’t look that way, but he seemed to be the feeble type.

‘Maybe I should send a box of red ginger to the Duhem Estate soon…… Do they even have ginseng here?’

“My lord.” The Baron’s servant approached and bowed. I paid attention to what he said out of reflex. I was sure that it was more work.

“The madam wishes to take apart the old spinning wheels in the attic to make firewood.”

“That is a great idea. Go ahead.”

“However, she is lacking the necessary manpower to move them…… Which is why she is asking for your assistance, my lord.”

The Baron got up without any hesitation. But I was faster. Jump!

“I will go.”

“No, your highness. There is a lot of dust there, so I could not ask someone as noble as yourself to go.”

“I’m very strong. My windpipes are healthy as well.”

I smiled as I answered. I was weak compared to Christelle or the crown prince, but I was pretty strong with good stamina. Maybe I would struggle if it was a giant boulder, but a spinning wheel should be no issue. Furthermore, our knitting group needed a reliable leader.

I made eye contact with the crown prince, who did not seem happy about this. Christelle, who had used the perfect timing to stand up with me as well, handed her knitting materials toward the crown prince. The handsome man ended up scowling.

“I will help with outdoor activities. I don’t think I’m suited for knitting.” Her blue-gray eyes sparkled with overflowing desire.

Usually we should only be staying inside, but the Baron couldn’t deny what she said.

– Meeeeeow

Coco meowed loudly before yawning. Ganael rubbed his belly.

*

– Moooo

I heard a cow moo through the open window. I could smell the fodder through the rising dust.

“Yeah, just wait a bit. Big sis will remodel this to a new house!”

Christelle’s energetic voice followed. The children who went out to watch were laughing. The main character mentioned doing outside work, and she went out to help them fix up the barn for winter. I used her live broadcast as background music as I helped with different tasks. Lady Anne Bellang gasped after seeing that I came all the way up here, but she gave up after seeing my reinforcements.

– Kiiiiiii!

“Our Demy is a total angel.”

– Piiiiiii!

“Yes, thank you for coming to cheer us on as well.”

I petted Percy on my shoulder. Today’s MVP was definitely Demy. The other divine beasts were sleeping night and day as if they were newborns, but this guy pushed aside his desire to sleep to come with me. Then as soon as we entered the attic……

– Whimper

He scrunched his face and grew a bunch of vines.

– Crack, chop!

– Thud, chop!

He started breaking the pile of spinning wheels.

Just watching it felt so refreshing.

The flabbergasted servants bowed down and praised Demy while the lady was shocked and talked about how it was a miracle of the Almighty God. It was rare for a person outside the Imperial Palace to see a divine beast’s ability up close like this.

Anyway, everybody got off easy thanks to him.

“I will continue to serve you, Lord Demy. I will peel oranges to offer you until my fingertips turn yellow, my lord.”

– Kyuu.

The red panda triumphantly snorted. He seemed to have learned it from the crown prince. The servants bagged up the broken pieces of the spinning wheels and headed down while I swept the attic. Lady Bellang organized the other areas as she gasped in admiration.

“The divine beast-nim’s divine powers are truly admirable. Your highness, a royal priest is truly different to be able to tame such an existence.”

“Not at all. The little guys are just really good and help me out,” I answered.

What I said was 100 percent the truth, but she must have thought that I was being modest as she just elegantly smiled.

There was a peaceful silence for a while. I swept the places Percy pecked with his beak while Lady Bellang looked through the scattered piles of ancient texts and decorations. She seemed to be scoping through to see if there was anything she could sell.

– Pipo!

Percy suddenly started jumping up and down in front of a short skewer. I quickly squatted down to look at him.

“What is it? Did you get poked by that spinning needle? Are you bleeding? Do you suddenly feel sleepy? Oh, that’s not it. This is not that sharp.” I moved the needle away as I mumbled to myself.

Percy must have just gotten excited after seeing something sparkle in this pile of dust. It made sense since he stole crown prince Cédric’s insignia as well.

‘Did Sleeping Beauty get poked in a place like this? That must not have been easy.’

– Piiiiiiiiii!

However, the chimney bird pulled at my sleeve. He was saying that was not it. I took another look to see something rectangular covered in grey dust by the needle.

I calmly swept the top of it with the broom. It was an old notebook. Lady Bellang came over to read the title with me.

‘Knight Ingrid Bellang, Records of the Warring Era.’

……We looked at each other with wide eyes. ‘Are you going on the < Authentic Masterpieces > TV show now?’

*

Unfortunately, the TV show didn’t happen!

However, the notebook we found was clearly a rare item. The Baron who heard the news rushed up the stairs while the servants moving the spinning wheels left the room.

I awkwardly stood there sweeping the attic. ‘This looks serious. Is it okay for me to be here?’

“Should we go down as well?” I looked down at Demy and Percy and whispered. It was at that moment…

“Thank you very much, your highness and esteemed divine beast-nims. We were able to find a precious family heirloom thanks to your help.”

The Baron thanked us. My head and the broom shook at the same time.

“No, I’m sure you would have found it today even if we were not here.”

The couple gently smiled. I was just happy to see both of them happy.

‘Since it is a record of the Warring Era, is it like the War Diary of Yi Sun-sin? Ingrid Bellang must be the Baron’s ancestor?’

“This is my grandmother’s diary. I’ve been told since I was young that she left this behind, but I thought it was lost. But to think it was right under our noses……”

“That’s great.”

“She is the one who was given Julite’s headdress.”

My jaw dropped on its own. That was now my belonging. The Baron bitterly continued.

“My grandmother served as his Majesty, the late Emperor Romero’s coachwoman. She had his Majesty’s trust since before the war. I heard that she was friendly with Julite as well. Her and his Majesty’s relationship…… My grandmother watched it happen basically right next to the Chief of Staff.”

I gulped. Not only was this new information, it was a sensitive situation between the Empire and the Holy Kingdom, as well as an extremely secretive issue for the Imperial family. I had a question I really wanted to ask and my heart was beating wildly.

“Do you know why Julite betrayed him?” I couldn’t stop that question from bursting out. I was shocked at myself and almost broke the broom. The Baron’s eyes opened wide. “I’m sorry for suddenly asking such a difficult question.”

“It’s okay, your highness. I simply thought that you would know about it. However… I guess it is a difficult past to learn about if you are not the heir to the throne.”

“Yes, that is the case.”

I awkwardly nodded my head. He slowly broke the silence.

“Based on what I heard from my grandmother, Julite brought up her mother before she was killed by his Majesty’s sword.” The Baron’s gaze turned deep as if he was thinking about the distant past. I blankly stood there, listening to him.

Romero Claire Riester was attacked by the Holy Knights of the Holy Kingdom while waiting for his lover at the portal in the Emperor’s Palace. The Empire was strong enough to survive a sudden attack in its core area as well as the Emperor’s lunacy. Betrayal, embarrassment, anger, and sorrow… These emotions filled his mind as he declared war without any hesitation. He even gave an Imperial Decree that he would personally kill Julite and that nobody was to lay a finger on her. However, there was no order to capture her alive. He was concerned that she would receive the Imperial soldiers’ wrath while being dragged back.

The two of them finally ended up meeting in the middle of the battlefield. The Emperor’s golden hair looked orange as it was dyed in blood. His eyes that were as red as rubies were dyed black with death.

‘Why did you betray me?’ The young man only looked at one person in this time of despair.

‘I wanted to be accepted by my mother. As a result, I tricked the Emperor of the Empire. It was a plan long in the making and I made my moves stealthily. Everything was a lie from the beginning.’

‘…….’

‘So you, your Majesty…… I’ve never loved you.’ Julite cried and she smiled, although she looked as if she was about to break down. It was extremely beautiful to see, despite the situation.

But the Emperor’s holy sword, Durandal, roared in anger.

—
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