How Can You Pay Back The Kindness I Raised With Obsession?

[Panping, Hazel! Hazel!]

 

Daisy’s breathless voice calling her first. Next, she heard footsteps running inside the cabin fence. Daisy and Lady, who returned two hours after going to the forest, put down what they were holding in their mouths on the kitchen floor and immediately ran to the water bowl and gulped down the water. What the two brought was a bunch of herbs with dirt clinging to the roots. Lady’s basket was filled with not only medicinal herbs but also various rare mushrooms.

 

“Thank you so much. I survived thanks to you.”

 

[A token of gratitude is high-quality homemade beef jerky.]

 

She smiled and took out a bunch of beef jerky, gave it to the two, and started preparing the herbs.

 

“Uh? I’m here? It’s a tickling solution? Thank you.”

 

Meanwhile, mountain birds big and small came to the kitchen window. She spread the word that birds would be given rice and sunflower seeds if they brought herbs, and the herbs were piled up on the window sill. It was because of the war that a huge herbal medicine supply chain was established a few days ago. As soon as she heard that the Grand Duke was about to go out with his knights and army, she devoted herself to making a potion all day long. Because it’s what she did best, and the only thing she could do in this war. Healing, stamina recovery, poison checking, etc. She made whatever magic potions she could find on the battlefield.

 

[Why are you making it so difficult?]

 

Lady asked as she watched him take out the hardened pills from the mold and pour them into a small glass bottle.

 

“The military uniform is heavy, so I’m going to lighten it up.”

 

The Lady nodded and placed the empty basket in his mouth.

 

[Let’s go, Daisy.]

 

“Are you okay? You must be tired…”

 

[I’m taking this opportunity to make him exercise. Look at that belly fat all over my body.]

 

[I like my belly fat fluffy.]

 

[Ugh, stop talking nonsense and run!]

 

“Thank you!”

 

As the two disappeared into the forest to pick herbs again, she returned to the Grand Duke’s residence carrying a wooden chest full of pill bottles. It was quite heavy, so she thought about renting a cart, but there was no need. A servant she met in the hallway gratefully lifted the box for her.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“I’m going to take it to the Knights’ depot.”

 

The logistics center was a place where supplies necessary for the military, such as rations and military equipment, were managed. The closer the knights’ building got, the louder the thunderous sound of horses’ hooves and the louder cheers. Everyone sounded more desperate and heavier than usual. War clouds hang over the Grand Duke’s residence. The dust has never been this thick in a training ground. She was about to walk around the training hall to the knights’ building on the other side, but she stopped the moment she heard the Grand Duke’s voice.

 

“Wake up! If this had been a real battle, we would have been killed in droves already!”

 

As if showing how serious this war was, the Grand Duke was so angry that he could not find his usual relaxed attitude. It had been three days since he had seen his face from afar. The Grand Duke lived in the training hall and office as he prepared to dispatch troops. And there are only two days left until the deadline for deployment. In two days they would not see the Grand Duke for a season at most.

 

‘In the long run…’

 

There was no guarantee as to what the war would be like. She hoped there would never be a time when she wouldn’t be able to see him again.

 

‘That won’t happen. The Grand Duke has the world’s greatest holy power.’

 

She tried to calm her anxiety like that, but it only made her more anxious. His holy power only works on monsters. It was useless to humans. Moreover, sacred power was useless because it had to be kept from being discovered. Even with his decisive weapon in hand, the Grand Duke had to fight against an army of monsters with his bare hands. In the end, it was a time when he was trying to shake off the ominous thoughts he had been worrying over and over again.

 

“Are you the Grand Duke’s nanny?”

 

A young woman’s voice was heard. When she turned around, she saw Princess Monette looking at her, standing with servants and guards. Of course, it wasn’t a welcoming look.

 

“Greetings Hazel, the Witch of the Black Forest, Princess Monette.”

 

She lifted the hem of her skirt and bowed in a ceremonial manner. After all, she was a commoner. The Monette family stayed in the annex of the mansion. Even though the distance was quite long, the Duchess and princess often visited the main house over the course of three days. Although they were refugees who had lost their homes, they did not break any rules or cause friction, so everyone treated them kindly. Of course, all workers were secretly uncomfortable. They seemed anxious that she might bump into the princess.

 

‘But it actually happened.’

 

Even so, the employees of the Grand Duke’s House passing by gave her worried looks. Some people stopped and were pacing around as if they wanted to save her from here, but it seemed like they couldn’t do anything because a high-ranking noble was holding her back.

 

‘I’ll take care of it.’

 

It was something she had to go through at least once anyway. She smiled at them and gestured for them to go on their way.

 

“It’s unexpected.”

 

The princess, standing under the parasol held by the maid, left her standing in the scorching sun for a long time before quietly speaking.

 

“I thought you were going to introduce yourself as the Grand Duke’s lover. It means you are aware of your position, right?”

 

“Because being a lover is not a title.”

 

“I feel relieved to know that you know so well. I hope you also understand that the position of His Highness the Grand Duke’s lover is too much for you.”

 

Clearly, that line had to be said arrogantly and rudely, but Princess Monette was trembling with fear as she spoke. It felt like he would faint if she took even one step closer to him, but it seemed pitiful that she was holding on so as not to lose her dignity.

 

‘But you’re not trying to frame me by fainting, are you? Then it gets in trouble.’

 

It was not the time to worry about others.

 

“How many years has it been since you caused His Majesty the Grand Duke to suffer a fatal scandal?”

 

“Ah, how many years have you been dating Your Highness?”

 

She was afraid that the princess and the dukedom would distort her words, so she answered loudly so that everyone passing by could hear. But for some reason, the princess’s expression became distorted as if she was about to cry. She’s not angry.

 

“Uh…”

 

She counted the years on her fingers and then answered.

 

“It’s been two years.”

 

“There hasn’t been a ring on your hand for two years.”

 

That’s because it’s a contract relationship. That’s something the princess shouldn’t know…

 

“Two years means she’s only been dating for a short time?”

 

The princess was visibly embarrassed by her answer. She didn’t seem to know what to say. It was only after the elderly maid standing behind her whispered that the princess began to speak.

 

“I understand very well that you are trying hard to deny reality.”

 

“Didn’t you say a little while ago that you felt relieved because I knew the reality well?”

 

“…Ah, anyway, you know best that His Highness has no intention of marrying you.”

 

A little while ago, he said to me, “I know well, I don’t know well, I know well.” I thought that someone who drank three bottles of soju would have more logic than a princess.

 

“Your Majesty needs our Monette family.”

 

“What? Isn’t it the opposite situation?”

 

The Monette family was seeking help from the Blaine family. What was she talking about? The princess’s forehead turned red all the way to the top and she was trembling. Like a tomato that would explode if you touch it. That’s true, but why was it like that?

 

“Miss Hazel, I’m talking about the distant future. I’m not as short-sighted as you.”

 

“Ah… Yes, haha.”

 

She understood without even saying a few words. Contrary to her good-natured appearance, Princess Monette was not a good person.

 

“I’m curious. What are your intentions when you entered the Grand Duke’s family and took His Highness’s heart?”

 

“There is no ulterior motive…”

 

“Do you really love Your Highness?”

 

“…”

 

This time, while she was caught off guard and unable to respond, her princess’s face became even more distorted.

 

“If I really love you, shouldn’t I let you go?”

 

“…”

 

“You are only ruining His Highness’s future.”

 

She started to get angry at those words. She was more serious about the future of the Grand Duke and the Chestnuts than anyone else. But why should she hear such criticism from someone who has nothing to do with the Grand Duchy? This relationship was fake. One day, when it’s all over, she would be able to marry the Grand Duke. When she first attended a ball with the Grand Duke, she confessed this to the princess, who wiped away tears as she looked at them. Perhaps, if her feelings had been the same then and now, she might have said these words to the princess and comforted her. But now this thought occurred to her.

 

‘Why should I do that?’

 

She was a member of the Grand Duke’s family, not the Duke’s. Moreover, the Grand Duke has no feelings for the Princess. But why should she be treated as a criminal who interfered with the princess’ unrequited love?

 

“Isn’t the biggest obstacle to your future now not me, but the war?”

 

As she got angry, she turned her arrow on Duke Monette again, and the princess lost her speech again and started shaking. She was again whispered to by the maid who was watching her.

 

“Are you criticizing me, who lost my home and family and had to flee empty-handed, and my family who risked their lives to protect the empire?”

 

The princess cried out, dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief. In her own way, she shouted for everyone to hear, but her voice was quiet, perhaps because she wasn’t used to it.

 

“Good job.”

 

A maid next to her encouraged her daughter in a low voice. She was shocked to see the princess acting like a puppet. In this case, wouldn’t talking to her maid save her precious time? She held back her anger and answered.

 

“Princess, that’s not what I meant. Not only His Highness the Grand Duke, but also the Duke of Monette and everyone participating in the war are staking their future on this war.”

 

In the midst of a war in which everyone’s fate was at stake, the princess seemed really leisurely, arguing with her imaginary lover. This was another reason why she was unusually angry at her all the way to the top.

 

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Translator Note: