Chapter 22
When Veto made a rare loud noise, Ariel eventually shut up.
Instead, she offered Pavelov something else.
“I’ll erase the name of the human you’re trying to save from Veto’s list.”
Pavelov, who had not been on good terms with Veto for a long time, regretted not being able to grasp his weakness.
But in the end, he got what he wanted, and Ariel didn’t blow away Pavelov’s weakness, so it was a great deal.
Except for Veto, of course.
“You son of a bitch.”
Veto was very angry, but what can he do?
“Then can I tell him what happened 197 years ago?”
Even if he refused, she’s ready to blow away all his secrets.
Her mouth…
It was really as light as a feather.
* * *
Having obtained what he wanted, Pavelov told her the medicinal herb in return.
“Hezio?”
“Yes, it is panacea which can cure any disease if you drink the decoction.”
“What, this herb has such an effect? Why don’t you publicize it so many can use it?”
“Because I want to hide it so no one can find it.”
“What? Why?”
Ariel asked absurdly.
“If it became known to the world that there was an herb with such an excellent effect, it would be dangerous.”
“What are you talking about? Didn’t you just hide it because you were afraid that your presence among humans would disappear?”
Ariel smiled and pointed, and Pavelov hardened his expression.
“That’s because you don’t know humans very well. Humans are a very greedy species. Even those humans who obtained Hezio a long time ago…”
Continuing his speech with a dark expression, he suddenly shook his head.
“No, there is no need to talk about this.”
“Don’t talk about it then.”
“Anyway, I will tell you where the herb is, so give her a decoction. In less than a day, the sickness will be cured.”
The location of the herb was no other than the west garden of the Imperial palace.
“What, they couldn’t find it even though they had it right in front of them?”
Ariel burst out laughing in amazement, and Veto said softly.
“They must have thought that since it is the place where the Emperor lives, it cannot be overturned.”
“Is that so?”
Ariel, who tilted her head, walked with her hands behind her back.
Then, with a swish, she turned her head and shouted at Veto.
“Why aren’t you going?”
“…Why should I go?”
“We have to lift a big rock. How can I lift it with my own strength?”
“So, I have to help you again?”
“That’s natural. You are now my subordinate…”
“I will decline. To be an underling of a kid who doesn’t even know how to use divine power, that’s unreasonable.”
Veto disappeared with a troubled expression.
It seemed that he was resentful of being treated as an errand boy in front of his nemesis, Pavelov.
But…
“Then 197 years ago…!”
“You really…!”
He had no choice but to reappear.
Ariel smiled and dragged Veto to the west garden.
In the farthest corner of the west garden was a large rock with letters engraved on it.
“This is the rock!”
Ariel, who had been jumping around, turned her head to Veto.
Then, messing up his hair, he stretched out his hand. The large rock floated in the air and was thrown a short distance from where it was.
“Is that enough now?”
Veto asked, wondering if it would be over this time.
But…
“What are you talking about? Go ahead and dig it up.”
“…What?”
“Isn’t it an herb that only grows deep in the ground?”
“So?”
“Then, should I dig up the dirt with my precious hands?”
Ariel shouted, holding out her chubby hand.
“Ha.”
Veto shook his head. It was truly an amazing series of events.
“What am I doing?”
After a brief lamentation, he reluctantly stretched out his hand.
Just when his divine power was about to dig into the well-trodden ground.
“What are you doing!”
“……?”
As Veto looked at her with puzzled eyes, Ariel roared and screamed.
“Why are you using your power? What if it damages the root!”
“…Don’t tell me.”
It can’t be.
Hopefully she won’t let him do chores like that.
Veto denied it, but what come eventually from Ariel’s mouth ended his thoughts.
“Be careful, dig it with your own hands!”
“……”
He really felt like crying.
* * *
In the end, Veto had no choice but to comply to Ariel’s request.
As he carefully dug up the soil with his large hands, a rooted herb appeared after a long time.
It was a strange herb with no leaves, only roots.
“Good job, Veto!”
Ariel, who solemnly congratulated Veto, hurriedly rushed to the bedroom of the Empress holding the Hezio.
The Emperor, who was sitting by the Empress’s bedside, greeted Ariel with a faint smile.
“My little lady, you look energetic today.”
His voice was kind, but his face was haggard.
It seemed that the Empress’ condition wasn’t showing any improvement, and he was very worried.
Even though she clearly knew that, Ariel laughed brightly and shouted.
“Yes, I went to the west garden.”
“Looks like you played in the dirt. There is dirt on your pretty dress.”
The Emperor brushed the dirt off Ariel’s dress.
It appeared to have been slightly soiled while running with the soiled herb in her hand.
Ariel, who had been looking down at the dress indifferently, nodded her head.
“Yeah, but I found this.”
“What is it?”
Ariel spread her palms out, and the Emperor stuck out his head.
That moment…
“This, this can’t be, no way!”
The doctor, who was next to him, jumped up.
* * *
The doctor could recognize it at a glance.
Herb that could only be seen in the wild, unknown herb that he had only heard about but never actually saw it.
The Emperor was also the same.
However, they weren’t sure if the efficacy was as written in the records.
However, he could not use an herb with only one root as an experiment.
At that time, the Empress made her decision.
“It’s a life that’s just around the corner anyway. I’ll just eat it.”
The Empress gasped for breath.
It sounded like a desperation, but the longing for life overflowed in her eyes.
The Empress gambled and drank a decoction of hezio.
As a result…
“Empress, this is a dream, you’re alive!”
It was a complete recovery.
As Pavelov said, the Empress got up from her bed before the day passed.
“Ah, I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve seen the Empress’ healthy face.”
The Emperor was in tears.
“Oh my God!”
“Are you all better now? You won’t die anymore? Aaaaaang!”
The twin princes, who were just too young, jumped into the arms of the Empress.
And Ariel…
“Bring the belof now! Top it with whipped cream! Bring me ten of it, no twenty!”
She ate as much belof as she wanted.
“Thank you for saving my mom, Ariel. It’s okay if you call me doggie!”
Although it was a little annoying that the second prince, Elvir, who was moved by the rare medicinal herb she brought, kept chasing after her.
Anyway, the whole Empire was in a festive mood.
Except for the Grand Duke of course.
The Emperor, who was able to save the Empress’s life thanks to Ariel, pushed for Ariel’s enlistment to his family even more aggressively.
“It’s a coincidence, Ariel’s credit for saving the Empress’s life is not small. In return, I want to give Ariel my last name.”
He just said that he would take her as his daughter.
The Grand Duke strongly protested and took Ariel back to the Grand Duchy.
The Emperor and Empress repeatedly asked to see Ariel, but they did not show a single strand of her hair.
Therefore, the conflict between the Emperor and the Grand Duke intensified.
“Where is the uncle who wants to kidnap his niece!”
The Grand Duke, outraged by the repeated kidnapping attempts, went to the Emperor and screamed.
“Isn’t the matter of adopting Ariel already over!”
“But the situation changed!”
The Emperor also shouted without losing.
“Right now, the two princes are also agreeing to Ariel’s adoption!”
In fact, it was only the second prince, Elvir, who fully agreed, but the Emperor continued to lie without changing his face.
The Grand Duke, who had no way of knowing that fact, frowned as if he was in trouble, then suddenly opened his mouth again.
“Does brother only have two children?”
“What?”
“How can you not ask the opinion of the Crown Prince, who is suffering at the border?”
For a moment, the Emperor closed his mouth tightly.
It was because it was obvious that if the Crown Prince found out about this, he would say something like this…
“At the border, there is no time to rest even for a minute due to the continuous wars, but everyone seems to have too much time.”
As the Emperor kept his mouth shut, the Empress stepped in.
“Doesn’t the Grand Duke know about it? How much I wanted to have a daughter. My wish was to have a daughter before I die.”
As the Empress raised her eyebrows, looking pitiful, the Grand Duke said dully.
“Can’t you give birth now?”
“How can I give birth to a child with such a weak body? Cough, cough.”
As soon as the Empress coughed, the Emperor shouted.
“Empress, are you okay?! Could it be that your disappointment at not being able to adopt Ariel as your princess made you sick again?”
They were a really good couple.
The Grand Duke twisted his mouth and laughed.
“How did your weak body be able to ride a horse?”
“…My, what horse do you think I was riding!”
The Empress urgently denied it.
But…
“I heard it directly from the ladies-in-waiting in the Empress’ palace. Please stop denying it, Your Majesty.”
In the end, the Empress also became a mute who had no choice but to keep her mouth shut.
“Let me be clear, Ariel is my daughter. She will never be the adopted daughter of the two of you.”
After resolutely declaring, the Grand Duke left the palace and climbed into the waiting carriage.
“Ren, summon the knights as soon as we return.”
“What’s the matter with the knights…”
“Are you asking because you don’t know? Since His Majesty might try kidnapping Ariel again, shouldn’t we choose Ariel’s escort?”
“Ah, yes…”
Ren, who nodded his head with a bewildered expression, cautiously opened his mouth.
“But, Your Highness. Can I ask you something?”
“What.”
“Why do you want to protect the Young Lady to the extent that you rebel against His Majesty?”
“What reason does a father needs to protect his daughter?”
“Ah yes, but…”
Ren scratched his cheek.
“Isn’t she a child you were forced to take in? If His Majesty wants her, you can just give it…”
Ren’s words didn’t go any further.
Because the Grand Duke glared at Ren with sad eyes.
“No, I just wondered if there was a need to argue with Your Majesty because of a daughter whom you got by chance…”
Ren, who muttered an excuse, asked again cautiously.
“Is there really no other reason?”
“…Reason, huh.”
The Grand Duke, who muttered quietly, spoke again after a while.
“Of course there is.”
“What is it?”
Ren asked, his eyes shining, and the Grand Duke let out a short sigh.
Then he slowly opened his mouth.
