Standing in front of the emperor’s office, waiting for permission, the Marquis of Oleg glanced back at him with disbelief-filled eyes. Karnov Neustadter, who must be of the same age as his young daughter, had an expression of disinterest and indifference that was unbelievable in front of the emperor’s office.
“…You really want Lumen Vasilice?”
At the end of the war, the empire received two fiefdoms from the Noctis Elves. One is Linum Yushita, which cultivates high-grade flax, and the other is the Lumen Vasilice, a northern basin with rare white birds but no value as a fief.
The Marquis of Oleg thought that he would receive Lumen Vasilice, up until the moment when he was called before the emperor to be granted the estate.
“That’s right.”
When Karnov’s cool purple eyes glanced his way, his spine tingled and mouth dried up.
“…Is there any other reason for giving me Linum Yushita?”
“If there is, can you handle it?”
The Marquis of Oleg bit his lips.
Can you handle it?
If you are confident of paying back the debt to the next Duke of Sedvoyer, the second-in-command of the empire who wielded the Spirit of Death at the age of fifteen and won a great victory.
“I…”
“I was just saying it. Lumen Vasilice was chosen because it was the land that Her Highness wanted, so the marquis didn’t have to worry about it.”
“Her Highness… Her Highness? Her Highness Anastasia?”
“Yes.”
The Marquis of Oleg did not understand why the story of the young imperial princess suddenly came up at this time, but the emperor called in two people, so he could no longer continue the conversation. Karnov, who was ahead first, glanced back.
“I wish your child a speedy recovery.”
“…!”
The Marquis Oleg blinked and then sighed, wearing a bitter expression, as he followed Karnov inside.
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
“I also want to go outside the palace.”
“Your Highness?”
Lise, who was tidying up the bedding, opened her eyes wide at Asha, who was sitting by the window and playing with her fingers.
“Why all of a sudden?”
“I’m ten years old now, and I haven’t even been to the market once.”
She said as if visiting the street market was a duty for a ten-year-old. Lise smiled.
“If there is something you want, just ask the merchant to bring it to the palace.”
As Asha looked at Lise with a grim expression, Lise only then smiled bitterly and softened her eyes.
“Are you going to visit Baroness Saratov’s store?”
“It’s been a few days since the store opened. I want to see it, too.”
Baroness Saratov met Sophia and acted almost as if she were in love. Sophia had some difficulty controlling her strength when she first learned something, but after learning it properly, she controlled it accurately and perfectly like a machine.
The joint patisserie between Baroness Saratov and Asha would sell only one cake. Who else was more suitable for the store?
“But if you want to go outside, you have to get permission from the emperor…”
“If Alyosha allows it, it’ll be fine!”
“Did you tell His Highness already?”
“No, I’ll ask him now.”
Asha smiled and said, ‘Prepare my outing clothes,’ and headed to the room next to hers. And not long after, she returned with bewildered, gloomy, and perplexed face.
“Your Highness? What does His Highness say?”
“He suggested that we go see an opera next week.”
“An opera?”
“Yeah, and he also said we could stop by some shops while we’re out. He said it’s dangerous to go alone!”
Asha shouted in disbelief, but Lise’s expression showed that she had expected this reaction.
“Sure. It is a scary place outside the palace.”
“…Then I must go to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Even if Alyosha says no, all we need is permission from His Majesty. Isn’t that right?”
“But His Majesty probably won’t give permission… Besides, didn’t His Highness the Crown Prince say we should go after this week?”
“But! It’s already been a few days since it opened, and I want to go right away. But I’m not Alyosha, why wouldn’t His Majesty allow me?”
Asha smiled and walked confidently. Her confidence was well-founded.
The first thing she thought was that, unlike Alexei, she wasn’t the heir to the empire and held no important position, so she could leave the palace for a while.
The second reason was that although she was not heir, she thought that if he regarded her as his own, he would do her a favor to this extent.
However.
“Why… Why?”
“Why? In order for the carriages used by the imperial family to enter the city area of the people, all of their traffic must be controlled. Have you thought about how much it will bother the people?”
Emperor Mikhail replied without taking his eyes off the documents. Asha only pursed her lips, then squeezed her collar.
“It’s not like I’m going by carriage.”
“Then? Are you going to walk there?”
“I only have to take the carriage until I get out of the palace.”
“Do you mean walk outside?”
“Yes!”
“How much can you walk around with that small body?”
“I can walk from end to end of the capital!”
Only then did the emperor look up at her and snort.
“From end to end?”
“Sure. When I was with my parents, I couldn’t even see carriages. I always walked.”
“…”
Only then did the emperor stop the pen he had in his hand.
“So you just want to go see the market?”
Asha glanced up, then looked up at the wind tickling her forehead and opened her mouth honestly.
“I sold the recipe to Baroness Saratov a long time ago, didn’t I? It’s been a few days since the patisserie that sells the cakes made with that recipe opened.”
“Hmm. Did you say that Baroness Saratov was doing it? She must have done a good job. Even though she may appear irritable, she’s reliable when it comes to handling tasks.”
“I’m not doubting Baroness Saratov’s handling of the matter, but I want to see it.”
“…”
As the emperor seemed to be struggling a little, Asha quickly added.
“It’s not like I’m planning a royal outing. I’ll quietly sneak out, just to see the shops and come back.”
“What are you going to do if there’s an accident after going out like that?”
“There’s Alyosha.”
“Do you think your cousin can protect you anywhere?”
“No, that’s not what I meant… Alyosha is safe in the palace, so you don’t have to worry about your successor.”
At that moment, the pen holder the emperor was holding snapped in half. An attendant who had been standing at a distance rushed in with a look of astonishment, wiping the ink smeared from the emperor’s hand and removing the broken pen holder.
“Uh, Your Majesty… Grandpa, are you okay?”
“…If you want to look outside, you can go see it. Instead.”
Asha, who was about to be delighted by the sudden permission, paused and looked at the emperor.
“You’ll take an escort with you. It is a royal family, so it’s only appropriate.”
“Es…Escort?”
“One or two knights will suffice, so you can see and choose them yourself. If you do that, I will allow you.”
Asha looked at the emperor with only blinking eyes. The emperor remained silent, then waved his hand with an expression that seemed to contain his anger. It meant that all the business was over, and to leave.
