Chapter 4: Little Sister, Want Some Candy?
Before Sugg could finish his sentimental lament, Erlya glared at him.
“Did you hear the Princess? Get lost!”
Sugg’s words caught in his throat. Seeing Erlya’s impatience, he stammered,
“Right, right, we’re going, we’re going…”
Under her murderous gaze, he and his men scurried away.
But as he left, he glanced back at Bai, noticing her expression had returned to its initial calmness.
Her dark eyes seemed to hold a hidden depth, a hint of something unsettling.
“That little girl… there’s something strange about her…”
After Sugg and his men left, the old coachman, recognizing Princess Lilia’s carriage, attempted to kneel, his old legs struggling.
“There’s no need for that, old man. Please rise,” Princess Lilia’s gentle voice came from within the carriage.
At the same time, Erlya, with a swift movement of her axe, prevented him from kneeling, offering a rather… forceful form of assistance.
“Y-yes, Your Highness…” The old coachman, facing the renowned Princess Lilia, was flustered.
“It’s safe now, old man. You can go,” Princess Lilia said, then added, “Erlra, give him some money, to compensate for what those men took.”
Erlra rummaged through her pockets, pulling out a handful of gold coins and tossing them into the coachman’s carriage.
“Here. This is for you.”
“Th-this is too much, Miss Maid…” the coachman stammered, his hands trembling as he looked at the pile of gold. He had never seen so much money, especially not his own.
Erlra’s eyes lit up. “You think I’m a maid too?”
“Yes…” The coachman, unsure what to say, simply nodded.
“Alright, here’s some more.” Erlra grinned, adding another handful of coins to the pile, then waved him away. “Go on, go on. Don’t worry about the little miss. We’ll take care of her.”
The old coachman hesitated, then, clutching the coins, looked at Bai apologetically.
“Little miss…”
“Don’t worry about me,” Bai said, her expression softening slightly as she met his gaze.
He was just an ordinary man, yet he had stood up for her when she seemed to be in danger. That was enough.
The coachman bowed deeply to the carriage, then turned and left.
However…
With everyone else gone, Erlya and Lilia turned their attention to Bai.
“Bai, a commoner of Coronna City, greets Your Highness,” Bai curtsied, the gesture slightly awkward.
“A commoner?” Erlya gripped her axe, her gaze fixed on Bai, scrutinizing her. “You claim to be a commoner?”
“Yes,” Bai replied calmly.
She had considered creating a false identity to enter the capital, but she couldn’t devise a perfect disguise.
It was better to be upfront about her deception, to claim to be a commoner.
It was a more effective disguise than an imperfect one.
“I don’t believe you’re a commoner…” Erlya’s instincts screamed danger. This little girl wasn’t as harmless as she seemed.
She had acted impulsively earlier, saving Bai without thinking.
But now, she had a feeling that even if she hadn’t intervened, Bai would have been fine.
What ordinary little girl would remain so calm after such an encounter?
As the tension escalated, Princess Lilia’s voice cut through the air.
“Erlra, relax.”
She turned slightly, looking at Bai from behind the veil, a smile in her voice.
“Such a cute little girl… let’s assume she’s a commoner. Offer her some sweets.”
“Thank you, but I’m fine, Your Highness,” Bai said, withdrawing the hand that had been reaching for her dagger.
Erlra also lowered her axe slightly, her gaze fixed on Bai’s hand until it relaxed, her suspicion lingering.
Bai hadn’t expected to completely conceal her true nature. She only needed to hide what she wanted to hide.
“What a well-behaved little girl, like a tiny adult,” Princess Lilia chuckled, then turned to Erlya. “Bring her inside. We can’t just leave her out here.”
“…Yes, Your Highness.” Erlra glared at Bai, then, shouldering her axe, walked towards the carriage.
Bai followed.
…
Inside the carriage, even Bai, who had seen much in her life, couldn’t help but gasp, her eyes wide with wonder.
The interior seemed much larger than it appeared from the outside, as if enhanced by some sort of enchantment.
The walls were adorned with intricate devices, some purely decorative, others emitting faint energy fluctuations, regulating the environment within.
Luxury items, prized by nobles, were scattered around casually, like trinkets.
Yet, despite the opulence, the carriage, like its owner, exuded an air of elegance and refinement.
Seeing Bai’s stunned expression, Lilia chuckled softly.
She sat at a small table in the center of the carriage, reclining on a chair adorned with unknown vines.
Although she looked frail and delicate, her every movement, her every smile, was captivatingly beautiful.
This wasn’t the first time Bai had seen Princess Lilia, the “Pearl of the Empire,” but she hadn’t paid much attention before, knowing only that she was renowned for her beauty.
Now, however, she saw a different side of the princess.
Her kindness and composure, her effortless grace, explained her popularity among the people.
“If you harm Her Highness, I swear, I will kill you, no matter the cost!” Erlya declared, her axe held menacingly, her gaze fixed on Bai.
“Erlra, don’t be so dramatic. It’s so boring,” Lilia chided, tapping Erlya’s axe playfully.
She looked at Bai, her eyes twinkling. “Such a pretty little girl. You can’t be a bad person… what’s your name, little sister?”
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