The table was lavish for commoners but quite modest for royalty. Doodle felt anxious, worried that those who had prepared the meal might face reprimand. However,

“Wow! Lianne, did you actually make bread with carrots? The bread smells like carrots.”

Princess Stella, instead of getting angry, sat at the table with a face full of anticipation, smiling brightly.

Holding the slightly orange-tinted bread up to her nose and sniffing it happily, she looked as innocent as an ordinary girl.

The others, familiar with this sight, placed sauces and soups closer to the princess with warm smiles, the kind you would give to family rather than a difficult master.

“Doodle, you did well too. It must have been overwhelming on your first day, but you did great.”

Stella’s gaze moved to Doodle, who was staring at her in a daze, as she smiled at her subordinates.

“No, not at all. I never imagined we’d all be together like this.”

When he first saw the barren garden with nothing planted, he honestly felt overwhelmed. But thinking about the many opportunities he now had to showcase his abilities made his heart race.

His resolve to perform excellently and ensure they had no choice but to keep contracting him quickly dissipated like dust shortly after starting work.

It wasn’t just that the staff of Verdura Castle all came together to help; even the princess herself took up a pickaxe and participated in the fieldwork.

Doodle, who had been prepared to work under the scrutinizing eyes of observant and judgmental people, realized he was wrong when he saw everyone busy with their own tasks, paying him no mind.

What they needed was not just a simple worker but a companion to cultivate the land with them. From his first day at Verdura, Doodle liked this place.

Of course, it wasn’t just because of the delicious bread that was good enough to make his eyes widen.

***

The afternoon sunlight, slightly softened, poured into the study, leaving behind the chill that couldn’t pass through the glass.

The waxed floor gleamed like glass under the sunlight. Thanks to the high ceiling that opened up to the third floor, Ian’s study seemed much larger than its actual area, exuding a profound atmosphere.

Due to the sunlight pouring in from behind him, parts of his brown hair shone like golden threads.

“Is this all you found out?”

Ian asked, looking at the subordinate standing in front of the desk with hands clasped like a guilty person. His voice was clearly disapproving.

“I apologize.”

At the subordinate’s apologetic words, a wrinkle appeared and then disappeared on Ian’s smooth forehead. However, despite his furrowed brows, his bright blue eyes sparkled with a lively glint, as if he was thoroughly amused.

“So she’s actually a princess.”

Ian tossed the document he was holding onto the desk. The few lines written on the paper made a sound as it landed on the wooden desk, causing the subordinate’s shoulders to flinch and then quickly relax.

Ian didn’t shout or get angry. But he wasn’t particularly kind either. He simply disliked unnecessary yelling.

No wonder her eyes and demeanor didn’t seem like those of an ordinary commoner. He had thought she might be the daughter of a fallen noble hiding her identity to do business.

“Why would someone as high as a princess be selling carrots in the market?”

His gaze remained fixed on Stella’s name written on the document, unable to look away.

Initially, he was interested in the agricultural products they brought. If the quality was excellent, monopolizing them would surely be profitable.

If they could satisfy the picky noble patrons, the carrots wouldn’t just be carrots.

But now, he was more intrigued by the woman with the bright, sparkling eyes than the carrots. With a newfound interest, Ian’s lips curled into a soft smile.

***

The voice that hadn’t been heard for a while was now constantly whispering. No matter how hard he tried to ignore it, the small figure flitting back and forth was incredibly distracting.

Though he no longer felt the anxiety of not knowing its identity, it was still bothersome.

“What’s your name? Stella seems to call you Roy, is that right?”

The one visiting today, instead of the bright-eyed fellow from last time, had plump cheeks and a round belly. If flicked with a finger, it looked like it would roll all the way to the edge of the desk.

Since it kept pestering him with questions and he pretended not to hear, it sat right under his face, propping its chin up and staring intently.

If it were hideous, he would have swatted it away, but the white, soft creature was too…

“Hey? Is it Roy?”

Cute.

Kai sighed lightly and extended his hand in front of Ark. The round creature giggled and climbed onto his hand, starting to crawl up his arm with little grunts.

The creature’s movements tickled his forearm, making the corners of his mouth twitch upwards.

“Harman, could you bring me the documents on the habitat of the monsters?”

He figured he should send it away with a firm warning, as it seemed it would continue to be a nuisance if he didn’t respond.

Harman wouldn’t be able to see this creature, so he couldn’t speak to the earth fairy in front of him. He couldn’t add to the worries of an old man who fretted over nonexistent concerns.

“Your Majesty, you’re not planning to personally go and deal with the monsters, are you?”

As expected, Harman quickly found a new worry, further deepening the creases on his already wrinkled face.

“I just want to compare it with this year’s. You can bring it yourself as exercise.”

Harman didn’t like the order to go himself, but he felt greatly relieved knowing that Kai wouldn’t be going out to catch monsters personally, so he left the room.

Finally alone in the office, Kai gently grasped the creature that had climbed up to his forearm with his other hand.

Startled by the sudden grip, the creature let out a small “Oops!”

Kai placed Ark back on the desk and asked with a serious expression, “Why do you keep coming to see me?”

“Well, it’s because Stella told me to look after you.”

“Stella did? Why?”

For a moment, he wondered if she was using these little creatures to spy on him.

Did she know his true identity all along?

“She said if you looked pitiful or weren’t eating, I should bring you something to eat.”

“Hah. Who’s pitiful?”

“Oh, right. Stella told me not to say you’re pitiful in front of you.”

“Why?”

“Stella said that if you call a fool a fool, they get angry, and if you call a pitiful person pitiful, they get angry too. I thought it was a lie, but it’s true. Why are you getting angry?”

Ark shook his head as if he couldn’t understand. It wasn’t worth listening to any more.

“Just go back now.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“It’s too far.”

“How did you get here?”

“Rode a pigeon.”

“Then ride a pigeon back.”

“Dummy, pigeons sleep at night! Oh! Do you get mad if I call you a dummy? Then you really are a dummy.”

Ark asked with a serious face. He didn’t forget to mutter that if you’re pitiful and a dummy, you’re really pitiful.

“I’ll take you. Let’s go.”

“Can you fly like a pigeon?”

Ark asked with wide eyes. Kai genuinely wanted to ask, Are you the dummy here?

But he couldn’t bring himself to ask, fearing the round creature would get fiery mad.

***

Stella went outside, intending to take a walk and water the Wisdom Herb. Wisdom Herb was the name of the seeds that the fairies had brought.

Esta, who had learned the name from Uhu, proudly informed her. It was said to have excellent effects on wounds, and she was very curious about what it would look like when fully grown.

Hearing about watering, Esta decided to tag along. Iver had gone to bed early, and Oton said she would guard the pickaxe, but judging by her expression, she simply seemed too lazy to come out.

“Does Wisdom Herb need to be watered only at night?”

“Not really. You can water it during the day, but it’s best to do it at night until it sprouts. After that, it’s fine.”

“I see. Have you ever grown it, Esta?”

“Several times. The ointment made from Wisdom Herb fruit works well on wounds. It’s effective.”

“It’s a precious herb. We must take good care of it.”

Stella felt that this could be as profitable as the carrots. She thought she could buy a street vendor’s license to sell herbs through the Moonlight Guild, just like last time.

While they chatted, they arrived at the place where Wisdom Herb had been planted.

Noticing something, Esta ran to the middle of the field.

“Stella, it’s already sprouted! We don’t need to water it at night anymore.”

“Wow, you’re right. Ark is truly amazing.”

Since Ark’s power played a big role in sprouting it, Stella was once again impressed by the earth fairy’s power whenever she witnessed such miraculous situations.

“Stella!”

While Stella and Esta were marveling at the sprouted ground, they heard Ark’s voice.

They lifted their heads and turned toward the sound, but it wasn’t Ark they saw; it was Royce riding towards them.

“Huh? Where’s Ark?”

Not seeing the owner of the voice, Esta squinted and peered into the darkness.

As Stella walked toward the entrance, Royce got closer to Verdura Castle’s entrance.

“Oh? There’s Ark coming along too.”

It was hard to see in the dark, but following Esta’s words, they noticed Ark sitting on Royce’s shoulder. Ark was clutching Royce’s hair tightly to avoid falling off.

“This little one was in my room, so I brought him.”

Royce dismounted from Ben and handed Ark, who had been on his shoulder, to Stella. To others, it would have seemed like they were pretending to hand over something invisible.

“Thanks for bringing him.”

“Well, I’ll be on my way then.”

Royce had many questions he wanted to ask Stella, but he hesitated, fearing that getting involved with her would complicate even simple matters.

—

T/N: I researched about the term “Wisdom Herb”, but couldn’t find context anywhere. I will just assume that this is a fictional word for the medicial herb that’s being referred to in the novel.