“Who would do such a—…”

Diana swallowed the rest of her words, but her anger was clear.

The headline of the newspaper Diana had thrown caught Ian’s eye as well.

“Bamun Fever Swallows the Kingdom—Suspected as the ‘Ops Tribe Disease’… Testimony from a Royal Official”

“There’s a rumor spreading in the capital that the disease is transmitted through contact with the Ops tribe,” Ian said.

“Who is spreading such ridiculous nonsense? Whoever is behind this deserves the harshest punishment!”

Diana spoke furiously.

***

Despite the royal family’s warnings that the instigator would be severely punished, the malicious rumor had spread like wildfire in just a few days.

Diana’s hand crumpled the newspaper in frustration.

In one corner of the paper, there was a follow-up interview with Diana and Ian from Naka.

“The Lovers of the Beautiful Kingdom, Journeying for the Reform of the Noble Law!”

“If only things would improve in proportion to my efforts…”

Her hard work felt utterly pointless.

“Will you be going to the research building again today?”

Ian asked calmly as Diana suffered in frustration.

“…I have to.”

“I don’t think your presence there will actually help.”

At those words, Diana, who was about to leave the office, stopped in her tracks.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Just what I said. Even if you go there, it won’t magically solve the problem.”

“Then what am I supposed to do? What can I do in this situation? What people need right now is a cure. Once we have a cure, the unrest and hatred threatening this country will stop.”

“I know you’re frustrated, but you’re neither a pharmacist nor a doctor, Your Highness. And do you really believe that? That everything will be solved just by developing a cure?”

“…”

Of course, Diana knew.

Even if a cure was developed and the current fever disappeared from these lands, the endless battles would not cease.

“But… Even so, I can’t just sit and watch. If I can’t solve the problem in front of me, how can I move on to the next one?”

Ian watched quietly as Diana stood gripping the office door handle, unable to step outside.

“Who said you should just sit and watch?”

“…”

“You have to solve it. In your own way.”

As if giving her strength, Ian pressed his hand over hers on the doorknob and pushed it open.

“In my own way…?”

Diana murmured, watching the door slowly open.

And just then, a large woman in a naval uniform was passing by in the hallway.

With her short, distinctive white hair—a trait of the Bliven family—it was unmistakable.

“…Colonel?”

“Are you headed to the pharmacy building?”

“…Lord Ian.”

Ian, who had asked again in a relaxed tone, looked meaningfully at Diana as she called his name.

“Catch her!”

“What?”

“Colonel Medenta! Catch her, quickly!”

Without understanding, Ian was pushed by Diana’s urgent gesture and dashed after Colonel Medenta, who was already walking away.

“Oh, aren’t you Lord Leheits?”

Medenta recognized Ian as he suddenly blocked her path.

“It’s nice to meet you, but… what’s going on?”

Medenta looked at Ian in confusion, but Ian was just as baffled.

“I have no idea.”

Just then, Diana came running up, breathless, calling for the colonel.

“Colonel Medenta…!”

“Princess Diana?”

“Colonel, please wait a moment!”

Medenta looked at the panting Diana in surprise, then quickly saluted her.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

“Likewise! I’m really glad to see you here, Colonel!”

“Oh… It’s a great honor for you to say that, Your Highness.”

Medenta seemed a bit flustered by the unexpectedly warm welcome.

“You know the south well, right, Colonel?”

“Of course. The navy mainly trains along the southern coast and southern seas, so I know the region inside out, Your Highness.”

At those words, Diana smiled more brightly than ever.

“Ah…”

Medenta was momentarily captivated by that smile.

“Colonel!”

“Yes, Your Highness…”

“This time, will you follow me instead of Louis?”

***

“I’d like to advise against it, since it’s a dangerous decision…”

Gilrod spoke with concern as Diana visited the pharmacy building.

“How did you persuade Her Majesty?”

“When I told her my decision, Her Majesty didn’t say a word. I can’t really say I persuaded her.”

Diana answered regretfully.

“I just hope she doesn’t resent me for being so willful.”

“Resent you? She said nothing because she knows she can’t keep you close, even though she wants to.”

Even when news spread that Diana would depart for the south with Colonel Medenta, the palace was quiet, not bustling as before.

In fact, it was somber and subdued.

Everyone understood the Queen’s feelings—she couldn’t stop her only daughter from walking straight into the heart of the epidemic.

“Her Majesty… pities you more than anyone for always rushing to the front lines in times of crisis, and she feels sorry for you for making such a decision.”

At those words, Diana smiled faintly. She knew her role.

A royal child who was not the crown princess was always a spare.

In times of crisis, the Queen and the crown prince could not be exposed to direct danger, so other royal children had to bear that risk.

And yet, they would eventually have to leave the kingdom.

“I’m not going because I was pushed into it. I chose this, too. Someone told me to solve it in my own way.”

Diana said this as she watched Ian, who was helping Ash load the necessary supplies.

Gilrod watched them and secretly smiled.

“Surprisingly, you two might work well together.”

He quietly muttered, then arranged the medicines so they could be loaded for the expedition.

“I didn’t expect Oron to provide Yuralis without any conditions. It’s a huge relief.”

“…Louis worked hard for it. He’s in Oron right now.”

“Siblings helping each other. It’s nice to see.”

Gilrod smiled kindly.

“But if we can’t solve this ourselves before Louis returns after winter, it’ll be hard to get Yuralis under such good terms again. We need to find a solution, Teacher.”

“If only there were a region in the kingdom as dry as Oron…”

As he said, Erden’s land and climate were far from dry.

The west boasted fertile soil and mild weather all year; the south, with its many islands, was hot and humid.

The east, where the capital was, was generally warm due to the western influence, but the northern influence brought heavy rain in summer and frequent snow and fog in winter.

The worst was the north.

In the north, summer monsoons brought torrential rains that could even break dams, and in winter, it snowed every other day.

Just then, Ash rushed into the lab.

“What is it? Don’t make such a fuss, just move things calmly.”

Gilrod scolded him.

“No, it’s just…”

Ash, sweating nervously, glanced at Ian, who had followed him in.

“I said I’d help—why are you so reluctant?”

Ian had a mischievous smile on his face.

“Don’t tease Ash. He’s very shy.”

“Tease? I’m hurt, Your Highness.”

Ian replied with a face that looked anything but hurt.

His playful gaze followed Ash persistently, making Ash sweat even more.

“What are we moving this time? Let’s go together.”

“N-no, it’s fine. I can manage alone.”

While Ash changed into boots, Ian looked around for suitable shoes to change into.

“There’s nothing as good as those boots you’re wearing. Are there any more?”

“Oh, these… I carry them with me separately…”

“Oh?”

“Don’t covet them, Lord Ian.”

Diana stopped Ian, who was eyeing them eagerly.

“Those boots are special to Ash. Isn’t that right, Ash?”

“You remembered, Your Highness… Even the nonsense I blurted out back then…”

“That was the day I realized how quick-witted Ash is.”

Back in Eodan Village, when the chief Harvey was eavesdropping, Ash had started talking about his boots.

“If it’s a gift from your mother, you should treasure it.”

With those words, Ian couldn’t bring himself to ask for them anymore and clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“….”

But just then, something flashed through Diana’s mind.

“Wait a moment!”

“Y-Your Highness?!”

Ash was completely flustered by Diana’s sudden action.

Just moments ago, the princess herself had told him to cherish his mother’s gift, and now she had suddenly taken the boots.

“The soil drains well there, doesn’t it?!”

And then, an inexplicable comment.

“Y-Your Highness… please give my boots back…”

But Diana handed the boots not to Ash, but to Gilrod.

Gilrod took the boots, bewildered.

Then, realization dawned on his face.

“That’s it. Your Highness is right!”

Gilrod spoke excitedly, clutching the boots.

“If we plant Yuralis in Eodan Village’s soil, it should work. That village’s soil drains better than anywhere else in this land!”

“Lord Ian, contact the chief of Eodan Village right away. See if we can get some of their soil.”

Seeing the two so excited, Ian smiled as if he understood.

“Of course. I’ll go right away.”

Behind the two, who were now embracing in joy, Ash was still suffering, as they wouldn’t return his boots.