“Are you uncomfortable, Ariana?”

“No! I like Sister’s lap. Brother’s is too hard.”

Ariana buried her face in Adelia’s embrace and said.

Fortunately, reason and instinct had come to a smooth agreement.

— Your hair seems uncomfortable, Princess. May I tie it up for you?

It was closer to asking for permission than granting a wish, so Ariana agreed without any hesitation.

Adelia tapped her knee lightly. Telling her to come up quickly, and her eyelashes fluttered.

Ariana hesitated for a moment but eventually sat on Adelia’s knee, unable to resist her sparkling gaze.

Adelia tied her long hair into pigtails while they chatted about this and that.

The rising fragrance emanating from her and her fluffy hair was so lovely.

After tying her hair, she softly cajoled the child by poking her cheeks and sneakily hugging her to satisfy her own desires.

Ariana didn’t feel uncomfortable either and stayed seated willingly.

After being embraced by all those hard and big figures, being in Adelia’s soft embrace felt dreamy.

Adelia quickly scooped the princess into her embrace, her lips curled up greatly.

“I love this. Princess, will you come and play with me often?”

“I will. I want to play with Sister too.”

Watching them spend such a sweet time together, Lucian sighed softly.

The honey dripping from both of her eyes made him wonder if she was going to marry Ariana instead of him.

‘It’s not bad that they get along well… But it feels uneasy.’

Lucian silently drank his tea one after another.

He frowned slightly, feeling uncomfortable.

Seeing them so familiar, like they had been together for years, brought an indescribable feeling.

He interrupted their sweet conversation wrapped in a strange jealousy.

“When do you plan to tell her you’re a white mage?”

It was meant to bring Ariana out of their own world, which excluded him.

The effect wasn’t bad.

The gaze that had been on Ariana returned to him.

“Hmm. I suppose I should mention that story.”

Adelia pressed her lips tightly and thought carefully about what to say next.

She had already thought about this part.

“First of all, it should be the merchant guild master who is known as the white mage. Although that’s already a rumor.”

“Is it to increase the value of the guild?”

“That’s not it. The value of the guild is already high. I hope that white magic stones become commercialized within the empire. So that everyone from nobles to commoners can use them.”

White magic stones vary in power depending on their size, but even tiny fragments contain purifying power. If small pieces that have lower commercial value were sold cheaply or distributed for free, it would greatly improve the lives of imperial citizens.

“But if it becomes known that the Crown Princess is a white mage, the nobles won’t just sit back and watch the monopoly of the guild. They’ll try to push it as an imperial business by any means.”

“The nobles have the right to invest in imperial businesses, so they would all rush to invest.”

“That would be the least of our worries. If we sell it cheaply to the commoners or give it away for free, those who invested will claim they have some rights and will surely oppose it.”

Lucian nodded in agreement with Adelia’s words. If the nobles got involved in the white magic stone business, it was clear they would waste time arguing for their own benefit.

“Please cooperate so that the use of white magic stones becomes widespread, Your Highness.”

“Of course, if it’s commercialized within the empire.”

“That’s why we handed over the trading rights.”

Adelia shrugged. She was kind, but not merciful enough to extend her goodwill beyond the fence to foreigners.

Lucian, calculating how much they could get from neighboring countries with white magic stones, spoke up.

“We should write the detailed contract as soon as possible. There are too many fearless people climbing up.”

The slight relaxation at the corner of his mouth indicated a quite satisfying calculation result.

Adelia nodded. It was regrettable for the countries that would be heavily exploited by the empire, but what could she do? It was their problem.

Ariana, who had been quietly listening to the conversation while munching on bread, raised her head.

“Are you a mage, sister?”

It was the pure curiosity of a child who still didn’t know what a white mage was.

“I’m a bit of a special mage.”

Adelia smiled and gently poked the princess’s chubby cheek with her finger.

Then, a pure white butterfly emerged from that spot.

The radiant butterfly fluttered around in the air.

“Wow!”

The princess waved her plump, short hands. Her sparkling eyes were fixed on the butterfly.

The butterfly flirted around as if to touch, but not to touch, and then sat on her nose.

It fluttered its wings before disappearing with a light.

“It’s so pretty! It feels comforting… and it also gives a warm feeling.”

“It’s because it contains my magic power. I’m a white mage specializing in healing and defense. I’ll make an artifact for you later. Then you’ll always feel good. And it can protect you from danger too.”

Adelia patted the princess while saying this.

‘Should I make it a ring? Maybe she’s still uncomfortable with a ring. A necklace wouldn’t be bad either. A hairpin would also suit well.’

Imagining Ariana with various shapes of artifacts, the corners of her mouth naturally rose.

* * *

“See you later, sister…”

“Alright. Sleep well.”

It was time for the young child to take a nap. The princess covered her yawning mouth with her hands.

Even her mouth, seen through her small hands, was adorable.

Ariana, unable to overcome her sleepiness, rubbed her eyes and waved her hand.

“See you again, Princess.”

“Yawn… You too, sister… See you again.”

Adelia waved back with a pleased face.

The princess, staggering as she walked, eventually was carried out of the room in the arms of a maid.

As the door closed and she turned around, she felt a gaze on her.

Questioning red eyes were staring not at the door through which the princess had disappeared but directly at her.

“Why… are you looking at me like that?”

“It seems you quite like Ariana.”

He couldn’t help but question her blind affection for Ariana.

She wasn’t family, a friend, or a benefactor, but a complete stranger they met today.

Although she was a lovely and cute child, that couldn’t be the answer for blind affection.

After pondering for a while, Adelia showed sincerity instead of truth.

“Just liking such a cute and lovely child takes up all my time. Where would I find time to dislike her?”

She didn’t want to dislike her, nor did she plan to dislike her.

Adelia was convinced from their first meeting that she could only support whatever this lovely child did.

Thinking again made her smile naturally.

That response didn’t completely answer Lucian’s question. But the smile shown by Adelia was sincere. He felt relieved by that.

“I’m glad. Memories from childhood have a significant impact on one’s life. There’s no need for a close relationship. Just don’t approach her with impure intentions.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be so close that you’ll be jealous.”

Adelia raised her eyebrows and shrugged.

As much as he cherished Ariana, she also treasured Ariana. Far from harming, she planned to eliminate anyone who would hurt the child.

“I see. Do you like the room? It’s a guest room in my palace.”

“It’s nice. Spacious and has everything. This is enough.”

“You can stay here until before the wedding.”

The room, with an ensuite wardrobe, bathroom, and living room, was much better than the room she used in the count’s house.

The furniture was all top-grade, and she liked the calm atmosphere.

The best part was the large and wide window.

“Is there anywhere I shouldn’t go?”

“The Crown Princess can go anywhere. We will assign guards, so don’t get any funny ideas.”

Adelia pursed her lips at his firm words.

Humming and taking a pause, she took a deep breath and exhaled strongly.

“To watch over me and not to protect me. Why would a white mage need a guard.”

“Are you planning to roam around with just a maid?”

“Seeing you not deny it seems like it really is surveillance.”

Lucian turned his gaze away without saying anything.

His words made sense, even though his nonchalant attitude left her puzzled.

“If there are no guards, rumors will start. Please assign as few as possible. I can handle any danger on my own.”

“Think of it as mere formality. There’s nothing in the palace that can threaten a white mage.”

“That’s true.”

Adelia easily agreed.

There were very few elements that could threaten the life of a white mage.

“I wouldn’t eat ten times the lethal dose of poison, and unless all of humanity attacks me at once, I won’t die from shock. It’s possible if you stab me before I wrap myself in magic power. If humans are faster than magic power.”

Adelia folded her fingers one by one as she listed methods that could threaten her. All of them were methods that made no sense.

Listening quietly, Lucian tilted his head, finding it ridiculous.

“Where would you find a human faster than the speed of magic.”

“It’s impossible, isn’t it? There’s no way I’d reveal my weaknesses.”

Adelia answered confidently.

‘I’m not a fool to mention a truly dangerous method, am I?’

Neither poison nor force worked against a white mage. They could feel pain but wouldn’t sustain any injuries, and they could purify poison.

But poison made from a plant called the ‘flower of black magic,’ which couldn’t be purified, was an exception. It had been used to kill the villain in the original story, so its seeds had been eradicated early on.