Chapter 105

However, after seeing his thoughts, Siervian relaxed.

[Thoughts: Oh my, Your Highness. Shouldn’t you go to a better place like a tea house, instead of seeing Gentusha?]

It was clear that the aide was concerned about the relationship between them.

Perhaps he misunderstood that the princess herself was not interested in Gentusha. So, Siervian observed the Gentusha with even more enthusiasm.

The Gentusha, seen up close, had a towering back. It was so high that one could not climb it without a rope ladder that was always attached to its back. Its four legs were as thick and sturdy as Siervian and Prince Abrel’s thighs combined, and yet its feet were spread wide enough to walk easily even on sand.

“How can such a large creature exist?”

“Ah, there is a legend that says Gentusha were originally a monster that was tamed.”

“A monster?!”

Siervian had thought that monsters could not be raised as livestock and was shocked by the statement.

Prince Abrel had been staring at Siervian with round eyes and hastily blurted out his knowledge as if he was ready to reveal everything he knew.

“During the First Continental War, the great Agerios who founded the Western Empire personally tamed the monster Gentusha.”

The First Continental War was also the war that gave birth to the Elverdotte Empire in the North.

The continental factions, which fiercely fought at the time, entered into a truce, and as a result, the four most involved people in the war each established an empire in the East, West, South, and North.

Agerios was one of them and was a powerful merchant who founded the Western Empire, according to legend.

The Western Empire, unlike the Northern Empire which remained intact, was destroyed, so the depth of the legends was different.

“Wow…! Is that so?”

“Yes, ahem, it’s more like a legend, but all the kingdoms bordering the desert raise Gentusha. Also…”

Prince Abrel continued to explain the greatness of the Western Empire with enthusiasm. Then, the aide who had been uneasy behind him started to sweat.

[Thought: This is such a sensitive topic! Please, Your Highness, stop!]

Actually, the prince’s topic and word choice were not very appropriate diplomatically.

Of course, Siervian found the stories about the Western Empire described from a perspective that could not be seen in the empire very interesting, but it was not appropriate to talk about how great the fallen empire was in front of the surviving empire.

However, his aide couldn’t even breathe properly and was sweating profusely.

‘What should I do?’

She was trying to find a way to handle the situation in an adult-like manner when her gaze reached the grass the aide had been holding onto like a talisman since earlier.

“But what is that? Is it food for the Gentusha by any chance?”

Even if someone who didn’t know Gentusha came closer, they would be cute enough to blink their big eyes. They didn’t seem to be eating the grass.

Still pretending to be innocent and with a bright smile, she asked, and the aide showed her what he had in his hand.

“It’s Farim, Your Highness. As you know.”

“Farim? Is someone sick?” Worriedly asking, the aide denied the suspicion with a friendly smile.

Then, he handed the Farim he was holding to Prince Abrel and glared at him.

[Abrel Garambell]
Mood: Confused
Thoughts: Ah, father said it’s not good to say things like this, right!

Siervian pretended not to notice his thoughts and looked back at the Gentusha again.

As soon as Prince Abrel received the Farim, the Gentusha named Ksa pushed its head up, drooling from its mouth.

“Do they eat Farim?”

“Yes. It’s not the main food for Gentusha though, it’s like a snack. They will stay quiet and could be released after that.”

Despite the approaching huge Gentusha, which could easily swallow the prince in one bite, he managed to push the familiar face of Ksa away with a pat on the head.

The piece of Farim on the small boy’s hand disappeared into Ksa’s mouth in no time, in such a small amount that it seemed questionable if it even had a taste.

“Farim is a precious herb, so I can’t give too much of it.”

“That’s amazing……”

Siervian stepped back a bit, eyeing the sharp teeth inside the Gentusha’s mouth as it chewed the Farim.

She thought that perhaps it could be true that it was originally a monster.

[Abrel Garambell]
Thoughts: Gentusha looks amazing, but if she were to ask to ride it…

[Please stay still, Your Highness!]

Even as she read their windows, the prince and his aide communicated intensely through their eyes.

Even a minor issue could escalate into a conflict between the empire and the kingdom, given the difference in status.

Therefore, although Siervian was curious about the back of the Gentusha, she decided to not press the issue.

‘I do want to ride it, but…’

Above the Gentusha, there was a magnificent cushion. The soft cushions for the rider were embroidered with intricate patterns that could be seen from the city. The tops of the other Gentusha were adorned like a small tent, seeming to serve as a special saddle for royalty.

“What is the desert like? I’m curious,” she asked. But Siervian found a suitable topic of conversation and avoided insisting on a ride.

“Ah! With a Gentusha, you can easily withstand the desert. Their feet don’t sink in the sand, you know.”

“Ah, that’s why they’re so wide!”

“Yes, and the desert nights are very beautiful. Of course, if a storm blows, it can be quite difficult for a while.”

“Storm?” Siervian found it fascinating that storms could happen in the desert. It would be very different from the blizzards in the north.

Abrel blushed again and spoke urgently in a hushed voice, “If she’s scared, what should I do?”

[Abrel Garambell]
Thoughts: What if she gets scared?

“However, it’s not that common, and it’s not dangerous if you rely on Gentusha.”

At the prince’s sudden concerns, Siervian looked at him with a puzzled expression.

[Abrel Garambell]
Thoughts: Ugh, my heart!

‘Does his heart hurt?! Should I call the court doctor?’

Startled by the sudden status window, Siervian looked at Abrel with concern. However, he spoke very vigorously for someone who was supposedly in pain.

“Uh, w-well, of course it would have been easier to use the Mana Stone of Sand that Agerios used, but…”

“Mana Stone of Sand?”

“Yes! When it comes to Agerios’ sacred object, it’s the Mana Stone of Sand and the giant sword! The mana stone can be used as long as there is mana sensitivity, so if it was still there… no, that’s not what I meant to say…”

“It’s okay.”

[Abrel Garambell]
Mood: Wants to cry
Thoughts: I was about to talk about the Western Empire again!

After taking a deep breath and calming himself for a moment, he finally spoke to Siervian with a stern expression, “What I mean is… so, please come to Garambell later, Your Highness.”

‘Aha.’

When she questioned why he was so nervous, he seemed worried that Siervian would be frightened by the sandstorm and would say she didn’t want to visit Garambell.

His childish behavior was endearing, and she also wanted to go to Garambell to see the sea.

Siervian readily nodded her head and said, “Yes, I also want to see the sea.”

The prince’s face lit up brightly.

[Thoughts: You finally succeeded, Your Highness!]

The aide behind them wiped at his eyes, but Siervian didn’t notice as she was looking at the Gentusha.

In the afternoon, Prince Abrel escorted Siervian with a relieved expression on his face. He kindly escorted her to the place she was staying.

“Your Highness! Over here.”

“Marco!”

Marco was waiting with a carriage in front of the palace where Siervian was staying. It was an imperial-style carriage brought from the empire.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

There were no knights blocking their movement, as if they had already gained permission in advance.

Siervian, who was enjoying the view of the city as she rode in the carriage and toured the city, suddenly asked, “How was the mercenary guild? Is everything okay?”

“Yes. The person I hired as a proxy did the job very well. I think he’s a trustworthy person.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

There were limits to giving instructions through magic communication devices due to the physical distance, and since it was a place with a very different culture, Marco needed someone local to help him. So, he had to find someone to oversee the affairs on the western coast.

“He was very kind and hospitable to us, even though we arrived earlier than expected. His preparation was also impressive.” Marco kept complimenting the character of the proxy he had hired.

Siervian’s visit was also an opportunity to decide whether to continue employing this proxy or not.

“I’m looking forward to it!”

Thanks to Marco’s generous praise, Siervian also felt uplifted. If he was a really good person, he could be entrusted with this branch in the future as well.

“We’re almost there.”

Even in the city, as they entered the commercial district, a distinctly exotic atmosphere could be felt.

The strong sunlight of the western region seemed to have influenced the distance between buildings, as tapestries with intricate designs were hung above the spaces between them.

It gave the feeling that the ceiling was made of cloth, swaying gently in the wind. Among them, a building decorated in a neat manner stood out.

And on it was written in the common language of the continent, ‘Mana Fairy.’

“Welcome, Your Highness! We’ve been waiting for you!”

A person with a strong impression unique to the western coast ran out as soon as they arrived, jumping with joy with the utmost delight on his face, as if he had no time to even put on his shoes.

“Sir Palton! Thank you for your warm welcome!”

“Haha, Sir Marco. Your face seems to have become more refined since we last met. Was it the wind of Mosae that has gilded your face?”

He hugged Marco as if he was his own brother.

“It’s people like you, Sir Palton, who bring out the best in others.” Marco was clearly pleased with such a friendly attitude.

‘Ugh.’

However, Siervian had exited the carriage with great expectations and couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.

[Palton]
Occupation: Con artist (Lv. 76)
Mood: Extremely annoyed.

How dare a con artist enter her mercenary guild?