Chapter 41: Chapter 41 - Princess’s Feeling ( Part 1 )
Early morning arrived in the Royal Academy ringing the bells.
The bright rays of sunshine filled the windows of the royal house, creating warm light inside the marble halls.
The servants delivered breakfasts to the students while the maids took care of cleaning, everything seemed to be fine and normal, but...
It seemed to be fine.
At least...
It should have been.
Jennie Queens straightened her cuffs and put the porcelain teacup in front of Princess Lilia KingHeart.
"Your morning tea."
The princess barely nodded.
"...Thank you."
Jennie blinked.
That was unusual.
As a rule, Lilia complained that the tea was too hot, asked for more honey, and forced her to sit beside her.
But today...
She was just staring into her teacup.
Distracted.
Jennie tilted her head.
"Princess?"
Lilia raised her eyes.
"Hm?"
"You have been looking at the cup of tea for three minutes."
"I have?"
"You were going to drink the spoon."
Lilia looked down.
Indeed...
She was holding a silver spoon instead of a teacup.
"...Oh."
She silently put the spoon on the table.
Jennie frowned.
Something was wrong with the princess.
And the behavior of the princess became even more strange during the next few days...
In the lesson of magical history...
Lilia was not paying attention to the professor.
She was just staring at Jennie.
During the lunch...
She had not eaten because she was watching Jennie folding the napkin.
During the swordsmanship practice...
She had hit empty air because Jennie smiled to another student.
Even the professor had noticed.
"Princess?"
"...Yes?"
"Your opponent is behind you."
"...Oh."
The training sword lightly tapped her shoulder.
"You are defeated again."
"...Again."
Jennie watched the practice from the sides, crossing her hands.
"...This is concerning."
Excalibur, lying quietly in her white hair as a dragon-shaped hairpin, talked to her.
"Master."
"What is it?"
"I think, that Princess Lilia is feeling some unfamiliar emotions."
Jennie nodded seriously.
"I knew it."
"...You do?"
"She is probably overworked."
Excalibur kept silent.
That...
Was not the answer it had expected.
That evening...
Jennie visited the herb garden of the academy.
She came back with several bunches of the herbs.
Lilia was confused.
"What are those?"
Jennie smiled confidently.
"This is your cure."
"Cure of what?"
"Of your mysterious illness."
"...Of my what?"
Jennie placed the herbs neatly on the table.
"According to one of the Martha’s books..."
"Chamomile can help you relax."
"Lavender will improve your sleep."
"And the mint will clear your mind."
Lilia looked confused.
"...Jennie."
"Yes?"
"I do not think I am ill."
Jennie checked Lilia’s forehead.
"...No fever."
And then she gently pressed her hand to her own forehead.
"...Normal."
She frowned.
"How mysterious."
Lilia did not know if she could laugh or cry.
The next morning...
Jennie made an enormous breakfast.
Bread.
Soup.
Fruits.
Eggs.
Tea.
Three kinds of the desserts.
Lilia blinked.
"...Why is there such an amount of the food?"
Jennie answered confidently.
"Sick people must eat."
"I am not sick."
"Denial is one of the symptoms."
"...Who told you that?"
"Martha."
"..."
Lilia understood the reason why all the palace maids were scared of the Head Maid.
Meanwhile...
The news about the strange behavior of the princess has spread in the academy.
The students whispered in the corridors.
"Did you notice something unusual about Princess Lilia?"
"She is always following Jennie."
"I saw how she waited in front of the library for an hour."
"They are always together."
"Well... Jennie is her attendant."
"...Still."
Unfortunately...
These rumors reached one very inappropriate person.
Princess Elena Valefor.
The foreign princess smiled knowing.
"Oh?"
"How interesting."
Later that day...
Jennie sat under the oak tree and read an old book about the ancient mana formations.
Peace.
Silence.
Perfect day.
Until...
"There you are."
Jennie looked up.
Lilia.
"...Princess?"
"I was looking for you everywhere."
Jennie closed her book.
"I was in the library."
"I know."
"Then why did you look for me everywhere?"
"..."
Lilia stopped for a second.
That...
Was a very good question.
She had passed the library.
Two times.
But not went in.
Jennie patted the grass beside her.
"Sit."
Lilia silently sat down.
Neither of them said anything for a while.
The wind brought the petals of the flowers into the academy’s gardens.
It was peacefully.
Comfortably.
Jennie smiled.
"I am glad you feel better."
Lilia blinked.
"...Better?"
"You have smiled more today."
Lilia unconsciously touched her face.
She had not noticed.
Just in that moment...
The familiar voice interrupted them.
"Lady Jennie!"
Sophia Everwinter came walking holding three big books.
"I finally find the manuscript about the ancient mana circulation."
Jennie’s eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Sophia nodded happily.
"The librarian gave me permission to borrow it."
Jennie immediately stood up.
"I wanted to read it for years."
The girls began to discuss the old theories.
Forgetting about everything else.
Lilia was silently watching.
One minute.
Then another one.
Slowly her cheeks puffed up.
"...Jennie."
"Hm?"
"You have been talking to Lady Sophia for five minutes."
Jennie looked confused.
"Yes?"
"...That is enough."
Sophia blinked.
"...Enough?"
Lilia calmly stood between them.
Smiling.
Very sweetly.
"I also want to study."
Jennie smiled warmly.
"Wonderful."
"The more people study together, the better."
Sophia nodded politely.
"I do not mind."
Lilia sat beside Jennie.
Very close.
So close that her shoulder touched hers.
Jennie did not pay attention to it.
But Sophia noticed.
She quietly smiled.
Very interesting.
Very interesting.
High above...
From the Divine Realm...
Miasa goddess ate the grapes while watching the whole scene.
"...Oh dear."
The other goddess looked over.
"What happened?"
Miasa quietly laughed.
"My little Sword King..."
"...is totally hopeless."
Back under the oak tree...
Jennie happily discussed the ancient mana theory.
Sophia listened admiringly.
Lilia listened to nothing.
Instead...
She quietly leant her head against Jennie’s shoulder.
Jennie paused and smiled.
"Still sleepy?"
"...Mm."
"You must go to sleep earlier."
"...Mm."
Jennie gently petted her head.
"I will prepare stronger chamomile tea tonight."
Lilia closed her eyes.
"...Okay."
Excalibur kept completely quiet.
After several minutes...
The legendary sword sighed.
"Master..."
"...there truly is no cure for your density."
