Chapter 9
Afterward, Aitana walked straight into the army Edrion had prepared for her rescue and joined them.
The siblings wandered the continent for over five long years, preparing for the rebellion.
And finally, joining hands with the crown prince who had lain low and bided his time, they deposed the tyrant Lazer—that was the plot of the novel’s first part.
“I’ve heard the story. You caused trouble with the World Tree, didn’t you?”
“Well…”
Aitana’s stern voice shattered Lilith’s reverie.
The day before, the manager trio had seemed all too eager to run straight to the emperor and empress to tattle.
It wasn’t hard to imagine how much those faint-hearted ones, limited to the World Tree, had pestered Aitana all evening.
‘Don’t chicken out, Lilith. Stay sharp.’
A quick glance up showed Aitana’s expression was far from pleased.
Yes, this was the normal reaction.
They’d brought her in to care for the World Tree, and all she did was commit blasphemy? Anyone pleased by that would be insane.
‘If I were a commoner, I’d be a headless corpse by now.’
But she was a direct descendant of the Noella family, one of the four ducal houses upholding the empire.
Even the empress couldn’t chop off her head arbitrarily.
‘So, she’ll try to placate me first. Warn me not to commit blasphemy anymore and quietly smooth it over.’
To get banished from the capital, she needed to be firm herself.
Show that she was unswayable by any threats or coercion.
As a horticulture expert, she had to implant the impression that she’d repeat the same actions no matter what orders came from above.
“There were loud voices condemning your atrocities yesterday.”
“I’m aware.”
“Some even suggested banishing you from the palace forever.”
Faint-hearted trio, well done.
Under the table, Lilith thrust her thumb up vigorously while nodding calmly on the surface.
Aitana continued with her still stern face.
“You recklessly plucked the World Tree’s leaves, pruned its branches, and sprinkled unclean water not purified by divinity.”
“……”
“Why did you do it? You must have known this was blasphemy?”
The moment she’d been waiting for had arrived.
It was time to show that she was the stubborn, unyielding blockhead doctor who couldn’t be bent by money or power.
If lucky, a thoroughly fed-up Aitana might even devise a way to break the engagement herself.
There were things possible for royalty that nobles couldn’t do…
“Yes, I knew it was blasphemy. But I don’t regret my actions.”
“You don’t regret it?”
“His Majesty the Emperor appointed me, a horticulture expert, as the World Tree’s caretaker. So, I believed it was right to do my best within the knowledge I possess as an expert.”
“Even so, there are lines that must be observed.”
“How could I ignore a tree dying before my eyes? As a horticulturist, my pride and self-respect won’t allow it.”
Lilith could feel Aitana’s blazing gaze glaring at her fully.
Her heart pounded like it might burst, but she didn’t stop speaking.
“The World Tree’s leaves were yellowed and faded. Anyone could see it was severely parched. Moreover, its shape was such a mess that pruning a few branches wouldn’t even show.”
“……”
“I humbly submit that, in my eyes, it was the caretakers who neglected the World Tree’s condition who crossed the line.”
Having finished, Lilith bowed her head.
Knowing Aitana’s fiery temper, this silence felt ominously foreboding.
‘Why isn’t she saying anything? Why so quiet?’
Her heart felt like it would explode.
Regret for her last words came belatedly, but she had no choice—she needed to be strong to make sure Aitana got thoroughly sick of her.
“…So that’s how it is.”
Aitana slowly rolled the large gem ring on her finger.
Perhaps it was her imagination, but her breathing seemed a bit rougher too.
‘Why, why does this feel so ominous?’
No matter how she looked, Aitana’s actions resembled warm-up exercises before throwing a punch.
The more she observed, the more it clearly felt that way!
‘I think I’m totally screwed…’
Lilith’s large, bead-like eyes widened as she trembled inwardly in panic.
* * *
At the same moment, Aitana was lost in thought, staring intently at the girl before her whose eyes sparkled wide and round.
‘Intriguing.’
She had a fragile appearance, like a sugar doll that would shatter at a poke.
Cotton-soft, lovely pale pink hair and eyes as clear and transparent as a spring sky.
Cheeks flushed red and appetizing from inner tension despite her bold words.
She’d heard the girl turned eighteen this year, yet her height was so adorably petite that every action resembled a small, delicate rabbit.
‘I heard she was frail…’
The Akshard family, producers of four-star generals for generations, were all tall and robustly built.
Women were no exception, so Aitana’s height neared 180 centimeters.
In her eyes, Lilith was truly a living, breathing doll.
‘This tiny miss committed such an outrageous act.’
Recalling her conversation with Kairos, Aitana leisurely fingered her wedding ring.
‘The report was true. The World Tree has changed noticeably.’
‘Then, will you execute Lady Noella?’
‘Execute… No, hear me out to the end. Aitana, to me, that “excess” didn’t look so bad. This might sound odd, but it felt like the World Tree had regained some vitality.’
‘Have you met Edrion?’
‘Yes, and I heard what Lady Noella did to the World Tree.’
She’d plucked the golden leaves, calling them withered, pruned branches, and sprinkled unclean, unpurified water.
She’d even boldly declared to the other caretakers trying to stop her that she wasn’t afraid at all and was prepared to take responsibility for her actions.
‘What a talent.’
‘Kairos?’
‘No, never mind. Loyal subjects don’t appear that easily… Don’t worry about it and get more rest, Aitana.’
In truth, Aitana hadn’t believed it all.
It was reported by her idiot, fool of a brother, of all people—how could she trust that?
He must have embellished it favorably for his fiancée he couldn’t live without.
Kairos was an unparalleled sage king, and thus always thirsted for loyal talent.
Just days ago, hadn’t he flatly rejected the chancellor’s 150th resignation request on health grounds?
His creed was that loyal subjects should work like oxen for the people until they died.
‘Edrion knows Kairos’s personality better than anyone.’
And the caretakers were inherently timid, prone to inflating small matters, so she’d let it go in one ear and out the other.
But now, facing Lilith la Noella in person, she was convinced.
‘This child is the real deal.’
Despite her doll-like smallness and fragility, despite her face paling blue with fear under the empress’s authority, fidgeting her hands—
When speaking of the World Tree, she was as upright and bold as the ninety-year-old chancellor.
Unwilling to bend before the colossal sin of blasphemy, this child was truly a reliable talent.
“Hehe.”
At Aitana’s low chuckle as she rolled her ring, Lilith’s shoulders flinched stiffly.
That sight resembled a small, fluffy rabbit a bit…
‘Cute, perhaps.’
For some reason, she felt like smashing through a wall.
Composing her aching heart, Aitana finally spoke.
“My lady.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“What do you think I’ll say?”
“I don’t regret it, so I’m prepared to accept any punishment gladly.”
She seemed to truly mean it, as the girl’s clenched fists made her eyes sparkle like scattered star dust.
Thanks to that, the urge to smash a wall grew a little stronger.
“I won’t punish you. Instead—”
“……”
“Make the World Tree bloom. I have a feeling you can do it, my lady.”
“I’ll gladly accept the pun… Pardon?”
To the wide-eyed, blinking girl in surprise, Aitana extended a contract.
“The detailed terms are written here, so read and sign.”
“Wait, Your Majesty?”
“Once you’ve read it all, sign.”
Toward Lilith, who seemed so deeply moved that her voice choked and she couldn’t continue, Aitana handed over an ink-dipped pen with an exceedingly kind and warm gaze.
