“It’s time for the Kua Clan to change. And now that we’re right at death’s door, I am certain it was fate that had blessed us with the Princess.” Everyone’s eyes gathered around me at the chief’s words.
The pressure was incredible when all eyes turned onto me. Wolf’s gentle and reassuring hands supported my body when I fell back a few steps due to the scene.
That’s right, I’m not alone in this.
“Your Highness, could you please step forward?” The chief signalled my cue. I took a brief pause for some air before sauntering up the stage.
I stood next to him and turned to face the people. All I could see was a sea of gazes. My heart was bouncing so hard I felt like it could’ve jumped out of my mouth.
“Chief! You’re not gonna do what Young Master Wolf was sayin’, are ya?!”
“What Young Master said…? Is it that? Is he really bringing her into the clan?”
Gossip spread like wildfire after the chief called for me.
Back when we first arrived here, Wolf boldly declared that I would be the clan’s new master, but he was outright brushed off and ignored. It seemed like some ridiculous delusion back then.
But at this moment, those bold words he said that day were beginning to come true.
The chief didn’t answer their question right away.
“It was only for a short time, but what does everyone think of Her Highness now that you’ve lived together with her?”
The people looked at each other.
“What do we think…? Well, I think she’s a very good person.”
“She’s more open-hearted than any noble or merchant’s daughter would ever be, a truly kind young miss. But I don’t see how this matter and that has anything to do with each other.”
Got to say I’m surprisingly popular, but this isn’t the time to celebrate.
Even if they liked me, accepting me as their master was another story entirely.
The chief, on the other hand, didn’t rush the matter and calmly progressed the conversation.
“Is that all?”
“She’s very knowledgeable too! She made a dish that I’ve never seen before, and it was hella delicious!”
“Oh it’s that dish we had, right? Kuhree, was it? It was real good.”
“It’s curry.” Rolf corrected the man who was now fumbling over his words with amazement clear in his voice.
Oh, so you did remember the name properly. This brat said he couldn’t look at it before he even tried, but came running back asking for seconds.
“And she also knows lots about herbs. Even if I didn’t tell her, she would know how often which herbs needed watering on her own.”
“Aye, and herbs aside, I gathered you’re more informed than a small village doctor, no?”
They were giving me too much credit.
There are only a limited number of herbs that I know, and I’m only familiar with some of their benefits. It’s still nothing compared to the people of the clan.
But even so, none of them showed any signs of slowing down and kept praising me one after another.
Well, their first impressions of me were quite low; they thought of me as ‘a burden’ and ‘a spoiled princess.’ However, when I started doing simple, ordinary things to help around, their opinion of me skyrocketed. Is that what they call the Framing Effect?
I was just lucky to be in the royal family. Lucky to be a young girl with access to so much knowledge. That is all I really am.
“A foreign royal princess who’s kind-hearted? You don’t come across such a person every day. Even more, she is knowledgeable and very well-versed in pharmacology. It’s difficult to say this is all somehow a coincidence.”
After the chief heard the crowd’s opinions, he toned down his pace slightly. He was acting more like a narrator of a story than his usual serious persona.
“There are many countries in the world and many more people living in them. There are kings who would not listen to their people, countless noblemen who do not care for the lives of the masses but instead live their own lives lavishly. Myriads of officials busy stuffing their bellies full while innumerable merchants flock to stock their food. Arrogant and selfish people crowd the world to the brim. And among them all, we met Her Highness.”
Everyone keenly listened to the chief who played his role with an ecstatic tone. I felt like I was watching a dramatic scene unfolding in front of me and getting sucked in. I, who was supposed to be at the centre stage, was watching the show, all while bottling the uneasy emotions inside.
“I believe this encounter is by the guidance of our Goddess. It could be our salvation to save us from our decline.”
The people were surprised. This time more than ever before.
To think that using the Goddess’ name would have this much power…
“The princess is… the Goddess’ envoy?”
“What bullshit are you spouting now!? That’s a noble from another country, you know! There’s no way she’s our Goddess’ envoy!”
“But, isn’t it strange? She knows so much that you wouldn’t think of her as a princess.”
Everyone’s eyes quickly gravitated my way and I hurriedly shook my head in reply.
“I’m not the Goddess’ envoy! I’m not something that splendid.”
Instead of her envoy, I’m more like an angel of blasphemy!
And let me set this straight: I can’t think of being anything but Leonhard’s bride, alright?!
“But Your Highness, according to my son, you did save many seafarers from that disease, didn’t you?” The chief maintained his advances.
“The story of ‘The Dew of the Sea’ has also reached our ears all the way over here, you know?”
“Oh, it’s that ‘Dew of the Sea’ that I brought back from that port town, right? It’s amazing that I could keep it for so long without it drying!”
“Eh? Did our lil’ missy here make that?”
The number of widened eyes gradually increased. I was uncomfortable more than proud when being stared back with so many sparkling eyes.
I felt overwhelmed by all the expectations everyone had for me.
“I heard that you can also heal injuries and illnesses, is that true?”
“What??”
Like hell I can!!
Most I can do is first aid! Hey chief, if you take this too far, it’ll seriously become a false lie instead of an exaggeration, you know!?
The chief finally cornered me. Frozen in shock, my voice refused to come out to refute his claims. As he left me gaping my mouth like a goldfish, the story continued without me.
“The princess can heal wounds? Even my daughter passes out at the slightest glimpse of blood!”
“To face lethal injuries when any young doctor would’ve been flustered is truly amazing!”
Oi! Hold your horses! I’m nothing special, you hear?!
The chief tried to appeal to me as he stared straight into my eyes. My throat made a dry noise as I forced the words back down.
“Your experience and skills don’t match your age. I even feel that your existence itself is a miracle.”
I wanted to retort, but the pressure from the chief’s eyes weighed a ton. My head was getting dizzy.
I peeled my eyes away from the chief and noticed that everyone’s gazes were already poured onto me. My spine froze in place as a familiar warmth permeated my eyes.
The ruckus from the people changed depending on the chief’s speech and the surrounding heat. It felt like I was becoming a cult leader.
Nonetheless, the air was beginning to shift favourably for us.
Ah, I guess it’s time to begin.
“…”
I bit my lips and firmly clasped the stone in my hand.
If I use this, I’m sure I will temporarily look like a goddess. But if you ask me whether I wanted to become one, then by all means the answer is a big fat ‘no.’
Even though I understood the chief’s reasoning, I was still not entirely convinced.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t think of any other way. It wasn’t something one could resolve so easily, otherwise it wouldn’t have been a problem in the first place.
My thoughts ran around in circles.
The time limit was approaching; whether I wanted to become the Goddess or not, I had to decide now.
But the more my mind churned, the more I hesitated.
My emotions were screaming ‘Don’t do this!’ but my common sense was throwing out the opposite. It reminded me ‘If I gain their trust, I will be able to save them from their own destruction.’ It told me that this was the right choice.
“Your Highness, are you perhaps the reincarnation of our Goddess?!”
Hearing the chief’s question, tension ran through the Kua Clan.
Everyone slammed their mouths shut and waited for my response.
A lot of effort was jolted into my legs just to stand. I felt like if I didn’t put forth my fighting spirit, I would’ve surely fainted.
There was no turning back now.
If I decide to become their Goddess, I have to see it through to the bitter end. If I do this half-heartedly, both my confidence and my chance of success will plummet.
It’s a do or die situation.
*Fuuuu*
I took a long, deep breath. With my head being starved of oxygen before, this was like a kick telling myself to wake up. I scanned the people again with a clear head. Their expressions were filled with expectations, happiness, and enthusiasm.
I’m sure I can do it now! I can pull this off!
“…–”
At least that was my intention. Despite that, the words were once again stuck in my throat.
Emotions that I’ve kept bottled up until now exploded all at once.
Lying to them?! Is that really the right thing?!
I’m doing this to the people that truly adore the Goddess! In order to save lives, I would be tricking and using those who have passed on their skills and knowledge. Can I really say I will have no regrets?
Is this truly the only way?
What am I-
‘For what purpose did I come here?’
“It’s time for the Kua Clan to change. And now that we’re right at death’s door, I am certain it was fate that had blessed us with the Princess.” Everyone’s eyes gathered around me at the chief’s words.
The pressure was incredible when all eyes turned onto me. Wolf’s gentle and reassuring hands supported my body when I fell back a few steps due to the scene.
That’s right, I’m not alone in this.
“Your Highness, could you please step forward?” The chief signalled my cue. I took a brief pause for some air before sauntering up the stage.
I stood next to him and turned to face the people. All I could see was a sea of gazes. My heart was bouncing so hard I felt like it could’ve jumped out of my mouth.
“Chief! You’re not gonna do what Young Master Wolf was sayin’, are ya?!”
“What Young Master said…? Is it that? Is he really bringing her into the clan?”
Gossip spread like wildfire after the chief called for me.
Back when we first arrived here, Wolf boldly declared that I would be the clan’s new master, but he was outright brushed off and ignored. It seemed like some ridiculous delusion back then.
But at this moment, those bold words he said that day were beginning to come true.
The chief didn’t answer their question right away.
“It was only for a short time, but what does everyone think of Her Highness now that you’ve lived together with her?”
The people looked at each other.
“What do we think…? Well, I think she’s a very good person.”
“She’s more open-hearted than any noble or merchant’s daughter would ever be, a truly kind young miss. But I don’t see how this matter and that has anything to do with each other.”
Got to say I’m surprisingly popular, but this isn’t the time to celebrate.
Even if they liked me, accepting me as their master was another story entirely.
The chief, on the other hand, didn’t rush the matter and calmly progressed the conversation.
“Is that all?”
“She’s very knowledgeable too! She made a dish that I’ve never seen before, and it was hella delicious!”
“Oh it’s that dish we had, right? Kuhree, was it? It was real good.”
“It’s curry.” Rolf corrected the man who was now fumbling over his words with amazement clear in his voice.
Oh, so you did remember the name properly. This brat said he couldn’t look at it before he even tried, but came running back asking for seconds.
“And she also knows lots about herbs. Even if I didn’t tell her, she would know how often which herbs needed watering on her own.”
“Aye, and herbs aside, I gathered you’re more informed than a small village doctor, no?”
They were giving me too much credit.
There are only a limited number of herbs that I know, and I’m only familiar with some of their benefits. It’s still nothing compared to the people of the clan.
But even so, none of them showed any signs of slowing down and kept praising me one after another.
Well, their first impressions of me were quite low; they thought of me as ‘a burden’ and ‘a spoiled princess.’ However, when I started doing simple, ordinary things to help around, their opinion of me skyrocketed. Is that what they call the Framing Effect?
I was just lucky to be in the royal family. Lucky to be a young girl with access to so much knowledge. That is all I really am.
“A foreign royal princess who’s kind-hearted? You don’t come across such a person every day. Even more, she is knowledgeable and very well-versed in pharmacology. It’s difficult to say this is all somehow a coincidence.”
After the chief heard the crowd’s opinions, he toned down his pace slightly. He was acting more like a narrator of a story than his usual serious persona.
“There are many countries in the world and many more people living in them. There are kings who would not listen to their people, countless noblemen who do not care for the lives of the masses but instead live their own lives lavishly. Myriads of officials busy stuffing their bellies full while innumerable merchants flock to stock their food. Arrogant and selfish people crowd the world to the brim. And among them all, we met Her Highness.”
Everyone keenly listened to the chief who played his role with an ecstatic tone. I felt like I was watching a dramatic scene unfolding in front of me and getting sucked in. I, who was supposed to be at the centre stage, was watching the show, all while bottling the uneasy emotions inside.
“I believe this encounter is by the guidance of our Goddess. It could be our salvation to save us from our decline.”
The people were surprised. This time more than ever before.
To think that using the Goddess’ name would have this much power…
“The princess is… the Goddess’ envoy?”
“What bullshit are you spouting now!? That’s a noble from another country, you know! There’s no way she’s our Goddess’ envoy!”
“But, isn’t it strange? She knows so much that you wouldn’t think of her as a princess.”
Everyone’s eyes quickly gravitated my way and I hurriedly shook my head in reply.
“I’m not the Goddess’ envoy! I’m not something that splendid.”
Instead of her envoy, I’m more like an angel of blasphemy!
And let me set this straight: I can’t think of being anything but Leonhard’s bride, alright?!
“But Your Highness, according to my son, you did save many seafarers from that disease, didn’t you?” The chief maintained his advances.
“The story of ‘The Dew of the Sea’ has also reached our ears all the way over here, you know?”
“Oh, it’s that ‘Dew of the Sea’ that I brought back from that port town, right? It’s amazing that I could keep it for so long without it drying!”
“Eh? Did our lil’ missy here make that?”
The number of widened eyes gradually increased. I was uncomfortable more than proud when being stared back with so many sparkling eyes.
I felt overwhelmed by all the expectations everyone had for me.
“I heard that you can also heal injuries and illnesses, is that true?”
“What??”
Like hell I can!!
Most I can do is first aid! Hey chief, if you take this too far, it’ll seriously become a false lie instead of an exaggeration, you know!?
The chief finally cornered me. Frozen in shock, my voice refused to come out to refute his claims. As he left me gaping my mouth like a goldfish, the story continued without me.
“The princess can heal wounds? Even my daughter passes out at the slightest glimpse of blood!”
“To face lethal injuries when any young doctor would’ve been flustered is truly amazing!”
Oi! Hold your horses! I’m nothing special, you hear?!
The chief tried to appeal to me as he stared straight into my eyes. My throat made a dry noise as I forced the words back down.
“Your experience and skills don’t match your age. I even feel that your existence itself is a miracle.”
I wanted to retort, but the pressure from the chief’s eyes weighed a ton. My head was getting dizzy.
I peeled my eyes away from the chief and noticed that everyone’s gazes were already poured onto me. My spine froze in place as a familiar warmth permeated my eyes.
The ruckus from the people changed depending on the chief’s speech and the surrounding heat. It felt like I was becoming a cult leader.
Nonetheless, the air was beginning to shift favourably for us.
Ah, I guess it’s time to begin.
“…”
I bit my lips and firmly clasped the stone in my hand.
If I use this, I’m sure I will temporarily look like a goddess. But if you ask me whether I wanted to become one, then by all means the answer is a big fat ‘no.’
Even though I understood the chief’s reasoning, I was still not entirely convinced.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t think of any other way. It wasn’t something one could resolve so easily, otherwise it wouldn’t have been a problem in the first place.
My thoughts ran around in circles.
The time limit was approaching; whether I wanted to become the Goddess or not, I had to decide now.
But the more my mind churned, the more I hesitated.
My emotions were screaming ‘Don’t do this!’ but my common sense was throwing out the opposite. It reminded me ‘If I gain their trust, I will be able to save them from their own destruction.’ It told me that this was the right choice.
“Your Highness, are you perhaps the reincarnation of our Goddess?!”
Hearing the chief’s question, tension ran through the Kua Clan.
Everyone slammed their mouths shut and waited for my response.
A lot of effort was jolted into my legs just to stand. I felt like if I didn’t put forth my fighting spirit, I would’ve surely fainted.
There was no turning back now.
If I decide to become their Goddess, I have to see it through to the bitter end. If I do this half-heartedly, both my confidence and my chance of success will plummet.
It’s a do or die situation.
*Fuuuu*
I took a long, deep breath. With my head being starved of oxygen before, this was like a kick telling myself to wake up. I scanned the people again with a clear head. Their expressions were filled with expectations, happiness, and enthusiasm.
I’m sure I can do it now! I can pull this off!
“…–”
At least that was my intention. Despite that, the words were once again stuck in my throat.
Emotions that I’ve kept bottled up until now exploded all at once.
Lying to them?! Is that really the right thing?!
I’m doing this to the people that truly adore the Goddess! In order to save lives, I would be tricking and using those who have passed on their skills and knowledge. Can I really say I will have no regrets?
Is this truly the only way?
What am I-
‘For what purpose did I come here?’
