Chapter 45
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Chapter 45
I shrugged at Kaiden before turning back to Asdal and adding my thoughts.
"Ah, but there could be poisonous mushrooms, so please make sure to show me everything before eating anything."
At that, Yuanna plucked a few mushrooms from nearby and held them out to me.
"Are these okay?"
She often said strange things, but the way she threw herself into her assigned tasks with such enthusiasm reminded me of a model student.
I confirmed they were the same type of edible mushrooms I'd been digging up and nodded.
"Yes. These are safe to eat. Please look for more like these."
Yuanna nodded with solemn determination.
She returned to Diego's side and, after discussing the mushrooms with him, the two began searching for more together.
Actually, let me correct that—she was showing Diego the mushrooms she'd shown me and having him find ones that looked identical.
She wasn't a model student at all; she was a lazy schemer who delegated her homework to others.
'I should live like that too.'
Asdal, still reeling from the shock he'd received moments ago, clutched his arm and muttered like a ghost, "My arm almost got severed."
"What have you all been eating this whole time?"
I asked Yuanna, who wasn't far away, as I dug up mushrooms. She fell silent in thought for a moment before sighing and answering.
"Mostly by gathering berries and collecting shellfish from the water's edge. It was truly difficult. Oh! I did manage to catch a rabbit once."
At her words, Asdal, who had regained his spirits, laughed and interjected.
"I was the one who caught the rabbit."
"Then what's the point? There was no one who could butcher the animal, so we couldn't eat it anyway."
At Yuanna's retort, Asdal closed his mouth with an expression of regret at having butted in. He'd gained nothing from it.
Listening to their exchange, I tilted my head in confusion and asked a question.
"Can't Diego butcher animals? Don't people usually go camping when they hunt monsters or head into battle?"
Diego, who had been quietly gathering mushrooms beside Yuanna, stopped moving. Yuanna, glancing at him, burst into bright laughter.
Weren't Kaiden, Asdal, and Yuanna all people of high rank who should possess refinement? I couldn't understand how they laughed so freely.
"Diego has a weakness for cute things. He absolutely adores rabbits and squirrels."
...What?
"I don't know what kind of knight he is. He's never even been to a battlefield, has he? It must be an honorary title."
As Yuanna sighed and shook her head, Diego's face flushed crimson.
"N-No, you misunderstand. I would do it if the situation required it. And combat with people is entirely different from dealing with animals."
"Is that so?"
Yuanna answered dismissively, and Diego, unable to offer any rebuttal, closed his mouth. He seemed to think that was the better option.
From what I was hearing, it seemed they had virtually no survival skills, which made me wonder how they'd managed to stay alive until now.
"I heard you couldn't make fire—how did you manage that?"
"Oh, I happened to find some embers and managed to survive for several days with those before the rain came."
"I'm sorry...? You found embers...?"
Of all things, I was hearing that the female lead had found embers in this tropical rainforest. It seemed she could do anything.
"I was walking through the forest by chance when I smelled something burning, so I went to check, and there were dry leaves on fire. It was divine providence."
At Yuanna's additional explanation, I rested my chin on my hand and fell into thought. The tropical region had high humidity, and dry fallen leaves in such a forest...
Well, if it was a sunny spot with good exposure since the weather was hot, I suppose it could happen?
In any case, we collected a sufficient quantity of fruits and mushrooms and returned to the Cabin.
We shared the water Rujeep had purified and started a fire. Then we boiled mushrooms and water in a coconut bowl.
Diego and Yuanna inhaled the mushrooms with vacant expressions. Asdal, who had still been eyeing the mushrooms with suspicion, cautiously tasted one.
As Asdal chewed the mushroom, his eyes widened in astonishment. He alternated his gaze between the mushroom and me in disbelief.
Soon after, he swallowed the mushroom without hesitation, devouring it eagerly.
Watching him, I opened my mouth.
"Before we discuss our future plans... shouldn't we introduce ourselves properly?"
"It seems we've gathered most of the key figures from both the Empire and the Kingdom, haven't we?"
Yuanna countered.
Enoch maintained his detached stance with his arms crossed, but Asdal swallowed the mushroom he'd been chewing and spoke.
"Well, it does seem that way. But in Flone Young Lady's case, she's more of a celebrity than a key figure in an important position."
There was no malice in his words. He was genuinely stating facts, but still... it stung a little!
"Pfft, our Margaret isn't your typical celebrity. Her nickname is the madwoman, after all."
At Asdal's words, Kaiden burst into laughter.
I glared at Kaiden with an irritated expression. I could never tell whose side he was on.
"Stop chiming in and just keep your mouth shut. You're a madman yourself."
"Ah, that's right. We match quite well. A madman and madwoman couple."
Kaiden replied cheerfully.
"I'm not as mad as you are."
"Who would believe that?"
"Enoch would."
I turned to Enoch with hope. As expected, my savior Enoch took my side.
"Only the Lord is mad. How could you compare Margaret to him?"
That's Enoch for you. I smiled brightly at him. Enoch met my gaze and let out a soft chuckle.
I turned back to Kaiden triumphantly.
"See?"
"The crown prince is just jealous because we're a madman and madwoman couple. Don't be fooled, Margaret. You're definitely mad."
"...Do you have a death wish?"
Rujeep, now accustomed to such banter, buried his face in his palm and avoided our gazes. We had embarrassed him.
Yes, I'll admit it. I'm shameless, but Kaiden especially is embarrassing no matter where you take him.
Yuanna and Diego stared at us with bewildered expressions. Asdal wore an expression suggesting he found our conversation fascinating.
"Certainly, neither of you appears to be nobility. You both speak with the manner of back-alley vagrants. Your uninhibited nature is quite refreshing."
Did he just call us back-alley vagrants and say it's refreshing? I couldn't tell if Asdal's words were insults or compliments.
"Both of you do carry the bloodline of the noblest of nobles. Enviably so."
Yuanna responded to Asdal's words on our behalf. It didn't sound sarcastic, nor did it seem like genuine envy.
And truthfully, her words weren't wrong. The Floné Duchy's status rivaled even imperial authority.
And the Rohade Marquis Family, where Kaiden was born and raised, was also a conservative orthodox noble faction.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the Langrid Empire was built by mages, given how formidable their power was, and the Rohade Family's influence was equally tremendous.
To put it simply, the Floné Duchy represented the civil officials, the Biltheim Marquis Family—Diego's house—represented the military, and the Rohade Marquis Family represented the arts, entertainment, and commerce sectors.
That individuals like Margaret and Kaiden emerged from such prestigious families could truly be called a genetic anomaly.
Yes, in a way, Kaiden's right—we do make quite the pair. A pair of lunatics.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I'm not a lunatic, but Margaret Rose Floné."
I rose from my seat, grasped the tattered and disheveled hem of my dress, bent my knees gracefully, and offered a proper curtsy.
Margaret's etiquette was flawless. I had dreamed of becoming the crown princess, and if I wanted to make a good impression on others, I needed to polish my exterior.
Though I was mad, I came from a prestigious household and had received an excellent education, so whenever I set my mind to it, I could perform at least adequately in any situation.
Kaiden, who had been watching my curtsy in silence, let out an admiring murmur.
"Why don't you ever greet us like that? I'd love to see you bow so beautifully for me."
"Please be quiet, Kaiden. It's embarrassing in front of people I'm meeting for the first time."
I gritted my teeth and replied to Kaiden before taking my seat.
The priestess smiled at us, rose from her seat, placed her palm against her chest, lifted the hem of her vestments, and bowed her head to me—a gesture of clerical greeting.
"It's an honor to meet the Young Lady I've only heard rumors about. I am Yuanna Lucia."
Those who stood and performed the proper greeting were myself, Yuanna, Rujeep, and Diego, while the rest remained seated and offered their respects.
"Does anyone have any idea how we ended up on this Island?"
As expected, Yuanna took the lead and initiated the conversation.
In truth, Enoch and Asdal held the highest ranks among us, yet neither seemed interested in taking charge.
Enoch in particular appeared too busy placing mushrooms into my bowl from beside me to even consider taking the lead.
Enoch had been working, I had been enjoying tea at the manor, Kaiden had been about to tear the Temple apart, and Rujeep had been praying when we all opened our eyes to find ourselves here.
The others' stories were much the same. Diego had been sword training, Yuanna had been praying at the Temple, and Asdal had been taking a nap when he awoke to find himself in this place.
Asdal, resting his chin on his hand and staring intently at me, opened his mouth.
"The Young Lady is quite fascinating. Which makes her equally suspicious. As I mentioned before, you're the only one among us who doesn't hold a position of importance."
Asdal regarded me thoughtfully, his gaze unwavering, before asking his question.
"Young Lady, you truly know nothing? It seems like someone of your character would follow the Emperor here even if you did know something."
"...I came to an uninhabited island because I'm mad?"
At my counterargument, everyone wore peculiar expressions and stared at me intently. Even Enoch and Kaiden.
The maddening part was that I couldn't refute it. Damn it all. If it were Margaret, she really would follow Enoch to an uninhabited island knowing the truth.
If it meant being alone with Enoch on an uninhabited island.
Truly, there was nothing left to say.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org