Drop!! ～A Tale of the Fragrance Princess～ (LN)

Volume 06, Act 63: The Northern Princess

Translator: Blushy

Editor: delishnoodles

Rufina-dono, youre here early.

Sylvester sent the guard away as he said that to the woman who had just appeared. This person was Sylvesters guest.

The woman named Rufina, who looked a little older than Cordelia and Sylvester, smiled provocatively.

Im sorry for interrupting your date. Even though you have someone like me

Cordelia couldnt help but widen her eyes at those words.

Even though you have someone like me.

What does that mean? Before she could ask that question, Sylvester answered Rufina in a strong tone.

Please stop joking.

You dont have any humour.

Theres nothing humorous about a joke that doesnt make you laugh.

Really? By the way, is that red-eyed girl one of my brethren? Girl, Ill allow you to tell me your name.

I am Earl Pameradias daughter. My name is Cordelia Enna Pameradia.

Cordelia reflexively curtsied when prompted, but the word brethren bothered her a lot. She could guess that Rufina was from another kingdom from her accent, so she might have used the wrong word.

(But her status seems high.)

Judging from Sylvester-samas response, she must be royalty from another kingdom. Rufina turned to Cordelia and nodded in satisfaction.

Cordelia, was it? I am a messenger from Dulaus, Rufina Dulaus. I am the next King of the kingdom you call Northern Kingdom. I have a slight accent, but I can speak your language, so you dont have to be polite.

Cordelia widened her eyes at those words. She thought that Rufina was some kingdoms royal member, but she didnt expect it to be Dulaus.

(But why did she reveal her identity to me?)

Crista Kingdom and Dulaus Kingdom werent on very good terms, but she didnt feel any tension when Sylvester and Rufina had interacted earlier. However, even if that were the case, Cordelia thought it was careless of Rufina to reveal her identity to someone who didnt know who she was.

Sylvester seemed a little surprised by Rufinas words, but Rufina didnt care and said something Cordelia hadnt expected.

Cordelia, will you help me get rid of Ghost?

If the Ghost she was referring to was the red-eyed young man who Cordelia knew, then she couldnt ask for better. However, it was hard for her to believe that someone associated with the royal family in Dulaus, the supposed home of Ghost, would say this to someone on the first meeting.

Thats an erratic question.

Cordelia replied harmlessly. However, Rufinas lips turned upwards, and she looked at Sylvester.

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Sylvester-dono, I would like this girl to attend the tea party.

But, Rufina-dono

What? I just want to talk with her a little. Ill give up if you refuse. But if I cant talk to her, then Ill go to this girls house?

Sylvester let out a small sigh when he heard this and turned to Cordelia. His expression showed that he was unwilling to let her attend the tea party, and it also told Cordelia that it wasnt just an invitation to tea.

Sorry, Cordelia-san. Can you accompany us for a bit?

Yes.

Then, lets move.

At that point, Sylvester whispered into Cordelias ears, You dont have to push yourself. From those words, Cordelia concluded that Rufina wasnt talking about spirits when she had said Ghost, but the person.

(But, why did Rufina-sama ask me that?)

Cordelia wondered, but for now, she followed Sylvester and Rufina out of the greenhouse.

A tea set was immediately brought out to the room where the three of them went, and warm tea was brewed. The servants left on Sylvesters signal.

You dont have to put your guard up that much, Fragrant Girl. But, Sylvester-dono Your Kingdom has the dreamer girl and the girl who can manipulate invisible scents. There really is no end to talent in this Kingdom.

This meant that the rumours of this Kingdom also reached the Dulaus royal family to some extent. However, Rufinas statement didnt make Cordelia feel closer to the royal member of another Kingdom, nor did it make her confusion disappear.

Rufina laughed when she looked at how Cordelia was acting.

Well, of course you would be confused. A royal from another Kingdom, and Dulaus at that, has asked for your help. If I were in your shoes, I would think Id gone crazy.

No, its not like that

Rufina-dono.

Its not like Im bullying her. Dont glare at me.

Rufina pouted at the sound of Sylvesters voice, but she immediately relaxed.

Well then, Ill tell you a little about myself before we get to the main topic. I am the second child of King Dulaus, and I am currently fighting with my brother for the throne. I need achievements to ascend the throne.

Among other things, I have been trying to arrange a treaty with Sylvester-dono to improve the food situation in our Kingdom.

A treaty?

I cant wilfully talk about the details. In the past, our Kingdom had only invaded Crista because we lack food due to poor lands and snow damage. So, the quickest way to improve this is by getting the people and the nobles on my side.

Even though Rufina had said that she couldnt talk about the situation, she seemed to have announced the true state of affairs in her Kingdom.

It was unclear to Cordelia whether improving the food situation meant that Dulaus would be importing food or if they would be receiving technical support.

Well, its easier said than done, and Sylvester-donos terms are quite harsh. I thought he was a demon.

Weve also had a lot of trouble adjusting too. Please dont say such disreputable things.

But do you have any idea how hard it is to change things like military preparations along the border? As a result, I was almost killed by the conservatives rebellion. Fortunately, I was able to get a silver mine from the nobles who wanted to kill me, so I got funds for the army.

Killed?!

Its something that happens to the royal family in my Kingdom.

There are nobles who are afraid that we will be invaded by foreign kingdoms because our military is weakening, but more than that there are those who would gobble up all the profits gained from selling weapons to the kingdom, and people who profit off bribes under the pretence of purchasing weapons.

In general, even though Dulaus produces some silver and gold, they dont want Crista enough to bite off more than they can chew, so theres no need to worry about being invaded.

However, some of them might have been hit hard by the military change. Two years ago, Ghost had said that there were northern nobles who wanted theDreamer Girl, so that might have had something to do with this.

Cordelia didnt know what to ask Rufina since she had said that she had almost been killed but acted as if nothing had happened.

But, besides that, its a good thing that we ended up destroying the Dark Guild. Unfortunately, we let the red-eyed man get away.

Is that person Ghost?

Yeah. Hes done some bad things in the kingdom in the past, but its gotten worse lately. If this continues to escalate, then the people of Crista will hate Dulaus even more, and we might have to start this plan all over again.

Ghost hasnt received any instructions from the northern royalty, and the best way to prove this is by capturing him. Which is why I want to capture him and claim that he has nothing to do with the northern royal family.

Even within Dulaus, people have made a lot of accusations towards me because I failed to capture him, and above all, he has caused harm to people in both kingdoms.

Rufina looked sour as if she had eaten a bitter bug.

Thats all I have to say. Do you have anything to ask me?

Why did you invite me to join you in getting rid of Ghost?

In Dulaus we use anything we can. I invited you because it seems like you would be useful. Im looking for help from various people, but I still havent got any noble ladies from this kingdom. Someone who Sylvester-dono trusts, would not trouble him nor would they tell anyone about this discussion.

If you were someone like that, then Sylvester-dono would have tried harder to stop me.

Cordelia certainly didnt plan on telling anyone about this. Easing tensions with the north should also help reduce this kingdoms military burden.

She didnt know how much of an outcome this would have, but she knew that cooperating and compromising with Rufina, who had just barely found their common ground, would be extraordinary. She couldnt be irresponsible and interfere with that.

Then, Ill just ask one thing. What do you think about this Prince Sylvester?

Me?

Sylvesters expression was hard to describe, but he also looked as if he didnt want her to get involved. However, Rufina interrupted him before he could speak.

Dont disagree, Sylvester-dono.

But shes not a trained soldier. Theres no need to get her involved in this, is there?

The same goes for the merchants, right? If Im not mistaken, since shes the daughter of Earl Pameradia, her sister-in-law and her family were involved in the silk incident?

Its possible that Ghost might try to contact her again, and it wouldnt be bad for her to have me and you help her when it happens.

The flora silk incident wasnt big enough for the royal family of another kingdom to know. On top of that, Cordelia summarised that she had investigated Ghost thoroughly so that she can capture him since she was able to bring this up even though she hadnt planned on meeting Cordelia.

In that case, this invitation was a godsend to Cordelia.

Catching Ghost was the only way she could really break away from Cordelia.

She had felt Ghosts presence again because of what had happened with Shelley, so it wouldnt be surprising if he appeared before her again in the near future.

I wont let him get away this time.

Thinking that, she didnt have any reason to refuse.

Rufina-sama, what do you want from me?

Rufina smiled at Cordelias words.

Lets see First of all, I want us to go to town.

Excuse me?

Cordelia blinked at Rufinas eccentric reply.

Rufina-dono. Surely that was a joke?

Sylvester spoke in place of Cordelia who didnt know how to answer. But Rufina still had a smile on her face.

Of course, Im not joking. I also want to visit town and do some shopping together with a woman. If you secretly assign guards to me, then Ill sneak off.

But

My bad, Sylvester-dono. You might want to come with us, but you cant come into a store that sells underwear, can you?

Rufina-dono, please learn what discreet means.

Rufina must speak like this on a regular basis since the serious Sylvester didnt seem like he was panicking at all.

I hid my identity while traveling, but I entered this kingdom legitimately under my real name. Im free to do what I want as long as its within the laws of this kingdom, and you know that Im not weak in the first place. I had to train every day to avoid being assassinated in the palace.

Speaking of which, I dont see your guard, Rufina-sama.

Some of them are under my brother, so I left them behind. Well, theyll probably be here tomorrow.

Cordelia understood that Rufina, who had just informed them about her brutal relationship with her brother, wasnt worried about being in this kingdom even though Crista and Dulaus dont have good relations.

At the same time, she also thought that it would be difficult to come up with a reason to stop Rufina from taking a stroll.

Your Highness, the security in town isnt that bad. Even I can show her around.

Cordelia almost never went out alone, but that didnt mean that she didnt go out. She felt that it would be more dangerous to let Rufina go out on the streets alone. It didnt seem like Rufina would get offended by anything, but she might cause chaos for those around her because of her wilfulness.

Sylvester had given up. He sighed and looked at Cordelia.

Im sorry, but can you give me your hand? I think the left one should be fine.

Okay.

This is mine. Itll protect you.

He slid his bracelet onto her hand. It was very similar to the one Cordelia had received from Gille.

Id like to continue our conversation when you return that to me.

She felt like that was also the answer to the question she had asked in the greenhouse.

It was difficult to talk more about this in front of Rufina, but Cordelia didnt even know what to say to him in the first place.

Using guiding Rufina around town as an excuse, Cordelia left the castle as if she was running away.