“So, are we buying or not?”
Shane stood to the side, looking at the two of them, completely oblivious to the increasingly heavy atmosphere between them.
Spurred by Shane's prompting, the princess let out a soft laugh. She glanced at Shane beside her, a hint of helplessness in her voice. “We are buying. Of course we are buying. Since Mr. Leynas finds them useful, we will buy them.”
As those words left her mouth, Isha felt the suffocating pressure weighing on her chest lift significantly.
However, this did not mean the princess intended to let Isha off the hook. Her gaze remained fixed on Isha, her smile undiminished. “But before that, I would like to speak with Miss Val in private. You don't mind, do you, Mr. Leynas?”
“I don't mind.”
Only then did Shane seem to notice the strange atmosphere between the princess and Isha. He immediately picked up the Red Willow cuttings and walked toward Elon behind him. “Elon, help me check if there's any room to optimize the cut on this cutting.”
His pace was much faster than usual, giving off the distinct impression that he was fleeing the heavy atmosphere behind him.
And indeed, he was. The moment Shane left, Isha felt the princess's gaze lock onto her once more.
Her calm eyes held no overt threat, but the sheer weight of her silent scrutiny was enough to make Isha break out in a cold sweat.
Behind Isha, Lena felt it too. The princess's powerful aura forced her to slow her breathing.
As a former mercenary, her perception of danger was razor-sharp, and her instincts were screaming at her not to make any sudden moves.
Yet, this did not mean she would abandon her employer. If Isha turned to her for help, she would strike without a second thought.
But instead, Isha took a long, deep breath, and her tense shoulders suddenly relaxed.
She gently patted her chest, settling her nerves. When she raised her head again, her eyes met the princess's gaze head-on.
“Your Highness.”
Isha's voice was steady. Her previous nervousness had vanished, and any trace of fear was gone. Her eyes held only sincerity, and her tone was firm. “The cargo on the last camel was indeed prepared for you.”
“Regarding these plants, I consulted many experts and researched extensive materials. I even sent people specifically to the elven realm to gather high-quality seeds and cuttings. After all, when it comes to plants, the elves are the true experts.”
“And the reason I came here is that I believed you wouldn't let a single setback keep you down. I figured that if you were to build your territory, you would definitely need these things.”
Having said her piece, Isha stood quietly, without a shred of anxiety left in her heart.
Before her, the princess continued to stare, as if evaluating her.
Her earnest gaze, unwavering tone, and relaxed posture all pointed to one undeniable truth: the young woman before her was not lying.
This prompted Alicia to drop her testing attitude, her curiosity piqued.
She reached up to brush a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her fiery red hair gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight. Yet, the question she asked was incredibly blunt: “Miss Val, you must know that I was cast out from the heart of the Empire.”
“In the eyes of others, I am already a failure.”
Alicia spoke of these things without a single ripple of emotion, as if she truly did not care. “Those who once crowded around me now avoid me like the plague, terrified of being implicated. As a merchant, what could you possibly hope to gain by throwing yourself at me at a time like this?”
Almost the instant the princess finished speaking, Isha answered, “Because I believe in you.”
A spark suddenly ignited beneath the young woman's calm gaze, and her voice grew resolutely firm. “I believe that you will never submit to this fate.”
“Just like when you faced the elves in the North. You had only five thousand soldiers against their thirty thousand fully armed regulars. Everyone urged you to retreat, but you refused.”
“In the end, you won by utilizing the terrain and superior tactics. I know someone deliberately suppressed the news, which is why so few people know about it.”
Isha did not stop there, the spark in her eyes burning even brighter. “And that time in the South, where you led only a hundred light cavalry and resolved the beastkin issue. And the sea folk to the East...”
“Alright, alright.”
Alicia suddenly raised a hand to cut her off, her expression turning slightly odd.
She cleared her throat, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. “There's no need to mention... those...”
Alicia swallowed softly, trying to compose herself, her expression growing increasingly flustered. “I remember all of them. You don't need to remind me.”
Could Her Highness... actually be embarrassed?
Isha blinked as she stared at the princess, unable to believe her own deduction.
By now, Alicia had composed herself. She looked calmly at the young woman before her, though she clenched her fists behind her back to ease her embarrassment.
To be honest, she didn't care what others thought of her.
Their admiration or hatred were nothing more than chess pieces on a political board.
But at this moment, the fourteen-year-old girl before her was looking at her with almost fanatical sincerity, listing past deeds that even she herself had nearly forgotten.
Even someone like Alicia couldn't help but feel a stir in her heart.
Not to mention, many of these events had been suppressed and never widely publicized. One could only imagine how much effort the young woman before her had put into unearthing them.
Thinking of this, Alicia's gaze toward Isha softened with a touch of warmth. “Miss Val, in my current situation, associating with me will likely bring you far more trouble than benefit.”
“Even so, are you willing to be my friend?”
“Of course!”
Isha's response was as swift as lightning, without a single moment of hesitation.
Looking at her, Alicia was suddenly reminded of her discussion with Shane about whether to leave this place. The two of them actually shared a striking similarity in their resolve.
Another little lunatic.
Though she thought this, Alicia didn't feel the slightest bit of annoyance. She extended her hand to Isha and said, “Then it is settled. Alicia von Augustus is willing to become friends with Isha Val.”
Isha's eyes lit up instantly. The unexpected turn of events filled her with intense excitement.
She immediately grasped Alicia's hand, her voice trembling slightly. “I... I will definitely work hard to become someone worthy of your recognition!”
Isha's sheer excitement caused Alicia's lips to twitch. They were just becoming friends; why did it feel like a sacred oath ceremony?
Yet, she had to admit that this pure enthusiasm was far more pleasant to look at than the convoluted schemes of politics.
However, being a friend to an Imperial princess was never that simple.
And so, the princess offered a warm smile and looked at Isha. “Then, as a friend, could you do me a favor?”
Looking at the princess, Isha suddenly got a bad feeling. Both her merchant's intuition and her raw instincts told her that she had probably celebrated far too early.
Rate on N.U.
