Chapter 243

I guess everyone likes the same things.

Ceres had thought the same when she first tasted the fruits and vegetables Airien had grown. For a while, she even wondered if she should clear out all the plants in the greenhouse and turn the whole place into a vegetable garden.

I thought maybe I was the only one who found them so delicious.

Apparently not.

The kids seem to like them, too.

Especially Julia. She usually pushed vegetables aside and barely ate them, but she happily ate every last one of the vegetables Airien grew.

But what’s really surprising is how fast they grow.

Ceres had watched Airien finish harvesting just yesterday, yet when she came back the next day, the plants were already covered in fresh fruit again. That was far from a normal rate of growth.

Seeing the garden like this reminded Ceres once again that Airien was a Tamer Relic. There was no doubt that both the delicious crops and the endless harvests were thanks to Airien’s abilities.

“Ceres.”

“......?”

Princess Nailia, who had been savoring each strawberry one by one, suddenly called Ceres’s name with a serious look.

“Let’s sell these.”

“...What?”

“First, we’ll supply them to the Imperial Family. At a very high price! The nobles will take an interest too, and then we can sell them as a premium product in limited quantities...”

Princess Nailia’s eyes lit up as she immediately put together a business plan. Ceres watched her in mild fascination.

Good thing I left the Ren Trading Company to her.

Well, Ceres was more than happy to have someone so enthusiastic managing the branch for her.

“I don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

“It’s a hassle.”

“......”

Princess Nailia was left speechless by the simple yet firm answer. It was certainly a very Ceres-like response, but was she really refusing to sell them just because she couldn’t be bothered?

Going to the shop every day is already enough of a hassle.

And now she was supposed to farm and deliver the produce, too?

If she were still buried in debt, she would’ve jumped at the opportunity. She would’ve turned the entire greenhouse into a field and grown whatever crops sold well, as much as possible.

But that’s not the case anymore.

There was no trouble keeping House Drow running with just the stew shop and medicine sales. If anything, they were bringing in more than enough.

Though our butler is still as frugal as ever.

Even today, Butler Colin was busy checking around the estate to make sure not a single coin was being wasted.

Either way, Ceres had no intention of going through the trouble of farming just to sell the produce.

[Pi?]

Airien chirped repeatedly, sounding like she were protesting, But I’m the one doing the farming.

Yes, and you can just keep happily growing whatever we eat, just like you do now.

“Just eat as much as you like.”

“But it’s such a waste.”

Even after hearing Ceres’s answer, Princess Nailia continued sighing, clearly disappointed that they weren’t going to sell such good produce.

“I’ll pack a basket for each of you to take home.”

“Really?”

Princess Nailia’s face brightened at once.

[Buu...]

[Pii!]

Wham!

[Bueee!]

Pat pat pat!

Sooty, who must be curious about the strawberries everyone was praising, popped one into his mouth, only to spit it right back out.

Airien immediately rushed over and kicked him. Sooty let out a loud wail. Before long, the two of them were running around and attacking each other.

Don’t those two ever get tired?

Ceres knew by now that this was how they played, but she still wished they would behave themselves when guests were around.

“By the way, have you heard anything from Prince Alex?”

After calming the two down with some cake from the table, Ceres asked Princess Nailia about Prince Alex.

“Yeah, still nothing...”

Princess Nailia’s expression darkened. Prince Alex had disappeared after leaving behind nothing but a note saying he was going away to recuperate. There still hadn’t been any word from him since then.

Cheion also seemed worried.

When Ceres had visited the Magic Tower recently to see Cheion, Luca had asked her for a favor.

“Lord Cheion hasn’t been sleeping well lately.”

“Cheion?”

“I think it might be because of Prince Alex. Is there anything you can do?”

“What am I supposed to do...?”

“I heard that Grand Duke Persia, who suffers from severe insomnia, sleeps well whenever he’s with you, Miss Ceres.”

...Where did that rumor come from?

“I’ll take care of it.”

“You? How?”

“I’ll just knock him out.”

“.....Hey.”

Kainel heard the whole conversation too. When he actually went looking for Cheion with the intention of knocking him out, Ceres had to hurry and stop him.

Everyone seems pretty worried.

Anyone would worry if a perfectly healthy adult disappeared without a word. And Prince Alex wasn’t exactly in good health to begin with.

We’ve already contacted the place he usually goes to recuperate.

But he hadn’t gone there either. So where did he go? With everyone around them searching for Prince Alex, Ceres couldn’t help but wonder about it herself.

“He’ll be fine.”

Princess Nailia shook her head, trying to push away the anxiety creeping in.

“Alex is stronger than he looks.”

Ceres gave her a quiet nod.

Well, he was pretty strong.

...When it came to beating people up.

Remembering how Alex used to beat people half to death, Ceres agreed.

***

When will this end...?

Jutel let out a long sigh. As always, he was keeping watch beside Prince Alex, who still hadn’t woken up.

They said he would wake up.

It had already been over a month. Alex hadn’t moved even once in all that time. Jutel was growing more and more anxious.

Something’s definitely wrong.

But Veilks kept telling him to wait. Could they really just sit here and do nothing?

Rustle.

“—!”

Jutel’s eyes widened. At last, Prince Alex just moved. His body trembled slightly before his eyes slowly opened.

“Your Highness.”

“......”

Alex turned his gaze toward Jutel.

Flinch!

The moment their eyes met, Jutel stiffened. Something felt strange. What was this chill running down his spine?

“...Your Highness?”

He called out again, his voice slightly unsteady.

“Call Veilks.”

“......”

Jutel was speechless again. Prince Alex had given the order so naturally, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Why...?

It was definitely Alex, but something was different. His expression... his tone... Did Alex ever look at him like that before?

Click!

Just then, the door opened and Veilks stepped inside.

“Ah...!”

As soon as Veilks saw Alex awake, his face lit up.

“You’re awake.”

When Veilks approached, Alex’s smile widened.

“How do you feel?”

“Good. I like it.”

Alex smiled, his eyes crinkling as he looked down at his hands.

“I apologize for taking so long.”

Veilks knelt before Alex and bowed deeply.

“It did take a while.”

With a casual wave of his hand, Alex brought Veilks back to his feet.

Black energy flowed from Alex’s hand and swirled around Veilks. Veilks’s eyes filled with delight as he watched it.

“Now that I’m awake, I should at least say hello.”

Alex waved his hand again. An unfamiliar force swept through the room before quickly dispersing. Everyone there could feel it.

“This should tell you how well you’ve done.”

Veilks bowed even deeper at Alex’s words.

What is going on?

Watching from the side, Jutel was completely bewildered. Veilks’s attitude toward Alex had changed completely.

He had always treated Alex with the respect due to a prince, but never had he been this submissive. Now, Veilks could barely raise his head, as though he were nothing more than Alex’s subordinate.

Your Highness...

Jutel’s expression hardened as he watched Alex smile pleasantly to himself.