The Bewilderment of the Sacrificial Second Princess

Chapter 65: I’m home

“This buying expedition was draining.”

As I settled back into the city, I shared a meal with Auglia-sama and had tea in my room, where I couldn’t help but vent my frustrations.

I was surprised at myself for complaining about work, as I never had before, and Auglia-sama looked taken aback for a moment before cautiously asking, “Really? That much?”

“I can handle silence, but Hillian, who accompanied me on the trip, is a different story. I understand if he has negative feelings towards me and it’s good that he keeps it professional. But being around someone who dislikes me, or to put it harshly, hates me, it’s quite exhausting.”

This is the kind of stress I experienced every day while I was in the Fatehnum Empire, during meals and necessary meetings.

Just being around someone who clearly has negative feelings towards me, and having to interact with them, creates a significant amount of stress.

Before, I would pass the time by holing up in my room or immersing myself in books, but now I have a warm and loving family. So, before I realized it, something slipped out of my mouth and I quickly covered my lips, thinking, “Oops.”

“Go ahead and speak, Claire. I’m eager to hear your thoughts,” Auglia-sama said, holding my hand tenderly and placing it on his knee. I gazed at him, mesmerized by his constant smile, and replied, “Of course.”

Can he see into my mind? I let my guard down, but he doesn’t seem to judge me. Instead, he accepts it with open arms.

“I’m not sure why, but Hillian dislikes me. Despite that, he still answers my questions truthfully and I have a tendency to ask what I want to know. During our journey, we did have a chance to talk, but there was no small talk and I was too inexperienced to ask. So, we returned to the Dragnate Kingdom in silence.”

“Oh, Hillian. He’s a southern country bureaucrat, right? Claire, you’re not hated, it’s just…how should I put it? Jealousy perhaps?”

I was at a loss for words, staring at Auglia-sama, who was rubbing his cheek with a slightly awkward smile.

“Lord Balk is a strict individual when it comes to work. Hillian, who has been Lord Balk’s right-hand man, has been assisting him with daily work for some time now. Because of you, Lord Balk has been serving as your bodyguard and advisor, and Hillian has not had much chance to see him. That’s why I think Hillian believes that Lord Balk has been taken away by you. But that’s just a speculation, the only way to truly know is by asking the person directly.”

“Is jealousy really the issue here? Lord Balk wouldn’t act in such an unjust manner. Since his induction into the Sekisei-shaku, we hadn’t been seeing much and ought to have returned to his usual job.”

“True, so in conclusion, you still need to confront him directly.”

Indeed, it will be a challenging task to confront him face-to-face.

Nevertheless, I have scheduled an appointment tomorrow to have him educate me on the religious practices.

“Understood. I will try to directly address the matter with him.”

“With that being said, let’s move on to the primary topic. What type of stone did you purchase?”

I realize I made a brief report and took a brief respite, neglecting the primary objective.

I had informed His Highness about the available stones and how I made my selection, but I hesitated to bring up the ceremonial aspect like Hillian’s rite, instead discussing it in a general manner.