Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Problem is You Guys!
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At that moment, Noha slowly opened his mouth.
"Still, we can't disobey the Imperial Princess's orders."
Noah's words lit up Chloe's face.
"Then!"
"Yes."
Noha gave a faint smile.
"I'll tell you what Tail desires most."
His words made Chloe's face bloom into a full smile.
It was as beautiful as a pure white lily in full bloom.
With eager anticipation, she asked,
"Yes! What is it?"
Her heart pounded wildly.
What did Tail like?
Precious tea?
Or maybe flashy clothes?
Perhaps he had a soft spot for cute, dainty artisanal jewels.
Tail was unexpectedly weak to things that were adorable and pitiful.
'This is my chance to learn Tail's tastes!'
She felt herself drawing one step closer to Tail, her heart fluffy with excitement.
Gazing at Noha with bated breath, she watched as he slowly curled his thumb and index finger into a circle, his expression grave and serious as he spoke.
"Money."
"...Pardon?"
Chloe blinked in a daze.
"Pure gold is the best, he says."
His words made Chloe burst into laughter.
In her clear voice, she said,
"Pfft! As expected of Tail, the ultimate materialist."
Chloe nodded as if it all made perfect sense.
It was the most Tail-like answer imaginable.
But then...
Chloe murmured with a slightly troubled expression.
"Just handing over money feels a bit lacking, though..."
"How about this, then?"
Noah's follow-up made color return to Chloe's face.
A few days passed.
Today's sunlight felt especially warm, streaming through the window cracks and lazily spilling onto the bed.
Golden hair shimmered brilliantly in the light, scattered messily across the sheets.
"Mm..."
Chloe turned her head slightly away from the glare.
As she shifted a bit, her eyes suddenly flew open.
"Ah. It's today."
Still half-asleep, Chloe mumbled blankly.
Today.
Today was the day to prepare Tail's gift.
Chloe slowly sat up.
She got out of bed, threw on some clothes haphazardly,
and finally pulled on the large hood she'd worn when she first arrived here.
"Alright, let's go."
She boldly opened the door.
A smile full of anticipation played on Chloe's lips.
-Or so she thought.
"Sigh..."
Chloe let out a deep, weary sigh.
'No, it's still better than going alone.'
She glanced sideways.
But at the sight, she had no choice but to revise that thought.
Really.
Super.
Insanely buff knight dude stood right there, the epitome of sturdy reliability.
Allen, the knight with a face that looked plenty intimidating itself, noticed Chloe's gaze and gave a slight smile.
"Is there a problem?"
You are the problem. The problem!
The words rose to the tip of her tongue, but Chloe held them back.
She'd planned to go alone originally, but as soon as Allen, the knight captain, found out, he'd come charging after her.
The reason? If something happened to her, the Imperial Princess, it would be a disaster.
She got that much.
However.
Chloe peeked behind her.
There trailed three knights from this kingdom, boasting builds so solid that even a full-force punch wouldn't leave a dent.
They were the knights who'd come with Allen to fetch Chloe.
'Why drag all these other knights along?!'
Chloe screamed silently.
Thanks to them, every path she took parted like the miracle of Moses.
Commoners shrank back at the sight of her, cloaked though she was—anyone could tell she screamed nobility.
How was she supposed to enjoy the city like this?
"Siiiigh..."
Chloe sighed at length.
Allen's eyebrow twitched faintly.
"Who is it?"
His stern voice rumbled low.
"Pardon?"
The flustered Chloe blinked.
"Who dares trouble Your Highness! Our empire's one and only precious Imperial Princess—I demand to know!"
Allen's eyes blazed fiercely.
One of the knights behind him shouted,
"I'll handle it!"
The others jumped in competitively.
"No! I can do it more thoroughly!"
"I'll cut them down in one stroke!"
The three knights bickered over who could dispatch the offender most cleanly, turning the nearby commoners' faces pale.
Allen, stone-faced, bowed deeply to Chloe and declared,
"Just give the order. I'll eliminate anything that displeases you."
Allen's eyes burned fiercely.
Suddenly finding herself the boss of knights menacing the entire city, Chloe buried her burning face in her hands.
She felt like bursting into tears for real.
'The problem is you guys!'
She swallowed the words rising in her throat.
Chloe headed straight for a blacksmith shop.
It was said to be the best in the city.
The exterior looked terribly rundown.
Allen grimaced at the dingy building that screamed filth.
"Your Highness. Must we really go in here?"
She replied with a firm expression.
"Chloe."
"Pardon?"
Allen blinked in confusion, so Chloe smiled softly and continued.
"'Imperial Princess' draws too much attention. Call me Chloe."
"H-How could I commit such irreverence?!"
"If the other side gets intimidated and botches the job or refuses... Will you take responsibility, Sir Allen?"
At Chloe's resolute words, Allen finally sighed and nodded.
"Understood. Your Highn... No, Miss Chloe."
"And please do the same at the monastery as much as possible."
"Th-That...!"
She flashed a grin.
Allen was the one who ended up yielding to Chloe's smile.
"Haa. Fine, understood."
Only after securing his firm agreement did Chloe beam and push open the door to the shabby blacksmith shop.
Ding-a-ling.
The bell on the door tinkled softly.
A middle-aged man puffing away on a pipe inside turned his head and locked eyes with Chloe.
His eyes widened, and he shot to his feet.
At the sight of Chloe, nobility radiating from her every pore, the man bowed deeply right away.
"Welcome, welcome! Please, come in."
He rubbed his hands together, forcing the friendliest smile he could muster.
"What brings a fine lady like you all the way here?"
He was cautious because she was nobility, but greed gleamed in his eyes.
And rightly so—nobles didn't come here in person unless it was something big.
And big usually meant expensive.
As visions of commission fees danced in his ears, the man's smile deepened.
Chloe stepped forward and spoke.
"Are you the owner of this smithy?"
"Yes, ma'am. Name's Heison, proprietor of this fine establishment. Please, have a seat."
Grinning slyly, Heison guided Chloe to a chair.
Before sitting on the rough-sewn seat, she pulled out a large pouch and set it on the table in front of him.
Clink.
The clear jingle drew Heison's gaze instinctively to the pouch.
"Go ahead and look."
At Chloe's permission, Heison's wrinkled hand peeked inside.
"Th-This...!"
Hundreds of gold coins gleamed within, in dazzling hues.
Enough to live off for life without lifting a finger.
And his seasoned blacksmith's instincts told him they were all genuine.
Heison's eyes stayed glued to the coins.
Mouth dry, saliva pooling despite himself, he gulped unconsciously.
Then Chloe spoke.
"I have a request with these gold coins."
Only then did Heison tear his gaze away and look at her.
"A r-request?"
Chloe nodded at his words.
"I'd like you to make me a bouquet of roses out of them."
A gold rose bouquet, forged from melting down exactly a hundred of these coins.
That was Noah's idea for Tail's gift.
Heison's eyes widened at Chloe's words.
"Gold roses... you mean."
"Is it possible?"
Heison thumped his chest proudly.
"Don't you worry none. I'm the most renowned smith in these parts."
His confident declaration put Chloe at ease.
If he's boasting this much, it should be fine to entrust it to him.
"It's a gift, so... please do your best. I'll pay the same amount again upon completion."
The same amount!
Heison's face lit up like he'd shed years.
This wasn't just striking gold—it was a jackpot.
Beaming ear to ear, he replied,
"No worries at all. Come back in about a week. Haha."
"Got it. See you then."
Chloe prepared to head straight back to the monastery.
Heison followed her out, insisting on seeing her off.
He bowed deeply to her departing figure.
"Take care on your way!"
"You too. Head on back."
Once Chloe was completely gone,
Heison straightened up, a meaningful smile curling his lips.