My Mom Entered a Contract Marriage - Chapter 6

The thought of a child walking around just to clean up the office made Lat’s head spin.

The chances of his work increasing was greater.

Altheos said that he hated having a lot of people by his side, and only allowed Lat, the chancellor, and occasionally Tan, to enter the office on a regular basis.

Therefore, the chancellor, Lat, had to organise paperwork, which attendants normally did, on top of his normal workload, and the thought of his workload increasing made him dizzy.

Lilica quickly called for the attendant to bring warm water and cloth, as well as a bag and a footstool.

She seemed to have gotten used to managing people.

She wiped the ink bottle until it was clean, and began to clean up the disorganised office.

The contents of the trash can were placed into a bag and thrown out at once, while the processed and unprocessed documents were organised separately.

Surprisingly, it seemed like she could read words.

At Lat’s query, her face turned red and quietly said, “Not completely.”

Other than that, she’d even replenished the paper and moved much more diligently than Lat had expected.

Tan, who’d arrived in the midst of that, immediately noticed that the office was no longer a disorganised mess.

“Thanks to the Princess, the office has become much neater.”

He praised her for being great even though he didn’t understand why the princess was made to do chores, and gave her a glass bottle that’s full of colourful candies.

Lilica was delighted and handed out the candy to His Majesty and Lat, and to Brynn later on.

“Oh my, Sir Wolfe?”

Brynn looked at the candy within the glass bottle as she asked back. Lilica nodded.

She carefully held the glass bottle in her hands and lifted it up.

The glass bottle was so pretty, and the coloured candy inside was also pretty, and it even tasted very sweet.

“By the way, would it be too much if I called him Sir Wolfe? And I know that I added ‘Sir’ to his name, but was I wrong to do so?”

Brynn giggled at Lilica’s questions and said.

“Yes, but Sir Wolfe’s full name is Sir Tan Wolfe, so wouldn’t that be okay?”

She savoured the sweetness by rolling the candy that Lilica had given in her mouth.

The Sol family was a family that served the imperial family for generations, and held immeasurable pride in serving the Takars.

Therefore, if Brynn Sol, who’s from the Sol family’s direct lineage, became the princess’ lady-in-waiting, it was tantamount to saying that the adopted daughter would be treated like an actual member of the imperial family.

Of course, there were some people within the Sol family that were angered that Brynn was attached to ‘a child that wasn’t even a real Takar’. Brynn thought those words were ridiculous.

It was the order of His Majesty the Emperor. If she has the name Takar, even if she isn’t a Takar, she should be attended upon like a Takar.

Additionally, didn’t they know that if they upset His Majesty the Emperor, the Sol family would be pushed out?

Furthermore, personally, Brynn liked this princess much more than the real Takars.

Her older sibling, Brann, was the Crown Prince’s attendant, and yet wasn’t he already living with digestive medicine?

In this palace, which was full of monsters, Lilica’s plainness stood out more, which Brynn liked.

Just then, the princess looked at the candy bottle and asked seriously.

“Excuse me, Brynn.”

“Yes, princess.”

“Am I not growing?”

Lilica was secretly worried about the words Altheos had said.

Brynn tilted at those words and asked.

“No, you’re growing well. What did you hear?”

“The truth is—”

Brynn chuckled as Lilica recounted the conversation between Altheos and Lat, and spoke.

“Princess, may I tell you an interesting story?”

“All of Brynn’s stories are great.”

Brynn smiled brightly at Lilica’s words and began speaking.

“I’ve mentioned to you that His Majesty, I mean, that the Takar family are the dragon’s descendants, right?”

“Yes.”

“Shall we talk more about the nation’s founding? Apparently, ancient people used to be great wizards. They could do whatever they wanted. God told them to use that ‘will’ in a good place, but the people didn’t do so. Afterwards, disputes occurred and the continent humans resided on collapsed and eventually sank.”

Lilica’s ears pricked up. It was the first time she could hear such stories. When she was in the slums, all she heard were conversations consisting of swearing and money, and she didn’t have a chance to hear stories of the past like this.

“However, some people followed God’s orders and built a ship on top of the mountain. As soon as the continent collapsed and sank, a dragon flew over, grabbed the ship, and flew away. That’s how the people on the ship survived. Afterwards, they reached the land where we are currently at.”

Brynn’s voice lowered and became eerie.

“At that time, dense forests and swamps covered the land and all kinds of monsters lived there. The dragon and humans laid down roots, and after battles with the monsters, they founded the nation.”

“Is that dragon Takar?”

Lilica suddenly raised a question, and Brynn nodded.

“That’s right. It is said that the dragon turned into human beings and led the people forward. As the country expanded, some monsters that possessed intelligence asked to join the dragon.”

Brynn raised her hands up high and said.

“Amongst them was this wolf that was this big. Their descendants are said to be members of the Wolfe family. There was a snake that’s as thick as a large tree trunk, and their descendants called them Sandar.”

Lilica’s eyes widened. Does that mean that Lat’s ancestor was a snake and Tan’s ancestor was a wolf?

Brynn concluded the story.

“The dragon gave them a human form, and they swore allegiance to the dragon. If they went against the dragon, they’d revert back to their original form. That’s why the emblems of high-ranking nobles are often animals.”

After which, she added with a slightly fed-up look.

“And like to prove that point, all of them are strong, yes, very strong.”

“I see.”

Lilica let out a long exhale. It would have been much more exciting to listen to her words at night beside a campfire, but the story now was also very interesting.

‘I see. Lat is a snake and Tan is a wolf. It’s fitting. The fact that they don’t really get along too.’

“As such, the princess is growing well. It’s just that they grow too well.”

“Mm.”

Lilica nodded vigorously. She went on asking.

“Then, does Brynn’s family have a story like that?”

“Yes, apparently we are crows. The crow was clever and quick-witted, so it was left by his side as an attendant.”

At Brynn’s words, Lilica laughed, “I see.” She now understood why Brynn’s hairband is constantly shining.

‘Brynn knows a lot more about the Imperial Palace than I do.’

Lilica had regarded that as a matter of course, but when she heard these kinds of stories, she realised it once more.

‘But I can’t do my work properly as I don’t know much.’

A contract princess. A contract daughter.

It was an additional clause in her mother’s ‘contractual empress’, and even if it wasn’t stated in the contract, Lilica’s pride depended on it.

Lilica wanted to fulfil this contract properly no matter what. That way, she’d be able to feel gratified when the contract ends and she moves to a house with a garden with her mother.

As such, she really needed information.

Information to make her an excellent princess.

“Brynn.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Sit down here.”

Lilica tapped the seat next to her. Brynn said, “Thank you kindly,” and sat down lightly on the sofa.

“I want to be an excellent princess.”

If she was to be a princess either way, isn’t being an excellent princess better than being a normal princess?

“Yes,” Brynn nodded earnestly at the words Lilica added.

Lilica said.

“But I don’t know anything about the imperial palace. I really don’t know anything about the aristocracy and about, more importantly, the imperial family. Brynn has served the Imperial family for a long time, so you’d know more than I do.”

Lilica held Bryn’s hand tightly and said with twinkling eyes.

“As such, can you help me, Brynn?”

“Oh my…”

Brynn’s face turned red and she sighed.

As a member of the Sol family, who’d been serving the Takars for a long time, she’d never imagined that she would hear such words from a Takar.

The blood of the Sol family, which is deeply engraved in her bones, was boiling.

“Of course, Princess. I, Brynn Sol, will do my utmost to be of assistance to the Princess. Please leave it to me.”

“Thank you, Brynn!”

Brynn looked at Lilica’s gleaming eyes and asked.

“So what would you like to get to know about first?”

“The Imperial Palace.”

“The palace, you say?”

Brynn seemed to find it unexpected, and tilted her head. Lilica spoke.

“From now onwards, this is my house. But I can’t remain unaware of its structure. I don’t even know who lives where.”

No matter which type of house, the first thing that should be done was getting familiar with that house’s structure.

She had to figure out the movement paths and the people. Only then would she be able to move freely within the house and proceed to the next thing.

Brynn smiled broadly.

“Alright, please trust me.”

The next day, Brynn gingerly laid out a floor plan of the imperial palace, which was placed in a long container.

If it became known that she brought an object that was meticulously marked with the secret passages, even, her neck might fall, but Lilica only felt amazement.

“The palace had so many rooms? That’s amazing. What’s this passage?”

“It’s a servant’s aisle. It’s connected to those servant doors.”

“So it’s a separate passageway for servants? I never knew about that. What about this?

“That’s a secret escape route.”

“A secret escape route. Can you draw it out like this?”

“Normally, no.”

Brynn replied calmly.

“But the Sol family has close ties with the imperial family.”

“As expected, I’m glad I asked Brynn for help.”

“Huhu.”

Brynn smiled lightly, rolled up the floor plan and said.

“If you’ve roughly memorised the structure in your head, you can take a walk around now. Even if it’s bothersome, it’s better to walk around with your own two feet.”

“No, it’s not bothersome at all.”

It was boring to remain in the room, so Lilica quickly jumped out of the chair.

Lilica and Brynn roamed every corner of the castle together. They were often stopped from entering certain places by soldiers.

Brynn’s eyes narrowed each time, but she had to turn around as she soothed her frustration.

The Sun Palace was known for its spaciousness, so it wasn’t easy to look around.

In addition, as she was actively walking around, the people that saw her could only retreat to a side of the hallway and accustom themselves with bowing to Lilica.

“Princess.”

“Lat!”

When she met a familiar face, Lilica greeted happily. After greeting her, Lat raised his head and asked.

“You seem busy.”

“I’m walking around in order to figure out the palace’s structure.”

“Structure, you say?”

“Yes, it’s my house, so I thought I should be familiar with it.”

“That’s true.”

Lat said that and smiled.

“Are there places that you’re unable to access?”

“Oh! Yes. There are places where I’d be stopped by soldiers.”

“Oh dear.”

Lat smiled coldly, before speaking kindly to Lilica.

“If you go to the Imperial Guards Office, Tan will be there. Talk to him and ask him to assign a knight to you.”

“Okay.”

“What’s your last name, Princess?”

“Takar.”

“Yes, please don’t forget that.”

Lat straightened his back and spoke as he looked at Brynn.

“It’s wonderful to have the help of the Sol family.”

Brynn smiled. Lat bade Lilica farewell first, and after Lilica permitted it, he disappeared quickly down the hallway.

Lilica looked back at Brynn and asked.

“Do you know where the Imperial Guards Office is?”

“Of course.”

Brynn began walking briskly and Lilica followed her.

There was a considerable distance between the Sun Palace and the Sky Palace, and multiple small buildings were located on both sides, with the Imperial Guards Office being one of them.

Knights stood guard in front of the Knights’ building with a wide smoke field in the back.

Everyone was gathered in twos and threes and chatting, but only one person was a distance away, guarding the door diligently. The familiar man’s eyes widened.

“Sir Lauv.”

Lauv greeted her.

“I greet the Princess. What brings you here?”

“I’m here to see Tan.”

“Knight Commander Wolfe is inside.”

As soon as Lilica stepped inside, she heard a loud voice saying, “I greet the Princess!”

Surprised, Lilica stiffened, before managing to respond.

“It’s nice to meet you too.”

For some reason, everyone kept staring this way with sparkling eyes, and so Lilica straightened her back.

Everyone was so tall, she wanted to look a little taller.

She wanted to tiptoe, but the skirt she was wearing was short, so it would be obvious if she tiptoed.

Still, she raised her heels just a tiny bit, so that it wasn’t noticeable.

“Huh? Princess? What brings you here?”

Tan rushed out from inside as the outside was abuzz. A mournful cry of, “Please, Commander, the document—!” came from within.

“I’m here to talk to you. I met Lat earlier—”

Lilica stopped talking mid-speech. It was because she was worried whether it was alright to say this in front of so many people.

When Tan saw Lilica hesitating, he nodded like he understood.

“Please excuse me for a moment.”

He suddenly pulled her into a hug. Lilica screamed softly out of surprise.

Tan turned his head away and said.

“Now, you can whisper into my ear like this, right? So, the lady-in-waiting over there can drop your weapon. If you take something like that out amongst wolves, you’ll die.”

Astonished, Lilica turned around and found Brynn standing with a dagger that she’d pulled out without her noticing.

The knights around her looked at her with nervous gazes.

She spotted some of the knight’s pupils shrinking, so Lilica mused that they really look like wolves and quickly said.

“Brynn, it’s alright.”

“You shouldn’t touch the body of the princess thoughtlessly.”

Brynn spoke sharply and kept the dagger, but Lilica couldn’t even tell where it went and how she’d done so.

Brynn shrugged.

“That’s why I’d said excuse me. Also, considering our friendship, this isn’t much, is it?”

“Friendship?”

When Lilica’s eyes widened in surprise, Tan’s face turned embarrassed.

“Isn’t it?”

“No, of course I’m glad. I’m very happy.”

Lilica spoke happily. Tan said, ‘So cute,’ and turned his ear towards her again.

“And?”

“So—”

Looking around, Lilica whispered in his ear. Although the family of wolves had excellent ears and could hear everything, weren’t formalities important?

“That’s why I’m here to borrow a knight from you.”

At Lilica’s words, Tan rubbed his chin lightly and laughed.

“I’ll go.”

* * *