Princess, Please Fall in Love with Me

Chapter 8: Branches, Desiring to Escape Pruning

“Miss, where did you go? I was so worried when I couldn’t find you.”

Holding a large bag of fruit candy, Lina anxiously found Loka, who came out from the intersection pretending to be lost.

I lied that I was too eager to find Lina, which dispelled her doubts.

Looking at the two surveillants slowly waking up in the corner, I finally smiled and took Lina’s hand.

It was just sunset, and we leisurely boarded the carriage heading to the Duke’s mansion.

“This guy will stay here for now. Don’t worry, he won’t act without my orders. Feed him according to your standards, and put the bill on my tab.”

Before leaving, I looked at Lycan.

He sat there quietly, watching me.

Good, a tamed beast should behave like this.

“Lycan, don’t act until I give you a task.”

“Yes, Master.”

As for how to cover the cost of buying this slave?

Although I was now considered a young lady of the Duke’s mansion, my allowance would only be cut even more by the jealous Beautiful Woman.

While I was thinking, I suddenly smelled a foul odor and instinctively covered my nose.

Lina glanced curiously and noticed someone burning something at the nearby port.

“It smells like burning herbs. Do you dislike the smell of burning herbs, Miss?”

“It’s fine. Let’s hurry back.”

Back at the mansion, I changed clothes and went to the dining room.

Balesha looked arrogant, as if becoming the First Prince’s companion had given him more confidence, though it only made him stupider.

“Hey, did you know? I can now come and go from the palace freely. I’m countless times nobler than a bastard like you.”

I ignored his clownish antics, quietly sat back in my seat, and waited for the servant to bring the tray and cutlery.

“Oh? It seems being the First Prince’s man makes you very happy.”

“Of course! I have the First Prince behind me…”

Balesha’s mouth was suddenly covered by his mother.

Seeing the Duke, with a dark expression, slowly enter the dining room, Balesha froze in place, unsure of what to do.

I gave a scornful smile.

Being the First Prince’s companion was certainly something to be proud of.

But for the Duke’s own son to take pride in serving the First Prince—wasn’t that indirectly saying the Duke was beneath the Emperor?

Not to mention, the beautiful woman’s maternal family was the Queen’s Clover Family.

Her child’s attitude vaguely represented the Duke’s stance.

Even if the Duke didn’t think that way, who knew what the Emperor might think?

The Alva Family and the Clover Family plotting to seize power?

Hmph, who could say.

Seeing Duke Victor’s ashen face, I naturally wouldn’t bother to curry favor.

I quietly finished my dinner, greeted everyone, and returned to my room.

“Miss, I’ll leave your clothes here. I’ll come help you dress tomorrow morning.”

Lina thoughtfully extinguished the room’s lamp.

As she was about to close the door, she suddenly heard a strange pigeon whistle.

It might have been an illusion, but it seemed like something was at the window just now.

In the room, I slowly opened the window.

Lycan effortlessly hung from the window with one hand.

Whether he bypassed the guards or knocked them out didn’t matter.

“Master, the person you instructed is already there.”

“You did well.”

I climbed onto Lycan’s shoulders, and we vanished into the night sky.

Soon, we passed through a forest near the Duke’s mansion and arrived at the Empire’s port.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Robin.”

Robin Kaos—that was my alias.

After all, who could know where the Duke’s spies might be hiding?

Truth was never as important as immediate profit.

The middle-aged man with short brownish hair wore a modest uniform and white gloves, but his cunning eyes and greedy expression couldn’t deceive anyone.

Lubi, a minor member of the Oak Family, an insignificant merchant, yet at a critical moment, he became the fuse that could trigger the destruction of his entire family.

“Your subordinate stopped my merchant ship from sailing and told me you have a grand plan to cooperate with me. How can nobody like me earn your favor?”

He said “stopped,” but Lycan had practically kidnapped him, single-handedly knocked out all the crew, and forcefully halted the ship’s departure.

“If I’m not mistaken, you’re transporting clover grass, aren’t you?”

Clover grass—rumor had it that the Queen’s maternal Clover Family rose to prominence through selling clover grass.

Though it was just a common weed, merely used as a prop for blessings, this insignificant clover grass became the beginning of the Oak Family’s downfall…

In my previous life, the palace was struck by a great plague.

Not only did all the princes and princesses fall gravely ill, but even the Emperor was affected.

To find the culprit, the Emperor ordered a thorough investigation.

In the end, the Oak Family, which had transported large quantities of the antidote clover grass, was deemed the perpetrator.

Despite a series of trade records proving the Oak Family’s innocence, the seed of suspicion took root in the Emperor’s heart.

The Oak Family, reliant on royal trade, naturally began to decline, gradually fading from the four major families.

As for how the unremarkable clover grass was discovered to be the antidote, that was thanks to the overlooked Sixth Princess.

While foraging, she ate clover grass, which kept her healthy and normal among the other princes and princesses.

Doctors followed this clue to find the antidote.

But by then, the Oak Family’s two princes had already died in the plague.

As for why clover grass was transported in large quantities, and who could so easily complete such massive orders with the Oak Family, it was like the clover grass itself—bringing luck to the mastermind behind it.

But that luck came at the cost of devouring another family’s fortune.

“I’d like to make a bet with you. Store this batch of clover grass at the port and announce it has already sailed. I guarantee you’ll become an indispensable part of your family in the future.”

As a branch member, the greatest dream was to join the family’s core.

Such tempting conditions made Lubi waver, but he still eyed the child before him suspiciously.

A child who looked only ten years old was negotiating with him like an adult.

Not to mention, her words almost convinced him outright—it was too uncanny.

“Words alone aren’t enough. I can’t just trust you.”

Her promises were indeed enticing, but he had risked everything to secure this deal.

If he failed, he’d face severe consequences, not to mention.

Seeing his hesitation and reluctance to speak, I smirked mockingly, then stood up and left without looking back.

“Since you don’t trust us, I’ll take my leave.”

Three, two, one…

“Wait, Mr. Robin, I think we need to talk more!”