**Tatiana's perspective**
Our carriage journey continued as we hastened towards the next town in the south. Lumina, nestled in my arms, let out a depressed hum. "Kyuuu..."
"You must be feeling unhappy, leaving the place of your birth, Lumi," I conjectured, attempting to empathize with her little fairy emotions.
To my surprise, she shook her head, nestling closer to me, "Kyupiii!" It seemed as if she was trying to communicate her contentment at being with me.
Her soft movements against my skin made me chuckle, "That tickles, Lumi..."
"We're almost there," Lily's voice broke our tender moment, her gaze locked on the scene unfolding outside the carriage.
Curious, I took a peek outside, instantly noting the distressing sight of a collapsed building, "Something seems amiss with the town?"
Blanc, the embodiment of indifference, remained silent, her arms and legs crossed nonchalantly. Part of the town appeared to have been recently ravaged by fire.
"So, the rumors about monster attacks were true," the concern seeping into my voice.
"Don't overthink it, Tatiana," Blanc advised coolly, "Focus on our mission."
Her words brought a sense of clarity, "You're right, I have a responsibility to fulfill." It seemed Blanc wished to prevent unnecessary worries from clouding my mind.
Our carriage came to a halt with a sharp screech as an armored guard blocked our path. "State your intentions of this carriage," he demanded, a hint of suspicion lacing his tone.
"We come from a town in the north, here at the behest of your town's mayor," Lily responded smoothly, not missing a beat.
Upon glancing at me, the guard seemed to recognize my features, "Could you be the Princess Tatiana from the rumors?"
With a nod, Lily confirmed, "Yes, this is Princess Tatiana herself, the eldest daughter of the Tremaine family."
The guard appeared shocked, "Is that true?! I must inform the mayor of your arrival at once." With that, he excused himself to notify the authorities of our presence, leaving us in the middle of the ravaged town.
"I do believe that might be overdoing it," I admitted, nodding towards the intimidating guards. An unsettling feeling of deception prickled my skin.
"Actually, it suits Lily perfectly. You, however, seem rather tense," replied Blanc, her words laced with thinly-veiled criticism. Surprisingly, she complimented Lily; as for me, she had a point.
"I... what can I do? I'm no true royalty," I confessed, a sinking sense of inadequacy washing over me at my inability to live up to a princess's role.
"It seems you need more practice, my dear. Would you like me to teach you a thing or two?" Blanc offered. Her hesitation was subtle, and for a moment I wondered if she genuinely wanted to tutor me on royal etiquette.
"Wait... Are you joking, Blanc? You can't possibly suggest that princesses should resort to violence as you sometimes do," I rebutted, recalling Blanc's past instances of unprovoked aggression.
"Kyu…?" The confused sound was from Lumina, who was also trying to make sense of Blanc's odd proposition.
"What on earth are you both imagining?" Blanc's voice was tinged with indignation.
After a brief pause, a new voice interjected.
"Pardon the interruption, I am Reginald, the Duke's butler." He introduced himself with impeccable manners. Blanc, claiming she felt unwell, took a carriage to the guest manor, accompanied by a maid. I was left with Lily and Reginald, who was guiding us towards the grandiose duke's manor.
"I trust that our accommodations will meet your satisfaction, Your Highness. It has been some time since we had the honor of receiving a guest as distinguished as Princess Tatiana," he said, his words cloaked in deference.
"Um, I... I am grateful for the Duke's hospitality. I hope to convey my gratitude to him in person," I stammered, trying to maintain my facade. The charade was becoming unbearable, yet I felt a profound need to thank the Duke for his kindness.
"Ahh, such a refreshing display of humility. Your mother must have taught you well," Reginald mused, stroking his well-groomed beard appreciatively.
"Yes, my mother was very kind and strong. I aspire to be someone like her," I admitted, emboldened by the memory of my mother's strength.
"That's a noble aspiration, milady. However, I regret to inform you that the Duke is currently unavailable. I'll let you know more once we reach the Duke's Manor," he sighed, a note of disappointment edging his voice. There was an undertone to his words, something he was not telling us.
Tension filled the air as the crowd of townspeople gathered in front of the Mayor's Manor, their frustration evident. The man leading the group couldn't contain his anger any longer and lashed out, "What are we supposed to do now? Our town is under attack by monsters!"
"As I've mentioned before, the master is still unwell. He is not accepting any visitors at this time," a maid, evidently fatigued from the constant questions and demands, tried to placate the crowd. A throng of townsfolk had gathered, their anxious faces revealing their plight.
"Do you expect us to sit idly by while our town is besieged by monsters?" a woman queried, desperation gripping her voice. She was pleading for guidance, for the next step from their mayor, their leader.
"My sincerest apologies, Princess Tatiana. I beg your indulgence while I attempt to manage this situation," the butler interjected, his tone hurried. He then moved off, weaving through the crowd, trying to restore order. I nodded in response, acknowledging his effort.
"This is the problem with people like you, refusing to comprehend what's being conveyed," the maid retorted. Her tone was biting, a manifestation of the frustration simmering within her.
The argument continued, escalating with each passing minute. Yet, no resolution was in sight.
"Should we intervene?" I whispered to Lily, seeking her counsel while keeping my gaze fixed on the turbulent crowd.
"If it aligns with Lady Tatiana's wishes, I shall follow," Lily murmured back, bowing subtly.
I pondered for a moment, considering my options. The townsfolk were unusually agitated, and as an outsider, it could potentially backfire if I were to involve myself in their affairs. Blanc's advice about avoiding trouble echoed in my mind.
Suddenly, the man who seemed to be the most vocal in the crowd bellowed, "You wench!" His patience had snapped, and he seemed ready to resort to violence, raising his fist towards the maid.
"Lily!" I called out. On cue, Lily stepped in, swiftly positioning herself between the man and the maid.
The man's punch stopped short as Lily interjected, leaving him baffled. The crowd fell silent.
"Who are you?!" someone from the crowd asked, breaking the silence. All eyes were now on Lily, their confusion palpable.
With determination in my voice, I stepped forward, channeling Blanc's commanding demeanor to quell the brewing conflict. "Cease this senseless commotion at once! Engaging in such activities will lead to naught but further harm. There is no need for violence, for it only begets more suffering," I implored, hoping my words would reach the hearts of those before me.
The crowd gasped collectively, their attention now fixed upon the rumored Princess Tatiana who had emerged from the entourage. Whispers spread like wildfire, affirming my identity as the infamous Princess who had recently saved the northern forest.
Aware of my newfound recognition, I continued with newfound confidence. "If you recognize me, then you must also be aware of the purpose of our visit here," I stated firmly, hoping to redirect their energy towards understanding our intentions.
"The Princess has come to save us!" someone in the crowd exclaimed, their hope rekindled by my presence.
Though I had managed to avert a confrontation, I couldn't shake off my discomfort at the attention. Still, I had to admit, it was a far better outcome than resorting to violence.
As the crowd dispersed, I pondered the consequences of accepting Blanc's punishment. Would she truly withhold sweets from me for a day? I chuckled inwardly, realizing I couldn't let that happen.
Meanwhile, the man whom Lily had restrained grumbled in frustration. "Lily, release him," I instructed calmly, not wanting to prolong the tension any further.
"Of course, your Highness," Lily complied, loosening her grip. The man and his companions walked away, some casting curious glances back at us.
The butler, clearly impressed by my intervention, applauded me. "That was quite spectacular, Princess. I've never witnessed such charisma before," he complimented, his admiration evident.
In response, I chuckled self-deprecatingly, not fully comprehending what I had done. As long as it had prevented a fight, I was content.
However, the same maid, Nathalia, continued to look at me with a mixture of anger and confusion. I approached her, concerned for her well-being. "Are you alright, miss?" I inquired gently.
"I'm fine!" she snapped, her animosity directed at me.
The butler immediately scolded her for disrespecting a Princess who had just saved her. I wanted to explain that it was Lily who had stopped the altercation, not me, but the words caught in my throat.
She huffed and retreated back into the manor, ignoring us completely.
The butler bowed apologetically, feeling ashamed for her behavior. "Forgive me, your Highness. This is not typical of her. She must be under a lot of stress due to the mayor's situation," he explained, trying to defend her.
"It's alright, I understand," I assured him, not holding any grudges against her.
"Shall we proceed inside and find some respite from the sun?" he suggested, leading us into the manor.
As we entered, I couldn't help but admire the interior, the walls adorned with rich mahogany and intricate carvings, while the bookshelves overflowed with leather-bound volumes, painting an image of intellectual sophistication. A grand fireplace stood proudly on one wall, its mantlepiece adorned with antique curios and family heirlooms. The fragrance of polished wood and aged leather filled the air, creating an aura of timeless elegance.
"Welcome to our humble abode," the butler greeted us warmly, as we made our way to the study room.
"It is our pleasure to be here," I responded with a slight bow, Lily following suit with a deeper gesture of respect.
With grace and poise, we proceeded to the study, where the butler announced our arrival to a man engrossed in his work, surrounded by a sea of scattered documents.
-Chapter 30 End-