Drop!! ～A Tale of the Fragrance Princess～ (LN)

Volume 5, Act 50: Dreamer Girl Part 03

Translator: Blushy

Editor: SenjiQ

On the way to Fulvias house, Ronnie sighed after being silent for a long time.

It was bizarre. That girl and how Ojou-sama acted that is.

Me too?

You were restless.

I cant deny that. I mean, shes a rare type of girl.

I really want to deny it, but it might seem like Im hiding my agitation. She shrugged and agreed by making it a joke.

Well, shes a very strong girl. Isnt there a high chance that Ojou-sama will meet strong people?

Maybe. But being strong isnt bad.

Well, confidence can often lead to success but conceitedness also leads to failure.

I was certainly troubled that Hazel-sama didnt listen to me when we first met, but that matter was related to her, so I can understand her desperate feelings.

On the other hand, Shelley was angry that Mick and the others wouldnt listen to her allegations, even though she had said it for their sake.

(She lost her temper because things didnt turn out the way she wanted to, even though she had said it for their sakes. Shes different from the heroine I know from the game.)

If Shelley is different from the heroine in the game, then it might not affect my future even if Im not scared. Its not like I dont want to have this hope, but I feel like another problem will occur even if Im involved or not. Im also worried about what she said about the prince.

But words said based on dreams. Shes like an oracle.

She is.

I could live an easy life if I could dream about how to get rich fast.

Oh my, do you want to see that kind of dream, Ronnie?

Hmm No, its troublesome if I think about it carefully. I feel like Ill be asked for lots of things from different people, and itll be a lot of trouble in the end.

Cordelia sighed, is it alright for him to understand with that kind of reasoning?

Well, that girl doesnt seem to be able to dream about what shes going to do, so she might not do that. At any rate, she said that her powers can make everyone happy.

Yes, thats right.

Like Ronnie said, Cordelia didnt think that Shelley dreamt of herself. If she did, then she would dream of a way to convince someone like Mick, who doesnt believe in her dreams, and from the rumours that Cordelia had heard, it didnt seem like Shelleys dreams helped what Shelley did.

(But I dont think shes like that. I wonder if shes like the game heroine, where she doesnt use her powers for herself.)

The heroine in the game might not have any need to see a dream like that, according to the scenario, so it might be possible, and Shelley might actually see dreams like that even though she doesnt tell people about it.

There are too many uncertainties, and I feel depressed and scared, but I decided that I would protect her. If I cant leave her alone, then Ill just have to help her.

Hey, do you think people can enter the church and kidnap her?

Kidnap? Are you worried about what Keighley-dono is worried about too, Ojou-sama?

Yes.

I dont think its impossible, but itll be difficult. Even if the knights are around, there are a lot of blind spots. The church is a place where people can freely enter, so its hard to prevent crime there, therefore its easy if they just come into contact with her.

I knew it But they have to come into contact with her, right?

Yes. People will know even if a little commotion is caused, so its difficult for the perpetrators to secure an escape route. It would be fine if they just escaped themselves, but it would be difficult for them to escape with that girl.

However, the situation is different if she sneaks out of the church all the time.

Certainly, they might not need a guide inside if Shelley continues to act the way she does. If theyre waiting for the chance to kidnap her, then theres no advantage to them letting others know about their plan.

( Its really a headache-inducing problem.)

Itll be fine if she recognises the danger of her peculiar power. Still, if shes welcomed into noble society with her attitude like that, then Im worried that she would cause problems because she misjudged a situation and acts inappropriately.

Cordelia thought that and suddenly someone spoke to her.

Oh, Cordelia-san?

She turned around and saw a familiar boy with his attendant.

Oh my! This is a surprise, Myles-sama.

Viscount Gunnells son, Myles. She had become friends with him, and he was also good friends with Vernoux. He was also in the mobile library planning group. However, this was her first time meeting him by chance in town.

How do you do? Weve met in an unexpected place.

Im glad you look well, Cordelia-san. But Im surprised. I thought that Vernoux would be the only one who I would meet like this.

Cordelia smiled wryly since Vernoux strolling around town was common knowledge.

Come to think of it, Ive heard about it. You got a good result for the competition show. Congrats.

Thank you very much. This is also thanks to you.

I was surprised because I didnt think that seaweed could become something like that. I have to make sure that father doesnt learn I discussed the seaweed with you since the beginning. If he finds out, hell definitely get mad and yell, Make better deals.

Myles joked, but his tone conveyed his heartfelt blessing.

I feel bad, but I still wouldnt have talked to him about it because of the benefits. Perhaps, Myles-sama understands that and congratulated me, so thats why he can laugh.

Where did you go today? No wait, are you going somewhere now?

I visited the Big Bookcase in the library a while ago, but Im on my way to visit a pharmacist I know. I also stopped by the church.

I see, thats a shame. I got an interesting book, so I wanted to ask if you would drop by the office with me if you have time Maybe another time.

Yes, another time.

Cordelia thanked Myles, who withdrew his offer while laughing. She felt bad and thanked him.

But the church? Which church did you visit?

The one famous for its stained glass. Its the oldest church in the royal capital

Oh, you must be talking about the one Earl Zakharov visits a lot.

Oh my, do you know about that?

Cordelia widened her eyes in surprise because he had guessed correctly, and Myles continued while smiling.

Hes famous for his charity work, and he used to work in the same marine industry as my House.

Used to?

Yeah. He lost two ships in the summer and went out of business two years before we were born, but hes still doing charity work. He doesnt appear much, but he has done a lot of charity work. If you can speak to him, then you might be able to learn something.

Having said that, Ive never met him either.

Cordelia was surprised by what Myles had said. Myles-sama has information on him but has never met him before. Still, I wonder if I can get more information from him Cordelia thought, but his attendant blocked her from asking.

Young Master, its nearly time.

Oh, okay Its unfortunate, but Ill see you next time.

Myles waved his hand as he left, and Cordelia heard, Young Master, you should stop. Then, she spoke to Ronnie, Lets go.

(I dont know how much damage losing two ships can cause, but Im sure its not small.)

Earl Zakharov was a man who had a friendly smile. From what she heard from Clarice and Myles, he did a lot of charity work, which meant hed been supporting the church for a long time.

(I dont think I should doubt that person, but I wouldnt know what type of person he is until I investigate him.)

I dont have any clues right now, so I have no choice but to look at every possibility.

On the one hand, I hope I that find something, but on the other, I hope that I dont find anything, and that everything is just Ghosts lie.

???????

After that, she received herbs from Fulvia and explained why it would rain to Mick and the other two. Then, after she got home, she headed straight to the library to look up information on Earl Zakharov.

(Im sure it was around here Oh, found it.)

Cordelia picked up a book and turned the pages.

(His fief doesnt have anything special about it after all.)

The main industry of Earl Zakharovs fief, which extended from the sea to inland, was considered as agriculture, but they sold it for cheaper because the quality was inferior. The harvest there wasnt bad, so he could secure income, but there wasnt any extra money.

(Even so, hes actively maintaining his fief. As expected, he puts a lot of effort into charity work is what I would like to say, but if I think about the income his fief makes, he might be overspending.)

She thought that, as she picked up another document. The document contained transactions his fief did on marine trade, as well as their top products in the last two decades. The income he earned from the marine trade seemed higher than the income he earned from agriculture.

She continued reading and reached the year when Earl Zakharov lost two ships. It was written that he had purchased two ships with state-of-the-art magic tools at the beginning of that year.

(The two ships he lost were new ships, werent they? But he couldnt get any more money, so he had to give up on buying new ships, or something like that?)

Cordelia couldnt imagine how much the latest ships would cost, but this was a world where the cost of a magic dryer was the same price as a carriage.

Buying two ships would require a lot of money, and if it was powered by magic tools, then she could picture that his financial situation would deteriorate the moment he loses them.

Cordelia turned to the next page and frowned.

(But the Earls donations havent changed No, is he donating more money every year?)

Although the donation amounts werent written down, their destination was, and that increased as the years went by. I dont think he would decrease the amount donated so that he could donate to more places.

Nobles dont want to lose face so they wont reduce the amount they donate so that they can make other donations.

However, what does it mean when he continues to donate more money after he loses his ships?

(Im curious, but I didnt think it would bother me in a lot of ways.)

If he wasnt increasing the amounts he donated, then it was possible that he would kidnap Shelley for money. But he doesnt seem like a money-grubber when he does charity work which doesnt bring in income.

Earl Zakharov seems like someone who would donate more money if he had any, and he could just stop donating if he wants money.

(And, I dont think he would need to announce that he wants to adopt her if he wants to kidnap her.)

Its possible that people would be suspicious of him if its known that he has a strong interest in Shelley. Normally, you would want to avoid that if youre trying to kidnap someone.

Having said that, his behaviour is incomprehensible since his income and expenditures dont match up, and Im curious about his relationship with Shelly.

I wonder if I need to observe their progress.

She couldnt get information on Earl Zakharov like she had wanted, but she was going to the church again tomorrow. If things went well, then she will see Shelley again.

(Does she know that she is Earl Clydereines daughter? Or if I can find something that hints that she is, then this problem will come to an end.)

Without that, even Cordelia couldnt obtain proof.

I wish I could remember what happened in the game

What would be enough to prove that a town girl is an Earls daughter? There might have been a scene in the game about it, but unfortunately, I cant remember.

But if I can find that, and get Earl Clyderine to discover the possibility, then they can work things out somehow with a magic test which is similar to a DNA test.

I wonder if the hint is something that cant be separated from her body, since others havent found it. I wonder if I can find something like that.

Cordelia wasnt confident that she could guide the conversation in that direction.

One of the problems was that Shelley was strong-willed and didnt seem like the type to listen to people, but the other reason was that she hated having to talk to Shelley and the Prince, ever since her memories returned at the age of three.

I already made up my mind I can only say that these are my instincts.

Cordelia gave a long sigh. My body will continue to refuse now that Ive decided to do this. She prepared herself again while putting away the books that she had read, and Lara appeared in the library.

Ojou-samaa, dinners ready!

Thanks.

I cant believe youre in the library when you already went to the library in the castle. Ojou-sama, you really love books and flowers,

Lara said, as she picked up the remaining books and helped Cordelia put them away.

Oh, Ojou-sama. Can I have the day off tomorrow?

Day off? Thats fine. Were you able to rearrange your work?

Cordelia tilted her head at the rare request, and Lara spoke proudly.

Perfectly! Actually, the merchants who came today told me that theres a circus in town. I dont have a pre-booked ticket, and it might be hard to watch the show because theres a lot of people, but I heard theres a lot of rare animals around the tent, so I want to go and see them.

Lara said as her eyes shone, and Cordelia laughed a little.

Alright. Have fun.

Thanks!

Why dont you go with Ronnie? Its not fun to go alone, right?

Youre also going out tomorrow, arent you Ojou-sama? I talked about it with Mentor, and shes interested, so Ill be going there with her and her grandchild. Ronnie should be doing his job.

I see.

And, does Ronnie look like someone who would be happy at seeing animals?

Thats also true.

Cordelia laughed lightly, so thats why she didnt seem disappointed. She was a little surprised that Lara had become friends with Mentors grandchild.

Ojou-sama, why dont you go there for a break? You might come up with something new if you go.

Hmm, Ill think about it.

Im interested, but this isnt the time to be visiting the circus.

If you want to go, then Ill show you around, so dont hesitate to tell me.

Lara proclaimed boldly, and her mind was already on the circus.