The Crownhorn farm incident (part 1)

Zorivia's father managed to influence the royal family using his own position, hinting at his influence in the criminal underworld of the kingdom, as well as – embarrassingly so – hinting at Zorivia's purity and compassion... features that all the previous queens were always praised for.

"..."

Even sitting in the carriage far away from the royal castle, Zorivia blushed because when her father was speaking about purity, the blond-haired girl instantly thought about her kiss with the black-haired boy from four years back... as well as the warmth of his hand when he was leading her to her home...

During the negotiations, the blond-haired the urge to speak out and reveal that she was kissed by a boy whose name she didn't even know, but she held herself back.

She might have gotten the result she wanted, getting rid of the purity claim her father was pushing so hard, but she kept her mouth shut.

Despite not having nearly as much influence with the bad people as he was hinting at, her father was capable of finding and punishing that boy.

The average person could say that Zorivia had many flaws with her character being far too meek, compassionate, and naive – but being a snitch when she knew her words could get someone in serious trouble was not on that list.

As always, when she was thinking about that cheeky boy who boasted so proudly about being an essential part of organized crime, Zorivia ended up reaching her hand to her face and touching her lips.

Being a reincarnated person was one thing – but having the hormones go into overdrive because of her body going through puberty was a completely different manner.

"...I wonder if he even remembers me..."

The blond-haired girl sighed melancholically, leaning her head against the carriage's window and catching a glimpse of the Crownhorn farm in the distance.

"Of course, he remembers you, young Miss. It's because of your countless missteps and mishaps that His Highness Noah came forth with wanting to break off the engagement getting master in such a troublesome situation."

"I'm sorry...!"

The brown-haired servant sitting opposite the long-haired girl scoffed with a disapproving expression making the girl flinch and apologize preemptively.

Or rather – this time, she maybe had a reason to apologize, but since she did that so often, no one really paid attention to her reasoning, which in this case was a good thing.

"You seem to be in a good enough mood and condition. We better skip the Crownhorn farm this time and stop you from doing any more unnecessary things."

"N-no... Kenneth... I... I'm sorry, but I want to stop at the farm again because I want to make sure that the animals are in good condition..."

The servant frowned and pointed out about to knock on the carriage's wall to notify the coachman about the change of plans, but Zorivia flinched and stopped him.

"Didn't you already cause enough trouble for master Alexander?"

Kenneth scoffed, about to go forth with changing the plan anyway.

"Wh-what trouble? If f-father wanted to, he could use the argument of me healing the cattle at Cronwhorn farm to show that I am not j-just a pretty face...!"

Since Zorivia knew how much damage the bovine epidemy would cause to the Wondalandor, she showed an inkling of a spine that first showed up four years prior and started to argue with the family servant.

"But he didn't use that argument, and do you know why?"

"...n-no..."

Kenneth rolled his eyes and sighed in annoyance, making Zorivia finch and cower.

"Because a noble lady walking through manure to pour some concoction she bought who-knows-where and accidentally healed a few cows from having indigestion."

The brown-haired man crossed his arms and pointed out, making the blond-haired girl bite her lips.

In her position, even hinting about the bovine epidemy – a deadly outbreak that would cause a terrible famine – would be like asking to get checked for mental illness.

Not to mention if Zorivia tried to explain that she is reincarnated person and knows the future because it all already happened in the game that she played in her past life just before getting run over by an unmanned motorbike.

That alone would grant her a one-way ticket to the closest mental asylum or, if she was lucky – a monastery...

...depends on what one would consider lucky, that is...

"...father already approved that I could stay in Crownhorn farm for two days. Do you want to go against his will...?"

Even so, the situation was severe enough to make the girl continue to fight back because the idea that she could have prevented something so horrible outweighed her usual stance of letting herself be pushed around.

"I'll just say that you cried about changing your mind and wanted to return straight to the mansion."

"...guh...!"

Kenneth wasn't threatened or taken aback at all and countered Zorivia easily, making the girl falter.

"D-do you think that f-father will believe that I could change your mind...?!"

"..."

The blond girl became desperate and cried out, this time hitting a bullseye and making the brown-haired servant flinch.

"Fine."

"Thank you!"

Kenneth gave up and lowered his hand, and Zorivia breathed out in relief and nodded her head to him, even though she didn't feel good inside.

|Again, I am such a pushover...|

The girl thought to herself, recalling her past life and the days she spent slaving for a black company that exploited and drained her of every joy she had in her life except for playing otome games whenever she found the time...

...if she even could find time...

She didn't even realize that she actually scored her first win in an argument with Kenneth in years.

Granted, it was a small victory, but...

….no...

Zorivia didn't even notice it, so did it even count?

Later that day, the carriage arrived at the farm, stopping in front of a large building where the family in charge of the cattle raised specifically for the meat to be served on a royal table lived.

"Welcome, welcome again, mister Kenneth and young Miss!"

The new head of the farm, a round man in his late thirties with a jovial face and a bushy mustache ran out of the house as the servant and the girl stepped out of the carriage.

...even he already realized the importance ladder, and his greeting reflected that perfectly...