I Didn't Really Want to Do Farming! (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 17
When their eyes met, Stella felt as if she had just emerged from a cold, sticky liquid. He observed Stella for about ten seconds, then spoke with an expression as if he had bitten into an unripe fruit.
“I am Croft Bianthus. I will be in charge of your history lessons for the next year. That is all for my introduction—should you have any further questions, please ask someone else.”
Croft quickly rattled off everything he needed to say and immediately began the lesson.
Contrary to his stern appearance, his lecture was surprisingly engaging. The main topic centered on Emperor Credion’s heroic deeds.
He lavished such praise upon Emperor Credion that it could easily be called outright idolization.
He recounted how valiantly the Emperor had fought in wars, what benevolent policies he had implemented for the citizens of defeated nations, and what sacrifices he continued to make even now for peace across the continent.
After listening to two hours of nothing but praise for the Emperor, Stella thought that if this continued for a whole year, she might unknowingly fall in love with him herself.
Stella’s suspicion proved correct—the princesses kept letting out sighs of admiration throughout the lesson.
“How can His Imperial Majesty be so considerate?”
“He truly seems like an admirable man.”
“Not just anyone could implement such policies—especially toward the people of defeated nations.”
The situation was more serious than she had anticipated.
The woman who had been dragged out so mercilessly from the hall yesterday seemed already forgotten.
To subject these princesses to such lessons—surely the Emperor was far crueler and more eccentric than she had imagined.
After class, a small tea party was held at Muege Castle.
Held twice a week right after each lesson, the tea party was arranged by Princess Anel’s side. The table overflowed with sweet aromas and was as vividly colorful as the princesses’ dresses.
The princesses showed no trace of looking like hostages from a defeated nation. They were dazzling, elegant, and wore innocent smiles that never left their faces.
Stella briefly surveyed them like a detached observer—they seemed almost as if they were on a cheerful outing.
Stella knew better than anyone that beneath the princesses’ bright smiles—raised their whole lives surrounded only by fine and beautiful things—lay an unintentional cruelty.
“Princess Anel, didn’t you say you’ve met His Imperial Majesty three times already?”
The youngest-looking princess among those seated clasped her hands together and asked with a dreamy expression. Blue silk fluttered like butterfly wings above the red-haired young princess’s head.
Stella recalled that this girl had worn that same expression throughout the banquet the other day. But since all the other princesses were much the same, no one found her behavior odd.
Stella gazed at Princess Anel with an appropriately interested look. Forcing a smile was as exhausting as enduring a long carriage ride, but since it was necessary, Stella did her best to lift the corners of her mouth.
At that moment, a pickaxe suddenly flashed in her mind—its unusually gleaming blade, its worn handle, the comforting sensation of digging into the earth, and the indescribable peace it brought, all vividly recalled.
The princesses burst into bright, tinkling laughter.
Distracted by the sudden memory of the pickaxe, Stella laughed along without understanding why. She had never felt more foolish than she did today, yet she had no other choice.
Although no one had asked them to, the earth sprites had insisted on taking turns guarding the pickaxe, assigning themselves shifts. Though it seemed unlikely anyone would take it anyway, the sprites remained resolute.
Just what was so special about that pickaxe? Was it truly blessed by Goddess Tera?
While Stella was lost in thought, the princesses’ conversation flowed on without pause.
“Yes, I happened to meet him a few times.”
Anel lowered her eyes as she lifted her teacup and spoke as if it were nothing. Simultaneously, sighs tinged with envy rose from various spots around the table.
“What kind of person is His Imperial Majesty?”
“Is he really that aloof?”
“What do you mean? His Imperial Majesty is incredibly considerate—just look at how he regularly hosts banquets for us.”
“But he never even speaks a word to us during those banquets!”
Before Anel could even answer, the girl who had asked and the one seated beside her began arguing.
Stella wondered how they could debate so passionately over whether the Emperor was aloof or not. Did they truly believe they could become Empress?
In Stella’s eyes, the real candidate for Empress was someone else—the woman who had appeared last at yesterday’s banquet.
Was her name Melissa Prentium?
Even to another woman, she was breathtakingly beautiful; her confident demeanor and graceful speech made her appear nobler than any princess seated there.
Her arms were distinctly different from those of the other princesses, who seemed soft and frail. Beneath her violet dress, her arms looked firm and strong.
Stella shivered just imagining those arms holding a sword instead of a crystal goblet. She kept thinking how wonderful it would be to become as strong as that woman.
“His Imperial Majesty…”
Just as the two girls were bickering heatedly, Anel finally spoke. Even after their argument stopped, they glared at each other resentfully before reluctantly closing their mouths.
If they fell out of Anel’s favor and were ostracized here too, they would have nowhere else to go. To them, Anel was not only a formidable rival but also their sole refuge in the Plante region.
As soon as Anel mentioned the Emperor, the princesses’ eyes sparkled with anticipation. They all hoped that someday they too would personally meet the Emperor, just as Princess Anel had.
They were certain that, given the chance, they could easily win his heart. Thus, they intended to gather as much information about him as possible.
“He was extremely kind, considerate—and incredibly handsome.”
Anel’s delicate face flushed slightly as she recalled her meeting with the Emperor.
The princesses let out soft moans of longing. Stella, more curious than before about what exactly about the Emperor enchanted them so, stretched her neck further and leaned in to listen closely to Anel.
“Good heavens!”
“Did he look even more handsome up close? I was too nervous yesterday to properly see His Imperial Majesty’s face.”
“All I remember is the lovely scent he gave off.”
For a moment, Stella nearly burst out laughing as she pictured the princesses sniffing around the Emperor like curious animals.
She quickly raised her teacup to hide her half-distorted face as she suppressed her laughter. But her eyes met Anel’s, who had been closely observing the new princess.
“What’s so amusing, Princess Stella?”
Anel’s sharp voice sliced through the warm, cheerful atmosphere and struck Stella like a blade.
All the princesses instantly turned their gazes toward Stella. Her mind went blank for a moment, but she quickly composed herself and replied calmly.
“I was worried I’d be lonely and miserable all alone in a foreign land—but I never imagined I’d get to live among such kind people. Honestly, I was even afraid I might end up locked in a dungeon.”
Stella subtly conveyed that she had no intention of competing with them and was perfectly content with her current life. She even exaggeratedly shuddered, as if the mere thought of a dungeon were horrifying.
“Oh my! A dungeon?”
“Hehehe, His Imperial Majesty would never do such a thing!”
“Well, considering the gift you brought, I suppose your worry was understandable.”
As expected, the topic of the gift came up.
“Yes. I was truly worried, so I’m immensely grateful that His Imperial Majesty understood with such generosity.”
By modestly downplaying herself and feigning ignorance, Stella quickly made the princesses lower their guard. They dismissed her as unimportant and paid her little mind—after all, her pitiful gift made them look even better by comparison, so as long as she stayed in her place, they were willing to treat her kindly.
But Anel kept her eyes fixed on Stella while pretending to sip her tea. Her smile, with only the corners of her mouth oddly lifted, held not a trace of warmth.
[This is the timeline separator]The moment she returned to Verdura Castle, Stella tore off her cumbersome dress and changed into her usual comfortable clothes.
She removed the ribbons tangled in her hair and the glittering ornaments clinging to her limbs. Though dressing prettily was nice, she was utterly exhausted and wanted to shed even the slightest weight from her body.
Milla watched silently as Stella changed with the maids’ help. Once they were alone, she finally asked what she’d been wondering.
“How was today’s lesson?”
Milla had been hoping Stella hadn’t embarrassed herself at Muege Castle.
“I didn’t expect much, but honestly, it was interesting. The book you gave me was great too. If you can find more books, could you bring some?”
Milla looked surprised—she hadn’t expected Stella to ask for more books. She’d assumed, like most princesses, Stella would only care about dress catalogs or sparkling jewels.
Sending her to class had been more about socializing with the other princesses than actual studying.
But Milla wasn’t the type to show her surprise so openly. With an air of having expected this all along, she smiled calmly and opened her notebook.
—Bring more books.
Even as she wrote, Milla maintained her poised posture.
“Did you manage to build any friendships with the other princesses?”
Since Stella didn’t seem difficult, Milla naturally expected her to rattle off their names.
But this simple question, easy by Milla’s standards, seemed oddly difficult for Stella, who averted her eyes slightly and gave a half-hearted reply.
“They all seemed nice.”
“No one in particular you grew closer to?”
“Not yet? Why, do I have to become close to someone?”
Stella asked with genuine innocence, but Milla’s thoughts grew complicated—she couldn’t quite interpret Stella’s answer.
Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.
Synopsis:
Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.
Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.
Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.
Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.
There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.
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