“Do you know what you can do with Jihi cho roots? With this amount, you could save even those on the verge of death. Oh my! The leaves are so fresh! Can I take a few to examine? No, are these Jihi cho fruits? Ohhh! The radiant colors are even more beautiful than rubies!”

Kneeling in front of the piled Jihi cho roots, Croto fervently poured out endless praises. “Meeting Princess Stella is a blessing from the heavens. I can’t believe it! Ohhh! Almighty! That such a thing could happen to me!”

Initially pleased that Croto knew about Jihi cho, Stella began to tire as his mouth showed no sign of closing. Like a young man in love, Croto repeated his praises for Jihi cho tirelessly.

Eventually, before Croto could utter his eighth praise, Stella hurriedly handed him several packages she had prepared in advance, covering his mouth. “This is what the professor dug up for you to research, roots in one, leaves in another, fruits in this one, and a separate pocket for roots. Check them out.”

Staring at the pouches spread out in front of him with an incredulous look, Croto eventually burst into tears. “Can I really take these and conduct research?”
“Of course. I had prepared them to give to the professor.”

“How can I repay this favor!”

While coldly rejecting the gems Annette had handed over a little while ago, Croto, with tears and runny nose, expressed his gratitude for the plant roots Stella gave him. If Annette had witnessed this scene, she might have been flabbergasted and collapsed, grabbing her throat.

“If I ever come across something I don’t know while studying, please teach me. That would be enough for me.”

“Really? Are you an angel, Princess? How can your passion for learning be so high? I’ve raised numerous students, but you are the first one burning with such pure academic zeal.”

Stella subtly leaked what she wanted, and Croto seemed genuinely moved. Though well-packaged, it was essentially a deal asking for one specific piece of information in return.

However, in Croto’s eyes, which had already fallen for Jihi cho and Stella, he only saw a beautiful disciple with pure passion for learning.

“Even if you ask me something I don’t know, even if I have to search through all the books in the world, I promise to find out. I, as a scholar, pledge in front of everyone, I promise!”

Thumping his chest, now only ribs left, Croto’s expression conveyed not only determination but also fierceness.
Stella celebrated inwardly, but outwardly, she calmly smiled and extended another pouch to Crot.

“Take a few more roots. The professor’s research is about saving everyone in this world.”

It was a moment when Stella, who recognized her true value in Crot’s eyes, felt nobler than an angel.

“Your Majesty. It’s about what you asked me to investigate. It’s confirmed that Princess Stella is the legitimate child of King Philippe Oblette.”

Having passed the lineage verification, there was never any doubt that she was the legitimate child. Kai listened to Harman’s words without showing much surprise.

“But it seems she is not a daughter born to Queen Eliza.”

Harman cautiously spoke, worried that the Emperor might get angry. However, even after hearing that the princess sent as a foster child was an illegitimate child, Kai’s expression remained unchanged.

In fact, when he confirmed the gifts sent from Amalune, he had somewhat anticipated this. However, the problem was how she managed to pass the lineage verification.

“It seems that King Amalune has used some means to protect Princess Stella. It looks like he found a way to pass the lineage verification ceremony. Since the king’s blood is indeed mixed, it shouldn’t be such a difficult magic.”
Harman’s voice reporting on the fact that he attempted to deceive the Emperor of the Credion Empire was much more forceful, fueled by anger. However, the Emperor’s expression remained indifferent.

“So, Gripper is getting old. Failing to distinguish a mere lineage certificate.”

Gripper was the name of the Imperial Archmage. Recently, he sent his most outstanding disciple to the imperial court to handle necessary matters.

Their most confident area was precisely lineage verification, yet they couldn’t even distinguish a half-hearted lineage certificate.

Rather than feeling strangely angry, Kai felt a sense of relief that, thanks to this, Stella could stay in Verdura Castle.

With such sentiment, he might even consider giving an award to Gripper, who sent an incompetent disciple.

“Are you going to expel Princess Stella back to her homeland and declare war on Amalune, the country that dared to deceive the Emperor, Your Majesty?”

Harman listed ways that the Emperor would typically take, trying to discern Kai’s intentions.

In reality, not long ago, the princess who failed the lineage verification ceremony was expelled from the palace, and Ferentia, the country that deceived the Emperor by sending her as a princess, had sent a large number of soldiers to pay a hefty price.