Leaves fell as the wind blew fiercely. The sky was still blue, and the sun shone down on the countless trees in that world. Rullicia lay on the grass, gazing up at the vast blue sky.
She had once thought that life in a medieval fantasy world must be incredibly enjoyable. But after a few days in her new world, Rullicia realized that her current life was extremely boring.
There were no smartphones, no internet, no music, no television, and no novels for her to read.
"What kind of entertainment do people have in this era?"
That question occasionally crossed her mind. All Rullicia knew from her previous life was that children her age in this era only played simple games, such as running around, playing hide and seek, and various other traditional games.
For her, who had once lived in a modern era, traditional games felt bland and certainly didn't interest her at all.
"Oh no, if this keeps up, my big ambition will be crushed instantly by this overwhelming boredom!"
Rullicia grumbled in frustration because she couldn't do anything at the moment. At this point, it was still quite far from the main story where Rullicia would be kicked out of the royal palace. All those scenes began when she was ten years old.
All of this also happened because the real Rullicia was too upset with the king's indifference towards his own child.
Rullicia then stood up, her eyes still fixed on the blue sky. At that moment, she was only thinking about her ambition, which seemed to be fading away just because she was bored, and she had to do something to avoid falling into the abyss of boredom.
Arin was currently washing clothes, two other servants were still busy sweeping, and another was hanging out the laundry. To Rullicia, it all seemed so... monotonous.
Life here is really like the Stone Age... boring...
A fleeting thought crossed her mind to create something. Seeing her dilapidated palace made her think of creating an item she could sell in the market.
At least enough money to buy more food for everyone.
"If there's no entertainment, I'll just make my own, right?"
A new enthusiasm surged within her. Creating new entertainment and earning a little money might help alleviate her boredom today.
Rullicia then closed her eyes. Instantly, a large gate with the word "library" written on it opened in her mind. This time, she wasn't looking for royal history, but rather small things. A shelf labeled "Basic Science Experiments" welcomed her. She opened one of the thin books and went to the section titled "Simple Toys."
"Hmm... a wooden top? This seems interesting and could be sold?"
Its shape was simple. A round piece of wood with an axle in the middle and a string to spin it. The explanation below even included a small note: "This toy is not only entertaining but also trains hand coordination and reflexes."
Rullicia's eyes, which had previously looked like those of a bored fish, finally lit up. She hadn't expected to find something that might fill the void of boredom inside her today.
"Hehehe... This seems really interesting... and maybe it could be sold too? Hehe... not bad. If I could make a few and throw them on the market, the kids would definitely go crazy."
This time, her face showed burning enthusiasm, especially in her eyes, which saw this as a field of money that would surely flow into gold coins. This world did not have smartphones, games, or cinemas. But with all the unlimited knowledge in her head, she could create entertainment that had never existed in this world.
After finishing reading it, all the data and information she had read immediately entered her body, like a memory in her muscles. It was like forming muscle memory that allowed her to create the objects she had read about in this library.
She closed the book and slowly opened her eyes again. She saw the vast expanse of grass behind her shabby palace once more.
Rullicia smiled enthusiastically. This time, her smile was wide, almost revealing her teeth, as if the idea had satisfied the boredom that had bound her before.
"Tomorrow, I will make a spinning top. And this world... will know something they cannot even imagine!"
The next day. As planned, Rullicia searched for materials to make the spinning top, of course bringing her servant, Arin, to help her make the wooden top.
That morning, the air still carried the remnants of the night's dew. The grass in the small backyard of the shabby palace glistened with moisture, and the cold air of still pierced the skin, even though the sun was slowly climbing the sky. Golden light reflected off the cracked windows and dull stone walls that had not been repaired for a long time.
Amidst the cold atmosphere, a little girl with messy purple hair but bright, enthusiastic eyes came out of her room. She had the enthusiasm typical of a child who had come up with a mischievous idea. Rullicia wore a slightly oversized thin dress and held her servant's hand casually, looking as if she was almost dragging her along.
"Sis, Sis... um... who are you, Sis?" she asked cheerfully, as if just teasing.
Arin, the maid with messy blonde hair, stopped immediately when she heard Rullicia's words. Her body tensed and her small eyes widened. She felt a twinge in her chest, but she quickly lowered her head, trying to hide her concern when she heard Princess Rullicia starting to forget her name again.
"Arin, Your Highness. My name is Arin," she said softly, holding back the tremor in her voice. "
"Ah!? Arin... my sister Arin. Rulli wants to ask sister Arin for help, is that okay?"
Rullicia showed her cute and innocent face. Of course, her super innocent expression and pleading eyes had a huge effect on Arin, who greatly respected Princess Rullicia.
"I'm ready to help Princess Rullicia with anything!"
Arin tried to remain a professional servant, even though her heart was screaming and jumping with joy when the princess she respected asked for her help, especially when she saw Rullicia's innocent and cute eyes. Who could refuse her small request?
Arin took a deep breath. The pain was still there, but her love and loyalty were still stronger. She followed her mistress to a small warehouse on the left side of the palace, the door creaking as it opened. The smell of dust, damp wood, and rusty iron immediately spread out and was smelled by Rullicia.
Seeing all the materials in the warehouse, Rullicia's face lit up with excitement. At first, Arin also felt that Princess Rullicia's behavior had been a little strange lately, like a different person.
But she could still understand it because the palace physician said that Rullicia had lost half of her memory, and perhaps that was why the princess's attitude was a little different these days.
The small warehouse felt stuffy and messy, but every corner inside it seemed to hold treasure for Rullicia. Rullicia then uncovered a spider web with her tiny hands, her eyes still shining like an explorer who had just discovered a mysterious cave.
"Look at that, Arin! There's wood!"
She pointed to a thick piece of wood from an old fence leaning in the corner, its fibers looking somewhat rough, the ends slightly sharp. Arin approached, carefully running her fingers over its surface.
"Hmm... still hard.... but it should be good enough to carve."
On top of an old chest, Rullicia found a carpenter's knife that was slightly rusty but still seemed usable. She lifted it high, but the blade was dull, almost blunt.
"Can this be used to cut bread?" she asked innocently.
Arin, who saw Rullicia's slightly funny reaction, laughed softly for a moment. She then took the knife with a worried look on her face.
"My lady, this knife is even hard to cut an apple with."
The two of them dug deeper. This time, Arin pulled out a small chisel with a cracked handle.
"Maybe this can still be used if we're careful."
Rullicia tapped the chisel as if checking its quality, but she was just curious.
"Oh, what's this?" Rullicia exclaimed when she found a simple hand drill.
Its iron shaft was pointed with a wooden handle. She tried to turn it, but almost pinched her own finger. Arin, who saw this, quickly snatched it away.
"Miss, don't play with that, it's dangerous!"
Rullicia then ran and headed for the bottom shelf. Rullica pulled out a coarse cloth and a stone.
"Can this be used for scrubbing? Like the scrubbing soap in public bathhouses?"
Arin smiled slightly at the princess's innocence, as if she had just discovered a rare object, and she also tried to hold back her laughter.
"That's sandpaper, princess. For wood and metal, not for your body..."
Soon after, they continued their short journey together, looking for some items that Rullicia could use. Not long after, a roll of thin rope fell at their feet. The fibers were frayed, but still strong. Rullicia lifted it above her head, spinning it like a top.
"Hiyaaah!"
The rope nearly hit Arin's face. The servant tapped her forehead but still smiled gently at Rullicia.
And finally, near the dead furnace, they found a small bag containing charcoal powder. Rullicia dipped her finger in it, then drew a black line on her own cheek.
"Arin, look! I'm a dark warrior!"
Arin held back her laughter and shook her head, but her heart felt happy seeing her mistress so excited. The dilapidated warehouse didn't look special, but in the hands of this princess, everything could become very enjoyable for her.
***
That morning, the backyard of the shabby palace began to feel a little different. The rickety and almost broken table, which was usually covered in dust, had now been turned into a small workshop. Rullicia stood with her hands on her hips, staring at all the piles of equipment that the two of them had brought from the warehouse. Old fence wood, blunt knives, small carvings, coarse cloth, and even a simple hand drill.
Rullicia's eyes were shining brightly, her head now filled with the instructions for making a spinning top that she had previously read in the all-knowing library inside her own head.
"Alright! The making process... um... what was it called again?"
Rullicia lifted her chin proudly, though she was a bit forgetful about the name of the object she was about to make.
Arin bowed politely, though her heart was slightly pierced.
"Spinning top, my lady."
"Ah, yes! Right! A spinning top...!" Rullicia chuckled, though she had nearly forgotten.
She rubbed her nose as if it were part of the plan. Arin also seemed to be trying to hold back her laughter, and then sat across the table, ready to help Princess Rullicia whenever needed.
They placed the first piece of wood on the table. Rullicia immediately tried to cut it with the blunt knife. Unfortunately, her strength was still rather weak, and in fact, she had no strength at all, so cutting the wood required stamina above that of an average child.
"Hmmmph! Why is this wood so hard? Did it eat rocks last night?" she muttered.
She tried to hide her frustration at not being able to do it herself. Her body was currently that of a 7-year-old girl, so of course she couldn't cut wood that thick, and even the knife she was using was old and rusty.
Damn it... I must have miscalculated! My body is still that of a 7-year-old, how could I possibly cut such thick wood!?
Her mind screamed, but she couldn't do anything. But of course, she also had a backup plan before starting all these little plans.
Arin, who saw this, hurried forward.
"Let me try it, Princess."
"Uuh... okay."
Rullicia handed the old, rusty knife to Arin. Arin held the knife carefully and then slowly cut the until the wood split. The shape was rough, but it was round enough.
"Hoo! Good! Very good! Look, Arin! It's already similar... a bit like a rotten fruit, but it can be improved!" Rullicia said, clapping her hands excitedly.
Arin smiled slightly, feeling warm inside despite the little girl's strange words. She continued to help Rullicia with the chisel, guiding her overly enthusiastic hands so as not to ruin the perfect round shape. Together, they made it a little neater, although it was still slightly crooked.
When it came time to drill a hole in the center of the wood, Rullicia took the hand drill.
"I know! This is the coolest part!" she said confidently.
She turned the drill handle, but her head also tilted back and forth following the direction of the rotation.
"Not your head, young lady... it's the handle you're turning."
Arin, who saw this, couldn't help but smile.
"Oh, so that's how it's done!"
Rullicia replied knowingly, then handed it to Arin so that the hole could be made straight. Although it ended up being slightly crooked, they managed to make a hole deep enough to install a small shaft.
After that, Rullicia took a piece of coarse cloth and began rubbing the surface of the top.
"Hey, Arin. Arin! Look! It's like someone scrubbing their back at a public bath!" she said with a small laugh.
Arin choked on her own laughter, quickly covering her mouth.
"That's sandpaper, princess... for wood, not for our bodies."
Once the spinning top looked reasonably smooth, Rullicia brushed charcoal powder onto its surface. Her fingers left irregular circular black streaks.
"Ta-da! This is abstract art! If sold, Rulli is sure it could fetch a high price!"
She looked at Arin hopefully. Arin could only shake her head, but she still smiled sincerely.
"Even though it looks simple, it still looks beautiful, princess."
After spending hours making the spinning top, it was finally time to test it. A thin string was tied to it, and Rullicia prepared to pull it. Her face was tense and serious, as if she were about to launch a secret weapon.
"Three... two... one... HIYAH!"
The string was pulled with full force. The spinning top spun on the table. For a moment, it spun majestically, then
Prrrrrrttt!
The top didn't spin for long. Then it fell.
"Eeeeh?! Why did it fall? It should have spun longer!" said Rullicia, a little disappointed.
Seeing Rullicia's first attempt fail, Arin gently picked up the spinning top and then looked at Rullicia, who looked upset and disappointed.
"The axis doesn't seem to be level, princess. If we can fix it, it will probably spin longer."
Rullicia fell silent for a moment, trying to recall the many theories she had read before in the library in her mind. Her smile returned.
"That means we can make more, and even better ones, right? When they're all done, we can sell them!"
Arin looked at her with happiness. She was transfixed by the enthusiasm in her little princess's small eyes. Her heart melted and she was filled with admiration. Everyone in the palace often looked down on this princess, labeling her as cursed and even forbidding her from going to the central palace. But Rullicia could still find hope even in old fence wood.
At first, Arin didn't know what kind of strange idea was in Princess Rullicia's mind. After seeing the rough idea take shape, for some reason she felt that the princess's idea this time was a little strange and had never been seen on the market before.
Arin still held the wooden top. The little princess in front of her was still giggling and still trying to fix the mistakes she had made in her first attempt. Her eyes sparkled with ideas, as if the world could be changed with just a piece of wood and a thin string.
But behind Arin's smile, there were still wounds that she remembered, mixed with warm feelings. Suddenly, a soft voice that had long been lost echoed in her head.
"Arin... When I'm gone, please don't let my daughter Rullicia grow up alone. I'm sure she'll be stubborn like me, and also full of curiosity... but I'm sure she'll also feel lonely easily. I believe in you. You're like my own child, and I know... you will love her as much as I love you."
Those were the last words the queen had spoken to her, a figure who was not only her employer but also a second mother to Arin.
Her memories drifted to her childhood. How Queen Seraphina Fortellis de Luciana used to guide her hand when she was learning to write, stroke her hair when she cried because she was afraid of thunder, and even make sure she never went to bed on an empty stomach. The queen never treated her differently, as if Arin were her own flesh and blood.
That was why Arin insisted on continuing to serve Princess Rullicia, who had been exiled by her own father, even though poverty sometimes left her hungry. She remained with Rullicia.
Even when all the other maid who had once been numerous had almost all resigned, Arin remained by Princess Rullica's side.
No matter what happened in the future. She still believed that one day Rullicia would open a new path and bring glory to this kingdom. Of course, she also hoped that one day her father, the king, would return to normal and make Rullicia happy.
Years later, the queen's words had come true before her eyes. A chatty little princess had now lost her memory and forgotten the name of the maid who had cared for her for years. Even though it hurt, Arin had to accept Princess Rullicia's current condition.
Arin also saw in Rullicia's bright eyes a deep sense of loneliness.
Arin bowed her head, clutching the spinning top tightly in her hands. Her smile was faint, full of unspoken promises.
"Are you sure you can sell this item, Princess?" she asked softly, her voice trembling slightly. But she hid it with a playful tone.
"Hehe... Of course! I'm a genius, you know! All the children will fight over this thing!"
With her pretentious pose, Rullicia proudly held up the wooden spinning top as if it were a gift she had made with her own hands.
Arin still couldn't take her eyes off Princess Rullicia, who was so proud of her first invention.
"If that's the case... let me help you make a hundred spinning tops, princess."
"A HUNDRED!? HAHAHAHAHA!!! That's fantastic, Arin! Let's get started!"
Rullicia jumped with joy. As if the world had been waiting for her triumph.
Arin just chuckled, but deep in her heart, she whispered to the figure she could now only meet in prayer.
Queen... don't worry. I will keep my promise. I will protect Princess Rullicia, just as a mother once protected me.
***
The next day, the right wing of the palace courtyard was bustling with the sound of wood being hammered. The pile of simple spinning tops made the night before was now ready to be sold. There were only fifty of them, and not all of them were smooth, some were crooked, and some still had rough scratches. But for Rullicia, that was more than enough.
"Look, Arin! If we sell them for one gold coin each, we can eat roasted chicken until we're full!" she exclaimed with sparkling eyes, as if imagining a small feast.
Actually, Rullicia herself couldn't determine the price. But based on the knowledge in her head, she knew that one of the things she had made was unique.
In other words, no one had made it before. Naturally, its price couldn't be fixed either, but since the principles of its creation and how to play it were still unknown, Rullicia drew her own conclusion.
At least one gold coin was more than enough.
Arin only smiled weakly because she had spent the whole night helping princess Rullicia make the object called a spinning top. But even so, Arin felt happy to be able to help with Rullicia's daughter's first ambition at the moment.
Arin's hands were busy placing the spinning tops into a woven basket.
The princess is just like an ordinary child... not the noble blood that usually maintains dignity...
But precisely because of that, Arin felt happy seeing the princess whose attitude had changed to have such a great ambition, and her invention this time was already quite good.
As the two of them were about to leave, two palace guards from the right wing blocked them at the gate.
"Where are you going?"
The guards were fully armed. One carried a sword at his waist, while the other held a spear.
"Princess Rullicia and I, her personal maid Arin, request permission to go to the market briefly to buy food supplies."
"It's not possible. According to the king's orders, Princess Rullicia is not allowed to leave the palace without official permission."
Oh, my father, I mean, this stupid king is still blocking my way! But I already expected something like this to happen.
Her mind screamed in anger. She had also expected this to happen, especially since she still held the status of a princess of the fire kingdom. So, of course, she was not allowed to leave, even though she was with her personal servant, Arin.
Rullicia's hand tugged at the sleeve of Arin's shirt.
"Arin, come with me."
She ran away from the two annoying guards with Arin toward a quieter place. She dragged Arin through a back alley that was rarely used by many people. Her small hand pulled back the tattered curtain, then her index finger pointed at the cracked stone wall.
"Behind this is a path leading to the main market."
Arin had never even known of such a path.
"P-Princess... how do you know about this path?"
Confidently, Rullicia tapped the stone until an empty cavity sounded.
"Last year's earthquake caused the crack. If you push this part... Ta-da!"
What Rullicia said was true. The large stone slowly shifted, revealing a dark gap large enough for Arin and Princess Rullicia to pass through. The air inside was slightly damp, and the smell of earth wafted out.
Earlier, Rullicia had also searched for several secret passages around the palace. And one of them was the one currently in front of her.
Sorry, Arin, I can't tell you that this is the king's secret escape route from the kingdom...
Arin had no choice but to believe Princess Rullicia's words. After all, this was all for the sake of Princess Rullicia's ambition to sell the spinning top so she could buy food for everyone living in the dilapidated palace.
Arin also did not forget to prepare a shabby cloak with a wide hood, large enough to cover Princess Rullicia's face. Her purple hair was now hidden, her red eyes glistening faintly from behind the shadow of the fabric.
They then walked through the narrow tunnel. Sometimes they had to duck and sometimes they had to crawl. The end of the path opened up right behind an old, collapsed kiosk on the edge of the kingdom's main market. From there, Rullicia could smell the warm bread, hear the voice of the merchants, and the boisterous chatter of the people who welcomed them.
This was the first time Rullicia had set foot in the kingdom's main market, known as the Berlun Market.
So... is this the market in a medieval fantasy world!? Wow, that's pretty cool!!!
Rullicia's mind screamed with excitement. It was the first time she had seen such a lively market, where she could see many people happily shopping for various kinds of food, and some buying tools.
"Arin, hurry up! We have to show the toy seller how to play with this spinning top! If they know how exciting it is, all the children will want to buy it!"
Rullicia said this while holding Arin's right hand tightly. Seeing princess Rullicia looking so happy at this market somehow made her heart feel relieved. At first, Arin thought that Rullicia's daughter wouldn't like it, because the market was still a little dirty. And not many nobles went to this place.
However, deep down, Arin knew that this was the first time she had seen Rullicia smile so brightly in a long time. After wandering around for a while looking for a vendor selling toys.
"Don't let go of my hand, princess," Arin whispered anxiously.
Rullicia only responded with a small smile, though her heart was racing. She felt very drawn to Berlun's main market.
They both stopped in front of a simple wooden shop. A worn sign above the door read Lutos Toy Store. The shelves inside were filled with rag dolls, wooden horses, wooden swords, and rattles. In front of it, a middle-aged man with a thick mustache was cleaning some dusty teddy bears.
Arin swallowed hard, then stepped forward.
"Excuse me... Mr. Lutos?" her voice was polite.
The man who had been cleaning the teddy bears looked up, his eyes warm despite looking a little tired.
"Yes? Is there anything I can help you with, miss?"
Aris held a cloth bag containing the wooden spinning tops they had made.
"I want to sell a toy. Is that okay?"
Lutos' eyebrows rose slightly. He glanced briefly at Rullicia, who was standing shyly behind Arin, then looked back at the bag.
"Selling a toy, huh? Hmm... bring it here, let me see."
Rullicia quickly pulled her hood tighter, then stepped forward enthusiastically. She grabbed one of the wooden spinning tops from the woven basket and showed it to him.
"This thing is called... a spinning top! If you spin it with a string, it can spin for a long time on the ground. It's so exciting! And you can have a battle with other spinning tops!" she said in a childishly innocent voice.
Several children who had been passing by stopped for a moment, their eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Spinning top? Can it really spin?" asked a young boy.
"Hehehe... yes, it can! Here... watch!"
Rullicia held the spinning top, wound the string around it, then threw it onto the store floor.
Wuuusssh!
The round piece of wood spun rapidly, humming softly, causing the children inside the store who were watching to cheer.
"WAAAH!"
"Amazing! I want to try!"
Arin smiled with relief at the children's enthusiasm. Although she was still a little worried that someone would recognize her daughter. Lutos himself seemed to be silent for a moment, then approached, bending down to examine the spinning top that was still spinning on the floor. He picked it up and even turned it over.
Lutos, the toy seller, who had been flipping the wooden spinning top back and forth, suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
"What is this? What kind of toy is this? In all my years of selling various kinds of toys, I have never seen one like this!"
He grabbed the spinning top, which had stopped spinning, once again. He stared at it as if it were a rare gemstone. Then his eyes immediately turned to Arin, his eyes full of enthusiasm.
"How does it work? How can it spin like that? How is it made? It's just wood, right? But... what kind of technique was used to make it? Wow, this is really strange!"
Arin did not expect the toy seller Lutos to be so excited. In fact, she did not know how to answer, especially since she had initially told Princess Rullicia not to be disappointed if the spinning top did not sell.
But it turned out to be the opposite of what she had said earlier, the toy vendor was very enthusiastic when he saw how the toy worked.
"Um... you should just ask her."
Lutos turned to the girl in the shabby hoodie who was happily explaining it with an innocent look on her face. The children watching her imitated her with laughter, some falling down laughing when the two spinning tops collided. And one of them won the game.
Lutos's smile widened, even his beard trembling.
"Hahaha! Amazing! Such a simple toy... But its appeal is astonishing. Children will definitely love it. How much is one piece?"
Arin pulled out a woven basket filled with more spinning tops.
"There are fifty of them. If you're interested, Mr. Lutos, feel free to make an offer."
Lutos rubbed his chin and then quickly made an offer.
"One hundred silver coins for one spinning top."
Arin was about to agree, but Rullicia stepped forward and looked at the merchant with a small, confident smile.
"One hundred silver coins? I don't want to, Mr. Lutos."
Lutos frowned in surprise.
"You don't want it? Little girl, it's just a wooden toy. That's about what it's worth, right?"
Rullicia smiled slyly. She had even studied how to negotiate in a way that benefited both parties, especially since they were discussing an object that did not yet exist in the world.
"One gold coin for one spinning top."
"One gold coin!? For a wooden toy? Are you kidding? That's the price of a young horse! I can't possibly pay that much for a toy."
Rullicia then raised her spinning top high, pointing to the children who were still cheering excitedly.
"This is not just a toy! This... is art! And also a business secret. I'm not just selling the spinning top, but I can also tell you how to make it, the recipe, the steps. It's all part of the package, and the price is equivalent to a gold coin."
Rullicia was undaunted. Her smile widened. Then she leaned forward, her voice lowering slightly but sounding sharp and confident.
"If you only buy the product, of course it's expensive. But I'm not just selling the product. I'm also selling the secret on how you can make more than one gold coin in profit."
"More profit than a single gold coin?"
Once again, Rullicia smiled slyly. She could see that the Lutos merchant was starting to take the bait she had been throwing out from the beginning.
"Yes!" Rullicia replied confidently. "Just imagine. If one child buys a spinning top, then other children will definitely want to join in. They will beg their parents.
Other merchants don't know how to make spinning tops, and only Mr. Lutos has the secret. You can monopolize the toy market with a toy that even adults have never seen before. That's not a hundred silver coins, that's a profit you can double."
Arin, who had been silent all along, watched Princess Rullicia in awe. And even a little nervous.
Where did Princess Rullicia learn to speak like a skillfull merchant?
Of course, after listening to the girl's words. He felt that her words promised a lot of money. He weighed his options. He looked back at the children in the store who were still busy fighting over the spinning tops. A sly smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Hmm... so this little girl is quite the talker after all. But I'll admit, you have a point. If I'm the only merchant who has this, gold could flow endlessly into my pockets."
He took a deep breath. Then he finally nodded.
"Alright. One gold coin for one spinning top, so a total of fifty gold coins, and all the secrets too."
Rullicia smiled very contentedly. She glanced briefly at Arin. Then she bowed slightly like a professional negotiator.
"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Lutos."
Behind her hood, her eyes sparkled and fixed on the green pouch containing fifty gold pieces.
This small step had already proven that knowledge is power!
Rullicia chuckled softly. Meanwhile, Arin, who had been watching her face all along, could only show a look of confusion, wondering what was going through Rullicia's mind at that moment.
After writing down how to make a spinning top and other items, Arin and Rullicia bid farewell to merchant Lutos.
***
Arin and Princess Rullicia continued to explore the main market of Berlun to buy some food ingredients, and they had already gathered quite a variety of food items. Now, the remaining gold in Arin's possession was around forty-three gold coins.
"Hehehe... The smell of money, the smell of money!!! HUMMM AAAAH"
Rullicia's daughter stuck her nose into the bag containing forty-three gold coins. She inhaled the scent of gold and listened to its sound with full awareness.
"It seems like the princess is very happy today."
Arin asked while carrying two bags filled with food supplies for a week. She didn't expect to get that many gold coins today, and of course, her fatigue was fully compensated by getting that much.
"Of course I'm happy, Aririn! This... The scent of gold!"
Rullicia replied with sparkling eyes. This was also the first time she had ever earned that much money.
"Um… Your Highness, my name is Arin."
"Oh, right, I meant Arin!" Rullicia replied quickly, as if she had just remembered.
Arin bowed her head, her lips curving into a bitter smile.
If that's the case, I can't be angry either.
It had taken quite a long time today. The secret stone gate was already in sight. Arin held her breath in relief, her shoulders already a little sore from carrying two large bags of food.
But just as they were about to enter the secret gate, a thin, brown-haired boy blocked their way. His clothes were tattered, his eyes were sunken, and in his hand was a rusty knife that trembled either because of his weak grip or because of the uncertainty within him.
"Give me all your money!" he shouted in a hoarse voice.
Arin immediately stepped forward, her body becoming a shield for Rullicia. Her heart was already prepared for this situation.
"The young lady should stay behind—"
Before Arin could finish her sentence, Rullicia smiled and stood beside her, tossing three gold coins toward the boy.
Seeing the three gold coins floating in the air, the boy reflexively caught them. His eyes widened in disbelief, as if he had just grasped the sun.
"W-What is this?"
Arin was startled by Princess Rullicia's actions this time.
"T-Miss!? Why—"
Before he could stop her, Rullicia pulled her hood back, revealing her face. Her purple hair shone in the evening light, her red eyes like ruby gems. It was a stark contrast to her shabby clothes.
"You fool. You're hungry, aren't you?" she said flatly, but her voice pierced his heart. She folded her arms across her chest. "Take those three gold coins. But I'm not giving them to you for free. I'll give you more if you do as I say."
The boy studied Rullicia's face carefully, from the tips of her hair to her face.
"Purple hair..." he said in a heavy, disbelieving tone. "And... and red eyes like ruby gems..."
He took a step back, his face pale. The knife he had been holding slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.
"There's no mistake... aren't you... the princess of the fire kingdom... Rullicia Fortellis De Luciana!?"
He didn't even know what to do. What was clear was that he had raised a knife at a member of the royal family, and that was a serious offense. He and his entire family could be punished by beheading.
"P-Please forgive me, Your Highness! I... I didn't know... I... I just... My mother is sick, there's no food at home, I did this for my starving siblings..."
His words were broken. His face was covered in tears. Guilt hit him hard when he realized he had just threatened a member of the royal family, and the figure in front of him was a princess.
Arin held back her attack. Her chest felt tight seeing the child so desperate, but her eyes also turned to Rullicia, wondering what this little princess would do next.
A small idea flashed through Rullicia's mind to make the toy she had just sold even more popular and spread the rumor throughout the main market of Berlun, she could use this child.
If she wanted the toy to really explode in popularity and become the talk of the entire main market of Berlun, she also needed a mouth that could spread rumors faster, and who was more suitable than a street child?
Her hand now reached out to brush aside the child's dull hair. Her small but firm fingers touched the dirty strands of hair, as if sealing an invisible contract.
"Lift your head." she said. The atmosphere was calm but contained a pressure that made the boy's heart seem to stop beating.
Slowly, the boy lifted his head. His eyes trembled as he looked into the ruby-red eyes that shone like embers of fire.
"And listen to my command."
Her voice was like an absolute command that he could not refuse. Because at that moment, the boy was facing the princess directly, he had the possibility of being trampled to death, or worse, his family being dragged into prison.
Arin stood behind him, holding her breath. She could feel a different, piercing aura emanating from the princess. She was not just a spoiled child, but the heir to Luciana's bloodline, who seemed to have been born to rule.
The boy swallowed hard. In his panicked mind, there were only two choices, refuse and have his entire family destroyed , or obey her orders, whatever they may be, and maybe have a chance at life.
Rullicia's palm gently touched her cheek, feeling warm, and for her, this was the first time she had been touched by a child her age.
"You're hungry, aren't you? You want your mother to stay alive, don't you? Then obey my command. If you do as I say... gold will keep flowing into your hands."
The child's eyes widened, half in fear and half in hope because of Rullicia's words.
"First, become my eyes and ears." Rullicia said, folding her arms across her chest.
"Huh?"
The boy responded with a confused expression. He hadn't expected her request to be as simple as becoming her eyes and ears? Earlier, he had thought Princess Rullicia would do something terrible to him or his family.
"Is that all?" he asked doubtfully, with an expression of disbelief.
Arin, who was standing beside Rullicia, also furrowed her brow. She couldn't guess her mistress's thoughts, but at least her heart was relieved. Princess Rullicia wasn't looking down on the poor boy. On the contrary, the request felt... different.
Rullicia smiled thinly. She smiled mischievously, slyly, but also confidently.
"Eto..." she added, pretending to think. "And also my mouth."
"Your mouth?" The child grew even more confused.
"That's right." Rullicia approached, her eyes sparkling. "You will spread rumors about the spinning top toy I just sold. Tell all the street children, tell the small traders, tell anyone who will listen, that the toy is cool, that it can spin, that it can be used in competitions. Make them curious. Make them search for what that thing is."
The boy fell silent, staring at the gold coin in his hand before looking back at Princess Rullicia's face. Something was spinning in his head, she wasn't just a spoiled palace child, but someone who knew how to take advantage of the situation.
Arin looked at Rullicia with a mix of confusion and admiration.
So this is the direction of my little princess's thoughts? She doesn't just want to play, she also wants to build something bigger…
Rullicia then patted the boy on the shoulder.
"Do this, and gold will keep coming to you. Not just three pieces, maybe more. But… if you betray me…"
Her tone dropped, cold as ice. Her ruby eyes glowed in the twilight.
The child instinctively bowed his head, his body trembling.
"N-no! I… I'll do it! For my mother… I promise!"
Rullicia smiled contentedly.
"Good. Starting tomorrow, the entire Berlun market must know the spinning top is the most exciting toy in this kingdom. What's your name?"
The child stood up, though his legs still trembled with fear, but he felt he could trust the princess standing before him this time.
"My name is… Arsen." He answered in a low voice.
Rullicia smiled slightly upon hearing the boy's name.
"Arsen... Arsen? A good name."
The smile seemed simple, but for some reason it made Arsen's heart beat faster. He was mesmerized. The smile was soft and elegant, but at the same time it held something he couldn't quite explain, a deep loneliness, as if this little princess was living with a burden that was too heavy for a child her age to bear.
The smile faded as Rullicia folded her arms. Her voice regained its authority.
"Listen to me carefully, Arsen. You will be my eyes, observing everyone's reaction to the toy I call a spinning top. You will also be my ears, hearing every whisper, rumor, or story circulating in the main market of Berlun."
Arsen nodded quickly, still not fully understanding, but clearly feeling the weight of the command.
"If you can do it right," Rullicia continued, "then in three days I will give you five gold coins. And if you bring me interesting rumors… there will be an additional gold coin for every piece of news I deem important."
Arsen was stunned. His mouth opened, his body stiffened. He hadn't expected to be able to get gold coins so easily.
"Five… gold coins? M-My Lady, w-what… are you sure it's okay to give that much money to a lowly boy like me? That's… that's too much…"
Before he could finish his sentence, Rullicia raised her tiny index finger and pressed it to Arsen's lips. Her gesture was simple, but her gaze was filled with conviction.
"Be quiet. You must not understand my meaning yet, right?"
Arsen froze in place.
"The job of an informant is not easy," she continued, her voice full of certainty, "Managing the flow of information, ensuring that certain news spreads, and hearing what others don't want to hear... that is far more valuable than mere silver coins. Therefore, the gold coins I am giving you are a fair payment."
Arin, watching from behind, held her breath. She never expected such a young princess to speak with the confidence of a true queen.
Rullicia lowered her finger, then smiled confidently.
"Moreover… I'm investing in you, Arsen. If you succeed, it won't just be you who got the benefits, i will too. And if you betray my trust…"
Her ruby-red eyes turned cold for a moment, sending a chill down Arsen's spine.
"…you won't get a second chance."
Arsen swallowed hard. Yet, under that pressure, he felt… valued. In his entire life, no one had ever looked at him with such trust. He clenched his fists and bowed his head.
"I… I understand, Your Highness. From today onward… I will be your eyes, ears, and voice."
Rullicia nodded satisfactorily, then closed her hood again.
"Good. Prove it to me, Arsen."
A few days later, the main market of Berlun changed its appearance. The voices of children who used to run around with simple toys were now filled with cheerful shouts as they played with fast-spinning wooden tops.
Rumors about the "mysterious toys" spread so quickly that every parent was willing to dig deep into their pockets, even though the price reached two gold coins per piece, an almost unreasonable price for children's toys.
Strangely, however, demand continued to surge. All fifty spinning tops sold out in just one morning. Children who missed out began to whine loudly, forcing their parents to search for the same seller. Word of mouth spread, and thousands of people were talking about it.
The design was simple, just a piece of carved wood, but there was something "new" and amazing about it. Its shape was artistic, its balance was perfect, and its spinning speed was astonishing. Even the artists and magicians of the kingdom were intrigued, wondering how a plain object without magic could spin so beautifully.
They began to wonder.
"Who made it?"
However, the toy merchant Lutos only responded with a mysterious smile.
"From a skilled craftsman... perhaps a newcomer to the kingdom," he said to every customer who asked him. He even added that he had bought the method of making it directly from the mysterious craftsman.
That same day, gold coins flowed into his hands. In accordance with the "promise" of the little girl who had once met him, his business took off like he had never imagined. Lutos could hardly believe that the toy was not only popular among the people, but had even begun to attract the attention of the kingdom's nobles, who did not want to miss out on the trend.
Of course, Lutos and the craftsmen in his shop made a few adjustments, such as beautifying the carvings, adding variations in shape, and adjusting the prices for the nobles. But no matter the shape or variation, the essence of the Rullicia spinning top remained irreplaceable, a symbol of the beginning of something much bigger.
And amidst all the market commotion, far from the hustle and bustle, a little girl with purple hair simply smiled faintly, peering out from beneath her hood.
"That's how it is… a single small seed can change a market, perhaps even this kingdom. Thank you, Arsen."