When they arrived at the capital, Cecilia immediately took Fiona to a white building in the middle of the capital. It was an orphanage protected by the kingdom. In the original story, Fiona had always come from there.
When Cecilia thought about where she should take Fiona, the only place she could think of was the orphanage. Taking her to the palace was too dangerous. Cecilia didn't know when her crazy male lead would easily accuse her and bring her to her death again.
Fiona looked at the building in front of her, then looked at Cecilia uncertainly.
"Am... I going to stay here?"
Cecilia nodded. "This orphanage is funded directly by the kingdom. This place is safe. The people are kind too."
Fiona nodded. She felt grateful that Cecilia was willing to help her find a new place to live in this new world. But after spending some time with Cecilia, Fiona found it difficult to let Cecilia go just like that.
Her face looked sad, and that sadness did not escape Cecilia's notice.
Cecilia then took out a leather pouch and gave it to Fiona. Fiona accepted it in confusion. However, once she saw its contents, her eyes widened in disbelief.
The leather pouch was not small and was filled with gold coins. Fiona still did not understand the payment system in that world. However, she could guess that the money Cecilia gave her was more than enough for her to start a new life without any shortages.
"This is my farewell gift. Use it wisely and..." Cecilia also took off her gold necklace. The necklace was specially designed by the best craftsmen. It's price could buy a simple house in the capital, and Cecilia calmly gave the necklace to Fiona.
Fiona stared at the necklace, her eyes rounded when Cecilia handed it to her.
"I cannot accept it, Your Highness. This necklace is important to you, isn't it?"
"No," Cecilia replied as she slipped it into Fiona's palm. "This necklace is not important to me, but it will be useful if it is with you. If one day you need money, you can sell this necklace."
Fiona held the necklace tightly. She said nothing for a few seconds before finally looking directly into Cecilia's eyes.
"Are you giving me this parting gift because we won't see each other again?"
Cecilia paused for a moment. Every meeting with Fiona would only lead to her death. But this Fiona was different. Although the story would continue as it should, Cecilia couldn't bear to hurt someone who transmigrated the same way she did.
Cecilia knew how confusing and scary transmigration could be. Moreover, in Fiona's case, she transmigrated without becoming anyone.
"If fate permits," she replied softly, "-then we will meet again."
Fiona bit her lip, then nodded softly.
"Robert."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Robert moved quickly. He dismounted his horse, then went to the head of the orphanage. A middle-aged woman with a warm face came out with Robert not long after. She was about to kneel before Cecilia, but Cecilia stopped her from doing so.
"I leave her to you, Lady Fey."
"I will take care of her as best I can, Your Highness."
Cecilia nodded. She had given Fiona everything she could to survive like the original story. Now, it was time for Cecilia to live her own life.
"Your Highness!"
As Cecilia got back on her horse, Fiona called out to her desperately. Tears welled up in Fiona's eyes. She looked like she was going to cry any minute.
"We will meet again. Then, when that happens, I promise to be someone more worthy of you, Your Highness!"
Cecilia blinked in confusion. No, no. Those were not the words a female lead as loved and pampered as Fiona should have said.
"..."
But when Cecilia saw how serious Fiona was when she said that, she didn't have the heart to discourage her. Cecilia just nodded. In her heart, she hoped that what she was doing would not make her repeat the world a hundred times.
***
Cecilia's footsteps echoed throughout the corridors of the Magenta Palace. She had changed into her formal royal attire. Cecilia walked towards King Arkadion's office, where she could talk freely with her father.
"Welcome back."
When Cecilia entered, Arkadion immediately turned and smiled faintly as he greeted her. Cecilia nodded. After sitting down, Cecilia immediately gave her report to Arkadion.
"Sigh."
At the end of Cecilia's explanation, Arkadion let out a long sigh. Cecilia thought it was because she didn't do a good enough job. She was just about to explain when Arkadion suddenly looked at her worriedly.
"The progress of the trade route project is amazing. But what about you, Cecilia? Are you okay?"
It was only when Arkadion spoke again that Cecilia understood the reason behind her father's sigh. The man had been worried about her after she told him about the attack by the alpha wolves from the Erebos Forest.
Cecilia smiled. "I'm fine, Father. Prince Damian helped me in a time of crisis."
The king looked surprised when he heard Cecilia's additional report.
"He did it?!"
Of course, Arkadion was surprised too. Damian was already famous for his strange nature. He never cared about anything other than science.
"He helped me when the wolves tried to attack me. For his kindness, I actually thought about giving him a discount on his first purchase."
"You're right. He deserves it."
Arkadion looked relieved when he realized Cecilia was thinking about something he was also thinking about. Arkadion's eyes unconsciously stared at his daughter for a long time. Damian and Cecilia. Arkadion had never thought about that before.
"Father?"
Feeling watched, Cecilia spoke to wake her father from his daze. Arkadion looked surprised. But a moment later, he had regained his composure.
"That's right. I have also received a report that the Nerva's Blossom and Mira Root plants are ready to be sent to the Landis Kingdom as agreed. Are we going to send them on schedule?"
Cecilia smiled thinly. "That's what I want."
Cecilia then looked at her father seriously.
"…But before we make the delivery," she continued in a softer tone, "I would like to speak to Prince Damian first. We... had a bit of a falling out after the wolf attack. Therefore, I would like to make sure that he still wants to continue this cooperation first."
"You had a falling out with him? What did he do to you?"
Arkadion had just been daydreaming about his daughter's wedding, and he was immediately hit with the reality that Cecilia and Damian were not on good terms. Arkadion looked worried. Damian was not someone who would let someone's mistakes go so easily.
"When the wolf attack happened, I reprimanded Damian openly for embarrassing Sir Robert. He's been keeping quiet about me ever since."
Arkadion stared at Cecilia for a long moment, then suddenly smiled meaningfully.
"I think you'll be fine, Cecilia."
Cecilia raised her eyebrows in confusion.
"Right. You should talk to him. I'm sure he'll forgive you if you say it was all a misunderstanding."
"Actually, it wasn't a misunderstanding. I really meant to reprimand-"
Cecilia stopped talking when Arkadion got up to gently pat her shoulder. Arkadion smiled, the kind of smile a father would get when he realized his daughter was growing up too fast.
"You've grown up, Cecilia."
"?"
Cecilia had lived ninety-nine lives. But at that moment, she didn't understand what Arkadion meant by his words.