Chapter 453: Summer Offering

All around me, the gnarled branches of oaken trees gently creaked to the breeze. Moss grew on every strip of bark, while roots larger than myself snaked perilously across what remained of the dirt lane.… Or rather, they should be.

Here in the forest between Rolstein and the Royal Villa, the dancing canopy of leaves was distinctly thinner than the last time I was here. 

Instead of glancing up to see hints of sunlight filtering past, I winced as the full glare of the afternoon poured down from an open sky. 

Where there should be a peaceful forest, there was instead a scene of devastation. 

Many of the trees were lopsided or fallen. Some were simply missing. And the reason came courtesy of a wooden sign in the middle of the muddy trail. 

CAUTION

Due to evidence of a large monster in the area, the forest road is temporarily closed. Visitors to Magdoline Village or the Royal Villa are advised to take the lakeside road.

For further information, please visit the Rolstein branch of the Adventurer’s Guild.

At the base of the sign was a small mountain of fruit, candles and stuffed plushies in the shape of a cuddly dragon, left as though in tribute. 

And no wonder.

… For something to be able to destroy so much of the forest was beyond horrifying! 

Why, to think that here in the woodlands so close to my home would be a monster so frightful! For what reason have my knights not personally seen to this? It was clearly a problem demanding their attention! 

In fact, the more I looked, the more dreadful this appeared!

Given the way the trees were bent, it was as though they’d been swiped by a frost mammoth, tackled by a hill giant … or … or perhaps struck by an incredibly strong breeze …

Perhaps even one carrying a colony of exploding man eating fire breathing death beetles … 

Some time ago …

All of a sudden, sweat began falling past my brows. Especially as a village girl looked suspiciously at me as she walked past, a basket of fruit in her arms.

She lowered her burden to the base of the sign, then clasped her hands together in prayer.

“O’ benevolent guardian of the forest, I ask that you look over us and keep us safe. May our days be blessed with warmth and free of turmoil. Please accept my offering on behalf of my village, and offer us your protection.”  

As a strange gurgling noise left my lips, Coppelia looked between the village girl, me, and the basket.

A moment later, she wore a bright smile, lifted the basket and held it up to me.

“O-Ohohohoh?! C-Coppelia, why are you giving me this basket of fruit for my inspection?! It’s clearly excellent quality! Any beautiful guardian of the forest not responsible for accidentally causing half of its destruction would be more than delighted to receive such a gift!”

“Mmh, I think so too! So which fruit do you want? The blueberries look the best, but the peaches seem like they’ll ripen too much if you don’t eat them first.”  

In response, the village girl quickly grabbed the basket and hugged it to her chest. She turned away slightly, her eyes narrowing.

“Um … excuse me, but please don’t eat the fruit offerings. They’re for the guardian of the forest.”

“I think the guardian of the forest prefers more strawberries,” said Coppelia, leaning away as I went to poke her.

“The guardian of the forest is grateful for every offering,” I said with a perfectly normal, twitching smile. “... Although, yes, I’m sure there’s a preference for strawberries. Incidentally, what is this guardian you refer to … ?”

The village girl’s concerned expression softened at once. Her eyes lit up like a shepherd finding a new flock. 

“The guardian of the forest is a benevolent spirit in the shape of a wise and great animal. Some say it’s a great white wolf. Others think it’s a giant stag. I think it’s a dragon.”

“A … dragon.”

“A dragon. And that’s not just me. There were people from the Mage’s Guild a while ago. They said from the force of the destruction and the scorch marks, it had to be something able to use fire. Can you believe that? A dragon here to protect us!”

“That sounds amazing,” said Coppelia. “Please tell me more.”

The village girl nodded. Her hands clapped together again.

“Although we were worried at first, ever since rumours of the guardian’s arrival, there haven’t been any issues with lawlessness in the forest. In fact, just a few nights ago, a group of bandits were seen heading through. Nobody in Rolstein or the village on the other side have seen or heard news of them. Now we offer our gratitude whenever we can.”

I was aghast.

Why, even if I’d accidentally and with utterly no evidence caused a few trees to explode, to have anything I did confused for a dragon was simply terrible! 

Dragons were freeloaders who did nothing but sponge off the hard work of others! I was a princess! I worked hard to smile every day–something very difficult now that I saw the sacrifices of my subjects!

Indeed, despite their poverty, they were gifting food they themselves sorely needed!

It was unconscionable! Had I known this, I would have directed my servants to collect everything! The fruit slimes did not deserve my offerings!

“I see,” I said with a serious nod. “So a benevolent and completely anonymous guardian has come to ensure the road is free of ruffians. Such public service is certainly worthy of your donations … although since this is the edge of the forest, I also suggest leaving the offerings further ahead.” 

“Well, I would do, but the badgers are good at taking them all.”

“Excuse me?”

“The badgers. Cute things, but also hungry. Now that the place is safe, they’ve been popping up all over.”

I let out a groan.

Just what had been the point of everything I’d done … ?

“... Is that so? Then I shall keep that in mind. It appears there’s still much work for the guardian of the forest to do.”

The village girl raised her brow in confusion.

She then watched carefully as I tugged on Apple’s reins and proceeded down the road, the weight of her gaze never leaving until we were entirely out of sight.

A few minutes later–

“Soooo, what do you think of your offerings, Miss Dragon?” asked Coppelia, carrying a basket of fruit in her arms.

I held my chin high, as befitting a princess accepting her gifts. I reached for a large pear, then leaned forwards and offered it to Apple.

He consumed it in a single bite.

“Please. This is hardly something to jest about. I am a princess. My calling is higher than a dragon’s. As are my standards.”

“True, if the big guy was given this, he’d just squish the whole thing onto toast including the basket. That’d be a waste. Your peasants didn’t cheapen out. This stuff looks great!”

“Excellent, we can enjoy the literal fruits of my labour in a short while.”

“Eh? Why not now?”

“We’ve no time for a picnic now. We still have an important task ahead of us.” 

“Really? I thought the only thing left was to be nosy in your bedroom. Isn’t it just over there?”

“It is.” I nodded, making a mental note to ensure my bedroom was tidy before Coppelia burgled it. “But before I never leave my home again, there’s still something we need to do.”

“Got it~! You want to get our stories straight about all the explosions!”

“C-Coppelia?! There were no explosions over the course of our travels! … But yes, that’s also something we need to discuss.”

“My bribery rates are extremely affordable.”

“I’m not bribing my own handmaiden … although out of curiosity, what are your current bribery rates?”

“A goblin moss cake!”

I let out a pained sigh. 

Every now and again, I was reminded that Coppelia’s taste buds sadly hadn’t survived the journey.

“The Royal Villa has three kitchens and more pastry chefs than I know what to do with on account of them constantly hiding in cupboards when I try to fire them. Even so, I’m certain none of them knows how to bake goblin moss cakes.”

“No worries! I can teach them.”

“With what? There’s no moss.”

“Ahaha~ you underestimate goblins. There’s always a cave nearby.”

“In that case, I want their taxes, not their moss. Can you not simply ask for crowns as your bribery demands instead?”

“I mean, I could, but there are loads of things crowns can’t buy. Like the sight of fancy ladies suddenly fainting when served freshly stale moss cakes at the next dance thing.”

I was stunned.

It was a highly unorthodox way of instilling horror in my nobility … but also worthy of consideration? 

Why, to think that even before putting on her wonderful uniform, she was already thinking about how to ward away baronesses from my mandatory tea parties!

She … She was so loyal!

“My, that’s an excellent suggestion!” I said, nodding fervently. “Perhaps haute cuisine could use a little experimentation! I shall instruct the squires to search for moss as soon as we arrive!”

Coppelia giggled, all the while rolling the fruit around in her basket to hide what she wanted for herself. Quite unnecessary, of course. Very soon, she would be spoiled for choice.

There was just a small detour needed first.

Thus, as we arrived at a sparkling stream, I tugged Apple to a halt. 

Allowing him to quench his thirst, I hopped off his back, fixed my hair, then turned to the thickest part of the forest–much to the curiosity of Coppelia.

“Ooh, are we searching for the goblin caves already?”

“Absolutely not. We’re going somewhere far more pleasant.”

“That’s only because you haven’t seen what their best caves are like. Some of them are really cozy. Even you’d be impressed.”

“In that case, you might shortly be able to point one out for me. From a safe height.”

Coppelia hummed, clearly enthusiastic about where in a forest I’d chosen for a detour.

I offered little hint as I made my way through, ducking beneath the gnarled branches while pausing only to study the occasional flowering shrubs. All the petals and leaves were flourishing now, the colours drowning out my memories.

Even so … nothing could quite hide the faint trail caused by a clockwork doll laden with several sacks of loot, who’d skipped through here while spring was young and a princess was still innocent of the dangers of guild receptionists.

That’s why–

“Here we are.”

I clapped my hands in delight.

Exiting from between a pair of azalea shrubs, I was met by a completely ordinary tree.

Vibrant and slightly gnarled, there was nothing to distinguish it from every other tree in the forest. And yet as Coppelia studied it, it was enough to earn a tilt of her head.

She thought for a moment, and then with her basket still in her arms, she gracefully hopped up and landed on a branch, causing it only to dip ever so slightly.

The moment she swung her legs, her eyes widened.

“Oooh! I recognise this feeling! … This is where I was sitting when I found you!”

I raised a hand to my lips, barely covering my smile.

“Ohohohoho … indeed, it is the very same tree where we first met!”

Yes!

We had finally come full circle! 

Although this wasn’t my bedroom, this was truly where it all began. 

Up until reaching this tree, I’d merely been trying to escape. But once I met Coppelia, that was when my journey to fix absolutely everything started in earnest. 

“You may cherish sitting on that slightly uncomfortably looking branch for as long as you wish, and also as often as you desire. It is yours, after all.”

“It is?”

“Yes–or rather it’s ours. As the place we first met, this is a historical landmark.”

I cleared my throat, then placed my hand to my chest.

That made this more official than any written edict.

“That’s why … I hereby declare this Juliette and Coppelia’s Tree. Done. This is now a place of national significance on par with Reitzlake Castle, the Royal Villa and my personal bookshelf. None may approach or disturb it without risk of arbitrary imprisonment.”

My announcement echoed throughout the forest, destined to be repeated until every woodcutter knew not to accidentally fell this monument. 

Especially since Coppelia was going to help spread the word.

“Wooooooooo!” She raised the basket of fruit in joy. “I get my own tree named after me! That’s #74 on the bucket list! … Want me to make a wooden sign?” 

“My, if you could, that’d be wonderful! As a national monument, we must do everything to protect it.”

“Great! But since it’s ours, does that mean we can do whatever we want with it?”

“Well … yes? But I’m hoping to preserve it. That’s the purpose of officially declaring it a landmark.”

“Sure, but a landmark means it’s going to become a tourist spot. Loads of people will want to visit the specially named tree. That means we need to improve it.”

“That’s … I don’t really think it needs improving … or rather, I’m uncertain how to? It’s difficult to goad a tree into doing what we want, not least one I haven’t even personally grown.”

“No worries, you can leave that to me!”

To my great concern, Coppelia leaned back and looked high, basket on her lap as she framed her fingers together into a rectangle. And then a square. And then a shape with no name whatsoever. 

Whatever she was planning, all I knew was that it was both wildly impractical and very expensive.

I pursed my lips slightly.

“I … I see? Well, if you decide you wish to improve the tree, it must be tasteful, practical and not dangerous … also, please let me know beforehand what you intend to do.”

“Heheheheheh~”

Hmm.

She only laughed.

That was the most worrying answer of all. 

Thus, I smiled, and choosing to adhere to blissful ignorance, I did what needed to be done next.

Seeing what all the fuss was about.

I brushed down my knees, then placed a hand to the trunk of the tree, the other reaching up for a branch. And then I began to climb. 

Coppelia’s mouth widened.

“Eh … ? Ehh … ?! You’re climbing a tree … ?!” 

“Of course not. What you see is surely a figment of your imagination.”

Coppelia blinked, clearly wondering if she needed to return to Ouzelia to have her cogs fixed.

This was made all the more pressing when I climbed with the familiar grace of someone who escaped a tower via a large oak whenever my tutors betrayed their footsteps. 

But that also meant I never dallied long enough to sit.

After a moment, I blew the leaves away from my face, then lifted myself upon Coppelia’s branch. I scooted beside her, then dangled my legs while looking ahead, ignoring the part of the forest blown down to focus on the bits still standing.

I plucked an apple from the basket and began to nibble.

Coppelia blinked at me.

A few seconds later, she picked up a plum and joined me in silence, eating while admiring the scenery. 

The scent of fresh fruit blended with the soft warmth of summer, drifting through the air as a reminder of all in bloom. Birds sang above the rustle of leaves, their songs brushing against our ears. As we sat balanced on our dipping branch, unburdened by worry, butterflies danced around us, drawn to the quiet perch we shared.

For the first time, instead of passing through a forest without pause, we spent a moment to appreciate the colours of my kingdom, now lifted from the blackness that had overtaken it when I first departed.

That felt like a long time ago. And yet at the same time, it wasn’t.

Soon, my royal tour would be at an end. But that didn’t mean I had to rush home. 

I could enjoy this for just a few moments longer.