TJTPBFB 26

 Chapter 26

“The History of the Fairy Stone”

The company Ruri works for is a popular shop among handmade jewelry enthusiasts.

Haruki creates promotional videos showing how to make accessories, sharing about gem procurement, and even featuring Taichi and Mitsuko’s beloved dog — so the account has gathered many followers.

Ruri herself holds accessory-making workshops and live sales, so she’s actually become quite a popular creator too.

As Ruri checked the website for upcoming handmade events, Lapis was busy using magic to craft several accessories.

“Oh~ how lovely,” Ruri said in admiration.

It was a ring made from royal-blue, high-quality lapis lazuli.

As expected of the Kingdom of Gems.

Ruri picked it up and tried it on her finger, admiring it.

“With this, it’s what Ruri calls… not cheap—but a reasonably priced gemstone accessory, right?”

“Yeah, yeah. This is something I could even claim I made myself. You two really are amazing. In this country, you’d have no shortage of offers as jewelry craftsmen—if only magic weren’t involved.”

Ruri smiled at Lapis.

In any case, they needed money.

There were fourteen mouths to feed, and she also had to think about Fos’s future.

Would assassins from the Gem Kingdom come after them?
Or was there a dark organization in this country targeting them?

According to the fairies, the government might even be involved.

It made sense—after all, her grandmother had done fortune-telling for someone connected to them, so that couldn’t be a coincidence.

If those people were watching the house, searching for the Three Sacred Treasures, then it must be something that powerful figures would go to any lengths to obtain.

But if magic was involved—if they knew about magic—then both she and Fos might have their lives targeted.

First, she needed to find the Magic Mirror and strengthen her magic.

Unless she became a “Great Sorceress Grandma,” she wouldn’t be able to fight off enemies who could appear from anywhere.

Her body would only continue to age from here on, yet she had to protect the prince…

Hm? And after that?

Would she make peace with the kingdom or something? But peace about what exactly?

Or maybe assassins from the Gem Kingdom would invade here, and she’d have to fight them to protect the country?

She honestly had no idea.

Her grandmother’s letter was unreadable, and she didn’t know what she was supposed to do next.

Ruri looked around at the cheerful fairies, who were busily crafting and arranging gem accessories.

“Hey,” she asked, “in the Gem Kingdom—wasn’t there anyone acting suspicious lately?”

“Suspicious?”

“I mean, someone plotting a rebellion or something.”

Ruri asked, turning toward Sumire, who looked puzzled.

“The Gem Kingdom’s land area is small compared to the neighboring countries,” Sumire said. “So the population is carefully managed, and I don’t think there’s enough unrest for anyone to stage a rebellion.”

“I see… But you all don’t seem entirely happy with the queen either, do you?” Ruri said, glancing at Lemon.

“Well, that’s because the Fairy Stone was a vassal state, you know. More precisely, it was a protectorate under the Gem Kingdom’s rule. That was over a hundred years ago now.”

“That region used to have lots of small countries, always at war with each other. Every king wanted to rule everything, so battles and killings happened almost every day. Fairy Stone was just a small island—and it got caught up in those wars.”

Pure let out a deep sigh.