Chapter: 603
The day after I told the attendants that if the Crown Princess came to the mansion, I would serve her wholeheartedly…
“Daboo! Daboo!”
The Crown Princess, nestled in the arms of the Head Maid, descended with her four little companions.
I was a bit surprised by the rapid visit. I had noticed when the Emperor sent someone to ask if I had time, but who would have thought that the Crown Princess, the first in line for the throne, would be out in just one day?
‘Seems like she must have suffered quite a bit.’
As a father myself, I felt a pang of sympathy for the Emperor. If something so unreasonable had happened, it wasn’t his decision; it was simply the sorrowful choice of a father unable to resist his child.
“Your Highness, welcome!”
“Ugh! I’m here!”
Bowing my head to the sparkling eyes of the Crown Princess was met with her cheerful response.
Maybe it was the passing of the year, but her words had become more fluent, and her voice clearer. Imagining her throwing a tantrum with that voice toward the Emperor felt oddly satisfying.
“Head Maid! Let her down!”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
At the Crown Princess’s command, the Head Maid gently smiled and set her down. Instantly, the four little ones flopped down on the floor as if they had rehearsed it.
“Number 2!”
– Yip!
The Crown Princess beamed and tried to climb onto one of them.
“No, that’s not allowed.”
“Eh?”
– Huh?
I slipped my hand under her armpit and lifted her up.
Riding the little companions was fine; after all, the Crown Princess had already become a Kyle’s Companion on rides throughout the palace. There was no reason to stop her.
However, this wasn’t the soft grass of the palace garden, but a stone floor where even an adult could get hurt from a fall. If the Crown Princess fell, the chance of a sprain—or worse—was high.
“Daboo! Put me down!”
Carefully cradling the squirming Crown Princess, I made sure she did not get hurt in front of a guest.
“Would you like to try something different today?”
Fortunately, I had a good persuasion tactic ready.
“Something different?”
At my words, the Crown Princess tilted her head in curiosity.
Yes, something different. A new world the girl who always rode her little companions had never experienced before.
“If you stay still for a moment, I’ll get you set up right away.”
“…Okay!”
After a moment of consideration, the Crown Princess nodded vigorously.
It was a sign of good fortune for the royal family and the empire that the Crown Princess was not a stubborn child. If the Emperor’s only child and future ruler had a strong will, it could lead to difficulties.
Before she learned to walk on her own, the two-wheeled carriage she hadn’t used for a while, which had accompanied her and Titi, was back in business.
“Wow! Wow!”
Riding in the carriage, the Crown Princess dashed through the mansion’s corridors, cheering like crazy.
So sweet. I knew the animal-loving Crown Princess would love the wheelchair.
“Do you like it!?”
“Yes!”
“I’m glad!”
The two little companions pulling the carriage knew very well that the one they were playing with was higher in status than me and ran with vigor that could foam at the mouth.
Meanwhile, in the midst of it all, I was worried about whether the Crown Princess would fall, adjusting the speed and slowing down as we made turns.
I’m sorry, but thank you. Because of you, the next Empress can smile.
“Every time I see it, it’s fascinating. There are talking beasts in this world!”
As I watched the scene with warmth, the Head Maid next to me spoke softly.
“They’re not ordinary beasts. They’re a kind of holy beast that received names from the future saint.”
“Holy beasts, huh?”
At my words, the Head Maid looked at the holy beasts that had the forms of a deer and a foal.
“The Emperor grew up with holy beasts in his childhood. It’s like a story straight out of a fairy tale.”
“Definitely sounds like it.”
I couldn’t help but laugh spontaneously.
The Emperor of the empire raised with talking animals and holy beasts from childhood? As the Head Maid said, it seemed like a tale worthy of fairy tales. It was similar to tales of Ainter, the Dragon Lord, riding out to the battlefield.
“Nuwa—!”
– Yip!
Just then, I heard a familiar voice and turned to see Titi striding confidently with the Crown Princess atop.
‘Sister…’
That felt like a too casual nickname for the heir of the Count, but since the Emperor and Empress approved it, even the loyal Head Maid showed no reaction.
Of course, the title “Your Highness” was too hard for little Patti. If not taught properly, she might end up confusing the Crown Princess’s name with Irina Livnoman.
So, among kids, it wasn’t weird for them to call each other Brother and Sister…
‘Why do I feel uneasy?’
An instinct warned me. This trivial title could be a shackle that binds Patti for life. This Sister-Brother relationship could lead to the next Crown Princess and the next slave.
It felt like an excessive worry, but look at me, rolling around in the Emperor’s duties without any connection to him. What about the Emperor’s only son and the Crown Princess’s childhood friend?
“Beddy!”
Amidst it all, the Crown Princess responded to Patti’s voice with a bright smile and started tugging at the tails of her two holy beasts.
“For Beddy! For Beddy!”
“Understood!”
The Crown Princess thought of Patti like a little sibling, and I felt both joy and bitterness.
For Patti’s wealthy, idle life, I should avoid getting too close with the Crown Princess. Yet keeping these two friendly children apart was not the adult thing to do.
‘…It’ll work out somehow.’
I tried to calm my racing heart.
Sure, it’ll work out somehow. Just because they’re close doesn’t mean they’ll automatically enslave her. That’s the Emperor’s doing, not the gentle little Crown Princess. Such cruel deeds could only be enacted by someone of the Emperor’s status.
So I shouldn’t worry too much. Our Patti will surely live happily as a wealthy, idle one.
“Daboo!”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Beddy! Can I eat chocolate now?”
I smiled at the Crown Princess, who looked up at me with sparkling eyes.
Today was the day our first daughter came to visit, and she was in a splendid mood. If she’s feeling good, I should make things even better.
“Yes! You can have it now!”
“Wow!”
With that, the Crown Princess started rummaging through her clothes, pulling out chocolate and unwrapping it.
Now that’s impressive. She walks around daily with chocolate in her arms, wanting to share something delicious with her little brother.
“For Beddy! This is a gift!”
“Uwoo?”
Patti tilted her head and turned to me.
“It’s yummy! Try it.”
I nodded, reached for the Crown Princess’s chocolate—
“Eh?”
“Whoa.”
I almost grabbed it but missed. Still too young, she doesn’t quite know how to hold on tight just yet.
Fortunately, it fell on Titi’s head instead of the floor. With just a little fur to shake off, it was still good to eat.
“Our Patti. Open wide! Ah—!”
After petting Titi, who was panting regardless of the chocolate landing on her head, I held the treat up toward Patti’s mouth.
“Eat it!”
And then the response the Crown Princess had wished for arose.
As Patti took a bite of the chocolate, her eyes grew wide, and she kept exclaiming how delicious it was. Finally, the Crown Princess’s long wait paid off.
“Ahh!”
– Huh?
“P-Patti! That’s not something you can eat!”
Yet she seemed to love it so much that she even started nibbling on Titi’s hair, where the chocolate had briefly landed.
“Spit it out! Bad girl, bad girl!”
– Eeeek…?
Upon hearing “bad girl,” Titi gave a pitiful whine, but I couldn’t even think of comforting her.
Honestly, Titi’s fur wasn’t dirty since we clean her daily, but it’s not particularly pleasant for a child’s respiratory system to breathe in dog hair.
“Beddy! Wait!”
Even the Crown Princess watched the transformation with wide eyes, suddenly assuming a stern expression.
Of course, by her standards, that sternness was still very light. To me, it looked more like a little bird fiercely trying to intimidate an enemy.
“Friend! You mustn’t get her dirty!”
“Little Master, you shouldn’t just put anything in your mouth.”
Thanks to the frantic pleas from myself, the Crown Princess, and the Head Maid, Titi’s fur was extracted from Patti’s mouth.
Unfortunately, some of the chocolate stuck to Titi’s fur, now turning her previously golden coat a brownish hue.
‘Brown Retriever…’
Realizing the breed of the pet had changed was quite a unique experience.
Right after that, the Crown Princess, exhausted from running around the mansion with Patti, fell asleep.
“Why is it always me…”
Holding the ultimate pick of the triplets, Jangsaeng, she liked him best.
Maybe it was because of Jangsaeng’s appearance resembling a Yorkshire Terrier, but he received extra love from young children. Thinking about his past, when he was called death, feels a bit weird, but his current form is just a calm and cute little pet.
– Woof!
“Stop licking me! You yellow things!”
The little companions sitting around the sleeping Crown Princess seemed curious about Jangsaeng, nudging him with their noses and licking at him.
“Uuu…”
“If Your Highness wakes up, she’ll keep you by their side all week.”
At that, Jangsaeng, who had been thrashing around, suddenly froze in place.
Honestly, thinking like that made me a bit annoyed. What’s wrong with our triplets?
“I wonder how long it’s been since the Crown Princess slept like that.”
After Jangsaeng’s movement ceased, the Head Maid muttered with a look of appreciation.
I might not be aware of the palace’s situation, but hearing the Head Maid made me understand a bit. They must have been struggling to protect the active Crown Princess at the palace.
But in our house, we have eleven holy beasts. It’d be easy enough to tire her out.
“I suppose I should visit the palace more often.”
“Should you do so, we would be most grateful.”
Seeing the Head Maid nod deeply at my frequent mentions of going to court, it’s clear.
The Crown Princess is a stamina monster that no one can stop at the palace.
“Carl.”
“Yeah?”
“Look over there.”
Margarita, the lady of the Krasius family, turned her gaze to the left just as we were watching the Crown Princess sleeping.
“Ah.”
Turning my head at Margaritas direction, I burst into laughter.
Patti was waddling towards the Crown Princess, wrapped in her blanket, just like a little superhero.
“Seems like Patti’s tired too.”
“Hehe, she was playing with the Crown Princess after all.”
Seeing Patti lying next to the Crown Princess made both Margarita and me smile.
Coincidentally, even the blanket they shared had a black base with silver embroidery.
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