Chapter: 779
After much deliberation, it was decided that only the Crown Princess and Pedi would go on the capital tour.
No matter how I thought about it, including the triplets would just draw too much attention. Even with magic to hide their elf-like ears, those three would stick together like conjoined triplets. Three-year-old girls moving en masse would inevitably become the superstars of the capital.
With the triplets not coming, there was no way the younger siblings could go. I mean, if their older sister and brother couldn’t go, there’s no way they could. So, I figured this tour will just be a trial run, and if conditions are favorable later, we can gradually add more people. That’s the way to go for everyone involved.
“Woww!”
As we prepared for the outing, the Crown Princess stared into the mirror, showering it with gasps of wonder as the magic took effect.
“Your Highness, do you like it?”
“Yup! I like it!”
“Phew, that’s a relief.”
Seeing the twinkling eyes of the Crown Princess made Trixie smile softly, too.
“And Pedi, how do you feel?”
“I like it too!”
With both passes of approval, Trixie’s smile grew brighter.
‘Magic really is incredible.’
Even I couldn’t help but admire Trixie’s disguise magic. It was so perfect that I couldn’t even feel taken aback, despite knowing their true appearances.
First, the Crown Princess had her signature violet eyes changed to black, a decision fueled by her strong wish to have the same color as Pedi.
On the other hand, Pedi’s hair was turned silver, once again to match her sister’s request.
‘From a distance, they really look like siblings now.’
Somehow, their matching hair colors and eye colors made them look like a charming little duo.
I was satisfied. The royal symbol was cloaked in black, while Krasius’s dark hair was hidden under silver. They had effectively swapped characteristics.
“Alright, it’s time for you, Carl.”
“I want the same!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make you look like a father and child.”
With Trixie’s confident words, I nodded subconsciously.
I mean, who wouldn’t feel at ease when the top-notch magic wielder is doing the transformation?
“Wow! Now dad looks just like us!”
“Yup! Daddy’s hair is white too!”
Seeing the enthusiastic reactions from the Crown Princess and Pedi, it seemed like Trixie’s disguise magic worked flawlessly on me too.
And please, call it silver hair, not white. I don’t want to be reminded of aging unnecessarily.
“Clothes were prepared in advance by Yuris and Sofia. You can pick whatever you like to wear.”
“Thank goodness! I was wondering what to wear!”
What’s more, they had proactively brought the necessities without being told. I should buy some small gifts during the tour then.
Well, Yuris and Sofia are both adults at this point, so dresses and accessories would be perfect. Worst case, I can always sell them again for some cash.
“Come on! Let’s go! Quickly!”
While I was thinking all this, the Crown Princess, who had already changed into regular clothes, was hopping up and down in excitement.
“Your Highness, let me remind you once again: while we’re outside, you must call me ‘dad’ and not ‘Uncle.’ Got it?”
“Yup!”
“I’ll treat you like my daughter.”
“Yup, yup!”
“Alright then, let’s go.”
Hey, Emperor, are you watching? For today, the Crown Princess isn’t your daughter—she’s mine.
I’m going to feed her delicious food that will make you miss your dinner together, and by the time we get back to the palace, she’ll pass out right away.
You won’t even get a goodnight kiss.
‘If I’m providing close protection, I guess that’s a fair trade-off.’
Though technically, it’s just my niece I’m looking after, I can’t help but feel that it’s unfair that the Emperor pays no price at all.
If I’m suffering physically for this, the Emperor should be suffering mentally. That’s the balance of the Empire.
It suddenly struck me that this would be my first proper sightseeing tour of the capital as well.
Since I work and live in the capital, I’ve seen it all before, but back then, I strutted around as the “I’m Carl Krasius” type. With my uniform on, everyone knew I was a noble and a civil servant.
So, this tour is almost like my first vacation too. It’s a chance to explore without caring about others’ stares or feelings, just enjoying it at my leisure.
“Daddy! Look! Circus!”
And the historic first official outing was a visit to the circus.
In a way, it was thanks to this circus that the Crown Princess insisted on touring the capital. That little ball launched by the circus had soared high into the air.
“I want to see! I want to see!”
“If you want to see, then we should go see it. Let’s check that out first and then look at other things.”
“Yay!”
As soon as I said that, the Crown Princess dashed toward the temporary tent set up for the performance, but she froze right in front of the entrance.
“Daddy, what’s this?”
She pointed to a bag displayed next to the entrance.
Specifically, she was pointing at a bag full of popcorn.
‘Popcorn in a medieval setting, huh?’
Is that a thing? Well, considering this world is a melting pot of cultures, it wouldn’t be too surprising.
And popcorn’s essential for theater viewing, right? In a place like this, it’s actually a good thing.
‘Gotta make sure they try all kinds of food.’
Importantly, one of the goals of this excursion is to feed the kids foods they usually don’t get. If they only eat the same old stuff, what kind of tour is that?
“That’s a snack! It might be a little salty compared to what you usually eat.”
“I want to try!”
“Me too!”
With the enthusiasm of the Crown Princess and Pedi, who opened their mouths like baby birds, I nodded in satisfaction.
Thank goodness. I was worried that our kids had become such food snobs that they wouldn’t touch common food found on the street.
“How much is this?”
With a willing heart, I asked one of the people nearby, who was dressed like a clown. Clearly, they were a vendor.
“Yes? Oh, yes! You’re asking about the price?”
The clown hesitated for a moment, rolling their eyes, then flashed a big smile and waved their hands.
“Since I see such pretty little ones! I feel good today! I’ll give you three bags for free!”
“Wait, what?”
“Oh, do you need drinks too? I can give you three cups for free as well!”
Before I even had a chance to decline, the clown stuffed popcorn and drinks into my arms.
I was somewhat impressed by their speed, definitely not your average vendor. I guess circus performers really are in a league of their own?
“No, no. Even so, I should pay…”
“Oh, it’s fine! If it makes you uncomfortable, just give us a round of applause once we’re done! Your applause is a big encouragement for the performers!”
Their earnest plea left no room for further argument.
Instead, since I felt awkward just accepting their generosity and not giving anything in return, I decided to quietly leave a tip after the show.
*
As the family with silver hair and black eyes entered, they immediately let out a sigh.
The performance was about to start, and they were starting to close the entrance, but I never expected a group like that to show up at the last minute.
‘All blue blood.’
My instincts screamed. All the experiences I had while traveling around the Empire told me so.
These three were undoubtedly of noble birth. They wore ordinary clothes like the townsfolk, but the elegance in their demeanor was impossible to hide.
And let’s not kid ourselves; while their appearance might be common, the fabric certainly wasn’t. Which commoner can afford to wear such fine cloth for everyday wear? They probably wear fancier clothing at important places.
‘If I act like I know who they are, I’m just asking for trouble.’
But then again, behaving like they were just other guests would be equally problematic. The mindset of nobles is notoriously delicate and strange. Even without revealing their status, they could take offense if treated like regular folks. If that’s the case, why even try to hide who you are?
So, I hastily passed them the popcorn and drinks for free. A simple snack doesn’t mean much to nobles, but maybe they appreciated it since I complimented their children…? That was my hope anyway—?
‘Huh?’
Suddenly, a man with white hair and orange eyes appeared right in front of me.
What the…? Wasn’t nobody here a second ago?
‘A black uniform?’
My blood ran cold when I finally took in the man’s attire.
That eerie black uniform. The insignia on the sleeves clearly meant that—
“Excessive curiosity can lead to unnecessary crises.”
With that, he flicked a coin at me, causing the great silver coin to roll.
“Proper behavior attracts blessings that might not have come your way.”
“Er, I’ll keep that in mind…”
As I instinctively started to reply, he pressed a finger to his lips.
It was a clear sign to be silent, so I bowed my head quietly.
“Hah.”
And as I lifted my head again, the man who had appeared like the wind was gone. I felt like I had seen a ghost.
Wait, was it rude to compare him to a ghost? He’s evidently way more powerful.
‘What’s a guy from the Information Department doing here?’
What’s worse, judging by his insignia, he was clearly someone of high rank, not just an ordinary civil servant.
“Excessive curiosity can lead to unnecessary crises.”
However, I shook my head at his earlier words.
I know nothing. I saw nothing from this spot.
…
‘What luck to find a great silver coin like this just lying around.’
Incredible luck indeed! Perhaps Enen must have seen how hard I work and decided to reward me with this treasure.
Since I picked it up off the ground, it’s mine now.
*
The circus presented exactly the kind of performance I expected.
But from my perspective, with all the entertainment options lacking in this world, it was a surprisingly diverse and fascinating show. It also showcased an incredible quality that exceeded all my expectations.
“Daddy! Look at that!”
The Crown Princess sparkled as she watched a fox leap effortlessly through flaming hoops.
It made me smile for no particular reason. We had so many talking animals back home, and yet she can find joy in something so simple.
“Wow! I bet Jengjeong could do that too, right!?”
Oh.
She liked it for a different reason altogether.
“Jengjeong! You could do it! Right?”
“Uh, maybe. With practice, it could be possible.”
Sorry, Jengjeong. It looks like I’m going to have to make you practice jumping with me for a while.
But at least it was a relief that upcoming items in the show, like the dish act, juggling, and escape tricks, kept the Crown Princess’s interest thoroughly engaged. If I’m lucky, I might just escape Jengjeong’s tear-inducing fire show.
“Hang in there.”
I silently cheered for the circus performers.
For the peace and well-being of Jengjeong. I sincerely hope they deliver a performance at 120%.
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