PFPL Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Jeron glanced at Celestia. He had thought she was beautiful when he first saw her, but today she seemed even more so.

He had never realized that black hair could shine like that. It was on a completely different level from his own black hair, which he had dyed with a concoction to hide its blotchy, uneven colors.

Yet Celestia had told him his hair reminded her of hers.

“For some reason, I’m drawn to people with black hair and black eyes.”

“Eh? Why is that?”

“It just feels familiar… Hehe. It’s instinctive, like it’s flowing through my veins.”

Her small, lark-like voice seemed to make Jeron’s heart pound.

‘Do ears even have hearts?’

Even if he didn’t fully understand what she meant, he could clearly feel her fondness for him.

Until now, Jeron had lived feeling hostility so sharp it made his skin tingle. He didn’t know why, but people always said things like, “Why was someone like this even born…? They’re useless, tsk.” He could only think that being born was probably some kind of grave mistake.

He had decided to run away because the mansion’s master would call him once a month to do painful, strange, and unpleasant things. Even now, just seeing something sharp made his whole body break out in goosebumps.

He didn’t want to be in pain anymore.

At noon, he realized the sun in the blue sky could be dazzling.

He had learned what it truly meant to eat—not to survive on bread that had gone stale and hard right before collapsing, but to sit across from someone at the proper time and have warm soup, crisp salad, and tender meat that had a satisfying bite.

He loved being able to sleep under a blanket that smelled clean, rather than lying on straw infested with dust and insects.

At first, he had been suspicious, but now he was truly grateful to Celestia for taking him in.

Count Tolkie had also said that one should always be grateful to a princess who had made such a decisive choice—not something easily done. Jeron felt he had to do something, anything, in return.

“Eat well, sleep well, and learn carefully from the Count. Later, you must help me a lot.”

Even with Jeron’s clumsy reply, Celestia smiled brightly.

His heart thudded wildly, echoing through his entire body.

“Ugh, I’m tired.”

“Oh my, my goodness! Princess! Just now—!”

“Hm?”

“That sounded so… like an old man.”

Hehe.

Lyz laughed. She must have been exhausted following me all day; maybe it was time to indulge in a little mischief.

“Bring me a wet handkerchief, Lyz.”

“A handkerchief? Why…?”

Though her words faltered, Lyz diligently brought a handkerchief dampened with water.

“Ah, that’s refreshing!”

I wiped my face and neck with it. I considered wiping my armpits too while she was at it, but that would be too undignified, so I held back.

“Ah! Princess! Where on earth did you learn this? When? How?!”

Lyz, initially shocked, ended up laughing uncontrollably.

“Fun, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Princess. That was hilarious. I never knew you had talent in this area.”

“In this area?”

“A bit… cheeky?”

“You little! Lyz! You’re asking for trouble!”

I threw punches into the air, and Lyz dashed away, laughing excitedly once more.

After the brief fun, I cleaned myself thoroughly with Lyz’s help and sat neatly at the desk.

Then I picked up a pen.

The Count’s earlier words had stuck in my mind.

The “No entry” rule hadn’t even lasted a few days, and I was already suffering withdrawal symptoms.

“This world with no cameras—damn it! No, not damn it! Just invent them already, anyone!”

I neatly wrote Killian’s name on the letter paper.

“Perfect.”

I mulled over the letters of Killian’s name, then dipped the pen in ink.

[To Killian]

Killian, hello. It’s Tia.

It’s only been four days, but I hope you’ve been well.

I heard you did well in swordsmanship class yesterday. Your diligence is admirable. As expected, Killian, you’re amazing.

Sigh.

All I could do was praise him. How do I even tell him that I’ve lifted the “No entry” rule and want him to visit again?

As I pondered, there was a knock on the door, and Lyz came in.

“Lyz? What is it? Weren’t you supposed to be asleep?”

“Well…”

“Hm?”

From outside came a loud wailing. What on earth was happening? I put down the pen to make sure the ink didn’t smudge, and Lyz awkwardly grinned.

“It’s Lady Adel, the daughter of the Marquess of Luendiff, Princess.”

“Adel? Why is she—?”

“Hahaha.”

Another loud wail echoed.

“Could it be that sound…?”

“Yes, it’s definitely that sound.”

Adel had barged in.

“Adel, my daughter. Please, that mouth, no, those eyes, no, that nose…”

“Just leave her, Marquess.”

Adel hiccuped and sniffled as the Marquess of Luendiff stood by, watching her.

She was a daughter he cherished as if his life depended on it. He left her be, thinking she must have been terribly upset, but he added his comment cautiously, worried she might cry all night.

“She’s not usually like this, Princess. Even when she gets blisters from sword practice, she never flinches. But for some reason, since four days ago, she’s been tearful day and night… You understand, Princess? Crying at all times, not from heartbreak… tears, snot, all the fluids in her body. I couldn’t sleep worrying. When I asked why, she said she wanted to see you…”

I raised my hand to stop the Marquess from speaking further.

Wow, that was a lot.

“Basically, Adel cried because she wanted to see me.”

“That’s exactly it, Princess! You’re so perceptive! I’m not being arrogant—I’m just truly moved!”

“Okay. Now go home. Leave Adel here.”

“Eh?”

“We have something to discuss ourselves. The Marquess should return home.”

“Ah!”

“You still have sword class tomorrow, right? She can stay here overnight. Is that okay?”

Adel, eyes wide, grabbed her father’s arm, shaking it frantically. He must be urging her to nod quickly.

“Of course, Princess. We can entrust Adel to you. Adel, listen to the Princess, okay? Sleep early, wake early.”

I clapped my hands. If left as is, it would be endless crying.

“Marquess?”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Please, go now.”

“Ah.”

“I’m so sleepy!”

“Sorry for the trouble, Princess.”

I waved my hand, pretending not to notice the eyes full of concern.

Phew. She’s exhausting in so many ways.

The bedroom door closed. Finally, I could look at Adel properly. Her eyes and nose were red, her lips chapped.

Poor little girl.

She must have been through some stress.

Even though her face was swollen, she was still cute, but the fatigue made me feel a little sympathetic. Yet, thinking about how much she missed me made my heart flutter a little.

“Adel.”

“T-T-Tia… I’m really sorry. I made the same mistake again… I disappointed you so much, didn’t I? I didn’t mean to… It’s all my fault. I was selfish…”

Tears, which I thought had stopped, trickled down her cheeks. I had to soothe her first!

“Adel, it’s okay. Stop crying. I missed you too.”

“Boohoo. Tia!!!”

“Of course, I was disappointed, but I wasn’t perfect either. You’re my own, yet I was too authoritative. I treated you harshly sometimes.”

“Ah, ah… authoritative?”

“Yes. Authoritative. That’s all…”

Phew. Just explaining what ‘authoritative’ meant made me sweat.

Now calm, Adel apologized again.

“Sorry, Tia. Was I too… petty?”

“Petty.”