Chapter 52
Killian, who couldn’t even make a proper sound and only let tears fall drop by drop, finally stopped crying after quite some time.
“Are you okay? Your eyes are so red, Killian. They’re going to be all puffy tomorrow morning.”
“Really? Haha, what should I do…”
“If you chill a spoon and press it on your eyes, you’ll be fine soon. Hehe.”
If only he’d do that in front of me. How cute would that be. Ultra Killian.
“Anyway, you did well. There have to be days when you cry like this so you can grow up healthy. If you keep holding it in every day and only cry on the inside, it turns into an illness—no, into pent-up rage that shortens your life.”
“R-really? Who said that?”
“An old granny, a long time ago….”
“Can I really trust that? Then what should I do?”
It was just something I’d heard in my past life, and since stress is the root of all illness here too, I’d only said it to comfort him a little. But Killian seemed to take it way too seriously.
“Actually, now that I think about it, maybe it’s not that reliable. But still, you cried really well, Killian. You even look beautiful when you cry. Hehehe.”
At my words, Killian’s face turned bright red. Looks like he didn’t like being called pretty.
“Shall we go back to the ballroom now? I feel like I’ve been away too long. You should go back too before Duke Märchen starts looking for you.”
“Ah! Right! Today is your big day, Tia, and because of me….”
“It’s not because of you! I told you it’s not. Honestly, I really liked it. Please show me that obsessive, crazy side of you more often!”
Oh no! I let my true feelings slip out!
“Cancel that! I cancel what I just said!”
“Huh?”
“You didn’t hear that, right? You didn’t? Whew, thank goodness…. I just meant you shouldn’t blame yourself, Killian. You didn’t do anything wrong. Got it?”
“Yeah, Tia.”
“Then let’s go! Back to the ballroom!”
I stood up and muttered, “I wonder if Adele’s okay,” as I started walking.
“Obsession…? Obsessive… crazy….”
Muttering something to himself, Killian quickly followed after me when I called him.
“T-Tia, can I… can I hold your hand?”
Killian asked with a clear face.
“Hm?”
“It’s just, I still feel a little….”
He’s not fully calmed down yet?
“Ah! I see. Poor thing, maybe because you cried so much? Of course you can hold it! I’d be happy to! Here!”
I took Killian’s hand and headed toward the ballroom. From his small lips came a faint “…chak? …chak!” sound, though I couldn’t tell what it meant.
Marquis Alberto opened the tightly shut doors of the Empress’s palace. A bitter, musty scent of herbs hung over the Empress’s bedroom like storm clouds.
Covering his nose and mouth with a handkerchief, Marquis Alberto approached the so-called Empress of the Saliante Empire—his own daughter, Olivia—who lay wide-eyed on the bed.
“You foolish girl. What are you thinking, lying there still out of your mind!”
“Uuuhhh….”
Saliva dribbled out of her slack mouth with a meaningless sound.
Seven years ago, forced by her father’s orders, Olivia had become Empress despite never wanting the position. Not even a year after entering the palace, her mind began to fade, and recently she had become completely incapable of functioning as a person.
“I didn’t raise you to be this weak! I gave you the chance to bear the imperial heir long ago….”
The Crown Princess—Celestia—had been born of Cheryl Donovan. How overjoyed the Emperor had been when, just one year after Cheryl became Empress, she became pregnant.
Back when he was still Crown Prince, he’d gone on a secret trip, fallen in love, and had Cheryl—just a commoner—adopted into House Donovan. He’d flaunted his love as if he alone in the world had a monopoly on it.
Who would’ve thought Marquis Donovan would turn out to be such a perfect partner for him?
Though now little more than a toothless tiger, Marquis Donovan back then had been the Crown Prince’s mentor, commander of the Imperial Knights, and supreme leader of the Empire’s military.
Duke Märchen today couldn’t compare.
Since Cheryl was Donovan’s daughter, no one—no one at all, not even Marquis Alberto himself—could say a word about bringing in another Crown Princess. No one dared open their mouth.
Only after Cheryl gave birth to Celestia and then died of childbed fever did Marquis Alberto see his chance.
While Marquis Donovan, grieving the loss of a daughter not of his blood, withdrew to his estate, Alberto stirred up public opinion that the throne could not be left without an Empress. He hounded the Emperor, who was drowning in grief, having lost his one and only true love.
Thus the Empress’s seat was regained. The blood Alberto had shed to make Olivia Empress still reeked of rot….
“Pull yourself together, Olivia Alberto! You are the Empress! You must bear the imperial heir!”
“Uuuhhh… eeuhhh….”
Tsk.
Marquis Alberto clicked his tongue and left the Empress’s palace.
No matter. There are plenty of ways to create an Emperor….
“Daddyyy! Daddyyy! What kind of contest is being held today? Huh? I’m sooo curious…. Won’t you tell me a little bit?”
“Ugh. Tia. You’re so cute I think I might have a heart attack!”
“Gasp! You can’t do that! Pull yourself together, Daddy! Tell me before you collapse from a heart attack!”
My father clutched his chest and pretended to keel over.
Sure, I’m seven years old—but that’s international age, so really I’m more like eight? Nine? Plus, this is my second lifetime! But my dad treats me like I’m still just a baby.
Kids these days don’t play like this, Dad.
“Sigh, no good. I’ll just have to go and see.”
I’d tried to act cute to get a hint about the contest events, but since it didn’t work, I guess he really did prepare something big.
“I was planning to go see the circus…. All the other kids will be holding their parents’ hands, but with my daddy collapsed from a heart attack, I’ll have to go in all alone, lonely and abandoned.”
At that, my dad thumped his chest a couple times—boom, boom!—and stood up.
“Daddy’s heart is beating just fine, Tia.”
“Good, I’m glad.”
I pouted, and Dad blew a few exaggerated kisses my way.
“I know you’re dying to find out what today’s contest will be, but I really can’t tell you. Sorry. It’s not that I don’t trust you, Tia! But when I was your age, if there was a secret like this, I’d always want to tell my friends. I know you wouldn’t, but just in case….”
So basically, he’s worried I’ll spill the beans to Killian and Adele.
Well. He’s not wrong, so I can’t really argue….
Deciding there was no point pushing further, I grabbed his hand tightly and headed with him to the Grand Garden of the Imperial Palace, where the circus was being held. Just two days ago my investiture ceremony had taken place there, but now it was filled with circus tents.
Today was the final day of the banquet celebrating the Crown Princess’s investiture! A banquet for children, by children, all about children!
Today’s schedule—ta-da!
Watch the circus together.
Take part in the contest Father prepared (to thoroughly embarrass Celestia).
Eat delicious food together.
What I was most nervous about was number 2. I didn’t know what the event would be, but whatever it was, it was bound to be humiliating…. Ugh. Just thinking about it gave me chills.
For now, though, it was circus time.
Before the huge circus tent, everyone bowed their heads at the appearance of the doting-onto-death Emperor.
“Daddy, I’ll go enjoy the show!”
“How about just staying with me?”
My dad started spouting nonsense about being stronger than an elephant, more agile than a monkey, better at handstands than a bear….
I shoved my over-the-top father onto Sir Ain and slipped quickly into the tent.
Someone has to preserve my dad’s social dignity.
I glanced around.
Where were Killian and Adele?
I was scanning the other children already seated when Adele, having spotted me first from a distance, came running.
“Tia!”
“Adele! You’re here? What about Killian? Have you seen him? Not yet?”
“Doesn’t look like he’s here yet.”
“Then let’s go sit down. Did you save us good seats?”
“Of course. And Killian’s spot too.”
“Of course you did.”
In the light, I could see she must have cried a lot even after going home yesterday. Her eyes were still swollen as she grinned at me.
“Hehehe. Tia, isn’t this super exciting?”
“Yeah. It should be fun.”
As we chatted, Killian finally arrived.
“Killian! Over here!”
“Should I go get him?”
“That would be nice.”
Surprisingly eager to help Killian, Adele got up and went to meet him, soon returning with him in tow.
The two walked together, heads bent close as they murmured to each other.
Wow….
What a perfect two-shot!
Honestly, this was more fun than the circus.
My heart thumped wildly.
The circus was a huge success. The children of our Empire watched with calm manners and enthusiastic applause. Adele most of all.
After the circus ended and Adele still sat enraptured in her seat, Killian urged her.
“Adele! Get up. We’ve got to hurry for the contest now!”
“Oh, right! The contest! Let’s go!”
“You’re joining too, right?”
“Of course, Tia! We’ll try hard and win a prize!”
“Uh, yeah….”
“Our goal is first place. If we, your attendants, don’t win, it would tarnish your reputation, Tia.”
“That’s right. Count on us, Tia.”
“Uh, o-okay….”
“Let’s go!!! For Tia!!!”
Don’t. Please don’t.
Adele shouted the cheer and dashed ahead.
“Watch us, Tia! We’ll do our best.”
Please, don’t do your best….
I swallowed my words bitterly and followed behind Adele and Killian.
Those two….
They were so fired up their strides were too quick to keep up with.
Pant, pant.
