Chapter 53
The place where the contest to present gifts to Celestia was held was a greenhouse a little way off from the Great Garden.
Calling it a greenhouse felt odd at first — when I saw it I thought it was some kind of island.
A glass dome, said to have been crafted by master artisans, covered the whole structure. In the center of the greenhouse ran a channel of water; you could ride a small boat from one end to the other, and regardless of the season a gentle, temperate breeze always stirred inside.
And the clean air and fragrant scents from the many plants, blooming in a riot of colors all year round — how could I even begin to describe it? It was full-on healing.
I’d thought I should have come here for a picnic with Killian and Adel… and now here we were.
The greenhouse was already crowded with children. After the circus, the kids’ excited voices — still buzzing with adrenaline — echoed through the dome.
Knights, attendants, and maids assigned for safety paired up and moved toward the children, and then a trumpet blared: ptooou!
Oh no! My father told me to come in through the back with him… I totally forgot…
It wasn’t on purpose — I’m not trying to be embarrassed. I really just forgot. Ahem.
I’d even thought, for a moment, about sneaking away — but if I did that I’d be nagged by Dad, Killian, and Adel in some trio of disappointment and scolding, and they’d pester me for a while, so I held back.
Following Sir Ein — who somehow found me — I entered with my father and stood obediently in front of the children whose eyes were shining.
“Welcome, the bright young saplings of the Saliant Empire. I am Robis Mond, Emperor of this empire.”
“Waaa! Hello, Your Majesty!”
A slightly slow but cheerful child clapped and cheered.
“Ha ha. Today’s children’s banquet is being held to celebrate my beloved daughter Celestia becoming Crown Princess… Did you all enjoy the circus?”
“Yes!!! There was an elephant! I’ve never seen an animal that big!”
“A person bent in half and tumbled and rolled! It was gross but amazing!”
“The bear was so cute. But what do bears eat? Aren’t they hungry?”
A flurry of questions and comments poured out. My father looked a little flustered, as if he hadn’t expected this.
Well, of course — this must be the first time he’s seen something like this. A hundred or so children of various ages, all clustered together…
There are no kindergartens, no schools, no taekwondo dojangs here — a hundred kids, separated from their parents, all rowdy and disorderly in one place…
“Let’s be quiet now! Shh!” Every adult except my father fidgeted and muttered, “Be quiet, shh,” “Don’t talk when His Majesty is speaking,” which only made things noisier.
“Dad, this is chaotic — just get to the point quickly.”
“Huh? Oh — right. Okay, Tia. Ha ha ha.”
After a deep inhale — whoo — Dad spoke loudly.
“Now I will introduce the events of today’s contests. Listen carefully, children.”
He clapped his hands once.
“First: an acrostic contest using the Crown Princess’s name, Celestia!”
Don’t expect cheering for this, folks.
“Second: a portrait-drawing contest of Crown Princess Celestia!”
Please just move on, Father.
“Third: a quiz competition about Crown Princess Celestia!”
From over there, Adel and Killian shouted “First!” and the cheers and clapping finally rolled out like a wave.
My father nodded, pleased.
“Ahem. I thought you might like those. You may choose whichever contest you want to enter — you can enter just one or all of them; that’s up to you. However! First-place prizes cannot be awarded to the same person more than once.”
“What are the prizes?”
A brave child — the same one who’d earlier greeted my father on his own — asked.
“Yes, you’re curious. There are prizes prepared by the Crown Princess and by me. Shall we show what the Crown Princess prepared first?”
No sooner had my father finished speaking than attendants streamed in carrying trays piled high with prizes.
Well, it’s not exactly that I prepared them — I brought things that weren’t being used in the princess’s palace.
It’s not like I’m saying “eat and be gone,” at all — absolutely not. But there were so many valuables I didn’t need that I sorted them with safety as the top priority and brought the rest.
Some were untouched dolls; some were heirloom jewels.
New clothes, shoes boxed up, and all kinds of pretty trash… like a model of my hand carved from a diamond, or crayons made from real gold and silver…
There was even a brush made from my baby hair.
Why on earth do we have that?
Humph.
Anyway, the children reacted enthusiastically. Good — let’s keep this going.
While the kids were distracted, my father quickly tucked the brush made from my baby hair into his pocket.
Oh dear… can’t help him, my father.
“Now, it’s time for the gifts I prepared. The gift I’ve prepared is a wish token. While I remain Emperor, it will grant one wish — any wish — just once. But! It cannot be used to take someone’s life, or to seize someone’s property or family.”
There might be exceptions depending on the situation, but basically he was saying he’d grant almost anything.
“Oh… I want that too.”
“Tia, you can ask anytime. Daddy will grant it all.”
Dad, who was positively dribbling with pride, regained his composure and addressed the children again.
“Children, from now, for about an hour you may submit entries for the first and second contests right here. Those who don’t want to enter may freely stroll the greenhouse. One hour later we will hold the quiz contest; if you want to take part in that, return here when you hear the trumpet. Good luck to you all!”
Ptooou! The trumpet blast filled the greenhouse.
The children followed attendants to collect paper or painting supplies.
Dad watched the kids’ movements with expectant eyes.
Ha. Whoever wins first place, well… your path to success is opening up, you know.
Of course I’ll be extremely, extremely embarrassed.
I waved briefly to Killian and Adel, who’d come to collect paper, then stared into space.
In short, I was spacing out.
Bored…
Noticing me, Dad spoke.
“Tia, my pride and joy!”
“Huh? Why are you calling me?”
“To celebrate you becoming Crown Princess, is there any gift you want from your father? What shall I do for you?”
“But this is already a gift. You brought the circus and arranged this special contest for me. Ha ha ha. My father’s scale is just on another level!”
“Still, I… I want to give you everything. Twice, no, ten times as much. I want to show you how much I care…”
“Huh? What do you mean, ‘in return’?”
“Oh — nothing, Tia.”
I didn’t catch the first part properly because portrait artists and other children had settled in front of me and come over to look at me.
“I’m fine, Dad. I’m already happy. So don’t waste money on useless things, okay? If I need anything I’ll tell you.”
“Then should I give you a wish token too? How about it?”
If I refused again his face would droop like overcooked spinach, so I reluctantly nodded.
“Okay! Dad’s gift will be a wish token! But there are no exceptions, Tia. You can’t wish for someone’s life, property, or family to be taken away.”
Ah!
Maybe taking property would be okay? No — thinking about it, maybe there shouldn’t be any exceptions for me either.
I tried to clamp down my father’s babbling, put my hand neatly down, and looked straight ahead again.
I was a bit uncomfortable with portrait artists and kids scrutinizing me so closely.
This isn’t a press conference, but the intensity is overwhelming.
I don’t want them to remember me… I don’t want my likeness examined so thoroughly and preserved in a painting…
I’m someone who will disappear.
At that moment I felt I must not allow it.
“Dad! I thought of a wish.”
“Already? What is it? If it’s anything you want, Daddy will grant it. Say it.”
I opened my mouth. I watched every change cross my father’s face — his bright, hopeful eyes clouding with disappointment.
“Are you really sure you want to do that, Tia?”
“Yes. I want to do it that way. I’ll gather them all together.”
“Ah, I see. That makes sense. You’d want to collect them up.”
Phew.
I hadn’t expected to have to make that call myself.
After a short breath, Dad, as if a good idea had occurred to him, asked me,
“Then, Tia! If that’s the case, could I come visit from time to time?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Alright. Deal then!”
“No, this is my wish. I’m giving it out of my own generosity. I’ll take the credit.”
“Oh, my clever little Tia! So decisive too!”
My father hopped his empty knee and ruffled my hair, and I smiled at him.
I’m sorry, Dad.
I had no choice — this was for a safe future.
And for you too, Dad. This will be better for you.
If it’s revealed that I’m fake, the father who gives me so much love will have his heart torn apart.
