CHAPTER 77………………………
Another Birthday Approaches (2)
Lete burst out laughing at my words.
“You already act enough like a princess, don’t you?”
“Hey, don’t tease me.”
“Hoho. Yes, please continue.”
“You once said before, didn’t you? That the heir gets to run a business in their own district.”
Since I’m already playing the role of a princess, I might as well take responsibility and do it properly.
“Soon the palace will be receiving money again, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. But… were you really paying attention to that sort of thing?”
“Of course!”
How could I not.
Even just earlier this year, an enormous budget had been poured in.
All just for one person’s food, clothing, and shelter—mine!
When Lete handed me the paperwork just to sign as a formality, I thought my eyes would pop out.
How different from the days when my biggest wish was just to eat a chicken skewer on the street.
Anyway, back to the present conversation.
“Would it be possible to start setting a little aside from that?”
“You mean for business expenses?”
“Yeah!”
I still didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do…
But when the time came, it would be less embarrassing than having to ask Father for more money.
Lete looked deeply moved.
“Truly! How are you so precocious?”
“No, it’s not that—”
“Except when you’re having wicked thoughts…”
“……”
“Hehe. Is there something you already want to try?”
At her question, I bit my lower lip awkwardly.
“Hmm. Not exactly yet.”
“Then shall we read together about the businesses the previous Ereboses managed in their districts?”
“What kinds of businesses did past Demon Kings do?”
“Some worked in food and drink, others founded medical institutions.”
“Oh—then what about my father?”
“His Majesty Erebos was head of the southeastern Fenecs. Before he took the throne, he led monster suppression and land reclamation in the east.”
“Hehh…”
He doesn’t look it, but Father is a warrior to the bone.
I never realized because he’s always so gentle with me.
Hmm. I’ve rolled around in battlefields too, but nothing like suppressions.
Lete smiled kindly.
“Why don’t we go on an outing to the Belled district sometime? Madam Clotho seems to be opening a branch there as well.”
“A branch?”
“Yes. Since business is good, she plans to open a second salon there.”
“Oh. I like that!”
“Yes, Your Highness. Ah—looks like the young lord and Your Highness are coming back.”
Just then, the two boys came running in from training.
They’ve grown taller again already.
It was getting stiff on my neck to keep looking up at them.
And when we sat down together for snacks, the topic of my birthday came up again.
“Lady Shion, your birthday is coming soon. Is there something you’d like?”
“Ugh, those blue eyes…! Ahem. Shion, what do you want?”
“Hmm…”
Something I want…
Haven’t I already got pretty much everything by now?
Should I tell them to fight less?
No, that would probably make the both of them explode.
Then… if it’s something I really do want now—
“Inspiration?”
“…Huh?”
“What?”
No, that just slipped out while I was thinking about what to do in Belled district.
But since both of them looked so flustered, I couldn’t resist teasing further.
“A systematic budget plan?”
“……”
“……”
“An ideal but feasible vision for the future?”
The more I said, the darker their expressions grew.
Ares folded his arms and groaned.
Callion covered his mouth, lost in thought.
Ah, so cute.
Finally, Ares responded decisively.
“We’ll just take care of it.”
“Sure, sure.”
Alright, sorry for teasing too much.
Honestly, their worried faces earlier were already enough…
But it was embarrassing, so I kept it to myself.
Hmm. Anyway, what kind of business should I try in Belled district…
I thought about it all day afterward, but no good idea came.
What should I do at times like this?
Lying on my bed, I stared at the ceiling.
I hate standing in front of people, but…!
“Alright, fine.”
I’d just have to go around and ask more people myself!
The new year began, and as the princess’s birthday drew near—
Ares and Callion faced each other solemnly in the training grounds.
Normally, they would’ve been bickering excitedly, but this time…
“Blue-eyes. Annoying as it is, we’ve got no choice now.”
“I agree. I don’t like it one bit, but…”
The two boys were facing the hardest test of their lives.
Shion’s birthday was almost here!
What on earth do you give a girl as a present?!
And not just any girl—one who held the highest position in the land!
Since coming back from the Autumn Palace, both had secretly been fretting over it.
What do you give to the most precious person in the world?
Honestly, neither wanted to confess their worries to the other.
But since the only boys their age around were each other…
Ares’s red eyes gleamed as he growled.
“We’ll just share ideas, that’s all. Don’t you dare copy me, blue-eyes.”
“Who said anything? Just don’t steal mine.”
Callion grumbled, then pulled out the lapis lazuli necklace hanging at his neck.
“Something like this, that she can carry with her every day, would be good.”
“Then a sword…?”
“You really are denser than I thought, gnat.”
“What was that?!”
“The whole point of us being here is so that Lady Shion never needs to draw her sword.”
“Ughh.”
Ares groaned, arms crossed. Annoying as it was, he couldn’t argue.
Meanwhile, Callion sank into thought as well.
What kind of present would truly please her?
It wasn’t like the past, when all he could do was receive from her.
Finally, I’ve grown enough to actually give something in return.
He thought of his half-sisters back at the Alcyone palace—
How they delighted in getting jewelry and shoes for their birthdays.
Muttering to himself, he said:
“Jewelry, then, perhaps.”
“But she already got tons of that last time.”
“Still, if it’s from us, she’d like it… probably.”
“You think? Ughh.”
Seeing Ares clutch his head, Callion raised an eyebrow.
“…Why not just ask your sisters? Don’t they rule the social scene?”
“Are you insane? I’d be teased for life!”
“Ah. I see.”
Callion frowned in disapproval.
Doesn’t even appreciate having family he could ask.
But before he could keep griping, a chill ran down his back and he flinched.
Startled, he glanced around, only to find Ares eyeing him oddly.
“Hey, blue-eyes. Why’re you acting all jumpy, like some mutt needing to—”
“Shut up, idiot! Lord Erebos is coming here right now. With your brother too!”
“…What?!”
Ares turned pale and nearly stumbled backward.
And sure enough, not long after, two men arrived at the Ferzen palace training grounds.
Erebos looked down at the kneeling boys with a flat gaze.
“What’s the noisy discussion about?”
“We were discussing… the matter of Lady Shion’s birthday present.”
“……”
Callion answered, but Erebos only stared, saying nothing.
Under that gaze, Callion was drenched in cold sweat inside.
What is this?
He had felt intimidated before when granted an audience, but now…
A sound from long ago.
That sound he once heard in the Alcyone palace also faintly rang from the Demon King—
The sharp, sinister sound of a blade being honed.
Callion grew unsettled.
I thought after the Terene affair, he might see me a little more favorably.
Surely Minte wouldn’t have left out mentioning his contribution.
But before the tension could grow worse,
A proud, defiant voice rang out:
“We’re discussing it, but I’ll be the one to give her the very best present!”
Of course, it was Ares.
Even Erebos, who had been eyeing the human prince coldly, gave a derisive snort at that boldness.
“The best present, you say?”
“Yes!”
“Hah. Even with the princess’s father standing right here?”
“Yes, exactly!”
And just behind Erebos, Phobos was silently screaming inside.
Damn it, you little brat!
Didn’t he know how foul Erebos’s mood had been lately?!
But Ares chose to ignore his brother’s panic completely.
Of course I’ll give Shion the best present. That’s only natural.
And there was another reason he was acting so cheeky right now—
Ugh, I really don’t like this strange atmosphere.
It felt like the Demon King was angry, yet there was no clear cause…
A dark emotion, unfathomable and bottomless.
And Ares hated it.
