chapter 5
“Damn it, these brats never get old.”
I wasn’t happy to see the trio show up again. The noisy kids chattered endlessly and screamed loud enough to make my skull ring—it was impossible for me to enjoy that.
Honestly, the burden of having to babysit them again was stressing me out.
‘At least this one seems like general material—just quietly reading a book.’
Meanwhile, Carlisle, as expected of a kid I’d marked as a future subordinate, didn’t act like a baby bird screeching for food. I quietly sat down beside him with a sullen expression.
‘You’re weird. You’re nothing like a kid your age.’
Come to think of it, Carlisle was six, right? That was definitely an age where kids run around causing trouble, so his behavior was suspicious.
Of course, he probably had his own circumstances, so I didn’t bother asking. It had nothing to do with me anyway, and I didn’t need to know right now. It wasn’t like I cared that much.
‘What kind of fairy tale is he reading with such a serious face?’
Glancing at his absorbed expression, I thought anyone would assume he was reading philosophy.
‘Cute little brat.’
Still, someone like him would grow up to be useful later—I could make full use of him then.
Kids with potential stood out clearly, just like Jeff, who had been my loyal subject in my past life. Smirking with satisfaction at having found someone capable again, I looked ahead.
“Ha!”
“Take this!”
And just like that, my pleasant mood instantly cooled at the sight before me.
‘So noisy.’
Watching the Fleur siblings wildly swinging their wooden toy swords, I desperately wanted to escape this room.
‘Play with them a bit and send them back quickly.’
Even if I lured them with fun stories and talked until my throat hurt, they were no help. They were guests of the imperial family, so I couldn’t actually kick them out—but I really wanted to.
‘Ugh, I can’t just throw them out either.’
Someone save me. Resting my chin on my hand, I sighed.
“Ah!”
At that moment, a wooden toy sword slipped from Beris’s hand and flew straight toward me.
Thwack!
With a crisp sound, it hit my forehead.
“Your Highness!”
It happened so suddenly that I had no time to dodge.
My vision swam as my head rang for several seconds.
“Ugh… ugh…”
It hurt. Damn it, it hurt so much!
It reminded me of the time in my past life when I fell asleep under a tree and got hit in the face by falling fruit. The same kind of pain made me frown.
“Your Highness, are you okay?”
No. If it were you, could you smile and say you’re fine?
I couldn’t even answer Carlisle and collapsed onto the floor.
‘Damn, that hurts.’
Still, I had my dignity, so I tried to act like I was fine. But my young body was more sensitive to pain, and the more I tried to endure it, the more I trembled.
“W-we’re sowwy!”
The Fleur siblings panicked. Even at three years old, they seemed to understand the seriousness of injuring the empire’s only princess.
“I-it’s… fine…”
Holding my forehead with both hands, I answered weakly, rubbing the sore spot and hoping it wouldn’t swell.
“No! You don’t look fine at all!”
Beris, who thought something terrible would happen since I was hit by the toy he dropped, started tearing up.
“Waaah!”
And… we were doomed.
“Don’t cry! Waaah!”
Beris suddenly burst into tears, and Ronowe followed.
“Your Highness! Are you really alright?”
“I’m fine. Take care of them instead.”
The maids fussed about bringing ointment, but I waved them off and told them to deal with the Fleur kids first.
‘I hate it when kids cry…’
The pain would fade soon anyway, but the siblings showed no sign of stopping despite the maids’ efforts.
“Don’t cry… I’ll tell you a fun story…”
I was the one who got hurt—why were they the ones crying like this? I wanted to snap at them, but they wouldn’t even understand, so here I was, suffering for their sake.
“A… fun story?”
Luckily, they stopped quickly—pure kids, after all.
Relieved that my old trick worked again, I took a breath. If they hadn’t been interested, I might have just collapsed or handed them off to the maids.
Once Carlisle, Ronowe, and Beris gathered around me, I cleared my throat.
“Ahem!”
A story about a remarkable figure—not boring at all.
“It’s about the late emperor…”
In other words, a story about me—before I became Dazzling, when I lived as the emperor.
“The late emperor was amazing with a sword! With a single swing, he could defeat ten enemies!”
I gestured dramatically as I explained.
It was a bit embarrassing to praise myself, but not impossible. After all, I hadn’t been bad as an emperor.
“He was so charismatic that people surrendered without even fighting!”
I worried the kids might rebel out of boredom, but as the story went on, that concern faded.
“Woooow…”
All three showed interest, and encouraged, I spoke more confidently.
“When the late emperor returned from conquest, the people would cheer endlessly…”
Then suddenly, I noticed the rocking horse nearby, and memories resurfaced.
“And then—he’d appear riding a magnificent horse like this!”
I quickly climbed onto the rocking horse, pulling Carlisle along.
“Hehe…”
“?”
Remembering how I returned like a victorious general, admired by all, my mood suddenly soared.
“And then everyone would be moved… some would even cry…”
Explaining from a child’s perspective while riding the horse felt… strange.
‘Ah, this sense of speed… it feels like riding my Tommy again… I can almost hear it…’
As if urging my heart to beat faster, I started rocking more enthusiastically.
“Neigh, neigh~”
“Clop, clop~”
But then—
The cheerful feeling snapped as I realized someone was making horse sounds out loud.
‘What the…?’
There was Jeff, looking at me fondly, mimicking horse noises.
“Your Highness, you’re doing great!”
“Our Dazzling rides so well!”
My mind went cold instantly.
‘Stop it. Don’t clap!’
Flushed with embarrassment, I tried to get off the rocking horse.
‘Why won’t this thing stop?!’
Panicking, I rocked harder.
Creak—
‘Ah.’
And then, letting go of the handle by mistake, I flew backward.
Crash!
I hit the back of my head and teared up.
‘This stupid body! Nothing goes the way I want!’
Meanwhile, Jeff casually said kids fall all the time, so I shouldn’t fuss.
That only made me more upset, so I flailed my limbs in protest.
Suddenly—
I was lifted into the air.
“Our Dazzling, did you fall?”
Ugh.
‘What is he even saying?’
I stared at Jeff stiffly.
“Did you fall? Did it hurt? Daddy will make it better.”
‘I’m fine! I’m fine, Jeff!’
I thought I was going to die before he finally let me go.
‘What are you looking at?’
While I glared at him, my personal maid approached.
“Your Majesty, this is a drawing Her Highness made earlier today.”
The maid proudly showed my messy scribble.
“As expected of my daughter!”
Jeff beamed and lifted me high again.
“For her art to flourish, she’ll need more paints!”
At that point, I gave up. It was easier to go blank than to stop him.
‘Damn it!’
As expected, his affection only got more intense. Like a trapped mouse, I had no choice but to endure.
“Your Majesty.”
After what felt like counting past 200 in my head—
“Speak.”
A minister appeared, and Jeff instantly returned to his emperor persona.
“The lords have submitted reports from their territories. There’s a large volume—you should review them soon.”
“Understood.”
Nodding, Jeff set me down.
“I wish we had more time together, but alas.”
With a sad look, he patted my head.
“I’ll go take care of work now~”
Grinning, he turned and strode away, his cape fluttering.
Watching him go, I remembered the moment I entrusted him with the throne.
‘Looks like he actually works.’
Finally free, I relaxed.
‘I’m tired…’
My body slackened as the tension left me.
“Princess?”
Someone poked my cheek, but I was too exhausted to respond and fell asleep.
I dreamt of cookies covered in chocolate coming to life. I liked sweets, sure—but not to this extent. Strange.
‘How long did I sleep?’
As I woke, a familiar voice rang in my ears.
“Look! Let’s have a race!”
“Yay!”
Beris dropped to all fours and started running.
‘A… glowing butt?’
Was I seeing things? I rubbed my eyes.
‘No way…’
It couldn’t be. It wasn’t a firefly.
I pinched my cheek and got off the sofa.
Flash—
At that moment, a brilliant light burst from the window.
[It has been a long time, Immortal.]
As the light faded, someone I never expected to see again stood before me.
