Chapter 34
I crossed my arms firmly and said,
“Then let’s go with me for now.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll hire you.”
Oh, I think I just had a bit of charisma. Being seven and this cool isn’t easy, right? Hehe.
“Princess Hwang! What… what on earth?”
Startled, Liz turned my name into “Princess Hwang-a.” Seriously.
I felt a bit sorry for Liz mumbling about what on earth I was planning, but there was nothing I could do. My brain was whirling at full speed!
As soon as I thought I needed someone suitable to act as Achilles’ errand-runner, a new face who clearly didn’t want to go home appeared—luckily for Tia! I couldn’t help but hum a little tune.
“Off to Count Tolkié’s residence!”
“Princess?”
“Huh? What is it, Liz?”
“Could it be… that you’re planning to collect people like dolls?”
Liz asked, looking out the window at Jeron, who was dazedly sitting on the horse as if being held by a knight.
“What a scary thing to say! I’ve become a new person, you know. Collecting people? Ugh, that’s ridiculous!”
“Exactly. Becoming a new person, yes, that’s clear.”
Liz exhaled a long sigh.
“I need an errand-runner for the guild, and Jeron seems perfect.”
“Whaaaat?”
“He’s a perfect person no one else knows about, not even Dad or the other key figures.”
“Key figures? Who… are you referring to?”
“Ah, well. That’s nothing you need to know.”
“But Jeron isn’t very good at talking for an errand-runner.”
“Liz, were you always this narrow-minded? Huh? What’s the problem if he can’t talk well! Besides, Adel stuttered at first too!”
Liz furrowed her brows indignantly.
“That’s not what I meant, Princess. And! Lady Adel at least has status, but Jeron…”
“I understand your concern, but he’s perfect. I like him completely.”
“Our Princess, quiet for a while… and now your stubbornness is showing.”
I definitely caught Liz muttering this quietly.
“Liz! What did you just say! Stubborn? You said stubborn!”
“No, I said ‘again,’ not stubborn.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Oh, no. I wouldn’t dare.”
“Even saying ‘again’ is a problem! That impure mouth of yours! Should I sew it shut?”
“Sorry! Hahaha.”
Liz forced a laugh but quickly shook her head seriously.
I decided to toss Jeron to Count Tolkié.
No matter how reckless or short-sighted I could be, I knew I couldn’t take Jeron to the palace.
“Princess?”
“Hello, Count. Surprised I showed up out of the blue? I was worried you might not be home, but luckily you are. Did the work go well?”
“Hahaha. Yes.”
Even when I suddenly showed up at his residence, the Count only laughed, showing no surprise.
“This is Jeron. He’s going to be Achilles’ first employee, so please train him well, Count.”
“Ah….”
I glanced at Jeron, who looked nervous and uneasy in this new environment, then whispered to Count Tolkié.
“He’s not good at talking, but I think that’ll improve over time. I don’t know the full story, but since he clearly doesn’t want to go home, I guess he ran away.”
“Excuse me? Ran away?”
“Just my guess.”
“But is that alright? What if he’s a runaway delinquent?”
“I don’t think so.”
I had a good feeling about it.
Count Tolkié scratched his chin thoughtfully.
“Then, for now, feed him, let him sleep, and teach him reading and numbers. Enough to work at Achilles. You’ll do that, right, Count?”
“Hahaha. Princess, I can’t keep up with your pace. But where exactly did you find this child?”
“I picked him up on the street.”
“Gah.”
The Count coughed, startled. I waited for him to recover and reminded him one last time.
“Take good care of him, Count. Understand?”
“Understood, Princess.”
“Thanks!”
I waved my hand energetically and left Count Tolkié’s residence with a smile.
Ah! I forgot to say goodbye to Jeron…
I considered going back but just kept walking. If I returned late again, Dad would ban me from going out.
“To the palace! We have to be back before sunset, so hurry.”
The coachman grasped the reins and shouted “Yes, Your Highness!” His expression was so serious I got a little nervous…
Ugh! Not a carriage, but a Ferrari?!
“Ughhh.”
“I-I’m sorry, Princess! You said we had to hurry.”
“I-It’s fine, you can go.”
We finally reached my bedroom at the palace, and I pounded my chest, relieved.
“Dad?”
“Tia!”
“Huh?”
Why was Dad in my room? He just smiled foolishly despite my puzzled expression.
“Wait, Dad. I’m not late, right? The sun hasn’t set yet. So, no going-out ban, right?”
He pinched my apology braid cutely and said,
“Go change clothes first, Tia. You felt carsick, right? It must be uncomfortable.”
“Oh! Right! I’ll change quickly. Wait a sec!”
I ran with Liz to the dress room. Suddenly, I felt a chill.
Huh? How did Dad know I got carsick?
Before I could ask Liz, she spun me around and quickly unfastened the ribbons and buttons of my dress.
The dress fell, and a suspender skirt from Deark’s Liz, now indoor wear, was smoothly put on me.
Phew, what a whirlwind.
“All done, Princess.”
“Thanks, Liz.”
I felt like I had something to ask her, but I couldn’t remember. Seven-year-old brain, so frustrating.
I walked out of the dress room and headed to Dad.
“Tia, my cute little girl! Come here! Hug! Splash!”
“Dad… you’re embarrassing me… I’m grown now…”
“Grown? You’re still tiny like a cherry tomato! Our little tomato Tia! Should I pinch your nose?”
He lightly pinched my nose with his fingers.
“Ouch! Don’t! Stop it, Dad! Hehe, ticklish!”
He poked and tickled me until tears welled up, then finally stopped.
“Really! I said stop, it’s violence!”
“Oh my, Tia, how did you get so smart?”
He wiped the sweat from my forehead with a handkerchief and offered me cold tea.
“Playing with you after so long was too much fun, sorry.”
“It’s okay. I forgive you.”
“I am grateful beyond words.”
“Speak properly.”
“Yes, Princess Tia.”
Rolling around, avoiding Dad’s hands until I was exhausted, I finally felt sleepy. I had done so much today.
Hearing my heartbeat in Dad’s embrace, I drifted off.
“Sleep well, Tia.”
His quiet, warm night-time farewell settled in my ears.
Robis, kissing his sleeping daughter’s forehead with a heart full of blessings, sat in his office, rubbing his temples.
He was reviewing the day’s secret reports from the shadow agents about Tia’s actions.
“What on earth are you thinking, Tia…”
The other night, he should have questioned Liz more thoroughly, but she refused, saying, “Princess said it’s a secret. I serve her, not you, Your Majesty.”
He knew well that when it came to what she wanted or desired, Tia was cunningly clever.
Yet he wasn’t too worried, knowing her interest quickly faded once the novelty wore off.
But…
“She’s taking in another child now. Is her heart lonely? I should know what she wants to anticipate it.”
He didn’t want to take anything from Tia. What had been taken from her before was only Sheryl, her mother.
But he couldn’t understand her motives and goals, which worried him.
And recently, Tia had changed quite a lot from the girl he knew.
“Her speech, expression, even actions have become more charming. No, that’s not it…!”
His daughter had become persistent and capable of polite speech. She could also plan and act methodically behind the scenes.
“Was Tia secretly a genius…? Hmm, maybe… no, that’s not it!”
He respected her wish for secrecy but still felt a cold twinge in his heart.
Robis forced down his worries.
