Chapter 45
Sir Ain should at least try to stop Dad, but instead—
he flashed his eyes and started scribbling wildly in his notebook.
“Portrait contest, poetry contest, singing contest—how extravagant!”
I was trying to save Killian and ended up nearly creating a scandal that would go down in the Empire’s history. Why on earth are they holding that kind of contest?
“I don’t like that sort of thing, Dad. And Sir Ain—it’s embarrassing, I don’t want it.”
I kept saying it, but no one answered me.
Who am I even talking to?
“Ahh. Do as you like, then. But you must invite the circus.”
My dad gave up and hugged me tight as he said it.
“Tia, my beloved daughter.”
“Why?”
“I’m just so happy. My Tia is going to succeed me as Crown Princess. So I’m planning a grand and splendid banquet.”
“Mm. I suppose you are.”
“I won’t force you to do anything you hate. So tell me—what you want, and what you don’t. Okay, Tia?”
“Then could we maybe… not do those contests?”
“If you dislike them, it can’t be helped. Such a shame, though—such a shame.”
Dad tilted his eyebrows in mock sorrow.
Ugh, really.
I’m such a softie for handsome men.
Since Killian would probably be disappointed, I decided to back off a little.
“It’s not that I hate them, it’s just… too embarrassing.”
Sir Ain, who’d been watching me, answered firmly.
“Then I’ll arrange things so they’re not embarrassing.”
What does that even mean? It didn’t make sense, but he sounded so certain that I couldn’t ask him to explain.
“Fine. Do as you think best.”
Ah, whatever. I’d only be embarrassed for a little while, right?
Time passed steadily.
I still spent whole days with Killian and Adel every other day.
I met with Oz to discuss my investiture task, and one time I even counted how many zeros were in Count Tolkie’s Dearc rock-salt sales report and screamed.
Sometimes I barged into Dad’s study, bounced my knees and glared at Sir Ain, and I met secretly with Marquis Lewendip to talk about the latest on that bad man.
Finally, the Great Nobles’ Council where I’ll present my investiture task was only a week away. That meant it was time to get Noten Merhen out of the picture.
While I was lounging in the throne palace’s parlor, striking a pose and enjoying the mood, the door opened and my graying aide Oz came in.
“Oz!”
“Your Highness!”
We clasped hands and spun once around in greeting. I don’t know when that became our habit…but somehow it did. The one downside was that Oz never wanted to let go, so our greetings always ran long, but it felt nice—a warm, affectionate grandfatherly kind of comfort. Heh.
“You made it, Oz. Sit here.”
“Yes, Your Highness. But this seat—?”
When I offered the opposite seat, Oz pointed to the one beside me and asked in a slightly hurt tone.
“Oh! There’s one more guest coming today.”
“I see?”
“Yes. Be nice to them when they arrive, Oz. They’re someone very dear to me.”
“I understand…”
Oz muttered “dear” and I could swear his fist tightened.
I swung my leg and waited for today’s surprise guest—the person who would soon be our most important witness.
Honestly, I still wasn’t entirely sure this was the right thing to do, but it was something that had to be cleared up, so I was pushing through.
The door opened and Liz’s voice came.
“Your Highness, Prince Killian Merhen has arrived.”
“Thanks, Liz! Killian, come in!”
I greeted Killian warmly. He smiled brightly when he saw me, then paused at the sight of Oz, but quickly bowed politely.
“Hello, aide. I’m Killian of the Merhen dukes.”
“Hello, Prince Killian. I am your Highness’s aide Oz.”
Oz’s tone was a bit stiffer and colder than usual. Huh. I wondered why. For some reason Killian’s neck stiffened with tension.
“Come sit, quickly, Killian. Oz? Could you just—”
When I gestured, Oz leaned in close and put his ear to my lips.
“Oz, I told you—this is someone dear to me. Be good to them, okay? Be kind.”
“Y-yes.”
Dear… dear…
Oz repeated my words and ground his teeth.
“You don’t have to be overly nice. You can ease up a bit.”
“Heh—right.”
Oz gave Killian an oddly forced smile.
It had to be fine. He wasn’t having facial paralysis, right?
I glanced at Oz’s condition and opened my mouth.
“Killian, thank you for coming.”
“No, Tia. It’s only natural.”
“Still—hehe. You know you aren’t here as my friend today, but as a witness for my investiture task, right?”
“Yes. Of course. Ah! Should I use formal speech then? Huh?”
“Yes, please.”
“No.”
“What?”
Oz, who’d said “of course,” cocked his head at me, and I shrugged at Oz.
“Oz, Killian is my dearest friend. Even if he’s here as a witness, I don’t want him to be all formal. So speak casually, Killian.”
At my firm words Oz muttered again, “dear… most…,” and I wondered what on earth he was going on about.
Anyway, I made sure again to tell Killian not to be formal.
“Thanks, Tia.”
Killian smiled gently.
Wow…
Please put that statue back in the museum. Why are you stabbing my heart?
I took a deep breath to calm my trembling and brought up the main topic.
“Killian, do you know what my investiture task is?”
“No, Tia. I don’t know the details.”
“Hm… Oz, could you explain?”
Oz wet his dry lips and began.
“The Crown Princess’s investiture task is a long-standing, historical tradition in the Empire. It’s the proposal of a new law at the Great Nobles’ Council. While it’s meant to show the Emperor’s successor, it also has customary significance.”
“Wow… proposing a law—that’s amazing, Tia.”
Killian’s eyes sparkled. Oz, seeing Killian’s reaction, grew more excited and continued.
“It’s not just proposing a law; if the Great Nobles vote and it gains a majority, it becomes law right away, and so it is recorded as the Crown Princess’s first achievement.”
“That is truly momentous.”
“Yes. In my view, Your Highness—no, Princess—has already performed this task very successfully. It’s virtually guaranteed to become law.”
Well, Dad and Sir Ain could be so sure, but why is Oz so certain too?
Oz finished, smiling proudly as he looked at me.
“Anyway, Killian… the reason I invited you as a witness is because the law I intend to propose comes from you.”
“Really? From me? What law is it?”
I swallowed. My hands went white and cold sweat ran down the back of my neck from nervousness. What I was about to say might bruise Killian’s pride or dig into old wounds. But I didn’t want to lie.
“Well, um…”
“Tia?”
“I’m being careful, hehe.”
“I’m fine. Really, whatever it is.”
“Right? Haha.”
When I tried to say it outright, my mouth wouldn’t cooperate. Oz mirrored my tension.
“Tia? Are you okay?”
Killian asked again, worry filling his round eyes.
Ah… receiving concern from my favorite person—what more could I ask for? But I had to clear Noten out first. I’d made up my mind.
I looked Killian straight in the eyes.
“The law I’m proposing is a Child Abuse Punishment Act.”
“Huh? Child a…buse?”
“I actually suspected something. That perhaps Duke Merhen was abusing you. I happened to notice injuries on your body. So—”
As I spoke, Killian’s expression gradually grew serious.
“Killian, I’m sorry…”
Had I done the wrong thing by bringing this up? I couldn’t bear to ask and my words trailed off. A heavy silence pressed on my chest. This might be the express train straight to hell.
Oz, who had been glancing between my trembling self and Killian with his mouth tightly shut, finally mustered the courage to speak.
“Um…”
Thank you, Oz. An adult behaving like an adult at last!
I gripped Oz’s hands and waited for him to speak.
“Prince Merhen, aren’t you grateful to Her Highness?”
Oh, come on! Who asked you to take credit!
“When I first heard the draft name—Child Abuse Punishment Act—I was shivering at Your Highness’s insight.”
Don’t praise me like that!
“And when I looked across the Empire for evidence to support the law, I was plunged into despair. How could such things exist?!”
Don’t be dramatic!
“The Child Abuse Punishment Act is a law our Empire desperately needs. From commoners to nobles, in places the sun never reaches or hidden spots where people cannot see, children cry from abuse.”
Oz caught his breath and turned to Killian.
“So tell us, Prince. Tell us the truth you couldn’t tell anyone.”
