PFPL Chapter 47

Chapter 47

As I sat down after receiving greetings with a benevolent and generous expression, Lord Ain spoke again.

“Everyone, please be seated.”

While the nobles were taking their seats, I briefly made eye contact with my dad. That sappy man… his eyes were glistening, like he might burst into tears if someone poked him.

Thud!

I furrowed my brow and mouthed words silently at him, and he nodded. Honestly, he’s the ultimate daughter-con.

Behind me on the right, Oz, who had been standing guard, suddenly clicked his tongue.

A High Nobles’ Assembly really isn’t easy in many ways.

Meanwhile, Lord Ain seemed to be seeking my dad’s permission to proceed to the next order, but since Dad had turned his whole head toward me, the communication wasn’t going well. Meeting Lord Ain’s eyes instead, I stretched out my finger and poked Dad.

Only then did Dad catch Lord Ain’s signal and nod in approval. Lord Ain then announced the beginning of the High Nobles’ Assembly.

“Today’s agenda is the verification of Her Highness Princess Celestia Mond’s qualification as Crown Princess. In accordance with the Empire’s tradition, Her Highness has been given a task as part of the investiture process. Once Princess Celestia Mond presents her completed task here, the attending high nobles will deliberate and decide whether to approve her as Crown Princess. Now, let us welcome Princess Celestia Mond.”

Lord Ain gestured politely toward me. I stood, exchanged glances with Dad and then Oz, and walked forward.

I was a little nervous.

It felt like some kind of national selection tournament.

Phew. After a deep breath, I stepped onto the platform prepared for someone of my short stature and looked each of the seated nobles in the eye.

When our gazes met, Count Tolkie smiled warmly and nodded. Marquess Lwendiff winked and gave me a thumbs-up.

Pfft.

I barely stifled a laugh.

There were far more unfamiliar faces than familiar ones, but thanks to those who stood out, my nerves eased a little.

Finally, I spotted Noten. I glared at him with all the strength in my eyes.

Just you wait, Noten Märchen. I’ll make sure you can’t even stand near Kilian.

Noten, oblivious to my thoughts, only looked back with an unpleasant smirk.

“When you are ready, please begin your presentation, Your Highness.”

I glanced down and up at my proposal, and Lord Ain shook his fists slightly in front of his chest as if to cheer me on.

Thanks for the support!

I winked at him, and his knees suddenly buckled. What an overreactor.

Clearing my throat, I recalled Oz’s advice and began reading the proposal.

Gravely, with charisma, and clearly!

“I, Celestia Mond, propose to the High Nobles’ Assembly of the Saliante Empire the enactment of a law to punish child abuse.”

The hall stirred as soon as I finished the sentence. Since Oz and I had expected this, I continued without hesitation.

“This law is intended to prevent the physical and mental harm inflicted upon the next generation—who require adult protection and care—through acts of cruelty or verbal abuse without just cause.”

To present a solid case, I revealed the current state of child abuse within the Empire, meticulously researched by Oz.

Even though Oz had filtered the cases for my sanity, just reading them still made my brow furrow and goosebumps rise.

“Harry, age 5. Forced to beg all day with a broken arm from his uncle’s abuse. His arm healed crooked due to lack of treatment. Nate, age 9. Hit with a glass bottle by his drunken father, leaving a deep scar near his ear and rendering him unable to close his mouth. Sasha, age 6. Developed a phobia of sharp objects after her mother stabbed the back of her hands with needles whenever she disobeyed. Her condition is so severe she cannot even use a fork.”

Each time I listed a case along with a child’s portrait, sighs rippled through the hall. But that was all—sympathy, as if it were someone else’s problem.

“Meggy Coffinne, age 8. Developed an eating disorder due to verbal abuse from Baron Coffinne—unable to eat properly, or vomits when she does. Too weak to even walk. Chris McRyan, age 14. Locked in an attic for three days in the summer by Countess McRyan as punishment, collapsed, and later developed skin disease and claustrophobia.”

I couldn’t read any further.

I dropped the proposal.

When I had listed commoners’ names, the nobles only sighed. But once names of noble children came up, their reaction changed sharply.

“The law I propose seeks to raise awareness of child abuse in the Empire and protect children by punishing perpetrators who commit such acts without consequence.”

Never before had a law been proposed for the benefit of those outside the privileged class. Perhaps because of that, the chamber grew silent.

After a moment—

“The situation is not trivial, but how can we intervene in the disciplinary methods each household and family upholds?”

A noble raised his hand and spoke.

“Discipline? Do you think it’s proper education to train a child until they’re crippled? So if your own child suffered the same under someone else’s so-called discipline, would you still not intervene?”

I shot back sharply. Wasn’t this just hypocrisy?

“That’s not what I meant…”

“I’m not here to meddle in each family’s way of educating their children. I’m simply proposing that there be standards preventing children from being treated cruelly or violently, physically or mentally.”

Oz had advised me to sound firm and authoritative, but that didn’t suit me, so I just spoke bluntly as I pleased. I was a reckless brat anyway.

“If an academy professor beats a child, that’s abuse. But if a parent does it, it’s not? If someone unrelated by blood does it, it’s violence, but if it’s family, it’s not? If a noble does it, it’s discipline, but if a commoner does it, it’s abuse?”

Why don’t they get it?

Frustrated, I clenched my fists and spoke again.

“Children are beings who deserve protection. They should grow up healthy and happy. Adults have a duty to protect and safeguard them so they can.”

I added, looking straight at Duke Märchen.

I hope you feel something, you bastard. Though if you were the kind of man who could change after a few words, I wouldn’t have thought of cursing you in the first place. Ugh.

“Just because children aren’t tall, strong, or articulate doesn’t mean they should become trash bins for adults’ discarded emotions. Not if we want a bright future for the Empire.”

I wrapped up my statement. I’d said what I had to. Now it was time to wait for the result.

Lord Ain took my place and announced loudly:

“The law proposed by Her Highness will be adopted as a formal agenda item in the next High Nobles’ Assembly, where its enactment will be deliberated. For now, we shall proceed to discuss whether Her Highness has successfully completed her investiture task. Her Highness may withdraw from the chamber.”

Lord Ain looked at me. I shrugged. Whatever happens, happens.

Whether the law passes or not doesn’t matter. I’ll protect Kilian no matter what.

I exchanged a playful wink with my doting dad and left the chamber with Oz, who seemed oddly excited.

“You did wonderfully, Your Highness! Far beyond what I expected!”

“I don’t know. Oz told me to be solemn, but I couldn’t do it. What should I do?”

“No, you were perfect. Your words had a sharp sting to them, in a good way.”

I walked ahead, tossing my hair and stomping my feet, when I faintly heard Oz mutter behind me: “As expected of my Cheryl’s daughter… the best. Blood doesn’t lie.”

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

The next morning, Liz burst into my bedroom, bouncing with excitement.

“You’re awfully noisy from the morning, Liz.”

“Compared to your appearance, perhaps. Hohohohoho.”

That girl…

But I couldn’t argue back. After all, my curly hair, tangled from sleep, looked like it had been hit by a bomb.

“What’s the matter?”

“I have good news and very good news. Which would you like to hear first?”

“Hmm… the good news?”

“Your investiture as Crown Princess was unanimously approved at the High Nobles’ Assembly! Congratulations, Your Highness! No—now I must call you Crown Princess!”

“Crown Princess Celestia Mond, Your Royal Highness,” Liz said with a bow.

Ooh, I like this kind of roleplay.

“Raise your head.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

“Then tell me the very good news.”

“To celebrate your investiture, a banquet will be held for three days.”

“I see. Then now tell me the truly very good news.”

I’d meant it as a joke to tease her, but after some thought, Liz suddenly clapped her hands.

“Oh! A circus is coming too!”

“Really? That’s great! Adele will love that!”

“And there will also be some kind of competition…”

“What competition? No way… no, it can’t be. It must not be!”