Chapter 48
Dad must have pulled some strings. Or was it Sir Ain? Or maybe Oz? If not them… perhaps Marquis Lwendief or Count Tolkier?
Back during the High Nobles’ Council, the atmosphere wasn’t good at all…. They even said the decision on the legislation would be postponed until the next council.
So why all of a sudden?
When I heard that the child abuse punishment law I had proposed was actually going to be enacted, I was baffled for a while.
“Is this… a good thing?”
Even if I’m keeping a low profile now, the law means that, if an opportunity arises, Noten could be dealt with swiftly. In that sense, maybe it is a good thing.
“Yeah, good is good. So it’s good, I guess.”
And even if it’s not just for Killian, lots of children will now be protected by the law, so it’s a good thing regardless.
I quickly felt proud. Of course—this child abuse punishment law would be the only true legacy I leave in this Saliante Empire.
Even if I disappear, the law will remain.
Unlike the Dearc Dark Salt Mine, which was purely for my own benefit, this law was for everyone’s benefit. Just thinking of that made my shoulders rise with pride.
“Nice. Very nice.”
Thanks to that, I started the day in high spirits.
And when Killian and Adel came, I became even happier.
“Pwooo!!!”
“Congratulations, Tia!!!”
A cute elephant trumpet sound, colorful sparkling confetti fluttering in the air, and adorable kids in party hats….
It was such a perfect scene my heart felt like it would burst.
“Come on, lower your head! Right here!”
“Seriously, is this the only color?”
“Are you complaining right now?”
Killian wasn’t too thrilled that the party hat was pink, but he obediently lowered his head so Adel could put it on.
After all, this was to celebrate Tia.
Tia would probably say pink suited him well and then grin mischievously. For some reason, he might even get another nosebleed.
And the party hat wasn’t all Adel had prepared. He handed Killian a toy whistle—the kind where, if you blow into it, a long paper tube shoots out with a loud pwooo! sound. No one knew where he’d gotten it.
“Where on earth did you buy this stuff?”
At Killian’s mutter, Adel pulled something else from his bag.
“My dad got it for me. Don’t you think Tia will love it? She’ll probably laugh like crazy! You, make sure to blow this with all your strength later!”
“I will. And you? Aren’t you going to blow one too?”
“Nope. I’ll be doing this! Isn’t it pretty? Just imagine—Tia standing there, framed by sparkling confetti. It’ll be magical.”
Adel shook a pouch stuffed full of glittering confetti and bounced on his toes.
“You’re cleaning that all up afterwards.”
“I was already planning to, okay?”
Killian’s glare softened into a smile. They still bickered often, but by now they were inseparable friends. As long as Tia existed, they would always be together—and that alone made them happy.
“Tia will like it, right?”
“Of course she will.”
With preparations complete, Killian and Adel knocked on Tia’s bedroom door.
The door opened—
“Pwooo!!!”
“Congratulations, Tia!!!”
Tia’s eyes went wide in surprise, then slowly filled with joy.
Her glossy cheeks flushed, and her tiny mouth opened in a bright crescent smile.
Killian and Adel knew for certain: they would never forget the sight of her in this moment.
We had our own little celebration before the official banquet. To be honest, it wasn’t all that different from our usual days.
First course: swordsmanship training.
“Today’s training is accuracy! Swing your sword precisely and smash that giant gourd!”
When we appeared at the training grounds wearing party hats, Sir Briven—wait, was that a ribbon tied around his neck?—had us complete a special exercise. The gourd burst open, spilling snacks everywhere.
Second course: bathing.
“Since you three are about to turn eight, you need to learn to wash yourselves. I’ll give you plenty of time, so go ahead and try.”
Liz—was that a ribbon on her neck too?—filled the large bath with warm water so we could bathe on our own until our fingers turned wrinkly.
Third course: a meal.
“Today we test the limits of the human stomach! Will you challenge yourselves to surpass them?”
The head chef—also sporting a ribbon—served us generous amounts of dishes and desserts made with all my favorite ingredients.
It felt like an ordinary day, yet somehow not; my heart brimmed with joy, and my body relaxed into a pleasant drowsiness.
“Oh, by the way, Adel—did you hear? Dad invited a circus! I’m not sure if they’ll have elephants, but it should be fun.”
“Wow! I can’t wait! As long as I get to watch it with Tia, I’ll love it.”
“Me too!”
Watching us chatter, Killian opened his mouth hesitantly. He must have been wondering about that tournament.
Should I tell him or not?
“Uh, Tia. By any chance, that…?”
“And about that tournament Killian mentioned…. I’m not certain, but it looks like it’ll happen.”
“Really?!”
Killian’s exclamation burst out without restraint.
It was the first time I’d seen him react so honestly and excitedly—it made me excited too.
Well, then.
If Killian likes it that much, of course we should hold it. It doesn’t have to be a competition just for me.
“Dad’s preparing the prize. You know how over-the-top my dad is when it comes to his daughter. You can definitely look forward to it.”
It was still a little awkward to talk about Dad in front of Killian, but much easier than before.
That’s thanks to Killian telling me he trusted me.
Our dearest Killian, endlessly kind. How can one heart be bigger than the Pacific Ocean? My chest swelled.
Chattering about this and that, we soon drifted off into an afternoon nap.
Dun-dun.
The day had finally come.
The first day of the banquet celebrating my appointment as Crown Princess.
This afternoon, the formal ceremony would be held.
Since morning, feasts provided by Dad had been laid out across the Empire.
To make sure food reached as many people as possible, portions were limited to one bowl of soup, one piece of meat, one slice of bread, and one piece of fruit. Even so, in monetary terms, the cost must have been astronomical. And Dad covered it all from his personal funds, not the imperial budget. My dad FLEX—so cool.
The Marquis of Lwendief, Count of Tolkier, and several allied families also joined in, distributing festive food.
“Even the House of Märchen?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Since Young Lord Killian is Your Highness’s companion.”
The Duke of Märchen’s household provided fruit wine from their lands, pouring it out generously in the capital.
“I see. That’s good.”
In any case, the whole Empire was abuzz with the Crown Princess’s investiture—festive, noisy, boisterous!
And at the center of it all was, of course, my dad.
“Not again…”
“My little Tia, once so tiny, is now becoming Crown Princess…. You accomplished your investiture task so splendidly, and even achieved the Empire’s first child abuse punishment law…. I’m so proud, yet somehow so heartbroken. I’m happy and sad at the same time… sniffle, sob.”
“Just pick one emotion, Dad. Just one.”
For days now, he’d been coming to the Crown Princess’s palace several times a day, weeping, hugging me so tightly I could barely breathe, then praising me until he cried again.
At this point, doesn’t he seem bipolar?
He really can’t hold a steady mood.
Maybe it was this unstable parenting that turned Celestia into a villainess.
While I was lost in such thoughts, Dad hugged me and began planting kisses on my face. I pushed at his chest.
“Liz! Stop Dad! He’s getting spit all over my face!”
“Oh my, Your Majesty! That’s not allowed. Please restrain yourself! Today, of all days, Her Highness must shine as the most beautiful. Her skin should glow so brightly it blinds the eyes! What if Your Majesty’s saliva caused blemishes?”
Liz was incredible—how many people in this Empire could fire off nagging at the Emperor like a machine gun?
Still, Dad sighed reluctantly and set me down.
“Disinfect!”
Come on, maid. Isn’t that a bit much?
He’s my dad, after all—and you’re calling for disinfectant?
Regardless, Liz carefully wiped my face with children’s lotion and began brushing my hair.
“Your Majesty, please go out now. Sir Ain is waiting.”
“Yeah, Dad. Go see Sir Ain. He looks pale.”
“He’s always pale.”
“Anyway! I have a lot to prepare too. You should get ready as well.”
“All right, Tia.”
Hugging me tightly one last time, Dad whispered, Grow just a little more slowly, then left with Sir Ain.
“Have I grown taller?”
“Pardon? Your dress still fits perfectly, so I don’t think you’ve grown much. Why do you ask, Your Highness? Are you unwell?”
“No, it’s just… Dad told me to grow more slowly.”
“Ah… that’s because…”
As Liz began brushing the ends of my hair, her voice softened with emotion.
“His Majesty loves you so deeply, Your Highness. There are so many things he still wants to do for you, but you’ve already grown into such a capable child who can do things on her own.”
“Oh… so that’s what he meant.”
“Yes. His Majesty treasures you dearly. Every step you take forward fills him with pride, but he’s also afraid—afraid you’ll suddenly run ahead so fast he won’t be able to keep up.”
“He worries too much. I’m still just a little seven-year-old.”
“Indeed. Still so tiny and precious.”
Liz agreed, placing a soft kiss on the crown of my head.
