Chapter 131
Even the Demon King couldn’t defeat the strongest warrior, Shion Owen.
Now, he sleeps here in his mother’s hands…
“—well, not completely, though.”
“Ow… ow…”
I inwardly clicked my tongue as I watched Shion Dad groaning, clutching his back.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen him exaggerate his pain this much before.
How can I be sure it’s exaggeration?
Well, obviously—
In the main story, no matter how injured he got, he never reacted this way!
Of course, back then Mom would immediately heal him, but still…
Even momentary pain must have been far stronger than now.
Yet he didn’t even make a “Ugh” sound then, and now he’s acting so hurt.
No matter how strong a warrior he is, I guess he’s still just a son.
They say a mother’s hand is the harshest, after all.
And Grandmother Mago’s hand must be even harsher.
“I’m really glad Grandmother Mago is my grandmother.”
If she were someone else’s grandmother, she might not have been so kind to me.
Thinking back to Grandmother Mago just now, my body shivered on its own.
I think I understand at least a little why Grandpa, the Emperor, can’t treat Grandmother Mago carelessly.
Grandpa must be scared of her too…
Is Mom like that too?
Well, the relationship between Grandma the Empress and Harzen Dad is a bit unusual, so that’s understandable.
But would Mom have acted the same way if I were a son?
“Ahem… anyway, Cici.”
While lost in these thoughts, Shion Dad still rubbed his back gently and spoke to me.
“I have some business, so I need to stop by the main palace.”
“Ah.”
Right.
Even though he had dinner with Grandpa the Emperor yesterday, it wasn’t an official report or anything.
“Do you want to come with me? Or go back to the bedroom first?”
He gently ruffled my hair as he asked.
Judging by that look in his eyes, he wanted me to go with him.
Cici knows Dad’s heart very well.
So—
“I’ll go back to the bedroom with Per first!”
I’ll do what I want!
After saying it boldly, I grabbed Per’s hand and swung it happily.
Meanwhile, Shion Dad muttered with a face as if the world had ended:
“Why…?”
Yet his gaze followed our joined hands.
Still, he doesn’t overreact like other dads, even after being scolded earlier.
“I’m going to play with Per since Dad’s going to work.”
“If you go with Dad, you could play with His Majesty, uh, Grandpa the Emperor…”
“Grandpa has work too.”
If Grandpa played with me, who would report things?
I spoke firmly, and Shion Dad let his shoulders droop.
Watching him, it hurt a little…
But no means no.
Besides, I have something very important to do.
Something that absolutely cannot be interrupted by any dad!
“Have a good day at work, Dad!”
Before Shion Dad could hold me tighter, I said goodbye and started walking.
Per followed closely behind.
“Cici.”
Only after Dad disappeared from sight did Per quietly speak.
Then I realized we were still holding hands.
“Oh, right. I’ll let go soon.”
I thought I needed to escape from Dad quickly.
He said it was okay to touch him, but holding hands all the way like this probably isn’t ideal.
“No, that’s not it.”
But before I could let go, Per squeezed my hand tighter and shook his head.
“I want you to tell me your plans too.”
“Ah, that’s what you meant.”
I thought he was finally asking me to let go.
“I’ll tell you when we get back to the bedroom.”
It’s a little risky here; someone might be listening.
Per nodded quietly this time as well, still holding my hand tightly as if he had no intention of letting go.
This could be a bit troublesome…
“Um, Per.”
After a moment’s hesitation, I spoke carefully.
“If we keep holding hands like this, what do you think people will think?”
“…? They’ll think it’s cute.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
Two kids holding hands really is cute.
Well, I guess it doesn’t really matter.
Who cares if friends hold hands?
I guess I just got a little caught up because the dads complained so much.
“Alright!”
After a quick decision, I smiled brightly and swung our arms happily.
Per smiled contentedly and swung along with me.
We returned to the bedroom, drawing the attention of passing people.
“Now, then.”
Per formed another layer of a barrier with his hands and spoke, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“What are you planning to do?”
Adding his barrier to Harzen Dad’s?
Per probably thinks I’m about to cause some huge accident.
“What do you mean by ‘planning to do’?”
I twisted my body and smiled slyly.
“Just, with a filial heart wanting to help Mom and Dad—”
“You’re planning something you can’t tell your parents, right?”
“Hmph hmph.”
Sure, it’s something I can’t tell Mom and Dad, so I cleared my throat awkwardly.
Anyway, I should answer Per’s question first.
“So last night, Kyle Dad’s father left a handkerchief here.”
I began explaining step by step, starting with the parts Per wouldn’t know.
“That’s the person Derrick Dad keeps searching for. Self-proclaimed protectors of the world—”
“Those pests.”
“Yeah, he might know information about those people. The fact that Kyle Dad is trying to find him like this means his intelligence must be incredible.”
It’s certain since he even knows I’m staying in this palace bedroom.
“Anyway, on the handkerchief he left, it said he’d meet me if I allowed him to see his granddaughter.”
“…He dares to use you as a bargaining chip?”
“No, um.”
Why does he react the same way the dads did?
“It’s not really a trade… more like… a negotiation, I guess?”
“….”
“Anyway, that’s not the point.”
The important thing is this:
“In other words, Kyle Dad’s father wants to meet me.”
This is the real point.
I smiled slyly and continued.
“So there’s no need to take a long detour, right?”
My goal is to meet Kyle Dad’s father.
And his goal is to meet me.
Wow, win-win!
“But Mom and Dad don’t seem happy about me meeting him.”
“….”
“So I’m thinking of meeting him myself.”
“I don’t like that either.”
“Oh, come on.”
I trusted him enough to tell him all this, and now he wants to betray me?
I carefully held Per’s hand again and smiled cheekily.
“You can come along with me.”
“….”
“Huh? Huh?”
Still not convinced?
I’m asking so adorably right now!
“…How.”
After a short silence, Per covered his face with his free hand and muttered.
“What exactly are you planning?”
“Hehe.”
That’s more like it!
I smiled brightly.
If asked what my plan is:
“First, we go undercover!”
