Chapter 23

Translated by Niks

by

After the funeral, the plan to return to the mansion immediately failed.

That’s because of the Emperor’s call and nothing else.

“Your highness.”

“Count Haken. It’s been a while since I saw you.”

“You still call me by my family’s name.”

It was the elderly-looking grandfather who called my father.

As I took a step closer to Aaron’s side as if shy meeting a stranger, I heard a small laugh above my head.

Of course, I brazenly pretended not to know.

Judging by the way he talks with my father, it seems like he’s a good friend in his own way.

But that grandfather’s family name was strangely familiar. Haken, Haken…

“Yes. I’m always in the Imperial Palace. I won’t be able to see you unless you come to the capital.”

‘Ah…!‘

Looking back, I remembered his position that I had learned while studying about the Imperial Family.

‘The Servant of the Imperial Palace…!’

From generation to generation, the Haken family served as chief servants of the Imperial Palace.

Jason Haken. He was also a person who served as the head servant for two generations, from the first Emperor to the present Emperor.

In other terms, he’s the Royal Family’s chief of staff.

“It’s worth learning.”

Figuring it out of a hint, anyway being proud is that all.

But the fact that such a person called my father…

“Well, I don’t think it’s been a while since you came to say hello. Are you going to see His Majesty?’

“Did you forget what I meant that you shouldn’t say that?”

The old man sighed uncontrollably at my father’s stern words.

Looking at it, the two seemed to have a closer relationship than I had expected.

I don’t understand who the chieftain is serving, but…

‘I think it’s possible because of the poor original.’

Seriously, my head was pounding just thinking about the original.

“…Hmm. His Majesty the Emperor wants to see you for a while.”

“That’s not very pleasant to hear.”

At the words of the chieftain, my father gave a cynical smile.

“The Grand Prince and the Grand Princess will be served separately.”

“Tsk.”

Father frowned and kicked his tongue in annoyance.

From that look, I felt it was obvious that my father didn’t want to meet the Emperor.

Well, he won’t say that in front of the Emperor’s servant, will he?

Well it seemed that father and that servant knew each other… Wait, no way.

It’s a secret that I’ve been anxious for about five minutes since then.

✿

As a result, Aaron and I were exploring the garden.

My father went to an audience with the Emperor with the old servant.

We also told him that Aaron and I could wait inside, but it seems frustrating so instead we took a walk in the garden.

For some reason, I was reluctant to enter the palace.

‘It seems that I might meet someone after going into such a place.’

Wasn’t that a typical novel cliché? So that means I’ll be out in the open air.

‘…But how much money did this Imperial Palace garden cost?’

Does everything that was decorated with jewels could be robbed?

“Erita, what are you thinking?”

“How much will it cost to sell that fountain?”

Shutting my mouth at the words that came out without my knowledge, but it’s already too late… will I die?

No matter how hard I try, what should I do when I pretend to be a child? It looks like I’ve forgotten all about this thought for a while.

Aaron, who seemed to hold back his laughter seeing his trembling shoulders for a moment, burst into laughter as I let out a sigh…

“What a terrible mouth.”

Maybe my mouth needs to disconnect with my brain a bit. I spit out my thoughts too well.

“It’s just that the fountain is so colorful… Well, I mean that a fountain decorated with jewels in an open space like this would be dangerous.”

The excuses I tried to squeeze out were funny to hear even for me, but in a bad way.

My voice, which was gradually crawling, almost became like a mosquito at the end.

Just don’t make excuses…!

“Hey, brother. ”

“Yes, Erita.”

“…”

“If you like that fountain that much? Would you like to put one in the mansion’s garden?”

“…Don’t make fun of me.”

I glanced at him with resentment, but the only thing that came back was a mischievous smile.

You know that if you smile like that, it makes me soft. With a broken heart, I had a twisted thought.

Did Aaron know what his face was like when he smiled?

It’s not that all the maids of the Grand Duke were in love with that kind of smile. I remembered the chatter of the maids I happened to hear.

‘I thought you were just cold, but seeing you smiling in front of the Young Miss makes the surrounding sparkle!’

‘That’s right. And what if he’s a little cold? People need to have unexpected charms.’

Not knowing that I was listening, they praised me or Aaron’s appearance for ten minutes after that.

‘It’s all because of that smile.’

Just when I was looking at Aaron with a sullen expression, a knight suddenly appeared.

It’s almost like it appeared in the air, but I’m not surprised because I’m used to it by now.

“I have something to report to the Duke.”

“Erita, wait for a minute.”

Aaron, who once stroked my hair, took a few steps with the knight.

Aaron, who was listening to the knight with no expression, was clearly different from the way he was smiling while talking a minute ago.

You could even think of the difference as if it was someone else.

‘I thought it was an illusion at first, but it was so obvious.’

Originally, it was true that Mary said that Aaron wasn’t the type of person who smiled well.

I was wondering at first, but now I had no choice but to admit it, that Aaron was a loving brother who laughs well only in front of me.

We’ve been together for more than a year, so I know now.

But when I’m with him, he’s always smiling, so I never saw Aaron’s face expressionless.

Was there a time when Aaron looked cold in front of me?

‘Sometimes when he talks to other people?’

It was also good to see Aaron’s expressionless face. I feel like I know what the unexpected charm that the maid said was.

But I guess all the knights of the Grand Duke are like masters of stealth.

Since I’m used to it. However, knights popping up from somewhere remained interesting.

“Especially, Sir Kyle was like a ninja.”

So, that’s what happens when your swordsmanship rises to a high level?

When I was with my father, I sometimes saw Sir Kyle.

Sir Kyle was the captain of the knights, and he was the only person I didn’t get to know in the mansion.

Well, I mean, among those who I have encountered. I see them often, but they always pop up and disappear, so I didn’t have time to talk to them.

While I was lost in thoughts, Aaron, who was talking to the knight about something, approached with an embarrassed face.

“Erita, I think I have to go for a while to check something…”

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes right now, I’m in trouble… I’m sorry. Would you like to wait at the palace for a while?”

Given Aaron’s personality, it was 100% important if he said that.

It may seem a little annoying to say this, but Aaron usually thinks of me before anything else.

“Well, then I’ll just go look around the garden.”

“Will you be okay alone?”

At my words, Aaron’s expression quickly turned to worry.

The thing that hasn’t changed the most in a year was the overprotection of my father and Aaron.

“It’s fine. I have the ring that our father gavez, and besides I’m in the Imperial Palace.”

What if something happens in the Imperial Palace? It would be frustrating to wait inside.

“Then I’ll be right back. If something happens, use your ring, okay?”

“Okay. See you!”

I waved my hand towards Aaron as he walked away.

As soon as the black knight disappeared from sight, I began to walk slowly.

“I’m going to find the right place and practice.”

The garden was open today, so I could see some nobles who had not left yet.

‘I have to go to a place where there are no people.’

But my steps, which were about to pass unnoticed, were caught by the words I heard at that moment.

Looking through the dense grass, I saw three people in the same uniform.

It seemed that they were probably servants of the Imperial Palace.

“What will happen to the second prince now?”

“Can’t you tell when you see it? Since he’s out of support, he’ll have to live a decent life.”

“Hey. He’s not even blonde, and he’s definitely gone to the Imperial Palace.”

Words heard from beyond the bushes were hostile.

They seem to be whispering, but if they’re going to do that, they should have done it at home.

Even if there’s no party involved, heaven will curse at him. Wasn’t that supposed to be the case too?

‘How could they say that in an open space like this that no one might hear? That’s also about the person who just had a funeral?’

It was something that they did, but in my heart I wanted to shut their mouths.

I looked around without realizing it, but fortunately, there was no one except me and them.

At that time, I was relieved, I was a little grumpy towards them, who were still gossiping, and then I quickly left.

The results soon followed when the magic I had sent over them arrived.

“Argh! What’s this?”

“Ahh! What kind of bug is this?”

A moment later, a scream was heard. I didn’t learn magic to do this, but I’m proud that I used it for a good cause anyway.

A hum came out of nowhere…

‘That’s how I used my kind heart.’

You won’t be humiliated if you say nice things.

Right?

✿

After walking for a while, I realized that I had come to a place where there were few people.

“Hmm… Shall we go out again in a little while?”

Aaron said he’d be here soon, but if it’s important, it could take longer than I thought.

I found a moderately thick bush and sat down with my hips on the grass.

“Mary will scold me if she finds out.”

Suddenly, I remembered Mary’s fussiness whenever I sat down in the garden or in the woods.

“But it’s so comfortable.”

It’s too inefficient to sit on a handkerchief or cloth whenever I sit somewhere.

Even if I’m living as a noble now, I still remember my previous life.

Will the habit I’ve had for nearly 20 years of living a normal life disappear overnight?

Before I left, I decided to use the Clean Magic, and stretched my arms out to the grass.

The sky I looked up at was blue without a single cloud.

It always rains at the funeral in the novels.

“I guess it’s not necessarily like that.”

Rainy days and spotless sunny days.

You will not be able to touch the hearts of those who are sad because they lose a loved one on any given day.

So, is the rain that can cover the tears better?

A group of lights I summoned floated around.

“…Pain, and sorrow.”

It would have been easier if I hadn’t known that this was the world of the original.

There was nothing wrong with saying that being ordinary is the most difficult thing.

When I try to live a smooth life, I wonder why there are so many complicated things.

It was then…

Tap~

At the same time as I turned my head to the sound of footsteps approaching in an instant.

“…!”

I made eye contact with the male lead who broke the silence.

A gaze that I knew very well…