It is said that to collect information efficiently, one should listen to the conversations of people outside the room rather than confining oneself inside. Larima was not an ordinary chatterbox, but the governess's constant restraint made her a poor source of information. I began to insist on going out more actively. At first, the governess readily agreed to go out, but as I pleaded dozens of times a day, she became flustered and tried to soothe me.
"But Your Highness... You already went out for lunch."
When the governess firmly refused, I was taken aback.
'I thought she would agree.'
It was an unexpected obstacle. Despite my earnest gaze, it was no use. She didn't seem likely to grant my request easily.
With a pout, I clung to the governess's dress, and her firm expression wavered.
It was despicable and cowardly, but I had no choice. I gathered all my emotions and began to sniffle.
The governess started to look at a loss. I extended my other hand and firmly held her fingers. Even though I only held one finger, my hand felt full.
With wide eyes, the governess covered her cheek with one hand and sighed deeply.
"It's not good... If you go out so often in this cold weather..."
I nodded, trying to focus on the chatter of passersby. Today, there wasn't much useful information.
'Is this another dead end?'
The information I wanted was about why the emperor, despite me being just one year old and second in line to the throne, insisted on seating me on the throne.
'It's probably related to the divine revelation.'
Because of the divine revelation, the priests of the Holy Kingdom showed an unusual interest in me. Once, they even tried to kidnap me.
'They probably don't want to send me to the Holy Kingdom.'
But this was just a guess; I wanted to know the truth.
"Madam, it's been quite a while since we came out, so..."
I hastily stopped Zavie, who was about to suggest we go back. If I went back now, I didn't know when I could come out again. The tear tactic wouldn't work forever.
'...Of course, she would notice.'
As the governess was about to get up, I clung to her. She looked at me with wide eyes.
"Oh! Your hands are so cold..."
"Shh, shh. Just a little longer." (No. Just a little longer.)
"You'll catch a cold again. Let's go out when it's warmer tomorrow, okay?"
Unable to resist the governess's earnest plea, I reluctantly nodded. Yes, there's always tomorrow, so I didn't need to insist today. That's when two servants passed by, chatting.
"The devil of Devlin... is back at the border..."
Though their conversation was intermittent, I could understand the content.
I had been curious about this since I fell ill and couldn't hear the news. I felt a bit guilty for tacitly allowing the escape of a national enemy.
'But he was just a child, and covered in blood.'
I had only seen him twice, and each time for just a few minutes, but the image of the boy's red eyes was etched in my mind.
'I probably won't see him again.'
Trying to push the boy out of my mind, I leaned into the governess's embrace. Just as we were about to get up from the bench, a group of maids passed by the bushes.
I was about to dismiss it as trivial, but then—
"His Majesty has fainted!"
I couldn't just let this pass. ***
"Why do you keep asking? Do you want me to die?"
Gustav was indignant. He was concerned about the emperor's health, but was accused of having impure thoughts.
"I heard you skipped another meal."
"But Your Majesty, you must take care of your health. No matter how difficult things are, you must eat properly and get enough sleep!"
Gustav nagged incessantly. At first, Esteban had ignored him, but now he was starting to get annoyed. His usually expressionless face contorted.
Gustav quickly shut his mouth. Esteban's expression was more severe than usual, likely due to lack of sleep.
'If I keep nagging, I might die or something.'
Thinking about it, he felt a bit sorry. Esteban's narrowed eyes met Gustav's sympathetic gaze.
"Things have been a bit quiet lately."
The sense of impending doom! Gustav inadvertently blurted out the truth.
"If you want to see His Majesty so much, why don't you go see him!"
Ssshh— The atmosphere froze. Gustav's face drained of color. He had never regretted speaking before.
'If I stay quiet, I'll be safe.'
But it was too late. Gustav observed Esteban's expression. It was colder than usual, but not immediately threatening. After a moment of hesitation, Gustav cautiously spoke.
"Your Majesty... I heard Princess Mabel goes out for walks every day."
Esteban's expression softened slightly as he imagined Mabel. Encouraged, Gustav continued.
"Yes. She enjoys the outdoors and pleads to go out every day. The maids say she waves her tiny hand when greeted... Ah..."
Gustav imagined Mabel waving and felt a pang of sympathy. Esteban's steps faltered as he noticed me.
"Your Highness. It seems the kitten isn't very hungry."
[What do you mean, my stomach is sticking to my back?]
The kitten's complaint was only heard by me. Larima sighed in admiration.
"Princess, the kitten is so affectionate!"
[What nonsense are you spouting?!]
Suddenly, the kitten became the affectionate guardian. I felt a kinship with the kitten, who was misunderstood like me.
"Let's go back inside, Your Highness."
"You can't, even if you don't want to. We need to measure your dress size."
'Why measure my dress size?'
My wardrobe was already full of clothes. Most of them didn't fit because I grew so quickly, but my dressing room was still overflowing.
As the governess stepped away, a desperate voice echoed.
[Where are you going! Don't go!]
[It's only been a little while! This is unacceptable!]
The kitten, who had been grumbling, suddenly clung to me desperately. But to others, it was just a meow.
[Don't leave me behind...!]
I had no choice but to leave the pleading kitten behind. On the way back to Mabel's palace, I saw a familiar figure in the distance. It was the emperor. He looked fine, despite the rumors of his collapse.
Behind him were people I hadn't seen before, likely ministers. He seemed to notice me and paused.
He walked past without acknowledging me. The unexpected reaction left me stunned and a bit bitter.
'Well, it's strange that he liked me before.'
No parent would love a child who doesn't smile or hug.
I tried to ignore the stinging in my chest. ***
I suddenly lifted my head, and Oscar looked at me.
"Someone's here!" (Someone's here!)
I was still a baby, so my speech was unclear, making communication difficult.
'Well, I don't expect you to understand everything.'
I glanced at the spot where I thought I heard something, but there was nothing. It must have been my imagination. I focused on the conversations of passersby. The only useful information I gathered today was that Count Leonid and Lady Trudy were having an affair.
'Of course, soap operas are the most entertaining.'
Just as it was getting interesting, the governess appeared and chased away the chatting maids. I wanted to hear more about the emperor's collapse, but no one dared to speak freely about it.
He must be fine. Oscar didn't say anything. I was about to be carried away when Oscar noticed me.
"Your Highness, the kitten doesn't seem very hungry."
[What do you mean, my stomach is sticking to my back?]
The kitten's complaint was only heard by me. Larima sighed in admiration.
"Princess, the kitten is so affectionate!"
[What nonsense are you spouting?!]
Suddenly, the kitten became the affectionate guardian. I felt a kinship with the kitten, who was misunderstood like me.
"Let's go back inside, Your Highness."
"You can't, even if you don't want to. We need to measure your dress size."
'Why measure my dress size?'
My wardrobe was already full of clothes. Most of them didn't fit because I grew so quickly, but my dressing room was still overflowing.
As the governess stepped away, a desperate voice echoed.
[Where are you going! Don't go!]
[It's only been a little while! This is unacceptable!]
The kitten, who had been grumbling, suddenly clung to me desperately. But to others, it was just a meow.
[Don't leave me behind...!]
I had no choice but to leave the pleading kitten behind. ***
I lifted my head, and Oscar looked at me.
"Someone's here!" (Someone's here!)
I was still a baby, so my speech was unclear, making communication difficult.
'Well, I don't expect you to understand everything.'
I glanced at the spot where I thought I heard something, but there was nothing. It must have been my imagination. I focused on the conversations of passersby. The only useful information I gathered today was that Count Leonid and Lady Trudy were having an affair.
'Of course, soap operas are the most entertaining.'
Just as it was getting interesting, the governess appeared and chased away the chatting maids. I wanted to hear more about the emperor's collapse, but no one dared to speak freely about it.
He must be fine. Oscar didn't say anything. I was about to be carried away when Oscar noticed me.
"Your Highness, the kitten doesn't seem very hungry."
[What do you mean, my stomach is sticking to my back?]
The kitten's complaint was only heard by me. Larima sighed in admiration.
"Princess, the kitten is so affectionate!"
[What nonsense are you spouting?!]
Suddenly, the kitten became the affectionate guardian. I felt a kinship with the kitten, who was misunderstood like me.