When I was startled by the face of a child who was too handsome, a hand suddenly shot out and pushed it away.
"Hey, I told you to be quiet. You scared Mabel."
Oscar scolded me and patted me. I looked back and forth between the blonde boy and Oscar.
âNow that I think about it, theyâre about the same age. How cute.â
I smiled at the two cute boys standing side by side. Oscar smiled along and lifted me up.
"Sorry, Mabel. I didnât mean to wake you."
His cheek touched mine. The boy started rubbing his cheek against mine in a daze. The excessive affection made my vision spin.
Feeling embarrassed, I froze, then made eye contact with the blonde boy. He looked at me with a surprised face.
Oscar turned his gaze to the blonde boy. His tone was a bit different from usual.
"What nonsense are you talking?"
I was quite surprised by Oscarâs unfamiliar sarcastic response. He usually acted so affectionately and gently with me, like a fluffy, moist puppy, but he could be so cold to his peers. Oscar didnât care if the boy was surprised and gently placed me on the bed.
"Mabel. Did the meeting go well?"
"Oops. I should call you Majesty now."
I shook my head. I didnât want to be called Majesty by Oscar, even if others did.
âAfter all, it feels like a stolen position.â
When I glanced at the blonde boy, Oscar sighed and pulled him over.
"Mabel, this guy is my training partner for swordsmanship."
I looked at the blonde boy with renewed interest. Since he was training in swordsmanship with Oscar, who was a prince (soon to be a duke), he must have had a considerable background. His noble appearance had a reason.
"Okay, Enrique. Introduce yourself."
"Huh? Right. Hi, little one. Iâm-."
Swish. Before Enrique could finish his introduction, an enormous sound was heard. Oscar drew his sword and pointed it at Enriqueâs neck. I was startled by the sudden swordplay.
"Whatâs going on? Why are you doing this?"
"Ridiculous. Show proper respect to His Majesty."
I was speechless at Oscarâs reprimand. Enrique seemed to be in the same state. Of course, one should show respect to the emperor. Still.
âKids⌠Canât you act your age?â
How could I not be shocked by two kids, not even in their teens, drawing swords and saying âRidiculousâ?
ââŚYes, Oscar. I committed a grave disrespect to His Majesty.â
Enrique suddenly knelt on one knee in front of me, his head bowed deeply with a guilty expression.
Before I could be surprised by the scale of the kidsâ actions, Enrique bowed his head even deeper.
"I will not let this happen again."
âI sincerely apologize, Your Majesty.â
The apologies seemed endless. I was getting tired just from receiving them.
"âŚHow can I atone for this, huff!"
Unable to bear it any longer, I placed my hand on Enriqueâs head, and he had a fit. I smiled at his cute reaction and patted his round head. Then I added solemnly,
I smiled at the wide-eyed Enrique.
âSo, stop it now, okay?â
Enriqueâs lips twitched, and he finally spoke.
But his words were drowned out by Oscarâs shout. Oscar looked quite desperate.
âWhy is he like that?â
The reason was soon clear.
"Mabel, youâve never patted my head, but why himâŚ!"
ââŚPat my head too.â
At Oscarâs bold request, I inadvertently patted his head. Before I knew it, I was petting Oscar with my left hand and Enrique with my right.
âThis looks weirdâŚâ
To others, it must have looked like two 7-year-olds were being petted by a 1-year-old. Worried someone might see, I quickly withdrew my hands, and the two kids looked up at me with moist eyes, as if asking for more.
I sighed and petted their heads until they were satisfied. Today, I had a new realization.
âTaking care of kids is hard.â
The moment I opened my eyes, I saw a battlefield drenched in the stench of blood.
He, known as the dog or demon of Devlin, looked around once more. It was the same gruesome scene he always saw. Below the pile of corpses, ditches filled with blood were dug. Occasionally, someone still clinging to life would desperately move their fingers. Swishâhe granted a peaceful rest to the struggling enemy soldier and took a step forward.
How long had it been since he lost control and went on a rampage? He didnât know. He had been killing people in a rampage since the day he first remembered, the day he was born.
"You are a knight who has sworn allegiance to the Devlin royal family."
"Cut the throats and tear the flesh of Ermannoâs soldiers who dared to set foot on my land."
The voice of Veron Arthur Devlin, the emperor of the Devlin Empire, echoed endlessly in his mind. No matter how much he tried to resist, he ended up killing people as the emperor intended. Once, in a desperate attempt to break free from this tiresome restraint, he stabbed himself in the heart. But.
"You have committed a foolish act, Aiden. Your body is immortal."
"Thus, itâs better not to have idle thoughts and to follow my orders."
On the day he realized he couldnât escape Veron Arthur Devlinâs grasp no matter what, he gave up on fleeing. A life of losing control, rampaging, and facing the consequences, only to lose control again and repeat the process.
âA meaningless life.â
All he had was his cursed, indestructible body and the name âAiden.â How long would he have to repeat this life? Aiden avoided the Ermanno soldiers trying to kill him and left the battlefield. He had no destination, certainly not the Devlin palace. He wanted to stay as far away from there as possible when he was in his right mind.
âIâll end up crawling back anyway.â
He chuckled bitterly and climbed a tree, leaning his body against a thick branch. The wind blew coolly, and the branches sang as they brushed against each other. It felt like his body was being pulled down, down into the earth.
He muttered softly and lifted his head. His gaze was captured by the sky, which was beginning to turn pink. Usually, it was just a passing scene that left him indifferent, but suddenly, someone came to mind. A few days ago, he had lost consciousness during a rampage and was taken to the enemy country. The face of a baby with light blue eyes, whom he had met twice, came to mind. Even when he was forced to return to Devlin, his mind still lingered on that face.
âIt was the first time.â
The experience of his mind clearing like a drug-induced haze. A glimmer of hope emerged.
Maybe that baby could save him. Maybe it could free him from this tiresome restraint and grant him the death he so desired. Even a speck of hope was worth holding onto. After all, he had nothing to lose. If he failed, he would just continue this life. Eventually, he landed lightly on the ground, looking at the darkening sky.
To go to Ermanno, he had to meet Veron while he was still in his right mind. The feeling of walking into hell with a clear mind was almost enjoyable now. After all, there was a tiny hope that he might finally meet his long-desired death.
The blonde boyâs name was âEnrique Javier.â I was relieved when the nanny came and chased them away while I was wondering how long I should keep petting them. Xavier had to explain the unexpected guest.
"His Highness lost in a sword duel and agreed to grant one request."
"Since he begged to see Your Majesty, there was no choice but to grant it."
That explained why Oscarâs reaction was so prickly when he brought his friend. Enrique Javier was the eldest son of the Javier ducal family and had been training in swordsmanship with Oscar under Lyssandro since they were very young.
He seemed like a good kid, so I was quite pleased. That was enough for me to allow him to be friends with Oscar. While idly playing with a rattle, I suddenly realized I hadnât seen Yangi in a few days.
"Outside? Itâs too late."
The sunset was already visible through the window. It wasnât that late, but everyone who took care of me was overly worried. I used my ultimate method to get my request granted. I clung to Xavierâs clothes and drooped my eyes.
"O, okay! Letâs go, letâs go!"
âŚJudging by the less cold weather, some time must have passed. I called out strongly, and soon Yangi appeared gracefully.
I greeted him warmly, but he turned his head away.
"Pfft. I thought you had forgotten about me since you never came."
âNo, thatâs⌠I had my reasonsâŚâ
"Enough! I donât need you!"
He seemed quite angry. His tail thumped the ground, and he looked quite upset. He must have been lonely while I was away. I got out of Xavierâs arms and took a step toward Yangi.
But he just turned his head away.
âThis isnât going to work. I guess Iâll just have to go backâŚâ
Thinking he needed some alone time, I was about to return to Xavierâs arms when Yangi suddenly shouted.
"Hey, where are you going!"
"Where are you going without me! Donât leave me alone in this lonely forest!"
Seeing Yangi desperately holding onto me, I sighed deeply.
After Oscar and Enrique, I had to play with Yangi too. Itâs too much for a one-year-oldâs life.
In the end, we sat down in a clearing near the forest as Yangi wished.
âYangi, I have a question.â
Yangi answered with bright eyes, seemingly no longer angry. I asked the question I had been curious about but hadnât dared to ask.
âWhat exactly are you?â
âOkay, a divine beast⌠But why can only I hear your voice? And why do you think itâs not strange that a one-year-old baby can talk to you?â
Questions poured out because I had so many. Yangi swayed his tail and placed his head on my extended calf.
"I canât explain it precisely, but Iâve been waiting for you to be born. I exist solely for you, so you can hear my voice. I already know that your soul is not that of a one-year-old."
"Because the gods chose you."
The unexpected mention of a deity left me flustered. Sure, I was born with memories from a different world, and there was a talking cat divine beast, so why not a god? It felt strange. In my past life, I cried and begged every day to escape my miserable life. But the god never granted my wishes. Now, it seemed, the god really existed.
âWhy did you choose me?â
"Thatâs something youâll discover in the future, Mabel."
Even as I answered, I didnât understand why I had to find out. I didnât want to know. I didnât believe in gods.
I gradually woke up from the noise. I frowned and threw off my mittens.
âWhatâs so noisy again?â
I tumbled out of bed, landing on the floor. It hurt, but I could endure it.
Hoo. Hungry� I tilted my head and headed toward the source of the sound. I pushed the balcony door slightly, creating enough space to slip through. I stepped out onto the balcony. There were birds on the balcony railing. Three snowy owls.
[Field mouse. Hoo. Hiding. Hoo-oo-oo!]
The three owls started a conversation in turn. I stood there, dumbfounded. They couldnât be divine beasts, could they? I pinched my cheek to see if I was dreaming.
I just stood there with my mouth open.
âThe owls are talkingâŚâ