As soon as the countess returned to the mansion, she sent the heirloom through a messenger that very day. I carefully kept the heirloom box that came so easily into my hands. Larima, who was brushing my hair, asked with a curious voice,
"What is that, Your Majesty?"
"The Countess Deveril gave it to me."
"Anyway, she really likes shiny things, doesn't she?"
Shiny things. Suddenly, I realized that Larima was wearing a ring on her finger that I hadn't seen before.
"Larima, what's that ring?"
"Oh, this is nothing!"
However, seeing her blush shyly, I knew what it was. My plummeting stock had hit rock bottom.
"Larima, do you have a crush?"
"Ahaha, what are you talking about, Your Majesty?"
"Then who gave you that ring?"
"Who gave it? I bought it."
While I was glancing at Larima, who was denying it, through the mirror, the governess and Xavier entered the bedroom.
"What are you talking about so interestingly?"
The governess asked, and I was about to answer without hesitation.
"Um, it's that Larima has a crush-."
"Who does Your Majesty like the most?!"
Before I could finish my sentence, Larima loudly asked me. Instantly, everyone's attention turned to me, and their eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Uh, uh? Me?"
"Yes. Our Majesty is so popular. There's Lord Xavier, Sir Aiden... and who else, Majesty, when you were younger, other lords' heirs confessed to you! It was such a huge popularity that a ban on entering the palace was even issued!"
"That, that's just flattery to the emperor, trying to get a good share..."
"Ah, no way. Our Majesty is so cute and lovable. Everyone liked you! So, Majesty."
"Um?"
"Who do you like the most?"
The question came back to the starting point. Not only the three of them, but even Lisandro, who was outside, poked his head in, waiting for my answer with curious eyes. I shook my head firmly.
"No. You're all too young."
"Huh? But Majesty is the youngest."
"That's! Irrelevant!"
Of course, I'm the youngest by age! But I have a conscience too!
'No matter what, it's a bit inappropriate to be excited by teenagers.'
Larima, who was skillfully smoothing the ends of my hair, asked in surprise.
"Then, does Majesty like older people?"
At Larima's question—
"That can't be...!"
Xavier was shocked.
"That... That can't be, Majesty."
The governess earnestly tried to dissuade me.
"How dare an old man look at our little Majesty? I'll kill him."
Lisandro burned with murderous intent towards a non-existent opponent.
"Sigh."
I sighed and shook my head.
'I don't know. Think what you want.'
*** Today, Esteban was furious again.
"...Mabel has a crush."
"Yes, I heard that clearly."
The person who reported to Esteban was one of Mabel's other bodyguards. The truth had been distorted and misinterpreted.
"Who is it? Could it be... Aiden?"
"No."
"Then Enrique Xavier?"
"No."
"Then!"
Anxious, Esteban clenched his fists and urged the knight. The knight, with tears in his eyes, bowed his head deeply.
"An older person... Ahem, she likes... an older person..."
"What?!"
Bang! The energy that unconsciously manifested destroyed the surrounding objects. The knight trembled and looked up. The situation emperor's face, pale with shock, was visible.
"Mabel, my darling...!"
Esteban headed straight for Mabel's bedroom. Gustav, who had been watching the scene from the opposite desk, silently organized the documents.
'I want to quit.'
***
"Mabel! Mabel!!"
I was writing a note to Casey when I suddenly heard my father's urgent voice and quickly hid the note under my pillow. Yangi, who was lying at my feet, wagged his tail irritably.
[There he goes again, that guy...]
He turned his head and closed his eyes, clearly tired of my father's daily visits.
"What's wrong, Dad? What's up?"
"Yeah. It's a big deal. Is it true?"
"What? What is it?"
"That you, Mabel, like an older man."
"Oh, that."
What else. I answered indifferently, and my father's expression twisted sadly.
"What do you mean, Mabel? Who is it?"
"I don't know."
"Who is it?"
"I don't know..."
"Who is that old guy?!"
Dad started to bother me.
"Who the hell dared to make a move on my cute Mabel? Tell me. I'll get rid of him for you."
'Should I tell him, or not?'
It's quite annoying to be grilled over a non-existent person. Moreover, Dad's obsession didn't seem to end easily. Ah, whatever.
"Dad!"
"Me?"
"Yeah, Dad."
"Do you mean you like me the most?"
"Yeah!"
Then Dad covered his face with his large hand. Looking closely, his ears were red.
"Good night, my baby."
Then he left the bedroom as if he had something urgent to do. Yangi, who had witnessed the scene, clicked his tongue.
[The culprit was himself.]
***
The regular meeting atmosphere was as warm as usual. All the noble council members' gazes were fixed on the little emperor lying on the throne. Mabel, who had been dozing off before the meeting started, tried several times to stay awake but eventually fell asleep on a pillow brought by a servant.
"How can she be so cute..."
"I wish we could have meetings all day."
"Hehe, agreed."
With the servants' jokes as background music, Esteban covered Mabel with a thin blanket and returned to his seat. However, instead of his usual cold response, Esteban was smiling faintly. The servants, suddenly feeling uneasy, quickly averted their gazes.
"Gustav, what's left on the agenda?"
"There are three urgent items."
"Let's take a break and resume the meeting after that."
Unlike his usual insistence on continuing the meeting, Esteban surprisingly allowed a break. However, the servants were more anxious than relieved. As they shared their fear through their eyes, the situation emperor suddenly spoke.
"By the way, something happened."
"..."
Everyone's heads were filled with question marks at the sudden topic. However, Esteban continued without hesitation.
"They say my Mabel has a crush."
"?!?"
"So I asked her who it was. Do you know what she said?"
"W-What did she say?"
"She said Dad. Haha, isn't that adorable!"
In the midst of everyone's confusion, only Esteban was laughing. Seeing no reaction, Esteban's expression began to stiffen. The servants clapped their hands in understanding.
"Congratulations!"
"It's nice to see the close relationship between the emperor and the princess."
Late congratulations poured in. Lisandro, standing guard next to Mabel, laughed heartily.
'So that's how you do it.'
Esteban, satisfied, looked around at the servants. Most of them had children or even grandchildren. Esteban spoke seriously.
"I want to ask you for advice."
"About what?"
"...How do you raise a child?"
Mabel wasn't a difficult child. She didn't cry much and never complained about food. Moreover, when asked to report on Mabel, her teacher Franz would always say, "She's a genius!" and cut off Esteban's words.
"Raising a child... is very difficult."
"Yes. I once had my hair pulled while bathing a child. I think all my hair was pulled out then."
"Recently, I sent a child on an errand, and they spent all the money on snacks. Haha."
Various child-rearing stories began to pour out.
"An errand...?"
Esteban listened to the stories of the experienced parents and then looked at Mabel, who was sleeping soundly.
"Mmm."
Unaware of what her father was thinking, Mabel was on a dream journey. *** On the way back from the northern forest, I saw Oscar leading a horse out.
"Oscar! Where are you going?"
"Oh? I'm going out for a mission."
"Mission? Investigating the guild?"
"Yeah."
I thought he had been absent lately, but it seemed he was going to investigate my precious guild again.
"Don't go, play with me!"
"No, Mabel. I'll visit my mother too."
"Hmm."
"...Do you want to come with me?"
Surprised by the unexpected offer, I opened my eyes wide.
"Can I go?"
"Sure, just get permission from Father."
"Yeah, I'll come!"
I had never been to the capital residence of the Duke of Donovan, so I was curious.
'While I'm there, I'll interfere with the guild investigation.'
With a grand scheme in mind, I went to get permission from Dad.
"Go ahead, Mabel."
"Okay!"
While secretly rejoicing over the easy permission, Dad took something out of a drawer and handed it to me. It was a bag of money.