/
Huh? Me? Why?
I was a little dumbfounded.
At the same time, the three warriors looked reluctant.
No, there’s plenty of reason to teach Lakius.
What’s wrong with them?
After pondering for a while, Kirios sighed and spoke up.
“What if our little one…… gets too close to the First Prince?”
“…….”
I was stunned.
I looked alternately at Siegfried and Cesar, hoping one of them would silence Kirios.
“That’s…… a reasonable point.”
“I suppose the more they see each other, the more it could build up.”
The problem was that even those two were nodding seriously…….
‘Ah, no way.’
I felt the need to lighten the mood at this point.
“Wait, so Tati, is going to be studying with the First Prince from now on?” I asked with a twinkle in my eye. And the three warriors now looked confused.
“No, that’s…….” Kirios said, trying to dissuade me.
“We are studying together, right? Right?” I asked, smiling slightly but keeping my voice firm.
Don’t you dare tell me now that you won’t teach Lakius.
I’ll show you the anger of a child! I’ll throw myself on the floor in a fit!
Under my glare attack, it was the three warriors who were ultimately defeated.
“Alright, alright,” Kirios said, turning to Lakius. He glanced down at Lakius with a disapproving glare. “For now, we’re willing to teach His Highness the First Prince. But what do you think, Prince?”
No, they’re just going to blurt out what they want to do without even the most minimal explanation?
I stiffened a little.
“Ha, I’d love to!”
The reaction of Lakius to that suggestion was more than I expected.
His normally impassive face broke into a rare expression of excitement, and he even raised his voice. His red eyes sparkled like stars with anticipation.
Kirios asked his question again, this time sharply.
“Also, we will not be giving you any special treatment just because you are a prince. Are you sure about that?”
“Yes!”
Lakius nodded so hard that his neck cracked.
“Then let us see the emperor and have a chat with him.”
With that, Kirios summed up the conversation.
“We shall return home now, Tatiana.”
“You’re tired, aren’t you? Let’s get some rest at home.”
Siegfried and Cesar said, side by side, as if it were a given.
I mulled over their words again.
‘Home.’
Such an insignificant word, and yet somehow it touched my heart.
“Yes!”
I threw my arms around Cesar’s neck. His warm body heat radiated through his strong arms that held me steady.
“Hehe.”
I laughed a little.
Though there was no reason for it.
I had an acute feeling that with the three warriors by my side, I would be safe and happy forever…….
It was such an intense and hopeful premonition.
* * *
Inside the carriage on the way to the townhouse of Orleans.
“Once you are formally adopted by the Duke of Orleans, Miss Tatiana will be the sole princess of the Empire,” Cesar spoke proudly. “So, if the Second Prince ever gives Miss Tatiana a hard time again, just slap him.”
“…….”
I stared at Cesar in disbelief.
No, isn’t Cesar a warrior who saved humanity? He’s actually suggesting that I punch him?
What was even more ridiculous was that Siegfried and Kirios were agreeing with him.
“You don’t have to hit him just once, just keep hitting him until he calms down.”
This one was Kirios.
“You can just do what you want. The Duke of Orleans will protect you.”
And even Siegfried spoke up.
“Y-you’d do that?”
“Of course. That’s the point of having the power of a family.”
At Siegfried’s confident reply, I was left …… speechless.
But then.
“Cough.”
After a short cough, Siegfried called my name.
“Tatiana.”
“Yes.”
His expression was so serious, I forced myself to straighten up.
“First of all, we didn’t decide to take you in lightly.”
“……Siegfried.”
“You’ve already had a biological mother, and we thought you might feel uncomfortable with the idea of us offering you to be adopted,” Siegfried rambled on, then glared at Kirios. “That’s why I wanted to wait a little longer to make the offer, and now Kirios is the one who’s claiming to be the father.”
“No, I know, but how do you expect me to put up with that?!” Kirios shouted in exasperation.
“That bastard, the Second Prince, said that our kid doesn’t even know her birthday……!”
Meanwhile.
Kirios turned to look at me in frustration. His dark green eyes fluttered wildly.
“Well, so…… when is the kid’s birthday?”
Birthday?
An image flashed through my mind.
It was a winter sky, with snow falling hard. But it wasn’t cold at all.
On the contrary, it felt warm.
It was as if someone was hugging me tightly with strong arms…….
‘Huh?’
I blinked in confusion.
Why did this scene suddenly come to mind?
What was this warmth wrapped around my body?
“Kid?”
Ugh.
I snapped back to reality.
The three warriors were looking at me with worried expressions.
“What’s wrong with you all of a sudden, are you okay?”
“Um, I’m fine,” I nodded quickly.
I hadn’t ever remembered anything from the time before my time as a slave. I don’t know why I suddenly remembered the snowy sky.
‘I was cozy.’
I recalled the warmth that had enveloped my body.
…… but that’s not what matters now.
“So when’s the kid’s birthday?”
“Uh, Tati’s birthday…” I paused for a moment.
There was actually one thing Rudolph was right about. That I didn’t know the day I was born.
“Birthday… I don’t know…….”
As soon as I cautiously answered, Kirios’s face paled. Cesar and Siegfried began to glare at him ferociously.
The momentum was so murderous, I felt like they would kill him right then and there.
I couldn’t help myself, so I added hastily.
“We-well, in that case! Do you mind if Tati chooses her own birthday?”
“Well, of course not!”
“Let the kid do what she wants!”
“Do you have a date in mind?”
The three warriors replied in overly energetic voices.
If so, then…….
My thoughts were short.
“……The day I first met my dads,” I responded matter-of-factly.
Dads.
At the word, the three warriors blinked, dumbfounded.
And after a moment.
A smile slowly began to spread across their faces. Smiles as bright as sunshine.
‘Oh my goodness, I’m so embarrassed.’
Feeling my stomach turn, I involuntarily covered my face with both hands.
“What’s the matter, kid. Are you ashamed?”
“Kirios, why are you teasing her?”
“Miss Tatiana, could you please call me dad one more time?”
The words of the three warriors poured out like a rapid-fire cannon.
I felt so embarrassed that I wanted to hide in a rat hole.
Still.
‘……I’m happy.’
I couldn’t help but feel like a feather was rubbing against my chest, tickling me.
The corners of my mouth kept twitching upwards.
* * *
A few days later.
The emperor summoned Lakius to a private audience.
“You asked for me, Your Majesty.”
Lakius bowed politely to the emperor. Not like a son to his father, but more like a vassal to his monarch.
The emperor gave Lakius a disapproving glance, then spoke up.
“I have an official request from the Duke of Orleans.”
“What request?”
“That the Three Warriors wish to teach you in person.”
Lakius looked up in surprise.
“They also say that your talents are too great to be buried as they are, and that they hope you will not refuse.”
“Those words are…….”
“The Archmage and the High Priest are of the same opinion, so I can’t refuse.”
Tsk.
Clicking his tongue in displeasure, the emperor turned round.
“You are to visit the Duke of Orleans at his townhouse three days a week from now on.”
“…….I will accept, Your Majesty.”
Facing the Emperor, who turned away from him, Lakius bowed deeply once more.
Afterwards.
Lakius stepped out of the emperor’s office.
“Phew.”
Lakius let out a long sigh.
His heart was beating like crazy.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, surely, to be trained by the three heroes he’d always admired.
Besides, Lakius had always been hungry for learning.
Normally, he would have been busy racking his brains, trying to learn at least one more thing from the empire’s three greatest warriors.
And yet, at this very moment, the one person making his heart skip a beat is…….
‘The First Prince!’
A cheerful voice rang in his ears.
And a slow smile spread across Lakius’s lips.