Chapter 76

1STKISSNOVEL. DO NOT STEAL MY TRANSLATION!

Fortunately, everyone liked my suggestion.

I opened a drawer on one side of my room and took out the yarn and needles from it.

“Take your favorite color.”

“Mine’s red.”

“I-I will take this.”

Ninaina and Alice took the red and light blue yarns.

Cedric, after thinking for a while in front of the bundle of yarn,  grabbed a gray yarn.

“Jake, which would you like?”

“I’ll have the green one.”

So everyone picked up their yarns and needles, and sat in a row of chairs in front of me.

‘Because I’m doing this, I feel like I’ve become a teacher. Hehe.’

Somewhat excited, I taught them knitting with all my heart and soul.

Was my explanation good enough? It was clumsy, but everyone was following along well.

“It’s amazing and fun. To make your own socks.”

Ninaina looked quite happy that she made the socks that she would wear.

She glanced at the other side and saw that since Nicholas was still reading a children’s book,  he didn’t seem particularly interested in knitting.

Jake said he would repay me, and in order to do so, he was knitting the socks intently.

The problem was with the other two.

Alice and Cedric seemed to have some regrets about the socks I had given earlier for some reason.

“Excuse me, Lady Emir……”

“What’s wrong, Alice? Is there anything I can help you with?”

It wasn’t anything like that, but Alice approached me carefully.

She expectantly looked at me as if she had something to say.

“No, that’s not it. I was wondering if I could exchange the socks that I am knitting with the socks Lady Emir is knitting later.”

Alice smiled with a slightly embarrassed face.

“Like Lord Jake, I want the socks Lady Emir made.”

“Sure, let’s do….”

“Wait!”

Just when I was about to nod my head, Cedric interrupted.

“That’s not allowed, because I want your socks, too. Instead of Alice’s, exchange those with mine.”

“No! I said it first!”

Alice waved her hand, frustrated.

‘Oh my……’

Having become flustered by the both of them, I grabbed the back of my neck.

What to do?

‘Oh, I’ll do that.’

Luckily, a good idea immediately came to mind.

“Then how about this? The one who finishes the socks faster between the two of you is going to exchange theirs with mine.”

The two seemed to ponder over my suggestion for a moment.

But after a while, they replied with affirmation.

“Go, good. I am confident that I will win.”

“Ha! I will only be knitting every day every time, except for my swordsmanship training time.”

“I-I don’t have any special training… I have a lot of time, so I think I’ll finish it faster…

Somehow, it seemed that a spark of competition ignited within the two of them.

“Then, then I’ll make my servants knit.”

That was not right.

I interrupted Cedric’s.

“It is against the rules to have someone else do it. If caught, you will be eliminated.”

“……Ooff.”

“Even if it’s not swordsmanship, you have to fight for anything fairly and squarely.”

Cedric couldn’t argue any more.

Thus, a stormy knitting competition between the two began.

Cedric and Alice each sat on their chairs facing each other, their heads bowed, absorbed in knitting and did not utter a single word.

Of course, I heard them mumbling and making exchanges, which seemed to keep each other in check.

“Heh, Alice, whether you’re my fiancee or not, I’ll never let you win.”

“Cedric should be nervous. I’m not going to cut you any slack either.”

Look, at this point, they weren’t even staring at each other. They were talking to themselves.

I was caught in the middle of their war.

Time passed like that, and now it was time for them to go back to their respective homes.

“What? Is it already time? Are you kidding?”

“I wanted to stay a little longer. Well, we can come again next time. Will you invite me?”

Everyone was sad, but it was inevitable.

It was clear that time had passed without a hitch because they were so absorbed in knitting.

While everyone was getting ready to go home, Nicholas came up to me.

He had three or four children’s books in his arms.

“Sell these children’s books to me. I will give you five hundred gold coins.”

“……!”

I was at a loss hearing Nicholas’ words.

How much money is five hundred  gold coins? No, to spend that much money on a few books…

I got a headache while calculating the value of gold coins.

When I was speechless at his request, Nicholas belatedly added another reason as an excuse.

“There are no fairy tale books like this in the Imperial Palace. I want to read the rest, but time is running out.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t sell it, Your Highness.”

I declined Nicholas’s offer with an apologetic face.

To which Nicholas asked, confused.

“Why? Is the money not enough? Do you need more?”