Chapter 10

Sweet Treats, a Baby Detective, and Sunset Trouble

“Sweet fruit skewers, come get your skewers!”
“Fresh warm bread! Soft white loaves, chewy crunchy baguettes!”
“In just a moment, by Fountain Three, we’ll be showing today’s hottest puppet play—The Invincible Golem, Baal! Bring your kids and enjoy!”

This was the heart of the thousand-year Empire.

Well… technically year 980 of the Imperial Calendar, so not quite a thousand yet.

Lirian’s eyes went wide at the sight of the bustling streets.
There were so many people.

“Brothers and sisters, as the sun sets today, a high priest will bless us with a special rite.”
“Truly, priest?”
“Yes. It will be held in front of the Grand Sanctuary. Come, hear the Morning Star’s words, pray, and receive the blessing.”

“Did you hear that? There’s a blessing today.”
“I was sad we couldn’t see the Sword of Dawn again, but at least there’s this ceremony. Let’s go.”

There were crowds.

Spotting the priests’ familiar robes, Lirian stared intently—
and was promptly scooped up.

“Princess, don’t run off without Daddy.”

“Daddy, you’re slow!”

“…You don’t have to hit Daddy with the truth like that. Now, what shall we do first, Detective? From the look of it, the Sword of Dawn is off-limits again. Seems His Majesty’s hysteria hasn’t improved.”

“What’s hyster… ic?”

“It means stingy.”

“The Emperor’s stingy?”

“Yep.”

And just like that, Duke Caesar Ersioni committed open treason with a straight face.

He pointed toward the plaza.

It was crowded everywhere, but that place was especially packed.

“See over there?”

“Mm-hm. So many people!”

Like ants, people swarmed, held back by knights forming a barricade.

At the very center stood a glittering glass dome, but what was inside couldn’t be seen.

“That’s where the Sword of Dawn is.”

“The sword…?”

“The divine relic of Leonhardt I, founder of the Empire. The Imperial family’s greatest treasure.”

It had once been open for anyone to see. But under the current Emperor, it was sealed away more often than not.

Understandable—showing the nation a holy sword that had lost its light for over ten years would hardly inspire loyalty.

The sword couldn’t be moved or wielded by just anyone, either, so they had little choice but to hide it.

Still… to fail to restore it for a decade, and then strike your own son from the royal registry?

Pathetic didn’t begin to cover it.

What crime did a child commit, save for being born?

Caesar’s face briefly hardened, but he softened as soon as his eyes landed on Lirian’s plump little cheeks.

This was the royal family’s mess. Until he had the right reason—or a clue to the missing prince—he could not intervene.

Instead, he kissed his daughter’s cheek with a wry smile.

“Forget the sword. Let’s get something tasty first.”

“Okay!”

She glanced once more toward the glass dome, then turned back to him.

And so, their real capital tour began.

“Uncle, skewer please!”

“Oh-ho, what a cute little detective. Want one?”

“No.”

She shook her head firmly and held out all five fingers.

“…Five? Can you eat them all?”

She shook again.

“Fifty!”

“Just two, thank you.”

Caesar clamped a hand over her mouth before she could bankrupt him.

The vendor laughed. “Ha! Daddy, huh? Your girl’s as pretty as a doll—and you’re… wow, you’re handsome too.”

Lirian squirmed free. “I’m eating fifty!”

“If you eat fifty sweets, your tummy will hurt.”

“I’ll brush my teeth!”

“Still no.”

“Humph!”

Her pout vanished the moment a sugar-glazed fruit skewer was handed to her. Soon she was toddling along with one in each hand.

And after exactly two bites, both skewers went straight to her father for “leftover duty.”

“…I knew this would happen.”

He chuckled and ate them.

The same happened everywhere.

She pressed her nose to the window of a famous dessert shop, drooling.

When he opened the door, she proudly announced:

“From here to there, one of everything—!”

Only to be stopped again.

Money wasn’t the problem—Caesar could buy the entire shop. But not even he could stomach dozens of sugary cakes and cookies in one sitting.

“More cakeee!”

“You’ll ruin your dinner.”

In the end, he had to hoist her onto his shoulder to drag her out before she flopped on the floor.

They compromised with honeyed milk.

Sitting side by side at the fountain, they each sipped from their cups—Lirian’s second after she swapped hers for his without asking.

“Daddy, you can’t just limit a child’s freedom. That’ll make her grow up twisted.”

She declared this with a milk mustache.

Caesar stifled a laugh and wiped her lips solemnly.

“Didn’t you just say adults can eat ten macarons at once?”

“…That was before!”

“So my princess is a super-ultra-child who switches between kid and adult, huh?”

“Yep.”

“And right now?”

“Adult.”

She sipped her milk with an exaggeratedly serious face.

It wasn’t sweet enough—Daddy hadn’t let her drown it in honey.

So this is the taste of adulthood…

Her expression said it all. Caesar fought desperately to keep his face stern. If he laughed, she’d sulk in “wildcat mode” for at least three days.

“…Then since you’re an adult, you don’t need to watch a puppet show, right?”

“Child!!”

Of course, he lost the battle and burst out laughing. Then had to spend quite some time soothing his sulky daughter.

By evening, the streets were glowing with sunset.

“Can you believe they didn’t do the Rose puppet play? That troupe will regret it forever.”

“Princess, how do you even know to say things like that?”

“Not princess. Detective. Detectives are smart.”

Her father only chuckled.

Lirian looked down at the big warm hand holding hers. His long strides always slowed to match her tiny steps.

It’s strange…

She knew she was different. In her first life, people had called her “the foolish princess.”

In Ersioni territory, no one had ever said so—but in the ruined world, whispers had followed her everywhere.

Her strength was respected, but her simplemindedness was mocked.

So she’d forced herself to act grown-up.

But now, since returning, she couldn’t do it anymore.

Why…?

Because everyone here accepted her exactly as she was.

They held her hand. Matched her pace. Let her pout, laugh, and be herself.

So within just a week, she had shed the mask and returned fully to being a wild five-year-old.

Spending this whole day with her father only made it clearer.

This world… is peaceful.

To simply be a child—what a blessing.

Of course, she wasn’t an ordinary five-year-old anymore.

Like now.

“Daddy, did you see that?”

“I did. But my princess shouldn’t be looking at filth like that.”

“Detectives can look!”

“…If I tell you to turn back because it’s dangerous, you won’t listen, will you.”

“Mm-hm.”

She nodded without hesitation.

Caesar sighed and gave a dark, humorless smile.

“…Then maybe I should just deal with those men myself.”

His cold gaze locked on the group of rough-looking men ahead.