#4
One winter day.
I should go see Veronica.
Sion, who had been sitting by the fireplace, suddenly closed his book as the thought came to him.
After lightly wetting his lips with black tea, he set the teacup down and turned his head.
On the tea table, piles of parchment were stacked like a small mountain.
Each one was densely filled with small, neat handwriting, proof of how busy and relentless his schedule had been over the past few months.
But as of today—it was finally over.
Sion put down the quill he had been fiddling with and stretched his arms.
The first stage of a long, drawn-out test had finally come to an end.
The reason the period had dragged on so long was because this wasn’t an ordinary test, but a special one for early graduation.
Of the two tests in total, he had just finished submitting the assignments for the first one, and was now taking a breather.
At that moment, the thought of Veronica—whom he hadn’t thought of in a while—suddenly came to him.
And at the same time—
“Your Highness?”
Knock, knock.
Two polite raps on the door were followed by Mary’s calm voice.
Sion replied dryly.
“What.”
“It’s just… His Majesty has something he would like me to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“As you know, His Majesty is very busy, and—”
“Enough, stop rambling and come in.”
Sion cut off Mary’s drawn-out words with an irritated tone.
“Then I’m coming in!”
Mary stepped inside brightly, the first step full of cheer, grinning as she approached Sion.
“How did your exam go, Your Highness?”
“Why are you curious about that?”
“Oh, come on, Your Highness… What did I just say when I came in?”
“What.”
“His Majesty… ah, could you move your feet for a moment—”
I’ve told the maids a hundred times to clean the prince’s chamber thoroughly…
There was still dust left on the floor. Dipping a snow-white towel in water, Mary squatted down and carefully inspected the floor at Sion’s feet.
“What did he say?”
Sion spoke irritably as he slightly lifted his feet off the carpet.
Mary pressed down on the carpet to remove the dust, smiling sheepishly.
“I said His Majesty has something to tell you.”
“And?”
“He was curious, you see.”
My grades…?
Sion narrowed one eye.
He was the undisputed genius of the Sloran Empire, and no one knew that better than the Emperor herself, who was in the same position once.
Because of that, she usually didn’t interfere in his studies.
And yet now…?
Sion instinctively narrowed his gaze at Mary.
“Did you—on purpose…”
But he cut himself off.
There was something he needed Mary to do for him. If he scolded her and she got sulky and did a half-hearted job, it would be a problem.
Mary poked her head out from under the desk.
“You called?”
“Nothing.”
When had he started minding her reactions?
Brushing it off, Sion touched his forehead tiredly before continuing.
“Mary.”
“Y-yes?”
Mary’s eyes went wide.
He’s calling me by name?
When was the last time that happened?
Thinking for a moment, Mary then nodded as if she’d figured it out.
He must want me to do something that involves the princess…
And her guess was right.
“What’s Veronica’s schedule today?”
“She had a culture and music lesson in the morning, so she’s probably resting now. This afternoon, she has a reading lesson.”
“Reading?” Sion echoed.
For all the fancy words, Veronica was still just a baby only a few months old.
Cultural music probably just means sitting her down and playing piano, and the reading lesson is just someone reading books to her.
“Who’s her reading instructor?”
“Uh… I think Scholar Mirhana?”
“His teaching is dull. It’s not good for her to be stuck in such a narrow-minded approach already.”
Leaving Mary tilting her head behind him, Sion went to the bookshelf and pulled out a few children’s books.
He then returned to his seat, took out a sheet of stationery, and scribbled a few lines.
Placing the letter atop the pile of books, he slid them toward Mary.
“Give this to His Majesty. And clear Veronica’s schedule for the afternoon.”
“Uh…?”
“No backtalk. Do it.”
“Ugh…”
“Out.”
Practically shoving Mary out, Sion stood up.
He took a few steps, then stopped.
Why was I going to see Veronica again?
Why did that thought even occur to him?
The events just now felt strangely like they’d happened to someone else in a story.
Wandering aimlessly to the mirror, Sion lifted his gaze to his reflection.
Jet-black hair that let not a single ray of light through, snow-white skin in stark contrast, and beneath it, eyes like dark, still crimson jewels.
A prince of the Sloran Empire who cared for no one else—Sion Sloran.
Come to think of it, just as no one had ever sought him out, he had never once gone toward anyone on his own.
And yet here he was, having thought such a thing.
Why… me?
He murmured it again in his head.
Then, searching for a reasonable excuse, he retraced his memories.
“Since Veronica’s gotten a little older, she seems to be getting restless,”
He recalled the Emperor mentioning this in passing.
Yes, that was it. Sion calmly organized his thoughts.
It was the year’s end, and the Emperor had been busier than ever lately.
Naturally, she felt guilty for not being able to properly look after Veronica, and it was on her mind.
So when Sion heard that, he’d decided to fill in for her.
After all, it wasn’t like he was the kind of affectionate person who would make time just to play with a baby.
Well… spending a little time with a kid who doesn’t think much isn’t a big deal. Especially when it’s me—just showing up is enough.
A faint smile appeared on Sion’s lips for the briefest moment before vanishing.
Thinking about what preparations he should make before visiting, Sion stood straight before the large mirror and stepped closer.
“Not so much making an effort as…”
He muttered idly while tidying his uniform and shirt.
Even if it was unofficial and personal, playing with Veronica in the Emperor’s stead was still acting on the Imperial Family’s behalf.
Naturally, he had to look like a true prince of Sloran blood.
This should look fine.
After smoothing his already well-kept hair a few more times and brushing his shoulders, he nodded in satisfaction.
A dignified prince of the Sloran Empire—and at the same time, a caring older brother to the princess.
That was how he would appear.
Good.
Satisfied, Sion tiptoed toward the study shelves.
[Advice for First-Time Mothers: My Child, My Responsibility!]
The title’s a bit much…
Without hesitation, he slid the thick book onto his lap.
Between the pages were small tabs marking places he’d checked before.
Though aimed at mothers, this was the most straightforward and useful book he’d found after much searching.
[What Does My Child Want to Do?]
Here it is.
Flipping through the chest-high book, his hand stopped at a certain page.
“Hm…”
His eyes froze on the opening lines.
[Babies tend to prefer high-pitched voices.]
“Ah.”
Unthinkingly, Sion made a short sound.
Then he frowned and lightly cleared his throat.
He hadn’t reached puberty yet, but forcing a higher pitch made his voice crack like shattering glass.
“Mm. Mm. Ah. Ah.”
After sipping more of his smooth black tea, he tried several more times.
It made no difference. Sion finally shook his head sharply and irritably flipped to the next page.
Why am I even doing this? There’s no rule that the author of this book must be right.
It wasn’t important anyway.
Turning the pages quickly, his hand finally stopped on the one he wanted.
A small fingertip traced the paragraph as he read.
[Babies generally like shiny, eye-catching toys.]
“Shiny and eye-catching…”
The first thing that came to mind was jewelry.
Holding the book down with one hand, Sion raised the other before his eyes.
A small, oval-shaped hole appeared in the air.
Through it, he could see what looked like a storage room—a warped violet space that seemed to squirm unpleasantly.
Without hesitation, Sion reached in and grabbed a handful of something.
A cascade of jewels spilled onto the tea table.
He gazed at the dazzling pile and frowned.
Aside from a diamond necklace gifted personally by the Emperor and the High Priest, he couldn’t even remember where most of them came from.
Not that it mattered—he had no interest in adornment. Better they be used this way than gathering dust.
But with so many kinds… what if she likes a specific one?
After a moment’s thought, Sion reached in again and pulled out several more handfuls, adding them to the pile.
Surely she’d like at least one.
Next…
Something that catches the eye.
Flowers? Flowers should work.
With a snap of his fingers, small vases filled with colorful blossoms popped onto the table.
They weren’t toys, but since a baby wasn’t very active anyway, the visual pleasure would be enough.
Next came pretty dolls, and for “eye-catching,” perhaps a tea set made of colored glass.
Along the same lines, a glass mobile.
And babies liked rattles, so he added those.
He’d heard they enjoyed playing house, so he included doll clothes and the necessary props.
And this.
And that.
And that too.
…Is this too much?
Sion looked up at the pile of toys stacked higher than himself.
Well… she’ll just take whatever I give her.
He’d never really played with them himself, but his storage held several times more than this anyway.
Forming another space in the air, he carefully stored the toys away.
Then he stood, giving his clothes one last check.
Too soon?
Perhaps, but Sion quickly dismissed the thought and took his first step.
Sitting still too long isn’t good for you anyway.
His footsteps were light as he left the room.
