TPHO 81

CHAPTER 81……………………………..

 I Fought With Dad (1)

Was it Andvari?

He still wore a calm expression, but compared to the first time I saw him, he definitely looked thinner.

Minte, who was standing beside me, frowned uncomfortably.

“Madam.”

It was a short but meaningful address.

Madam jumped in surprise and hurriedly explained.

“Ah! Our Andvari has complied with all of Heides Palace’s inspections! Right, Andvari?”

“…Yes, Madam.”

Andvari bowed politely, seemingly indifferent to Minte’s suspicion.

“I greet the princess of the demon race, Your Highness.”

“Hello, Andvari. How is Veled? Is he doing well?”

“Thanks to the Princess’s mercy.”

Madam, perhaps to maintain a lighter atmosphere, changed the subject.

“So, will you be opening an academy in the Princess’s name? I’m so excited!”

“Hmm, it hasn’t been decided yet.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone else.”

The mood softened again.

But my eyes kept drifting toward Andvari.

Why is that?

His gaze was cold and settled on my words.

As if he was forcing himself to hide his discomfort.

Almost like he wanted to mock what I said but couldn’t…

Why?

I could have ignored that look.

But I had a feeling it would linger in my mind if I did.

Like ignoring a small spark that could later turn into a bigger fire.

So, before returning to the palace, I said:

“Lete, Minte. I have one more favor.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Could you… call that person for a moment?”

While Ares and Carion waited in the carriage, I only called the Epikus sisters and, cradled in Minte’s arms, summoned Andvari.

Even Madam, worried, stepped back. In the hallway bathed in twilight,

the Epikus sisters gave me a look that seemed to say, Why are you paying attention to someone like this?

But I can’t leave this unsettled.

Andvari seemed flustered but regained composure and bowed.

“Your Highness. What is it that you have summoned me for?”

“Hmm… it’s about what was said earlier, in front of everyone.”

“What was said is something I… shouldn’t speak of casually outside either—”

“No, it’s not about that… I just wondered if something was bothering you?”

“……”

“You looked like you wanted to say something.”

Andvari kept his mouth shut.

At that moment, he didn’t look like a mild tailor at all, but sturdy, much like Minte.

“…Princess.”

“Hm?”

“If you are building an academy, only children who can attend salons will likely be allowed, right?”

“Uh?”

“The children of Illiod will be rich, being the offspring of guild masters.”

He spoke calmly, yet if you looked closely, there was a trace of cold ridicule on his lips.

“But if you look outside the salons, there are countless children like that.”

At his words, I also glanced out the window.

Even at this dusk hour, there were demon children working.

“Veled may have money, but he makes those children work too.”

“Ah… but those children—”

“Even if there’s a school, the level is questionable. Parents might not send them anyway because they must work.”

“……”

“So even if a good academy is built, those children will never have the chance to enter.”

Andvari’s words were thorny.

But flinching at the Epikus sisters’ eyes, he quickly knelt.

“I misspoke, Your Highness. Please forgive me—”

“No, thank you.”

“Eh…?”

“Thanks to you, I remembered too.”

“……?”

“How foolish I was.”

The adults around me looked puzzled, but I stayed silent.

But I was surprised at myself.

How could I have lived forgetting all of this?

I, of all people here, came from the lowest origins.

Before being chosen as the Great Saint, I lived as a commoner in a village not even on the map.

A life of farming that left no time for study.

I only forgot it all because I was raised as a princess.

My perspective adjusted to that of the nobles.

Even though there were far more non-noble demons than noble ones.

I reached out and patted Andvari’s shoulder.

I had originally wanted to hold his hand, but my arms were too short.

Smiling sincerely, I saw his face slightly startled.

“Andvari. Have a good evening.”

“…May the Princess of Tartarus also have a peaceful evening.”

Minte gave me the signal that it was time to go and held me again.

Thus, the visit ended.

Now, all that’s left…

is to organize all of this and tell my father.

Watching the departing princess party, Andvari clicked his tongue inwardly.

Damn.

He had made a serious mistake.

He didn’t know when this long-term mercenary assignment would end, so he had to be careful.

And yet, I almost offended the Princess.

But he lost his temper for a moment and couldn’t hold back.

Some lost their limbs because of the Demon King and barely escaped the investigation.

And yet this baby princess spouts nonsense, and it makes him furious.

But she really is a strange child.

She questions his opinions, even though he’s a foreigner, a human, and of lower rank.

Is the demon royal family really that different from the north?

And why would a child have such a bitter smile?

Andvari stared out the window in silence.

The demon children were still working.

“……”

In truth, she hated demons too.

Even if she was young, who would like being insulted for looking different?

So he didn’t think it wrong to try to blow up Veled’s building.

It was just a job for pay.

Professionally, he could have remained indifferent.

I still need to report today’s events to the Talos priests.

But perhaps because of that little princess.

Or because of her tiny yet perceptive demeanor.

“Hmph.”

Andvari returned to his neighborhood.

Going out to buy dinner, he ran into the children of the area.

Usually, these demon children ignored him or whispered behind his back.

But this time, when their eyes met:

“Oh, hello!”

“……?”

One child stammered first.

The child next to him, surprised, nudged and whispered:

“Hey, why are you greeting? She’s human…”

“But the princess lives with a human prince, doesn’t she?”

Hmm.

It was an innocent thought: if the baby princess did it, it must be right to follow.

Stupid.

Andvari clicked his tongue inwardly.

But there was no need to be suspicious.

“…Hello.”

He spoke curtly and quickly walked away.

Yes, this much is enough while I’m in this land.

It was by no means because of the baby princess.

Normally, before entering Heides Palace, it was customary to give notice.

But I’m the princess, and I want to go in!

Naturally, no one dared block me.

My father, still in the study reviewing documents, jumped when I appeared.

“Elysion?”

“Father, you know…”

I beamed and leapt into his arms.

It was the first time in my life, past or present, that I had such a clear goal.

Not something done out of responsibility because others dragged me along, but from my own head.

“I’ve decided what to do in Veled’s territory.”

“Hmm? Already?”

“Yes! I thought I could build a small academy!”

“……An academy?”

My father raised his eyes in surprise at my words.

It would indeed be unusual for such a little one to build a school.

“There’s already Orpheum for an academy.”

“But that’s only for nearly grown adults!”

I clenched my tiny fist, gaining confidence.

“It’s a place like Madam’s salon, for children to gather, for the children themselves.”

“…….”

“And it will truly be a place for all children, even demons and humans.”

My father hesitated at my words.