CHAPTER 90………………………………..
. Four Years Later, The Children of the Fersen Palace (3)
Over the past few years, there were times I, too, felt disappointed in my father.
When he rejected my project proposals.
Or when he only pointed out what I’d missed.
At times like that, instead of calling him “Dad,” I made sure to say “Your Majesty Father” very politely.
And every time, he seemed thoroughly displeased.
What? I’m being respectful. Hmph.
The two boys sitting beside me rolled their eyes like they were watching a dangerous game unfold.
“What could have the princess so displeased today?”
“She heard from Lord Creusa that Halcyon is pushing to crown their crown prince.”
“Ah.”
Father lazily flipped through a few documents as he answered in an indifferent tone.
“Tsk. A young merchant should know better than to have such a loose tongue.”
“If Your Majesty had told me first, I wouldn’t have had to hear it from the head of the trading guild.”
I answered stiffly, and only then did Father set down his papers.
He gave me a warm smile, as though he understood everything.
“I see. I was going to tell you once things were settled. I’ve embarrassed you, haven’t I? My apologies.”
“Ah, n-no, it’s not about… appearances or anything like that…”
“The royal family of Alcyone has sent an official request. We intend to approve it this time.”
“—!”
At that, the three of us exchanged startled glances.
Approval?! Was he really approving it?
…Is the country doomed this time for real?
If I remembered correctly, that prince didn’t have a very good reputation.
Not only his character—I’d even overheard priests clicking their tongues and saying, “Tch, like father, like son. Not much in the brains department, that one.”
“We’ll also be sending a delegation.”
“Father, then—! Am I going as part of the delegation?”
“No.”
“…What?”
“The Duke of Ismenios will represent us.”
“B-but!”
That couldn’t happen!
If I didn’t go this time, I might never get a chance to go to Halcyon again!
“You’re still too young to take part in such affairs.”
“Father, even if I’m young, I’m still your heir! And you attended official events when you were ten!”
“Yes. Peaceful events.”
“Father…!”
“So this time, I forbid your attendance, Elysion.”
Father rejected my request with a clean, merciless tone.
“Besides, your health is still unstable. How could I possibly send you abroad?”
“I’m doing… much better now…”
I began energetically, but wilted under his gaze.
After secretly obtaining the bloodstone, I had stored it in a storage bracelet artifact.
If I just take out a little and use it when I need mana, it should be fine…
Thanks to that, my dizziness and nausea had mostly gone away.
However—
“You still get nosebleeds from the slightest pain. You call that healthy, Elysion?”
“…”
Right. The nosebleeds hadn’t stopped.
Then Father used magic to levitate a letter from the royal family of Alcyone.
It floated gracefully through the air and dropped right into my hands.
“Prince Alcyone.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“The royal family wishes for your return—to celebrate the future of their first prince.”
“…”
“The choice is yours.”
Father went back to his papers, already disinterested.
“Whether to go, or to stay here.”
Callion gave a bitter smile.
He must have already known what his answer would be—but it couldn’t have felt good to be asked like that.
“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“You may go. All three of you.”
At the king’s command, we all stood quietly.
And as I trudged back to the Fersen Palace, one thought looped in my head—
This is bad. Really bad.
How could I possibly change Father’s mind and make him let me go to Halcyon?
I was racking my brain for ways to persuade Father, while at the same time, the Hades Palace was bustling with preparations for the Halcyon delegation.
High-ranking nobles came and went from the palace every day.
And one day, following her father, Lady Nestor and her sister came to visit the Fersen Palace.
“Your Highness.”
Clink. Theia gently set down her teacup, pursing her lips.
This year, Theia was sixteen. Her younger sister, Selina, was twelve.
After I told them what had happened recently, Theia began scolding me.
“It’s only natural for His Highness Erebos to worry.”
“Ugh.”
“Everyone knows how mature you’ve been since childhood, Your Highness. But! You haven’t even had your debutante ball yet.”
“Lady Theia, you haven’t had yours either.”
I muttered, sulking—it felt strange being lectured by someone younger than me.
Like I don’t know my own age? But my debut’s still eight years away!
Theia elegantly opened her fan.
“Still, I’ll be attending Orpheum Academy, won’t I, Your Highness?”
“Ah, right! Congratulations on your admission. I even prepared a gift!”
“Oh my… I’m deeply honored, Your Highness. I’ll treasure it as a family heirloom.”
I always thought Theia dreamed of becoming the star of the social scene.
But over the past four years, she’d studied tirelessly and passed the academy entrance exam at an early age.
I suddenly wondered what fueled that passion.
“Did you really want to go to the academy that badly, Lady Theia? Were you always interested?”
“Actually, I heard everything from my father.”
Her eyes sparkled behind her fan.
“That Your Highness has been planning an academy for children these past few years!”
“Gasp—! Even Lord Nestor knows?!”
“Yes. He said His Highness Erebos mentioned it during a council meeting.”
At that, I hid my pout behind my teacup.
So he kept bringing up revisions with me, but bragged about it to others?
But… if he mentioned it during a council meeting, maybe it was a little bit of pride showing?
Ahem. I guess that’s fine, then.
Then Theia’s eyes gleamed with a sense of mission.
“So I’ve made up my mind, Your Highness.”
“About what—?”
“As president of the Black Rose Tea Party, I, Theia Nestor, shall devote myself entirely to your project!”
I desperately avoided her gaze.
That “Black Rose Tea Party,” which I’d thought would fade away as a childhood game, was still ongoing.
My hands trembled as I gripped my teacup.
“Um, that group… what do you do when you meet, exactly?”
“We gather regularly to visit the places Your Highness has recently been, organize the list of books you’ve borrowed from the royal library, try baking your favorite Black Forest cake, and perform the music you liked most at the Firefly Concert.”
“…”
“In short, it’s a group that reveres Your Highness in many ways. I’ll bring some cake next time if it turns out well.”
“Ah. Y-yes. That sounds… lovely.”
My head slowly drooped toward the floor.
It all sounded like they were having the time of their lives—without me.
“And once I enter the academy, I’ll make the Black Rose Tea Party an official school club!”
“…”
“I already checked the school rules. With a well-structured plan, we can receive academy funding and even expand activities to other regions! We could have branches all across Tartarus!”
What was I even supposed to say to that?
Thank you? Good luck?
Or maybe—please don’t, I might die of embarrassment instead of overwork…?
Meanwhile, Selina stood a few steps away, happily humming as she drew me.
Why was she drawing me this time?
But before I could see it, Theia continued speaking passionately, both hands gripping her fan.
“While I’m at the academy, I’ll find people who can truly help with Your Highness’s project!”
“Lady Theia…! Thank you so much…!”
At that moment, I couldn’t help clasping my hands together, deeply moved.
Because I still remembered how our first meeting had gone!
Then Selina exclaimed softly,
“All done! I can color it back home!”
I looked down at her sketch.
“Is… that me, Lady Selina?”
“Yes, Your Highness! I drew your profile!”
“Wow, it’s really… really beautiful.”
For her age, her skill was unbelievable.
So pretty, so radiant in style—
But the eyes are way too big.
A bit over-edited.
Theia glanced down and clicked her tongue.
“You’ve still got a long way to go, Selina.”
“Hmm, is the composition strange again?”
“That too. But more importantly, Your Highness’s eyes are much bigger than that, and you should’ve drawn the lashes thicker.”
