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Chapter : 10
At first…
“Why?”
It was the so-called “Why?” attack.
As expected, the uncles were flustered by my attack.
Knights are used to strict command structures, and in their vocabulary, there is no such word as “why.”
“Hmm…? Why, you say?”
“The princess is curious, so why are you asking me? You should ask the princess directly.”
As I struck right at the core with a clear voice, a troubled look appeared on the uncles’ faces.
Hmph, just as I thought.
“Actually, His Imperial Majesty is worried that the princess and the duke might be plotting a rebellion, so we came to spy!”
…They obviously couldn’t say that.
As the leader uncle fell silent and frowned, another uncle behind him answered instead.
“Well… the Emperor doesn’t get along with the princess. So it’s a bit difficult to ask her directly, which is why we’re asking you.”
“Gasp! The princess doesn’t get along with His Majesty? Why?”
“Well, uh… that is, the reason they don’t get along is…”
One of the uncles, caught in my way of speaking, almost answered without realizing it.
At that moment, another uncle shoved the confused one aside and cut in.
“Forget what I just said. His Majesty is a benevolent ruler who cares for all his people, and he is simply wondering if the princess, who has traveled far, is doing well.”
Oh, that sounded plausible.
If I didn’t have my past-life memories, I might’ve fallen for it.
Then, second attack.
“Oh, I see. But then why aren’t you curious about me?”
I kept picking at their words.
“…Huh?”
“I’m also one of His Majesty’s subjects, aren’t I? Aren’t you curious whether my father and I are doing well in this village?”
The uncle hesitated for a moment before answering.
“Of, of course His Majesty is curious. Have you been doing well here? Are you getting along well with the princess too?”
Oh-ho. So he’s casually bringing Rahhel into the conversation.
This uncle is not easy.
Then, finally…
“I’m doing well. I even became the leader of the kids in the village after fighting them, and recently I went to an abandoned house in the woods for a bravery test…”
I started listing completely unnecessary achievements!
As I chattered away, I could see the uncles’ souls slowly leaving their bodies in real time.
It seemed like I had successfully trapped them in feedback hell—
But then…
The leader uncle regained his composure and asked,
“Was the princess also there for that bravery test?”
“No? The princess wasn’t even in the village at that time.”
“……”
Only then did their faces redden, as if their patience had reached its limit.
“Then why are you even talking about this?!”
“Geez, you asked me first whether I was doing well…”
I pouted and turned my head away, and the uncles panicked slightly.
“Cough! That’s not what we meant. We’re asking because we’re curious if you’re getting along with the princess.”
“Have you ever seen the princess use magic?”
While one uncle tried to soothe me, another slipped in a question.
I narrowed my eyes.
So this is the real question.
The founding Emperor of the Hildeon Empire was a great mage.
Because of that, most descendants were born with tremendous magical power.
And, barring exceptions, the strongest among them inherited the throne.
However, there were occasionally descendants who rebelled against that system.
One of them was the former crown prince—Rahhel’s father.
He was a mage as powerful as the Emperor’s brother and attempted rebellion out of ambition for the throne, but was discovered and executed.
That was Rahhel’s family history as written in the original story.
So the Emperor kept Rahhel under constant surveillance, fearing she might follow in her father’s footsteps.
But what does her father’s rebellion have to do with Rahhel?
She was just a child born into it!
Collective punishment and branding her as a traitor…
I suppressed my irritation and answered casually.
“Hmm, I’m not sure? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it…”
“Think more carefully before you answer—!”
Just as the uncles, now at their limit, were about to pressure me—
“Stop this.”
My father, who had been silently watching, stepped in to block them.
“You won’t get the answers you want from a nine-year-old child.”
The uncles’ eyes turned cold as they looked at my father.
Uh-oh, the atmosphere just got dangerous again!
It felt like their frustration from my interrogation had piled up as well.
“Ah! By the way, can you uncles use magic? I’ve never met a mage before, so could you show me?”
I quickly jumped in, cutting off the tension between my father and the uncles.
The uncles recoiled in disgust and backed away. It seemed they had completely lost interest in extracting information.
“Kids these days… what a waste of time.”
“Hey, you’d better handle today’s matter properly.”
The uncles left after issuing a final warning to my father.
Mission accomplished!
As I stuck my tongue out at their retreating backs—
“However.”
Just as the leader uncle was about to leave, he suddenly turned back to my father, as if something had come to mind.
I quickly hid my tongue in shock.
“You look familiar. Have we met somewhere before?”
A brief tension filled the air between them.
My father replied first.
“I don’t think so. This is our first meeting.”
I tilted my head.
My dad doesn’t exactly have a forgettable face.
After staring a moment longer, the uncle finally turned and left.
At last, the shop became quiet.
“Vivi, let’s not go to the duke’s estate for a while.”
My father lifted me down, looking worried.
But that wasn’t a problem.
“Actually, the butler already said the same thing. He said they’re busy receiving guests.”
After the duke had left,
the butler had said to me as I was leaving after dinner:
“For now, we will be busy receiving guests from the Imperial Palace, so it would be best if you do not come.”
On the surface, it was just because they were busy with guests…
But maybe they suspect me.
It made sense.
Right after I became Rahhel’s playmate, people came from the Imperial Palace.
But this is unfair!
I worked so hard to get this friend position!
What if I get cut off?
Ugh… is there no way to clear the duke’s suspicion?
As I worried, an idea suddenly flashed through my mind.
“Vivi, you came home early. Did you eat dinner— Vivi?”
“I already ate, so don’t worry. Dad, you should eat too!”
I ran past my father and rushed upstairs to my room.
Then I opened my notebook.
“Good. This should clear the duke’s suspicions.”
My hand moved quickly as I wrote.
A week had passed since the inspector from the Imperial Palace arrived.
During that time, Vivian had not visited the manor.
Owen had said she shouldn’t come while guests were staying, but Rahhel was used to this situation.
Back when she stayed at the townhouse in the capital,
she had taken in several noble children as playmates, but they all eventually stopped coming.
The reasons on the surface varied:
Illness, a younger sibling being born, visiting relatives from far away…
At first, she believed them.
She even sent letters out of concern.
Then one day,
her nanny, moved by how long she had been waiting for replies that never came, told her the truth.
“Actually, all of them stopped coming because you are the child of a traitor. They were afraid His Majesty would punish anyone close to you.”
[…]
“Our poor young lady… but don’t worry. I and Sally will always stay by your side.”
After that day, Rahhel decided not to expect anything from anyone.
She thought even her grandfather had given up on her.
And yet…
“I like the princess!”
A strange child who suddenly appeared one day.
Unlike the composed noble children she was used to, this one was different—but Rahhel still didn’t allow herself to hope.
Yes. You’ll leave soon anyway.
So she wouldn’t be hurt.
It was fine.
It should have been fine…
Then why am I so irritated?
While reading, Rahhel unconsciously glanced out the window.
Suppressing her rising irritation, she returned her gaze to the book.
But she couldn’t focus.
She closed the book she was reading and picked up another.
Just then—
Knock, knock.
A sudden knock echoed through the room.
