🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 06
“Miss….”
“…….”
“Miss, please wake up!”
Mm, is that Mary’s voice? Then I’ll sleep just a little longer.
“Please wake up! Young Master Jen is already up.”
“What?”
At those words, I forgot all about lounging around and sprang out of bed. You should’ve said that first!
“When? When did he wake up?”
“About thirty minutes ago.”
No, this won’t do. I said I’d guide him onto the right path—I can’t be lying around like this.
I quickly washed up and changed into the dress Mary had prepared for me.
Even though it was indoor wear, the dress was complicated enough that by the time I finished putting it on, Mary said she needed to do my hair and had me sit in front of her.
…Ah, I’m already tired. If it weren’t for Jen, I’d be wandering around in my pajamas. Of course, Gilbert and Mary would’ve made a fuss.
“Mary, I think being a good role model is really exhausting.”
“May I speak frankly?”
“…About what?”
I had a bad feeling, but I was curious enough to listen.
“From what I can see, miss, it’s not that you’re trying to be a good role model—you’re just trying very hard to keep up with Young Master Jen.”
“…….”
“Even if you didn’t try so hard, he’s already living a very exemplary life.”
…Fine, I admit it. After watching him for a week since coming to the Amelio estate, it was hard to believe this was his first time here—he’d adapted incredibly well.
He ate more neatly than I did, and no matter how early I woke up, Jen was always already awake. It made me wonder if he even slept at all.
There was barely anything I could teach him academically, either.
He’d recently started learning things a successor should know—like estate management—from Gilbert, so it wasn’t as if he lacked teachers.
“Of course, there are things he can learn from you, miss.”
“Really?”
Mary half-tied my hair, then stood me in front of the mirror, saying she was finished. Good. Perfect again today.
“Your relaxed nature?”
“…Is that an insult?”
“No! Not at all. Truly. Sometimes Young Master Jen works so intensely that I wonder why he pushes himself that far. He’s still very young, so I think it would be good for him to relax a little.”
“…Relax.”
“Yes. He’s at an age where he should be running around and playing.”
Come to think of it, I’d never really seen Jen play freely.
Every day, he was either holed up in the study reading or talking with me. That was it.
“Is there nothing fun to do in the Amelio estate?”
“There certainly is not.”
Gilbert, who had just entered the room to announce that breakfast was ready, answered instead of Mary.
He spoke as if he’d been waiting for this topic to come up.
“It’s not a suitable place for a child to play. Perhaps Young Master Jen knows this as well—aside from speaking with you, miss, he spends all his time reading in the study.”
…Right. That’s true.
Seeing the worry on Gilbert’s face, I finally grasped the seriousness of the situation.
This won’t do. If there’s nothing to play with, we’ll have to go find something.
Being mature was Jen’s strength, but sometimes he needed to play like a child his age.
Living like a child matters, too. There are memories you can only make at that age.
“Isn’t there some kind of festival nearby? Outside the estate, I mean.”
“There is one, but it’s not exactly appropriate for Young Master Jen…”
“What is it?”
After hesitating briefly, Gilbert spoke.
“The Crucia Festival.”
“…Crucia?”
That startled me. I didn’t expect the title of the original novel to pop up out of nowhere.
“What kind of festival is it?”
“You already know, miss. You know the flower language of crucia, don’t you?”
Of course I did. Among the books I’d read in the estate’s library were several on flower meanings.
Perhaps due to the countess—said to have been an elf who lived over five hundred years—the library contained many rare materials.
I’d spent days after possessing this body doing nothing but reading there. Now then… the meaning of the crucia flower was…
“Unchanging love.”
The moment I said it, I froze. Ah—don’t tell me.
“Is it a festival for couples?”
“Yes.”
The curse slipped out of my mouth instantly. Damn it. Of all festivals, why did it have to be that kind?
“But it’s still a festival. There must be at least one thing a child could enjoy, right?”
“It’s not entirely unsuitable. The most famous attraction is the ‘Wish Tree.’ While it’s mostly for love-related wishes, people do write other wishes as well.”
“You write a wish and hang it on the tree?”
“Exactly.”
Hmm. Writing wishes wasn’t exactly a thrilling activity for a boy Jen’s age.
“But there’ll be plenty of food, right?”
“Of course. It is a festival.”
“Then that’s fine.”
At least it’d be more fun than staying cooped up in the estate. Jen probably hadn’t been to a festival before, so it’d be a good experience.
“Mary.”
“Yes, miss. Shall I help you prepare to go out?”
“No.”
I couldn’t go to such a crowded place myself. Just looking at it, it’d be dangerous.
“Take Jen to the festival. I’ll give you plenty of money.”
“…Pardon?”
Mary’s face turned deathly pale, as if she’d heard something unthinkable. Gilbert beside her looked the same.
…Why is everyone reacting like that?
“You don’t mean… just Young Master Jen and me going alone, do you?”
“That’s right. If that feels like too much, you can take Gilbert or others along.”
“No, that’s not the issue…”
Mary lowered her head, staring at her feet as she trailed off. What? What’s the problem?
“Miss, do you really not know?”
“Know what?”
“That Young Master Jen doesn’t say a single word to anyone except you.”
What…? Jen, who comes to greet me every night before bed?
“Even when he does end up talking, he won’t make eye contact. He just keeps staring at his notebook.”
That couldn’t be right. He always tried to meet my eyes during meals. It was so cute I even wrote about it in my diary.
“When you’re not around, miss, Young Master Jen hardly ever smiles. If you don’t go with him, I doubt he’ll enjoy the festival at all.”
“…….”
“It would probably be the same no matter who from the estate went.”
…This is more serious than I thought. I never imagined that trying to cheer Jen up would lead to this.
If I’m not there, it’s all for nothing.
“…I guess I have no choice.”
I was the one who brought Jen here. No matter the situation, I had to take responsibility.
“Mary, I’ll go too. Help me prepare to go out.”
“Yes! Shall I inform Young Master Jen as well?”
“Yes—but ask him first if he wants to go. He might not feel like it.”
“Understood.”
Mary left the room with a much brighter expression. Gilbert, who’d been watching, also stood up, saying he’d prepare the carriage.
“Is there anything else you require?”
Ah, right. Almost forgot.
“We’ll be taking knights with us. Tell them to prepare.”
“How many would you like?”
“As many as possible. The maximum number that won’t compromise the estate’s security.”
“…Pardon?”
I smiled sweetly at Gilbert, who looked at me as if to say, All this for a festival?
You can’t die at a festival, after all. Always be prepared.
“Wow, this is amazing!”
The moment we arrived, Mary ran around with sparkling eyes. Honestly, I was surprised too.
It’s more elaborate than I expected.
Crucia flowers weren’t particularly flashy, so I hadn’t expected much.
This was a perfectly fine festival to bring Jen to.
“What do you think, Jen?”
I asked while watching him look around in wonder, just like Mary. I was holding his hand tightly in case we got separated.
“Huh? What?”
“I asked how it is.”
It’s nice, right? I suggested we come here. Smiling proudly, I looked at him.
Jen stared straight at me, then spoke.
“It’s pretty.”
…Huh?
Thinking I’d misheard, I blinked. Jen lifted himself slightly and whispered into my ear.
“You’re pretty.”
“…….”
“That good enough?”
After casually saying something only a romance novel’s male lead would say, Jen walked ahead again.
I stood there, frozen, staring blankly at his back.
…What was that? That face saying lines like that. Who taught him to look someone straight in the eyes when he talks?
…Me.
The realization hit instantly, plunging me into serious contemplation.
Had I unknowingly turned Jen into something terrifying?
I suddenly became very curious about who his future partner would be…
“Ah.”
“Oh—I’m sorry!”
Lost in thought, I bumped into someone beside me.
I lifted my head to see if they were hurt.
…Huh?
“…Miss Morette?”
At my call, the girl rubbing her shoulder looked up. When she recognized me, her face turned pale.
“…Miss Amelio?”
As expected. Rachel Morette.
I glanced at Rachel beside me, picking out paper to write her wish on. Or rather, at the person standing next to her.
So it’s true—the crown prince really did come to the Morette marquisate.
Perfectly in line with the festival’s theme, Rachel was on a date with the crown prince.
The crown prince, who looked around my age, practically radiated nobility, as if announcing his status to the entire world.
Silver hair gently swaying in the wind, green eyes that perfectly matched his pure, refined image.
He looked like the kind of person who’d feel warm like sunlight when he smiled.
He really is handsome. No wonder people sing about the crown prince’s looks.
My eyes were treated, but honestly, this was troublesome.
The famous half-elf and the crown prince together—no wonder the attention directed our way had doubled.
I politely decline excessive attention. I even had the knights wear plain clothes so we wouldn’t stand out.
Why are even the side characters in this novel so good-looking?
Jen beside me was scowling fiercely. Wait—why is he upset again?
Taking care of kids is really hard.
“What’s wrong? Something bothering you?”
“…Is that man the crown prince?”
I was puzzled by the hostility in his expression, but I nodded.
After thinking for a moment, Jen tugged on the hem of my dress.
“I don’t like him.”
“…….”
“I don’t like the crown prince.”
Did anyone hear that…? My heart nearly stopped as I quickly scanned the surroundings.
Thankfully, no one seemed to have noticed—everyone was focused on the Wish Tree.
“That’s okay, Jen. We won’t have to talk to him.”
I didn’t want more attention either.
To be safe, I bent down and whispered into Jen’s ear. Of course, that confidence was misplaced.
I’d forgotten that I was a minor celebrity in this world.
“Good afternoon, Miss Amelio.”
A gentle, spring-sunlight-like voice.
I turned around, forgetting all about hanging my wish on the tree.
When our eyes met, fresh green eyes curved into a soft smile.
Wow. Now I get why Rachel made such a fuss. If my boyfriend gave me a necklace, I might’ve gone crazy too.
That said, it didn’t excuse what she did to Jen.
“Good afternoon, Your High—”
“Enoch.”
The crown prince—no, Enoch—cut me off hurriedly.
“Please call me Enoch. I don’t want to be treated like a crown prince in a place like this.”
…That’s a bit hard to believe when you’re already drawing this much attention.
Everyone around him was clearly imperial knights, even if they were in plain clothes.
Luckily, Mary and Gilbert were off buying food. Otherwise, they would’ve caused a scene.
As if unaware of my thoughts, Enoch continued smiling.
“This is our first time meeting in person. I was surprised when Miss Morette greeted you earlier.”
“Why?”
“Well… how should I put it. Until now, you felt like a mythical creature to me…”
I stayed silent, and Enoch, noticing my expression, shook his head frantically.
“Ah, sorry! That’s not what I meant! I mean—not mythical, but prettier than that—”
After rambling for a while, he seemed to give up on finding the right word and let out a deep sigh, shoulders drooping.
He looked like…
…a puppy.
This is driving me crazy. Why are there so many cute people? If he weren’t the crown prince, I might’ve taken him as a little brother.
“It’s okay. I’m not offended. Calling me mythical isn’t exactly wrong—I’m the last of my kind, after all.”
“Still…”
Thinking he might dig a hole and bury himself, I quickly changed the subject.
We were at the Wish Tree anyway—perfect timing.
“Your Highness—no, Enoch. What wish did you write?”
“I wrote…”
After glancing around, Enoch leaned in and whispered.
“That I want to return to the imperial palace as soon as possible.”
“…What?”
You want to go home while on a date? I stared at his brightly smiling face in disbelief.
…This man is far more rotten than he looks.
