PAMF 19

Chapter 19

My Conversational Partner Is a Descendant of Royalty?

“All I truly want is death, you know?”

Why did he even stay behind to ask such a strange question? I felt a bit exasperated.

“What on earth are you talking about?”

This kid, smart enough to even assist in class, was spouting nonsense.

“It’s not like I’m about to die right now, so I really don’t get it.”

I was slightly annoyed, so I stayed silent. Just then, a gust of wind blew, making a whoosh sound, giving me the odd feeling that Sasha and I were in a cold war.

Step, step…

“Ah, there you are.”

Just as I wondered how long this awkward silence would last, Lilis made her presence known.

“Your Highness, the princess.”

Thanks to her perfect timing, I no longer had to hear Sasha’s nonsense.

Ugh, a snake.

Still, she remained an unwelcome presence, so I was wary.

“Ah… yes.”

With Sasha beside me, I couldn’t really lose my temper, so I only replied.

“It’s been a while, Sir Lilis.”

Meanwhile, Sasha approached Lilis first and politely greeted her.

“Yes, indeed. It has been a long time since I last saw you, young master.”

Lilis returned Sasha’s greeting, but the two of them radiated a strangely cold and tense aura. The soft, friendly atmosphere vanished, replaced by what felt like sparks from a silent power struggle.

“I shall take my leave now. It was an honor to spend time with Your Highness today.”

After a brief moment of eye contact, Sasha finally said goodbye and left.

“Alright, understood.”

Sasha didn’t even bring her attendants and went toward the exit on her own. I stayed in place with Lilis until Sasha disappeared from view.

One less person to deal with.

It was already inconvenient enough that she wouldn’t leave when told. I scowled.

“Oh my.”

But that snake-like creature sticking close by—what trick was she planning this time? This felt ominous.

“Princess, were you crying?”

“Ah, no!”

Ugh, what a mischievous little creature. I felt my annoyance spike and defended myself.

Her eyes sparkled with playfulness, and she seemed to have noticed that I had cried while searching for treasure.

“I didn’t do that!”

But it had been an accident. I wasn’t crying on purpose. I puffed out my cheeks and exhaled stubbornly.

“Oh, I thought you did~!”

Lilis smiled teasingly, and it was maddeningly irritating.

“So, why did you act like that earlier?”

I had to distract myself; otherwise, I’d get caught up in her pace. I forced down my frustration and changed the subject.

“What did I do?”

“You stared down Young Master Vladimir.”

Playing innocent, huh? I replied with a face that said I knew everything.

“Oh… seeing red just made me feel uncomfortably uneasy.”

“What? You get into a standoff with a child over that reason?”

“Yes. I just really dislike it.”

How could she be so confident? I was dumbfounded.

How has this kid survived for centuries thinking like this?

She might as well be Hecate’s assistant, yet she seemed utterly thoughtless. I decided to give her a sharp piece of advice.

“If you make mistakes, both Jeff and Hecate will be troubled. Be careful, okay?”

“You’re worried about them right now?”

Her reply irritated me so much that I snapped.

Why should I worry about them!

Annoyed, I stomped my arms. Poppy, thinking I was dancing, mimicked my movements, and Lilis burst into laughter.

“Now, shouldn’t you go attend your next lesson?”

Finally, after laughing for a long time, Lilis straightened up.

“How do you know my schedule?”

It was already surprising that Lilis, not even a maid, had appeared.

“Well, of course…”

She looked up, met my gaze, and winked with one eye.

“I’ll be your instructor for military training.”

What?

Lightning struck my head. I froze in place like ice.

“Thank you for quietly participating in class.”

Eventually, I returned to the classroom for general studies.

A younger kid is going to teach me…

This wasn’t like the situation with Elaila. The fact that a snake was my instructor was not pleasant.

“You’re only three years old, so it’s better to spend some time just covering theory for now.”

My mind was boiling.

This is supposed to be my instructor?!

Not only was she teasing me, she was even rubbing in my age.

I should tell Jeff to reduce her pay!

I couldn’t storm out because it was a proper class, so I swallowed my emotions and tried to focus.

“Since you already know most military things, I’ll teach you about factions.”

Lilis spread her hands leisurely and began her explanation.

“The Vladimir family has the support of many nobles. They are essentially the real power in this empire.”

I already knew that and waited quietly for the next point.

“And the family with comparable power is the Bergamot family. They possess the empire’s strongest forces. However, unlike Vladimir, Bergamot does not have the nobles’ support.”

Lilis paused briefly, then continued while observing my expression.

“That’s because of their origins. Bergamot’s ancestors ruled the empire’s border regions.”

I was surprised by this unexpected information.

So Carlisle is a descendant of the royal line I subdued?

Many questions flooded my mind.

Is that why Carlisle is more mature than others his age? Then why does Young Master of the duke’s house live with a marquis family?

I had suspected there was some reason from the start, but I never imagined this background.

Truly strange.

As I stayed quiet, confused, Lilis resumed her explanation.

“Bergamot was also the last to join the empire. Naturally, they could not build a strong faction like Vladimir.”

Why did her expression change like that? I stared at her face.

“A few years ago, there was even a poisoning incident.”

Lilis’s face turned solemn as she recounted how she, Hecate, and a knight from the Fleur family responded. According to her, when they arrived, the mansion’s residents were all cold corpses.

Amid the thick scent of blood, Hecate searched for survivors, soon hearing the cries of a newborn. They found a baby bed with a very young Carlisle crying inside. Hecate watched the endlessly crying Carlisle for a while…

“Your Majesty, we cannot delay any longer.”

“But how can we leave this child? The Marquis of Fleur has no children, so leave this child with him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hecate could not leave Carlisle alone, so entrusted him to the Fleur family.

“The only survivors were the Bergamot couple’s son. The Empress took pity on him.”

I was dumbstruck.

“So the Fleur family manages Bergamot until their heir comes of age.”

Wait, that doesn’t seem right. I immediately questioned.

“Shouldn’t a branch of Bergamot manage that?”

Even if all direct bloodlines were dead, a marquis managing a duke’s family seemed unreasonable.

Seeing my frown, Lilis smiled faintly.

“A few years before the poisoning incident, most had already died or were exiled to an island.”

In other words, Bergamot was essentially a name only.

“It’s as if one of the two ducal families in the empire didn’t exist.”

“So the family with the emperor’s greatest trust is maintaining Bergamot’s lineage.”

The Fleur family had Hecate and Jeff’s deep trust, so that made sense.

Clap!

“Well done, very insightful.”

I thought, “I could’ve figured that out in a few minutes…”

Clap clap, clap clap clap!

“Excellent!”

I felt annoyed watching Lilis clap and smile so enthusiastically.

I had some idea about Carlisle’s situation, but I didn’t know it was this complicated.

The child had quite a fate. I clicked my tongue and continued focusing on the lesson.

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask.”

Time passed, and eventually, the theoretical class ended.

“Nothing.”

Everything except Carlisle’s background was knowledge I had acquired through my many lives.

“Indeed, Your Highness~.”

The snake pressed her hands to her mouth and blew a heart in admiration. It made me cringe!

Ugh.

I recoiled in shock.

“Oh! I almost forgot something.”

Lilis, indifferent to my reaction, propped her chin on one hand and shared new information.

“Your Highness…”

She strode forward and placed both hands on the desk.

“You are being hated by someone rather… interesting, aren’t you?”

Her slight bow and smile felt strangely ominous.

“Who would dare hate me?”

I asked, feeling my mood sink at the thought that someone didn’t like me.

“Oh, you didn’t know?”

Lilis lowered herself gracefully, resting her elbows on the desk to meet my eye level.

“As your long-time friend, I must tell you.”

Friend? I was irritated by her arbitrary definition.

“May I place your ears closer?”

Curious about who hated me, I complied.

Why is she taking so long?

Was she teasing me again? I had been through enough to be suspicious.

“It is….”

Lilis moved her lips like a phantom. I swallowed and focused intently.

“She is the first being created by the god.”