SPWHC 43

Chapter 43

I figured there was no need to wake him, so I just quietly watched Friedrich sleeping beside me.

“He really does have a face that can calm things down even in the middle of a fight.”

Recalling my earlier conversation with Elsa, I stared at his strong, assertive features. Suddenly, Friedrich’s eyes snapped open.

Startled, I instinctively tried to sit up, but he was faster.

“……Princess?”

He looked at me, momentarily dazed, then fumbled to find his pocket watch. I watched him blankly and asked,

“You knew too? That you turned into a child past midnight yesterday.”

Friedrich paused, then nodded slightly. No wonder today’s walk had been unusually long. It must have bothered him.

“And you knew as well, Princess?”

I nodded at his question, then felt I should clarify why I had kept quiet, so I added softly,

“If it’s only temporary… you’d be disappointed if you expected otherwise. So I couldn’t speak hastily.”

“……I feel the same.”

Friedrich replied quietly.

“I didn’t want to disappoint you. That’s why I planned to check first, and only tell you once I was certain.”

“Disappoint me? How could I be disappointed?”

Friedrich hesitated before replying,

“……Because I thought you’d prefer me to be an adult rather than a child at night, Princess.”

“No, well… of course, but…”

I spoke with a slightly flustered expression.

“It’s not because it’s better for me. It’s just that the magic stresses you out, right?”

“…….”

“Honestly, I don’t mind if you stay a child. It doesn’t change the fact that you’re Friedrich Stade.”

Whoever you are, I’ll always be on your side!

I thought saying that would comfort him, but… why does he look so uneasy?

“Uh, did I say something wrong?”

He smiled faintly and shook his head.

But it was one of those smiles that unnervingly linger. I frowned and said,

“You don’t look happy. I said it thinking of you, you know.”

“I know. Princess, you’re very kind.”

“But?”

“…….”

After a moment of silence, Friedrich asked,

“……Is my body not to your taste, Princess?”

“Huh?”

“You said my face is to your taste before.”

He hesitated, then continued,

“I wondered if my body… isn’t.”

“W-why are we talking about this now?”

“It seems you don’t really desire my body.”

“Me? No, you’re really…!”

I quickly scanned his body up and down, then felt I shouldn’t be doing this and quickly looked away.

He certainly had a body like that.

“……Excellent. A figure everyone would like, without meaning to cater to any particular taste. I can assure you.”

I hadn’t examined him as thoroughly as Joachim, but you don’t need to see everything to know, right?

More than that, why are we having this conversation so seriously? Just then,

“Not anyone else, I mean, you, Princess?”

“I told you. ‘Everyone’…”

Also, can you not come so close when we’re talking like this…

Feeling awkward, I leaned back slightly and spoke honestly.

“I still don’t want you to be disappointed.”

Honestly, I had been disappointed myself a while ago. I was happy thinking his magic would return.

Maybe Friedrich had a slip-up just for that one day yesterday too.

“Anyway, you are you, Friedrich. Whether the magic is undone or not.”

At those words, a bright smile appeared on Friedrich’s face.

How strange? He didn’t look happy when I said the same thing earlier.

‘Sometimes he’s as fickle as Rene.’

Or maybe it’s because it’s the time he usually turns into a child? Either way, I’m glad he seems to have cheered up.

“Anyway, if the magic is really fading, the time you turn into a child at night will gradually get later. That’s why I came to check.”

“So, you’ll be coming every night for a while then?”

“But if you already know what happened yesterday, there’s no need for me to…”

“Aren’t you hot? The bedroom should be cooler, though.”

Suddenly, Friedrich wrapped his arm around my shoulder and guided me into the bedroom. Before I knew it, I was lying on his bed.

I must have been tired, because as soon as my head touched the pillow, sleep swept over me. But I quickly snapped awake and shook my head.

“Ah, no. What if I fall asleep like this?”

“It’s fine. I’ll stay awake.”

…Then I don’t really need to be here, do I?

As the thought crossed my mind, I felt an incredibly refreshing sensation.

Friedrich was massaging my hand. Ah, so that’s what he meant by the bedroom being cooler.

“I was bored waiting.”

“Thank you.”

Wow, it feels so refreshing again. Is this what heaven feels like?

I closed my eyes, drowsiness creeping in, and murmured,

“I hope it doesn’t change anymore like this……”

Suddenly, the strength in his hand weakened.

I opened my eyes, half-expecting it, and indeed, Friedrich had become a child again.

I laughed and checked the time. 12:15 a.m.

“Wow, it’s 15 minutes later than usual.”

Friedrich gave a small, ambiguous smile and held my hand again. I pulled back in surprise.

“Oh, it’s fine. What can you do with those tiny hands?”

“…….”

“Go to sleep quickly. You need to grow taller.”

Surprisingly, Friedrich obediently lay down on the bed.

I wondered if he would insist on giving me another massage, but he seemed exhausted.

Once my task was done, relief washed over me, and sleep overtook me completely. I soon fell into a deep slumber.

Marie Stade woke up the next morning.

She realized it from the thin line of sunlight peeking through the tightly closed curtains.

“Princess.”

“Shh, you’ll wake the child. How is she?”

“She hasn’t woken up yet.”

“Is it alright for her to sleep this long?”

“The palace says she’s in a state that requires recovery, so her sleep may be extended.”

“It’s not because of the sleeping medicine, right?”

“……That influence can’t be ruled out entirely, but—”

It was Rene and Elsa’s voices. Marie stayed lying down, feeling burdened by the attention she would receive if she opened her eyes.

So she pretended to be asleep.

“Mrs. Neivan claimed she gave her sleeping medicine with every meal for five years, but I don’t think that’s the case.”

“What do you mean?”

“If she really had taken that much, Princess Marie wouldn’t be alive today. In my opinion……”

Elsa paused briefly before finishing,

“It seems the Princess noticed and cleverly avoided taking it.”

Marie gasped. That was true.

“Drink it all. Not a single drop left.”

The medicine Mrs. Neivan gave seemed suspicious. But with her piercing gaze and the fear of being abandoned, Marie drank it diligently.

Gradually, she realized that her sleep had abnormally increased, and she spent most of her days asleep. She understood that the medicine she took at each meal was a sleeping aid.

Though young and inexperienced, she knew that spending every day in sleep couldn’t be good for her body. So she pretended to take it obediently.

After all, Mrs. Neivan probably gave it to her out of laziness in taking care of her. If she behaved quietly, nothing would be discovered.

“My goodness, this little one?”

Rene’s surprised voice made Marie tense.

Would he think she was cheeky? A cunning child who deceives adults? Would that make her be abandoned again? Kicked out?

Marie’s mind raced, restless.

Should she open her eyes now and say it wasn’t true, or that she didn’t take that much? What if they don’t believe her?

Her head throbbed as if it would burst, when suddenly a gentle hand stroked her head.

Marie nearly startled awake, but what followed was even more surprising.