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CHAPTER 11
I still vividly remember the Epikus twins trying to rescue me, even through the flames.
So worrying this much… is only natural.
Lette’s eyes welled up with emotion.
“Of course it doesn’t hurt! This is nothing!”
“What about Minte?”
“Minte and I got better right away! But only you, Princess…”
Lette hugged me tightly with a sorrowful expression.
Being hugged by someone felt so nice that I stayed quiet for a while.
But there was someone else I was curious about.
“Lette, what about Ares?”
The cost of magical power running wild is clearly vitality.
A child going berserk like that should be facing serious aftereffects.
Lette poured some medicine with a grumpy look.
“You’ve been sleeping for almost a week, Princess.”
“Oh…”
“We were all so worried, and yet the first thing you do when you wake up is worry about him?”
“Mm.”
“I’m so happy you can talk now, we should be throwing a celebration party!”
Well.
Now that I’d started talking, staying quiet would’ve been even weirder.
‘And I’m technically an adult. I can’t stay mad at a child who’s only lived a few years.’
At that moment, a quiet knock came at the door.
It was a familiar maid, and Lette immediately frowned.
“Is he still out there?”
“Yes, Lady. Even though we’ve told him visitors aren’t allowed, he insists.”
“Unbelievable. Even if he’s from a duke’s family! How rude!”
This conversation… was giving me a bad feeling.
I stiffened and turned my head toward the window.
Why are bad premonitions never wrong?
Ares Ismenios was standing in the palace garden.
* * *
It was the third day the youngest son of a duke had been camped out asking to see me.
Minte and Lette resolutely ignored the demon boy.
But the boy waited for hours each day.
Until his older brother Drakon came and dragged him away after hitting him.
‘But is he really okay to be walking around already?’
Lette promptly answered my question.
“He also had a fever from the magical overload, but he’s fine now.”
“Oh, that’s a relief.”
“Relief?!”
Lette, who had been brushing my hair, and Minte, who was standing next to her, shouted in unison.
‘Was that something to get this mad over?’
And how many people are eavesdropping on this tiny exchange?
Even the maids were whispering with sparkling eyes.
“The princess is talking…!”
“Oh my gosh! Her voice is so cute!”
“She speaks so well, it’s incredible!”
Then Lette scolded them.
“Quiet, all of you! You’ll startle the princess.”
“Y-Yes, ma’am!”
But even I could tell she wasn’t seriously angry.
The people of the Fersen Palace were genuinely overjoyed that I was speaking.
‘Damn it.’
Cutting ties is getting harder and harder.
But it was nice how much easier it was to get information by talking.
Lette began venting about everything that happened while I was unconscious.
“They’re making a fuss trying to cover up the fact that the young master went berserk. Imagine, a child wielding such power.”
“Hooh.”
“It’s lucky the Duke handled it well…”
“What if he didn’t?”
“Hmm…! Then the ducal house would get severely scolded by His Highness Erebus!”
“…”
Even though they used complicated words, I caught on quickly by looking out the window.
Black scorch marks remained in the garden where Ares had lost control.
‘If Drakon didn’t serve the Demon King, that kid probably would’ve been punished too.’
Even living in a temple, I knew how ruthless noble politics could be.
I suddenly remembered the blond boy from the Halcyon Theocracy.
A small boy I saw only once or twice a year.
The one abandoned by the Alkione imperial family…
‘I wonder if Kalion is doing well. He had a unique ability too.’
I hoped he wasn’t being used as a tool of power.
Minte sighed, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“It’s a miracle the young master managed to extinguish the flames…”
“Ah.”
“If not, a lot more people would’ve been hurt.”
I flinched and looked away guiltily.
The twins, angry with the young master, didn’t notice my expression.
‘It was actually my divine power that neutralized Ares’s flames.’
Good thing I got away with it unnoticed.
If anyone found out, that would’ve been the real disaster.
Just then, Lette called a maid from outside the door.
“Bring the princess’s physician. We still need to finish today’s medicine.”
“Yes, Lady. But… is it really okay to keep leaving the young master like that?”
Veins popped on Lette and Minte’s temples.
The boy was now sitting cross-legged in the garden, glaring fiercely at the palace.
Lette gritted her teeth.
“I really don’t want to bother Lord Erebus with something like this, but I might have to ask him to make that boy leave—”
“…You can bring him in.”
Every pair of eyes in the room turned toward me.
Everyone looked startled, covering their mouths or cheeks.
“Ares is outside, right? You can bring him in.”
I could force him away, but…
Even if I did, that boy would stubbornly come back to see me.
‘Might as well meet him now and get it over with.’
But Lette and Minte quickly shook their heads.
“Princess, you need to rest! What if you get sick again?”
“Minte’s right. You shouldn’t deal with him directly.”
“No, it’s fine. Just for a little while…”
I hesitated, then held out my arms to Lette, who had paused brushing my hair.
“Lette, carry me.”
“Princess!”
It’s just because walking is hard right now.
Definitely no other reason.
Lette smiled brightly and picked me up in an instant.
Minte followed us, slightly sulking.
She tried not to show it, but her tone clearly showed she was upset.
“Princess, that’s not fair. Do you already love Lette more?”
“It’s embarrassing that I have to call you my sister.”
“Lette, shut up!”
“Minte…”
I looked at the scar on Minte’s face and lowered my head.
“Thorry…”
“Gasp—yes, Princess!!”
Minte’s face lit up with joy.
‘I never thought I’d see the day I’d be comforting Night Cerberus.’
How did my life get so tangled?
Still, I was curious.
What on earth was that demon boy thinking?
* * *
The Fersen Palace was usually warm.
But right now, in the room with the twin sisters, me, and…
Ares — a chilly breeze blew through.
Lette, still holding me upright, was radiating killing intent.
Minte’s glare at the boy was so intense it was scaring even me.
Ares bit his lip in silence.
‘He really did have a fever, huh.’
He looked a little paler than before.
‘If he’s like that, I must look even worse after wandering for a week.’
Then Ares slowly knelt on one knee and bowed respectfully.
“Honor to the Princess of Tartarus…”
“Mm.”
“Please forgive my rudeness the other day.”
What a memorized line. Not something you’d expect from a kid.
‘Well, it’s proper etiquette. But it doesn’t match the way he’s been camping out here.’
Lette seemed to think the same, judging by the scoff I heard.
‘What should I do now? Maybe just say “okay, you’re forgiven”?’
That seemed like the safest choice.
But instead…
“You teased me, Ares. I was thad.”
“…Huh?”
The boy was caught off guard by my bluntness.
Of course, once you’re an adult, smooth-talking becomes second nature.
But right now, I’m in a baby’s body.
So what I want is different.
Unlike the people in my past life as the “Great Saintess,” who only said “thank you” or “sorry” and left…
I wanted sincerity.
“You made fun of my name that time.”
“That was because you weren’t answering properly—!”
“But you were already mad before that.”
“Ugh.”
“Was it really just because I didn’t answer?”
“That’s…”
“Tell me why you did it.”
“…”
I just quietly stared at Ares.
‘This boy has never had to bow his head to someone before, has he?’
Never had to be honest with someone either.
At first, his face screamed “This is killing my pride but I’ll do it.”
“Ugh…!”
But now, his face was bright red.
‘He’s not going to go berserk again, is he?’
I was starting to panic.
Then, the boy finally raised his head.
His eyes were shimmering with moisture.
“…I was embarrassed.”
“Hmm?”
“Em, embarrassed.”
“What?”
“When we first met… my brother introduced me weirdly… and it embarrassed me, so I acted like that.”
…Oh, my head.
