Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: A Visit from the Tooth Fairy
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The Tooth Fairy Sedis smacked his lips a few times, let out a deep sigh, and finally opened the terrace window.
"...Come in for now."
"Pardon the intrusion."
As he stepped inside, he saw the knights sheathing their swords with deflated expressions.
"Some welcome you've got here."
Nihil trudged over and plopped down on the sofa in the bedroom.
"...What kind of guest breaks into a bedroom terrace in the dead of night? And this is the fifth floor..."
Sedes let out another deep sigh and draped a blanket over his son's friend, who was dressed in pajamas. If this kid were an assassin, he'd have been dead without a sound.
His own knights hadn't even gone on alert until after they heard the tapping on the terrace window.
"Forgot to make some noise announcing myself."
"......"
"A kid's allowed a little mistake with his friend's dad."
"......"
Two mistakes like that, and his heart might just drop out.
"Couldn't exactly come out if the kid was sleeping—had no choice."
"How the hell did you even get up here?"
"Flew."
"...?"
"Didn't you know? I've actually got wings."
"......"
Sedes's pupils trembled as he wondered if it was true and snuck a glance at the kid's back. Of course, there were no wings.
"They're the kind only good kids can see. You're too old to see them, Father."
"...Really?"
He asked in all sincerity, and a snickering puff of air escaped.
"Father's got a knack for jokes, huh."
"......"
"Just climbed up normally."
No, how was that normal? Wings would've been more believable.
"So... what brings you here in the middle of the night?"
"Ah, came to make a deal with the fairy father."
"...Why that title?"
Was he saying his son was fairy-like? Fairy father? Well, it wasn't entirely wrong...
"Here, take this."
"...?"
Sedes took the small glass vial and peered inside at its contents. A white pebble smaller than a pinky nail...
What was this pathetic-looking thing?
"...This is... something...?"
He stared intently, thinking it must be something impressive, but the unexpected answer came.
"The kid's milk tooth."
"...!"
"Oh, there's a letter too."
Sedes's eyes widened at the pebble's identity before he quickly snatched the letter. He carefully tore open the envelope to reveal handwriting scrawled with deliberate force.
"The kid came to me scared, asking for advice."
While Sedes read the letter, his son's friend quietly explained how the tooth-pulling came about—his son's words, actions, and even expressions.
Listening made his chest ache. Such an ordinary daily life. All the more precious for it.
"You're standing in as a parent for him."
He said it bitterly, but a calm voice gently chided him.
"Father."
"...Why call me that?"
"Nothing can replace a parent."
"......"
"I might play parent, but I'm just a parent-like friend. You might not do fatherly duties, but you're still a father who doesn't—which makes you a father all the same."
"...I see."
"So do better."
"......"
Those words felt like a promise to leave room for him, making him a little grateful.
"Next time, I'll bring the kid whole—you pull it yourself."
"Kuh...!"
Sedes imagined the weeping prince in his friend's arms, tears welling in his eyes, and burst into laughter.
Still, could he really pull his crying son's milk tooth?
"And Father, you need to write a reply responsibly."
"...Mm."
Sedes groaned. How was he supposed to reply to a letter demanding sturdy new front teeth and a smack to his knight's head?
"I can smack the knight's head, but I don't have the power to make new teeth."
"...How can you be so dry?"
His son's friend sighed. Sedes started to retort about what the problem was, but he shut his mouth seeing even his knights squinting at him.
"Guess I asked too much of Father."
"...Isn't that a bit harsh...?"
"Never mind. I'll dictate simply—write it down."
At thirty, reduced to taking dictation, Sedes picked up the pen feeling a bit downcast.
He vowed to write the next letter himself as he transcribed the words like a lesson from his son's friend.
"...Got a bit long."
The dictated content was just a couple lines, but as he wrote, his own thoughts flowed, making the letter longer than expected.
He felt a twinge cramming sentences onto the small card, but writing it himself brought a satisfying smile.
"Prepare a gift too. Has to go under the pillow—not too big."
Sedes pondered, then fetched a gem the size of the milk tooth. But his son's friend's face soured again.
"What's wrong?"
"......"
Seemed fitting to trade for a small, precious milk tooth—tilting his head, another sigh came.
"Father, you're groggy from waking up. I'll give you another chance to think."
"......"
Guess that wasn't it.
Sedes turned back to rummage his jewelry box again. Clearly, the gem had been too small.
Clack.
As he reached for a larger one, a small hand shot out and shut the box. Nearly got his hand caught.
His son's friend, now cloaked in the blanket like a cape, dangled from the table and spoke.
"Father, do it like a proper Tooth Fairy."
"...What's proper for a Tooth Fairy?"
"Something simple."
"......"
"Usually, they leave a fairy tale."
...Did the words cut off midway? Hallucination?
"...Giving the prince a fairy tale feels off. Gold coins instead?"
"No, something the kid can keep."
Sedes groaned and rummaged his bedroom again. But what suitable for a seven-year-old would a king's bedroom hold?
He tried shoving in trinkets, but all got rejected by his son's friend.
"Being too picky..."
Then his eyes fell on the bow Natura had cherished in life, occupying one wall. Precisely, the dark blue tassel made from her own hair attached to it.
Sedes's gaze shifted naturally to his beloved sword by the bed. Its hilt bore a gleaming golden tassel.
Drawn by the enduring shine, Sedes approached and brushed it. So soft.
'Natura, that hair of yours...!'
Once, her lush golden locks had been cut short.
'Sedes, ladies are making hair tassels trendy now! My hair's so pretty, it'll make a beautiful one—made you this!'
Handed with a beaming smile, Sedes was speechless for a moment.
Hair tassels were indeed fashionable, but noblewomen never cut their own hair for them.
Well-groomed, lustrous hair was their symbol.
A woman cutting her hair meant...
'Like it?'
'...Very much.'
Sedes couldn't tell her outright, 'Other noblewomen are mocking you.'
He was angry, but that gift touched him deeply.
Still, he couldn't let his lover be treated as lowly or foolish.
So he grew out his hair.
'That was the first and last time I grew it.'
Sedes stared at the two-colored tassels before carefully untying them.
"Now using dual swords, so needs two tassels."
"......"
"Made from her hair and mine. This good enough?"
"......"
His son's friend looked up intently, took the tassels in both hands, tucked them securely into his bosom, and left.
"...Where've you been?"
Sir Evan looked down at Nihil, who had gone out right after the prince fell asleep and returned. Worried he might vanish for good, Evan finally sighed in relief and locked the terrace window.
"To the Tooth Fairy."
"...Fairy?"
Evan's expression turned subtle. A wildcat like him might actually mingle with fairies... but surely not this time.
"...Never imagined a fairy draped in a blanket."
"Ah."
Nihil, hearing it loud and clear, finally noticed the luxury mink blanket cape and set it aside.
"You're freezing. Get back in bed."
Saying so, he scooped up the wildcat kid. His body heat was chillingly cold from the night air.
'How flustered His Majesty must've been...'
Evan sighed, guessing where Nihil had been. At least they gave him a blanket—must've gone well.
"Still got work to do."
"Tomorrow's fine."
"Has to be done tonight."
The wildcat hopped from his arms, went to the study, lit a candle, and began melting sealing wax.
"...What're you doing?"
"......"
No reply to the question. Instead, odd mutterings.
"Ah, if fairies were real, could've scared the prince good..."
"...?"
Sure, a fairy would startle him, but why the sudden theatrical tone?
Evan questioned the un-wildcat-like acting but decided to watch silently.
The strange mutterings continued.
"Francesca's youngest birthday soon... wonder how to surprise her?"
"......"
"No, no. Fairies don't exist. If they did, they'd be terrifying."
"......"
"Still, if there's a good fairy, gotta tell 'em."
Saying that, the wildcat poured melted wax on the letter envelope without stamping a seal and left the study.
Evan wondered what this was about, but leaving it would harden the wax, so he rummaged for a blank seal.
Then, a breeze rustled from somewhere, flickering the candle.
"...?"
Thinking the terrace might be open, he turned—but it was shut tight.
Hallucination? As he turned back to stamp,
"...!"
Evan's eyes bulged.
Tiny footprints stamped across the sealing wax.
One neat print wouldn't shock so much, but they were messily overlapping like a competition.
Even as he watched, another slyly appeared in a corner.
"Stamped?"
The wildcat peeked from the study as if waiting.
Evan gaped in bewilderment before nodding cautiously.
"...They're desperate to impress the suitable one."
Confirming the prints, the wildcat muttered and clicked his tongue. Then, switching to an innocent face, he yelled brightly.
"Whoa! Fairies are real! Gotta tell Kara too!"
The wildcat shouted, slipped the letter and two tassels under the prince's pillow, then dove under the covers.
"......"
Evan smacked his lips, then gently pulled up the blanket. Looked like tonight's tasks were done.