Chapter 116: Special Training 6
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 116: Special Training 6
"Mother, please put in a good word for me with Father. I think he’s misunderstood something..."
[Ho-ho, alright. I’ll tell him to come over right away. But when exactly do you plan on coming back?]
"...... I’m not really sure."
Originally, she had only intended to meet the Clown for a brief conversation. But as they talked...
[You lost track of time, didn't you?]
Yerika, her thoughts read so easily, looked at the communication device in surprise. On the screen, she saw her mother smiling mischievously.
Did I say that out loud by mistake?
No... then how on earth did she know?
[Fufu, you look like you're wondering how I knew. Well, it’s because I think the exact same thing whenever I talk to His Majesty. It’s easy enough to guess.]
"W-we... the Clown and I aren't a m-married couple like you and Father!"
[Is that so? If my cute daughter says so, then I suppose it must be true.]
For the first time, Yerika felt a flicker of resentment toward her mother for acting like she knew everything. Her heart was already in a flutter, and now her mother was making it worse...
[Ah! Are you perhaps planning on staying the night?]
".... Pardon?"
[If you really are going to sleep over, please let me know in advance. I’ll make an excuse to His Majesty for you, so you don't have to worry.]
"Mother!"
What on earth was her mother saying?
Snap.
Her mother covered her mouth with a fan, but Yerika could still tell from the faint sound of giggling that the corners of her mother's mouth were curled upward.
[My, why are you getting so embarrassed? You’re making me blush too. When I was your age at the Academy, whenever I locked eyes with His Majesty, we’d duck into an empty classroom and...]
"Mother, please!"
[If you’re going to do that sort of thing today, make sure you’re officially dating first, alright? And most importantly, be sure to use contraception. I’m not quite ready for grandchildren yet. Ho-ho.]
"Mother! I’m really going to get angry!"
[Ho-ho, I’m sorry. My daughter is just so cute, I couldn't help myself. Ah! Before you go back out, take a look in the mirror. And since I’m worried, if you decide to stay the night, call me one more...]
"I’m going back soon!"
Just as she was about to end the call, her mother called out urgently.
[Yerika, wait a moment!]
Fwip.
Her mother folded her fan, revealing her full expression. The corners of her mouth were definitely turned up.
[I said I wasn't ready for grandchildren earlier, but... if you do have one, I’d prefer a grandson—]
"I'm hanging up!"
After cutting off the call, Yerika was about to leave the bathroom and return to the Clown when her mother’s earlier words came back to her.
'Ah! Before you go back out, take a look in the mirror.'
Thinking her mother was just teasing, she checked the mirror and gasped. Perhaps because she had cried earlier, the rims of her eyes were red, and her face was flushed a deep crimson.
"Surely I didn't look like this when I was with the Clown earlier, did I?"
Splash—
"Ugh..."
She began washing her face with cold water to hide her flushed cheeks and forget the embarrassing situation. The water was cold enough to sting, but her face still felt hot. The thought of standing before the Clown looking like this made her want to crawl into a hole.
She always wanted to look her best in front of him.
"This is all Mother's fault."
She was already mortified after letting out those embarrassing moans twice in front of him. But because her mother kept bringing up those things over the communication device, the earlier scene kept replaying in her head.
Act natural. Just act natural.
Only after finishing her cold wash and bracing herself did she open the bathroom door and step out.
"Was the call...?"
"Is there something on my face?"
Yerika faltered when she saw the Clown stop mid-sentence. Was there really something on her face? No, she had just washed it; there shouldn't be anything.
"Ah, did I leave you speechless because I'm so beautiful?"
She spoke as casually as possible. If she didn't, she felt like she would never be able to get that earlier moment out of her head.
"Yes, you really are very beautiful."
Compared to the flowery praise he’d given her in the classroom involving goddesses, it was a short compliment without any embellishment. And yet, it made her heart flutter.
Pretty, beautiful, cute.
She had heard such compliments from others until she was sick of them. When she heard them from anyone else, she felt nothing. But when she heard them from the Clown, her heart raced strangely.
".........."
"..........."
Silence settled after their brief exchange. She disliked awkward atmospheres, but this heart-fluttering sensation wasn't bad. However, the awkward silence didn't last long.
As their conversation flowed, the dormitory was filled with constant laughter. Above all, there were many strange and unique items in the Clown's dormitory that she had never seen before.
The Clown knew several games she had never even heard of in her life. There was a game where you stabbed toy swords into a wooden barrel with several holes, and if a blindfolded man popped out of the barrel, you lost.
"I won again."
"Ugh. Mr. Clown, you don't happen to know exactly which hole makes him pop out, do you?"
"Pardon? Of course not. I would never play a game so unfairly. Now, bring your forehead over here."
"Be gentle... Ow! How can you hit me that hard? Let's go again!"
"Well, if Yerika insists, I suppose I have no choice."
The Clown called this the Pop-up Pirate game.
There were many other fun games besides that one. A game where you rolled dice to move, bought land, and collected money if the opponent landed on your property was also entertaining.
"Ugh, I'm on the deserted island. That means I have to stay still for three turns, right?"
"Fufu, I feel bad for Yerika, but I think I'll be winning this game. Hup! Let's see, a seven. If it's a seven..."
"Oh? Doesn't that mean you're on the deserted island too, Mr. Clown?"
"........................."
"Mr. Clown. You just landed on my land, didn't you? Let's see, since this is the Imperial Capital, that'll be 10 million gold!"
"Urgh! Yerika, for old time's sake, how about a 2 million gold discount?"
"Not a chance! You ignored me when I asked for a discount earlier. Hmph! I'm not cutting off a single cent!"
"Then I shall take out an interest-free loan from the bank."
"What? An interest-free loan from the bank? You never mentioned anything like that before!"
"It's an Administrator Privilege."
"There's no such thing!"
The Clown called this game Blue Marble. He said it would be even more fun with four people instead of two, but Yerika couldn't help but think that playing with just the two of them was the most fun of all.
In the middle of their gaming, the Clown asked if she was hungry. When she said yes, he headed to the kitchen.
"Just wait a moment. I'll make you something delicious."
"You know how to cook too, Mr. Clown?"
"Hmph. It would be harder to find something I can't do."
"I can look forward to it, then?"
"Of course. It'll be a dish Yerika has never tasted before."
The finished dish was indeed something she had never seen—a dish with a vibrant red color. The pungent, spicy aroma tempted her nose, and her mouth watered just looking at it.
"How is it? It's delicious, right? Of course it is. Look who made it."
"..................."
"Yerika...?"
"Mr. Clown, would you like to be my guard knight and my personal chef at the same time?"
"Wouldn't that double my workload?"
"I can just double your salary."
"Now that is a bit tempting."
The Clown called this dish Tteokbokki. She made a mental note to ask him to make it again later.
As they enjoyed themselves, time slipped away, and night began to fall. It had been a long time since she’d had this much fun. No, in a way, it was the first time. It wasn't that her father and mother were particularly strict, but there was no one to play with in the Imperial Palace.
This is so nice.
But this place was so much fun. Games she’d never seen, food she’d never tasted. And the Clown by her side. It was so comfortable and pleasant that she almost didn't want to go back to the Palace.
"Yerika, when do you plan on heading back?"
"Why? Do you want me to leave?"
The grumble escaped her lips before she could stop it. Did the Clown not find it fun being with her?
"Of course I want to play with Yerika more. But I have an appointment soon."
"What appointment? Is it an important one?"
Is it more important than me? she wanted to ask, but she held back.
"Yes, it's an incredibly important appointment. In a little while, it'll be time for my daily call with a certain lady."
Yerika checked the clock and couldn't help but burst into laughter. After all, she knew exactly who Loki talked to at this hour.
"Hmm. Is that so? May I ask what kind of lady she is?"
"Of course. She is a very beautiful and very cute person."
"................."
"The fact that she can't hide her expression even now, to the point that her face is turning red, is one of her cuter points."
Startled by Loki's words, Yerika quickly looked at the nearby mirror, but her face wasn't red at all.
"Mr. Clown, you're teasing me right now, aren't you?"
"Who knows? I never said that lady was you, Yerika."
"Hmph! I also have an appointment to talk to a handsome gentleman, so I’ll be going now."
"May I ask what kind of person he is?"
"There is someone. He’s great in every other way, but he’s terribly slow on the uptake."
After returning to the Imperial Palace, Yerika immediately called Loki and chatted with him until the moment she fell asleep.