Cuteness is All That Matters (2)
I had to tell her that I wasn't some kid, but a battle-hardened adult on the inside. I had to... but...
"You're soooo cute!!! What did you say your name was?!"
"Uh, Ed..."
Olivier was beaming so hard her face was flushed red, and I just couldn't bring myself to say it. She rubbed her cheek against mine like some mad scientist testing if human skin could start a fire. In a situation like this, it was damn near impossible to blurt out, "Actually, I'm an adult."
It felt like shattering a dream or something.
"Right, right, Ed. Why were you out there all alone? Where are your parents?"
"Just... circumstances... My parents aren't around anymore..."
"What? Really?! You poor thing... Okay! Then come to the palace with me!"
"R-Really?"
She was offering to take me to the palace before I even had to ask. Was this a good thing or what?
Olivier pulled me onto the carriage and waited for her maids with reinforcements. She plopped me on her lap and kept fiddling with me like I was some action figure.
"So cute and strong... Ed, what was that thing you did back there?"
"Oh, it was nothing... Just mana shaped into threads..."
"Really? Who taught you that?"
"N-No one... I just figured it out on my own..."
Olivier asked the questions but didn't seem all that interested in the answers. She was just so overwhelmed by my cuteness she didn't know what to do with herself. I'd heard once that women don't actually like kids—they just fawn over them to look cute themselves. But watching Olivier, that didn't seem entirely true.
I flinched. Her hand, which had been petting me, slipped under my clothes and brushed my side.
"Th-That tickles..."
I shook off her hand, using ticklishness as an excuse so she wouldn't get offended.
"Aw, come on, it's fine."
She tickled me playfully anyway.
"H-Haha, stop...!"
Somehow, being in this kid body made me even more susceptible to tickling. While I was squirming under her fingers, the maids arrived with reinforcements.
"Your Highness! Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine."
"How could this happen..."
"Exactly. I should've brought a mage if I knew. To think someone would dare target a member of the imperial family. There are still some alive—take them in for interrogation."
"Yes, ma'am!"
After that exchange, we finally made it back to the Imperial Capital. Naturally, I got pampered plenty by Olivier's hands along the way.
"Oh my, Your Highness. Who's this little one?"
The Imperial Palace was dazzling and vast just to look at. Once we arrived, it wasn't just Olivier fawning over me. Her maids—and even the servant girls, though they tried to be subtle—eyed me with gazes dripping honey.
"I met him on the way. He saved my life."
"Really? He's adorable. Hey, kiddo, how old are you? What's your name?"
"..."
"Aww! He's shy! So cute~"
Surrounded by their barrage of questions, I froze up. But to them, even that was cute. Weren't they liking this a bit too much? Was I like this as a kid in my past life?
"Aigoo, he must've sweated buckets from all that. He needs a bath."
"The bath is ready."
"Great, then... Oh! Ed, wanna join me?"
"Huh?!"
Her sudden suggestion threw me for a loop. No walls at all, huh?
"That sounds good. Follow me."
"W-Wait, I..."
Was it really okay to be this carefree? I thought boys were only allowed in women's baths up to age five or so. At eight, you were supposed to know better about boys and girls. Was this just medieval thinking—no such thing as child privacy? Scary stuff.
But those thoughts vanished the moment I was soaking in the fancy tub with her.
"What's wrong? Embarrassed? Adorable."
Olivier, stark naked without even a towel, pulled me into a hug and slipped into the water. I couldn't bring myself to look at her bare body, so I huddled with my hands over my lap and head down. She poked my cheek with her finger.
Some bath additive must've been at work, because her sweet, apple-like scent grew even thicker. And the feel of her bare skin against my back and legs... Not to mention, since she was naked, something soft pressed against my back now and then. Squishy yet firm. Like peeking through fluffy clouds, two small, warm mounds gently nudged my back.
Th-This had to be those, right? Just imagining it sent blood rushing south, so I hurriedly belted out the national anthem in my head.
We somehow survived the impromptu mixed bath and got out. A maid approached.
"Your Highness, the First Princess is urgently asking for you."
"Sister? Why?"
"She wants to ask about the ambush."
"Oh, right. That happened."
Her tone was like, "Oh yeah, I got ambushed." Big-hearted or just thick-skinned?
"Got it. Tell her I'll be right there."
"Yes, ma'am."
She dried off, styled her hair, and got dressed. I changed into new clothes with the maids' help.
"Look how well it suits him!"
"See? I knew this would be perfect! Your Highness, check this out."
The maids thrust me toward the princess like I was a painted figurine. Olivier, now back to her fancy rolled-up bun, eyed me intently with a hand on her hip.
"You're right. Nice work, Arine. You know your stuff."
"Hehe."
"Alright, Ed. Come here."
She held out her hand—clearly wanting me to take it.
"M-Me too?"
In my squire-like kid uniform, I couldn't help hesitating.
"Of course. You're my savior. I have to introduce you to my sister."
Meeting not just the Second Princess but the First in one day? Was everything going too smoothly?
Anyway, I took Olivier's hand and went to see the First Princess.
Iora von Groenevelt, the emperor's eldest daughter, sat at a long table in a small meeting room. She stood as we entered. Her red hair, just like Olivier's, was in a practical bob cut. Unlike Olivier's frilly dress, she wore pants—like she was ready to ride. Her skin was porcelain pale, with a charming mole by her mouth. Overall, a beauty rivaling Olivier.
"Welcome, Olivier. Have a seat."
"Thanks, sis."
Olivier sat obediently, and I took the seat beside her.
"I heard you were ambushed. No injuries?"
"Nope. Don't worry."
"Any idea who they were?"
"No clue."
Iora, from the head seat, turned her gaze to me.
"So, this is the kid who saved you?"
"Yep! Cute, right?!"
Olivier yanked me into a hug without warning. I managed a wry smile amid the suffocating softness.
"He saved you, sure... but bringing him here... You planning to keep him?"
"Uh-huh! No parents, and he saved my life!"
Iora clicked her tongue and shook her head at Olivier's bold reply.
"I'm not sure that's wise."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You just met him today. You don't really know who he is. Keeping some random kid from an ambush around?"
Straight facts. No wonder things felt too easy. Unlike the Second Princess, who'd trusted me on sight, the First was already suspicious.
"Sis! What are you saying? You think this kid had some ulterior motive?!"
Well, technically yes.
"Look! He's just a kid. A kid!"
Olivier grabbed me under the armpits and lifted me like a doll.
Iora sighed at her sister's plea.
"He looks like one. But if he took down a bunch of grown men—Imperial Guards, no less—that changes things."
"Even so..."
"Plus, something feels off. Why was he there, right then?"
I flinched. That was beyond good instincts.
Come to think of it, the First Princess was the sharpest of the three, assisting the emperor and crown prince.
"Doesn't that strike you as weird?"
"Weird? Maybe it's fate! Some special destiny between us."
Iora let out a heavy sigh at Olivier's dreamy response. The motion made her prominent chest jiggle slightly. Even bigger than Olivier's—practically a universe of its own. My eyes drifted there involuntarily. How big were they to strain even that uniform?
Noticing, Iora snorted.
"Look at that. Just like any other man, stealing a peek at my chest. Men aren't trustworthy."
What misogyny. Olivier peered at my profile and chimed in.
"That's normal for a boy! It's not like looking wears them out!"
"Hah. You're possessed. I told you to stop with those knight novels."
"And you should stop suspecting everyone! Who'd you trust if you doubt them all?"
"Me? Family, obviously. Blood like you."
Caught off guard, Olivier paused, then grinned bashfully.
"You're right... but he's just a kid! Isn't that too harsh?"
At this point, it was like begging mom and dad for a stray cat.
Iora smiled awkwardly too.
"See? How cute is he?"
"Sorry, Olivier. I don't like kids much. Noisy, bratty, crying at every little thing."
"Sis, you talk like you never had a childhood."
"Thanks to you, I grew up fast. Might as well not have one."
They bantered and laughed warmly. Good sisterly bond.
"Anyway, I'm not letting him go."
"You're misunderstanding, Olivier."
"Huh?"
"I never said to send him away."
Olivier shut her mouth. True, she hadn't.
Iora smiled seductively yet kindly.
"Olivier, leave him with me for now. I'll check him out myself. See if he's fit to stay by your side."
It was so sudden and unexpected, I couldn't hide my shock.