Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Winds and Waves and Hardships
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Because of me, or thanks to me.
The banquet began to heat up even more.
"To Prince Theodor! Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
People raised their glasses, beaming with joy.
But I'm no fool.
I knew all those eyes were on me.
I recognized that gaze.
The teacher's look at a model student. The company commander's stare at his ace soldier. Or the team leader's eyes on his star new hire.
A gaze full of expectations.
A very bad sign.
"Theo... you're amazing..."
"That's our Theo!"
Fortunately, my big sisters were clinging to my sides, drawing everyone's attention away.
Let me take a moment to sort things out.
That light that had gathered in my hand just now.
People were calling it the Star's Blessing.
Star's Blessing.
I had no idea what it was.
But at least, I'd once wondered if it was one reason why Mother treated me so well.
And yet...
I turned to look for Mother.
She was gone.
Where did she go?
As I thought that,
"The star..."
I looked at the little girl trailing off as she stared at me.
The girl who'd asked me to show her the star earlier.
"I'm Lucy Rig, Your Highness."
Even with her small frame, she performed her courtesies perfectly and greeted me.
Her blonde hair cascaded down following gravity, and her sea-blue eyes gazed calmly at me.
Then,
"That was amazing, Your Highness."
"Ah, thanks."
The girl bowed politely to me.
It still felt awkward hearing formal speech from someone my age.
I nodded as I thought that.
"So, does that mean Your Highness is the hero who'll save the world?"
"Huh?"
"Defeating villains and slaying evil dragons..."
The girl's eyes sparkled as she looked at me, while cold sweat trickled down my back.
Did that mean I really had to fight villains and evil dragons?
Was that the fate of someone blessed by the stars?
Countless stories from my past life flashed through my mind.
The hero archetype and all that.
Me?
As cold sweat was about to drip down,
"Theo doesn't do that stuff!"
Ravire's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
I glanced over and saw,
"I'll block everything that tries to bother Theo!"
Ravire was glaring fiercely as she shouted.
"That's right."
Lily's voice came from right beside me too.
"I'll protect Theo."
"I'll protect him!"
"No, I'll protect him!"
I watched the two of them bickering, then turned back to the girl.
She was still gazing at me with shining eyes, ignoring what my sisters said.
"Lucy, was it?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
As I pondered what to say and opened my mouth,
"Theo was born with the Star's Blessing."
Mother's voice halted both of us.
I looked up to see Mother staring down at Lucy with an expressionless face.
"Your Majesty."
At her words, Lucy immediately curtsied to Mother. Mother nodded and continued.
"But that doesn't mean he has to go hunting villains and dragons."
Mother locked eyes steadily with Lucy,
"In fact, the ones forcing that on him are the weird ones."
"...Yes. Thank you, Your Majesty."
Lucy averted her gaze as she replied.
She was biting her lip slightly, like she was holding back fear.
Impressive. If I'd been clueless, I might've burst into tears on the floor.
"Theo too."
"Yes, Mother."
"..."
She frowned oddly for a moment when I called her Mother, but then continued as if nothing happened.
"Don't worry."
"Pardon?"
"You won't have to bear any burdens."
"..."
That only made it scarier.
"There's just one thing I want from you as your mother."
"What is it?"
Just one thing? I wondered.
I met Mother's eyes, and she smiled softly at me.
A gentle smile unimaginable from the face she'd shown Lucy just now. Mother spoke.
"Grow up healthy. Don't get sick."
"..."
"I'll handle all the winds, waves, and hardships of the world for you."
To be honest.
It touched me deeply.
I'd never heard words like that before.
As I opened my mouth to thank her,
"Your Majesty."
A man hurried over and whispered urgently to Mother.
"...I see."
Mother straightened up.
"Sorry, dear. I have to step away for a bit..."
She looked at me with genuine regret.
"It's fine. Go ahead, Mo—Mother."
"...Theo."
"I'm okay, so please go."
Normal kids might feel anxious or upset if their parent left on their birthday.
But life doesn't always go as planned.
I understood completely.
I nodded as I thought that,
"Theo... Mommy will do her best."
"Eep..."
Mother hugged me so tightly I could barely breathe, then headed off into the distance.
At the same time, Lily and Ravire popped up behind me.
"D-Don't worry, Theo."
"Yeah! We've got you!"
Thinking I was bummed that Mother left, my two sisters enveloped me, raising their voices overly loud.
"I'm fine, so go talk to the others—"
"I-I'll help with the talking! Wait... I know some people...!"
"Right! Me too! Everyone, come here!"
I watched Lily and Ravire desperately gathering the other kids and fell into thought.
For now, I should build as many connections as possible here.
"Lucy, right?"
"Ah, yes. Prince Theodor."
"Just call me Theo."
First, this friend right in front of me.
*
The moment Milla Castina left the raucous banquet hall, she spoke up.
The gentle face that had held her son was gone, replaced by an expressionless one brimming with irritation.
Walking beside her was a seasoned-looking middle-aged man.
"Report."
"We've received word from the Holy Kingdom."
"Annoyingly fast."
"Stargazing is their daily routine, after all."
Milla muttered through gritted teeth.
The Holy Kingdom always sought out those born under the stars' protection.
And once they found them, they'd use every excuse or political pressure to take them away and raise them themselves.
"Do they know Theo was born with the Star's Blessing?"
"Not pinpointed yet, but a formal request just arrived to investigate since a star fell toward the royal family."
"It's only a matter of time before they figure it out."
Star's Blessing.
She'd known since before Theodor was even conceived.
To explain it simply: the power granted to those fated to save the world.
Of course, the activation conditions and abilities could fill volumes, but that wasn't what mattered to Milla.
By her calculations, Theo's blessing wouldn't manifest until at least age twelve...
"I forgot how exceptional my child is."
"..."
Milla muttered, rubbing her brow.
"My mistake. I should have realized that if Theo is a once-in-a-lifetime genius who loves his mother, calls me 'Mommy,' wields magic brilliantly, has a sharp eye for people, and possesses the looks to captivate noble ladies, then of course his blessing would awaken twelve years earlier than anyone else."
"..."
"The youngest person in continental history to awaken the Star's Blessing was twenty. So naturally, my Theo would outpace any genius by a good fifteen years. Why did I foolishly think it'd only be eight years early? This was my perfect error in underestimating him."
"..."
The middle-aged man desperately averted his gaze, biting his lip.
Pointing out the flaws would be pointless.
"What was the response?"
"We told them to double-check."
"Good."
"Still, they'll dispatch an envoy from the Holy Kingdom soon."
"Tell them we won't allow anyone below the rank of Saintess."
"Then they'll send the Saintess..."
"That'll buy us time."
The Holy Kingdom contacting Theodor had been in their plans since his blessing was confirmed.
They just needed to accelerate the schedule.
"...Your Majesty, what do you plan to do?"
At the man's question, Milla replied as if it were obvious.
"What else? Theo being born with the Star's Blessing was inevitable. He's my son. Nothing strange about it."
"Ah... yes."
"It was already part of the plan I laid out before he was born."
"R-Right."
"I have no intention of handing my son over to those Holy Kingdom bastards."
"...Then..."
"We'll advance the plan."
Milla's gaze turned to the window.
"What's the biggest threat right now?"
"No immediate threats endanger the continent at present."
"Of course. I already handled them all according to plan before Theo was born."
Black dragons, man-eating monsters, dark wizards, ancient liches—everything.
Milla had already dealt with it all so the Star-blessed Theo wouldn't suffer.
"Lately, the trolls in the north have been making the most noise."
"The north..."
"Shall I send word to the Northern Duke?"
"No. I'll go myself."
"Again... if I may?"
Milla glared at the middle-aged man.
"Don't you remember what I just said to Theo?"
"...Y-Yes."
"I told him I'd handle all the world's winds, waves, and hardships."
"...That's true."
"So of course, as his mother, I should take care of it."
"Y-Yes."
"Prepare."
"When... do you plan to depart?"
"Right now."
At Milla's words, the man squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before speaking.
"I'll contact the Duke."
"Do as you like."
Milla closed her eyes.
"Once this is over..."
"I'll scout a vacation spot."
"I want to hear Theo say, 'Mommy's so cool.'"
"..."
"Let's go."
"Understood."
Milla glanced briefly toward the banquet hall.
I won't forget.
The Holy Kingdom that sent a formal notice preventing celebration on his fifth birthday.
I'll punish them someday.
"How old is the Saintess?"
"Ten... as far as we know."
"Her Star's Blessing hasn't awakened yet?"
"Correct."
"Tell them if they're sending someone, send the Saintess."
Milla smirked.
"That should delay things nicely."
"Understood."
"Let's move."
With that, Milla started walking.
*
The day after the noisy birthday ended.
"..."
Social life is tough.
I grumbled to myself as I tossed and turned in bed.
Mother had rushed off to the north on urgent business.
The north...
I blankly pondered the north.
Probably cold. The people there must be prickly too. I could tell without going.
As those thoughts crossed my mind,
"Your Highness!"
The door burst open, and a maid slid in.
"Wh-What's up? What's wrong?"
"S-Sorry! You must be tired, but please get dressed quickly...!"
"Huh?"
The formal clothes from yesterday were in the maid's hands.
"Dressed? Did something happen?"
"Y-Yes!"
The maid hurriedly stood me up and started undressing me.
"What is it?"
Someone important must be visiting.
To require this level of formality.
"S-Suddenly..."
"Yeah?"
"Th-The Saintess from the Holy Kingdom is here!"
"I see."
"And she wants to see Your Highness too...!"
"Huh...?"
Me? Why?