Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Ah. Is this what it feels like to raise a daughter?
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And in the meantime, as Chloe headed back to the monastery, she smiled broadly, clearly in high spirits.
"You seem happy, Your Highness."
"Yeah. The blacksmith owner seemed like a kind person. I think it'll work out well."
Chloe thought back to Heison, whom she'd just met.
'I made the right choice entrusting it to him.'
From her investigations, she'd heard he was quite greedy.
But she'd offer him a hefty commission fee, so she figured that would settle it.
"Indeed. And the gift... you'd probably give it to Tail?"
At the sudden mention of that name, Chloe's face flushed bright red in an instant.
"Hmph! Not necessarily!"
Chloe pulled her robe's hood down tighter to hide her reddened cheeks.
Allen let out a soft chuckle as he watched her.
It seemed spring had finally come even for his young Imperial Princess.
And strangely enough, it didn't bother him at all.
'But, my lady, there's something you must know.'
Allen gazed at his precious princess, who was bashfully glancing around.
'That relationship must never deepen.'
She was the empire's sole Imperial Princess, bearer of noble imperial blood.
Her counterpart was a penniless orphan commoner.
It could never be allowed... and could never happen.
Yet in the end, Allen couldn't bring himself to say it to Chloe.
'But for now... it should be fine.'
Allen watched as Chloe waved to Tail in the distance and ran toward him.
'Let her hold onto this human side of Chloe, not as princess, even if just for a little while.'
It was the wish of the man who had long protected her, not as an imperial knight.
A week passed.
In that time, the monastery spent each day in a flurry of activity, much the same as always.
And every day at six, Tail headed to Cecilia's tent.
Knock knock knock.
True to form, Tail arrived at Cecilia's tent and knocked on the door.
When he opened it without a word, a pitch-black darkness filled his vision.
"Lady Cecilia."
His low voice rumbled, and something rustled from within.
"Tail?"
A fragile voice replied, and at the same time, someone came dashing out of the darkness—thud—straight into Tail's arms.
The still-small girl, Cecilia, nuzzled her face against him like a cat.
"Have you been well?"
As if it were routine, Tail stroked her head.
"A little."
Her cheeks flushed pink.
Ever since Cecilia had poured out her emotions while sobbing her heart out.
She had healed remarkably quickly.
Now, even this level of physical contact was possible.
At this rate, the day she could venture outside wasn't far off.
Tail smiled warmly and said,
"Today, as promised, we'll have something other than red bean bread."
"Something else?"
Cecilia lifted her head from his chest, her upturned cat-like eyes fixed on him.
Her red eyes brimmed with affection for him.
She was so endearing that Tail gave her a gentle smile.
"Yes. Something else."
Despite being at an age when she should have been growing, Cecilia had eaten nothing, leaving her small and skinny.
Tail had nagged her about it for a week straight and finally wrung this promise out of her.
Cecilia grumbled softly.
"I don't like anything but the red bean bread Tail gave me..."
Tail leaned down to meet her eyes.
The red eyes once called "eyes of blood" in the novel now gazed at him warmly.
Meeting her gaze, Tail spoke.
"If you eat well today, I'll praise you."
Her expression brightened a bit.
"You promised."
"Yes. I promise."
Tail held out his pinky finger.
Cecilia blinked at him.
As if she had no idea what he was doing.
'Oops.'
Seeing that, Tail realized pinky promises didn't exist in this world.
He smiled softly and continued.
"Lady. Will you give me your pinky?"
At his words, Cecilia raised her pale, slender hand.
"Like this."
Tail's pinky intertwined with Cecilia's.
Her eyes widened instantly.
A strange, indescribable feeling washed over her, and she felt her cheeks burning red.
Her cool interior suddenly felt feverish.
The point where their fingers touched felt scorching hot.
Her pinky seemed to pulse wildly.
Unaware or not, Tail just smiled brightly and said,
"This is how we make a promise!"
"...Promise."
Cecilia mumbled softly in response.
For some reason, she felt too embarrassed to meet Tail's eyes.
She was so cute that Tail stroked her head again.
"Promise kept, so let's eat."
"...Okay."
If they made this kind of promise every day, she could probably eat anything, Cecilia thought to herself.
With her permission, Tail pulled out a freshly made bowl of warm mushroom soup and bread from the basket he'd brought.
He wanted to give her meat or fruit.
But suddenly eating rich food after nothing could upset her stomach.
The savory aroma of the soup filled the tent, and Cecilia unconsciously swallowed hard.
Gulp.
Watching her eyes sparkle, Tail went to a nearby table, set down the soup, bread, spoon, and fork.
The darkness was no issue; he'd adapted quickly and found it easily.
Once set up, he turned to her.
"Shall we try some?"
But Cecilia clamped her mouth shut, showing no reaction.
She still lacked the courage for new food, it seemed.
"Hmm. We made a promise~ That's weird~ We even pinky-swore."
At Tail's musing tone, Cecilia pouted.
Especially at the mention of fingers—her body twitched.
Unable to help herself, she fidgeted, then lightly tugged and shook Tail's collar.
"Tail..."
"Yes, my lady."
As his eyes turned to her, she put on a pleading expression.
Like the Puss in Boots from a fairy tale.
Her eyes welled up as she slowly continued.
"...Feed me."
Tail doubted his ears for a moment.
"Pardon?"
What did she just ask for?
Seeing him flustered, Cecilia grabbed his arm and rubbed her face against his chest.
She looked so pitiful, like a baby animal.
"Yeah? You feed me, Tail."
With no response, Cecilia inwardly clicked her tongue and pursed her lips.
Finally, she played her trump card.
"My brother always fed me too..."
Her fingertips trembled slightly.
She jerked her head up and cried out desperately.
"You have to feed me, Tail, or I won't eat!"
Tail was the one who surrendered to her declaration.
"Haa."
With a short sigh, he gently pushed her back.
"Understood, my lady. Just for today."
Only then did Cecilia beam.
"Hehe."
Her cute laugh left Tail smiling helplessly.
Next, he scooped up some soup with the spoon, blew on it—huff huff.
And held it to her lips.
Cecilia hesitated a moment, then took the soup into her mouth.
Slurp.
As she savored it, Tail asked,
"How is it?"
Her face lit up instantly.
"Delicious!"
Watching her grin, Tail thought to himself,
'Ah. Is this what it feels like to raise a daughter?'
With that in mind, he smiled contentedly and continued.
"Good. Yujin is pretty good at cooking."
The unfamiliar name from Tail's mouth made Cecilia freeze.
"...Yujin?"
"Yes. One of the monks here. He handles the kitchen mostly because he's so good."
For a moment, Cecilia looked displeased.
"Lady Cecilia?"
No response.
Even as Tail called her, hearing that girl's name—Yujin—made her mood sour instantly.
Her chest felt tight and stuffy.
Her stomach churned, anger bubbling up.
She wanted to flip everything over.
The mouth she cherished so much uttering a woman's name she didn't know.
Unaware of her feelings, Tail pressed on in confusion.
"Is Yujin's food no good? I'll go tell that guy off."
Her eyes widened at that.
"That guy? Yujin... is a man?"
"Yes?"
Tail blinked, wondering why she asked.
But as she stared seriously, he explained.
"Oh. Yeah. He hates it because it sounds like a girl's name."
In that instant, Cecilia's expression melted away.
Like winter thawing into a fresh spring.
"That's fine then. Tail, one more bite."
"Ah... Sure."
Her sudden shift puzzled him, but Cecilia's urging left no room for thought.
And even by the time she finished the bread, stuffed full, Tail still didn't know why she'd gotten sharp.