The Prince Who Appeared with a Beer Mug in Each Hand
When I was floundering in the middle of a crisis, the prince appeared holding a beer mug in each hand.
“Jeanie? Who are these people…….”
“Ash!”
“They must be your parents. They look exactly like you…… far too alike.”
“You came at the perfect time! Say hello to my parents!”
Be happy, you two! There’s a sociable man right here! Since he’s a prince, his social skills must be royal level.
I immediately dumped the task of entertaining my parents onto Ash. I literally grabbed him and pushed him right in front of them.
“Is this the person Sir Hansen mentioned?”
“You know Ash?”
“Yes, Sir Hansen came to deliver your letter. He told us then. About the people you’re traveling with…… and that there was a man you liked. He said if you thought ‘Wow, how ordinary,’ that was the one.”
So right now, while looking at Ash, they were thinking ‘Wow, how ordinary’ in their heads.
Ash looked dazed, surrounded by three people with brilliant golden hair. Though really, it was just that he seemed a bit more tense than usual.
The guy was definitely skilled in social etiquette.
“My apologies for the late greeting. It is an honor to meet you both. Count Crowell, Madam. Please call me Ash. Feel free to speak casually.”
“Ash. I have a friend with the same name. That’ll be easy to remember.”
Dina Crowell, my mother. She used to be a baroness, but now she was a countess.
Our voices were so eerily similar that whenever she spoke, it felt like I was listening to myself.
To be exact, I was the one who took after her voice. After all, I was her biological daughter.
“You seem to be a commoner. For a commoner, your manners are quite refined.”
“Dear? She’s Jeanie’s friend. Let’s not say anything unpleasant. Ash, we’re glad to meet you too.”
“...I object! This is the first time I’m being introduced to my daughter’s friend, and it’s a man!”
Count Lusad Crowell, who showed signs of being a doting father but remained a doting husband since his daughter never gave him the chance.
My father, who had no desire for power.
In truth, I knew almost nothing about him. Other than his hobby being woodworking. He had made me a rocking horse.
“This isn’t the first time. There’s Young Master Kenian, isn’t there? Besides, Jeanie is an adult now.”
“You haven’t been formally introduced. And since she’s an adult, I believe we should be all the more cautious.”
True to people who had spent their entire lives in a rural estate, they weren’t particularly skilled at socializing, so their whispered conversation was completely audible to me. I used Ash as a shield to quickly compose myself. Hiding behind him, I confirmed the important part first.
“So you two are leaving the day after tomorrow, right?”
“We must. It’s been more than ten days since we left the territory. If we don’t return soon…… Oh, Jeanie. Were you hoping we’d stay longer?”
“No.”
I couldn’t commit the unfilial sin of making my mother cry. I hurriedly added.
“I was asking because I thought you might want to see the Tumdra. Since it’s in three days……”
“Ah, that…… We heard about it. But we have no interest. We came purely to see you. We don’t have the stomach for blood-splattering spectacles either…… and it’s frightening, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. A public duel is far too gruesome and barbaric. We couldn’t possibly let our precious wife witness such a thing. If you had nightmares, it would pain me greatly.”
“You really are something.”
It wasn’t my imagination that they were always hugging like that in my childhood memories. They seemed to have hugged at least five times in the span of a few minutes.
This couple’s relationship seemed to improve every time I saw them. Well, that explained why they had four children. Maybe that was why I couldn’t get used to it.
I can’t stand cringeworthy displays!
“Where are you two staying?”
If they knew their beloved youngest daughter planned to attend that blood-soaked fight waving cheer sticks, they’d faint. We might look alike, but our personalities were nothing alike.
“There’s an inn for nobles farther up. We’re staying there. That’s right! Why don’t you move there with us? This place is too…… small.”
I knew what she really meant even if she didn’t say it outright. It was too noisy, dirty, and rundown.
“They probably don’t have any vacant rooms.”
“Don’t worry about that. I said a small room would do, but they gave us a very large one with spare beds. Let’s stay together.”
“...I appreciate the offer, but I can’t abandon my friends who are as precious as my life and stay somewhere else by myself. I’ll remain here.”
Rai: ...? Master? Since when were they that precious? You’ve never said anything like that before?
Me: It’s a lie. Sharing a room with my parents is just uncomfortable, that’s all.
Rai: I get it! So physical discomfort is better than mental discomfort! Wow, aren’t I pretty smart?
I was always mentally uncomfortable.
“More importantly, this isn’t a good place to talk. It’s too noisy, so let’s go up to my room.”
The two didn’t fit in the tavern, which was the epitome of chaos. If left alone, it seemed like they’d be robbed of everything they owned within five minutes.
“Oh my, oh my, this is the first time I’ve been invited to your room. Of course I’d love to.”
“Would you go up first? It’s on the third floor.”
“You’re not coming with us?”
“I’ll bring some drinks. Ash? I’m counting on you with my parents. You know where my room is, right?”
Even standing in the third-floor hallway, they might not last and get robbed. I had to send them to a relatively safe place.
I handed Ash the room key, and he approached with a puzzled look.
“I’ll bring the drinks, so wouldn’t it be better if you went up with them?”
“I have other things to do. Please take care of it.”
After sending the two up to my room, I gestured for Bright, who was standing at a distance, to come over.
He had brought Jaimam with him and had wisely thought to hide behind the woman.
A light eye greeting was enough for Jaimam, who originally spoke little and showed almost no emotion.
“Senior? Get out of here quickly. If I see you again, you’re dead.”
I smiled while grinding my teeth.
With my parents present, I couldn’t reveal my true nature. Even though they were upstairs and not right beside me, I felt suppressed.
“...Jeanie! I’m really wronged! It wasn’t my will! From bringing these people here, everything……”
“Shut up and get lost.”
“Lady Jeanie? This may be presumptuous, but may I say something? Sir Bright truly did his best. Considering the sincerity and effort of this person who crossed mountains and seas to find you, please forgive him for this incident.”
“You used warp, didn’t you?”
“You know his physical condition.”
He was still extremely dry and expressionless, but I liked Jaimam like that. He was the only one of that type around me.
Intelligent, never said unnecessary things, and had a presence like a shadow that felt like he wasn’t even there even when beside you.
It was a shame he was Bright’s servant.
“Fine. I’ll teach you one way to survive, for Jaimam’s sake.”
“What is it?”
The stars in his eyes were still there. Since I wouldn’t be able to see that if he died, maybe I should spare him. I was still smiling.
“Get me five tickets for the Tumdra by tomorrow.”
“With the duel right around the corner, that will be difficult…… by tomorrow? And five of them?”
“Me, Ash, Chad, Enk, Gail…… No. Six. Including Akia’s too.”
“...What about me?”
“You expect me to take care of that too? Get lost.”
Just sparing him should be enough to be grateful for!
Ash tried to give up his seat when I arrived, but before he could leave the room I physically blocked him. Standing in front of the door, I screamed with my eyes.
Where do you think you’re going! Are you planning to leave me alone in this awkward atmosphere! You traitor!
I couldn’t actually make a sound because my parents were there, but I think the message got across clearly.
I approached my parents with Ash in tow.
Determined not to do anything awkward like before, I wore a confident business smile.
The fact that I was mostly using the smile I reserved for the dean meant my attempt at pretending to be a normal child was already a failure.
“Have you been waiting long? I didn’t know what you’d like, so I brought a variety of teas……”
Were they holding back earlier because there were many people around? The two didn’t hesitate to pull me into a tight embrace even though I was holding a tray. I thought that was excessive enough, but it seemed insufficient for them.
I didn’t even like handshakes much, yet they hugged me tightly in silence for a long time, and I became awkward again. My mother was shorter than me, and my father was much taller, so it looked like my father was embracing two women.
The temperature in the middle where I was sandwiched rose to a sweltering degree, and I was only released when I couldn’t bear it anymore and complained about breathing difficulty and the tray’s weight.
“We heard you were safe, but we still wanted to see you with our own eyes.”
“It seemed the only way to see you was to come in person. Everyone thought you were in the territory. But we knew you wouldn’t come.”
“It’s already been eight years since we last saw you. Did you know that?”
“I do.”
“We’ve always missed you. We didn’t visit recklessly for fear of disturbing your studies, but our hearts……”
“I know.”
I had made these people uncomfortable for my own convenience. That fact wouldn’t change in the future either.
“You’re as cold as ever.”
“...Our daughter! We’re glad you haven’t changed even after such a big incident.”
Damn it. Whether I liked it or not, was it hug time again?
I had to be embraced by the two for a long time once more. To prevent the same situation, as soon as I was released I hurriedly offered them seats.
“There aren’t enough seats, but please sit.”
Being a cheap inn room, there were only two chairs. In such cases the elders usually sat.
And somehow the women naturally took the seats in this room.
When my mother and I sat facing each other across the table like mirrors, the men stood a step aside, and an awkward atmosphere flowed once again.
Looking at it this way…… it seemed like Ash was my husband or guardian.
Isn’t it the other way around? I’m Ash’s guardian. How fragile is he? I know my standards are high, but still.
“Um…… this is awkward. So what brings you here? You didn’t come all this way just to see me, did you?”
“Jeanie.”
Did I say something I shouldn’t have?
Ash called my name softly from behind. That was usually the tone he used when I was about to beat someone, had already beaten them, or was about to beat the same spot again.
“It’s fine. Ash, we’re used to it.”
“This child has always been like that. Whenever she saw us, her first thought was how to send us away.”
“It was the same when she was at the academy. Every time we went to see her, instead of being happy she would say the same things. Why did you come here, when are you leaving, did you really come all this way just to see me…… My husband was always saddened by it.”
It seemed like my mother was the one who was more saddened. My father was a bit disappointed, but that was all. I only learned today that I had been mistaken.
“At first I thought she was ashamed because my title was low. There were many children from noble families there…… It was only later that I realized this child was worried about our finances. She was too mature for her age.”
“We do have enough money to come see our daughter, though.”
I remembered. Thinking the family had no money, I had asked the teachers how much the academy tuition was. Upon hearing that the royal palace provided full support, I happily started skipping classes after that. It was also the reason I decided to plant myself firmly at the academy.
“...That was because Father…… um…… you said you made the rocking horse yourself and even passed down the cradle you made for my brothers to me…… so I thought we had no money. Actually, even though we’re nobles, we didn’t have a cook.”
It was hard to call him father.
“Woodworking was just a hobby. Your mother enjoys cooking, so it’s like how we don’t have a cook at home. By the way, do you remember saying that? It was when you were only two or three years old.”
“Hmm……”
“Jeanie has had special qualities since she was a baby, right?”