Chapter 20: I’ve Chosen You to Be My New Dad (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 20: I’ve Chosen You to Be My New Dad (2)
“Whoa, Your Highness! You’re so cool!”
“Ah…”
“You’re so cool, Prince!”
“Haha…”
As I shouted in excitement, the Crown Prince could only let out an awkward laugh.
Though he seemed a bit flustered, he didn’t appear offended by the antics of a child who didn’t know any better.
Only Veronica, standing beside me, looked troubled as she spoke.
“Dia, he is the Crown Prince, not just a prince.”
“Mmm, but the storybooks Dia read called them princes.”
“Hoho, I’m sorry. I read her a fairytale with a prince in it recently, and she’s been quite obsessed with it.”
At that, the Crown Prince’s expression grew much more indulgent as he nodded.
“It’s fine. Children are like that.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Um… by the way, may I call you Dia as well?”
The Crown Prince asked in a gentle tone. Without a moment’s hesitation, I gave him a bright smile and answered.
“Yes! Your Highness!”
“Thank you.”
The atmosphere remained surprisingly harmonious. Throughout the tea time, the Crown Prince was incredibly kind to both Veronica and me, and Veronica looked more relaxed than I had seen her in a long time.
It made sense. Veronica had spent her entire miserable marriage with the male lead, Cedric.
Furthermore, as soon as she decided to get a divorce, she was confined, had to escape as if fleeing for her life, and just when she thought she could finally relax back at her family home, she was threatened with a territory war by Cedric. She must have felt like she was walking on thin ice every single day.
So, it was only natural for her to let her guard down around an old childhood friend who had suddenly come to visit.
No matter how much she had reigned over others as the original story’s villainess, Veronica was human after all.
Even the strongest, most steadfast people get hurt. It was just that her status and the eyes of others prevented her from showing it; in reality, Veronica was no different from anyone else.
“And that’s when you saw Karl and screamed. Your voice was so loud back then.”
“Oh, honestly, brother. That was ages ago, and you’re still bringing it up.”
“…”
Apparently, Karl was the name of a large dog the Crown Prince had raised in the Prince’s Palace when he was young.
Back then, Veronica had seen the dog and screamed, thinking it was a monster rather than a pet. The Crown Prince was teasing her by bringing it up on purpose.
Look at them, getting along so well.
I muttered to myself while munching on the dessert in front of me. It felt like there were literal flowers floating in the air around them.
I stared intently at the Crown Prince’s face, which was graced with a never-ending smile. He didn’t even seem to be trying to hide his feelings.
Well, the only other person around was a child who supposedly knew nothing. To keep the Crown Prince’s presence a secret, even the servants’ access to the detached villa was being restricted.
Since he couldn’t possibly dream that I wasn’t a normal child, he had no reason to be on guard.
Hmm.
But I was still missing a decisive piece of evidence.
It was possible the Crown Prince was just someone who smiled easily at childhood friends.
Besides…
I’ve been single since birth.
It wasn’t something to be proud of, but it was the truth.
In my past life, I didn’t have the luxury to think about men or dating. My family situation was a mess, and I lived a hectic life, balancing studies and part-time jobs every day just to escape that hellhole.
Perhaps that was why, even though I could guess the Crown Prince’s feelings, I couldn’t be entirely certain. I thought I’d know for sure once I met him in person, but it wasn’t that simple.
[Just ask him directly.]
‘What? Ask the Crown Prince?’
[Yeah.]
Desmond spoke in a bored tone, as if he found watching me struggle frustrating.
I frowned, falling into thought.
‘He’ll think it’s weird…’
Wouldn’t the Crown Prince find it strange if a five-year-old asked something like that? According to the original story, he was quite the suspicious type.
As I agonized over it, Desmond’s characteristically indifferent voice reached me again.
[You can say it precisely because you’re a child.]
[He’s right! Children are very blunt! They don’t even know how to lie!]
‘Oho.’
With even Bibi chiming in, I started to lean toward the idea.
Right, because I was a child, I could ask more shamelessly. And the Crown Prince would find it harder to hide his true feelings when faced with something so unexpected.
These demons are actually useful sometimes. I nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Um, Lady Veronica.”
“What is it?”
“The butler…”
During the tea party, a maid from the main building whispered something into Veronica’s ear. Veronica’s face stiffened as she listened.
As soon as Veronica had arrived at the Winston estate, she had immediately taken charge of the internal affairs.
The Duke of Winston’s mansion lacked a mistress to manage the household. Veronica had handled it when she lived here, but after she married and left, the head butler and the head maid had taken over the duties.
However, the mansion was enormous, and the head butler and head maid already had far too much to do. Those two were the ones who had cheered and wept tears of joy the most when Veronica returned.
Anyway, it seemed a problem had arisen even while Veronica was away for a moment. For me, the timing was perfect.
“Your Highness, I…”
“I’m fine, so go ahead.”
“Ah.”
The Crown Prince gave his permission readily, but that wasn’t the end of Veronica’s worries. Her gaze turned toward me, sitting beside her.
“I’m okay too, Mommy!”
“Alright… You have to be on your best behavior for His Highness, okay?”
“Yes!”
“…”
Still uneasy, Veronica left, leaving behind the maid who had brought the message.
It didn’t matter if the maid was watching. I could easily cloud her eyes and ears with my powers.
Left alone with the Crown Prince, I beamed at him.
“Your Highness, this is yummy!”
“Is it? Shall I try some too?”
Once Veronica was gone, the Crown Prince began to focus his attention on me.
I stared at the future tyrant, who had been acting excessively kind to me for a while now, and asked,
“Your Highness, you like my mommy, don’t you?”
“Cough, hack, hack!”
“…”
Gotcha, you rascal.
Watching the Crown Prince panic, the corners of my mouth curled up into a smirk.
Caught off guard by a question that came out of left field, the Crown Prince failed to react smoothly. He coughed quite violently, as if something had gone down the wrong pipe.
“W-what do you mean by…”
“Dia knows everything. You like my mommy! Just like how the prince likes the princess!”
“…”
As I spoke with a perfectly feigned innocent expression, the Crown Prince slowly regained his composure. He added an explanation as if making an excuse.
“That’s because Berry—I mean, Dia’s mother—and I have been friends for a very long time…”
“Mmm, I’m friends with these guys too.”
“…”
“Is my mommy a bear and a rabbit too?”
I held up the teddy bear and the rabbit doll that contained Desmond and Bibi in both hands. A look of distress crossed the Crown Prince’s face.
Where do you think you’re going?
Today, you are destined to be thoroughly interrogated by a seemingly innocent but surprisingly sharp five-year-old.
Give up and accept your fate. It’s easier if you just surrender.
I gave an even wider smile and shouted,
“I think my mommy likes you too, Your Highness!”
“R-really?”
“Yup! Mommy says she doesn’t like Daddy anymore. She says she hates him so much.”
“…”
“That’s why she came here with Dia so we don’t have to live together.”
The Crown Prince fell silent at my words. I continued in a deliberately cheerful voice, being careful not to sound too serious.
“Actually, Dia already knew. That Mommy and Daddy didn’t like each other. So Dia wasn’t sad.”
“…I see.”
“Dia only needs Mommy. As long as Mommy isn’t sad, everything is okay.”
“Yes, Dia, you’re a good girl.”
The Crown Prince nodded, looking at me with pitying eyes.
His large hand stroked my head. I could feel his consideration for my young and fragile self in his cautious touch.
I widened my eyes as if surprised by his warm gesture.
Then, I let my eyebrows droop downward, as if I were holding back tears.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, actually…”
The Crown Prince panicked when I suddenly looked like I was about to cry.
Just bear with it. Children’s emotions are supposed to swing wildly.
While muttering darkly to myself on the inside, I spoke with a dejected voice on the outside.
“Dia likes Mommy, and my uncles, and Grandpa. But still…”
“…But still?”
“I think it would be nice… to have a daddy too.”
I looked up at the Crown Prince with shimmering eyes. I saw him looking completely flustered.
“I wish someone like you was my daddy, Your Highness!”
“…!”
“Hehehe!”
Having dropped the bomb, I giggled brightly as if I didn’t have a clue.
The Crown Prince, who had been staring blankly, began to turn redder and redder. He was probably imagining a future where he married Veronica and lived happily with the three of us.
Sucker… no, you’re the new dad.
Having chosen my prey, I radiated joy with my entire body.
A bright future seemed to be waiting for me, as golden as the Crown Prince’s sun-drenched hair.