Suddenly I Became a Princess Volume 4 Chapter 13

Translated: reireiss, MTLs-nim 

Edited: reireiss, Grammarly ssi 

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Translator Note:

This is a long long long chapter.

So...... Bear with me, please (/▿＼ )

Thank You!

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Chapter 13 – Return

"Cyan birds really like this fruit. That's why we use this fruit to train them, but…… Bla, bla, bla."

"Ah, is that so?"

"If you buy 2 bags of this fruit today, you'll get another bag for free!"

I got knowledge about the Cyan Bird from the shop owner at the recently reopened Bird Market. I had thought that the Bird Market would reopen during the Founding Festival, and my guess was correct.

“And sometimes the bird will scratch its wings because it's itchy, and at that time, this oil…… This essential oil is…… Bla, bla, bla. Special discount for today only…… So bla, bla, bla.”

U-Uhmm. But why does this look more like promotion than sharing knowledge? Didn't he keep talking about buying this or buying that, without giving me a proper answer to the question I asked about training birds to be messenger birds.

"Actually, I didn't bring any money today."

"Ah, is that so? You should have said that earlier."

As soon as I said that I didn't have any money, this middle-aged man's expression changed rapidly. Hey, Uncle! Aren't you being disrespectful to potential customers right now?

"Welcome! It seems you are very interested in parrots."

I left the place trembling, leaving the merchant who quickly turned his attention to other customers. After succeeding in 'Plastic Surgery Magic In Just 1 Second', I was able to explore Obelia’s Capital freely without hiding like before. Once I changed my appearance, no one realized that I was the Princess because of my simple charm. U-Ughh . Why does it feel a little sad?

"Waaaaaa ! The gates of the Imperial Palace are open!"

"Is it time yet? Come on, go quickly!"

"I want to see it too!"

Suddenly, the streets became noisier than usual. Ah, looks like it's time for the Parade. It seemed that Claude was finally out of the Imperial Palace. Everyone seemed happy because the opportunity to meet the Imperial Family in person at such close range was unusual. I slipped out of the crowd that was noisier than before.

A while later, I climbed onto the roof of a building to watch the grand procession starting from the Imperial Palace. Wow, the scale is incredible! Around the procession, the Imperial Knights lined up on both sides wearing stylish uniforms, and that served to prevent excited spectators from approaching. So, maybe Felix was there too? But, what are these flying flower petals? It feels like magic.

And after a while, I found someone who exuded an unmatched presence amidst the colorful procession. It was hard to see from a distance, but the sparkling golden hair was definitely Claude's.

It was truly the procession of an Emperor's journey. You will continue like that for the next 2 hours, right? I couldn't help but click my tongue because I thought that guy was really good at holding back distractions —even though he had that kind of personality. As expected of an Emperor, and right now he couldn't do anything. Yes, it is best to live with humility and live long.

"Shall we go now?"

When I saw Claude from a distance for the first time in a long time, now it almost pierced my heart reflexively. However, if not now, it will be difficult to take another chance. I felt the wind blowing over the roof, I saw the procession far away for a moment, and then I snapped my fingers.

Ctak!

When I closed and opened my eyes, a familiar sight greeted me.

Ah, the Emerald Palace that I haven't seen for a long time.

"P-Princess!"

"Lily!"

Uwaaaaaa!! I haven't seen Lily in a long time! Lily was sitting on the sofa and her eyes widened when she saw me who suddenly appeared. Oh, I know you must be very worried. I miss you, Lily!

I moved my legs and ran towards her with tears in my eyes. However, the touching reunion I imagined did not come true.

"You're finally here."

"Whoa!"

I froze as soon as I heard that terrifying voice from behind me. I froze in the same position as I ran towards Lily.

"Princess……"

Apparently, Lily wasn't sitting comfortably on the sofa, instead she was holding her hands in her lap as if she was under pressure from someone. I turned my head unnaturally like a broken robot.

"So you're targeting the Founding Celebration Festival."

And immediately after that, I saw Claude sitting on a chair in the corner of the room and looking at me while supporting his chin. The moment his cold eyes met mine, I stopped breathing and hardened like a rock. Strange……? Is the person in front of me now Claude? But, I've already confirmed that he's currently in the Founding Celebration Festival procession.

Claude, who had been silent for a while, now opened his mouth again as if he realized that I was stunned and couldn't believe the current situation.

"I thought you'd be here at least once in my absence."

Without realizing it, I gaped in front of Claude who said as if he had predicted my actions today.

"I-I'm sure I saw you out there."

"What you see is my substitute*."

T/N: The word 'substitute' here refer to a body double or stuntman. So, the person Athi saw in the procession, it's not magic or something like that, but a real person in disguise as Claude.

Klang! Substitute? I opened my mouth like a fool at those surprising words. Yes, now that you think about it, a big event like that would definitely use a substitute, right? Apart from that, Claude is not someone who likes being in positions and events like that. What should I do now?

I tried hard to turn my head and reflexively raised my hands in surprise. Let's get out of here.

Ctak!

And when I closed and opened my eyes, I should now be in that reed field…… That should be it. But, why am I still in the Emerald Palace?!

"I've cast a spell to control magic power."

Claude noticed my actions, he said that to me who was confused, it felt like he was laughing at me. Sob! I felt a little annoyed because his expression seemed to say words like, 'I'll teach this stupid kid myself'. That makes me feel kind of bad.

"Not only in the Emerald Palace, but the spell has been installed all over the Imperial Palace. At that time, I didn't expect you to appear in the Garnet Palace, so I missed it to cast this spell there, but this time you won't be able to escape easily."

Huwaaaa, I don't know what it is, but that magic spell wasn't just created here. In short, he knew I would come to see Lily, so he set traps all over the Palace. This despicable human being!

Uwaaaaaaaaaaaa!

As Claude waved his hand in the air once, light began to rise like fog. And a golden magic circle finally appeared. I started to get annoyed with Claude's stern appearance as if he was treating me like a mouse in a jar, so I raised my hand and snapped my fingers once again.

"Princess, wait…!"

Ctak!

As if he knew that I was here, Felix immediately opened the door and rushed into this room. Felix tried to stop me, but that was only after my magic power flowed through my body. However, this time too, nothing happened.

"Your Majesty!"

Bruggg.

No, nothing happened. I moved my eyes to the sound of Felix's scream and I was shocked when I saw a stream of blood flowing down Claude's chin. However, Claude immediately wiped away the blood with the back of his hand, and he looked down —at the back of his hand that was covered in blood, then he smiled coldly.

"I already knew beforehand that it was a trash magic spell, but its uniqueness was truly extraordinary."

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

Both Felix and Lily, even me, we couldn't hide our nervousness when we saw Claude's appearance like that. As soon as those calm eyes returned to me, my fingertips trembled.

"No one can use magic in this magic spell, but all the effects of the magic used will be passed on to the caster. This is a magic spell that is so inefficient that it is impossible to know what it was created for, so it was forgotten because it was completely useless. As you can see here, if you use magic here, the effects of that magic will befall me."

Beside him, Felix said, "Your Majesty! You should have explained something like that to Princess Athanasia beforehand!" I heard a frustrated scream from him, but Claude didn't turn his head in his direction. He's only been looking at me since I first appeared here. I stopped moving in my current position and made eye contact with Claude .

"If you don't mind if I vomit blood and die, then just use magic to get out of this place or just attack me."

The words he said took my breath away. What the hell? What if I really said, 'I don't care if you vomit blood or not.', then after that I would leave using magic? Do you think I will be afraid of you? So what? Do you think I'll stay quiet and not do anything because I'm afraid you'll get hurt?

But in fact, ever since I saw the blood flowing from Claude's mouth, I've remained as stiff as a statue snapping its fingers. Memories of him vomiting blood on his bed after being affected by the explosion of my magic power flashed through my mind again.

I realized that I was more afraid than I thought, so I bit my lip. I acted so bravely, believing that I could escape from him at any time, but the truth was that I couldn't do anything that would hurt Claude. So in a way, making himself a hostage was the most effective way to tie my feet.

But when I thought that, suddenly, something crossed my mind. If you were going to catch me and kill me, then why did you do all this? Besides, if this magic spell is detrimental to the caster, why did you bother creating the magic spell here? Could it be that Claude is sure that I can't use magic well? But, judging from his facial expression, that didn't seem to be the reason. In that case, Claude was currently risking his own life.

I also know because while I was in Arlanta, I had looked for several magic books about this magic and that magic, I found there were several magic spells that were effective for attacking and paralyzing enemies. When I moved my eyes, Lily also looked at Claude with a very mysterious expression.

"Again, if you disappear……"

The voice sounded slightly lower than the previous voice that rang in the ears. And the words he said after that were so scary that it made me unable to breathe.

"Every day, 1000 people will be executed, their bodies will be cut into 6 pieces and hung in the Square ."

Hearing those scary words, I opened my eyes wide and looked at Claude. And when I looked into his eyes, I realized that he was genuine.

Now, wait a minute! You're going to kill all the Empire's people? When I looked at Lily and my pupils trembled, Claude said something cruel again, as if he wanted to strengthen his threat.

"Not only that. I will also turn this Obelia into a giant grave……"

"Your Majesty, don't say things like that!"

Right at that moment, Felix who was beside him shouted as if he couldn't keep himself quiet.

"Why are you scaring the Princess again? This is so frustrating!"

Whoa! Our Felix who looks like a sun-fish* has changed! He screamed as if he was going to explode after holding back all this time. But of course, Claude gave Felix a horrible look.

T/N: Sun-fish ( 개복치 ) gaebogchi ) is Korean slang for someone who has a weak mind or someone who dies easily (in stories).

“If you say it in a scary way like that, even I would run away 100 times!"

But the more I hear about it, the weirder this all becomes…… If Claude really wanted to kill me, I don't think Felix would be disgusted by it. Lily too, since earlier she has only been watching us in silence.

"Your Majesty, isn't there something else you want to tell the Princess?"

To be honest, I was a little confused whether Felix's desperate plea was directed at Claude or at me. To me, it was like he was telling Claude to calm down and do something right, and he was asking me not to run away because Claude didn't mean what he said. Claude, who was looking at me with a frown, finally opened his mouth again.

"All of you, get out."

Ughhh !

I shuddered at his command. If you tell everyone to get out, then I will. Can't I go out together with Felix and Lily? Keugh. But I wasn't on the list of people he told to leave……

However, Felix and Lily did not move from their current position.

"Princess, I won't leave if you tell me to stay."

"I'll still be here."

Wow, my Felix and Lily are turning into sweet pumpkins*! They looked at me with eyes that showed strong determination by saying those words. I was a little impressed with them, as for Claude, he wrinkled his face again and opened his mouth again.

T/N: Sweet pumpkin ( 단호박 ) danhobag ) is Korean slang meaning caring/considerate person.

"Will you only believe me if I swear not to kill her?"

I stared at Claude with a strange look for a while, then I opened my mouth to Lily and Felix who were beside me.

"I'm fine. I'll scream if I'm in danger."

Uh, uhmm. It's strange when I say something like that. But finally, they both left the room after confirming several times that I was really okay.

Kriet.

Finally, Claude and I were left alone in the room with the magic circle.

Drak .

Feeling displeased with the incident earlier, Claude, who was frowning, finally got up from his seat. I stepped back from him and said,

“I’m sorry, but I hope you don't being too close with me."

Stop.

Right at that moment, the atmosphere in this room changed slightly. I watched as his eyes that were facing each other with mine had a strange feeling, they showed an indescribable emotion in them.

That's weird. Obviously the person in front of me now was still the indifferent and cold looking person as before, but why did I feel like I was looking at an abandoned dog?

After I said those words, Claude stopped where he was and didn't move anymore. An uncomfortable silence hovered around me for a while. It wasn't long before he slowly parted his tightly closed lips and let his voice escape.

"How are you?"

Huh ? Why did he suddenly ask how I am? I wondered if there was something wrong with this guy, so I rolled my eyes to the side and stuttered out a reply. The words that came out of my mouth were more shocking than I expected, so I felt embarrassed.

“I just wandered around and……”

"Where to?"

“Following the mountains, following the rivers, as far as my feet can reach.”

"The video from your debut has been copied to memory stones and distributed all over the place, but how come no one knows exactly where you are?"

Argh, so the video that is playing is the video from debutante ?

“I used magic……”

"You don't have any money, do you?"

“That too, with ma…… Ah, no. I mean, that's a trade secret!"

Oh my, I almost said that about the fake coins! I pretended not to see Claude's gloomy eyes and pretended not to hear anything.

"I see. I thought you would have trouble getting something to eat —even if it was a bowl of porridge, but that's not the case."

And as soon as that low voice passed my ears again, I stared blankly at Claude .

He and I stared at each other without saying anything for some time. Claude had a much paler face and looked more exhausted than when I saw him in the Rose Garden and in his bedroom last time. Seeing him like that, I didn't know who was actually having trouble getting a bowl of porridge. However, Claude remained standing straight —even after he vomited blood, it was as if nothing had happened.

I looked at his face without a word, and then I slowly opened my mouth.

"You said you weren't my daddy."

"Yes, I'm not your dad."

My question was answered with a vague answer.

"Then why are you acting so concerned?"

I asked in a small voice, almost a whisper. Gradually, I felt a strange emotion as I faced his eyes.

“Why are you acting like a dad, even though you are not my dad?"

You ask questions as if you care about me, and as if you were looking for me not to kill me…………

This time, instead of an immediate answer, there was a brief silence.

"I also do not know."

I saw Claude harden his mouth for some time as if he was gritting his teeth. Soon after, I saw his facial expression change from before.

"But when I think about you, I feel strange."

"……"

"The same goes for seeing you make that facial expression."

I don't know what the expression on my face was like right now, but the expression on Claude's face when he said that also made me feel strange. He looked like someone who had swallowed dozens of thumbtacks.

"I don't know what makes me feel this way."

Claude clenched his fists, the fists became tighter than before.

"I still don't remember who you are, and because of that, I can't be what you want me to be."

His words clearly made me sad, but…………

"Maybe I will continue like that until the day I die."

However, I think that Claude said that because he was the same as me, he felt anxious and afraid about the situation we were in right now.

“But still………”

Finally, Claude once again gritted his teeth and then started muttering to me as if he was throwing an ultimatum at me.

"I can't let you go."

The terrifying coldness appeared in his eyes again.

"I don't want to hear goodbye like that."

The air around Claude became colder, as if he remembered that I had disappeared before his eyes twice. The words that flew into both my ears were extremely cold. But I'm no longer afraid of his threats. Moreover, I don't feel worried about what would happen if he really killed someone else and also killed me.

What the hell…… He used a magic spell that was detrimental to the caster in this room, and even now, he actually stopped when I asked him not to approach me…… What a hypocrite. Apart from that, he was also saying strange things since earlier……

"What happened?"

In the end, I was overcome by an unbearable feeling and muttered.

"Right…………"

Seriously…… Do you really know what you're saying?

"What……?"

Maybe I misunderstood. But to my ears, it sounded as if Claude was telling me to 'stay by his side' and 'don't go anywhere and stay here'.

“Why are you saying that to me……?”

Suddenly, it felt like something stirred inside me, and a trembling sound came out of my mouth. I don't understand why, but suddenly my throat felt like it was constricted.

Claude's facial expression suddenly changed. Somehow, he made a choking sound for a moment with a face that looked like he was choking, then he let out a hoarse and rough voice.

"I'm going crazy."

His lips kept moving several times as if he didn't know what to do. No more words came out. After some time passed, Claude spoke to me briefly, like someone who had finally managed to make a sound.

"Don't cry."

But, it was too late.

“……Huwaaaaa.”

Claude in my vision became blurry, without me realizing it, I was already crying.

“I hate you…… Uhuhuu. I hate you, Dad……”

The sadness that I had been holding inside began to overflow like fire, or maybe like flowing water.

“I really hate you…… Uhuu, huwaaa.”

I don't think I wanted to say those words, but only the word 'hate' kept coming out of my mouth. Since the tears started dripping down my cheeks, Claude had hardened with a vague expression. When I saw him, the tears that I couldn't control actually flowed even harder.

"Uhuhuuu…… How could you forget me—"

I really don't want to do this……… I really don't want to cry and vent revenge like this, like I'm a 14 year old child…… But, once these tears come out, they don't show any signs of stop.

“How can you say that you will kill me every time you see me…………”

"……"

“In fact, you actually tried to kill me………”

I could have endured it when Claude really wanted to kill me, but when I saw that right now he wasn't doing anything to me, and was just threatening me not to run away again, the emotions inside me started to grow. I raised my hands and rubbed my eyes angrily, muttering unintelligible gibberish.

“D-Dad, you idiot……”

I thought I would be punished.

“You are such a fool, you almost died because of me……………”

It was because I didn't heed Lucas' advice, and because of my stupidity, Blackie disappeared and Claude became like this.

"I'm afraid something will happen, uhuhuuuu, to you…… I'm really scared."

Maybe, I just accepted it because I thought that Claude wouldn't die or get hurt —because that's how it was in the novel. I was only worried that I would be the one to die, but never once did I think that, this person —the person who always kept to himself as if there was nothing to fear in the world, he became like this because of me.

"I hate you……"

Yes, I'm that stupid person. Actually, it's not him that I really hate, but myself. Only then did I realize that all this time I had been acting childish towards him. I acted as I pleased like a child who didn't know the world, and I also acted selfishly and maturely to my heart's content because I thought that I had someone who would tolerate everything. In front of Claude, I was always his little daughter, Athanasia. I rubbed my eyes hard because I didn't want to show him that I was crying, but these tears kept falling as if my tear glands were damaged.

Come to think of it, this was the first time Claude had seen me cry like this.

Oh, I hate this. I'm old and what am I doing? After all, it seems like I really become a child when I'm in this body. My face was covered with tears and a runny nose, I even said childish things like this in a loud voice. The expression on my face must have looked really funny. Even so, the words that I had been stubbornly swallowing in my heart, all just came out. I really hate that…………… Now I must look so ugly, I don't want to do this. I couldn't control a single emotion like I wanted, so I banged my whole body like this and broke down again and again…… I would break down like this and disappear like dust. That's why I don't want to let anyone inside me. So, I don't want to admit it even if I die……

"Uhuu, uhuhuhuuu, I was wrong……"

I put down all my stupid stubbornness that was left inside me, and I apologized to him while crying as if I was out of breath, and I completely broke the shell that I had forcibly created to protect myself.

"I was wrong. Uhuhuu, I will never…… Uhuhuuu, do it again…………"

"……"

“So, so…………”

So maybe…… I don't want it to be discovered by myself that I'm so desperate. But, that doesn't matter anymore. It's okay if things get worse than this. I don't mind if things get worse than this. It's sad, but it's okay if you don't think of me as your daughter anymore.

So…… So……

Srak.

Right at that moment, in my blurred vision, I saw Claude, who was still standing stiffly, slowly moving away from his chair. As the distance between the two of us finally narrowed, his hand slowly rose, and stopped in the air for a while. Under such circumstances, he looked at me who was crying without saying anything.

"I've already……"

Soon after, Claude whispered to me in a small, wondrous voice.

"I've done things I shouldn't have done to you. I'm sorry."

I was startled by the words of apology in my ears, and I stopped rubbing my eyes. I was the one who was really crying, but Claude's face looked even worse than mine. Anyone who saw it would definitely think that I was the one who bullied him so cruelly.

After that, his hand which was stopped in the air without being able to do this or that, now reached out towards me.

"Don't make a face like that."

For some reason, somehow that suppressed voice felt almost like a plea to me. As if he didn't know if he could touch me like this, his hesitant hand finally touched my tear-stained face.

"Please."

Before his doubts deepened, I couldn't hold myself back any longer and I finally threw my body into his wide arms that had been prepared for me. When I was in his arms, the body I was hugging stiffened reflexively. The tears that fell from my eyes wet the bottom of Claude's shirt.

After a while, as a feeling of warmth enveloped my back, I started crying again louder than before.

"D-Dad……"

"Yes."

"Daddy……"

"Yes."

Clearly, he said with his own mouth that he who lost his memory was not my dad. However, even so, he answered the call I whispered non-stop while I was crying.

My tears didn't stop for a long time, perhaps because I had suppressed the urge to cry for a long time. Claude's hug emitted a very familiar scent. The warmth that enveloped my back seemed to whisper to me that I deserved to be here.

It wasn't until I cried into his chest that I realized that I had met him again.

Ah, I just came back. At my home with the person I missed, I felt a little awkward when he patted my back, and I just cried as much as I could until my tears were completely dry.

***

"Lily, do you know about that magic spell?"

After a long time, that night I finally got ready to sleep in my bed in the Emerald Palace under Lily's care. Lily's eyes were still moist, maybe because she was crying while chatting with me. My eyes were also red and swollen because my tears were flowing profusely not long after I returned to the Imperial Palace.

"Every day, His Majesty goes to see the portraits of him and you, Princess."

Lily smiled faintly while covering my body with the blanket.

"If not, he will play the video in memory stone in his room."

I felt her warm touch, then I closed and opened my eyes again wide. Claude's face that I saw earlier appeared in my head and slowly sank.

"He didn't say anything, but he deeply regretted the past and suffered greatly."

As Lily said, it wouldn't be strange if Claude fell unconscious now. How stupid that person was because he used a magic spell that didn't make sense and even vomited blood again.

"Of course, I am very angry with His Majesty because the Princess is the most precious person in the world."

"From the start, all of this happened because of me. But……"

I felt a gentle touch on my body and a friendly voice penetrated my ears. I frowned slightly, because in my nose there was an energy that wanted to come out.

"But, I firmly believe that His Majesty will never harm you."

The touch and voice were warm enough to calm my entire body which had always felt tired. Then, I suddenly realized that I never slept well while I was outside. Once I remembered that fact again, little by little, my eyelids started to become heavy.

"Get some rest, My Beautiful Princess."

Finally, I closed my eyes while listening to the voices filled with affection whispering in small whispers.

That night, I was able to sleep soundly without waking up once.

***

"What letter is that?"

A few days later, Claude visited the Emerald Palace.

"Dad, you’re here?"

I welcomed him to the Rose Garden —a place where he and I often spent time drinking tea together.

"It was an invitation to a Tea Party."

I talked to him as if I didn't know either*. Then, Claude's eyebrows wriggled, making a small bend.

T/N: This refers to the words 'Dad, you’re here?'.

"Dad, I invited you to a Tea Party, and now you has come to my Flower Garden in response to that invitation."

Very easy, right? I explained it to Claude and ignored his reactions. Of course, he looked like he wanted to ask because he still didn't understand, but I ignored him and offered Claude to sit in the empty chair across from me.

"Please don't be like that. Come on, please sit down. My neck hurts."

Claude looked at me for a while with his eyes wide open and immediately settled on the seat I wanted as if he was giving up.

"Here, for some reason, I feel familiar. Do I come here often?"

Green leaves shook above our heads. I, who was sitting in a chair under the shade of a tree, immediately looked around me, and I immediately poured tea for him.

I said, "You usually visits here 3 to 4 times a week, Dad."

Slosh.

A clear liquid with a subtle aroma was poured into the teacup that was in front of me, depicting a thin stream of water. The last time I was here, I was alone and that time I poured tea rather aggressively. But, I can also pour tea gracefully. Here it is!

"This is lippe tea. I made it myself today."

Tak.

I even put a tea cup in front of him. Today, due to a personal request from me, the servants serving tea have moved to a place out of sight. In the Flower Garden where it was just me and Claude, there was a deep floral scent and tea aroma blending together.

After a while, Claude just looked at the teacup I handed him, he didn't say a word. Then, he immediately moved his hand. Silently, I watched as his hand lifted the teacup and brought it to his mouth. Not long after, Claude swallowed a mouthful of the liquid in the teacup. Seeing that, I slowly opened my mouth.

"Why did you just drink it straight away? What if I poison you?"

I asked that because there was a small urge inside me that couldn't be explained in words. However, Claude instead asked me back.

"Did you poison me?"

"No. Why would I do something like that?"

"Then there's no problem."

No, what's not a problem? What if I really have a bad intention and poison the tea? You said you don't remember me. Then, how can you drink what I give you without such fear?

"Dad, I am a stranger to you right now. Wouldn't it be better if you were more cautious?"

I am a person who has a very bad personality and thick skin for being able to say things like that. Claude looked at me without saying anything. Yellow sunlight shone through his contrasting pupils.

"I don't know."

After a while, he opened his mouth and whispered lowly. The answer is ambiguous. Either because he wasn't sure whether he should be careful of me or not, or why I asked such a question, or both. And when I heard what he said next, I stopped holding my teacup.

"But, even if there was poison in here, and even if I knew about it, I would still drink it."

"Why?"

"Because you gave it to me."

At that very moment, I was silent for a moment, and suddenly, his face distorted —as if he was shocked by his own nonsense.

"What did I just say?"

I-I don't know? Maybe it was a statement that came up subconsciously. Claude's face looked as if he would hear all the strange and terrible words. On the other hand, he seemed to think that the person who said such incredible words that had just entered through his own eardrums was a lunatic. But, the funniest thing was the fact that it was Claude himself who said that crazy thing.

I was at a loss for words for a moment, then I placed the teacup I was holding onto the table and held it with both hands. I wiggled my fingers and said,

"I will not drink poisoned tea, even if you are the one who gives me that cup of poisoned tea."

Of course, I already knew that there was no way Claude would give me a cup of poisoned tea. But for some reason, I felt like I would hear very embarrassing words if I didn't say those things. I couldn't hide the great anxiety from inside me.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I won't kill you?"

He blinked one of his eyes as if he thought that I still doubted him.

“If I lose my mind again and try to kill you……”

Then, he placed the teacup in his hand onto the table and said with a frown.

"Then run."

I laughed out loud inside when I heard those words.

Didn't you previously tell me not to run away?

“Of course it feels repulsive……”

However, the words he said next made me feel like I had no choice but to tightly hold the hand of the person in front of me.

"But it's better. Than if you died in my hands."

"What the hell? That's weird."

"I know."

He frowned as if he thought he had said something crazy again, then he poured the tea I poured into his mouth.

Crip, Crip.

Hearing an unknown bird chirping above our heads, I laughed and felt like I wanted to cry a little at my stupid father.

***

"Huh!"

In the middle of the night, I suddenly woke up and opened my eyes in a dark room. Around me, everything was dark and only the sound of the short breaths I vomited could be heard around me. What's that? It felt like I was dreaming of a very terrible thing.

It was like I had just dreamed about something very scary, but when I woke up, I couldn't remember what it was. However, the feeling of fear I felt in the dream was still clear. I sat quietly on my bed, and then I had to get out of bed impulsively.

“Oh my, Princess. Why are you awake at this hour? Are you unable to sleep?”

Not long after I went out the door, I met Lily who was passing through the corridor carrying a tray filled with cups. Even though it was quite late, it seemed like she still hadn't slept.

"Dream, I had a dream."

"What?"

"I have to go see Daddy."

Lily opened her eyes wide because of the words I suddenly said. But, I started walking again without saying anything else.

"Princess, why suddenly you……"

Lily immediately ran after me and didn't ask anything else, she checked my face and for some reason she remained silent.

"At least wear this because it's cold at night."

Lily was the one who put the tray she was holding somewhere, now she put the shawl she was wearing on my shoulder.

"Oh my. Princess, what's wrong?"

“At this hour, where are you going……”

The maids who were still awake questioned me when I came out late at night like this.

"I will visit His Majesty for a moment."

Then, the maids immediately lowered their heads as if they understood without me having to say another word, and then they continued with their respective work.

I left the Emerald Palace and headed to the Garnet Palace. Behind me, there were the knights that Claude had stationed in front of my palace some time ago —the knights immediately followed me and Lily. Even though I had told Claude to immediately remove the dangerous magic spells he had placed throughout the Imperial Palace, Claude still hesitated and insisted on not removing them, as if he thought that I would immediately disappear once he removed the magic spells. So, I can't use teleportation to go see Claude now. Luckily, Claude wasn't asleep.

"What's wrong with you suddenly coming this late?"

Claude, who was reading documents in his office, suddenly raised an eyebrow at me. It must be strange for him that I suddenly came at this late hour. Now that Claude always eats on time and his insomnia is gradually getting better, he looks better than before. After confirming that Claude was fine, the tension in my heart slowly began to disappear.

"Ah…… I suddenly woke up and I missed you, Dad."

I just said honestly the reasons why I did things that I didn't even understand myself. But, somehow Claude's face facing me became even stranger. It would be a bit funny if I just left after this, but I think I've achieved my goal. So, I chose to turn around and leave Claude's office .

"Father, I've seen your face. So, I'll go now."

"Wait a moment."

I thought I heard a small voice from behind, and suddenly there was a shadow above my head. Claude, who was much closer to me than before, looked at me closely.

"You……"

But, he suddenly covered his mouth, blurring the end of his words as if he couldn't say anything anymore.

"Athanasia."

After a while, there was a low voice ringing in my ears. My name that he called floated in my ears and immediately spread in the air. The sound of my suppressed breathing circled for a moment above my head, and soon my body was floating in the air.

"You've done a lot of strange things in your life."

Suddenly, I was shocked by Claude's action of hugging and carrying me, my eyes opened wide, then I heard a wailing sound above my head, and I stopped crying.

"No, when did I ask you to do something strange like this?"

"Surely I was infected by your strange behavior."

Peeve. I couldn't say anything for a while because it was true that I had done something strange by suddenly coming to his office late at night like this. When I raised my head, Claude looked a little late, so I became even more moved. But, this is a little embarrassing. I never got to be in Claude's arms again after I got big enough, but right now, he was carrying me in a princess carry! Uwaaaaa!!

Claude made the people in front of the door retreat with just a blink of an eye, then he walked down the corridor while carrying me. I felt so embarrassed, but for some reason, I don't know why I didn't ask him to put me down right now. So, I could only stay still, not moving an inch.

“I will take care of you today, so sleep well.”

When we arrived at the bedroom, Claude put me on the bed by throwing me down, and even wrapped me in a blanket. Quickly, I sulked because I was annoyed with the way he spoke and his actions.

“Dad, do you think I am a child who can't sleep alone after having a nightmare?”

Uhmm, it's true that I had a nightmare and came to see him because of that nightmare, but my pride didn't want to admit it. However, once again, Claude broke my pride.

"Isn't that right?"

Ugh, I hate you!

As I pulled the blanket over myself shaking with anger, Claude clicked his tongue.

"Don't think about anything else, just sleep."

Suddenly I felt a rough touch on top of my head, so I stopped moving. Slowly, the energy in my body seemed to be drained when that awkward but gentle hand stroked my head. In any case, it seemed Claude was thinking about staying next to me until I fell asleep.

"……Want to."

Somehow, suddenly my small voice leaked out.

"I want to meet my mother."

Suddenly, the hand stroking my head stopped. In silence, I closed my eyes and continued to listen to this silence.

After a while, the warmth above my head began to slowly move back. Claude didn't answer me. In the dark room there was only the sound of his breathing and the slight sound of mine. Outside the window, the moonlight seeping through the window colored one side of Claude's face white.

Finally, after a long time I fell asleep, a faint sound seeped silently into the night air.

"So am I."

That night, neither he nor I could sleep easily.

***

Crip, Crip.

"Um?"

I immediately woke up and opened my eyes because of the sound of birds chirping outside the window. But, for a moment I felt strange about the view of the room reflected in my dim vision. I blinked my eyes which were still unfocused and I just remembered what happened last night.

Oh, right. Yesterday I slept in the Garnet Palace. It seems I fell asleep very soundly because the bed was more comfortable than I thought.

I removed the blanket covering my body and lifted my messy-looking upper body. Bright sunlight came in through the window. Usually Lily always comes to wake me up at the appointed time, but that's not the case today, so I don't know what time it is. But, where is Claude ? Did he return to his office to work again?

Yesterday, he was actually next to me until I fell asleep. After that, I thought maybe he would go back to his office to finish the work he was doing. From his point of view, I did look like I was disturbing him while he was working. But, when I sat up in bed and looked around without thinking straight, I found his golden hair visible on a sofa in the distance.

Oops, apparently you didn't go to the office!

I literally rolled up the blanket and got down on the floor. Then, after walking with silent footsteps, I quietly headed to the sofa where Claude was.

Crip, Crip.

He fell asleep by the window with his entire body exposed under the thin sunlight. Judging from his face, it seemed like he was sleeping soundly.

I curled up in front of the sofa and looked at Claude's face who was fast asleep. Wowwww. Yes, I think his original beauty has returned. Until some time ago, every time I saw him, I felt worried because his expression looked very bad —like someone who was suffering from a terminal illness. Ugh, of course, even though a decade has passed, he still exudes a fatal charm in his own way…… But still, his facial features have improved again and his weight has increased. Now that he looks human enough, that's even better. Honestly, all this time he looked like a (beautiful) flower beggar…… No, he looked more like a (beautiful) flower zombie than a flower beggar.

I took advantage of Claude who was still asleep, I continued to pay attention to his still youthful face. And after a while, I thought I should wake him up slowly, so I poked my finger gently next to his eye.

Wow, this is like sticky chabssaltteog (glutinous rice cake). But, unlike its appearance, its texture is more like jeolpyeon (rice cake) —not chabssaltteog. Hmmm. Rather than soft, it's more like supple elastic skin…… But, why am I analyzing Claude's skin like this……?

"Hmmm."

After a while, his straight forehead squirmed and wrinkled. Oops! I'll poke him one more time before he wakes up! Poke, poke! I saw Claude open his eyes slowly and finally I opened my mouth when his gaze turned to me.

"Hello, Dad."

His eyes filled with a handful of white sunlight caught my reflection and his pupils shone brilliantly in 5 colors. Gradually, the focus of my vision returned as I came face to face with the mysterious gem's eyes that seemed to have gathered all the beautiful stories and secrets in this world. Time seemed to stop for a moment, Claude, who was looking at me without moving, immediately moved his lips.

"……Yes."

The sun at the top of the sky smiled brightly.

 

After a while, I threw a bomb while we were having breakfast in Claude's room.

"I want to go out for a bit today."

Trak .

Right at that moment, Claude's hand which was holding the cutlery stopped. I poked at the salad with my fork and looked at him.

"Who said you could do as you please?"

I looked at him with a slightly annoyed look as he started to give off a cold aura. Hey, how old am I and how old are you now? Do you have to be so sensitive like that just because I want to go out once? Well, maybe he became like this because of what happened a while ago, but still, I can't stand this attitude of his.

I took a deep breath and smiled slightly at him.

"I'll be back. Besides, my home is here."

Claude's facial expression changed. I saw his stiff face, as if he was wearing a hard mask and that mask was starting to crumble little by little. He looked at me like someone who had never heard those words in his life.

"I mean, Dad, as long as you is waiting for me here, at least I will never disappear without a word and never come back."

Because I want to stay here with my will and live together with him.

"Because this is my home, and the place where my father is. So, I will definitely come back."

Claude didn't know my worries, and I didn't know his. Maybe we'll never find out as long as we live. But, that's not a problem.

"I will be right back."

Even so, he remains my father until I die, and I remain his daughter until he dies.

"Dad, I promise you that I will definitely come back."

I thought about that and smiled once again at someone who currently had a more fragile face than anyone else.

***

"Miss Magritta."

I crossed the night sky which was a mixture of orange and purple, I went to meet Zenith.

"Princess!"

As soon as she saw me, she ran towards me with a face mixed with excitement and worry.

"Princess, I am worried about you because His Majesty is not looking for you anymore."

Aahh, that's right! For a moment, I forgot that Claude had suspended my search! Wow, now I feel happy because finally my debutante video won't be played anymore, right?

"Emm. Things are going better than I thought."

I shed tears of relief in my heart, and I shyly opened my mouth.

"So, I returned to the Palace."

Maybe my words it surprised her, so Zenith opened her eyes wide. Ah, but, what kind of expression is that? Inadvertently, I saw her moving her lips into a mysterious emotion within her dark blue eyes. It felt like there was a surging current in a deep, dark sea, and the current gave rise to light ripples like shadows drawn in our eyes facing each other.

"So that's how it is."

But, I only saw that for a moment. I looked at Zenith's smiling face while holding my hand gratefully.

"Thank goodness. Congratulations."

She seemed very relieved that I had returned to the Palace. I tilted my head for a moment because her face looked like a face that didn't lie. So, what did I just see? Is that just my feeling? But, apart from that……

After thinking for a while, I recalled the reason I came here and decided to realize my goal today.

"Then let's go."

"What? Where?"

Oops, looks like she forgot that promise. This is a bit disappointing.

"Seeing the fireworks. It 's time for the fireworks to start."

Then, Zenith's eyes gradually widened, and soon her face became red with joy. I took Zenith's hand with a smiling face and left the Alphaeus Residence. The fireworks I saw with her today were more beautiful than anything I've ever seen.

"Ta-da!"

And after a short stroll, I teleported to where Claude was. Now I can use magic freely because I have repeatedly insisted on him removing all the magic spells in the Palace.

"I'm back!"

Today Claude was in his room, not at the office. As soon as I appeared before his eyes, Claude's gaze fixated on me as if he had been waiting for me. Under such circumstances, he didn't say anything.

"Dad, what are you doing?"

"……"

"Uhmm, should I guess?"

I tapped my lips with my finger and pretended to think about something while frowning, then I exclaimed cheerfully as if I knew it.

"Daddy is waiting for his daughter who is so beautiful, cute, and adorable that you can't calm down if you don't see her! Ding-Dong-Deng!"

At this point, I thought he was going to snort and say something like, 'I think you've heard too much bullsh!t.' or 'Are you crazy?'. But, Claude still didn't say anything. And when I was sweating coldly in silence because of embarrassment, he finally opened his mouth.

"You're back."

Hearing his calm voice, I stopped for a moment and immediately answered him —I acted as if nothing had happened.

"Of course, I am a person of my word."

After that, I smiled idly and crept towards the sofa where Claude was sitting.

"Dad, do you know what cotton candy is?"

"Sugar melts with heat and becomes semi-solid and semi-liquid. By applying centrifugal force, the sugar will turn into thin threads, then the sugar is wrapped around a stick..."

I shouldn't have asked! I asked Claude because I didn't think he knew what cotton candy was! Cotton candy was considered the equivalent of junk food , so that food is not in the Imperial Palace.

"Ugh, that's not funny……"

"You asked, I just answered."

I looked at Claude who had broken my hopes with a slightly betrayed look. Then, Claude snorted at me as if he was mocking me for asking him that question. Well, now you look like Claude.

"Here, a gift for you, Dad!"

I showed him what was hidden behind my back. I am the Gift Fairy, Athi! I'll give cotton candy to Claude who is waiting for me at home when I go out! But, Claude just looked at the cotton candy I was holding with an indifferent expression. No, I mean, this da#n guy! Here, in front of you is the holy cotton candy! But, what kind of expression are you showing?

"At first, I didn't want to give it to anyone, but I was going to give it to you especially, Dad. It looks delicious, right? It looks delicious, right? Right? Right?"

I forced his hand to hold the cotton candy.

But, it really doesn't fit. I mean, Claude and cotton candy.

 

[Claude's bright smile increases by 1 point]

[Claude's childhood innocence will be preserved for the next 30 seconds!]

 

Yes, there should be a system window like that appearing before my eyes.

"Dad, did you see the fireworks too? They were very pretty. The fireworks were also visible from the Imperial Palace, right."

I sat next to Claude who was frowning and continued talking while shaking my legs back and forth. Oohhh, home is the best. By the way, what is this sofa made of? How can this sofa feel so soft? What if I exchange the sofa in the Emerald Palace with this sofa? Come to think of it, the sofa I sat on in Claude's office whenever I was waiting for him was also very soft.

"Next time let's see the fireworks together. I found a good place to see the fireworks."

Yes, my friend to see the next fireworks is you, Claude!! For some reason, he just looked at me without giving an answer, but I made a unilateral decision in my own way and started humming happily. Another night for my 14 year old self just slipped by.

***

“I feel a little nervous…………”

Ugh, my stomach hurts, I think I'm having stomach cramps due to stress.

"There's nothing to worry about. All you have to do is wave."

"That's right. Princess, everyone would be happy if you showed your face for a moment."

Lily and even Felix also cheered me up, but I still felt nervous! Because today is my first public appearance.

Even though the Founding Celebration Festival was over, I didn't understand why they asked me to greet the people in public. Of course, I planned to show my face together with Claude at the Founding Celebration Festival Parade, but at that time I was still on the run away………… Cough, cough.

By the way, this is the first time I've dressed up in a while, and now I'm trying to calm down behind the curtain for a while. I have never been on the terrace balcony of this Palace because I am not used to using it, so I don't know what the Square looks like when seen from the balcony of this Palace terrace. But, if I go upstairs, I can see the Square through the window. And now, I was standing right behind the curtain of the terrace balcony, I felt even more nervous when I heard all the commotion outside!

"You just have to stand still and wave your arms a few times, is it that hard?"

Claude looked at me with a confused look as if he didn't understand my nervousness. Seeing that expression, my combat power suddenly increased.

"It is time."

The maid beside us lifted the curtain and Claude came out onto the terrace balcony first.

"Whoooaaaaa!"

Enthusiastic shouts that were like rumbling thunder sounded. Wowwwww. Amazing response. Speaking of which, it was rare for ordinary people to be able to see the Emperor's face directly like this. Apart from that, today Claude's sexiness is flowing extraordinarily. I mean, how can his cape flutter so coolly like that? Didn't I fail when I tried? The robe was heavier than it looked, and even now my shoulders still felt weak.

"Princess."

Oh, it's my turn! I had no choice but to step out of where I was because I heard an urgent call from behind me. I have to smile, right? A stern and serious expression like Claude doesn't suit me, and the atmosphere would become very cold if we, Father and daughter stood side by side with expressions like that.

"What are you doing?"

It's not like I did it on purpose………… For a while, for some reason I just stood still, my legs refused to move! Maybe you are used to all this, but not me!

"People will definitely think that you are a child who can't even walk."

Hohoho, my father very good at talking.

Claude clicked his tongue at me who remained standing in the doorway to the terrace balcony and never moved forward. Then, he extended his hand to me.

"Hand."

Why, for some reason, the events of my debutante crossed like deja vu? Then, just like now, he said, 'Hands!' like calling a mutt. Hey, are you sure…… You really lost your memory? Ugh, or does human nature remain the same even if he loses his memory? Wait…… Doesn't that feel a bit gloomy? I placed my hand on top of Claude's as if I had no choice but to accept the outstretched hand in front of me.

"Smile."

As I stepped forward, I saw a large crowd gathered in the Square. Without realizing it, my face became a little stiff and Claude whispered that word to me who was beside him. Oh my, me, control your expression! I tried to control my expression and waved with a slightly unnatural smile. And at that very moment, a scream that seemed like it could tear my ears entered my eardrums.

"Whoa!"

"Wow! Princess! Please look this way too!"

"Long live Obelia!"

"Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live Princess Athanasia!"

Wow!

I was stunned by the enthusiastic reaction of the crowd. W-Why? Why are you guys so excited? I'm embarrassed because you welcomed me so warmly.

"Isn't that because of the video in memory stone?"

Lily and Felix smiled widely as I went back inside in a daze, leaving the loud screams still audible.

Those words took me by surprise.

"Lots of people fell in love with the figure of the Princess when she debuted at the Debutante Ball. Not only in Obelia, it was said that it also became an extraordinary topic abroad."

"In addition, the Princess's popularity has also soared faster since rumors circulated that you were a powerful mage who succeeded His Majesty."

Crazy. Haven't we heard amazing stories?

I was shocked by a story that I couldn't even imagine, I was devastated and lost for words. Ah, if you think about it, that video was distributed overseas! As soon as I finished greeting the public safely, I cried thinking about all those things. Claude had left first, he said he had a meeting with the Ministers.

"By the way, how much memory stone that has been made? No, I mean, when was all that created?"

However, when I asked Lily and Felix how many memory stones were made, they avoided my gaze and answered the second question as if they had been waiting for it.

"Even we didn't know that His Majesty made it."

When did he make that memory stone? If it was a video of my debut at the Debutante Ball, could it be that time? The incident where I stepped on Claude's foot while we were dancing. Then, the words Felix said made me stop.

"And there are others, would you like to see them?"

Ugrhhh!!

Is there anything else? What do you mean by 'other'? Are you saying that there are other videos besides the video when I debuted at the Debutante Ball? Is that true?

"……Isn't that just a video from when I debuted?"

"Of course. If you're curious, you can……"

"No, I'm not curious."

I don't want to see it! Really don't want to! Claude, you terrible human being! Surely this is your trick to humiliate me by carving out my dark history!

"Don't be like that, let's go see…………"

"Oh my. There's a cute baby cricket there. Wow, it must have come to look for its mother."

I didn't hear anything. I've never heard anything about memory stone. I tried to deny reality and rushed towards the Emerald Palace.

 

"Aaahh!"

When I walked to a certain distance, suddenly I heard a loud scream from somewhere. Subconsciously, I turned my head towards the sound that seemed like it would tear my eardrums.

U-Uhmm, why is everyone looking at me with that look? From my diagonal direction, there were 4 people, men and women, and strangely enough they were all wearing the same clothes. At a glance, I immediately realized that the clothes they were wearing were Imperial Mage clothes.

Wow, I haven't seen that outfit in a long time. Almost every day I see those clothes when Lucas is here. Uhuhuu, suddenly I feel sad. I was lost in my thoughts thinking about Lucas, and right at that moment, the four people who were still wide-eyed screamed as one voice, and instantly I turned into stone.

"We can finally meet. Fairy Princess!"

“Cough……!”

 

 

Tring!

[Severely injured by the attack of 'Fairy Princess'! The attack causes damage, HP reduced by 500!!]

 

Tring!

[Mental power is damaged, reduced by 60%!!]

 

Tring!

[The injury to the eardrum cannot be repaired!]

 

Tring! Tring! Tring!

 

 

I was very surprised by the forbidden word that I came across when I was careless! Ugh, my head hurts, it feels like someone hit the back of my head mercilessly!

"Whooaaa!"

"I'm glad I got to see you up close!"

"Me too, me too!"

"Whooooaaaaa!"

But, all that is not the end. They started running towards me and screaming like a bunch of crazed zombies. Hiikkkkk, what's wrong with them? When I wavered because of fear, Felix who was behind me immediately stepped in front of me.

"You cannot approach without permission from the Princess. Please step back."

Uwaaaa. Suddenly Felix's back standing in front of me looked very reliable. Of course, the Red Blood Knight were indeed reliable! The nickname did not appear in vain! Sorry because I laughed at you before, Felix Oppa! The mages who were running towards me immediately stopped as if they had stepped on the brakes, as if they were swaying because of Felix's momentum.

“W-We're sorry…… This is the first time we've seen you in person and up close. We were too amazed………”

"That's right. I put my heart and soul into clearing the memory stone and polished it until it shines…………”

"Every day I can't sleep because of nosebleeds, all night I keep seeing the Princess's face again and again……"

"Double the videos on the memory stone by 50 per day…… Without getting additional payment."

Oops, at first I was wondering who these weirdos were. But, when they talk about memory stone, I immediately understood why these people became like this. They were the people Claude asked to make a video about my dark history.

W-What's with that facial expression? It was my first time meeting them, but they looked at me as if I were a friend they had known for 10 years. Moreover, they even looked at me with sad eyes as if they were so disappointed when Felix blocked them that they could no longer approach me. Hmmmm, the mages in the Palace Tower, their image is very different from what I imagined……

"Felix, it's okay."

There was something I was curious about, so I asked Felix to step back. I've never seen other mages this close before, except for Lucas. So, I want to talk to them more.

Of course, this wasn't the first time I'd seen Tower Mages roaming the Imperial Palace, but every time I saw them, they often muttered as if they were thinking about something or talking to themselves. So, I never talked to them, and most importantly, they didn't seem interested in me. So it was a really amazing new thing for me that they acted like they knew me.

"Emm. Nice to meet you. So you are people who make that memory stones."

Wow!

When I talked to them, their faces brightened in the blink of an eye. Ugh, they look like little moles sticking their heads out of their holes*.

T/N: This sentence refers to a children's story called 'The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business ' by Werner Holzwarth and Wolf Erlbruch. The child's story tells of a small mole who wanted revenge against an animal that had defecated in its hole. This story is liked by many children, they think the story is funny because the little mole is so obsessed and excited to find out who the animal is that has defecated in its hole. So here, Athi thinks of these mages as children who like/are enthusiastic about small/unimportant things.

"I-I am the person who makes memory stones every day, I get nosebleeds because I work so hard!"

"Memory stones that sent overseas were made by me!"

"I'm in charge of maintenance magic! You could say, I'm the custodian of the video that displays the Princess' pure flawless beautiful appearance with 100% durability!"

"I'm the one who leads these lazy people to work overtime every day without extra pay!"

E-Even so, they all greeted me very enthusiastically……

"By the way, Princess!"

Suddenly Mage A asked me a question with shining eyes.

"Is it true that you can teleport several times a day?"

"That's right! Besides, I also heard that you can use linking magic without any effort!"

"There was also a mage who saw you using magic inside the Imperial Palace!"

"It's hard for us to even use minor magic in the Imperial Palace, unless we're in the Tower!"

For a moment, I was distracted by the bombardment of questions, then I tilted my head because something was bothering me.

"Eh? Is it difficult to use magic in the Imperial Palace?"

Then, as if these mages had been waiting for that question, they immediately answered me loudly.

"Yes, because there is a magic power restriction spell in the Imperial Palace!"

"That's why we can't use magic except in designated places!"

"If we really want to use magic, of course we can do it. But, we will suffer the side effects, if not death, we could be permanently disabled!"

"His Majesty is the only one who can use magic in the Imperial Palace freely! That's why we only focus on doing research in the Tower!"

Noisy, noisy!

It turns out that the mages' speaking ability is so amazing! Secretly, I broke out in a cold sweat because I felt annoyed by their chatter. Wait, there's a magic power restriction spell in the Palace? But, isn't Lucas able to use magic freely?

"Moreover, this is the first time I have seen someone have such great magic power when the magic power has just awakened!"

"That's right! That's why we talk about you in the Tower every day!"

"Moreover, you have such extraordinary abilities that you can teleport several times a day!"

“Princess, if you don't mind, how about you come to our Tower!?”

 

Tring!

[You have been invited to the Palace Tower! Would you like to accept the offer?]

 

Then, on impulse, I decided to visit Obelia's Black Tower.

***

"So, our Black Tower inherits the will of the Black Tower Mage, who is the strongest mage in the world………… Bla, bla…… We want to gather the powerful mages in the world to recreate glory…… Bla, bla…………"

And right now, I was listening to the Tower Guide Mage's explanation without paying attention to him. The mages who had been noisy had just left, saying that they would immediately summon the Master of the Palace Tower. And here, I was left with a mage who claimed to be a Tower Guide and listened to the incredible history of this place.

“So, this dazzling white wall was carved from mithril metal by the First Master of the Tower……”

I listened to the explanation he said with pride that anyone who was first invited to Obelia's Black Tower had to pass through this place —at least once. In the end, I couldn't hold back any longer and I asked what I was curious about.

"Uhm, I have a question. The name of this tower is the Black Tower, but why is it white?"

Startled!!

At that very moment, the Mage who was guiding me stopped talking. I looked at him with wide open eyes. Of course I asked that, because this Tower is called the 'Black Tower', but the exterior and interior of the Tower are completely white! There are some parts that are black, but I think that's because they're dirty —not because they're actually black. I always wondered about this every time I saw the Tower from afar, and I had asked Claude before, but he just answered that he didn't know and that I didn't need to know.

However, this Tower Guide Mage seemed to know that the question would arise, and once again, he spoke like 'Our tower is the best!' and started giving various compliments.

"That's the great uniqueness of our Tower that no one can imitate! White and dark brown! There are also black and white like chess. It's like there's light on the other side of the darkness. When the Tower Master first named this Tower, he made a great decision to keep the building pure white and clean like snow, not black —following the name of the Tower. A black building not only makes people who see it feel gloomy, but it's also not good for the mental health of the mages who work 365 days a week in the building. It can cause depression, especially……"

"At that time we didn't have a budget, so we couldn't paint the walls black, as the name suggests."

“Yeah, that's really sad. We can't…… Cough!”

The Tower Guide Mage and I turned around at the same time because suddenly a voice came from behind. Then, I saw a slender figure walking over, he was wearing an Imperial Mage robe as if he had just woken up from sleep. He had long hair that was braided loosely, it made him look hard to tell whether he was a woman or a man. The same is true with his voice. Besides, he also looks young.

"Wow, it turns out you are the Fairy Princess that my children talk about every day."

Keughhh!

Once again, I was damaged by a forbidden word that pierced my eardrums! But, that person didn't care about my reaction, he just looked at me with a look full of interest. Wait, don't tell me……

"Are you the Tower Master?"

"The Princess's magic power resembles the colors of a very beautiful rainbow."

……Yes?

What strange words did he say suddenly? I can't believe it. I don't want to buy anything from you. So go!*

T/N: Here, Athi is joking. He consider the Tower Master as a sales freak.

I looked warily at the person who appeared out of nowhere and said something suddenly.

"With his eyes, the Tower Master can see the unique colors of each person's magic power."

After accidentally talking about defecation*, the Guide Mage who was coughing beside me solved my question instead. Wow, I didn't expect him to have such an ability. Isn't that ability quite strange?

T/N: Again, this is referring joke​ in a children's story entitled 'The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business' by Werner Holzwarth and Wolf Erlbruch.

"The Princess's magic power is so colorful and sparkling, I think anyone would be enchanted if they could see it. It's dangerous*."

T/N: Dangerous because it's too beautiful, not because it's deadly or anything.

Startled.

W-What did he say? I was happy to hear that my magic power was beautiful, but the look in his eyes now looked like a drug addict.

“Wow, your magic power is very pure, it is crystal clear blue with pure gold color in it. Your magic power looks like an aurora, or rather a sparkling color like the jewel eye……”

"Tower Master!"

"Princess!"

Just at that moment, I saw the mages running in the distance.

"Geez, those troublemaking kids. Tsk, tsk. They're still young, so please understand."

U-Uhm, the way he talks is like a grandmother or grandfather. Besides, hasn't he been treating me very informally since earlier? And that also applies to other mages, are the people here usually like this? They were people who decided to live the rest of their lives in the Tower, and because everyone in this Tower —except the Tower Master, they were all in the same position (social strata), so of course they are obtuse to things like the caste system in society.

"Those troublemakers are very excited about the Princess coming to the Tower."

"Ah, thanks for inviting me today. I've heard about it from Lucas several times, and I've always been interested in the Tower. So, I was curious."

Silence.

At that very moment, the Tower Master and the Guide Mage who were standing next to me looked very surprised. Even the mages who were running this way stopped in their tracks.

"Lucas?"

"That Lucas?"

U-Uhm? Why did the atmosphere suddenly become like this? It was as if Lucas had become 'the one whose name cannot be mentioned'……! I don't know, but could Lucas have become the Voldemort of Obelia's Black Tower? While I was confused for a while, the mages started screaming until the veins in their necks could be seen.

"Lucas! That villain bast#rd of Obelia's Black Tower!"

"That silly bast#rds in an unreasonable world!"

“We all worked hard to manifest magic power, but that bast#rd instead manifested magic in just 0.00001 seconds!”

"Last time, I made communication stones with a lot of hard work and suffering. As for him, he just yawned and waved his hand, then he had already made 10 communication stones!"

“I asked him to teach me how to be able to use magic easily. And before my eyes, he showed off his abilities! Then, he told me that I wouldn't be able to do it, then he ignored me and looked at me with pity…… Ugh. I really, really sad. Sigh."

Keughhh!

The mages united their hearts and lit fire in their eyes, spewed their hatred. I was lost for words after seeing it. Lu-Lucas! What are you actually doing in the Tower!? Whatever it was, now I knew for a fact that he wasn't doing the 'Handsome and Genius Male Mage' cosplay in this Tower.

"Come to think of it, I heard that he was your friend from about 10 years ago."

"Ahem. It's been 7 years, Tower Master."

As the Tower Master narrowed his brows and muttered as if he was reliving a vague memory, the Guide Mage next to him cleared his throat and corrected him. The Tower Master raised an eyebrow for a moment, as if asking whether it was 10 years or 7 years —as if that mattered. The Guide Mage looked at me and then spoke to me.

"Lucas, that boy's magic power. It's so amazinggggg~ I love it! It's so amazing that I go crazy every time I see it!"

Coughhh.

The Tower Master looked like he was showing genuine admiration while thinking about something. Of course, my questions about what Lucas was doing in the Tower deepened.

"In my 60 years of life, I have never seen a person with such magical powers. I felt scared and broke out in cold sweat when I saw him, it felt like someone with trypophobia* saw a large number of holes……"

T/N: As explained in the dialogue, trypophobia is a fear and disgust of holes arranged in odd patterns in large numbers, for example honeycombs, lotus fruit, and so on.

Huh? Wait a minute! I think I heard something strange.

I stared blankly at the person who was talking about Lucas' greatness, and immediately, without realizing it, I shouted.

"60 years?!"

Just now, you said 'In my 60 years of life'? Maybe I heard it wrong?

"Ah, I've heard that often."

Hah, doesn't he look young?! He looks like he's only in his 30s, but he's already 60 years old? Is it true?

"Hehe. It's a bit embarrassing if you look at me like that. Mages tend to age slowly. Hehehe."

Seeing my surprise, the Tower Master smiled warmly like a Grandma or Grandpa.

“T-Then they…………?”

I stuttered, my pupils shaking in disbelief looking at the mages who seemed to be in their early to mid 20s. Then, the Tower Master said to me with a friendly smile as if he was looking at his granddaughter.

"They're still young. The oldest of them…… How old is he? Hey, stupid*! How old are you?"

T/N: Here, the Tower Master calling him 띨띨아 (ttilttil -a), which is how someone calls another person stupid/silly in a nice way(?). This is a very impolite way of addressing, so it can only be done to someone who is in a close relationship.

"Huh!? I'm 41 years old this year!"

"What about you, nerd over there?"

"I'm still 28 years old! I'm in my prime!"

"Oh my, the blood on your head hasn't even dried yet."

He looked at the Mage with a look of 'What should I do with these little ones?' and clicked his tongue, while I could only be shocked and my pupils trembled. I-I thought they were all Young Mage! This time too, the Guide Mage cleared his throat again and opened his mouth to me.

"Mages can maintain their youth relatively longer than normal people until their physical age reaches its limit due to slowing aging since they reach adulthood. This year, I am 46 years old."

I-I knew about it from books, but it was more surprising when I saw it in person. Ah! So that's why Claude's skin was still so firm even after he got older! It turns out that magic power is the strongest anti-aging cosmetic in the world!

"Princess, since you've come all the way here, how about you meet the people in the Tower? On orders from His Majesty, we made memory stones all night for days, and they said they wanted to see you in person."

At that time, the Tower Master implicitly asked me a question whose mind was still elsewhere due to surprise. W-Will that be okay? Wouldn't they think, 'Geez, because of this Princess, I didn't even get paid for working overtime to make memory stones every day. And now, this bast#rd Princess appears in front of me!'?. Oh my, wouldn't something like that happen?

"Huh, the Fairy Princess is real!"

"Oh my God, she walked right before my eyes!"

"Ughh. Every morning, for 2 hours a day, I always clean those memory stones with a clean cloth until they shine!"

But luckily, it seems like what I thought didn't happen. Together with the Tower Master and other mages, I circled the Palace Tower floor by floor, and every time I met a mage, they look like people who are watching their nephew walk for the first time, or like otaku who are looking at their action figures in a glass cabinet…… Keughh. Stop looking at me like that.

"Now, this is my laboratory!"

And I was invited to the Tower Master's laboratory which was on the top floor, I entered and stepped my foot into it.

"Wow, what is that?"

"That's my treasure. It was just created for experimentation and is still an unstable magic item. So, please don't touch it, just look at it with your eyes."

Like the outer walls of the Tower, there were dozens of sheets of paper stuck all over the walls, and there were a lot of books and items messy on the tables and floors. Among them, there are mysterious shining stones and gems, tubes filled with suspicious liquids bubbling, and there are even cute dolls that wave their arms and ears.

Oh, what's on that bookshelf? Doesn't it look like snake wine? B-But, it seems like something is moving inside the bottle? The corners of the bottle were covered with cloth so I couldn't see what was inside, but I kept hearing banging sounds coming from inside the bottle. It seemed like there was an animal trapped in the bottle. Whatever it is, it's a bit suspicious…… Are all mage laboratories like this?

"Well, Princess. Can you give me 1 strand of your hair?"

As I squinted and looked around, suddenly the Tower Master turned around and smiled brightly at me. For a moment, I was shocked and I asked him back carefully —to see if I had heard wrong.

"Hair……?"

"Yes! Let's just say you're helping this poor old mage."

Beep, beep! A red notification flashes to give me a warning! I-I don't know what it is, but I don't think I can give him my hair. I guess he's going to use my hair for something really evil?

“If you don't mind, a drop of blood…… No, just 10 drops……”

"Huh, don't want to!"

T-This guy! Again, his face looks like a drug addict!

"Ah, don't be like that. Isn't the Princess curious? Suddenly, such a beautiful magical power appeared! How did you get such beautiful magical power? Where has that beautiful magical power been all this time! I'm sure you're curious too. Right?"

Suddenly, I remembered the story the mages told me while outside the Tower earlier.

 

'Besides, this is the first time I've seen someone have such great magic power when magic power has just awakened!'

'That's right! That's why we talk about you in the Tower every day!'

 

Huh!! So now, you, the Tower Master, want to experiment with me as your experimental subject? In fact, the reason why my magical powers suddenly appeared was because of Blackie. But it seems that no one else besides Lucas knows about sinsu.

“Haa, ahem…… By the way, the Princess' magic power is very beautiful. May I touch it, just once?”

And finally, when he approached me while staggering with a sour face, I decided to leave here without any further hesitation. Uhm, even though I expected him to know the answer* for sure he was a great mage, but it turned out he was just a crazy old man!

T/N: Refer to Claude's condition.

"No! I'm very expensive!"

Ctak!

"Whoooaaaaa! Even the Princess can manifest magic in 0.00001 seconds!"

I teleported out of Palace Tower, leaving the voice of astonishment lingering in my ears like a residual shadow.

"Oh, Princess. You're out earlier than I thought."

"Did something happen inside?"

Eyyy! I hope I won't come to that old man's Tower again! As soon as I came out, Lily, Felix, and the other knights and maids greeted me in unison. Because there is a rule that only invited guests can enter Palace Tower, so I left them all here and went to Palace Tower alone, even though right now I should be returning to the Emerald Palace to wash my feet and take a nap.

"Lily, after we return to the Emerald Palace, bring me some salt."

"Yes? Salt?"

As soon as I arrive at the Palace, I will sprinkle salt* towards Palace Tower! Argh! I shuddered as I recalled the Tower Master having a facial expression similar to that of a drug addict.

T/N: In various countries —one of them is South Korea— there is a belief that sprinkling/throwing salt can ward off evil/bad luck.

***

"I apologize, Princess."

The next day, the Tower Master came in person to apologize to me.

"Yesterday, when I saw your extraordinary magic power, I was blown away and I lost my mind. I have done something presumptuous."

This happened because, yesterday I heard the news that Claude made a big hole in the Palace Tower!

"I didn't come here to apologize because half of the Tower was destroyed."

Secretly, I broke out in cold sweat as the Tower Master and the mages came to the Emerald Palace to apologize personally. The maid eonnis of my Palace opened their eyes wide as if they were witnessing something interesting and enjoyable. Then they immediately left this room after I ordered them to do their jobs.

"It's also not because of the threat that the other half will be blown up and I will be hung upside down in front of the Palace gate if I don't apologize a hundredfold to the Princess. I'm telling the truth."

Ugh, yesterday I had dinner together with Claude and said, 'There's a lot going on in the Tower, and what is that strange guy?'. I just said something like that, but I didn't expect Claude to blow up half of the Tower. According to Hannah who went to see the Palace Tower after hearing the rumors, one-third of the Tower building was destroyed and disappeared. In addition, Claude even threatened to hang the Tower Master upside down in front of the Palace gate if the Tower Master did not apologize to me!

But amidst all that, Claude didn't kill him, he just threatened to hang him in front of the Palace gate. So, I guess the level of cruelty is a bit weak for someone at Claude's level. Right? Keughh! Luckily there were no casualties because Claude warned them first before he blew up the Tower. I groaned softly and opened my mouth.

"Everyone, raise your heads."

Of course, I did fear this strange Tower Master, but, could it be because I knew that he was 60 years old? I felt uncomfortable when he lowered his head in front of me like that. I am a good person living in the East who values decency! Respect your parents! Be polite to your elders! Of course, the Tower Master in front of me right now, he had a face that was too young to be an old man.

"If you promise me that you will never act like yesterday again, then I will forget what happened."

E-Emm. It's true that this Grandpa was rude to me yesterday. But according to the Guide Mage, half of the Tower's buildings that had a long history disappeared overnight. For some reason, I felt like I had done something bad to the mages!

"Thank you very much for your mercy, Princess."

"Thank you!"

"Thank you, Princess!"

"Uhmm!"

The mages who also bowed their heads behind the Tower Master shouted as if they were truly moved, so I started to feel even deeper regret.

Ugh!! The Tower Master did seem like a psychopath, but apparently, the other mages were innocent and good people, so I felt guilty for some reason. The mages who were looking at me with touched gazes like a herd of pitiful deer started to file out of this room after I gave my permission. But, Tower Master, why don't you come out? And unlike the other mages, I saw that the Tower Master didn't seem discouraged at all. With his gaunt face, he looked at me and smiled friendly again.

"Hehehe. During my life as a Palace Mage, this is the first time I have had a rare experience, I am grateful to you, Princess. Obelia's national treasure —half of the Tower building was destroyed…… Makes 500 memory stones…… And locked up in a dungeon……”

I was surprised when he said those words with a sad face, I immediately asked suspiciously.

"You were locked in a dungeon because of me?"

C-Could it be that Claude put this Grandpa in the dungeon and only let him out now! No wonder his appearance looks messy. Oh, no. His appearance was as messy as yesterday.

"Ah, maybe you don't know because you were unconscious at that time. Actually, I came to check your condition twice when your magic power was out of control."

"Oh really?"

“Erm, yes…… But, I wasn't much help. Even though I have the talent to see magic power with the naked eye, it doesn't mean I can see it whenever I want. So, when the Princess fainted, on the orders of His Majesty who was angry with us, my companions and I were locked up in the dungeon…… Hehehe. But at that time, I was just an ordinary Palace Mage in the Tower, so I didn’t suffer much.”

Ah! Aahhh! T-That's right! I vaguely remember! At that time, there was a man in front of Claude who was shaking on his knees. Claude said that he would kill that guy if he couldn't find a way to cure me, otherwise he would be put in the dungeon! Huh, so that guy was locked up together with his co-workers? So he wasn't the only one locked up?

"I heard that Master —the person who was the Tower Master at the time, was suffering a lot. He died a few years ago, so I replaced him not long ago."

My facial expression became serious, the Tower Master who was in front of me, he looked at me faintly as if he was reminiscing about someone he missed. So, could it be that the person at that time, he was the Tower Master at that time? My memory is vague, I believe at that time, that person said to Claude, '…Among the Palace Mages, I am the most knowledgeable about magical anomalies. I'm sure no other mage can help…'. It seemed like he kept saying the same thing to Claude, and finally Claude got angry.

Wait…… So, how old was he at that time? The old man in front of me right now, he said he was 60 years old, but his appearance looked like someone in his 30s. The wizard at that time had the appearance of an old man! Argh! Claude, you are bullying a Grandpa!

"Master, I never thought that he would leave after reaching 100 years old. How annoying. Actually, I thought that I could rise to the position of Tower Master 10 years earlier, but instead he had such a long lifespan…… Oops. Please pretend you didn't hear what I just said."

I looked at him with slightly cold eyes as he said all those words. What is this? Didn't you just show a sad look because you missed your Master? Could it all be an act? He really was a suspicious Grandpa.

"Even so, since the Princess has been here, it seems like a lot of surprising things have happened in a good way."

Hehehe, he pretended not to see my eyes, and he smiled again.

"Honestly, just like those fools in our Tower, to me, His Majesty is still like a child with his hair in a ponytail. I've been in the Tower since before His Majesty was born…… And also, if I were married, I would have I have a son the same age as him and a granddaughter the same age as you, Princess. Maybe that's why I feel happy."

Then, the next words he said made me stop for a moment. His eyes looking at me were really full of a very kind and caring gaze, just like the gaze of a grandfather looking at his granddaughter. Faced with that gaze, I became aware that he was not as young as he seemed.

"So, I am happy that the Princess returned to the Palace safely like this. And I am also very grateful to you for bringing true spring to this long-barren Imperial Palace."

He bowed his head towards me in a very polite posture, as if he was truly grateful.

When I saw his figure like that, I felt strange. I looked at his long braid hanging down, and I was silent for a moment until I finally opened my mouth.

"N-No. That's not something to be thankful for. Rather……"

"No. Princess, you are truly His Majesty's treasure, Obelia's true treasure."

"That……"

“Then, without His Majesty knowing, just a drop of blood…… How?”

"Go out."

I said it firmly, as if I had never stuttered out of embarrassment.

Ugh, you're trying to frame me, right? You deliberately set a heartfelt atmosphere and said such embarrassing words!

"Hehehe. Oh my. Princess, you made my heavy butt, which was just stuck to the Tower, light enough that I could travel outside the Tower. See you, I'll come back another time."

"Don't come! Because no matter what, you won't get what you want!"

"Hehehe. Then, stay healthy until we meet again. Hehehe."

To think that the Master of Obelia’s Black Tower was someone who couldn't be talked to, he was worse than the Crazy Person, Lucas! Argh! Bring back my fantasy of the Black Tower!

***

"He's a crazy old man who's senile because he's old."

Indeed, Claude's assessment of the Tower Master was also harsh. Claude told me to never approach the Tower Master because he didn't know when that crazy guy would do something crazy again and he also told me to tell him if that crazy guy did anything crazy again. I looked at him and spoke.

"Uhm. Dad, it seems you are close to that Grandpa."

"Are you crazy?"

Hearing my words, Claude narrowed his eyebrows as if he suspected my ears, but I had already continued saying those words. I've never heard of the Tower Master before, and I don't know if what that Grandpa said to me in the Emerald Palace today was just a ploy to frame me? Moreover, Claude's behavior and words towards him —it felt like there was a strange feeling that was hard to explain.

Moreover…… Do people who are different from normal people have something that only their fellow humans can understand? That's why, without realizing it, Claude and the Tower Master were actually friends…… I highly doubt that.

However, since Claude seemed to really think what I said was nonsense, I decided not to say anything else. After that, I glanced at the face of the person facing me while eating the cake on the plate, and I opened my mouth again.

"I want to have a Birthday Party."

"What?"

Claude suddenly gave me a questioning look.

"Not on my birthday, but about a week after."

"What kind of party?"

"During the day, I will hold a simple Tea Party with the people of the Emerald Palace, then at night, I will send invitations to the Young Masters and Young Ladies to hold a lively Masquerade Ball."

Judging from his expression, it was clear that Claude was displeased with my words. Seeing this, I immediately laughed because I thought, even though he lost his memory, it turns out he still hasn't changed. Hasn't Claude always disliked it when I invite Young Masters to my Palace? That's why the people who come to my Tea Party are always the Young Ladies.

But, what's the use of that? I didn't care about Claude's reaction and continued smiling brightly with an 'I don't know anything' expression.

"Come to think of it, I've never held a party in my Palace. So, I'm thinking of inviting some people this time."

I will completely come out of isolation. Kekeke. But, does it feel good when I do it my own way? If I knew that this would be thrilling, I should have done it a long time ago! Of course, it was natural that a sensible person would not accept my invitation after what Claude did to me in front of the Nobles at his last Birthday Party.

However, I heard that at the Evening Banquet held while I was run away, Claude had a noble dying because the noble made fun of me. I don't know exactly what the nobleman said, but after that incident, the people who didn't dare to treat me as a Princess have disappeared. In a way, his actions were like he was giving me medicine, but in the first place, Claude losing his memory was my fault. Moreover, it was also said that he felt suffering when I was run away……

Besides, yesterday, Claude and I held hands nicely and appeared on the terrace balcony together, and yesterday Claude blew up half the Tower in anger at the Tower Master who tried to use me as an experimental subject. So, the rumors of fighting between us disappeared as if they had just been swept away. Besides, it seems now people think that the incident back then was just a Father-Daughter quarrel because Claude seemed very anxious and kept looking for me when I disappeared.

Of course, it was a little brutal to say that it was a Father-Daughter quarrel…… But since the person was Claude, so it seemed people quite believed it. So, ever since the news that I had returned became known, there were many people who sent invitations and gifts to the Emerald Palace. So I thought, if I invite people to my Birthday Party, maybe they will attend because they want to know if Claude and I have truly reconciled.

However, as if he didn't like my plan, Claude immediately opposed it with a cold face.

"It's fine to hold a party in the Emerald Palace with servants, but it's no good for a Masquerade Ball. I hate crowded parties like that."

"What? Father, I won't invite you. And, I don't think the sound of the party will reach the Garnet Palace?"

Right at that moment, Claude's hand which was holding the teacup stopped. Not long after, he asked me in a voice full of doubt.

"……What do you mean?"

Oh my, why are you so surprised by this?

I also spoke indifferently to Claude who seemed a little surprised by the words that I would not invite him.

"Besides, Dad has never come to see me on my birthday. Isn't it that every time that happens, Dad will be at the Garnet Palace for a few days?"

Erm. That's right, I am indeed a narrow-minded and vengeful person! Of course, I know that he doesn't visit me every time I have a birthday because of Diana, even so I still feel sad. If I wasn't a person living a second life, but just a child, then that would be a very painful thing. Grumble.

However, as if he didn't expect me to speak frankly like that, for a moment, Claude made a speechless expression. His eyes hardened. I felt a little strange because it was the first time I saw him anxious like that.

A while later, Claude placed his teacup onto the table and opened his mouth with a calmer expression than before.

"Am I like that?"

His face seemed to say, 'I don't know anything~'. Of course, you don't know. You forgot everything, including my birthday. So, I don't think he'll remember that he never came to see me for days every time it was my birthday.

"It doesn't matter."

I kept touching the teacup that was in front of me for a while, and then lifted it, then said with a smile that showed that I was fine.

"Every birthday I always have fun. If we had a party, it would definitely be more fun. I wouldn't be so loud."

It was my minimum consideration for him that he never came to meet me on my birthday. And now, it was my greed to touch his festering wound like I did now, but perhaps it was my stupid stubbornness to smile calmly as if they were just meaningless passing words.

"Dad, would you like another cup of tea?"

Claude didn't answer, but I still took the teapot in front of me and poured tea into Claude's empty glass. I can't expect too much at one time because you won't be full with one drink. But on the one hand, I feel relieved because I can finally say what I wanted to say a long time ago. But on the other hand, I'm also a little sorry because I said something unimportant. I sighed and bit into the scone in front of me.

Come to think of it, my birthday is approaching. It doesn't feel like time has passed so quickly.

Claude stared at my face without saying a word for a long time since just now. And a few moments later,

"……I will go."

He opened his mouth slowly and let his low voice flow out.

"I won't be late for your birthday this time."

I saw the shadow of a tree in the grass and I immediately raised my head. When I shifted my gaze, I saw Claude who was still looking at me calmly.

Slowly, I opened my mouth.

"……Is it true?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Ah…… I'm really fine. That was just……"

"I'm not fine."

This time, Claude raised his teacup. His voice that spread in my ears just now sounded clearer than before.

"I won't be late for your birthday this time."

Of course, it might be said that I would be lying if I didn't have any expectations at all. But, when I actually heard the words I expected from him, my heart slowly became tingled. Maybe it's because I was open-minded about it that I had no choice but to say the same thing as now. Even so, I still felt happy.

"Haha."

I couldn't hold it in anymore and I laughed in a small voice, then he looked at me with a face that seemed to say, 'What a silly child'. How can I not feel happy because of this? This is my first birthday with my father.

"It's my birthday, you know that you can't come empty-handed, right? If you come without a gift, I won't let you in."

"Isn't your birthday present this year that portrait painting?"

"Ah!"

"You seem to have forgotten."

Crip, Crip.

The sound of birds chirping could be heard in the warm air.

Bright sunlight streamed over our heads as if to cheer us up.

***

"Dad, it seems like you loves me so much that you can't even speak."

The sunlight that gathered on the lake looked like glass beads and formed foam. I was trying hard to explain to Claude about our good old days, I mixed truth and lies in a half-and-half ratio.

"That's why you said that you would take all the stars and the moon if I wanted it. Right?"

Currently, he and I are taking a boat and floating on the lake. The light reflected on the surface of the water created a faint wave pattern on our facing faces.

Of course, Claude didn't take my words seriously, but if not now, when else would I be able to tease him like this!

"Daddy, you thinks I'm lying?"

I looked at him as if I knew that this would happen and made a ' Hmph ' sound. Then, I twirled the umbrella in my hand and launched a counterattack towards Claude .

"Then, how about you explain to me why you kept the drawing I gave you as a gift in your bedroom? Or, why did you secretly make a memory stone containing my video?"

"I didn't do it."

As soon as I finished speaking, Claude who wiggled his eyebrows immediately denied it. But, that alone wasn't enough to stop me.

"Oh my God, I'm so shocked. I didn't know that Dad still had those drawings, and what's more, Dad even used preservation magic to keep the drawings from being damaged."

"There must be someone else playing a prank……"

"What about the memory stone? The mages in the Tower were also shocked when you threw the stone at them and told them to double it."

"……"

"Felix and Lily were surprised too."

It seemed that Claude couldn't say anything anymore. There's nothing more I want to say because I've brought up things that aren't in his memory at the moment. He frowned again and made an expression as if to say, 'I will kill all those crazy bast#rds'. And it was clear that the 'crazy bast#rd' he thought of was himself in the past.

“……Am I really that kind of person?”

Soon after that, Claude muttered to himself in a somewhat skeptical voice. I don't know if he was asking me or asking himself. But I answered as if I had been waiting for the question.

"I told you so."

I said the words I heard from Lucas last year to Claude. Today is truly extraordinary.

"Dad, you love me much more than you think."

Hearing my words, Claude just looked at me for a moment without saying a word with a mysterious facial expression. He never confirmed or denied what I said. I was happy with the current situation, so I hummed while looking at the sparkling lake.

"Are you sure it's okay if I don't do anything special?"

After a while, Claude asked me that. Actually, today is my birthday. And I spent a comfortable time with Claude, he actually came to the Emerald Palace to meet me. When I asked him to go boating with me, he looked at me as if to ask if this was what I wanted to do —on a day like today? I pulled his hand with a bright smiling face.

"Eyyy. Dad, you don't know."

I spoke to him with a somewhat mischievous smile because he was still asking about it —as if he was worried.

"Every time I spend with you is special to me."

Tuduk. Tuk.

The sound of gurgling water sounded softly in my ears. Claude's jewel eyes looked at me calmly.

After a while, his blue eyes now looked like dark indigo, looking as deep as an abyss.

"What if my memory doesn't come back? Are you going to leave?"

This time, I was the one looking at him blankly. At first glance, there was a doubt that was difficult for the person who had an indifferent expression on his face to notice.

"Dad, why do you keep saying that?"

This person in front of me, I feel that he is a somewhat pitiful yet charming person. It only happens occasionally, but every time this person who has lost his memory shows his weak side to me like now, I feel sad but I have no choice but to look at him fondly.

"Even if you don't think of me as your daughter, to me you are still my father. So, it doesn't matter if you don't remember."

Ah, I finally understand how Athanasia feels in the novel. The reason why she didn't give up on Claude until her death was near. I really sincerely think that it doesn't matter if he doesn't remember me.

“On the contrary, I remember everything. So, Dad……”

If only we could stay together forever like now.

"Just stay by my side."

When I said that while smiling, Claude just looked at me silently.

Today, Claude actually spent the whole day with me. We had a normal but fun day, we went boating, enjoyed tea time together at the Emerald Palace, and played chess which is my new hobby lately. And in the evening, we shared a special cake made by Lily. On the one hand, it was a regular routine that wasn't that different from usual. But, this was a very happy day for me because I spent time together with Claude .

 

After dropping Claude off at the Garnet Palace, I returned to my room.

Tralalalala— lala—

When Lily opened the music box she gave me as a birthday present last year, a beautiful melody began to flow in the still night air.

I went out onto the terrace in my pajamas and leaned against the railing. The high moon was casting an ethereal light into the darkness. Ah, today is really fun. Even though I didn't do much just because it was my birthday, today was the happiest birthday in my life.

Because it was the first time Claude came to meet me on my birthday, so Lily, Felix, Hannah, and Seth as well as all the servants of the Emerald Palace looked excited. The desserts and drinks served on the table during meal times today were all truly luxurious.

Surprisingly, Claude turned out to be good at chess, and I had to admit defeat several times. Then, in the last round, I pretended to sneeze and quietly knocked over the chessboard. Because I was greedy, I also wanted to try being a little more childish towards Claude. But in the end, after dinner, I drove him to the Garnet Palace.

I've had enough fun, so I'll leave Claude to my Mom, Diana for the few hours I have left for today. So, when Claude showed a subtle, unreadable expression towards me, I asked him to leave with a smiling face. As I placed my arm on the railing and leaned my head against it, the cool breeze brushed my cheek. My hair seemed to glow white under the moonlight, it hung down the railing and swayed gently.

For the first time, Claude came to see me on my birthday. But on the contrary, Lucas and Blackie who were always with me, now they are not here……

I thought about that while throwing a meaningless glance at a point in the air. The breath I exhaled disappeared into the dark night air. When I'm alone like this, a place where there's no one asserts my presence. But, I shouldn't be like that. I'm happy enough, so I should rejoice and be grateful for what I have now. But, of course it's a little……

"I miss you."

I opened my mouth and muttered a little to myself that no one would hear.

"Who? Me?"

And at that very moment, I stopped breathing because there was someone's voice flowing through the night air. I was silent as if my body was petrified for a few moments, and then I turned my head towards the sound. Dark blue hair that was almost black fluttered in the night sky. Slowly, a man with an extraordinary presence looked at me from under the shadow of a tree, then he landed on the terrace where I was standing lightly.

"Seeing that stupid expression on your face, you must be very surprised."

For some reason, I just stared blankly at him. I couldn't open my mouth even a bit, until Lucas finally smiled at me.

"I'm back."

“……Lucas.”

Finally I came to my senses and opened my mouth. I couldn't believe whether the person in front of my eyes was real. So, I looked at it with a slightly unrealistic feeling.

"What's wrong? Are you speechless because you're so happy to meet me?"

But, when I heard the words he said to tease me, I slowly started to think that the person appearing in front of me now was indeed Lucas.

"Today is your birthday?"

Maybe it was because he suddenly appeared while I was thinking about him, so him appearing suddenly seemed like an illusion.

"Did I come on time?"

Apart from that, because his current appearance is not like the appearance of the boy I usually see, but the appearance of an adult man. He stood tall against the backdrop of the night sky, Lucas looked like a creature I didn't recognize.

"But what is that?"

He stared at me intently for a while and I just stared at his face non-stop like a mute biting honey*.

T/N: This is a Korean expression of sarcasm. If translated, it's the same as the question ‘Why are you so quiet?’.

"Did you absorb Blackie?"

At that very moment, I felt as if a stone had hit my chest.

"You suddenly have a lot of magic power."

I didn't see any signs of rebuke in his voice. Lucas just said as if he was amazed to see me suddenly having so much magic power.

"You're back?"

I managed to open my mouth and asked him. After that, a boring conversation ensued.

"Why? Should I go again?"

"Have you eaten the fruit?"

"The fruit can't be eaten because someone turns it into trash, but I ate something better."

Luckily, Lucas looked very fresh as if he had achieved what he wanted.

"I see. That's good."

Very weird. There were a lot of things I wanted to say when he came back, but strangely I could only say trivial things. I felt awkward when dealing with this person who met me. That doesn't mean I wasn't happy to meet Lucas, it's just that I couldn't say a word when I faced him.

"Hm?"

It seemed Lucas also felt strange about my attitude. Then, his red eyes stared silently at my face. At that very moment, I couldn't hold it in anymore so I reached out my hand to cover my eyes while letting out a sound, 'Aish!'

"Should you be shaped like that? Can't you go back to your small shape?"

"Because I don't see you as you!"

I don't know what expression he was making because I closed my eyes, but I heard another 'Hmm' sound in my ear. It seems like he finds my current reaction amusing, or perhaps annoying?

"Is this fine?"

Unexpectedly, without saying much Lucas granted my request. As soon as the sweet voice that gave off a feeling of nostalgia penetrated my eardrums, I slowly lowered my hands and opened my eyes.

"Lucas!"

"Ah, my eardrums."

The Lucas I knew was standing right before my eyes! A pretty boy who looked to be the same age as me, now he frowned when he heard my shout as if he was satisfied. I felt new excitement and expressed my intense feelings for him.

"What kept you away for so long!?"

"Seems like you really missed me, huh?"

Everything, even the annoying way he responds to my words, he really is Lucas. Without realizing it, I hugged him tightly.

“Eh, wait……!”

"I've been waiting for you, you idiot!"

For some reason, Lucas' body hardened like a rock. But, I don't care and continue to express my feelings as they are. I'm starting to worry because this kid who went to eat the fruit from the World Tree hasn't come back for months! But then he came back just in time for my birthday, you are such a good boy! Plus, when Lucas wasn't around, a lot of things happened, so now I'm even more relieved that he's back. All this time, it seems like without realizing it I really missed this man. Yes, of course. Lucas has always been by my side since I was little, and he was also my first friend.

"Hey, you…… This is too……"

Lucas stammered as if he was embarrassed by this sudden hug. I hugged Lucas tighter and patted his back.

"Congratulations on achieving your wish! Now your magic power must have recovered. That's great!"

"Um, yeah……"

"But, didn't you take longer than you said? I was worried! You should have contacted me, at least once!"

Lucas stammered for a long time and his body that I was hugging was still stiff, until he finally came to his senses and pushed me away.

"Hey, aren't you hugging me too much?"

Huh? Since when did you act so old fashioned like this? I ignored Lucas' screams filled with embarrassment. Then, Lucas noticed me pouting, then he blinked his eyes. It seemed like he was dissatisfied with my actions, but in the end, he put on a skeptical expression as if to say, 'What are you doing?'. Then he said to me,

"Ah, never mind. Now, tell me."

"What?"

"What do you mean by 'What'? Of course, everything happened while I was away."

Lucas' words made me pause for a moment in doubt. He narrowed his eyes at me, as if he wanted me to spill everything without hiding anything.

"Even if you didn't tell me, I already knew that Blackie had disappeared. Why is there so much dirt stuck to you? How annoying. Make a list of everyone you've met so far."

His red eyes that seemed to shine sharply began to pay attention to me. I don't know exactly what he was talking about, but it seemed like he was talking about my magic power not being very normal. For some reason, I felt guilty and muttered to him.

“I didn't listen to your words and played with Blackie every day…… So, I guess Blackie was absorbed by me.”

"So?"

I told him everything that happened while Lucas was away. When I spoke, Lucas didn't open his mouth or blame me, he just remained silent in his position with his typical indifferent attitude. It really helped me to spit out the words that were building up inside me.

"Look at this. You can't live without me, can you? Oh my."

And finally, when I finished telling the story, Lucas looked at me with a satisfied expression and stretched out his hand to me.

"Then come here."

No, I mean…… Isn't this attitude a bit strange? I don't know if it was just me, but it felt like he was saying, 'You stupid newborn child, I'll show you special mercy. I will allow you to hug this beautiful body and feed you'*. I feel so annoyed......

T/N: This is an expression in Korean, it literally means that Lucas wants Athi to depend on him, so Lucas will help her.

"What's wrong? Where are you going?"

"Today is your birthday. I will give you the best gift."

Eh? Birthday gift? He came back just in time for my birthday, so I thought he was going to say something like, 'Your birthday present is me!'. While I was still in a daze, Lucas immediately grabbed my hand without further ado. When my hand was enveloped in the warmth of his hand, the scenery around me changed. Argh, I feel dizzy! Couldn't you have given a warning before we teleported?

However, the complaint only lasted a moment. And I immediately took my breath away when I saw what was before my eyes! Argh, what is this!? This is Claude's room!! Even Claude hasn't slept yet! It seemed like Claude still hadn't noticed us, but when I saw Claude's back standing near the window, I flinched in embarrassment.

I looked at Lucas who was next to me as if he was crazy. But, he instead walked towards Claude. Oh, no! Stop it, you bast#rd!

Claude suddenly turned his head and narrowed his eyes —as if he had activated his animal instincts. And at that very moment,

Hwiikkk! Jleb!

"Ugrh!"

Lucas' hand seemed to disappear in the air for a few moments, but immediately after that, he seemed to grab something and started swinging something violently towards Claude! His speed was truly like lightning! I was shocked and screamed when I saw something sharp in Lucas' hand piercing Claude's head.

"D-Dadddd!"

However, Claude had already fallen from his chair. I was very surprised and immediately ran towards him.

"Oh my, how did he know and look back? Even though I had already removed my presence. I almost stabbed him in the face."

"D-Dad! Dad!"

No matter how hard I shook his body, Claude still didn't move. It looks like Lucas stabbed Claude in the head with a tree branch. I don't know if I should remove it or leave it? I was so confused that I couldn't do this or that.

C-Could he be dead? No, right? That's not true, right?

"It was a very valuable object, so I didn't give it to anyone. But because it's your birthday, I gave you such a valuable object. So, thank me."

When I heard the words that Lucas said shamelessly above my head, I immediately stood up with boiling blood.

"Hey, crazy bast#rd! What the hell? Who told you to kill my father?"

Wow! This is why people say not to keep black furred animals! I was very happy when you returned, and I even greeted you with a warm welcome. I never expected you would retaliate with such a barbaric act! But, Lucas just ignored my anger and said indifferently,

"It's a branch of the World Tree, so he won't die. You don't know, but it would be more effective if it was inserted directly into the damaged part."

As Claude lay on the floor like a dead man, I sobbed beside him, while Lucas remained silent in his peace. Then, when Lucas whispered with a grimly smiling face towards me, I stopped crying and hiccuping.

"Now is not the right time for you to worry about other people. You should also put this into your body."

W-What? What do you mean? You want to kill me as well as Claude ? Are you saying that would make us feel better? I looked at Lucas with my pupils shaking with nervousness.

With wild thoughts~ And anxious eyes~ You see it~*

T/N: Again, this is fragment lyrics from Lim Jae-Bum's song entitled For You.

Lucas didn't get the nickname 'Crazy Person' in the past for no reason. He said while smiling at me without regret.

"What you need is to stabilize your magic power, so I will give you a very small branch."

Hwiikkk! Jleb!

Before I could even react, Lucas had already ripped something through the air, then plunged a small tree branch into my head. Hey, you stabbed me with that deadly weapon! You are such a stupid bast#rd…………!

I felt a brief pain and I slowly lost consciousness.

T-The murderer is Lucas…… Bruk!

Suddenly my vision went dark.

 

"Ugh!"

How much time has passed? I got up from my sleeping position, my body shaking as if I had just finished a boxing match. Ugh. W-What the hell? Why am I like this? Where am I? Who am I?

I was confused about my identity for a while, and after looking around, I immediately remembered what happened last night. That da#n Crazy Person! What have you done to me and Claude!? He immediately killed people after he returned! Arghhh, you scary guy! I felt my head, it seemed like the tree branch had disappeared. As Lucas said, I didn't die…… In fact, I strangely felt a little refreshed…… Even so, you shouldn't do that! Sigh.

What about Claude?

After a while, I looked at Claude who was lying next to me, and he still didn't move as if he was dead, so I shook his body.

"D-Dad! Dad!"

We weren't lying on the cold floor like when we passed out, we were on a soft bed —maybe Lucas moved us here. It was probably dawn now, the cold sunlight was shining slowly outside the window, and the atmosphere was extremely calm. I kept shaking Claude's body non-stop. Ugh, he's not dead, right?! Is he still breathing? I didn't see the tree branch stuck in his head like last night! No blood flows! Then, why didn't he move at all?

Suddenly I felt scared, so I put my ear on his chest. And I could only breathe a sigh of relief after hearing the sound of his heartbeat. No, after he made us like this, Lucas, where did you go? Was it because he knew that I wouldn't let him get away with it the moment I opened my eyes, so he chose to run away? Is that so?

"Urghh."

At that moment, a groan was heard. I immediately lowered my head in surprise.

"Dad! Are you awake?"

Even though his consciousness had not fully returned, he frowned as if he felt a slight pain. Could it be because he fell on the floor yesterday? As soon as Claude opened his eyes, I immediately checked his condition.

"Dad, where do you feel the pain? Is it in the head, head, head!?"

Argh, I was most worried about his head that Lucas had put a tree branch in yesterday. Luckily, I was fine, but I had to be on guard, that was because Claude was stabbed by a tree branch that was much bigger than me. Slowly, his eyes began to focus and he looked at me. Immediately after that, Claude's facial expression suddenly changed.

"Daddy?"

Ugh, w-what? Side effects? Lucas, you bast#rd, you act like you're doing me a favor! While I was restless, somehow, Claude who was still lying on his bed changed his facial expression from time to time. His face, he stared at me for a few moments, he looked confused, then his face seemed to harden, after that he frowned in pain —as if someone had punched him in the stomach. In his jewel eyes, there were alternating calm currents and torrential currents.

"Athanasia."

In the midst of the confusion, he finally called my name. At that very moment, I stopped breathing as I stared at his face. Maybe this is just my feeling? I can't put it into words, but it felt like something was different.

"Athanasia."

That wasn't the look he used to show me until yesterday, nor the voice he spoke to me until yesterday. With bated breath, I watched as the person in front of me whispered my name again in a low voice. Finally, Claude's face became full of calm. His eyes looking at me also became calm like the deep sea that had returned to calm after a storm. Then, he extended his hand to me.

"Come here."

At that moment, I subconsciously opened my mouth and muttered in a daze.

"Daddy……?"

It was a very small sound, I said it as if to confirm something. Then, Claude answered me without hesitation.

"Yes."

The look in his eyes clearly had a much more familiar light than the ones I had seen until yesterday. However, I didn't believe him and asked him again in a breathless voice.

"Are you really my dad?"

He frowned when he saw my face. A thin breath immediately escaped his lips. After that, his hand that reached out towards me touched my dry cheek.

"Yes, it's your dad."

A face that still looked indifferent, a voice that still sounded rough. However, his eyes that looked at me looked so warm that my heart felt tight for a moment.

Ah…… I realized that Claude had regained all his lost memories. Immediately after that, I immediately jumped into Claude's arms .

“D-Daddy……!”

I thought it would be fine if he didn't get his memories back, but that doesn't seem to be the case. My heart tightened to the point that I felt like I couldn't breathe, it felt like I was meeting someone I hadn't seen for a long time. I felt the arms hugging my back firmly without hesitation, then I rubbed my sharp nose against his chest.

Oh, Dad. You're so charming.

"You seem to have gotten a lot heavier."

"Dad, you stupid."

Uhuhuu, hearing the voice ringing in my ears with a low laugh, I tightened my embrace on him, hoping that this person in my arms would not disappear. In the morning at the age of 15, Claude came back to me. As Lucas said, this is the best birthday present.

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