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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: A Pretty and Kind Friend
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I froze.
I knew he was pointing at my sky-blue collar, so I puffed out my cheeks sullenly.
“It's not a bib, it's a collar. This represents the sky. The dress is a flower, and the socks were supposed to be grass, but we didn't have green, so Zenda said to make it snow-covered grass.”
“Whatever… Then why are your shoes pitch-black?”
Ugh, Uncle. How could you not know?
He doesn't have a single ounce of fashion sense.
I focused on explaining, whether his face scrunched up or not.
“Uncle, you don't even know that? It's the dirt. You need dirt for grass and flowers to grow.”
“Then is your hair a storm cloud?”
“…”
I was so shocked by his words that I stopped walking toward him.
…H-how could he say something so mean?
“Go back and have Zenda dress you in something normal.”
Normal? But this is so pretty!
I stomped my foot in anger.
“I-I'm going to wear this. She said I could wear whatever I want as long as I have my handkerchief and wear my bag properly.”
“Fine. Do what you want.”
Still looking uninterested, Uncle beckoned me closer with his finger.
“Uncle, did you see the present I gave you yesterday?”
“You think I would have?”
“Huh? I asked Leto to put it on your desk. You didn't see it?”
“Well, maybe I saw it.”
Worried it might be lost before he even saw it, I anxiously stomped my feet and spoke urgently.
“Look for it later, okay? I told him to put it in the middle of your desk, okay? It's a square box like this, with blue and purple and yellow and everything.”
“I'll think about it.”
His tone was annoying, but Uncle looked truly magnificent today.
It was similar to the uniform Mom wore to work every day, but it had more things attached to it.
As I approached him, Uncle hung something around my neck.
“Uncle, what's this?”
I stared at him, my eyes wide.
Before our trip to the Imperial Palace, Uncle had given me a necklace.
But the necklace was strange.
Something was written on an oblong gold plate, almost the size of my two palms put together.
[Cassel de Leguire]
in large letters.
What in the world is this?
It wasn't even my name.
“…It's your name, Uncle.”
And for a necklace, why is it so big?
I was nothing but confused, but Uncle tapped the necklace bearing his name with a satisfied expression.
“Any bastard in this empire with eyes in their head will know my name.”
“…”
“Just because you're wearing this, don't go running around like a stray puppy. If anyone bothers you, show them this. Don't cause any trouble.”
I clutched the flat, rectangular pendant, looking back and forth between it and my uncle.
This is just like a dog tag…
“Uncle.”
“What.”
“…I'm embarrassed to wear this.”
I'm not a puppy, so why is he making me wear this?
I even dressed up so nicely, but now everyone will only see this flashy gold necklace.
“Just you try causing trouble and bothering people out there.”
“I won't cause any trouble. So I can take it off, right?”
“No.”
I whined.
“Go to your room, finish getting ready, and come back. We're leaving.”
“I'm all ready.”
“Then follow Gerard and wait in the carriage.”
“…Do I really have to wear this?”
Really?
I don't want to wear it.
I got all ready in my pretty clothes, and now this.
I tried to persuade him somehow, but he said if I took it off, he'd put an even bigger one on my back, so I clamped my mouth shut.
Still, a necklace is better than a golden turtle!
With no other choice, I headed for the carriage, the huge gold necklace hanging from my neck.
It felt like it kept clanking and swinging around with every step.
It seemed like everyone, including Zenda who was coming with us, was staring only at me.
Zenda helped me into the carriage and said she would follow behind, telling me to have lots of fun conversations with my uncle.
I wanted Zenda to ride with us, but it seemed she was scared of riding with my uncle.
Soon, Uncle hopped in, and the carriage set off.
The carriage, which had been moving slowly through the garden, picked up speed as soon as it reached the road.
Fresh green leaves flashed past us.
The sun was high in the sky, and even with the windows closed, I felt like I could smell the sunshine and the grass.
I pressed my hand against the window, trying to catch the fluffy white clouds that were diligently following us.
“Uncle, do you work at the Imperial Palace like Mom?”
“No.”
“But Mom went to the palace every day.”
“That's because she was the Chancellor.”
A question popped into my head.
What happened to Mom's position after she disappeared?
“Then who does Mom's job now?”
“The old man is filling in for now.”
I whipped my head away from the window.
“Grandfather?”
“Yes.”
Then isn't Grandfather busy too?
Grandfather always played with me whenever I asked.
Come to think of it, there were times he wasn't there when I woke up, but he would always appear soon after I looked for him.
Grandfather must be able to work much faster than Mom.
“So can I see Grandfather today too?”
“I suppose so.”
Hearing that made me wish the carriage would go even faster.
#2. I made a friend. A pretty and kind one!
We arrived at the brilliant white Imperial Palace, gilded with gold in places.
Uncle got out first, and I hopped down from the carriage before he could even help me.
The large necklace clinked against a button.
Uncle shot me a glare for a moment, but I managed to get away with a cheerful laugh.
Then, clutching the hem of Uncle's clothes, I stared with my mouth agape, trying to take in the whole palace at once.
“Uncle, this place is huge, isn't it?”
“That's why you need to stick close.”
“Okay.”
I held onto Uncle's clothes and did my best to keep up.
Uncle has long legs, so I usually get left behind if I don't follow quickly, but strangely, he was walking slowly today.
The golden necklace glittered, reflecting the sunlight.
I felt like people passing by were glancing at me because of it.
“Uncle, I think everyone's staring at me.”
“They're probably just curious about the walking peanut.”
“I think it's because of the necklace.”
“If you walk quietly, no one will look at you.”
I pouted at his words.
“Uncle, why are some people wearing white clothes and others wearing black?”
“That is because their work departments are different. Hmm, to put it simply, departments that meet with many outsiders—ah, many people—wear white. Those who do a lot of physical work wear dark green uniforms.”
Gerard kindly explained instead of my uncle.
“Oh, Mom wore black. With gold cords like yours, Uncle. Oh, and sometimes she wore white too!”
“Yes. Most of those who work in the Emperor's palace wear black. She probably wore white for ceremonies or large gatherings.”
“I see. That's so interesting. Are there yellow ones too?”
“Well, I am not sure about that. Perhaps for festivals? If I find out later, I will be sure to let you know.”
“Thanks, Gerard!”
Uncle walked through the palace corridors, exchanging a few words with people in black uniforms.
After a while, we were guided inside through a large door.
“Uncle, where are we?”
“This is the waiting area before your audience with His Majesty the Emperor. We will be waiting here.”
“I will wait here as well, my lady.”
“You too, Zenda?”
“Yes, the wonderful people inside will attend to you. I'll see you later, my lady.”
Uncle explained that they could have come in with us, but we were asked to go in alone today.
“O-okay, see you later then!”
As I headed somewhere alone with Uncle, another short hallway appeared.
I held the tip of Uncle's pinky finger and asked.
“Uncle, it's hard to meet the Emperor, isn't it?”
“It's because your legs are short.”
“N-no, it's not.”
After passing through hallways and several rooms as if on an adventure, we finally arrived at our destination.
The table was already prepared with all sorts of snacks and food.
Even though we were indoors, there were lots of flowers, and on one side stood a large harp and other instruments.
The person who guided us said that His Majesty the Emperor was still handling some work and would be a little late.
It seemed His Majesty was just like my mother, who was always busy.
Mindful of Uncle's warning not to cause trouble, I carefully wandered around the room.
Just as I had finished looking around, the tightly closed door opened.
“I set aside time this morning, but I still got held up. I'm so sorry.”
It was His Majesty the Emperor.
