-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: A Child's Curiosity
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I lay in bed, busily sketching my thoughts onto the canvas of my mind.
A man like the night sky, impossible to reach.
Mom's precious friend.
The same black hair as mine.
“Don’t get sick, don’t get hurt, and if you have any worries, you can always come find me. Got it?”
“I hope you’ll always smile like that. Well then, I’ll see you again, Aika.”
…Someone who was almost *too* nice to me.
“Hup.”
I rolled over and flopped onto my stomach.
It couldn’t be.
* * *
“Where did Uncle go?”
I couldn’t stand the curiosity, so I went out.
I roamed the hallways, looking for my uncle.
At the end of the hall, I saw a man with familiar brown hair and green eyes.
It was Leto, the man who managed this huge mansion for Uncle.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the tidiest person here.
He was always bustling about, yet every time I saw him, his clothes were immaculate, without a single wrinkle.
“Leto!”
“Is something the matter, Young Lady?”
“Have you seen Uncle?”
“He is in his office right now.”
Leto kindly gave me the answer I wanted.
“So, is Uncle working right now?”
“Yes, most likely. Is there something urgent?”
“N-no, not really. I just have something I want to ask him.”
Leto seemed to ponder for a moment before turning toward Uncle's office.
“I wouldn't be permitted, but I'm sure it will be fine for you, Young Lady. Allow me to escort you.”
“Oh, aren’t you busy, Leto?”
“I always keep time free to escort you, Young Lady.”
Leto gave me a charming smile and held out his white-gloved hand.
“I like Leto. You’re kind like Zenda.”
“This is the first time I've received such a compliment from you, Young Lady.”
I took Leto’s hand and headed toward my uncle’s office with a bit more confidence.
However, the moment Leto knocked on the door, I hid behind him without realizing it.
“Master, the adorable Lady Aika has come to see you.”
“Hardly adorable.”
Hiding behind Leto, I heard my uncle’s grumbling.
Still, it seems he’s not in a bad mood!
Normally, he would have told me to go away before I even set foot inside.
“You may go in, Young Lady.”
“Thanks!”
Leto, who had opened the door and even announced me, wished me a good time and went back on his way.
I imagined a line on the floor beneath the door and hopped over it as I entered.
“…”
Okay, so far, so good! No interest from him! All clear!
I mustered a little more courage, clasped my hands behind my back, and tiptoed closer to my uncle.
Then I hovered around him, waiting for a reaction.
“What is it now. If you have something to say, say it quickly and go.”
My uncle didn't even look at me as he flipped through the documents.
“Uncle, I have something to ask you.”
“What.”
“You know… is His Majesty the Emperor married?”
My uncle, who was in the middle of signing something, looked up.
His expression screamed, *You're asking me that when I'm this busy?*
“Why are you curious about whether he's married or not?”
“I-I'm allowed to be curious! I decided to become friends with His Majesty the Emperor starting today.”
“What a splendid reason.”
Ignoring my uncle’s incredulous expression, I pressed on.
“Huh? Tell me, Uncle. Is he married or not?”
Before I knew it, my uncle’s eyes were back on his documents.
He probably thought it was a pointless question.
“He’s not.”
“He’s not? Really?”
“Yes. I've answered, so stop bothering me and get out.”
“Why not?”
My uncle finally glared at me.
“Are you not leaving?”
I scurried over, using the doorframe as a shield, and stubbornly held my ground with half my body hidden.
“Just tell me that one thing!”
“I guess there was no one for him to marry.”
“Is it because he has a fated love? Like in the storybooks?”
“I don't know, I guess so.”
“Ah, Unccle! Then who is this fated love? Could it be…”
*Grit.*
“Niece. Why should I have to know about the Emperor's love life?”
My uncle’s eyebrow twitched as he growled, his face simmering with anger.
It seemed that grinding sound had come from my uncle's mouth.
He put on a smiling face, but he looked like a grim reaper straight out of hell.
A red warning light flashed on in my head.
“O-okay…”
Retreat for now.
Judging by his expression, if I pushed any further, I’d be kicked out to the stables, not a guest room.
I watched my uncle’s face carefully as I backed away.
I was actually about to try one more time, but as soon as I dipped my toes back inside as if testing the water, I heard a sharp hiss and failed.
“*Tch*, Uncle says he's friends with His Majesty, but he won't even tell me something like that.”
I brushed off my dress and went out into the hallway.
“…”
Ah, I can’t stand being this curious.
I planted my feet firmly on the floor again and quietly shuffled backward.
But the moment my hand slapped onto the office doorframe, I met my uncle’s blazing eyes.
I had failed spectacularly again.
Well, that’s okay. I can just wait for the next chance.
I’m definitely not going back because Uncle is scary, okay?
* * *
“Uncle, are you getting ready for something?”
“I'm not doing anything.”
“But you're wearing nice clothes. Can't I go too?”
Several days had passed since then.
I'd tried to ask my uncle about His Majesty the Emperor a few more times, but I was shot down every time.
Just because my uncle wouldn't tell me didn't mean there was no way to find out.
There was Grandfather, and others, you know.
But today, something was a little different!
I thought he’d be home after sunset, but Uncle was dressed in nice clothes as if he were about to go out.
Where was he going?
At the very least, it was clear he wasn't going to bed.
“How can you follow when you don't even know where I'm going?”
“Um, I don't know! Wherever you're going, Uncle.”
I tried to appeal that I was harmless with a silly grin, but my uncle just poked my forehead with his index finger, pushing me away.
“What’s with you. This little thing tries to follow me everywhere. If you've had dinner, go to sleep.”
“Tell me where you're going.”
I practically plopped down on the floor, grabbing the hem of my uncle's clothes and clinging to him tenaciously.
Clinging was my specialty, you know.
He’d snuck out somewhere during the day yesterday, too!
Thankfully, I didn't see a scary future where something bad happened to Uncle, so I held back. If I had, it would have been a real disaster.
Besides, it was so boring when Uncle went out.
“I told you, you don't need to know.”
My uncle growled again.
I pouted and let go.
He seemed angrier than usual.
Was he being forced to go somewhere he didn’t want to?
If I insisted on following him, I felt like I’d get a real scolding.
In that case…
“Okay, Uncle! Be safe.”
I shot up from my spot.
“What?”
“Zenda says good children have to go to bed early. So, have a good time, Uncle!”
As I even waved my hand cheerfully, my uncle eyed me with suspicion.
He scolds me when I say I'll follow, and now he looks at me like that even when I tell him to have a good time!
“Behave yourself at home.”
“Mhm.”
“Just you try and cause trouble.”
“I won't. Uncle, have you ever seen me cause trouble?”
As I looked up at him with a brazen face, my uncle’s eyebrow twitched like a worm.
“Anyway, just behave.”
“Okay.”
Honestly, Uncle.
I told you, I never cause trouble.
* * *
On a dark, dusky night.
Cassel dragged his unwilling feet and boarded the carriage.
He leaned back roughly and rubbed his brow, which was furrowed with a mixture of irritation and fatigue.
“We will depart immediately, my lord.”
As Cassel nodded, Gerard closed the carriage door.
*Ah, maybe I should have gone to her room to check on her,* he thought, but immediately dismissed the idea.
*She's probably fast asleep by now anyway. If I go and wake her up, it'll just be a headache for me.*
What was the worst that could happen in this house, anyway?
If anything, it was strange to be worried.
Soon, the carriage began to move, its wheels slowly turning.
Cassel closed his eyes, planning to sleep until they arrived.
Cassel was not one to enjoy banquets.
He found the clingy people bothersome, and nothing good ever seemed to come of them.
Thus, the occasions when Cassel attended banquets could be narrowed down to a few.
When it was held at the Imperial Palace.
When the old man summoned him or hosted it.
When it was necessary for business expansion or to observe the nobles' movements.
And lastly, when there was some bastard he needed to crush.
Usually, his attendance was limited to the first three reasons.
Today was the second reason.
This was the first banquet the Valliats had hosted—and attended—since Ceria's death.
“…”
Suddenly, Cassel’s eyes shot open, sharp and alert.
“Come out.”
