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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Humanization
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“So you’ve come, Your Highness.”
“Shh.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Spread it out here.”
Ekiel, who had instructed the attendant to spread a cloth under the large apple tree, gently laid Jusielia down.
Jusielia showed no signs of waking.
No matter how strong the sleep magic, if one had slept soundly the previous night, they would wake up quickly.
‘Jusielia must not have slept well last night.’
She must have been nervous because of the evaluation.
The corners of Ekiel’s mouth lifted unconsciously.
Someone who always approaches everything with diligence and sincerity.
So how could I not be fond of you?
Just then, a breeze blew over them and the apple tree.
Softly, pure white apple blossoms drifted down onto Jusielia’s body and hair, and onto Ekiel’s head.
It was a peaceful moment.
If only they could spend their days like this forever.
Ekiel smiled.
Just as he had said in the Penterin Empire, it would be best if the Dark Divine Beast remained wary of the Eastern and Western continents’ cooperation and simply stayed hidden, taking no action.
Then you wouldn’t get hurt, either.
“By the way, when did she get so strong?”
Ekiel glanced down at his torn clothes with a troubled smile.
He fumbled to take off the torn garment and changed into a new shirt brought by the attendant.
Not only did she make me retract my chains, but she even tore my clothes.
“This time, she really passed.”
It seemed he would have to give her at least a blue pass.
Jusielia had always wanted to go outside the palace.
That was what worried Ekiel the most.
‘…But if she wants to go outside, she has to go with me, or at least with an Archmage. No, at the very least, she has to complete her humanization… This form is just too cute.’
Ekiel pondered this seriously.
Gazing at Jusielia’s cute pink nose as she slept deeply with no sign of waking, Ekiel rubbed his tired eyes, sore from several sleepless nights.
“I’m tired.”
Ekiel murmured lowly, checked the time, and then carefully lay down on his side next to Jusielia.
The day is warm, maybe I’ll just close my eyes for a bit.
He felt he could sleep well next to Jusielia.
Just as Ekiel had guessed, nestled under the apple tree filled with the scent of its blossoms, with Jusielia’s soft fur and the gentle spring breeze, the young emperor fell into a deep nap for the first time in a long while.
Regent Jetar, who had stopped by on state business, saw Emperor Ekiel napping for the first time ever, and sent his aide back with the official documents.
Instead, he took out the “Princess’s Growth Diary” from his coat, seriously wrote an entry, and left with a satisfied smile.
And Jetar had given an order to the servants.
His Majesty and the Princess were resting for the first time in a while, so no one was to approach and disturb their sweet slumber.
How much time had passed during that sweet nap?
Ekiel’s eyes fluttered open on their own, and he blinked slowly.
So at first, he was certain that the sight before him was a dream.
The image of a girl, with a face and hair all snowy white, sleeping beside him with her eyes closed.
‘It must be a dream.’
Ekiel gazed at the girl for a moment before closing his eyes again.
He was still so drowsy, sleep washing over him, his eyelids heavy.
But just as he was about to drift off again.
“Ah, ahh?! Aack?! What is this?”
Ekiel’s eyes shot open.
It was Jusielia’s voice.
Was she under attack?
Ekiel instinctively activated his magic, raising his mana chains and preparing a lightning strike.
At the same time, as he shot up and scanned his surroundings with wide eyes, he couldn’t believe what he saw.
“Huh?”
A girl with pure white hair met his gaze, her face turning crimson, and then she shrieked.
“Close your eyes, Ekiel Rilberg!”
*CRASH-!*
The enraged girl abruptly shot a blue flame at Ekiel.
If it weren’t for the mana chains he had already prepared, Ekiel would have surely died.
‘Ugh!’
He reflexively wrapped the chains around himself for protection, but the immense impact sent him flying far away.
Sprawled on the ground, Ekiel pushed himself up, his mouth agape in disbelief.
“S-so, you’re… Jusielia?”
She had clearly undergone humanization.
But, still.
H-he barely saw anything, and it wasn’t his intention at all.
‘This is so unfair.’
Ekiel fiddled with his slightly singed bangs, then wiped his reddened face and muttered.
“Ah, seriously. What was that, all of a sudden?”
He was just as bewildered.
Jusielia’s humanization.
It felt strange.
He knew Jusielia would humanize someday, but it didn’t feel real at all.
Was it because it had always been a distant future?
Approaching Jusielia again, Ekiel stared blankly at the young girl, who was even prettier than he had imagined.
“Should I take off the translator star necklace now? Ekiel, can you take it off for me?”
As Jusielia tilted her head and moved closer, Ekiel held up a hand.
“Keep it on for now. There’s other magic cast on it.”
“Oh, right.”
Jusielia pulled at the long, silver-blue, star-shaped necklace around her neck and giggled.
‘Ha.’
Light.
Having completed her humanization, Jusielia was light itself.
He fiddled with his bracelet, swallowing his disappointment.
Now, I have to share Jusielia’s voice with everyone. What will I have to share next?
For some reason, his heart felt empty.
Jusielia tilted her head.
“What’s wrong? Do I look strange?”
“…No.”
Ekiel let out a small sigh, then smiled brightly.
“Congratulations on your humanization, Jusielia.”
“Thank you!”
Jusielia’s joyful, snow-white hair shimmered in the summer sun.
***
News of Princess Jusielia’s humanization spread beyond the Rilberg Imperial Palace, crossing the border to the Penterin Empire that very same day.
After washing up, Jusielia had her long hair, which had never been cut since birth and reached her ankles, trimmed to about waist-length.
She then spent a busy day practicing her awkward bipedal walk and getting measured for dresses and other clothes.
Uni exclaimed joyfully that their princess looked good even in ready-made clothes.
“Sob, Your Highness. You look so cute and pretty in your human form. Uni could die happy now.”
“It’s true… You resemble Empress Brianna.”
“Really? I look like my mom? I didn’t think I looked like her much in the portrait.”
“You have the same feel she did as a child. She had such a lovely air about her.”
“I see.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes tearing up, Sophie smiled gently as she brushed Jusielia’s hair.
Jusielia smiled warmly, feeling a fondness for Sophie, who was reminiscing about her sister—Jusielia’s mother—while looking at her.
In any case, it was a relief.
Her humanization had been delayed, worrying not only Jusielia herself but everyone else, so it was good that she’d finally achieved it.
‘Phew, Dad and my brother were really something else.’
Jusielia looked at the magical communication device on her vanity and shook her head.
- “Jusielia! Congratulations on your humanization! My goodness, what a heavenly voice! Just once, please say, ‘I love you, Dad’!”
- “Jusielia… You’re so cute. I want to see you, too. Should I head to the Rilberg Empire right now?”
The two Penterin men had made a huge fuss, saying her human voice was adorable and pretty, and that they wanted to see her face as well.
‘They hung up while insisting they were coming to see me in person. Surely they aren’t actually coming, right?’
Jusielia felt a pang of worry.
Especially Ijeten; he was the type to do what he said he would.
Of course, Jusielia wanted to see her father and brother too, but…
The thought of them actually coming made her head spin.
They would surely dote on her to an embarrassing degree.
“Oh, that’s right, Your Highness!”
Just then, Uni exclaimed as if she’d just remembered something.
“Your birthday party is next week! Now that you’ve humanized, we need to hurry and get a party dress fitted.”
“That’s right. I forgot about that. Go call the designer back at once.”
Sophie and Uni scrambled to have the dressmaker, who had just left, brought back.
Jusielia sighed heavily. She’d liked that there was no need to dress up as a White Tiger, but now she had to deal with such bothersome things.
But then Sophie asked in a suggestive tone.
“Oh my. Then, we’ll also have to decide on a gentleman to escort our dear princess, won’t we?”
Jusielia was startled.
“An escort? For me?”
“Of course. You may be young, Your Highness, but you are a person of great importance. Naturally, you’ll need a partner to escort you at the party.”
