Chapter 32
Teyselon, who had been ostracized and deeply hurt by people, had once even considered extreme measures.
It was none other than his companion dog, Pippi, who allowed him to endure in the world.
Pippi, an abandoned dog, entered Teyselon’s world and became his reason for living.
Teyselon and Pippi were always together wherever they went.
While being with Pippi, Teyselon became more attached to animals than people, and before he knew it, he had become an animal lover.
Fifteen years passed like that, and Pippi crossed the rainbow b*idge while nestled in Teyselon’s arms.
That was two years ago.
Teyselon said.
“How soft is the fur that they say it’s incredibly soft?”
Isabel spread her fingers wide.
She pretended to push her fingers into the air.
“If you put your hand into the fur like this, it’s like putting it into a fluffy cloud.”
“……”
“My hand gets buried so I can’t see it at all.”
“You mean the fur is that thick and fluffy?”
“Yes!”
“You’re not lying, are you?”
“My hand goes in this much.”
Isabel pointed to her right wrist with her left hand.
She showed that her hand would be buried up to her wrist.
“Bring it here right now!”
Viaton looked like someone who urgently needed to use the restroom.
He didn’t fidget, but his whole body expressed anxiety.
“I need to meet the honey badger first. I’ll decide whether to help you or not after that.”
Viaton frowned.
It was an honor that the Princess herself had come to visit, but she was even giving him errands.
As the Emperor’s aide, he couldn’t just stand by and watch.
“This old geezer doesn’t even know how lucky he is.”
“Did you know about the honey badger?”
“I knew.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything?”
“The geezer didn’t ask.”
“If he doesn’t ask, you don’t say anything?”
“Is there anyone who usually answers something they weren’t asked about?”
Viaton suppressed his boiling murderous intent and forced a smile.
“I want to have a deep friendship with the geezer. Let’s share a warm friendship someday. Anyway, geezer, since the Princess has come to visit, shouldn’t you come too?”
“When did I say I’d come?”
Isabel said with an innocent smile.
“I’ll make you a lot of money too.”
“Look at the way I live. Do I look like I’m interested in money?”
“But if you make a lot of money, you can help a lot of poor animals.”
“……”
Teyselon sighed deeply.
“Alright. Let’s go. But if you’re lying, I won’t let it slide. The fur must be very, very fluffy. My hand should be buried all the way in!”
✦✦✦✦✦✦
Empress Serna was busy preparing to welcome a VIP guest.
The identity of the VIP who warranted the Empress’s personal attention was none other than Duke Rossild and his only daughter, Reina.
The influence of the Rossild Dukedom on the continent was truly immense.
『The Bilotian Imperial Family rules the continent with military power, but the Rossild Dukedom rules the continent with gold.』
Such sayings were openly circulating.
They were in charge of the continent’s finances and were one of the two Grand Duke families in the empire.
Serna said.
“Duke Rossild is very picky about his food, so we must pay special attention to even the taste of the water.”
Moreover, the Rossild Dukedom was a prestigious and long-standing dukedom.
It was a family that had been with the empire since its beginning and had close ties with the Geomrim Scholars, an organization meant to check the Imperial Palace’s power.
In other words, they were one of the forces that coexisted with and checked the Imperial Family.
✦✦✦✦✦✦
At the same time.
The carriage carrying Duke Rossild and his daughter passed through the main gate of the Imperial Palace.
Duke Rossild said.
“Reina. You haven’t forgotten what Daddy asked, have you?”
“Yes.”
Reina replied absentmindedly while looking out the window.
“What did Daddy ask for?”
“You told me to build a friendship with Michael of Arena Palace.”
Reina was the precious only daughter that Duke Rossild had at the age of 45.
The Duke loved Reina dearly, and Reina grew up without any want in that overflowing love.
“That’s right. You remember well.”
It would have been better to build friendships with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Princes if possible, but they were not currently in Arena Palace, so it couldn’t be helped.
Reina murmured with a displeased expression.
“I hate swordsmen because they’re uneducated and barbaric……”
“Don’t be too rude. He’s still a prince.”
“What if he smells like sweat? What if it’s so disgusting that I throw up?”
“It’s still within the Imperial Palace, so it won’t smell that unpleasant.”
“Look over there.”
They were just passing by a fountain shaped like a white horse.
“There’s no elaborate magic crafting, the quality is just mediocre mid-grade marble finishing, and the flooring is also just so-so. Oh my, I can’t believe this is the Imperial Palace. How much will people laugh at it?”
Ten-year-old Reina didn’t like anything about the Imperial Palace.
There were no statues of famous masters, nor were there any landscaping works by renowned landscape architects.
To her eyes, the Imperial Palace felt like a gathering place for smelly swordsmen.
“It’s sad that there’s not even a speck of elegance and grace to be found.”
“What are elegance and grace? Are they something you eat?”
Suddenly, Reina was startled.
She hurriedly reached out and pulled down the carriage window cover.
“Wh, wh, what!”
A blonde boy was running outside the window.
He was keeping pace with the carriage.
His expression was bright, but his face and hair were covered in dust.
The same was true for the uniform he was wearing.
“What’s wrong, Reina?”
“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”
I must have seen wrong.
I must have seen wrong.
What was that just now?
“Was there something?”
Duke Rossild, who dearly loved his daughter, carefully raised the cover again.
There was nothing outside.
“There was something, but I must have seen wrong.”
“I see.”
Duke Rossild stroked his daughter’s hair.
“It seems my daughter has become weak from the long carriage ride. I should feed her bear bile when we return to the Dukedom.”
✦✦✦✦✦✦
Before I could even get out of the Elbe Mountains, I reached my physical limit.
“Teacher, I’m so sleepy.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Sir Viaton held me tightly in his arms.
Being held by Sir Viaton was as comfortable as lying in bed.
He must have used some kind of magic, but I couldn’t understand the principle behind it.
“Now, Your Highness. We’ve arrived at Arena Palace.”
“Already?”
“Yes. I ran a little faster while Your Highness was sound asleep.”
But Sir Teyselon looked strange.
His legs were trembling, and he was retching, “Ugh!”
“Ran? Is that what you call running? If I ran twice like that……”
Sir Viaton covered Sir Teyselon’s mouth.
Sir Teyselon’s body slumped down, and Sir Viaton naturally carried him on his back.
“Sir Teyselon seems to be very tired as well. He seems very sleepy, so I’ll let him rest.”
“He, he looks like he fainted……”
“No. Sir Teyselon seems to be feeling a lot of physical strain due to his old age.”
Sir Viaton’s eyes curved into crescents.
Truly, he smiled so brightly.
I don’t know what happened, but that sunny smile was so warm that I smiled back.
“It’s very late. Please get some rest. I’ll visit you again tomorrow.”
Sir Viaton laid me down on the bed.
Come to think of it, where did Teyselon, who was being carried on his back until just now, go?
“Don’t do anything bad to Sir Teyselon. I want to be friends with him.”
“Flinch.”
“Don’t flinch verbally while flinching.”
“……Alright. I’ll treat him comfortably as per Your Highness’s wishes.”
“Thank you.”
He covered me with the blanket and gave me a light kiss on the forehead.
“Have a warm night.”
And that night was truly a warm one. Thanks to Honey, who snuggled into my arms.
Honey, who had met me after a long time, was wagging his tail so hard that the bed was shaking.
“You smell good.”
I buried my nose in Honey’s body and sniffed.
As always, he smelled of sweet honey.
“I’m so sleepy, Honey.”
Honey’s tail stopped as if it were a lie.
Honey’s expression seemed a little downcast.
He seemed very sad that he couldn’t play with me.
I stroked Honey’s head.
“I’ll give you a kiss when I wake up tomorrow.”
Then, a 『♩♪』 mark appeared above Honey’s head.
Hmm, why is this happening when I didn’t even use interpretation magic?
Is this also an aftereffect of the magic I used before?
My six-year-old body was too tired to think deeply about such things.
I drifted off to sleep.
I slept very deeply.
✦✦✦✦✦✦
The next day, I woke up almost at noon.
Honey was sitting on my stomach like a puppy, staring down at me.
No wonder my lower abdomen felt warm.
“Good morning.”
Honey’s body shook.
It was because his tail was flapping.
His tail wagged so hard that his whole body shook along with it.
“Does your tail have a mind of its own?”
I reached out and touched his soft fur.
But at that moment, Honey bared his teeth with a “Kyaaak!”
He had a fierce expression.
“Wh, what’s wrong? Are you angry?”
I heard a voice from outside.
The voice itself wasn’t loud, but it felt quite sharp.
“How long are you going to make me wait?”
“I apologize. It seems you’re very tired after your strenuous schedule until yesterday.”
“How dare you look me in the eye and talk back?”
“You’re the Lady who came here without an appointment.”
“So, you’re pointing out my rudeness, you little thing? I’m very displeased.”
“I apologize if you’re displeased, but…… as the nanny attending to Her Highness, I believe I’ve said what I needed to say.”
I jumped out of bed, holding Honey tightly.
Who on earth is bothering our kind nanny?
“There are always people like this. They don’t know their place and act recklessly, and only learn their lesson after being taught a harsh one.”
I opened the door.
And I saw it. A child with pink hair kicking my nanny’s shin.
