Chapter 161

TL: Zimming

‘Where are they?’

I looked around urgently.

They weren’t on this road. They’re probably out of the alley looking for me.

‘No, why are they chasing me?’

I told the guards and Zachary, who had escorted me to the palace, that I would be away for an hour or two.

The guards were a little nervous, but Zachary knew about Pur and that could call him out any time.

But they’re looking for me all of a sudden…

‘……It’s my dad. My dad’s here.’

If these orders take precedence over mine, that means it’s my father’s orders.

My mind was suddenly filled with an ominous future.

If me and Adrian were caught together, dad and brothers might…

‘Adrian might be killed… … !’

I got goosebumps when I even remembered the faces of my dad and brothers looking at Adrian.

When I was about to call Adrian, Emeline, who stared at him, took a deep breath, and continued,

“You……!”

“Emeline, Emeline!”

Tri came out of the store and grabbed her.

“Let go!”

“He’s casually spend silver. There is a high possibility that he is a nobleman. It’s such a big deal!”

Only aristocrats or wealthy people could carry a large amounts of money, such as silver and gold coins

Besides, Adrian is actually a prince. Originally, commoners and beggars would not be able to talk to them.

“Well, why would a noble come to this alley if he wasn’t crazy! I’m sure he’s a bastard child at best.”

“Emeline…….”

“Is there a noble who didn’t learn manners? It’s the most important thing to not look down on your opponent. History warns that what we considered a blunt stick could at some point become a blade and aim at your neck. Don’t you know that?”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

It was understandable because it was not a sentence that would come out of the mouth of a child.

These were sentences noble children usually learn when they were young.

Emeline snorted and crossed her arms.

“I gave you the change as a favor. But you humiliated me by telling me to get out of here. Apologize.”

“You don’t seem to remember the phrase, ‘Look back on yourself before pointing out the rudeness of others.’”

“……What?”

Adrian looked at Emeline with cold eyes.

“I’m currently escorting.”

It is rude to have a conversation with someone of the opposite sex while escorting a woman.

I was wearing a hoodie, Emily couldn’t have known that I was a woman.

‘Even so, I am only nine years old.’

Emeline blushed and said, “Well, that’s……!” as Adrian lightly wrapped his arms around me.

“I was just being polite not to rip and kill someone who was disrespectful to my partner.”

“…….”

“If you knew, get out of here.”

Emeline trembled with her fists clenched, and Adrian passed by without even looking at her.

I heard Tri comforting Emeline from behind. Emeline was still angry and shouted, “There’s something like that! But…”

***

As we left the area where the shop was, I sighed and took off my hood. I could no longer hear the Knight’s shouting.

‘They won’t come here, right?”

They wouldn’t think a Lady would come here, even more when I’m with Adrian, a prince.

In my first life, Johann and Adrian acted like they would kill each other whenever they met. There were times when they actually almost killed each other. Knowing this well, I became more and more anxious.

‘I can’t let them attack each other.’

Isaac has bad self control.

If Adrian is beaten, we don’t know what the emperor will ask for.

It was worrisome that the emperor would not miss that chance if that was to happen, acting as if it was out of affection for his son.

‘Adrian might be hurt.’

As I clenched his fists, Adrian asked.

“Are you okay?”

“Huh?”

“You look nervous.”

I stared at Adrian with a worried expression.

“Looking at it like this, I don’t think there’s anyone that is nice to everyone in the world.”

I grinned and continued,

“I was surprised earlier when you told Emeline to get lost. You looked really scary.”

“……You don’t like scary people?”

I tilted my head.

“That’s not the case.”

“……?”

“It’s better than being silly and nice to everyone. If he’s a good guy to me, I don’t really care much about his other side.”

Adrian, who had not spoken for a while stared at me, so I asked him,

“Why?”

When I asked, he answered.

“You always give answers out of my expectations.”

I playfully mimicked Adrian’s question.

“You don’t like people who answer differently than expected?”

“No, I like it.”

“Well, that’s great.”

I giggled and looked around.

‘Present. Let’s buy him a present and go back. What does Adrian need?’

Just in time, I saw a fountain pen shop. This is one of the few specialty shops in the alley. Every place in the alley was a general store because it was hard to make ends meet, so they sell all kinds of things.

‘There’s got to be something good.’

I grabbed Adrian’s wrist and pointed to the fountain pen shop.

“How about that? Your present.”

“Sure.”

I entered the store with a big smile and said “Let’s go, then!” vigorously.

We looked into the fountain pen display case together after being greeted by the clerk.

“Black is pretty, too. The one with the snake pattern.”

“Yeah. Pretty.”

“How’s red? It doesn’t have a pattern, but I think it looks cleaner.”

“Alright.”

“And that navy blue…….”

“I’ll take that.”

I squinted and slapped Adrian on the back. Then he opened his eyes wide in surprise.

“Pretty, nice. Don’t say that and choose what you like. You can express your opinion, idiot!”

“…….”

I’m upset. This kid was still a little boy. Boys around the age of Adrian were naughty and expressed their opinion freely, there was even a saying in the empire that kids at age 13 were devils.

Losing his mother upon his birth, and whose only goal was to live peacefully, this child would naturally never express his opinion.

“Choose. Slowly!”

Adrian looked at me with trembling eyes and turned to the display case. Slowly looking at the product, he pointed to a fountain pen in the corner of the display case.

A blue fountain pen with a light brown strap.

“Do you like that?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you choose it because it’s the cheapest? There’s something better.”

As it was cheap, the design was a little rustic.

“I like this.”

He looked at me with a rarely-seen stubborn face. I stared into his eyes and nodded with a smile.

‘Anyway, it’s his choice.’

“Give it a try. See if it’s comfortable.”

When I asked the clerk if we could try a fountain pen in display, she said, “Of course!” and brought out a parchment.

Adrian carefully grabbed the fountain pen that the clerk had put the ink in.

‘His hands looked so beautiful.’

“Oh, your hands looked so beautiful.”

The clerk made a fuss and nodded.

‘Right, right.’

It was nice to see his long, smooth fingers moving lightly.

Come to think of it, there’s nothing ugly about this kid. Not only his appearance, but also his voice is so sweet that I can fall asleep whenever I listen to him, even his nails were so beautiful. He’s like a work of art God carefully crafted.

“What do you think, easy to use?”

“Yes.”

“Said it honestly!”

“……I think the pen is too thick.”

Then the clerk smiled kindly and said, “Our store is customizable. You can make the pen thinner.”

“Really?”

“Of course, there are many shapes you can choose from.”

The clerk showed various sizes. I looked at Adrian, pointing to a flat pen.

“How about this? I think it’ll be comfortable.”

Because in a few years, this shape of pen will be a trend.

Adrian grabbed the pen awkwardly. It looks sloppy because he did not support the flat part with a thumb.

“No, it’s not like that. The flat part…….”

When I grabbed his hand to fix his grip,

“You must be having fun with my daughter.”

Four men with a grim expression stormed in through the door.

What is up with their pose?

“D, dad…….”

“Come here.”

“Dad this…….”

“Let go of that hand.”

I gulped and stayed motionless.

As I was stiff and unable to move, my family spoke again,

“Come here, Blaine.”

“Let go of that hand.”

“Leblaine.”

“Kid!”

As I approached my family, Isaac grabbed my hand and rubbed it against my coat.

“You bring my sister out, huh?”

“No, I’m the one who brought him…….”

Isaac was visibly mad, Henry smiled incredibly bright that it gave me goosebumps, as Johann had the usual look on his face, though his eyes were tearing Adrian apart. They’re really scary.

Dad spoke to Adrian,

“What were you doing here?”

“It’s Adrian’s birthday, so I brought him out. To buy a fountain pen…….”

My family looked at me at once.

“Adrian?”

“A-dri-an?!”

“You call him by his name?”

“…….”

Johann, Isaac, Henry, and dad said in order. I quickly changed my words and said, “Oh, no, I mean second prince…….”

I’m just here to buy my friend a birthday present, but why do I feel like a criminal…….

“A present…….”

“A fountain pen? I didn’t get it from the kid!”

“Amazing.”

“…….”

It’s unfair. I gave presents to my family on their birthdays. I just didn’t give them a fountain pen.

How should I deal with this? While I was contemplating, Adrian bowed down.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why?”

“I know you must have been very worried because she came to an unsafe place with me without contact. Leblaine was considerate of me, so please rebuke me.”

It was a very polite apology. It was not common for the emperor’s son to apologize this much.

I was restless and hung on my dad’s arm.

“No. I came here because I was stubborn. I’m telling you the truth!”

Dad kept an eye on Adrian, who was still looking down with a cold face.

“Don’t meet my daughter in the future.”

“Dad!”

“You don’t look stupid enough to not know about your circumtances. Always keep in mind that my daughter is valuable.”

“Ah-”

I frowned as Isaac and Henry grabbed me.

“Father is not wrong. Friendship with a royal is not great.”

“Yes, kid.”

I cried out.

“I told him to come with me. I’m the one who chose, so I’m the one who should takes responsibility. I am not a baby! But my brothers are making me a bad kid who puts my blame on my friend.”

“Blaine.”

My dad called me, as John pulled my wrist.

“Let’s go.”

I was captured by my brothers and looked at Adrian.

I felt bad when I saw the child standing there alone.

***

The mansion was reportedly turned upside down looking for me. Mages were even called in to search for me.

“You’re gonna get in trouble, kid!”

Isaac said with a stern look.

I sat on the sofa with a sullen face and looked at my dad and brothers surrounding me.

“I went out with my friend.”

“But you made us worried.”

Dad said coldly. Normally I’d feel guilty, but this time I didn’t back down either.

“I go to the store every time. You said I can walk around freely because you believed me.”

“I said you need to have an escort with you right?”

“There was Pur. Pur is more powerful than an escort!”

When I shouted with a stubborn expression on my face, my dad and my brothers were startled. It was because I had never rebelled against him as much as this.

Adrian’s birthday was today. The first birthday someone took care of him.

I felt really sad when I remembered the scene of him smiling brightly and packing the candle.

Henry said,

“But you were with the second prince. He has a lot of enemies…….”

“Dubbled has a lot of enemies. There will be more than Adrian. Then should I stay at home without going anywhere?”

“But…….”

“I know my family loves me. But you shouldn’t hurt others.”

Henry didn’t say anything anymore. The four looked at each other. The hot-tempered Isaac said with an almost teary face.

“No way! The second prince is even worse. That bastard is worse than the other bastards!”

“Why only Adrian? What about the maids and the ladies.”

“He’s a boy!”

“Isaac is a boy too. Then I shouldn’t play with Isaac either.”

“If you can’t, you can’t! Guys are all sneaky! Kid, they’re only looking for a chance to propose to you!”

“No.”

“That’s right! Since you’re the cutest in the world!”

I can’t communicate with him. Arguing with only strange logic did not give me more energy to talk.

My family members who would tell him not to speak nonsense are quiet.

I got up, glanced at them. Then went up to my room while stamping my feet. My family followed me into the room.

“Leblaine, we were just worried about you.”

“Yes, kid. Don’t be angry and let’s eat ice cream. There is an apple sherbet that you like.”

“There’s salmon too.”

This time, it seemed like they were trying to soothe me gently.

Isaac tilted his head when he saw me, after receiving an apple sherbet from the maid.

“……What are you doing?”

I lay with my hands folded as if I were lying in a coffin without a blanket.

Then I answered my family with my eyes closed.

“I’m going to sleep without a blanket from today.”

“What?”

“K, kid!”

“……!”

“…….”

My frustrated family rushed to bed, but I said casually.

“I’m going to catch a cold. Cough, cough”

“C, coward!”

“Leblaine!”

“Let’s calm down and talk it out.”

“Blaine!”

My family didn’t know what to do, and there was a wailing sound coming from around us.

“Oh my, Lady!”

“Oh no!”

When I opened my eyes slightly, the servants were on their knees and weeping.

The chairman, who was passing near my room, shook his head as if he saw something ridiculous.

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