Serdin has no choice but to be kind to me anyway… isn’t that convenient for me?
In that case, maybe I should use Serdin a little…
Just as that thought crossed my mind.
“Isn’t it quite nice?”
The gentle voice in my ear snapped me back to reality.
What the! I’m thinking just as that guy wanted me to!
Get a grip! I shook my head vigorously and tried to stand up.
“Ouch!”
But as soon as I got up, I fell back down.
Oh right. I hurt my leg.
I had forgotten because I was too focused on Serdin.
It hurts…
“Why are you moving all of a sudden? We’re almost done here.”
Serdin placed the headband, which he had set aside for a moment, back on my head as he held me steady. He then smiled with satisfaction.
“Omoya!”
What’s your deal? If you have something to say, just say it properly!
“Huh? I have no idea what you’re saying.”
“Ugh…”
Annoying as he was, I couldn’t find the words to respond.
I bowed my head slightly and sat quietly.
“Let’s go now.”
Finally, Serdin stood up, and despite his teasing expression, he carefully carried me.
“Princess, may I ask you something?”
“Uh?”
What is he going to ask?
Not that I would answer, but let’s hear it.
“Earlier, when you were alone. Did I…”
Gulp.
Hey, why are you digging up old issues? It’s already over.
I tensed up without realizing it, gripping his arm.
“Oh? You flinched just now. Is there something you’re hiding?”
Serdin, not missing a beat, turned his head slightly towards me as he spoke.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the conversation couldn’t continue.
“What is happening here?”
It was because of a voice that was heard not long after.
***
When the children returned to the garden where they were having a picnic after leaving the princess and Serdin…
They almost stopped breathing.
The children’s parents and the Emperor were waiting for them.
“Where have you been playing?”
“Where is the princess?”
“Didn’t she go out with you?”
When the princess was nowhere to be seen, the noble parents started questioning their children.
“Well, that…”
Under the pressure of the adults, the children began to sweat. They hadn’t expected the Emperor and the other adults to be in the garden, and they were flustered.
Delight’s eyes grew increasingly fierce as he sensed the awkward atmosphere among the children.
“Where is the princess now?”
The stern question dropped.
Gulp.
Pressed by the Emperor’s intimidating presence, no one dared to answer, just glancing at each other nervously.
“Y-your Majesty, there’s trouble! The princess…!”
Zaynan shouted urgently.
***
“Ouch…”
A groan escaped reflexively as pressure was applied to my leg.
“Aaargh…!”
Delight’s brows furrowed as I let out a pained sound.
Simultaneously, everyone present flinched, though for different reasons.
Serdin’s furrowed brow showed he was worried about my condition.
Zaynan, the children, and their parents flinched, fearing Delight’s reaction.
“Fortunately, there are no fractures. With proper medication and enough rest, you should recover. However, you must be careful for a while,”
The doctor said, his face visibly relieved. Delight had been glaring at him the whole time he was examining me, so the doctor must have felt immense pressure ease off.
“No matter how heavy Ollia gets, I can lift her with one arm. Don’t worry. I’ll carry you until you’re fully healed.”
No need for that.
Wait, did he just call me heavy? I’m not heavy! What is he talking about?
I tried to shake him off irritably.
“Be careful. If you hurt your arm too, Dad’s have to feed you.”
“…………”
Ugh.
Is he mad at me?
He’s upset because I got hurt. What a small-minded person. Geez.
After checking my condition, Delight glanced around.
The message was clear: Explain what happened.
In the end, Zaynan, who had been nervously observing the situation, spoke up again.
“Your Majesty, we briefly lost sight of the princess. When we went to look for her, that prince, who was supposed to be a hostage, approached and threatened her. Moreover, he didn’t let her go…”
Zaynan pointed at Serdin as he spoke.
“We failed to protect the princess.”
Zaynan’s lengthy explanation ended with Miller straightening up and reflecting on his failure.
When they brought Serdin to where Delight was…
Those children were lying without changing their expressions.
“Your Majesty, please forgive the children. They are still young and must have been scared,”
Said Duke Syaf, placing a hand on Zaynan’s trembling shoulder.
“Allowing the prince of a hostile nation to roam freely in the palace was a dangerous decision from the start,”
The parents of the children accused Delight.
Serdin glared at them fiercely but bit his lip without saying anything.
It seemed he knew that no one would believe him no matter what he said.
Still, he should tell the truth! Why is he being so frustratingly silent?
“Prince Serdin, what were you doing there?”
Then, Delight asked him.
“I was on a walk.”
Serdin’s voice was a bit shaky, but he appeared composed.
“The place you were is quite far from where you usually stay. Do you often take walks there?”
Delight inquired, already knowing Serdin’s usual routes.
A lie would only make him more suspicious.
Serdin bit his lower lip and hesitated before answering.
“No, I have gone there for walks before, but today, I went there deliberately.”
At Serdin’s response, the children smirked as if saying, ‘I knew it.’
Delight’s eyes grew colder.
“Why?”
“I heard there was a picnic at the palace today and got curious. I hadn’t seen other children around here who were similar to me, so I wanted to see them.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. I just wanted to watch from a distance. Then I saw the princess alone.”
“Then why did you drive the children away?”
Serdin, who had been answering calmly, closed his mouth for a moment. He glanced sharply at the children before speaking.
“Because I didn’t trust them.”
“What? Who’s the least trustworthy person here…!”
“I thought it would be safer if I took care of her.”
Ignoring Zaynan’s outburst, Serdin answered straightforwardly.
The atmosphere had grown even tenser.
At this rate, it would be concluded that Serdin had deliberately approached and injured me.
Even though he had other motives, he did help me.
I can’t let those despicable kids get away with this.
Ugh.
Since I couldn’t speak, they were ignoring me and trying to pin everything on Serdin.
I was three years old now.
Despite my circumstances preventing me from speaking, a three-year-old could still do quite a bit.
Three years old means that much growth!
If not by words, I could express myself through writing, or find another way.
I tugged on Delight’s arm and shook my head vigorously.
“Aiyaaaa!”
That’s not all of it.
“Ibwaaa!”
Hold on. Where is the paper in this room.
Wherever I went, there were toys and drawing tools to play with when I got bored.
I quickly found them by looking around.
Swish swish-
I immediately started drawing.
In no time, I finished five dynamic and vivid drawings.
‘Great. Detailed enough.’
This should make it clear what happened!
…Although the result was far below my past skill level.
“Dadada!”
Look, see? Now you all understand, right?
I proudly held out my drawings.
But Delight’s reaction was unexpected.
“Ha. As expected, you draw well. Let’s frame and keep all of these.”
Now’s not the time to admire my drawings!
Just as I was about to thump my chest in frustration.
“Now that the important drawings are secured, let’s move on to the next issue.”
Although the sequence of the issue seemed to have changed… before I knew it, Delight’s expression had turned sharp.
