Derek, already terrified, hung his head low.
Thus, the approaching sound of Serdin’s footsteps grew louder and more threatening.
A shadow fell over his head.
It was Serdin’s outstretched arm.
Derek’s body instinctively tensed even more.
Serdin’s hand, which had been reaching into the air, settled on Derek’s shoulder with a gentle tap.
Serdin smiled at Derek.
“Thank you for apologizing. I’m glad you learned from this mistake.”
“….…Uh.”
“And from now on, it would be wise to be more cautious with your words and actions.”
“……..…!”
Serdin kindly forgave the children and gave them a lesson.
“It’s nice to see.”
Delight finally showed a satisfied smile.
“Since the princess and Prince Serdin, who were directly involved, have forgiven, let’s put this matter to rest.”
“……Thank you.”
Duke Syaf stepped forward to thank them on behalf of the children and their parents.
As they quietly breathed a sigh of relief and tried to gather the children to leave, Delight continued coldly.
“Even if one can speak, if they learn to lie and behave badly…”
Delight glared at the children as he continued.
“…it’s worse than not being able to speak at all.”
The children’s heads hung low.
“This time, thanks to my just and spirited princess, there was no misunderstanding.”
Delight subtly boasted about the princess as if she were the greatest person in the world.
It seemed he was so impressed that it didn’t matter if she couldn’t speak.
‘Huh? It seems like we’ve bought some time?’
An unexpected benefit.
The corners of the mouth kept twitching upwards.
Serdin, who had just been quietly watching, seemed to notice this.
However, when I looked at him after feeling his gaze, he was looking elsewhere.
‘Was it my imagination?’
***
Ouch-!
It hurts, it hurts!
Why does it hurt so much? Usually, I’m so numb that I can’t even feel pain.
Just touching the ground stings and hurts a lot. Tears welled up under my eyes.
“It’s a relief that there’s no problem with the bone. I was really worried something serious happened.”
The doctor’s diagnosis was just a severe swelling.
‘Even so, it really hurts.’
I couldn’t believe that I was incapacitated by such a minor injury.
“Princess, it must hurt a lot, right? How painful and frustrating it must be…”
Monia placed a hot towel on my left ankle. Then, she brought some medicine and poured it into my mouth with a spoon.
“Take it slowly, little by little. Now, say ah-.”
Ugh. Ptooey-!
Bitter. It was so bitter it felt like eating dirt! The taste was so horrible that it made me forget the pain as soon as it touched my tongue.
When was the last time medicine was taken? It had been so long that it was forgotten.
Every medicine in existence tastes absolutely horrible!
After being forced to take medicine during the magic training days, no medicine was taken no matter how many bones were broken or how many wounds were stitched up.
But in a baby’s body, there’s no choice but to take whatever is given.
“It tastes bad, right? But you have to endure it. You need to get better quickly.”
Monia wiped my mouth as I spit and dribbled, making sure I took every last drop.
“Just hang in there for a little while. You only have to take it for a week.”
A week?
Not just a day or two, but a whole week of this dreadful stuff. My mouth already feels dry, and cold sweat is breaking out.
This won’t do. I must never get hurt again. I will never take medicine again.
“You shouldn’t spill it. Shall Dad help you?”
“!”
Delight, who had appeared at some point, wiped the spilled medicine and spoke.
“Monia, if Ollia doesn’t want to take her medicine from now on, bring her to me. I’ll make sure she takes it.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“You need to take your medicine to get better quickly.”
Delight sternly admonished while feeding me the medicine.
Ugh. You hated taking medicine as a kid and secretly threw it in the dirt.
But Delight diligently fed me the medicine without regard for my feelings.
Meanwhile, Zaire, who had come with him, resumed his halted report.
“We received a message this morning that Duke Syaf had an accident and will be immobile for at least three months.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
Huh? Duke Syaf?
Hearing the familiar title made me blink and perk up my ears, and Zaire continued his report.
“And Viscount Ander was swindled. He claims it’s unfair, but… there doesn’t seem to be any evidence to prove his case.”
“Cluck. That’s why people shouldn’t do wrong. That’s why this happened. It’s really unlucky.”
“Yes, it’s very unfortunate.”
Delight’s shameless smile and Zaire’s expressionless face created a fantastically discordant harmony.
It seemed merciful, but in reality, he was quite petty.
Snicker.
Why do I keep wanting to laugh? I don’t find this funny at all. Hehehe.
“My Ollia seems to like it too?”
“Is that so?”
Zaire turned to look at me when Delight spoke.
“Those who do wrong must eventually pay for it. My Olia understands this. She’s so smart.”
“……..…”
Delight’s satisfied expression gave rise to a complex mix of feelings, but… oh well.
“Hehehehe!”
It’s best to just laugh out loud in situations like this.
However, it seemed nothing had happened to the Marquess of Flint, who was involved in yesterday’s incident.
Did Delight let the Marquess off the hook?
Then, Zaire, as if he had just remembered, spoke up.
“By the way, the Marquess of Flint completed the donation procedures this morning. It will be very helpful.”
“The Marquess himself mentioned it first.”
“Yes. Moreover, they donated more than expected.”
“Really? That’s just like the Marquess of Flint.”
Delight raised an eyebrow and nodded in satisfaction.
Aha. So that’s how it is.
The Marquess of Flint had precisely understood the severity of the situation and promised Delight a donation first, seeking forgiveness.
He proved his remorse while simultaneously making a deal.
Reasonable.
‘The Marquess of Flint, I quite like him.’
He discerned the situation well and reacted swiftly, indicating that his business will likely prosper rather than fail.
Keeping him close would be useful.
‘Anyway…’
Delight’s adept handling of this situation was rather impressive.
***
Delight’s sharp gaze turned towards Serdin.
“You protected my daughter.”
“….……”
However, Delight did not look grateful at all.
“I heard you almost got seriously injured too. Why did you do it?”
“Even if it weren’t the princess, I would have done the same.”
For the first time since entering the room, Serdin looked up and stared directly at the emperor.
“It would be stranger to ignore someone in danger.”
It was an exemplary answer. Delight seemed more irked by it, frowning deeply.
“Tell me what you want. I will reward you.”
As Delight praised Serdin’s actions, the boy’s face brightened slightly.
“But do not linger around my daughter anymore.”
Delight warned Serdin and drew a firm line.
“…………”
The boy’s lips moved as if to explain, but he didn’t speak.
“If you’re going to say something tedious, it’s better to keep quiet.”
Any further words would have backfired. Delight wasn’t interested in any excuses from the start.
“I already know you’ve been hanging around the princess.”
Serdin spoke firmly.
“I don’t know your intentions, but since you saved the princess this time, I’ll let it slide.”
“….……”
“So it’s best to ask for an appropriate reward.”
This was clearly a test. Delight’s decision would depend on Serdin’s response.
“Not answering means you want nothing in return?”
Delight asked once more.
Serdin, who had been staring at his knees, lifted his head and spoke.
“I will tell you. What I want as a reward is…”
Serdin calmly stated his request.
