[Episode 150] - A Day as a Ten-Year-Old
The next morning.
Having quietly slipped from the embrace of Titania, who was asleep while hugging me, I began taking a stroll around the royal palace with Ainsel hanging around my neck. I had woken up far too early, and I was bored.
Perhaps because I had gone to bed too early. Ever since becoming a child, I had developed a habit of sleeping early and waking early. At first, I had been frightened—wondering if my adult mind was being dragged along by my child's body—but...
Fortunately, I hadn't felt my mind regressing to infancy so far. The only things that had changed were my tastes—I had come to like sweet things—and going to bed and waking up early? Aside from that, I was still fine.
While walking down the early morning corridor with quick, light steps, I began to hear the sounds of the royal palace's morning starting up. The sounds of breakfast being prepared in the kitchen, the sounds of maids moving busily. And so on—
For some reason, the noisy sounds echoing throughout the royal palace put me in a good mood. As I walked down the corridor listening to those sounds of daily life, Ainsel let out a small sigh and spoke to me.
"...Aren't you a bit too wrapped around the Princess's finger these days?"
"Huh? What do you mean all of a sudden?"
"...I haven't been able to say anything because I haven't had a chance to step in lately, but from what I see, you seem too wrapped around the Princess's finger. Ever since you became younger, I suppose you could say it feels like your relationship has been reversed?"
"Reversed?"
When I lowered my head to look at Ainsel hanging around my neck, she put a hand on her cheek with an expression of sighing, as if she were truly worried that I was being wrapped around Titania's finger.
"At this rate, I'm worried you'll really get devoured by the Princess..."
"...Devoured?"
"You know what I mean, right? The metaphor humans use when they have interc—"
"Uwaaaah!!"
At the sudden bizarre remark, I covered my ears without thinking and screamed randomly like a child. What kind of story is this fairy bringing up so early in the morning?!
"...Anyway, I've just been anxious every time I see you and the Princess lately, so I thought I'd mention it."
"Ugh..."
"...Well, if you're fine with it, I won't concern myself anymore, but..."
"No... Thanks for telling me."
It was true; as Ainsel said, I had been too wrapped around Titania's finger lately. The kisses that had started under the excuse of a curse had somehow turned into kisses that happened whenever there was a free moment.
And if Ainsel was telling me this, it must really be bad. I had thought I was maintaining the line as best I could, but lately, even that line had started to feel ambiguous.
'As I thought, should I keep a bit of distance? These days, she hardly listens to what I say. I had just let it go until now... but at least I should distance myself in a way that reduces the kissing...'
As I walked down the corridor wondering what to do, I saw a familiar face walking toward me from the end of the hallway. A glittering face approaching, reflecting the pouring morning sunlight with its scalp.
I frowned at that sun-like face and approached him with quick steps. Just what had he put on his head to make it shine so brightly from the morning?!
"Baeng— Chancellor!"
"Lady Lily. Good morning. You're up early again today."
Baengsyo greeted me with a sun-like smile. I would have normally just exchanged greetings and parted ways, but it was different now that I was younger. As if it were only natural, I reached out and held both hands together, offering them to Baengsyo.
Baengsyo couldn't hide his bewilderment as he looked at my two hands clearly demanding something. Making a bitter expression as he looked down at me, Baengsyo glanced around to check if anyone was there—
"...This is a secret from Her Majesty."
After pulling several candies from his inner pocket, he placed them one by one on the palm of my outstretched hand. Looking at the candies neatly placed on my palm, I looked at Baengsyo and smiled bashfully.
Ever since becoming a child, my tastes had changed to those of a child, unlike before. So because I kept looking for snacks and candies whenever I got the chance, I had eventually gotten banned from snacks by Titania.
Was it revenge from when she was young?
I don't think I ever stopped Titania from having snacks when she was young...
Having had even my after-meal desserts confiscated, I had no choice but to act exactly like Titania when she was young. That is, picking the pockets of passing people like Baengsyo or the maids.
One thing I had learned from living in the royal palace for over ten years was that the inner pockets of nobles and maids were stuffed with candies and snacks for when their blood sugar dropped.
Knowing that, there was no reason not to pick the pockets of nobles and maids. If you held out both hands to passing nobles like this, snacks came in on their own.
'Being in a child's body is nice. You just hold out your hand and snacks come right in.'
I put the candies in my pocket just like that, then took out just one and began tearing open the wrapper. Then Baengsyo cleared his throat, squatted down to meet my eyes, and asked me:
"Might you have any plans this afternoon?"
"Huh? Ah... I don't think so."
I have plenty of time, after all.
The moment I finished unwrapping the candy and put the round hard candy in my mouth—
"Then, perhaps, regarding the event being held at the royal palace today—"
"Kgh...!"
"L-Lady Lily?"
"Kgheek..."
The instant I sucked on the candy, my eyes, nose, and mouth converged toward the center of my face. My facial features scrunched up toward the middle, and it felt like the whole world was turning yellow.
I had tasted all kinds of candies until now, but I had never expected such a malicious candy to exist here either. I had only sucked on it once, yet the foul smell rising from my mouth every time I breathed was tormenting.
I spat out the candy that was spreading a stench in my mouth—blegh—and grabbed Baengsyo's collar, bawling. Baengsyo, how could you feed me something like this...! You baldy!!
"Bweh! I-It smells like red ginseng...!"
"Huh? Red ginseng? These are candies made by boiling premium medicinal herbs from the Eastern Regions. My children sent them to me with wishes for my health these days—"
I couldn't even swallow my saliva, drooling profusely while tears trickled down. I didn't know if my sense of bitterness had changed since developing a child's palate, or if this red ginseng candy was just terribly nasty.
The red ginseng-flavored candy that Baengsyo had given me was, in any case, not something I could possibly eat. In the end, unable to bear it, I left Baengsyo behind and began running down the corridor to find water.
"Bwehhh...!"
*
After suffering from the terrible red ginseng candy from the morning, I decided to spend the morning by Titania's side as usual. Well, saying I was by her side just meant being together in Titania's office.
And today was...
"So, the reason you were crying your eyes out since morning was all because of a candy?"
"That's not it..."
...a day when even Veronica was in the office.
When I glared at Veronica while groaning, she was busy smiling with the corners of her eyes still curved, as if she had no intention of stopping her teasing. Really, news of my bawling this morning had already spread...
I sent Titania a look asking her to stop Veronica, but Titania just giggled as she looked at me. So, there were no allies for me here, were there?
"If you keep this up, I'm going back to my—"
Knock knock—
"Your Majesty, it is Baengsyo. May I request permission to enter?"
The moment I was about to say I would return to my room, I heard a knocking sound followed by Baengsyo's voice. As soon as the knocking was heard, Veronica hid her figure with magic as if accustomed to doing so.
After confirming that Veronica had disappeared, Titania let out a small sigh and answered.
"Come in."
"Excuse me."
Baengsyo, who had entered the office cautiously, slowly approached Titania. Titania set down the documents she had been reading for a moment and raised her head to look at Baengsyo.
Simply by the two making eye contact, the atmosphere felt somewhat hostile. Did Titania still hate Baengsyo? With her brow furrowed, Titania let out a small sigh and asked Baengsyo:
"What is it?"
"This afternoon, is there not an event where noble children are invited to tour the royal palace? Explaining the kingdom's history while walking through the main palace with the noble children..."
"...Yes, there was."
"I was thinking that it might be good for Lady Lily to attend that event as well..."
"Lily?"
Titania frowned as if displeased, asking Baengsyo again. Seeing Titania's reaction, Baengsyo's Adam's apple bobbed as if nervous, and he slowly continued his explanation.
"It is simply an event with good intentions, so I thought it would be good for Lady Lily to attend as well. Many children will be coming, so it is also an opportunity for Lady Lily to make friends—"
Really, it was purely good intentions.
I was currently a ten-year-old child. Moreover, at this age, it wouldn't be strange to be in a 'children's social circle.' Baengsyo had made the proposal solely to help me.
After thinking for a moment, Titania soon turned her head and stared at me intently. With a gaze that seemed to ask me to decide, I had no choice but to let out a deep sigh and hop down from the chair.
I would just get teased by the others if I stayed here anyway. It wouldn't be bad to go take a little walk. I grabbed Baengsyo's hand tightly and replied awkwardly with a bashful smile.
"W-Wow! That sounds fun! I really want to attend!"
"I see. But if Her Majesty..."
"There's no reason to stop her if Lily wants to go. You may go."
As soon as Titania gave her permission, I held Baengsyo's hand tight and led him outside the door. It was because I didn't want to see the awkward relationship between Titania and Baengsyo.
'I wish those two would make up quickly...'
Holding Baengsyo's hand, I headed to the garden on the first floor of the royal palace.
It seemed the preparations for the event were already finished, as young noble children were gathered in clusters, talking amongst themselves. Baengsyo approached the children and clapped his hands to focus their attention on him.
"From now on, please follow me. If you leave the group without permission, the guards will scold you, so please be careful."
"Yes, sir!"
The event Baengsyo had mentioned was an annual event where the royal palace was opened. It was an event where noble children were invited to tour the main palace, building friendships among the children while learning the kingdom's history.
Which meant, in other words...
"This portrait is of His Majesty the reigning king from three hundred years ago—"
...that this was an extremely boring event.
At Baengsyo's voice explaining things as if reading from a textbook, the children were on the verge of total annihilation. Some dozed off standing up, some stood blankly, and some chatted with other children.
In the first place, would children who weren't even ten yet remember anything from continuously reciting boring stories about the kingdom's history? The number of children properly listening to Baengsyo's explanation was few enough to count on one hand.
At the moment when I too was so sleepy that I was yawning wide enough to tear my mouth—
"Now, now. Please pay attention."
Clap— Baengsyo clapped his hands to focus the children's attention on him and smiled brightly.
"Once the earlier event concludes, we will hold a 'game' in the garden. We have prepared special prizes and snacks as well, so please focus just a little longer."
"Yes~"
At the word 'game' being held in the garden, the children's eyes began to come alive. Moreover, the words 'special prizes' were enough to heighten the children's concentration.
Seeing the children's concentration return, Baengsyo let out a small snicker and resumed his explanation, looking at the portrait again. Truly, in a voice that was extremely boring and sleepy.
*
"The game we will play now is, precisely, 'Treasure Hunt.' I have hidden treasures around the garden of this royal palace that you must find. The hints are written only on this 'treasure map.'"
Baengsyo smiled broadly as he handed each child a sheet of paper. Riddles were written on the papers, and those riddles served as hints to find the treasures—a 'game' of that sort.
The moment I saw the riddle written on the paper, I knew exactly where in the garden it pointed. I'd lived here for several years—of course I could get this right away.
But as an adult, I couldn't steal the opportunity for the children to enjoy themselves. Just as I was thinking I'd take it easy, Baengsyo suddenly spat out something dreadful.
"Before you go treasure hunting, please form groups of three with your close friends."
...What? With close friends?
When I turned my head to look at the children, they began forming groups with practiced ease. Come to think of it, the children had already solidified their connections in the 'children's social circle.' So groups formed easily, but...
'I'm not one of them...'
While I stood there at a loss, two children who had also failed to form a group caught my eye. In the end, I approached them and smiled awkwardly.
Outcasts smiling awkwardly at one another. We were smiling, but it wasn't really smiling. Honestly, I felt like crying. To think Baengsyo would do something so cruel...
I forced a smile and greeted the two who had become my group members.
"I'm... Lily. Please take care of me."
"I-I'm Luise. Please take care of me..."
"I'm Ignet. Please take care of me."
Luise, with platinum blonde hair like ripe ears of grain, and Ignet, with hair as red as the sunset. These two were my group members. Once our rough introductions were finished, Baengsyo cleared his throat and continued the explanation.
"The time limit is two hours. Now then—"
Baengsyo turned his head and looked at the clock tower in the distance. At the sight, all the children looked up at the clock tower following Baengsyo's lead. The hand moved with each tick, and the moment it struck the hour—
Clap!
"We begin now!"
With the sound of Baengsyo's clap, the treasure hunt began. The children divided into two types: those who solved the riddle on the spot, and those who started moving while trying to figure it out.
But we just stood there stiffly in an awkward atmosphere, unable to do anything. I turned my head and asked my group members.
"By any chance, do you want to look for the treasure?"
"Y-yes...?"
"No... you all just seemed uninterested. If you're not interested in the treasure, it might be better to rest in the shade for a while..."
To be honest, I wasn't particularly interested either. What was the point of an adult joining a children's game? It would be more worthwhile to just take a nap under a nearby tree until the treasure hunt ended.
...But the two seemed to feel differently. Luise, her platinum blonde hair swaying, cautiously approached me and spoke in a whisper. Was she an extremely timid person?
"I-I... want to find the treasure... Even if it's nothing special... I need the 'story' of having found it..."
At the mention of needing a story, Ignet nodded as if in agreement.
'A story...'
She must mean a story to bring up in the children's social circle. The children before me were essentially outcasts from that social circle. That must be why they couldn't even form a group and ended up with me, someone completely unconnected to them.
I smiled as if I had no choice, then turned my back and started heading somewhere. The two were bewildered by my sudden solo action, but soon began slowly following behind me.
"U-um, where are you going...?!"
"Where else?"
I turned my head and grinned at the two.
"To find the treasure."
*
The riddle was something easily solved by anyone who had lived here a long time.
Something like, 'Head toward where the lion opens its mouth.' There were several lion statues in the garden, but only one had its mouth open. This was about the level of a children's riddle, after all.
As we pushed through the bushes and headed toward the lion statue with its mouth open, someone stood waiting with arms crossed, looking at us as if he had been expecting us.
No way... why is that person here again?
"Minister of Education... sir...?"
When I called out to the Minister of Education as if dumbfounded, he raised a finger and began clicking his tongue.
"...Wrong. I am the Minister of Riddles guarding the treasure map. If you want to know where the treasure is, you must satisfy me... kuhuhu..."
"......"
An old white-haired man laughing kuhuhu wasn't the least bit scary. Did ministers have nothing better to do? What were Baengsyo and the Minister of Education even doing?
"That aside... you arrived faster than I expected. Did you already know this place?"
"Ah... yes..."
The Minister of Education laughed kuhuhu again and beckoned us to come closer. As we slowly approached at his gesture, the Minister puffed out his chest with arms crossed and soon opened his mouth.
"But... the second trial will not be easy. To obtain the next map, you must do something other than solving a riddle."
"W-what is it...? Minister of Riddles...?"
Luise asked the Minister of Education, trembling. So that threat actually worked on children? The Minister laughed kuhuhu, stroked his beard, and grinned wickedly.
At that villainous smile, Luise and Ignet swallowed dryly and waited for the Minister to open his mouth. What on earth was he building the atmosphere for? For some reason, even I began to feel nervous.
"The second trial is..."
Gulp.
"Performing a cute act for me."
Ah.
"Y-yes...? A cute act...? What kind of act..."
"Anything is fine. You may act cute, or you may dance. If you can satisfy me, I shall give you the next map. These days, my granddaughter has grown up and no longer performs cute acts for me... To be honest, I was in quite a dilemma."
Right. The Minister of Education was that kind of person.
While I was dumbfounded, Luise called for a strategy time, and the Minister of Education permitted it. We quickly huddled together and held a meeting to clear the second trial.
"W-what do we do...? A cute act... I've never even done one for my mother..."
"If we just dance or act cute roughly, won't he let us pass? Is anyone here good at acting cute?"
At my question, both fell silent. Of course they did. Even though they were young, they were noble young ladies. Nobles who had lived with strict etiquette drilled into their bodies since childhood. It was difficult to ask such nobles to perform cute acts.
But—
"U-um... if it's acting cute and dancing... I can do it..."
"Huh? Ignet, really?"
Was there always an exception to the rule, everywhere?
When I asked in surprise, Ignet nodded with her face bright red. Luise, also surprised, covered her gaping mouth with both hands.
"My mother... likes it when I dance... so I often did it for her..."
"I see..."
Ignet trembled all over, perhaps embarrassed to say it. Yes, it was embarrassing. Who wouldn't be embarrassed talking about such things? I nodded as if to show I understood and patted Ignet's back.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. A daughter can act cute for her mother and dance for her."
"Thank you for saying that..."
Ignet let out a small laugh and clenched both fists as if steeling her resolve. Then she turned around and headed straight for the Minister of Riddles. Sacrificing her shame to clear the trial and find the treasure.
Ignet, standing before the Minister of Education...
transformed into nothing less than a bundle of cuteness straight from a little child. She made rabbit ears with her hands and hopped in place, then shook her hips and wiggled in a dance.
Whether the act was effective or not, the corners of the Minister's mouth shot sky-high. Ignet's cute act must have surely filled the Minister's heart.
But—
"...Why do you think you were divided into groups of three? Even if one person performs, I cannot hand over the treasure map if the others do not participate."
"Ah... S-strategy time..."
"I permit it."
At the curt reply, Ignet called for strategy time, and the Minister permitted it. Ignet, her face as red as a ripe apple, covered her face with both hands and came over to us.
Luise and I comforted Ignet. You did your best. You're amazing. The bad one is the Minister of Education who didn't let you pass despite seeing your cute act.
"...No helping it."
"W-what do we do...?"
"...What else? We do it one more time. All together this time."
I let out a deep sigh, took Ignet and Luise's hands, and approached the Minister of Education. I felt truly sorry to Ignet, but I asked her to show us that dance one more time.
"Th-this is the last time... If it doesn't work this time either... I'll never dance this dance again in my life..."
"Yes... this is the last time."
Ignet, who had been trembling with shame, assumed her stance before the Minister of Education. She raised both hands above her head to make them look like rabbit ears. Luise and I followed Ignet's pose.
This... was more embarrassing than I had imagined...
Then I, following Ignet, began performing the cute act. Hopping around with rabbit ears and wiggling my hips, sending the corners of the Minister's mouth sky-high.
"One-two! One-two!"
"Kehuk, kuhuhuhu!"
As we danced to the chant, the Minister of Education began laughing as if he would pass out. Honestly, it was a little scary how hard he laughed, to the point where he seemed to have trouble breathing.
I told myself it was for the children who had been left out of the social circle, but never in my dreams did I imagine I would go this far. Still, this should make for a decent story for the two of them, right?
...Honestly, I felt relieved that Titania and Veronica hadn't seen this. If they saw me like this, I couldn't even imagine how much they would tease me.
Really... I'm glad they didn't see me.
*
Veronica looked down from the window and grinned. She had heard something like a strange chant outside, and between the bushes, a most precious scene was unfolding.
"Titania? Come here and look at this."
"What is it?"
"Quickly, it's a precious sight."
Prompted by Veronica, Titania rose from her chair and looked down from the window. When she looked where Veronica pointed, she couldn't stop the corners of her mouth from rising and covered them with one hand.
Indeed, it was exactly the precious spectacle Veronica had spoken of. Their mother, hopping around among the children making rabbit ears, hands on her hips, wiggling her bottom...
was something that simply could not be described as anything other than precious.
"Pfft."
"Puhuhu. Ahaha!"
Veronica and Titania burst into laughter at the spectacle unfolding below the window. Should I ask her to dance in front of us when she comes back later? With that thought in mind, they giggled.