After finding the lost twins and guiding them to the four-sided pavilion, there was no one there.
Should I consider this fortunate, or should I wish someone had been here so I could quickly hand them over for protection?
Since the twins gave me sweets as thanks, Ikuto tasted them for poison—no problems there.
Hmm, should I consider these sparkling smiles a perk of the job?
The twins each held the same sweets they gave me, and Werner, who had given me the soufflé, remembered the existence of spoons and returned to the pavilion.
"They're delicious, thank you."
"Yes, they're yummy!"
I took a bite of the nut-based baked goods that Fer recommended first, and a smile spilled out.
They taste carefully made with a moist, pleasant texture—truly delicious.
Which is exactly why I'm extra curious about something.
What did Werner mean by "fuzzy and uncomfortable" and saying he hated it?
Like nuts getting stuck in his throat without chewing properly?
Or berry skins remaining and making the texture unpleasant?
"I brought a spoon! Ah, Brother!"
"Brother?"
Not me, right?
Though I wish it were me.
When Werner returned, he started waving with a smile.
At the same time, I heard hurried footsteps from behind.
When I turned around, a boy with dark blue hair was approaching with a stern expression.
He should be six years old, but he looks so sharp and poised.
He's grown so much bigger than when I met him at age three.
"Who goes there!?"
I took a critical hit to the heart!
Terry, you don't remember me... ugh, my chest hurts.
It was one-sided of me to use Sephira to observe him, and it's only natural that Terry wouldn't remember since he was three, but still...
"You're with the Imperial Guard?"
Terry noticed Ikuto's uniform and looked at my attire too.
Since these are clothes prepared by my father the Emperor, the quality is excellent.
And since I'm going outside, I dyed my hair black, so well, I do stand out.
Actually, lately my silver hair has been terribly prominent, like premature graying, so yeah...
"I believe he is the First Crown Prince."
Terry's Imperial Guard whispered in his ear while looking at me with a disgusted expression.
He's an adult, so he should know about what happened three years ago, and he probably knows what became of the guards back then too.
I want to say it's not my fault.
When I glanced at the sword hanging at my waist, he hurriedly put both hands behind his back.
Yes, I don't intend to make false accusations against you, you know.
"Fer, Werner. Get away from him."
"What's wrong?"
"Is Brother angry?"
Spoken to sharply by Terry with his stern face, the twins showed confusion on their faces.
Am I being designated as an enemy? Eh, this is so sad.
They were so cute just now.
But Fer and Werner take priority right now.
"He's not angry at you two, so it's okay. But since he was worried, you should thank him later."
"Okay."
"Understood."
These kids are so honest.
But if in three years they treat me with the same cold attitude as Terry, I might actually cry this time.
I'm holding back quite a bit even now.
Is it because the adults around him are like that, that Terry thinks this way too?
No, since we've finally met face-to-face, maybe this is a chance to clear up the misunderstanding?
"What exactly did you do to win over my younger brothers?"
"You're also supposed to be my younger brother, though."
I stood up from my crouched position where I was meeting eyes with Fer and Werner and tried saying that.
I was immediately glared at.
"Wrong! Don't get conceited!"
Immediate denial... my heart feels like breaking.
"Even if you deny it, there's nothing that can be done about it."
"I have no obligation to be called younger brother by a coward who skulks around plotting schemes and aiming for the Imperial Throne."
"That's a false accusation. But I see. So that's what they're saying about me."
Who fed Terry such lies?
I've never aimed for the throne, yet I'm being spoken of as if it's fact.
If I really had such intentions, I'd be pushing forward aggressively—I wouldn't be shutting myself in like this.
How should I explain it?
Can a six-year-old understand logical arguments?
"Hiding away without showing your face is unmanly. Furthermore, laying hands on my young brothers is unforgivable. Ah! Don't tell me Werner going missing was also...! Such cowardice!"
He pointed sharply at me while his groundless suspicions wouldn't stop.
It's just a child squealing so I'm not scared, but I'm completely being treated as the villain here.
This is terrible for a second meeting.
And Terry is too agitated to listen to reason.
Should I come back another time?
Was it a mistake that I deliberately avoided contact?
Maybe I should start proactively showing that I mean no harm.
Anyway, for now, let me deny these strange accusations.
"...I simply found lost children and guided them, just like that time long ago. I also had business in the gardens. Now if you'll excuse me."
But what should I do about the sweets in my hand?
Eating them while being glared at would create an awkward atmosphere.
But then again, Fer's recommendation is half-eaten, so walking around with it isn't great either.
As I was thinking this and looking at Fer, something abnormal happened.
"Fer? What's wrong?"
"Feel... sick."
His eyes aren't focusing.
And the moment he answered, he suddenly crouched down.
"Fer, is it that fuzzy feeling again?"
Werner asked with an anxious face, crouching beside him.
I tried to go to Fer's side too, but Terry, who ran over, pushed me aside.
Ikuto supported me where I was about to fall.
However, both sweets are on the ground, ah...
"Fer! Fer!?"
Terry lifted his face worriedly, but his eyes still wouldn't focus.
And his complexion was visibly worsening by the moment.
No matter how you look at it, it's the complexion of someone with dropping blood pressure.
I've seen the moment of collapse from anemia in my previous life's school, and it looked similar.
(What on earth happened?)
(Body temperature dropping, abnormalities detected in breathing.)
The invisible Sephira answered me and told me Fer's condition.
I have things I want to say like "don't scan people without permission," but I understood this was a critical situation.
I leaned in close to look at Fer too.
"Fer, is it hard to breathe?"
I think he faintly said yes.
"We must call a physician immediately. Is this the first time with these symptoms?"
"No, that's... bound by confidentiality..."
Terry's guard hesitated.
He probably can't leave us alone, but he shows no sign of calling a doctor.
"Ikuto, gather people."
"Understood."
Ikuto immediately took out a whistle.
Imperial Guards apparently blow these when they find abnormalities.
Apparently there are penalties if you blow it and nothing's wrong.
Despite that, Ikuto immediately took out and blew the whistle at my request.
During that time, I placed a hand on Terry's shoulder.
"First, we must lay Fer down and let him rest."
"Don't touch me!"
My hand was struck away.
Despite being a child, the merciless force made a loud sound.
But Terry had no composure to care about that as he embraced Fer and turned his back to me.
Werner looked at me with a tearful face at his brother's unusual behavior.
"Calm down, Terry. I'm not thinking of harming him. We simply must help Fer."
"Liar!"
He shouted and turned back over his shoulder—tears were floating in Terry's eyes.
Though his expression was stern, he was still just a child, and I could tell he had been trying to maintain princely conduct when he was being sharp earlier.
But right now, his face was twisted not with hostility toward me but with fear, and while his small shoulders trembled, he was desperately trying to protect Fer from me.
Regular Update
Next Time: Crown Prince Assassination Attempt 4