Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 103

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 103. The Maximum Speed of a Shuttlecock at Its Peak Is 330 km/h (5)
“Are you having trouble breathing?”
“….”
“You need to eat. People starve to death if they don’t eat.”
“…Skipping one meal won’t kill me.”
“Your spirit dies.”
Before I could invoke an imperial command, I quickly got up and began patting Croa’s bottom to encourage him to rise. He squirmed for a moment before finally getting up, his head hanging low.
“Thank goodness. You didn’t cry.”
“…Yes.”
“Are you very upset?”
“No, it’s not that….”
Croa mumbled that he wasn’t upset, then hugged his knees and curled his small body into a ball.
“It’s just that I hate myself a little.”
“Self-loathing?”
“Yes, self-loathing.”
Hmm, I see. Now that I think about it, your behavior was quite strange today. You suddenly thrust your head at me.
“You didn’t come to dinner because of this self-loathing?”
“No, it’s just that if I showed myself, I was worried Pisha might dislike me….”
“Why would I dislike you?”
“Now that I think about it, I did many things today that Pisha would dislike.”
Ah, so that’s why you’ve been under the covers all this time. But I’ve heard that’s quite common for people your age. I was too busy cleaning up after Helbatro to even notice when you hit puberty.
“Puberty is supposed to be difficult.”
“Yes. My emotions are beyond my control, and it’s hard.”
“What exactly can’t you control?”
Perhaps speaking it aloud would bring relief. And if that situation arose, I could be there to help. I spoke gently to him, and Croa lifted his head, resting his chin on his knees.
“Well… in a case like today, I didn’t like it when Pisha smiled at the Emperor’s Son.”
“You can’t live without smiling.”
“I also didn’t like it when you two shared something only you knew, whispering to each other.”
“It was in front of the Emperor, so the Emperor’s Son was just giving me advice.”
“I didn’t like it when you complimented the Emperor’s Son on his appearance, and I didn’t like it when you touched him.”
“Aren’t you just saying you dislike Nanakda?”
You’ve never even met him, yet you’re being so particular. Is this that phenomenon of disliking someone at first sight?
“I hate myself for being so petty, getting my feelings hurt over every little thing.”
Croa’s melancholy stemmed from self-loathing over his own pettiness.
It would be advantageous to maintain a good relationship with Nanakda, and since we’ve actually grown close through exchanging letters, there’s no choice but to continue being friendly.
“You can’t avoid touching others. Whenever you ask me to touch you, I will.”
“Then hold me.”
“Of course.”
I embraced Croa and patted his back gently. He exhaled evenly, then made his next request.
“Tell me that I’m the most beautiful.”
“I can say that as much as you want. Croa is the most beautiful. Of everyone I’ve met so far, Croa is the most beautiful.”
“Hehe.”
Croa, who had been acting spoiled in my arms, now said he had regained his appetite and asked me to let him go. Annoyed by how willful he was being, I said, “I don’t want to,” and Croa began thrashing about desperately, trying to escape from my embrace.
“It’s fine! I’m okay now!”
“Quiet, you brat! I’ll hold you for as long as I want!”
I hugged Croa roughly and spent ten minutes ruffling the hair I’d spent thirty minutes styling, pinching his soft cheeks mercilessly. It wasn’t until ten minutes later that Croa, thoroughly disheveled from being forcibly handled, finally began eating.
“Sigh. Pisha is so rough.”
My apologies. It was rather amusing to mess up hair that took thirty minutes to style. Through this handling, I’d also discovered why Croa’s hair took so long to arrange—his hair was fine but incredibly voluminous, so even the slightest tousling turned it into a bird’s nest.
“Now that you’ve vented your emotions, let’s begin our reflection session.”
“Yes….”
I brought up the first thing I wanted to address: his etiquette before the Emperor. Today we’d gotten away with it because we were before the Astiagas Empire’s Emperor, but Croa was the future King of Media and couldn’t bow his head carelessly. In fact, in official settings, he shouldn’t bow even to our father. An alliance is between equals—Media hasn’t become a vassal of Kisomalos.
“But whenever I stand before Father, my waist bends on its own.”
“Hmm, the Prisoner does have a rather bow-inducing presence, doesn’t he.”
I’d lived my entire life as a Princess with almost no reason to bow, yet strangely, before the Prisoner I found myself bowing naturally and repeatedly. I wondered if this was what they called charisma.
“In any case, remember this well. In future banquets, you must never bow your head. Even when meeting the Emperor’s Son and Princess of the Empire, greetings should be exchanged only through words.”
“That’s difficult….”
What can you do? You were born as Media’s legitimate heir. You’ll have to get used to it. I continued our conversation until Croa finished eating, then returned to my room.
At my door stood the Second Prince of Astiagas, squatting with a bored expression, apparently having waited quite some time.
“Is there something you wished to discuss? Would you like to come in?”
“Hmm….”
If he’d been waiting, he must have something important to say. As I urged him to come in quickly, the Second Prince of Astiagas pulled out a pocket watch from his clothing and shook his head solemnly.
“It seems improper to visit a lady’s chambers at this hour. I’ll come another time.”
“Ha.”
Watching the Second Prince of Astiagas turn and walk away decisively, I couldn’t help but say this.
“What a joke.”
Though I’d said it quietly, the Second Prince of Astiagas heard it as if by magic, rushed back over, and stretched my cheek, then quickly fled.
A fourteen-year-old acting like a “lady” to a ten-year-old. He’s really something else.

✦ ✦ ✦
The next day brought a summit between Emperor Astyages and the King of Media, so we remained on standby at the estate. Only after receiving word that the friendly relations between Media and Astiages would continue into the future could we breathe easy.
If the talks had fallen through, there would be no banquet at all. We’d have wasted money on evening wear and decorations.
The royal and imperial family members at the estate completed their preparations and made their way together to the Imperial Banquet Hall. Just as an Attendant announced our arrival and we were about to enter as one, Hisperon bowed respectfully to see us off.
“I’m afraid entry is not permitted for me. Please, enjoy yourselves to the fullest.”
“Eeeek!”
Seriously, this empire’s discrimination against illegitimate children is absolutely brutal! Not that I don’t understand it, but still! If I were hosting a banquet at the Imperial Palace and Trimuti wanted to attend, I’d throw not just the teapot—I’d hurl the entire tea service at him.
“And yet, Hisperon, you are a great general who has rendered immense service to the nation’s greatest treasure.”
“I’m grateful for your kind words.”
After thanking me, Hisperon returned to the estate, promising to come fetch us again once the banquet concluded. My heart felt heavy.
“Hmmm….”
“There’s nothing to be done about it. He’s an illegitimate child, after all.”
“Hmmmmm….”
“Would you care for some refreshments, Pisha? Shall I bring only the finest selections?”
“Yes.”
Sweets bear no guilt, so I might as well indulge. I took the plate of snacks Croa brought and made my rounds, prioritizing the imperial family members of the Astiagas Empire first. I needed to greet them before meeting others—mess up the order and my reputation would plummet to the Mortal Realm.
“Ah, the Princess of Kisomalos, I presume.”
“My, the young couple we’ve heard so much about. How adorable.”
The first I encountered were the Crown Prince and the Empress. How convenient that they arrived in proper order. I greeted them warmly and introduced Croa. The Empress, smiling at the bashful Croa, turned her mischievous gaze toward Nanakda.
“Our Nanakda worked so hard collecting jewels, saying he’d give them to the Princess.”
“Ugh! Mother!”
Even if his brothers keep him in check, he seems to get along well enough with his parents. That was something, at least.
“How mortifying! All that effort, only to become a kite with a broken string.”
How does a man manage to look so obviously fickle at first glance? The figure presumed to be the Second Prince of Astiagas already had women on both arms, his face flushed with drink. It reminded me of silver-haired Helbatro. This was exactly how Helbatro looked when he was with the Bridget Sisters.
“Pay it no mind. Until it’s completely finished, it’s not truly finished.”
And Nanakda had quite the sharp tongue. Familiar with the situation, he delivered his barbs with practiced ease, even managing to mock his opponent with a look of surprise.
“Ah, come to think of it, your situation is completely finished, isn’t it, brother? I’m actually the one who should apologize.”
“You brat!”
I wasn’t sure what had happened to that prince, but something was definitely finished for him. What exactly had ended? Had he become impotent?
“Now, now!”
It looked like a fistfight might break out, but the Empress intervened and scolded them both. Nanakda was probably being so cheeky because he trusted his mother to protect him.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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