Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 170

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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 170. Learning Only the Bad Things About Being Young (4)
I jumped back in surprise and moved closer to the bars. The Chamberlain seized the opportunity and yanked my nose.
“Aaaah! Aaaaah!”
“You brat! Teasing me this whole time!”
“Aaaah! My nose! Aaaah!”
“P-please stop, Grandmother!”
“Who’s your grandmother! You gloomy curse-monger!”
Croa pulled me away and finally managed to free me, but the Chamberlain had gripped my nose so fiercely that her nails drew blood. It was as if I’d been clawed by a wild beast. The sting was unbearable.
“This looks dreadful. Let’s use a spirit stone right away.”
“We can do that later. More importantly, Chamberlain—how do you know Kirke?”
Was she pretending to know her just to have an excuse to hit me? Suspicious, I posed the question, and the Chamberlain gave me a cryptic answer.
“I was just pretending to know her to catch you. Why?”
Well, that only made it seem like they actually did know each other. I couldn’t tell if this was truth or deception, but Croa stepped forward with far greater urgency than I felt.
“Grandmother, please. She’s someone we absolutely must find right now.”
“Hmph!”
She had no intention of telling us anything. I had no desire to waste more time, so I took Croa and left the Prison.
Ah, the sunlight was dazzling. The Chamberlain must be taking her model prisoner walks regularly, right? People’s temperaments don’t sour when they get proper sun exposure.
“Shall I prepare a curse? Or perhaps torture?”
“What are you talking about? Don’t be ridiculous.”
There was no need to rush. I calmed Croa down, and the Little One puckered her lips as she voiced her suspicion.
“If Pisha is asking others for help, it must be something serious. She usually keeps even ordinary matters hidden and handles them alone….”
I wasn’t sure about Croa’s older brother, but had my involvement in something major already become known? These sharp-eyed little ones miss nothing.
“The more you rush a matter, the more it tangles. In times like these, you must maintain composure.”
“…Yes.”
I still had six years left. Somehow, it would all work out. After all, I was fortunate.
I reassured Croa and returned to my Pink Office. I needed to resolve the bidding issue, but I also had to complete the preparations for Croa’s coming-of-age ceremony.

✦ ✦ ✦
As the sun descended, the bidding competition between Edison and Larima grew fierce. Initially, people gathered around Larima, who bore the Alset name, but once Edison arrived in the Capital, I granted him a barony and personally assigned him an Attendant. After that, those who wished to curry my favor switched their allegiance to Edison’s side.
Well… ultimately, both Larima and Edison are my people, but Larima is still fundamentally Alset, so I’ll need to devise some countermeasures. Hmm… I’d like to use my Aunt for this, but the question is whether she’ll obey me willingly. That woman’s preferences are split exactly fifty-fifty between liking and disliking me.
“Your Highness the Princess! Princess of Kisomalos!”
“Eek!”
Why on earth has this old man made his way into the Princess Palace?! I hastily summoned the Imperial Guard, and the Attendant who had been guiding the grandfather fell to his knees in apology.
“My sincerest apologies, Your Highness! Ismenios said he only wished to meet with Croa before departing!”
“I shall escort him to the Guest Palace at once.”
Now that I think about it, that old man had submitted a request for an audience a few days ago. Since he was a marquis from Media, I had directed him to Croa’s side, but something must have gone awry.
“Never mind. I’ll hear what business he has.”
I decided to take tea time in the Garden and summoned the Emilys. As I savored the fragrant tea and munched on pastries, the old man from Media’s Ministry of National Defense pressed the issue of Croa’s coming-of-age ceremony.
“It is the coming-of-age ceremony of the King of Media! Combined with the coronation, it should naturally be held in Media!”
“What? Croa was raised entirely in Kisomalos. Wouldn’t it be more fitting for the ceremony to take place in our Palace?”
“Setting aside the coming-of-age ceremony, what of the coronation? Does it make sense for the Emperor of Kisomalos to place the crown upon his head?”
“Since there are no adults in Media, it is only proper that the father-in-law place it upon him, is it not?”
“The world does not operate according to logic alone, Your Highness!”
The old man struck his chest as if his heart would burst, expressing his concern for Media’s current public sentiment.
“He was raised in Kisomalos, after all. The people are watching closely to see whether their king serves Media’s interests or is merely a puppet of Kisomalos!”
“Hmm, so you’re saying I should consider the emotional aspect?”
This is indeed a shortcoming that both Father and I share. It would be wise to take his words to heart.
“I have already suggested that at least the coronation be conducted without Kisomalos’s involvement, but this Kisomalos lapdog refuses to listen!”
“Calling your own king a Kisomalos lapdog is somewhat problematic, wouldn’t you say?”
“Then what else should I call a Kisomalos lapdog but a lapdog!”
Well, there’s no particularly apt term for it, is there? And I do understand the marquis’s concerns perfectly. From the perspective of Media’s people, it might indeed be uncomfortable to see Father place the crown upon Croa’s head.
“I see your point. The coming-of-age ceremony shall take place at the Kisomalos Imperial Palace, while the coronation shall be held at the Media Royal Palace. To symbolically demonstrate Media’s independence, it would be more fitting for Croa to place the crown upon his own head.”
“Gasp!”
What? Why are you so surprised? Didn’t you stop me on the street hoping to reach a compromise like this? When I asked if this wasn’t the answer he wanted, Ismenios gasped and cursed me.
“I never imagined you would be so reasonable.”
“What did you take me for?”
“Well, that is to say…”
Ah, never mind. It’s obvious enough. Either a brainless puppet princess who moves only as Father commands, or a spiteful, wretched princess who torments Croa. I’m well aware of the sorts of rumors circulating about me in Media.
This man had assumed I was a fool, which is why he never expected the negotiation to conclude on my terms.
“Leave the coronation preparations to your people. I shall attend as a guest, so prepare to receive me without any breach of etiquette.”
“Yes, of course!”
“The coming-of-age ceremony is not far off either, so since you’ve come this far, do stay for it as well. That shall be all.”
Now then, I shall take the danger-detection spirit stone and thoroughly inspect all the gifts that have arrived for Croa.
As I turned to leave and attend to my duties, the old marquis hesitated before softly calling out to me.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“Please… take good care of Croa for us.”
“Of course, naturally!”
He’s always asking me to do the most pointless things. Croa—I’ve been taking meticulous care of him since he was ten years old, without receiving a single copper from Media’s coffers.
Once Croa comes of age, Media’s finance minister is in for a rough time. I’m going to bill them for every last coin I’ve spent raising him.
I laughed heartily as I made my way toward the Villa. The thought of paying off Father’s debts with another nation’s money put me in excellent spirits.

✦ ✦ ✦
Croa’s coming-of-age ceremony was held with magnificent grandeur. The first three floors of the Villa were opened as party venues, and we invited not only the high officials of our own country but also the royal families of neighboring nations. I had wanted to invite Nanakda as well, but he said he was too busy to attend.
“Ow!”
On a day like this, he should take a break and come enjoy himself here. I was inwardly sulking when I heard a beautiful youth tumble pitifully from somewhere. Turning my head, I saw Larima lying there drenched in champagne, looking utterly pathetic, while the Duchess of Alset—Larima’s stepmother-to-be—stared at him with a bewildered expression.
“Sob, sniff. Stepmother, no matter how much you despise me, to do this at such an occasion, sniff!”
This brat was putting on a show. Judging by the Aisette Elders positioned all around, it was highly likely he had deliberately poured champagne over his own head and collapsed.
“Duchess, you shouldn’t take out your frustrations on a child.”
“Oh, no, I didn’t do anything!”
“This is why commoners are so vulgar.”
“Young Prince Larima, can you stand?”
With the help of the Elder Council’s grandmother and grandfather, Larima rose to his feet, releasing false sobs as he collapsed into the grandfather’s embrace. The moment Larima squeezed his eyes shut, claiming dizziness, the Elder Council’s elders began cursing the Duchess of Alset, and Duke Alset intervened to stop them, creating absolute chaos.
Larima, you’ve truly grown strong. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before you have the Aisette Elder Council wrapped around your finger.
Unable to enjoy this amusing spectacle alone, I searched for Croa, only to see Croa Gede Media—the protagonist of today’s coming-of-age ceremony—approaching with an expression burdened by countless sorrows.
Did I do something wrong? Like a thief with itchy feet, I instinctively began backing away.

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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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