Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 29
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 29. Not Exactly My Precious Lover, But What Can I Do for Them Right Now? (6)
The moment I stepped through the entrance of the Military Ministry, I went searching for Father again, crying out loudly. Yet absurdly, I couldn’t find Prisoner even within the Military Ministry itself. His Majesty was apparently in a meeting stamped with top-secret military classification, so no matter how much I insisted, the answer came back that I couldn’t see him.
Since there was no telling when the meeting would end, I had no choice but to turn my attention elsewhere and seek out Chief Chamberlain. When I began wailing about why I couldn’t see Father, the Chamberlain snapped back at me, saying how would she know the true intentions of that fool Ende’s brat.
After being turned away at one place and then another, I had no choice but to pedal my tricycle back to the Princess Palace with a sorrowful heart. After wandering about for hours, the only ones to greet my return were still that bleating goat Choco and the Achilles Young Lady.
Baa! Baa!
“Your Highness! Your Highness, I’ve finished all my homework! Let’s play a game!”
What, she finished all of that? Are you even human? Unable to believe it, I climbed up to the Achilles Young Lady’s room and slowly solved one of the problems Marshmallow had given me. After drawing the diagram and carefully writing out the formula to arrive at the answer, it matched exactly with what the Achilles Young Lady had written down.
This girl, what… how did she write down only the answer without even showing her work? Is she a genius? No, logically speaking, she must be a genius, right?
“But this one—without the work shown, Marshmallow said it won’t count.”
“I see! I’ll write it out!”
The genius Achilles Young Lady proceeded to write out the solution mechanically and rapidly. I took quite a while just to solve one problem, yet she wrote it all out without hesitation. I had supposedly brought an uneducated child to boost my own pride, yet how did such a genius end up on my friend list?
“You’re only seven years old—you’ve already learned geometry?”
“No?”
“Then how do you know it?”
“The teacher taught us today. I only know up to that point.”
Watching the girl explain that the homework I’d given was precisely a review of what the teacher had covered that day, I realized once again: yes, she truly is a genius. I really should return her.
“More importantly, let’s play a game, Your Highness! Aren’t I your playmate!”
From the moment the girl unfolded the chessboard and set up the pieces, I felt nothing but an ominous premonition. That brat’s a genius. I’m going to get crushed, aren’t I? She doesn’t seem like the type to have the character to let me win in a courtesy match.
“Wait!”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You take off your queen.”
“Of course! Should I remove the rook as well?”
“Um, well… take off the bishop too.”
“Yes! Do you know the rules?”
I know them, but why is it that even after removing the queen, the rook, and the bishop, I have absolutely no confidence that I can win?
Emily said she’d bring refreshments and left the room, and I found myself breaking out in a cold sweat. The game won’t end before Emily comes back, will it? That would be truly embarrassing.
“Then I’ll make the first move.”
While the Achilles Young Lady played with enthusiasm, moving pieces rapidly without hesitation, I deliberated over each move, groaning with effort. Fortunately, the game hadn’t ended by the time Emily returned with tea and pastries, but I felt as though my head might split open.
Since becoming five years old, I’d never exerted my mind this much. I’d skipped all my lessons and played around all day—when would I have needed to think?
I couldn’t tell how much time had passed after that. My mind wasn’t in its right state. I only remembered drinking tea as Emily poured it, and eating three slices of sweet, crumbly chocolate cake. And on the 358th move, I finally managed to cry out checkmate.
“Yesssss! I woooon!”
Damn it, I’m not playing anymore! I hurled the opponent’s king away and screamed out a curse. Relief at barely maintaining my dignity, deep frustration, and a whirlwind of various emotions had drained me completely. Across from me, I saw the Achilles Young Lady with her head bowed, her shoulders trembling.
Wait, what… could she be crying? A genius’s pride? Something like that? The humiliation of losing to a five-year-old? Something like that? But wait, you fought with your queen, rook, and bishop all removed. You’re plenty of a genius. And this is something I can’t say out loud, but I’m actually twenty-one years old.
Unable to figure out how to console the emotionally unstable child, the girl suddenly made a choking sound and lifted her head. There were tears glistening in the Achilles Young Lady’s eyes. Her cheeks were flushed red, and her mouth was twisted into a bizarre smile.
“Hi, hehe, hic, hi, hehe, Your Highness. I, hic, this game, losing, hehe, it’s my first time. It feels so good. Your Highness, Bishnuhel, hic, Lorowi Kisomalos, Your Highness. You’re the best.”
This brat really gets on my nerves.
My whole body recoiled in rejection, and I quickly jumped down from my chair and hid behind Emily.
“Where are you going, Your Highness? Don’t go. Let’s play one more round. Is it too easy? Should I put the bishop back?”
“No way, I’m not playing. Play by yourself, you weirdo.”
Emily, let’s go quickly. She’s a weirdo.
I grabbed Emily’s skirt and fled, issuing a strict order to the pervert that he was forbidden from entering my room alone. Terrified of him, I barricaded myself inside, and Emily later told me that Achilles Young Lady had been pacing outside my door the entire time I slept.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
✦ ✦ ✦
Today’s lesson was Imperial Studies—a class Achilles Young Lady absolutely should not attend. I felt relieved about that. Modern Imperial Studies was practically leadership education, and many noble families taught it to their heirs, but if I taught it to Little One, who wasn’t even a successor, it could cause serious trouble later.
At first, I wondered why I’d included this brilliant child on my list of friends to find—someone unremarkable, submissive, and slow to learn, who could bolster my confidence. But thinking about it from House of Achilles’ perspective, the answer became clear immediately.
The child was too intelligent. Far too intelligent. With the successor already decided, having someone this brilliant in the family could shake the heir’s position. They must have wanted to suppress her by any means necessary. The Princess’s recruitment announcement for friends was truly a godsend opportunity for them.
“My, you’re awake early today.”
“Ugh, I’ve got too much on my mind.”
Regardless, your lessons are still going in one ear and out the other, so don’t worry, Marshmallow. The moment I said this solemnly, Marshmallow’s face crumpled as he begged me to please pay attention to class, and he set down his chalk for a moment.
“What troubles you, Your Highness?”
“Well, this friend who showed up is driving me crazy.”
“She seemed like a diligent and well-behaved young lady during lessons.”
“Prisoner won’t meet with me.”
“Hmm….”
He came up empty yesterday too, and today he’s locked himself away in the Military Ministry. Something felt ominous about it, so I vented to Marshmallow, and this cotton-headed fool started spouting sugary, spice-like nonsense.
“Isn’t the Princess’s birthday coming up soon? Perhaps he’s preparing a surprise gift?”
“If my birthday present pops out of the Military Ministry, that would certainly be quite the shock.”
“That is….”
“And if he were celebrating my birthday, he’d start arranging the party schedule first. I doubt he even knows when my birthday is.”
“That is, indeed, quite….”
My birthday is Christmas Eve, and it’s the day after tomorrow. Throwing a party would require so much preparation and sending out invitations, but with barely any time left, it’s impossible. Even when Father was Helbatro, he never held a birthday celebration for me, so that part was fine.
“Hmm….”
No, wait—thinking about it, it’s not fine. I guess I was hoping for something. I was hoping that after Father changed, at least the people in the Imperial Palace would hold a modest birthday party for me. Damn it!
And now that I’m thinking about birthdays, something else comes to mind. The day after Christmas Eve is Christmas, right? What do I do about gifts without Kisomalos?
I mean, this Christmas I can brush it off as something I couldn’t receive because I didn’t live well enough, but what about Halloween next year? I need to hold a memorial service, don’t I?! Our god is gone?!
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————