Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 39

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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 39. From Now On, Kill Each Other (5)
After the banquet concluded without incident, the curtain finally rose on the covert war between Aelset and Lorowi. Marshmallow had told me not to be disappointed if things didn’t proceed according to my plan, but knowing Lorowi’s true nature as I did, I could see… this outcome was utterly predictable.
Aelset and Lorowi returned to the Townhouse, each seeking to put forth a candidate as my tutor. In this endeavor, Aelset proceeded with integrity, while Lorowi, true to form, sent assassins first—therein lay the difference.
Why expend effort competing when you could simply eliminate your rival? This was my Mother’s signature tactic, and my Aunt was quite adept at it as well. The one who had passed this art to both of them was my Maternal Grandmother. That’s why only my Mother married into my biological father’s household. Everyone else is dead.
“Crunch!”
The candidate Aelset had intended to send to me died under mysterious circumstances. The problem was that this person was a distant relative of Duke Alset, so the elders and family heads had been relentlessly hounding the Duke. They demanded he settle things with Lorowi, who had killed a family member, or surrender his title—or something along those lines.
Whether Aelset or Lorowi, with the previous generation still alive and well, the current family head’s position was necessarily precarious. There existed people to whom actual authority could be entrusted, and even if the legitimate heir died, the family’s spiritual head would simply designate a new one. What was there to fear? This is why legitimate heirs with siblings typically eliminate risk factors when inheriting the family. Cases like Marshmallow’s four brothers, all living together cozily in the Capital, were actually quite rare.
“Your Highness the Princess, it is time.”
“Very well!”
In any case, my Aunt and Duke Alset are currently grappling with each other, conducting what amounts to a localized skirmish. And Prisoner has arranged an outing with me as a way to celebrate the success of my plan. Despite being busy with state affairs, he’s making time to play with me—how admirable. If it were that reckless fool Helbatro, such a thing would be unthinkable.
“Hmm, ahem.”
“Your Highness, you seem to be in good spirits.”
“Ahem, well, to some degree.”
Not that he really needs to make time—it’s not as though we can venture far for our outing anyway.
I changed into my outing clothes and twirled before the mirror. Emily and her companions burst into applause and cheers, singing praises of my beauty.
“Your Highness! You are the greatest!”
“The most magnificent six-year-old in the entire Imperial Kingdom!”
“Ahem. That’s enough.”
That much praise suffices. Are my friends all prepared?
When I called for Shirley and Croa, Emily opened the door with a flourish and presented my friends.
Shirley was still wearing her active shorts, but with suspenders and a hunting cap on top, she looked like a pint-sized detective.
Croa, it seemed, had been dressed in a tunic and flowing trousers to cover his lean frame. In white clothing that subtly harmonized with his gloomy expression, he resembled a young priest wrestling with his calling.
Both of them looked absolutely splendid! This is the kind of caliber I need in my companions!
“Shirley! You look like the most adorable little detective!”
“Thank you! Pisha, you look every bit the princess!”
“Croa, you look like a melancholic young priest!”
“…Is that a compliment?”
Of course it’s a compliment! How beautiful must a person be to radiate such mysterious allure even with such a gloomy expression? I gave Croa double thumbs up and climbed into the carriage.
“How fortunate that those Aelset old fools aren’t being bothersome.”
Hehe, today’s outing also serves as a celebration of this plan’s success. I puffed out my chest and shrugged my shoulders, eager for praise. Then Shirley smoothly delivered exactly the words I wanted to hear.
“I’ve heard the news! It was a scheme that only someone who knew Lorowi inside and out could have devised! Truly, Your Highness the Princess!”
“A scheme? You’re giving me too much credit.”
Hehe. As I grinned widely and patted Shirley on the back, Croa looked flustered and opened a Kisomalos dictionary he kept on hand.
“Does the word ‘scheme’ carry a complimentary meaning?”
“It doesn’t. You know Media dialect and Kisomalos dialect aren’t that different.”
“Then why are you using ‘scheme’ as a compliment?”
“That’s what context in language means.”
“That’s difficult…”
This little one is quite scholarly. Croa furrowed his brow and pondered whether the word “scheme” might have another meaning, even asking the coachman. Finding little enlightenment, Croa’s expression remained as melancholic as ever.
“Your Highness, we have arrived.”
“Oh! The Cherry Blossom Tree Path in front of Ministry of Finance is magnificent this year too! The largest tree here is said to be over five hundred years old.” Beneath the grand tree with a clear view of the conference room, Prisoner and Choco had already claimed their spot and spread out a mat. From the way Head Attendant Grandmother kept grabbing Prisoner by the collar, she was clearly nagging him about something.
“Your Highness the Princess! Over here, if you please!”
I took my friends’ hands and approached Father and his entourage. I made a point of praising them for taking time out of their busy schedules to come play with us.
“Hmph! Working so diligently without being asked!”
“How can she be so identical to Helbatro?”
“Heredity is truly terrifying.”
“I wish I’d had a chance to speak with him before he passed.”
With Prisoner and Head Attendant Grandmother both marveling, Choco seemed to grow curious about my real father.
“Consider it fortunate you never had that conversation. Helbatro became more insufferable the longer he talked.”
“He was cute for about three seconds.”
“That’s strange. The Princess remains cute no matter how long I look at her.”
Choco, apparently intent on calling me cute repeatedly, scooped me up and began tossing me into the air and catching me over and over. The thrill of that falling sensation was exquisite. In a child’s body, I could experience pleasures I’d never know otherwise, so I might as well enjoy being thrown around while I could.
“But why did you choose this place for the picnic?”
The conference room would be packed with bald old men by now. What was there to see?
I sat on the mat first and arranged sandwiches for Shirley and Croa on a plate. The ice basket contained apple juice as well—they’d certainly prepared thoroughly for this outing.
“Because the pigs are coming.”
“Huh?”
Released pigs? I knew pigs actually liked cleanliness and were intelligent creatures, but why choose pigs specifically? If you were going to do animal therapy, wouldn’t you normally use dogs or cats? Baby piglets, perhaps? That would be adorable.
“Baby piglets?”
“Old pigs.”
Isn’t that dangerous? Pigs are omnivores, after all. Among everyone here, wouldn’t Croa be the first one eaten? When I stared at him with that thought, the boy’s face went pale and he squeezed his eyes shut.
“D-does Kisomalos have a tradition of feeding prisoners to pigs?!”
“No, you fool.”
He fell for such a ridiculous statement so easily—it was fun to tease him. I laughed and teased Croa together with Shirley, and Prisoner, with a cinnamon stick in his mouth like a cigarette, pointed at me accusingly.
“Is that cunning streak inherited from the Empress?”
“It must be from you, Ende.”
“I’ve never been cunning?”
“Then who taught Helbatro that sparrows diligently raised become hawks?”
“You take after me.”
So that’s it. I take after Prisoner. Children naturally follow the person raising them, after all.
“What about me! Which part of Your Majesty do I resemble!”
“Why would you resemble me?”
“The Achilles Young Lady resembles you in how she pretends not to notice things while being completely oblivious.”
“Wow!”
That’s basically an insult, isn’t it? Yet Shirley seemed pleased to be told she resembled her current guardian, while Croa fidgeted with his tunic, watching our expressions. He clearly wanted to join in—couldn’t Head Attendant Grandmother help smooth things over?
When I gestured to catch the Head Attendant’s attention, she understood and gave a knowing cough before approaching Croa.
“The young prince resembles His Majesty in his tenacious vitality—the kind that survives no matter where you leave him.”
“Oh, what an honor!”
This one sounded like she was insulting Prisoner too. My suspicion seemed correct when Father’s expression darkened considerably, but then the conference room door beyond the window swung open. The Minister of Finance, a pig, led a herd of old pigs inside, and our eyes met across the distance as we sat picnicking.

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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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