Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 58

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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 58. Two Years Pass in the Blink of an Eye, But Children Grow Quickly When They’re Not Your Own (4)
“Shirley and Croa are my true friends in every sense. When forming bonds of friendship, one should not concern oneself with differences in station. I dared to diminish this noble custom. Such conduct deserves censure, and your hurt feelings are entirely justified.”
As I continued my address, a smile bloomed across the anxious face of the Chief Attendant Grandmother.
Hehe, for my first attempt at an apology, I’m doing rather well, aren’t I?
“I love you, my friends. I cherish you exactly as you are. I have accepted Shirley’s every irritating quality as a friend—the way she marks her territory with her nails throughout the entire estate, makes those peculiar ownership claims, and becomes so enamored with her studies that she drives everyone to exasperation.”
“Pisha…!”
“And Croa’s subtle habit of boasting about misfortune while savoring sympathy, the way he constantly consults dictionaries to correct others with precise definitions and embarrass them, his obsessive remarks that make people uncomfortable—I have come to regard all of this as the essence of friendship.”
“Your Highness the Princess, to think of us in such a way…!”
They were nearly won over. Both began to rise from their chairs as if to embrace me, so I held up my hands to calm them and continued.
“Therefore, accept that I love what I find more valuable!”
I had intended to write this as a royal decree, but the Chief Attendant said such forceful language wouldn’t be appropriate, so I deleted it. Yet judging by the reaction… perhaps I should have kept it? The children and the audience alike offered no response whatsoever.
“Of course Shirley is my friend. But isn’t it true that Shirley with a countess title is a better Shirley?”
I had expected applause around this point. Instead, the atmosphere remained oddly silent.
“As for Croa, had you not been the Prince of Media, we would never have had the opportunity to meet. We might have lived our entire lives without even knowing each other’s names, much less becoming friends.”
But the words have already left my lips, and I cannot take them back. I’ll press forward. If I infuse my words with more emotion and appeal, surely they will understand.
“In the first place, don’t I befriend people because they’re worth keeping close? What do you expect of me! I have lived this way and have no intention of changing! You must simply adapt to me!”
As I struck the podium and launched into my passionate declaration, Choco and the Prisoner began to chuckle. At least they’re reacting to something, and I’m grateful for it. My apology speech ended with this, so it would have been terribly awkward otherwise.
“Hahaha, and to think this amusing little one is my daughter?”
“Everyone here knows that already, so keep quiet.”
The Chief Attendant Grandmother patted the Prisoner’s back repeatedly. Those two always got along so well whenever I saw them. Despite the age difference, weren’t they the truest of friends?
In any case, my apology address concludes here. As the Princess, I offer my sincere apologies. I am reflecting deeply, so please forgive me.
I approached the two who had hesitated in their attempt to embrace me and extended my hand. The first to grasp it was Sheryl Achilles.
“Pisha, you’re really not apologizing at all.”
I should have included that line in my apology speech. You two tend not to regard factual attacks as violence.
“Didn’t I do reasonably well for a first attempt?”
“Now that you mention it, it does seem like I acquitted myself decently.”
Shirley, who had been uncertain, brightened and shook her hand vigorously, saying it wasn’t something that required an apology anyway.
“As long as you’re not planning to expel me from the Imperial Palace, I don’t care! I’ll even take on a countess title!”
Ah, she’s made her resolve. How fortunate I am to have a friend like you.
My heart felt truly at ease as I grasped Shirley’s hands firmly with both of mine. Then Croa gently pried my fingers open one by one, withdrew his hand, and clasped it with his own.
“I had overlooked the fact that had I not been the Prince of Media, I would never have met you, Pisha. Henceforth, I shall strive to increase my own worth so that I may be of greater service to you.”
“Ah, what kind words.”
In truth, I have many schemes I wish to employ using you as a pretext. Dark machinations flashed through my mind in that instant, but this incident has taught me that small white lies between friends are of utmost importance. So I shall not voice these schemes… at least not until the moment before I execute them.
The speech concluded, and the audience filed out of the hall. The Prisoner, unable to resist the pressure from the ministers, had returned to their conference, and Choco had gone to watch over him. Only the Chief Attendant remained, offering to escort me to the Princess Palace. I leaped gracefully from the stage and landed beside her with style.
“You’ll hurt yourself!”
Nonsense! I won’t get hurt. It’s been over two years since I began studying Pankration, and when regular lessons grow tedious, I practice parkour under my instructor’s guidance, leaping between buildings. Croa even runs across buildings in inline skates.
“But speaking of which, I’m not trying to nitpick…”
As I paused, my friends and the Chief Attendant Grandmother focused intently on what I was about to say. I started to deflect, but decided it was better to address it clearly.
“Wouldn’t you two not be my friends if I weren’t the Princess?”
At that, Croa and Shirley immediately refuted me without hesitation.
“I would have liked you even if you were a homeless person in Media, Your Majesty.”
“What I love is Pisha’s face and intellect, not her position. Though lately, I’ve been finding her character quite charming as well.”
Head Attendant Grandmother seized the opening and spoke a beat too late.
“I’m hardly one to interject, but if she’s Helbatro’s child, she’s as good as my granddaughter—being a Princess hardly matters.”
Hmm… Perhaps my way of thinking really is peculiar. Though as I wrote in my apology, I have no intention of changing it.
“Ah! We’ve gotten through the biggest hurdle today—let’s go eat!”
“I’m touched that you considered it a hurdle.”
“Pisha! Since everyone ate alone yesterday, I’d love for us to have something we can all share today!”
Right, that’s a good idea. We used to gather and eat together every day, and eating separately yesterday did feel a bit lonely. Let me think… would a soup be nice? Should we have a hot pot?
“In that case, since I haven’t had lunch yet, I shall impose upon your hospitality.”
I hadn’t invited the Chief Chamberlain to the meal, yet she could just show up like that? In the old days, she would have been the first to insist on proper procedure for such matters, so I felt bewildered first.
How was it back then… It was before my regression, but there was once when I tried to invite a foreign diplomatic envoy to the Princess Palace after finishing business, and the conversation grew long. Back then, Chamberlain scolded me terribly about not creating unscheduled events. She said that even if I just wanted to share a light meal, it required security personnel and attendants, and that I should be more mindful of being an imperial princess.
The memory suddenly came to mind, so I grumbled, and Grandmother instead puffed out her chest confidently.
“What’s so difficult about setting out one more spoon?”
Even if we’ve grown closer, isn’t her attitude completely different from back then? I shook my head with mixed feelings—half delighted, half exasperated.
“Sigh, our nation’s imperial authority has fallen so low.”
“If you’re unhappy about it, work hard to restore it yourself.”
“You’re the one disrespecting me the most!”
Whether I got angry or not, Chamberlain let out a villainous laugh and led the way toward the Princess Palace.
Ugh, I used to think this country deserved to fall apart, but I’d like to see Chamberlain prostrate herself before me at least once. After I restore the imperial authority through hard work, maybe it’d be fine to enjoy the Emperor’s throne as a reward for myself?
“I’ll indulge in excess and debauchery!”
“Wouldn’t that be unsanitary?”
“It’s a metaphor, a metaphor!”
Once I restore Kisomalos to a higher deity and just get through the crisis of death! Then I’ll wield all the power in the world and live out my days in splendor! As a symbol of that, I’ll create a pond of alcohol and a forest of meat!
“Wow, that’s quite an impressive life goal.”
“I shall follow you to the end, Pisha!”
“How exactly like what Helbatro said when he was young.”
That’s not fair, is it? When that blockhead was young, he probably would have filled the forest with women instead of meat. When I made this argument, Head Attendant Grandmother thought for a moment, then dragged out Hisperon by the hair, whom she’d forgotten about.
“Instead, you were so enchanted by a man that you nearly tore the pillars out of the Princess Palace.”
“Ha! How many more times are you going to bring that up!”
“Until I die.”
“Argh!”
Don’t you dare come, Chamberlain! No food for you!
I complained as much as I could, but Chamberlain just laughed and kept following me. Of course, if I actually didn’t give her food, it would be too heartless, so we ate together and parted ways.

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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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