Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 89

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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 89. Formal Introductions Often Carry Different Meanings. But That’s What It Means Here (3)
“Formal introductions have quite a few different meanings. Which one could it be?”
“I’ll look it up in the Kisomalos Dictionary.”
It was just the ordinary meaning of a formal introduction, but Croa was being unusually fussy about it. The little one, Gear, found the definition in the dictionary and rattled it off without hesitation.
“1. Noun: A ceremony of officially meeting one another.
2. Noun: At a wedding, when the bride and groom greet each other with equal courtesy, facing one another.
3. Historical: The ceremonial rite in which a newly appointed mentor or honored guest first pays respects to the East Palace.”
“Since you’re not getting married, it must be number three?”
“Is a new mentor coming?”
“No?”
Perhaps because they were still young, they didn’t seem to understand that thing about meeting before marriage. I kindly explained it to them.
“It’s when the families of the bride and groom meet before the wedding.”
Fortunately, my explanation reached them. Shirley and Croa’s eyes widened as they grasped the meaning of a formal introduction.
“Are you getting married?”
“If things work out?”
“The Emperor is?”
“No?”
“Then who?”
“Me.”
That’s right—me! I’m the star of this formal introduction!
I made a fanfare sound with my mouth, and suddenly Croa’s face twisted into something demonic as he asked who the other party was.
“Probably? Your older brother?”
“Excuse me? My older brother?”
“Yes.”
“Why, why?!”
“That’s what a marriage alliance is.”
Croa, who had worn a ghostly, sorrowful expression, suddenly crumpled and his face darkened. His presence grew faint. It seemed like if I touched him, he would crumble into dust and scatter away.
“Congratulations, congratulations, Pisha.”
And he offered a spiritless congratulation.
“Waaaaahhhhh!”
Then he ran off crying, zooming away on roller skates.
“Hmm… Croa is fourteen this year, right?”
“Yes. I’m twelve.”
“Adolescence, then.”
“Yes, you could say that.”
Shirley and I, watching Croa’s retreating figure, went off to think about what to eat after class.

✦ ✦ ✦
Though prepared in haste, the ceremonial dress and jewelry for the first meeting were completed. I decided to polish the tiara I’d worn before and wear that, and we held a fitting to check that everything was in order.
“You’re beautiful, absolutely beautiful, Pisha! If you were usually like a modest carriage, now you’re like a self-propelled gun mounted on a heavy tank!”
“What an extraordinary compliment, thank you!”
So just putting on a fluttery dress and adding a bit more jewelry makes me self-propelled gun caliber? That’s quite destructive power. I doubt I’ll wear something like this often.
“You’re so pretty… so pretty, Pisha…”
And Croa, still wearing the face of a melancholy female ghost, praised me from inside the wardrobe where only his vacant eyes were visible. I’m used to that ghostly face by now, but the positioning makes it even more frightening.
“Come out, Croa. Why are you hiding inside the wardrobe?”
“Um, Pisha, couldn’t you just get me one elephant’s foot?”
Why do you answer my question with another question? And why do you need an elephant’s foot? Do they even sell such things?
“Why do you need an elephant’s foot?”
“Well, just… just because…”
“Not only would it be difficult to obtain, but I can’t simply buy something without a reason.”
When I spoke bluntly, Croa’s eyes welled up, and he kicked out of the wardrobe before zooming away on roller skates and leaving the room.
“Pisha is a complete idiot!”
“That brat’s emotional swings have been severe lately.”
“Adolescence is difficult.”
Right. Adolescence is hard. According to recent research, hormones are secreted uncontrollably, so tensing your head doesn’t actually help with emotional regulation.
All the people around them can do is comfort them and get through this difficult period together. When I mentioned that this might be your future, Shirley shuddered and offered a different opinion. She seemed to have read the same medical texts I had.
“Women are more rational than men and have superior emotional control. That won’t happen to me.”
“You don’t particularly seem to have superior control.”
“I believe in my gender’s potential!”
Yes, faith is a good thing. I hope you get through adolescence safely. The fitting was done, so I was about to change clothes and play, when Father, Choco, and the Chief Chamberlain came rushing into my room with a group of people.
When I asked what was going on, Father pointed to a person holding an enormous camera.
“Isn’t this your first meeting ceremony? We came to take commemorative photos.”
Right, thinking about it from a princess perspective, there could be two or three first meetings. Since this is the first one, it makes sense to commemorate it.
“We wanted to take a picture all together. Where is Croa?”
“Oh, him. He called me a complete idiot and left.”
“Hmm?”
When I explained the situation, Prisoner tilted his head in confusion, Choco tilted her head in confusion, and the Chief Chamberlain tilted her head in confusion. A synchronized confused tilt—and Choco was the first to recover and ask me a question.
“Pisha, surely you explained the full context to the Prince?”
“Huh? Of course I did.”
“Um… what exactly did you say?”
“That I was going to the first meeting ceremony.”
“Oh…”
Choco looked off into the distance for a moment, then grabbed my shoulder and threw back the insult I’d once hurled at her long ago.
“The one who’s half a person isn’t me—it’s the Princess.”
“You just told him you were going to the first meeting ceremony without any explanation?”
The Chief Chamberlain is really making a fuss. Did I do something wrong? If I’d really messed up, Father’s expression would be worse, so I looked at him, but while the Emperor didn’t look displeased, his expression was peculiar.
“Even though you used the pouch I gave you, it turned out like this?”
“Huh? A pouch?”
“I told you to open it when you wanted to live?”
“I didn’t really feel any threat to my life though?”
“Oh….”
Prisoner’s expression rapidly deteriorated. It seemed I had done something wrong!
“It looks like clearing up this misunderstanding should be our first priority.”
“I’ll go bring the Prince back right away!”
Choco dashed out like the wind. Despite running so fast, it was remarkable that her footsteps made virtually no sound.
“Vishnabel Lorowi Kisomalos.”
“Yes, Father.”
Father suddenly called me by my full name. Usually in such situations, a scolding was imminent, so I responded with military precision, trembling slightly.
“Do you understand the ultimate objective of this military operation?”
“Um… to invade Media, capture the king, and bring the kingdom under our rule?”
“What is most necessary in war?”
“Justification!”
War requires justification first and foremost! Second, third—everything hinges on justification! A war without proper cause easily invites condemnation from other nations. We were able to absorb Ljubljana precisely because they violated the ancient pact between our kingdoms, giving us the pretext to attack.
According to the contract, it dates back a hundred years. Back then, some rebel claiming to be descended from dragons staged a coup. To suppress it, Kisomalos sent soldiers, and in exchange for eliminating the rebel, Ljubljana promised a hundred years of tribute.
But Ljubljana failed to honor it properly. Some years they skipped payments entirely, other times they sent insufficient quantities of special products. Recently, they’ve grown so brazen as to dismiss the old agreement as irrelevant, so we simply flattened them with the Air Force.
If we had invaded purely out of wounded pride, neighboring nations would have fiercely opposed us. But when we invoke the justification that they forgot the grace of having their rebel eliminated and failed to uphold the contract? Neighboring countries simply accept it—they tell Ljubljana to stop complaining and comply, and they lose interest in interfering.
To avoid backstabbing from neighboring nations, justification is paramount. We had reason to strike, so we struck. Without reason, we wouldn’t strike—so unrelated nations can rest assured. This is the kind of message we must convey.
In any case, the fact that Father is bringing up justification now means….
“We will conquer Media and establish Croa as king. Then who becomes the principal in this marriage alliance?”
“Ah, that would be me and Croa.”
“Did you explain this to Croa?”
“Ah.”
Right. I hadn’t gotten Croa’s consent.

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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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