Chapter 2. Dad and Brother are Strange
A single cry was heard from the other side, surprised at the door suddenly opening.
“Oscar.”
Esteban’s low toned voice caused Oscar to turn his head and avoid eye contact. There was only one person who dares to lurk around the Emperor’s office door. He was the Great Ermano Empire’s first prince, Oscar Alle Ermano.
Oscar sighed at his misfortune. Since he was caught, he loosened his back and walked inside with confidence.
“Royal Father, when will you give me permission?”
Though the young boy was merely six years old, Oscar held a calm and mature tone. His silver hair, similar to his father’s, reflected against the sunshine and glimmered; his emerald green eyes, a trait inherited from his mother the Empress, sparkled.
Esteban looked at Oscar with dull eyes compared to when he looked at Mabel… oh that sweet Mabel.
Permission, huh.
The permission Oscar sought for was the permission to see Mabel.
Though it was not difficult to allow someone to see a month old child, Esteban declined at that very moment.
“You may not.”
“Why? You definitely said that you’ll allow me to see her a month later.”
“Because you’ll get too excited holding her, Oscar. And what happens if you drop Mabel?”
“Ugh…”
Esteban’s declination was not without reason. Oscar had once dropped Esteban’s treasured art piece into mangled pieces.
Oscar was saddened.
‘I guess I can’t see her today as well… even though I had trouble sleeping from the excitement knowing exactly a month had passed since her birth… uwuu…’
He had even concluded his sword training practice early for this very moment, but it was to no avail.
Staring at Oscar, who looked like an abandoned wet puppy out in the raid, Esteban ripped the final letter sent from the holy capital and stood up.
“I guess there’s no helping it. Alright, follow me, Oscar.”
Oscar’s face lightened up like the blazing sun at Esteban’s words.
Esteban smiled, ruffled his son’s hair roughly, and stepped out of the office. It was time to see Mabel anyways. Might as well use this opportunity to show Mabel her elder blood-related brother.
‘Though she won’t remember anything since she’s too young.’
***
Who said the life of an infant was easy?
Those were careless words thrown by folks who don’t remember their experience as an infant… since humans easily forget!
My body itched badly from a need to move. I could not lie down to the side, nor could I lie face down, so it felt like I was training my body to withstand the yearning to move. The only thing I could do, in the end, was lie down in the cradle and stare at the nanny and maids busying themselves with work.
‘Ahh… I’m so bored…’
Staring absentmindedly, the nanny smiled and came over.
“Your Highness, it’s time for your meal.”
“Nngh…”
The only thing I was glad for was that I was not drinking milk straight from the nanny’s breast… that would leave scars in my heart.
The nanny checked the temperature of the liquid inside the baby bottle, then flared at the maid who prepared the milk powder.
“Lalima, it’s way too hot!”
“Ah, I’m sorry! I’ll prepare it again!”
The maid, Lalima, hurried out of the door to prepare a new baby milk. The nanny stared at Lalima’s back and let out a long sigh before turning around to the next attendant, Xavier, who stood next to her.
“She keeps making mistakes every time and it stresses me out. I wonder if she’ll be able to find someone worthy of her at this rate…”
“It didn’t seem like Lalima had any thoughts about marriage!”
“Then there’s no helping it. I guess you’ll just have to marry Lalima, Xavier.”
“Wha?! Why do you say that, ma’am?”
As Xavier recoiled in shock, the nanny laughed.
I could tell that those people had an intimate bond from their interactions with each other alone.
The nanny placed in charge of my upbringing was Madam Lupe. I vaguely remember hearing that she used to be mother’s personal maid while she was still alive.
Nanny also took care of Lalima due to an acquaintance’s plea, and the attendant next to her, Xavier, was her cousin.
It was fun and pleasing to listen in on their conversation. They seemed to know each other well. It was especially interesting when Lalima and Xavier fought over petty things like a couple of children and only to stick together closely, apologizing and looking like a romantic couple.
“Yawn…”
Looking at the ceiling boredly, a sudden sleepiness came over me. The mobile hanging from the ceiling spun in circles blurrily.
‘Maybe she’s squeezing the milk out of a cow or something…’
My eyelids felt way too heavy.
Nod…
My head nodded off to the side.
Soon as I entrusted myself to comfort, sleepiness overcame me and I…
“How’s Mabel?
I heard a familiar voice and suddenly, I was wide awake, but I regretted my decision thereafter.
“You were nodding off a little bit, weren’t you? Ah, you cute little thing.”
I locked eyes with the man who was my father.
‘Sob… I should have just pretended to sleep.’
As I made an annoyed expression by blinking my two eyes, the nanny hurried over.
“Oh my, she shouldn’t be sleeping right now. It’s still not time for her meal.”
“Meal?”
The man stared right back at me. His gaze was too burdensome that I slowly turned my head to avoid his staring… but… in that familiar space I expected to be empty was a face that I was seeing for the first time. It was a young boy who had on a glowing smile as he stared at me.
“Royal Father, the baby is looking at me…!”
The boy tried his best to hide his set of overflowing emotion that was hard to disguise when his two cheeks glowed glimmered a bright red.
I creased my eyes slightly as our eyes met, staring and studying his face meticulously. I had some vague idea of who he was based on the information I had heard from the nanny and her two attendants.
‘So… that boy who has a different mother is my elder brother?’
Oscar Alle Ermano… I’m sure that was his name, and even more certain after learning that he had similar facial features and hair color as his father.
The young boy’s green emerald eyes sparkled, his eyes locked onto me.
“Don’t be fooled, Oscar. Her eyesight hasn’t developed fully yet. She’s not looking at you.”
His confidence soared through the roof, shocking me even. I was speechless.
‘You once said that it looked like I was looking at you, like our eyes met!’
His demeanor and mannerisms towards me was… different compared to Oscar. I wonder why he calls me “My Mabel” yet acts cold to his own son. Oscar’s reaction confused me too. He was not fazed from his father’s harsh words and stared only at me.
“So cute…”
“Uhk…”
I wanted to say something, tried to say something, but I could not. Despite my foolhardy determination, I failed. I had no teeth and all I could muster was a soft coo.
“Uhk? Perhaps… older brother? Royal Father, Mabel just called me older brother…!”
“Stop speculating, Oscar.”
He snapped coldly before donning a soft, loving smile.
“I’m sure she was trying to say, ‘Oh father…’“
“…”
You’re both wrong. I wanted them to stay quiet. They were too loud and noisy…
‘Someone get them away from me!’
I stared at the nanny with pleading eyes.
“Oh my, it seems that Her Highness is hungry. Lalima, is it ready?”
The nanny, who craned her head at me looking at her, suddenly exclaimed.
“It’s all done!”
My effortless plea failed to reach her.
‘To think even you would let me down, nanny.’
The nanny held my despaired and drooping body into her arms. She thought it amusing to wiggle bells around my face. Yes, nanny, amusing indeed.
The Emperor and Oscar kept their eyes glued onto me and made sure not a moment was missed.
Their gaze burdened me. Why are they like this?
Meanwhile, the nanny planted the baby bottle on my lips. I sucked on the bottle nipple energetically.
“It looks like Her Highness was famished.”
‘…That’s not it…’
I only had thoughts of finishing the meal quickly so they’d leave. Halfway through the bottle, I let go of the nipple and breathed. Meanwhile, the Emperor stood next to the nanny before I noticed and reached out his hand to her.
“?”
The nanny’s eyes blinked.
The Emperor looked at me.
“Give her to me.”
‘Huh…? Huh…?’
The tip of the baby bottle that was half inside my mouth popped out. All I could do was stare with my mouth half-open at this crazy situation, trying to understand what was happening.
Before I was able to comprehend what had occurred, the Emperor quickly sat on the chair and embraced me in his arms.
“Here, Mabel. Papa will feed you.”
“Uehh…”
‘…I don’t need you to…!’
I tried to push my head back as far as I could, try as I might, but my actions bore no fruition. I could not get away from him. Meanwhile, he pushed the baby bottle on my parted lips.
“Nngh!”
….I could not win against a strong adult and so I abandoned all hopes and sucked on the nipple instead.
“There you go. Eat nicely.”
‘Sob… why am I a baby…’
A sense of foreboding despair came over me at my inability to express my displeasure.
The gaze of the Emperor’s loving and affectionate eyes… eyes with hearts… burdened me. It burdened me so, therefore, I shut my eyes tight.
“Looks like you’re nearly finished.”
As I had sucked the bottle with all my mighty strength, my mouth was chock-full of the milk. When I slowly opened my eyes…
“Ppftt!”
I spat out the milk.
‘Wh-why is your face so close to me?!’
No one in their right mind would stay calm when a man, an Emperor nonetheless, would stick his face so close to another.
“Oh…! Are you all right, Your Majesty?!”
The nanny hurried over and handed the Emperor a handkerchief. On the other hand, the emperor smiled warmly.
“It’s fine. The milk Mabel spits out is holy water.”
‘…What did I just hear him say?’
I could not believe what I was hearing nor did I know how to react.
Instead of wiping the stains off his face, he opted to clean my mouth as I stared at him wide-eyed, my breath taken away. Only after he finished his duty did he wipe off the stain on his face.
“In any case, I’m happy my Mabel is eating well.”
As he smiled, his cheeks turned a rosy color as flowers bloomed and the surrounding air sparkled. Was this the handsome man effect…?
“……”
He rubbed my cheeks softly before lifting me and patting my back. I was caught in his grasp and I stared at the nanny with pleading eyes.
‘…Please, someone, save me…!’
But the nanny looked at us lovingly, her head tilted slightly and palms pressed against her cheek. She loved the view the father and daughter laid.
Oscar stood on the sidelines and became the backup in this drama. A look of jealousy crossed his face as he looked at the emperor. He clenched his fist and moved a step forward.
“Royal Father.”
“What?”
“Could I hold her… no, nevermind… you won’t let me…”
“It’s good that you know.”
The Emperor smiled slightly, coddling me over and over again while Oscar stared with jealous eyes.
I felt like my whole world was spinning. Can… can everyone stop paying attention to me? I’m sure God does not exist. If he did, he’d not ignore my poor current situation.
I pleaded and begged with large eyes that they stop, but each attempt to do so was futile. Their infatuation towards me grew worse.
There was not a day that the Emperor and Oscar did not visit me. Each morning and night, the Emperor would visit me without fail while Oscar snuck in at random times. It seemed that the Emperor did not allow Oscar to see me without permission, so I’m sure he’d sneak in whenever the opportunity presented itself as much as possible.
“Ugh.”
Their visits grew tiresome at times. I wish they would stop. I prayed and prayed knowing it won’t be answered.
Above me, the baby mobile spun around slowly. I was disinterested at first, finding it unexciting at first, but I grew to like it over time. I think the servants said that it was made out of materials from the palace treasures… yes… treasures…
The Emperor exclaimed that beautiful things would help me grow to be healthy. And so he threw the treasures away and had it broken down. And broken down it was. The baby mobile shone and sparkled brightly as if it was made out of precious metal.
“Ubehbeh” (He’s absolutely crazy…)
I glanced to the side. The nanny was there concentrating on her knits while her two other attendants were busy having small fights over nothing.
“Lalima, did you hear? Did you hear about the egg that Divine Beast of the North Forest laid? They said it hatched. On top of that, it was on the day Her Highness was born!”
“What are you saying? Wasn’t this news made false? You’re just talking nonsense again.”
“If you don’t believe me, go out there and see for yourself. The place was chaotic! The king had even sent knights there and all! And what hatched was a cat. Its fur was golden-colored!”
“How would a cat have golden fur? In any case, you’re too gullible. You know how harsh this world is, right? How can you survive at this rate?”
“…It’s true…”
While Lalima and Xavier conversed, I licked my lips.
‘A divine beast’s eggs huh… sounds delicious. I want boiled eggs.’
Before I could dive in their conversation, the topic of their conversation changed again. I could not keep up, so I stared a the ceiling without a thought. The baby mobile worth more than my whole body spun slowly in circles.
‘All right.’
While they did not pay attention to me, I wiggled and tried to move my body as much as I could. I turned my head this way and that way while I wiggled my fingers as well. Thanks to my discreet practice, they did not notice my moving. I was able to do things like stretch out my hand or grabbing a toy easily. It was not too hard for me to put two hands up as if I was cheering either.
‘…Perhaps I’ll try to do something a bit more difficult today!’
Lifting my own head up by the neck, of course! It was a hurdle that needed to be cleared so I could turn my head to the side without much difficulties.
“Mmphh!”
I put as much power into my neck as much as I could, but all I could do was lift it before I expended all my energy.
“Mmphh!”
With newfound determination, I tried one more time, but the result was the same.
‘Nngh! How long will it take me to grow up?! I can’t speak nor can I walk!’
I tried to kick my legs into the air to relieve my stress, but I failed to even do such basic action.
In that moment…
“Mabel.”
I suddenly heard a voice. I stopped trashing around and looked towards the direction of the voice it came from.
“It looks like you weren’t sleeping. Hehe, that’s good.”
Oscar, who snuck in today as well, was covered in mud, dirt, and grime as he peeked over the cradle. Meanwhile, the nanny quickly tossed her knitting aside and dashed towards Oscar.
“Your Highness, your shouldn’t touch Her Highness with those grubby hands of yours!”
‘G-grubby hands…’ He’s a royal member. Was this allowed? But it seemed like Oscar did not mind the nanny’s words much.
“Ah…”
Oscar looked back and forth between his grubby hands and my face before scratching his cheek.
“Nanny, can I use the bathroom for a bit? I’m sure you understand as well that I’m in no position to go back to my room to wash myself.”
“What if His Majesty figures out that you’re here?”
“I’m sure he already knows I’m here.”
The nanny was not able to reply right away. Oscar was right, after all. Oscar laughedly slightly, satisfied that his point came across, walking to the bathroom thereafter.
I lied down quietly, watching the mobile above as I tried my best to not look like I’ve had a marathon exercise.
“Oh my.”
As the nanny organized my cradle, she suddenly put her hand on my forehead.
“Why do you have so much cold sweat on your forehead?”
…No, it’s not cold sweat… just sweat.
‘No way. Did she find out that I was trying to exercise?’
“Oh my! Has Her Highness developed a cold?! Lalima, Lalima!”
At her urgent call, Lalima quickly came to her side.
“What’s the problem?”
“Call the doctor. Her Highness is having cold sweats.”
“Uwaa!” (That’s not it!)
The nanny wiped my face with a worried look, but the more she did so, the more sweats stuck to her hand.
Regret suddenly washed over me.
“Nanny, why are yelling so loudly?”
Oscar finished his bathe faster than expected and walked towards me while drying his wet hair with a towel.
“What is it… is Mabel in pain?”
Chapter 2. Dad and Brother are Strange
A single cry was heard from the other side, surprised at the door suddenly opening.
“Oscar.”
Esteban’s low toned voice caused Oscar to turn his head and avoid eye contact. There was only one person who dares to lurk around the Emperor’s office door. He was the Great Ermano Empire’s first prince, Oscar Alle Ermano.
Oscar sighed at his misfortune. Since he was caught, he loosened his back and walked inside with confidence.
“Royal Father, when will you give me permission?”
Though the young boy was merely six years old, Oscar held a calm and mature tone. His silver hair, similar to his father’s, reflected against the sunshine and glimmered; his emerald green eyes, a trait inherited from his mother the Empress, sparkled.
Esteban looked at Oscar with dull eyes compared to when he looked at Mabel… oh that sweet Mabel.
Permission, huh.
The permission Oscar sought for was the permission to see Mabel.
Though it was not difficult to allow someone to see a month old child, Esteban declined at that very moment.
“You may not.”
“Why? You definitely said that you’ll allow me to see her a month later.”
“Because you’ll get too excited holding her, Oscar. And what happens if you drop Mabel?”
“Ugh…”
Esteban’s declination was not without reason. Oscar had once dropped Esteban’s treasured art piece into mangled pieces.
Oscar was saddened.
‘I guess I can’t see her today as well… even though I had trouble sleeping from the excitement knowing exactly a month had passed since her birth… uwuu…’
He had even concluded his sword training practice early for this very moment, but it was to no avail.
Staring at Oscar, who looked like an abandoned wet puppy out in the raid, Esteban ripped the final letter sent from the holy capital and stood up.
“I guess there’s no helping it. Alright, follow me, Oscar.”
Oscar’s face lightened up like the blazing sun at Esteban’s words.
Esteban smiled, ruffled his son’s hair roughly, and stepped out of the office. It was time to see Mabel anyways. Might as well use this opportunity to show Mabel her elder blood-related brother.
‘Though she won’t remember anything since she’s too young.’
***
Who said the life of an infant was easy?
Those were careless words thrown by folks who don’t remember their experience as an infant… since humans easily forget!
My body itched badly from a need to move. I could not lie down to the side, nor could I lie face down, so it felt like I was training my body to withstand the yearning to move. The only thing I could do, in the end, was lie down in the cradle and stare at the nanny and maids busying themselves with work.
‘Ahh… I’m so bored…’
Staring absentmindedly, the nanny smiled and came over.
“Your Highness, it’s time for your meal.”
“Nngh…”
The only thing I was glad for was that I was not drinking milk straight from the nanny’s breast… that would leave scars in my heart.
The nanny checked the temperature of the liquid inside the baby bottle, then flared at the maid who prepared the milk powder.
“Lalima, it’s way too hot!”
“Ah, I’m sorry! I’ll prepare it again!”
The maid, Lalima, hurried out of the door to prepare a new baby milk. The nanny stared at Lalima’s back and let out a long sigh before turning around to the next attendant, Xavier, who stood next to her.
“She keeps making mistakes every time and it stresses me out. I wonder if she’ll be able to find someone worthy of her at this rate…”
“It didn’t seem like Lalima had any thoughts about marriage!”
“Then there’s no helping it. I guess you’ll just have to marry Lalima, Xavier.”
“Wha?! Why do you say that, ma’am?”
As Xavier recoiled in shock, the nanny laughed.
I could tell that those people had an intimate bond from their interactions with each other alone.
The nanny placed in charge of my upbringing was Madam Lupe. I vaguely remember hearing that she used to be mother’s personal maid while she was still alive.
Nanny also took care of Lalima due to an acquaintance’s plea, and the attendant next to her, Xavier, was her cousin.
It was fun and pleasing to listen in on their conversation. They seemed to know each other well. It was especially interesting when Lalima and Xavier fought over petty things like a couple of children and only to stick together closely, apologizing and looking like a romantic couple.
“Yawn…”
Looking at the ceiling boredly, a sudden sleepiness came over me. The mobile hanging from the ceiling spun in circles blurrily.
‘Maybe she’s squeezing the milk out of a cow or something…’
My eyelids felt way too heavy.
Nod…
My head nodded off to the side.
Soon as I entrusted myself to comfort, sleepiness overcame me and I…
“How’s Mabel?
I heard a familiar voice and suddenly, I was wide awake, but I regretted my decision thereafter.
“You were nodding off a little bit, weren’t you? Ah, you cute little thing.”
I locked eyes with the man who was my father.
‘Sob… I should have just pretended to sleep.’
As I made an annoyed expression by blinking my two eyes, the nanny hurried over.
“Oh my, she shouldn’t be sleeping right now. It’s still not time for her meal.”
“Meal?”
The man stared right back at me. His gaze was too burdensome that I slowly turned my head to avoid his staring… but… in that familiar space I expected to be empty was a face that I was seeing for the first time. It was a young boy who had on a glowing smile as he stared at me.
“Royal Father, the baby is looking at me…!”
The boy tried his best to hide his set of overflowing emotion that was hard to disguise when his two cheeks glowed glimmered a bright red.
I creased my eyes slightly as our eyes met, staring and studying his face meticulously. I had some vague idea of who he was based on the information I had heard from the nanny and her two attendants.
‘So… that boy who has a different mother is my elder brother?’
Oscar Alle Ermano… I’m sure that was his name, and even more certain after learning that he had similar facial features and hair color as his father.
The young boy’s green emerald eyes sparkled, his eyes locked onto me.
“Don’t be fooled, Oscar. Her eyesight hasn’t developed fully yet. She’s not looking at you.”
His confidence soared through the roof, shocking me even. I was speechless.
‘You once said that it looked like I was looking at you, like our eyes met!’
His demeanor and mannerisms towards me was… different compared to Oscar. I wonder why he calls me “My Mabel” yet acts cold to his own son. Oscar’s reaction confused me too. He was not fazed from his father’s harsh words and stared only at me.
“So cute…”
“Uhk…”
I wanted to say something, tried to say something, but I could not. Despite my foolhardy determination, I failed. I had no teeth and all I could muster was a soft coo.
“Uhk? Perhaps… older brother? Royal Father, Mabel just called me older brother…!”
“Stop speculating, Oscar.”
He snapped coldly before donning a soft, loving smile.
“I’m sure she was trying to say, ‘Oh father…’“
“…”
You’re both wrong. I wanted them to stay quiet. They were too loud and noisy…
‘Someone get them away from me!’
I stared at the nanny with pleading eyes.
“Oh my, it seems that Her Highness is hungry. Lalima, is it ready?”
The nanny, who craned her head at me looking at her, suddenly exclaimed.
“It’s all done!”
My effortless plea failed to reach her.
‘To think even you would let me down, nanny.’
The nanny held my despaired and drooping body into her arms. She thought it amusing to wiggle bells around my face. Yes, nanny, amusing indeed.
The Emperor and Oscar kept their eyes glued onto me and made sure not a moment was missed.
Their gaze burdened me. Why are they like this?
Meanwhile, the nanny planted the baby bottle on my lips. I sucked on the bottle nipple energetically.
“It looks like Her Highness was famished.”
‘…That’s not it…’
I only had thoughts of finishing the meal quickly so they’d leave. Halfway through the bottle, I let go of the nipple and breathed. Meanwhile, the Emperor stood next to the nanny before I noticed and reached out his hand to her.
“?”
The nanny’s eyes blinked.
The Emperor looked at me.
“Give her to me.”
‘Huh…? Huh…?’
The tip of the baby bottle that was half inside my mouth popped out. All I could do was stare with my mouth half-open at this crazy situation, trying to understand what was happening.
Before I was able to comprehend what had occurred, the Emperor quickly sat on the chair and embraced me in his arms.
“Here, Mabel. Papa will feed you.”
“Uehh…”
‘…I don’t need you to…!’
I tried to push my head back as far as I could, try as I might, but my actions bore no fruition. I could not get away from him. Meanwhile, he pushed the baby bottle on my parted lips.
“Nngh!”
….I could not win against a strong adult and so I abandoned all hopes and sucked on the nipple instead.
“There you go. Eat nicely.”
‘Sob… why am I a baby…’
A sense of foreboding despair came over me at my inability to express my displeasure.
The gaze of the Emperor’s loving and affectionate eyes… eyes with hearts… burdened me. It burdened me so, therefore, I shut my eyes tight.
“Looks like you’re nearly finished.”
As I had sucked the bottle with all my mighty strength, my mouth was chock-full of the milk. When I slowly opened my eyes…
“Ppftt!”
I spat out the milk.
‘Wh-why is your face so close to me?!’
No one in their right mind would stay calm when a man, an Emperor nonetheless, would stick his face so close to another.
“Oh…! Are you all right, Your Majesty?!”
The nanny hurried over and handed the Emperor a handkerchief. On the other hand, the emperor smiled warmly.
“It’s fine. The milk Mabel spits out is holy water.”
‘…What did I just hear him say?’
I could not believe what I was hearing nor did I know how to react.
Instead of wiping the stains off his face, he opted to clean my mouth as I stared at him wide-eyed, my breath taken away. Only after he finished his duty did he wipe off the stain on his face.
“In any case, I’m happy my Mabel is eating well.”
As he smiled, his cheeks turned a rosy color as flowers bloomed and the surrounding air sparkled. Was this the handsome man effect…?
“……”
He rubbed my cheeks softly before lifting me and patting my back. I was caught in his grasp and I stared at the nanny with pleading eyes.
‘…Please, someone, save me…!’
But the nanny looked at us lovingly, her head tilted slightly and palms pressed against her cheek. She loved the view the father and daughter laid.
Oscar stood on the sidelines and became the backup in this drama. A look of jealousy crossed his face as he looked at the emperor. He clenched his fist and moved a step forward.
“Royal Father.”
“What?”
“Could I hold her… no, nevermind… you won’t let me…”
“It’s good that you know.”
The Emperor smiled slightly, coddling me over and over again while Oscar stared with jealous eyes.
I felt like my whole world was spinning. Can… can everyone stop paying attention to me? I’m sure God does not exist. If he did, he’d not ignore my poor current situation.
I pleaded and begged with large eyes that they stop, but each attempt to do so was futile. Their infatuation towards me grew worse.
There was not a day that the Emperor and Oscar did not visit me. Each morning and night, the Emperor would visit me without fail while Oscar snuck in at random times. It seemed that the Emperor did not allow Oscar to see me without permission, so I’m sure he’d sneak in whenever the opportunity presented itself as much as possible.
“Ugh.”
Their visits grew tiresome at times. I wish they would stop. I prayed and prayed knowing it won’t be answered.
Above me, the baby mobile spun around slowly. I was disinterested at first, finding it unexciting at first, but I grew to like it over time. I think the servants said that it was made out of materials from the palace treasures… yes… treasures…
The Emperor exclaimed that beautiful things would help me grow to be healthy. And so he threw the treasures away and had it broken down. And broken down it was. The baby mobile shone and sparkled brightly as if it was made out of precious metal.
“Ubehbeh” (He’s absolutely crazy…)
I glanced to the side. The nanny was there concentrating on her knits while her two other attendants were busy having small fights over nothing.
“Lalima, did you hear? Did you hear about the egg that Divine Beast of the North Forest laid? They said it hatched. On top of that, it was on the day Her Highness was born!”
“What are you saying? Wasn’t this news made false? You’re just talking nonsense again.”
“If you don’t believe me, go out there and see for yourself. The place was chaotic! The king had even sent knights there and all! And what hatched was a cat. Its fur was golden-colored!”
“How would a cat have golden fur? In any case, you’re too gullible. You know how harsh this world is, right? How can you survive at this rate?”
“…It’s true…”
While Lalima and Xavier conversed, I licked my lips.
‘A divine beast’s eggs huh… sounds delicious. I want boiled eggs.’
Before I could dive in their conversation, the topic of their conversation changed again. I could not keep up, so I stared a the ceiling without a thought. The baby mobile worth more than my whole body spun slowly in circles.
‘All right.’
While they did not pay attention to me, I wiggled and tried to move my body as much as I could. I turned my head this way and that way while I wiggled my fingers as well. Thanks to my discreet practice, they did not notice my moving. I was able to do things like stretch out my hand or grabbing a toy easily. It was not too hard for me to put two hands up as if I was cheering either.
‘…Perhaps I’ll try to do something a bit more difficult today!’
Lifting my own head up by the neck, of course! It was a hurdle that needed to be cleared so I could turn my head to the side without much difficulties.
“Mmphh!”
I put as much power into my neck as much as I could, but all I could do was lift it before I expended all my energy.
“Mmphh!”
With newfound determination, I tried one more time, but the result was the same.
‘Nngh! How long will it take me to grow up?! I can’t speak nor can I walk!’
I tried to kick my legs into the air to relieve my stress, but I failed to even do such basic action.
In that moment…
“Mabel.”
I suddenly heard a voice. I stopped trashing around and looked towards the direction of the voice it came from.
“It looks like you weren’t sleeping. Hehe, that’s good.”
Oscar, who snuck in today as well, was covered in mud, dirt, and grime as he peeked over the cradle. Meanwhile, the nanny quickly tossed her knitting aside and dashed towards Oscar.
“Your Highness, your shouldn’t touch Her Highness with those grubby hands of yours!”
‘G-grubby hands…’ He’s a royal member. Was this allowed? But it seemed like Oscar did not mind the nanny’s words much.
“Ah…”
Oscar looked back and forth between his grubby hands and my face before scratching his cheek.
“Nanny, can I use the bathroom for a bit? I’m sure you understand as well that I’m in no position to go back to my room to wash myself.”
“What if His Majesty figures out that you’re here?”
“I’m sure he already knows I’m here.”
The nanny was not able to reply right away. Oscar was right, after all. Oscar laughedly slightly, satisfied that his point came across, walking to the bathroom thereafter.
I lied down quietly, watching the mobile above as I tried my best to not look like I’ve had a marathon exercise.
“Oh my.”
As the nanny organized my cradle, she suddenly put her hand on my forehead.
“Why do you have so much cold sweat on your forehead?”
…No, it’s not cold sweat… just sweat.
‘No way. Did she find out that I was trying to exercise?’
“Oh my! Has Her Highness developed a cold?! Lalima, Lalima!”
At her urgent call, Lalima quickly came to her side.
“What’s the problem?”
“Call the doctor. Her Highness is having cold sweats.”
“Uwaa!” (That’s not it!)
The nanny wiped my face with a worried look, but the more she did so, the more sweats stuck to her hand.
Regret suddenly washed over me.
“Nanny, why are yelling so loudly?”
Oscar finished his bathe faster than expected and walked towards me while drying his wet hair with a towel.
“What is it… is Mabel in pain?”
