kscans

Chapter 19 - Fatimah and the Little Person

"What is it?"

"Who knows?"

Before the wide-eyed baron and his daughter stood the King's brother, his face a mask of displeasure.

It was a rare expression for him, a man who was always lighthearted and wore a suspicious grin. Romel noticed the two coming down from the second floor and gestured with his chin for them to sit.

Oooh. He seems to be in a bad mood.

Exchanging puzzled glances, Drago and Chihiro sat on the sofa. With an air of extreme exhaustion, Romel first spoke to Drago.

"I hear you wish to resign as head chef, but it is denied. Permission could not be granted under normal circumstances, but from now on, it absolutely cannot be granted."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Because you are Chihiro’s parent. You understand the reason, don’t you? Chihiro."

Suddenly addressed, Chihiro pressed her lips together.

What is he talking about? What is he saying?

Romel narrowed his eyes sharply at the wary Chihiro and gave a faint smile.

"See, a reaction to every word. It shows in every bit of your attitude, Chihiro."

When questioned, she tenses up. She considers. She observes.

None of it is the behavior of a toddler. And the fact that she behaves this way indicates that she understands her own situation.

Ah, why was it so obvious, yet I never noticed until now? Was I deceived by her small appearance?

Looking at Romel, who was laughing self-deprecatingly, Chihiro let out a small sigh in her heart.

I don’t know how much he knows, but it seems he’s figured out the core of it. Did he hear from the king? That they tried to dispose of the princess. Or maybe that kid named Theodore told him?

There was no point in thinking about it. Chihiro asked him straight out.

"Did you figure out who I am?"

"You’re Prince Theodore’s twin sister, right? Fatimah."

".....Yes. In that case, you have no reason to be attached to me anymore, do you? I am a princess the royal family cast aside. Please leave me be."

With a slightly weary look on her face, Chihiro glared at Romel as if exasperated. However, Romel’s expression was not what Chihiro had expected. She had thought he would surely mock her, or perhaps show some guilt, but the man was staring straight at Chihiro with a vacant look.

"Cast aside? The royal family, you? No way that happened!!"

Huh?

Unable to hide his indignation, Romel’s shout caused the flame of anger that had been smoldering in Chihiro’s heart to roar to life.

"No way? I was actually abandoned. I was left in a filthy room without food or water, hovering between life and death. Do you have any idea what that suffering was like??!!"

That’s right, Fatimah had suffered. A young child who had perished alone in a terror and despair that seemed not of this world. No matter the reason, there was no way that could be justified. At that moment, Fatimah had died.

And at her own thought, Chihiro was stunned.

She finally understood. Yes, at that moment, she had died. That was why I had surfaced. When Fatimah died and lost her sense of self, I was liberated.

Staring at her small hands, Chihiro’s face crumpled. Realizing the girl's death anew, her chest tightened as if it would be crushed.

"The royal palace killed Fatimah. You people did..... Why didn’t you help her? She was crying so much. She passed away all alone and lonely..... Fatimah....."

As Chihiro broke down sobbing, Drago supported her and glared at Romel with a look so fierce it could kill.

"That’s enough, we’ve had enough. The royal family does nothing but make my daughter cry. Leave us alone! Never bother us again!!"

What did he care about disrespect? What did royalty matter? There was nothing that should take precedence over his precious daughter!!

With open disgust, Drago picked Chihiro up and stormed up to the second floor with loud footsteps. Watching them go in a daze, Romel thought about Chihiro’s words.

Cast aside by the royal family. Hovering between life and death. Why didn't you help me.

His face twisted in pain.

That he didn't know was just a conclusion. It couldn't even serve as an excuse. The fact was, she had nearly died. If Drago and the others hadn't noticed, she would have certainly died. If she had died, the royal family would have said the same thing. Since we didn't know, it couldn't be helped. Though the gap between life and death is large, it ultimately leads to the same conclusion. For the person involved, it must amount to nothing more than a single phrase, don't mess with me.

Is it wrong for the royal family to seek her out now?

Now that we know, we want to do something. That thought isn't unnatural. In fact, it's reasonable. However, her will is not present in that equation. If she doesn't want it, leaving her alone is probably the right answer. Her biological father, the King, might not be convinced, but the fact is, because they didn't know, she suffered terribly. They abandoned a child who should have been protected. This fact cannot be overturned. If we are to insist that we did not know, then they can insist that we should leave them alone, that it's too late now.

Normally, that would be valid. If Chihiro were a commoner... or at least a noble.

One cannot intrude upon a parent child relationship that is already fully formed.

But she is royalty. And a Golden Queen who possesses the irises.

The royal family cannot simply leave this be.

Since she has been acknowledged by the Golden Queen and the Forest Master, her eyes will eventually turn into the golden irises. Without a doubt.

Aaaaargh, seriously, why did it have to be you!

"I’ll come back another time. Please give my regards to the baron and his daughter."

With that, Romel stood up and headed for the entrance.

And then he felt a piercing gaze and turned around.

There stood the butler and maid, their eyes fixed on Romel. Though well hidden, there was a faint disgust and hatred oozing out. The eyes staring at him had no warmth, and a chillingly cold gaze was directed at Romel.

Marked as an enemy, huh. Can't be helped. You're well loved, Chihiro.

For a girl wrapped in such deep affection, the royal family's interference must seem like it's too little, too late. It wouldn't be surprising if it looked like a façade full of hypocrisy.

In fact, if she hadn't possessed the golden irises, the matter might never have come to light, and the royal family might not have been so persistent. The mere existence of that possibility means it's game over. The baron and his household have won a decisive victory.

It's a complete loss, isn't it, brother.

As Romel’s slumped shoulders disappeared dejectedly, several pairs of large, silent eyes watched him go.

While the guard bees of the baron's mansion danced in victory, Chihiro was in Drago's arms, sleeping from exhaustion after crying.

She had cried for a while, and just when she started rubbing her eyes with a sleepy whimper, she fell asleep with a soft thud. She was truly adorable. Whether crying, laughing, or angry, Chihiro was cute, but Drago truly wished she wouldn't cry.

Won't she be lonely if she's alone when she wakes up?

After a moment's thought, he slipped into bed with her, still holding her. He cradled her head on his arm and held her close as he slept.

Papa is here. You don't have to worry about a thing.

Stroking Chihiro’s hair, which was stuck to her face with tears, Drago also fell asleep.

Needless to say, the next day, Sasha, who came to Chihiro’s room, found a bear in hibernation and brought down the thunder.

The fraying threads are slowly being untangled. When will they be repaired and woven into a new pattern?

Chihiro cries, Drago gets scolded, and Romel gets depressed.

It's a life far from peaceful. But today, the Little Person goes her own way.