kscans

Chapter 33 - The Duchess and the Little One, Part Two

"Find her! I don’t care if it’s a body, you must find her!"

The audience chamber of the Castrato royal castle. The man sitting on the throne squared his shoulders and yelled at the knights before him.

"There is no point in yelling. You were the one who exiled Hyrulia, Father."

"Silence! You couldn’t even manage your own brother and let him run off, you useless good-for-nothing!"

The Crown Prince, standing beside the throne, shut his mouth just as he was told. He knew well that saying anything to his father in this state was pointless. The king was hot-headed, short-tempered, and had nothing but an inflated sense of pride. He would never admit to his own failures. In a way, it was a proper and correct sense of elitism. He was flustered that a piece he had discarded, thinking it was trash, had turned out to be an unexpectedly important one, and he probably couldn't accept the fact that a stone he had tossed aside on the roadside was actually a cornerstone that could sway the nation.

The matter of Hyrulia was supposed to have been settled with her exile. However, a new fact had come to light. The culprits were not Hyrulia, but her adoptive parents. And it was a malicious crime committed using a tamed monster. Although they were legally parent and child, the adoption had been dissolved by the adoptive parents before Hyrulia was punished. What's more, it was a false accusation. Now that this had been brought to light, her status could not be revoked. The true culprits, her adoptive parents, had already been beheaded. Their children were also in prison. The blame does not extend to Hyrulia, whose adoption was dissolved. In other words, right now, Hyrulia is properly the Grand Duchess. As long as she is not secured, a proxy can be appointed, but her territory and title cannot be taken away. Since her innocence had been proven, not even the king could question a crime that did not exist. The king had wanted to make Hyrulia an accomplice or equally guilty, but it was not so simple. The fact that he had exiled her without a trial had backfired. The only evidence was that her adoption had been dissolved by her adoptive parents before her punishment, and this, ironically, strengthened the credibility of her false accusation. The picture of her being framed and used as a disposable pawn by her adoptive parents had been perfectly formed.

To argue against this, solid evidence was necessary.

And as long as Hyrulia’s life or death was not confirmed, the laws of Castrato did not allow for the revocation of a title. Castrato placed great importance on bloodlines, and women and children also had inheritance rights. And if, by some chance, Hyrulia were to die, then according to that law, the title would be passed on to a close relative. A criminal's title could be revoked, but an innocent person's was a different matter. Through the proper procedures, the title would slide to another relative. Currently, the most likely candidate was Hyrulia’s uncle, who was in his early forties. He was a staunch progressive and on bad terms with the king. If he became one of Castrato’s wings, he would undoubtedly become a thorn in the king’s side.

To avoid this, the King of Castrato was searching for Hyrulia with all his might. It would be a godsend if she were found alive. At worst, a corpse would do. He would freeze the body, make a false report that she had been found, then hide her existence under the pretext of her being bedridden, and marry her off to someone on paper. Then, after a suitable amount of time, he would announce her death and have the title slide to that person.

The most suitable person for this was the younger prince.

He was scolding him for the disappearance of the younger prince, whom he usually paid no mind, because that plan had gone awry.

Serves you right.

Feeling a sense of satisfaction at the king’s cornered state, the Crown Prince raised the corners of his mouth slightly.

But then, an unexpected stray shot came his way.

"Once Hyrulia is found, whether she is alive or dead, you will take her as your official consort! Do you understand!"

"Huh?"

Staring at the Crown Prince, who was wide-eyed with surprise, the King of Castrato spat out that it was a royal decree.

"She was originally a candidate to be your consort. There should be no problem. It would be good if she were alive, but if she is dead, we will secretly have a child made before holding the funeral. I will also prepare a woman who can secretly produce a child. One with silver hair and purple eyes." Declaring this as if it were a matter of course, the king waved his hand at the Crown Prince to dismiss him. Bowing respectfully, the Crown Prince withdrew, at a loss for words at the sheer shock.

This has become a huge mess.

While maintaining a composed expression, the Crown Prince’s mind was racing, a cold sweat breaking out in his head.

It would be fortunate if she were alive, but if she were dead, it would be the worst. He would have to fake her death by freezing her corpse and mate with another woman. A life as a stud horse.

No, no, no, no!

The Crown Prince hurriedly took up a brush, penned a letter, and entrusted it to a reliable subordinate.

"I think he is probably looking for Hyrulia in Frontier. Make sure you deliver this to my brother."

And so began the battle for Hyrulia between the King of Castrato, the younger prince, and the Little One.

Incidentally, the person in question was at the Jourdain County estate, surrounded by many monsters, frolicking like a child.

"This is amazing, so many monsters! And they’re all so cute!"

Ahh. Normal monsters are apparently all mixed, chimera-like things.

The Lords' kin, who have the proper forms of living creatures, are the irregulars.

Watching the frolicking girl, the Little One had tea at a table in the garden. Zakk, who had come over with a sullen face, holding a plate of sweets, received a slight, wry smile as she took the plate from him. Tilting his head of smooth black hair, Zakk peered into the Little One’s face and muttered in a low voice.

"Take me with you next time. It’s a promise."

He must have felt left out, not being taken on this expedition. Since it was a test run, there hadn't been much preparation, and their impromptu departure in whatever they were wearing had backfired.

"But you have work at the castle, don’t you, Zakk?"

"I can just call my apprentice for that. I told you I would never leave your side again."

He plopped down heavily in the chair next to her and glared at the Little One with a face like he had bitten into a bitter bug. But swaying in the depths of his narrowed eyes was a faint anxiety. Seeing that fragile light, the Little One scratched her head poripori.

"Well then, I’ll try talking to Romel-nyo. But I wonder if there’s a place for sweets on the pilgrimage."

"I just don’t want to be away from you. The sweets are a bonus. Whatever happens, I’m going with you!"

He slammed his hand on the table, then lifted the Little One and set her on his lap. Then, his lips trembled with a pained expression.

"If I were as I am now back then… I might have been of use to you. I might have been able to hold you like this and protect you from everything. I…!"

The remnants of regret, still deeply rooted.

The Little One patted Zakk’s head pon pon as his shoulders trembled. Smooth, black hair. Obsidian eyes that stood out against his dark skin. He had grown larger in appearance, but inside, he was still frozen in that time. The deep sorrow that had been carved into him could not be easily wiped away. Now that he had the Little One again, Zakk was afraid of losing her once more. Sensing the conflict in his heart, Chihiro felt both embarrassed and worried.

"It’s okay, I’m here."

"You said the same thing before and then you disappeared!!"

Zakk’s cry was like a wail.

The Little One recoiled with a pyah, her eyes wide. Seeing this, Zakk looked down with an "ah."

There’s nothing to do but wait until he accepts it himself.

No matter how many words she used, his heartfelt outpouring would not cease. Even if he talked it all out, new anxieties would likely assail him. This was something no one else could understand. He had to accept it and overcome it himself. Patting the chest of the downcast Zakk teshi teshi, the Little One opened her mouth wide.

"Snack time~♪"

Zakk’s eyes moved slightly, and with a bit of a fluster, he scooped up the sweets he had prepared with a spoon and brought them to the Little One’s mouth. With an anxious expression still on his face, he moved the spoon back and forth several times, peering at Chihiro’s face as if to gauge her reaction.

"Mmm~, delicious~♪ Zakk’s sweets are the best, after all!"

It was ice cream made from a recipe Chihiro had taught him. A new creation with crushed cookies mixed in and a raspberry sauce drizzled over it. With a faint smile, Zakk diligently brought the spoon to her mouth.

"Right? All the sweets I make are for you, milady. I live for you. …So don’t leave me behind. Okay?"

She couldn’t look away from his pleading gaze.

He’s so intense… too intense, Zakk.

As the handsome man looked at her with his brows furrowed, looking as if he might cry at any moment, Chihiro sighed inwardly. A grown man pretending to spoil a little girl, but actually seeking comfort with all his might. What on earth was she to do? The Little One’s eyes drifted slightly into the distance.

Is there a doctor for matters of the heart anywhere out there!

It was a cry from the soul.

With the Little One on his lap, Zakk diligently fed her. Hyrulia smiled a full, soft smile at the heartwarming sight.

She is so loved, Hiro-sama.

Hyrulia did not know the inner thoughts of the Little One, who was drowning in affection of a different vector and desperately dog-paddling.

It was a charming side story that later, when Chihaya told them about it, the men, fired up with a competitive spirit, all began to feed Chihiro.

Though their individual affections grow heavier by the day, the Little One is still doing well♪