Volume 01 Side Story 03 - Side Story 03: Part 01 (2/2)

“The important things are invisible… She’d said.”

“It’s from『Star Travellers』.” I nodded at his excited voice.

At that time, I was able to see a lot of things when I calmly observed. Mother had been ill. I was the only direct descendant of the royal family. The pressure my mother was facing probably wasn’t normal. She had to be strict on me. Don’t be inferior as the son of the King, who will lead the kingdom in the future. ――― Don’t let anyone attack you as if it’s your fault.

“The boy also realised that he had overlooked important things like in 『Star Traveller』. He learnt that the letters he’d sent to his strict mother were important to her, and she treated them like treasure… So, the boy was fine with it even when his mother was strict on him. And he was very grateful to the Princess.”

I laughed at the sparkling blue eyes. “However,” I continued in a whisper.

“There is a hindrance which is trying to hide the Princess now.”

“Eh…”

“You might have seen it since you’re Roma. In a kingdom to the far east, there are two-legged animal figurines made of pottery. They look very gentle… and don’t really seem like they could be bad, they look like nonchalant clowns. But like pottery, they’re tough to deal with, and are very troublesome.”

“… You.”

I told you to shut up, Glenn.

“What happened to the boy and the Princess?”

I smiled gently when he showed me an uneasy look.

“The boy desperately tried to go meet the Princess. But, annoying people always get in his way. Moreover, the Princess had been subjected to magic that made her forget about the boy.”

“That’s a very convenient interpretation.”

Glenn, I’ll forcefully shut your mouth.

I smiled widely at the boy who looked like he was going to cry.

“But it’s okay. The boy never gave up on the Princess and took her back from the annoying people. The Princess also loved the boy more than she did in the past, and decided to stay by his side.”

*CHEW* Glenn turned sideways and pressed his lips together, so I casually stepped on his foot. I stared back at the boy named Rene.

This child probably realises that I’m not his father. He might have thought so at first, but I gradually realised that his eyes were shining with wisdom.

“――― Rene. Important things are always invisible. You must not lose sight of your important things.”

The small boy was sincerely trying to perceive something from my eyes. Then a shy voice spoke to me, “You… Prince Chris.”

It was the Princess with a small bag of sweets.

“I got it again even though I didn’t pay… Mm, I thought Rene would like same.”

Elli is often recommended sweets because of her appearance even though she doesn’t like them, and she would often hear about struggles at tea parties. The boy, Paolo, reached for the sweets without reservation, and Elli and Rene looked at me questioningly. I smiled and nodded.

I felt anxious as Elli’s eyes softened when Rene reached out to her. She didn’t need to ask me permission for anything concerning Rene… I really hope she doesn’t believe that he’s my son. I broke out in cold sweat behind my smile.

Since this is Elli, she just looked surprised because a lot of things had happened, but sometimes her thoughts piece together in an unexpected way.

She nonchalantly said, “Is Your Highness his father?” and I couldn’t regain my footing. I pressed her to deny her bad idea.

“Elli.”

Her dreamy ashy eyes looked up. I felt impressed every time I saw how clear they are. She turned back when I called her long ago, but it took a great deal of effort.

“Can I get one?”

“Eh? Ah, yes.”

Elli presented me the bag, and I showed her that both my hands were occupied. Her ashy-blue eyes shone in confusion. I urged her with my eyes, and her cheeks turned red as if she had guessed what I wanted her to do. This reaction is also something that she has only recently started to show me and is precious.

Elli was hesitant, and her eyes loitered around, but she timidly picked up a baked sweet and gave it to me.

I put her fingers along with the sweet in my mouth. I tasted her fingers more than the sweet, and she became flustered like I had expected her to.

“M-m-m-my fingers aren’t food!” She protested. I licked her thin fingers and bit it playfully before letting go. Elli became red and stiff, and I teased her, “Really? It’s so sweet and delicious.”

I was satisfied that she had become speechless. With this, she probably wouldn’t think anything strange, and actually say it out loud.

Nearby, Glenn and the boy, Paolo, said, “I… don’t feel like eating sweets anymore.” “Don’t say it. This is an everyday occurrence for us.” “Ah, the saltiness from your meals is doing its work lately, Glenn.” But, I’ll repeat this.

That has nothing to do with me.

We left, gradually moved away from the market and entered the residential area for the Roma people. They had strict regulations against strangers, and men were blocking our way. Rene and Paolo are Roma children, but they were excluded as foreign people since they were evidently with Southlynd people.

“What do you want?” The man said threateningly, and I said a name I wasn’t willing to state, “――― Could you tell Dr Nicola Lezzi that I’m here to get him to return the favour from six years ago?”

The man repeated suspiciously, “A favour from six years ago?” but he seemed to realise that it wouldn’t be a good idea to quarrel with us after he’d glanced at our outfits. “You’re not lying, right?” he had said even though he caved in. Then, he pulled an old man out from behind a covered wagon.

“――― A blonde knight, you say? What? I don’t remember getting acquainted with someone like that in my life. If it’s a debt from them buying me alcohol, then I owe as many people as there are stars.”

“Gahaha,” appearing with a thick, vulgar laugh was a thin man who looked to be in his 60s. Just like his remarks, he stunk of alcohol, his face was red, and he was swinging an alcohol bottle in one hand. He stared at me with intense eyes, and Elli’s eyes widened furtherer in surprise.

It was hard not to sigh.

“You’re the same as always. Old Drunkard Lezzi.”

His eyes looked at me suspiciously, and then he said in amusement, “Oh, what?”

“It’s the naïve boy from a while ago. Did you come to study life again? And when did you produce a Roma child? Was it the time when you were a naïve boy?”

I felt my temples twitch. This is why I tried my best to avoid meeting this old man.

And Elli. Why are you distancing yourself from me while looking at me with such cold eyes?