People Aren't Meant to Be Fixed! (4 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 8

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“You’re clever enough to even hide your name.”

I gazed quietly down at the child.

Bright green eyes, contrasting with cream-colored hair, sparkled with intelligence; even in tattered clothes, the child’s sharp mind was unmistakable.

I immediately recognized the precociousness and keenness—traits far beyond the child’s years—as signs of true talent.

“Your family?”

“…They perished in this war.”

“…”

No sooner had Jeff finished speaking than my words caught in my throat. I might have consoled a stranger, but as the one who had started this war, I was in no position to offer comfort. Thus, I had nothing meaningful to say.

“He may be scrawny, but he’s surprisingly strong—take him with you and put him to work on odd jobs.”

“Yes, understood.”

Regardless, it was certain this child would become someone remarkable one day. For now, I decided to take him in and keep an eye on him—not out of guilt or atonement, but simply because it felt a waste to let him go.

And so Jeff became part of our household—and proved himself more capable than expected.

When assigned to clean the corridors, he polished the marble floors until they gleamed; every other task he undertook yielded satisfying results.

And true to his hard work, he ate heartily.

[This is the timeline separator]

One morning.

“Treat your sword as an extension of your own body!”

I had received reports that Jeff had been sneaking into the soldiers’ training grounds before dawn. His usual habit was hiding behind a tent, secretly watching General Roy command the drills.

“What are you loitering around for? Go do your chores.”

“Hey, go fetch some water.”

He’d been spotted so often that even the busy General Roy had noticed him—each time caught, the boy would jump in surprise and scurry off to do menial tasks.

General Roy later told me that, impressed by the lad’s curiosity and diligence after the fifth time he’d been caught, he’d decided to keep a closer eye on Jeff.

“Go deeper! Stay focused!”

“Swing sideways!”

Word spread quickly among the knights, and at this point, I—the Emperor—felt it necessary to see for myself. From a distance, I watched as Jeff practiced swordplay with a tree branch.

“Is this how it’s done?”

Perhaps because it was a quiet clearing—or maybe because my hearing was sharp—I caught every mutter.

‘Not bad at all for someone imitating without a master. A bit clumsy, but…’

Resting my chin in one hand, I admired how Jeff’s self-taught sword stance had surprisingly good form. Though lacking formal instruction and thus somewhat awkward, his drawing motion was convincingly fluid. With proper guidance, he could become a great asset to the Empire.

“Ha!”

Sssshhht—

The sound of the branch slicing through air intrigued me. I briefly considered gifting him a wooden practice sword soon.

‘Go ahead.’

Our eyes met just as General Roy emerged from the training grounds. I gestured for Jeff to approach, and the astute general bowed respectfully before walking straight over.

‘No need for me to prepare anything.’

I folded my arms, noticing the wooden practice sword in the general’s hand.

“Jeff.”

General Roy approached the boy, who’d dropped his branch in surprise at the sudden appearance, and asked with a smile,

“Do you wish to learn swordsmanship?”

“Yes.”

Having always taken a liking to Jeff, the general laughed heartily and handed him a pre-prepared wooden practice sword.

“Your eyes shine brightly.”

Seeing Jeff’s eyes fill with firm resolve and passion, General Roy was deeply satisfied—and so was I, smirking faintly.

“From now on, be here every morning by six. Of course, only after finishing your daily duties.”

Feeling it was time for my entrance, I strode forward confidently.

“Ah!”

In his eagerness to follow General Roy’s instructions, Jeff fumbled his grip on the practice sword, which flew straight to my feet.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“It’s alright.”

Since I’d come to encourage him, I brushed it off kindly, picked up the practice sword, and examined it closely.

Trending

“You’ve cut your hair—I almost didn’t recognize you.”

After returning the sword, I complimented Jeff’s changed appearance.

Neatly dressed, hair tidily combed, and freshly bathed, he now seemed to radiate a floral charm unlike before—surely, when grown, he’d be quite handsome.

“Your Highness, you’ve come?”

“Just taking a stroll.”

I exchanged a few casual words with General Roy, who was now expertly feigning a chance encounter, and he promptly sent Jeff elsewhere.

“Practice what I just taught you some more.”

“Yes!”

Jeff replied energetically and dashed off.

“Why are you teaching that boy, anyway?”

I watched Jeff diligently practicing swordplay from afar and asked.

“At first, I taught him lightly since he showed interest. I expected him to give up quickly, but he’s exceeded my expectations.”

“Good. He’ll earn his keep.”

Back then, Jeff had merely been a promising boy.

But as time passed, he rose to become not only a capable aide but even a trusted confidant.

“Jeff Hedder Piccadilly, a rebellion has broken out in the northwest—quell it and return. Use as many troops as you need.”

“Yes.”

Jeff immediately left the office to carry out his duty. It had been quite some time since he’d been granted a dukedom, formally entering noble society, and his outstanding ability had firmly established his position within the Empire.

“That brat’s really grown. Is he about twenty now?”

“Twenty-three, Your Highness.”

Seeing a talent I’d watched for years flourish filled me with quiet pride, and I kept smiling contentedly.

“He’s grown so much already—twenty years old, huh.”

Pretending not to hear the attendant’s correction that he was twenty-three, I stared blankly at the towering pile of documents on my desk.

“Anyway, when will I ever finish reading all these records? There’s a mountain of work.”

Lost in thought, overwhelmed by the endless workload, I was startled when my aide wheeled in a tray.

“Your Highness, they’re requesting permission to build a new temple in the southern provinces.”

Can’t you give me a moment’s peace? I pouted and glared at the aide.

“There are several other urgent matters as well.”

“Why are there so many demands?!”

Frustrated by the ever-growing stack of papers—now towering higher than ever—I collapsed face-down on my desk and wailed.

Soon unable to bear the dizzying sensation, I kicked the desk and shouted,

“Save me!”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Crown Princess!”

“Wake up! Crown Princess!”

The moment my eyes opened, I bolted upright. The Fleur siblings stood on either side.

‘It’s that blasted paper boat giving me nightmares!’

Startled by my sudden movement, the paper boat perched unknowingly on my head tumbled off.

“There’s lots of paper, Crown Princess!”

“It’s pretty!”

As I quietly held and fiddled with it, Ronowe and Beris beamed and begged me to join them.

“…”

Instead of answering, I glanced sideways at Carlisle. The boy sat calmly, stacking several paper boats on his head while folding paper with intense focus—and a delighted expression.

‘I always thought him mature for his age, but at moments like this, he’s unmistakably a child.’

While I’d been dreaming, the Fleur siblings had made all sorts of origami—I quietly admired their creations.

‘Well, that explains why he never gets annoyed playing with these clumsy little ones.’

I concluded, as expected, that children will be children.

“Crown Princess, this one’s special.”

Beris suddenly approached and held out his creation, and before I realized it, I’d taken it.

“Just look—please don’t take it away…”

ads

Thinking I’d stolen it, Beris nearly teared up, and I was flustered.

“Here.”

He wouldn’t take it back. I suppressed an urge to laugh.

“Use your paper wisely, you rascals…”

Then, remembering that even surplus stationery from the Imperial library shouldn’t be wasted, I scolded them gently.

“Crown Princess, try folding one too!”

“I don’t want to.”

But they wouldn’t take no for an answer—and when they saw my disinterest, the little rascals began threatening to burst into tears again.

“Sigh… fine.”

Might as well, I thought. With no other choice, I joined their origami session and challenged myself with the simplest design—the paper boat.

“Oh…”

Deep in concentration, I was interrupted when Beris, peering over from the side, suddenly cried out,

“Y-your Highness!! The boat…!!!”

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