People Aren't Meant to Be Fixed! (4 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 9
Beris’s expression changed when he saw the paper boat.
With a look as if struck by a great shock, he murmured softly, “Ah!”
“Crown Princess, the boat… Why is it like this? It’s strange.”
Beris leaned close to the table and tilted his head in puzzlement.
Indeed, compared to what the other children made, my paper boat was utterly pitiful.
Crinkled and messy in every direction, its shabby appearance was clearly unimpressive to anyone.
“Saying that is impolite.”
Meanwhile, Ronowe stepped between Beris and me.
“Even if the boat looks like a shipwreck, you shouldn’t speak that way. The Crown Princess worked hard to make it.”
Ronowe informed Beris that he had made a mistake.
‘Huh? “Shipwreck” isn’t a word a young child would casually use.’
I flinched, then suddenly remembered that I, too, currently appeared as a three-year-old, so I decided to quietly observe the situation for now.
“But… the boat… is all ruined.”
Still, Beris refused to change his mind.
With an innocent face, he emphasized that my paper boat was a complete mess.
“Enough!”
Ronowe finally turned around and stared straight at Beris.
“The Crown Princess knows the boat is broken—what’s there to point out!”
Trying to stop Beris, who wouldn’t cease, Ronowe raised her voice.
‘Both of you, just stop. I know already, you brats.’
Watching the scene unfold, I felt embarrassed and conflicted.
Rather than appreciating Ronowe’s defense, I only felt more painfully aware of my own pathetic craftsmanship.
“It’s difficult because it’s your first time.”
Just then,
“Marquess Fleur said everyone is clumsy at first.”
At the very moment my poor skill left me disheartened, Carlisle spoke up. He picked up the paper boat lying before me and gently smoothed it out.
“Thank you for saying that.”
Truly worthy of a future general—he was by far the best of them. I looked at Carlisle and expressed my gratitude.
“Next time, I’ll teach you an easier way.”
Carlisle met my eyes and offered a faint smile.
“I won’t do origami anymore. It’s boring.”
In the midst of it all, Beris—one of the Fleur Siblings who had just moments ago played amiably with paper—suddenly grew bored.
“I’m hungry.”
Ronowe abruptly plopped down onto the floor, clutching her empty stomach.
“Me too.”
Beris dropped the paper onto the floor with a thud and complained of hunger.
“I want something to eat.”
Soon, she picked up one of the fallen paper boats, popped it into her mouth, and chewed it noisily.
“Ah—hey! You’re not supposed to eat that!”
Startled, Carlisle rushed over and quickly pulled the paper boat out of Beris’s mouth.
Apparently, even in his hunger, he hadn’t expected her to actually try eating paper—Carlisle looked utterly flustered.
“If you’re hungry, let’s tidy up and go.”
Regaining his composure quickly, he suggested they clean the messy area and head out for a meal, addressing Beris, who now seemed strangely sullen.
“I can’t clean when I’m hungry!”
Clearly dissatisfied with something, Beris puffed out her cheeks and dashed off.
“Oh…”
Carlisle staggered at the sudden turn of events, while Ronowe stared blankly after Beris’s retreating figure before standing up.
“Meat~.”
“Meat~! Meat~!”
Not long after, the Fleur Siblings were scooped up into the arms of a waiting maid nearby.
I watched Beris and her antics, then began gathering the scattered papers on the floor.
“Crown Princess, please go ahead and eat first. I’ll finish cleaning this up.”
Though Carlisle insisted he could manage alone and urged me to leave, I couldn’t just let him handle it by himself, so I decided to tidy up together with him.
“No, let’s do it together.”
While diligently picking up papers, our hands accidentally brushed against each other.
“Crown Princess!”
Carlisle jumped in surprise, his eyes widening.
“You might cut your hand on the paper.”
Though I, too, was startled by his reaction, instead of pulling away, Carlisle carefully cradled my hand between both of his, concerned.
“I’m sorry…!”
Then, as if realizing something, he quickly released my hand and apologized.
After that, in awkward silence, we gathered the scattered papers and finished cleaning perfectly.
“Good work.”
After surveying the spotless surroundings, I handed Carlisle the paper boat I’d folded.
“Take this. I noticed earlier that you seem to like boats.”
Though still crumpled and ugly, Carlisle accepted it reverently with both hands.
“Thank you.”
I wondered if such a small thing truly warranted the slight blush on his cheeks, but I simply let it pass without comment.
“Then let’s go.”
Soon after, with my personal maid trailing behind, I left the study under Carlisle’s escort.
[This is the timeline separator]A short while later, contrary to expectations, I was separated from the other children and Carlisle—only during mealtimes, however, since I was scheduled to dine with Jeff and someone else.
The dining hall had recently been updated with luxurious brown curtains that shimmered with golden dust. The chandelier hanging from the ceiling gleamed brilliantly, reflecting sunlight that streamed through the windows, and the table was laden with all manner of rare delicacies.
There were succulent meat dishes, salads, seafood—all so beautifully arranged they seemed too exquisite to disturb.
The visually stunning array of food radiated such an aura that my appetite bubbled and churned like boiling water, and my mouth watered.
‘It was worth being so picky when selecting the chef.’
Eager to sample a bit of everything, I served myself small portions of each dish and twirled the noodles onto my fork.
Then, carefully parting my lips, I lifted the fork—but the noodles slipped right off and slid back onto the plate.
‘What good is sounding like an adult if I can’t even manage this!’
Frustrated, I scowled in annoyance.
“My dear daughter~.”
Just as I was glaring resentfully at my plate, feeling utterly pathetic, Jeff called out to me.
“Look this way, please? I’ve brought someone to help Darling with her studies.”
I’d been wondering why I was silently sharing a meal with a stranger without any introductions, but Jeff finally addressed the red-haired boy seated across from me.
“Since the children from House Fleur are so young, I thought Sasha here would be best suited to assist Darling with learning and practice.”
“Yes.”
Indeed, those kids were clearly unsuited for anything beyond casual companionship.
Anyway, Jeff introduced the red-haired boy as Sasha and prompted us to exchange greetings.
‘I’m hungry.’
Since my stomach was already rumbling, I replied half-heartedly. Right then, food mattered more than making new friends.
Meanwhile, the boy named Sasha placed a hand over his chest, bowed politely, and then focused intently on his meal.
I stared blankly at the red-haired boy eating, then, unable to bear the hunger any longer, picked up my fork again.
‘But why suddenly assign him to help with tutoring?’
I’d wondered why a child was present at lunch, but now it made sense.
‘Playing with those chaotic kids is already exhausting.’
From Jeff’s perspective as a father, he naturally wanted to give his only daughter several companions—but frankly, I wasn’t pleased at all. It was bothersome.
‘I need time to adjust to this body, and there’s already so much to think about.’
As I organized my thoughts, I wound the noodles onto my fork again—only to drop them once more.
‘Dropped them again.’
Resigned, I gave up on the noodles and tried another dish.
“Look at our Darling, eating so well~.”
Jeff’s eyes sparkled brightly as he watched me.
‘Ugh, why does he have to be so overwhelming?’
Gripping my fork tightly, I grumbled inwardly.
“Papa feels full just watching Darling eat. Eat plenty.”
Unaware of what I was thinking, Jeff beamed at me with the proud, adoring smile of a doting father.
He was the perfect example of a daughter-obsessed dad.
‘I’m going to starve to death at this rate.’
Under his intense gaze, how could I possibly eat comfortably? I kept putting the fork in and out of my mouth, barely nibbling at the food on my plate.
“There’s still a little left.”
“Potatoes….”
Only potato dishes and salad remained on my plate—and for some reason, the potatoes alone caught my eye, making my stomach queasy.
“You must dislike potatoes.”
Sasha, who had been eating quietly until now, suddenly spoke up.
“Don’t you want to eat them? Are they not tasty?”
“I dislike them.”
Noticing I hadn’t touched the potatoes on my plate, Jeff asked with concern.
‘At this rate, I’ll turn into a potato myself.’
I reluctantly speared a broken piece of potato with my fork and hesitated.
‘Why does he like potatoes so much, anyway?’
A memory from the past suddenly surfaced.
‘Back then, he stole an entire sack of potatoes and ate nothing but potatoes even during wartime…’
The image flashed in my mind—little Jeff, holding a huge boiled potato and munching away with determination.
“No~ even if you dislike potatoes, you must eat them. Your nanny said Darling has severe picky eating habits and must eat a balanced variety.”
I placed both hands neatly on my lap, withdrawing entirely from the table, but Jeff looked alarmed and insisted that picky eating wasn’t allowed.
“Darling, open wide~.”
Not long after, Jeff himself picked up a small piece of finely chopped potato on his fork and brought it toward me. Terrified, I shook my head vigorously left and right. It was dreadful.
‘I can’t not eat it…’
I was stuck. When I kept refusing, Jeff’s face grew hurt and tears welled in his eyes. I couldn’t just gobble it down either, so I hesitated, dragging out time until I reluctantly accepted the potato he offered.
‘Back then, I was accused of witchcraft and executed for acting too mature for my age.’
After struggling through the potato, an old memory surfaced.
‘I can’t afford to act carelessly.’
I recalled the final, agonizing moments of that past life.
‘I wish I could grow up quickly and live as I please.’
Impatient with time’s slowness, I gripped my fork again.
“I’ll eat by myself.”
I truly disliked being fed against my will.
“Just look at our Darling.”
Yet Jeff was amazed by my attitude.
“She’s already trying to do things herself.”
He immediately sprang to his feet, turned to those around him, and declared proudly,
“How clever and admirable!”
Switching into full doting-dad mode, Jeff even changed his tone, speaking like a theatrical actor.
“It’s not just because she’s my daughter—Darling is truly a genius. Remember that drawing she made last time? It was incredibly well done.”
Why must he go on about that to Sasha of all people!
‘I just scribbled something roughly…’
Jeff’s words brought back the picture I’d previously completed—a haphazard mess of blue and green patches with a potato-shaped creature.
“Your Highness the Crown Princess is indeed as brilliant as His Majesty the Emperor.”
Silent until now, Sasha praised me as soon as Jeff finished speaking.
“Your Majesty, it’s nearly time for your duties.”
“Understood. We’ll conclude the meal here.”
A nearby attendant soon reminded Jeff it was time to leave, and he stood up immediately.
“Then, take your time chatting with my daughter.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Jeff instructed Sasha to play nicely with me.
“But if you try any tricks with my daughter… I won’t let it slide.”
His expression instantly turned cold as he warned Sasha not to approach me with any ulterior motives.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Sasha responded politely without showing any particular reaction.
“Papa will be back from work soon, my sweet Darling.”
Jeff then came over to where I sat, pulled me into a hug, and kissed my cheek. At that point, I gave up thinking altogether—my mind went blank, as if sinking into serene emptiness. And so, Jeff departed the dining hall with his attendant.
“…”
“…”
Then, in the now-quiet dining hall, Sasha and I simply stared intently at each other without a word.
“Nuna.”
After who knows how long of silence, Sasha finally broke the stillness with a gentle smile and twinkling eyes.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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