People Aren't Meant to Be Fixed! - Chapter 28

‘What are those little ones doing?’

I watched the situation with my arms crossed, thinking of intervening if it went on for too long.

‘Oh my, are you smiling?’

Meanwhile, Sasha let out a snicker as he pulled up one corner of his mouth, then bowed lightly with a faint smile as if nothing had happened. His cheerful face, as if he had discovered something amusing in that brief moment, was as mysterious as his veiled inner thoughts.

On the other hand, Carlyle seemed flustered when Sasha changed his attitude, but responded calmly while trying not to show it. He greeted back and left, opening the door made of ornate glass windows.

Tap-!

I only noticed Berith coming nearby after Carlyle had completely disappeared from sight. It was just like him to be already crying in sadness over the farewell, when he was smiling and seeing off just moments ago.

“He looks like he’ll collapse from exhaustion at this rate.”

In fact, the shock of Ronowe collapsing and ending up in that state must have played a part too.

“Take him to another room, comfort him and let him take a nap.”

Above all, based on what I’ve observed so far, children’s emotions are impulsive, sensitive, and peculiar, so I judged that I shouldn’t stimulate them any further.

“Yes, I understand.”

While I exchanged a few words with the maid, Berith clung tightly to the bed where Ronowe was lying, like a sloth clinging to a thick tree branch.

“Sister…”

I looked at the sniffling boy once, then gestured with my eyes to the maid to hurry.

“Your Majesty, please take care of my sister!”

A moment later, Berith, who had quietly allowed himself to be held by the maid without causing a big fuss, kept looking back and finally shouted loudly before disappearing.

‘She’s sleeping soundly.’

What an unnecessarily loud voice. As soon as Berith disappeared, I checked on Ronowe’s condition. I was worried about what to do if she had woken up.

‘Sigh, I’ll have to send them together when Ronowe wakes up later.’

As I sat down on a large cushioned chair to catch my breath, Sasha, who had been standing at a distance, came right next to me.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

With that meaningful smile again! I asked grumpily, feeling annoyed that he even had his arms crossed in such a relaxed posture.

“I have something I want to ask Your Highness.”

“Then hurry up and say it.”

You rascal, what’s so amusing that you keep chuckling? I forcefully suppressed this one line that had risen to my throat.

“What do you think is the reason why Young Master Carlyle left, Your Highness?”

Isn’t it too intentional to ask when we’re alone?

“It must be because of family circumstances.”

I brushed it off vaguely, showing disinterest.

“Isn’t Young Master Carlyle still too young for that?”

“Then there must be other reasons.”

What do you want me from me? Why are you prying so persistently? I showed my discomfort.

“I thought since you were outside with Young Master Carlyle…”

Then Sasha, who had been staring at me with slightly narrowed eyes, paused before adding.

“I thought Your Highness would know.”

Quite sharp for a child. I remained expressionless in response to Sasha’s words that hit right on the mark. Showing even a slight reaction would mean falling into his trap.

‘I’ve played dumb for now, but I didn’t expect him to pretend to ask questions to probe.’

I wondered if the reason Sasha kept acting like this was because he looked down on Carlyle as a survivor of a now insignificant ducal family.

It seemed a reasonable suspicion, as Sasha’s interest in Carlyle didn’t appear to be positive.

“How am I supposed to know everything?”

I snapped back, raising one eyebrow. I was getting annoyed with Sasha, who kept pressing for an answer.

“Because Your Highness is intelligent.”

Trying to hide your true intentions and slip away like a loach with such an obvious statement.

I thought as I watched Sasha’s smiling face, shrugging his shoulders as if he had no particular intention in asking.

“Being smart and seeing through someone’s mind are different things.”

That’s a vicious demon wearing an angel’s mask, even if it rolls forward, rolls backward, or spins rapidly in place, I thought.

“And I’ve been watching what you’ve been doing lately…”

Anyway, since I didn’t like how he kept tripping up Carlyle and subtly getting on my nerves recently, I decided to give some advice when I had the chance.

“You seem to be paying too much attention to Carlyle. Don’t be like that among friends, just get along comfortably.”

While the relationship with the children is simply friendship on the surface, there are also political aspects of intertwined families close to the imperial family when you dig deeper, so discord was out of the question.

Because if they fight among themselves for whatever reason and hurt each other’s feelings later, it would be troublesome for me.

“So in Your Highness’s eyes, it seemed like I was wary of Young Master Carlyle.”

Even though I had such a strong impression when I watched while pretending not to look.

“You’re not? Then it’s fine.”

When he denied and insisted, I had nothing more to say and cut off the bud of interest.

Anyway, Sasha was a smart kid, so if he caught the meaning of what I said earlier, he would be mindful of his words and actions.

“Of course. I hope there were no misunderstandings.”

Meanwhile, Sasha came out politely in a relaxed posture.

“Still, I’ll be careful since I made Your Highness uncomfortable.”

“Alright.”

I nodded towards him, crossing my arms. Thinking that Sasha was increasingly unappetizing for some reason and not wanting to be close to him, I blurted out that he could do as he pleased whether he stayed or left, then looked at Ronowe and fell asleep while counting numbers in my mind.

‘Oh no…’

When I came to my senses, it was too quiet around me. Moreover, Sasha was nowhere to be seen, and I could tell that he had left while I was sleeping.

Afterwards, I tilted my head and considered calling a maid. It’s inefficient to spend time alone idly.

“…Hello, Your Highness.”

Suddenly, a whisper reached my ear, making my skin crawl and giving me goosebumps.

“Why are you here?”

I was startled, my eyes wide open, and I clung tightly to the corner of the cushioned chair. I hadn’t expected Lilith to be right in front of me at all.

“His Majesty ordered me to check on Your Highness’s condition.”

“It’s not me who collapsed, it’s her.”

“Yes, I know.”

What kind of answer is that? I felt my surprised emotions evaporating.

“My lady, are you awake?”

Meanwhile, a man who looked like a knight from the Fleur family walked towards Ronowe.

“My head hurts so much.”

Ronowe, who managed a strained smile when a familiar person came, left the bed and blanket that had been one with her body and was cradled in the knight’s arms.

“I’ll take you to the estate right away.”

The Fleur family knight’s face stiffened slightly when he realized that Ronowe was still in poor condition. I decided to greet her when she came close, thinking that Ronowe would be leaving soon too.

“Ah, Your Highness…”

But when Ronowe, who had regained consciousness, spotted me from afar, she made an expression unlike a child who had just woken up after fainting. The child, who had been like a wet rag drooping with water, now had eyes sparkling like jewels filled with sunlight.

“Did you stay by poor Ronowe’s side?”

“No, it’s not like that…”

Since I couldn’t say that I had just been bickering politely with Sasha and dozing off, I was in a state of neither here nor there.

“We really are good friends.”

While I hesitated, unable to give a proper answer, Ronowe made her own judgment and smiled brightly.

Shudder-.

Then, for some phenomenon, Ronowe’s eyes flashed red for an instant, creating a terrifying atmosphere that her usual self could never produce. A chill ran down my spine at the scary atmosphere that her usual self could never create.

‘What’s wrong with her now?’

When I finally came to my senses, I saw Lilith, who was right next to me, staring intently at Ronowe’s retreating figure.

She looked like a hunter carefully watching and trying to find something to pick apart.

‘Do you think Ronowe is someone you can find fault with?’

Why are all the people around me like this? I clicked my tongue inwardly and grumbled.

“I’m tired from paying attention.”

“I’ll escort you to your bedroom, Your Highness.”

I decided to move locations, thinking I needed to rest and have some time alone. But this time, Lilith didn’t leave right away and followed me to the bedroom.

I was so annoyed by Lilith’s teasing that she could hug me too, that I pretended to fall asleep as soon as I lay down on the bed. Ignoring was the medicine for those who clung annoyingly even when I showed dislike.

* * *

Dinner was always the same as usual.

I would sneak some potatoes to Poppy, listen to Jeff and Hecate’s sappy talk and nagging, stroll through the garden full of trees bearing fresh fruit, and then enter the bedroom.

“I have something to show you before bed.”

By the time we had done this and that, the sky had already darkened and stars were twinkling.

“Bring the gift Sasha gave me.”

I told the maid while glancing out the window.

“Our daughter wants to show us something?”

Jeff leaned towards me, showing interest.

“I can’t wait to see it~ I wonder what it could be.”

Hecate’s voice rose as she smiled from ear to ear.

‘It’s just a toy, why are they making such a fuss?’

I clicked my tongue inwardly, making a ‘tch’ sound, and waited for the maid to arrive.

The maid who appeared shortly after was also smiling, perhaps pleased to see me receiving love and attention from Jeff and Hecate.

“This is it.”

Ugh, how awkward. I cleared my throat and quickly snatched the toy from the maid’s outstretched hand as she approached.

“Sasha said he received it from an uncle living in a far-off country.”

I also told them it was called a Matryoshka, and Jeff and Hecate recited it a few times before saying it was interesting.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before, Your Majesty.”

“Can you show us how to play with it?”

It’s not difficult at all.

‘It’s as easy as eating cold porridge.’

I felt a bit smug at Jeff and Hecate’s applause. Disassembling the Matryoshka and arranging it by size was something I had observed when I let Berith play with it first.

“How do you put it back together?”

“You just do the opposite of what you did to take it apart.”

It was exactly as I said. If you put the smallest one inside the body of a slightly larger one, it would be done in no time.

“Since the Dukedom of Vladimir gave such a precious gift, we should thank them.”

Jeff laughed with a ‘haha’ and lifted me up to sit on his thigh. He soon stroked my hair and said,

“Did you forget to take a nap because you were so busy playing with this fascinating toy?”

“No, it was because of Ronowe.”

You might think I’m a 3-year-old who would go crazy over toys, but that’s not the case at all. I grumbled inwardly and lowered my eyes slightly.

For some reason, the fatigue I felt while watching Berith crying frantically and getting a headache when Ronowe fainted seemed to resurface.

“She collapsed in the library, you know.”

Surely they must know. I glanced at Jeff and Hecate.

“Ah, right! That happened.”

They must have received a report, so Jeff’s belated reaction made me think, ‘Well, of course.’

“You must have been very surprised. It’s natural to be shocked when your companion ends up like that.”

Well, you have no idea how much my heart dropped. I grumbled inwardly.

Later, I yawned widely without realizing it, and Jeff immediately laid me down on the bed and covered me with a blanket.

“It’s fortunate that she returned safely later.”

Then Hecate placed Poppy next to me. Both of them looked down at me with eyes full of worry.

“Come to think of it… Empress.”

After a while, Jeff looked at Hecate sitting across from him and said,

“I heard you’ll be having tea time with Marquis Fleur in a few days. Please make sure to ask about the child’s well-being then. I’m worried if she’s alright.”

“I will, Your Majesty.”

I had a feeling that I would be dragged along then too, no doubt about it.

At the same time, I had the thought that it would be a chance to see Marquis Fleur’s face after a long time, and a premonition that it wouldn’t be just a place to strengthen friendships.

“I hope she stays as healthy as she is now in the future…”

Who do you think you’re touching on the head! I wriggled my fingers tucked under the blanket at Jeff’s touch.

I was about to blurt out my identity in anger, saying I’m not the little one you’re muttering to and caressing, but I held back.

Because if I suddenly said I was the former emperor, they would think I had lost my mind and spun around five hundred times.

‘Why are you smiling?’

Meanwhile, Jeff, who had stopped patting my head, smiled brightly.

“Our daughter~ What should we do to help you grow up well?”

“I should sleep.”

What a pointless question. I answered with a blank face.

“That’s right!”

I thought they were just being sappy as usual, asking random questions, but shortly after they finished speaking, Jeff and Hecate came closer from both sides and kissed me on the cheeks.

“It feels too disappointing to just leave like this.”

“So we prepared a lullaby!”

What are these artistically challenged ones up to? I forgot about the shock of the surprise kisses due to an ominous feeling.

‘Wait a minute!’

And a new chapter of suffering unfolded.

They memorized the lyrics perfectly without a single mistake, but Jeff and Hecate’s singing skills were far behind their memorization abilities. They were both off-beat and their breathing was a mess.

‘You’re tone-deaf!’

The most serious problem was that they weren’t just bad at singing, but at a level where the god of music might throw a lyre at them out of frustration. It felt like my hearing was about to be ruined.

‘It’s like sirens thrashing around after eating spicy food!’

The sensation of piercing my eardrums was unwelcome. But I couldn’t avoid the situation, so I was forced to listen to Jeff and Hecate’s lullaby until I became dazed.

“Oh my, Your Majesty. Darjeeling has already fallen asleep.”

“It was worth singing so hard.”

Yes, you stopped there well. I almost fell asleep forever.

“Sleep well, Darjeeling.”

“Always grow up healthy.”

I couldn’t move a muscle due to the dizziness from the buzzing in my head. I had no energy to respond in any way.

“Is anyone there?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Did you call?”

“The princess has just fallen asleep. Please clean up as quietly as possible.”

“I will do so.”

Jeff and Hecate thought I was really asleep as I kept my eyes closed for a long time.

The two of them gave a few orders to the maids and left, and the maids who entered while trying to minimize noise checked the curtains and lamps, being careful even with their breathing as they left the room.

Tap-!

I only opened my eyes after the door closed and all traces of people disappeared.

“Next time, I should just ask them to read me a book.”