1 - Hugs Are an Expression of Love!
ONCE Will and the others returned home, preparations for Project Roslan moved rapidly within the imperial palace.
Basically, Louis and Theo became very busy, and some aristocrats with a keen eye for profit started discreetly making arrangements. In particular, the aristocrats seemed eager to get a piece of the pie when it came to branding the Linus Empire’s regional specialty products.
As for how I learned about all this, Louis was doing his best to keep me updated, but most of my information came from our family’s super-multitalented servants. For the most part, their primary interest in the topic came from concern that more aristocrats might try to get close to me for their benefit.
I, on the other hand, was more concerned that I still hadn’t figured out a way to summon Daux and Marie to play with me! I’d finally found playmates my age, so naturally, I wanted to be able to play with them whenever I liked!
I feel bad having the emperor take time out of his busy day to deliver the invitation every time, but I can’t think of a better way to get in touch with them…
Oh, that’s it! I’ve got an idea!
Without wasting another moment, I summoned Paul and made the necessary preparations.
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🐎 🐎 🐎
“LADY Neema, it seems the reply you were waiting for has arrived.”
“Really?!”
The letter Paul handed me bore a seal I’d never seen before. I eagerly opened the letter and began to read, happy to find it contained exactly what I hoped it would. The letter was from Marie’s father. I’d only ever met him once, at our welcome banquet, but he seemed more approachable than Marie’s mother.
Towen Daux Linus, the emperor’s older brother and Marie’s father.
Based on my impression of him when we’d been introduced, he seemed a responsible, almost parental figure who was always reining in his headstrong younger brothers, keeping them in line.
Paul’s investigation hadn’t revealed any connections to problematic aristocrats; Towen seemed to genuinely be his brother’s—the emperor—staunchest and most loyal supporter.
In short, if the mother is no good, I’ll approach the father!
I wanted to play with Daux and Marie, but they were so carefully guarded that I couldn’t get anywhere near them. So, I’d asked Marie’s father to lend me a hand.
To summarize, his reply had read: “It doesn’t sit well with me, either, for children to be dragged into political machinations. I hadn’t dared to hope you might become friends with Prince Dauxrouge and Marie. I will take care of the others, so please feel free to invite them to play whenever you like.”
And so, I’d taken him at his word and immediately arranged a playdate.
“Hey, Neema! What kind of trick did you use?!”
Marie didn’t look the least bit happy to see me despite how long it had been since we’d last been able to play together. Her shoulders were raised almost up to her ears and shook with barely restrained fury.
Marie, you’re a noblewoman so calm down, okay?!
“Why, I asked your father for help, of course.”
“…My father? Even I rarely get to see him…”
Huh?! What does that mean?!
Now, I clasped Marie on the shoulder.
“Marie, are you saying you don’t live with your father?”
“That’s right. My father is a member of the imperial family, after all. I live with my mother in her manor.”
I already knew that although the current emperor’s siblings were considered members of the imperial family, their spouses and children were not, but I’d never imagined that meant they wouldn’t live together!
“Then when do you get to see him?”
“At official events or when he comes to visit Mother…”
Wow, so she really does hardly ever get to see him!
Maybe that’s just part of the culture here, but either way, if they don’t reaffirm their parent-child bond before she hits puberty, there will probably be a lot of “I hate you, Daddy!” incidents!
I guess we should count it as a blessing, at least, that he won’t have to experience the dreaded “Don’t wash your clothes with mine, you have cooties!” I’m sure there will be something else to replace that, though…
“Do you like your father?” I asked.
“…I don’t know. I’ve spoken to him before, but only about social niceties like the weather.”
When I pressed for more information, I learned she had no memories of ever being hugged. She said that her mother had never hugged her either, so it hadn’t occurred to her to feel any sort of way about the fact that her father never hugged her.
“Neema, you’ve been hugged by Prince Louivence and Prince Theoval, right? I was shocked by that—if it were me, I would’ve felt terribly rude,” she said.
“…Do you feel the same way, Daux?” I asked.
If Marie was shocked, it would make sense for Daux to feel the same way since they spent a lot of time together. When I asked him, he confirmed my suspicions, saying that his parents had never hugged him, either.
“My older brother Clay always hugs me, though, so I like him a lot,” he added.
It made sense that Clay’s younger brothers loved him, considering how much he doted on them. Whatever else you might say about the playboy, he did have a soft spot for Daux.
I knew it wasn’t good to voice un-asked-for opinions about how other families behaved behind closed doors, but this made me want to clutch my head in exasperation.
“I’ve got it! I’m sure His Majesty and Marie’s father are working right now, so why don’t we go take a peek?” I suggested.
“We can’t; it would interrupt their work.”
Daux immediately slammed the brakes on that train of thought, but I wasn’t ready to stop yet!
“Both of you want to become closer with your fathers, don’t you? But I imagine it’s hard to figure out where to start, so we need to do reconnaissance first!”
Once I convinced them that just looking wouldn’t interrupt their fathers’ work, they agreed to go and see what their work environment was like.
“Are you sure this is okay? If we get in trouble, I’m blaming it all on you!” Marie huffed.
Daux and Marie both seemed uneasy, but I couldn’t imagine either of their fathers would truly be angry that their children had come to visit them because they missed them. And on the off chance they were angry, I would just have to convince them not to hold it against Daux and Marie!
“It’ll be fine!”
And so, now it was Seigo and Rikusei’s time to shine.
We didn’t know where Daux and Marie’s fathers were working, so we’d have the kobolds help us find them. They claimed they’d memorized the emperor’s scent, so they led us confidently through the palace halls, tracking his scent trail.
We followed after them, and before long, we came to an area I’d never visited before. Apparently, Daux and Marie had never come here before either because Daux was clinging to Marie’s arm, looking around fearfully.
Finally, Seigo and Rikusei sat down in front of a door, signaling that the emperor was inside. As quietly as possible, I opened the door just a crack and peeked into the room.
Hmm, I can’t see very well…
I took a step back so Daux and Marie could take a look.
“Oh, there’s father!”
Looks like Marie can see a little better than me, at least. How about Daux?
I was still peeking into the room through the sliver of space between them, but I couldn’t make out which of the people inside was the emperor.
“Oh, no! The prime minister spotted us…!” Marie frantically backed away from the door, dragging Daux and me with her.
I wasn’t expecting it and tripped and fell on my butt right in front of the door.
Then the door swung all the way open, and a female elf stepped out into the hall. She closed the door behind her as she exited the room, so I didn’t think the emperor or Marie’s father had noticed.
“What are you three doing in a place like this?”
What was the prime minister’s name again? Um, I think it was something like…
“Lady Zeiatiel…” Marie whispered.
Oh yeah, that’s it!
She was a member of the ethnic group of elves who had an affinity with water spirits, as evidenced by her distinctive hair color; her hair was such a light shade of blue that it almost appeared white. The ethnic group of elves with an affinity for earth spirits were petite and adorable, but those with an affinity for water spirits looked much more like the stereotypical image I had in my head of “elves”—statuesque and ethereally beautiful.
“Do you have some business with His Imperial Majesty?” the prime minister pressed.