Chapter 703

Evening of that day. Central Palace Tetra. The emperor who had returned from a long-awaited continental inspection was there. Lately, the emperor, who had been very active outside, had left the state affairs to Empress Charlotte and was wandering outside. On the way back, the emperor gathered all his children for dinner. It was a simple meal with three children without the empresses. In the quiet silence of the dining hall, Prince Rune was originally silent, and Amellia and Priscilla were just looking at each other because they heard something today. After slicing a few steaks and putting them in his mouth, the emperor silently gazes at the atmosphere of such silence. "My precious children...." "Seeing this tense atmosphere again today." "Again, it seems like you've been beaten up badly." Amellia, is it you again? "Hmph." At that look, Amellia purses her lips. The emperor looks at Priscilla's hair. "Priscilla, you were also badly pulled." "Well, not much was pulled out...." For some reason, when Priscilla spoke in a reduced voice, the emperor looked surprised with his eyes squinted. "Wasn't it time to say that your hair was almost pulled out....?" "That, it's not that bad...." Looking at Priscilla, who became a good girl today, the emperor was surprised, and even Amellia was surprised and looked at Priscilla. She's not that kind of girl. Normally, it was a daily routine to run to the emperor's side and cry and beg even if her toes were stepped on and she was like a wild boar trying to break my feet. But today, for some reason, she was quiet. The emperor looks at Rune, who is eating quietly, playing with his fork and knife. The youngest son who never causes accidents. However, the son who is very worried about the future. He was the most worried about the quiet and quiet son, rather than the two daughters who are already showing signs of rebellion. The temper will be fixed as you live, but the late learned theft is scary. That's why it seems like a big accident will happen. Literally, a very pretty youngest son. "?" With his father's piercing gaze, the prince looks at the emperor and tilts his head. The emperor's feelings are very cute and cute, and he seems to be crazy in many ways. "Ha...." The emperor, who is very worried about something without knowing what to worry about, sighs as if the ground is falling apart. While eating his own food, the prince cuts the meat into small pieces and feeds the cat. But anyway, the emperor looks at his two daughters. "Anyway, my precious daughters. I called you because I have a request that I hope you will listen to." "....Request?" "....What is it?" "You all know that you are like birds in a cage. You are my daughters, so it's natural that you are like that, there's nothing we can do about it. Maybe it's because you take after me. Even though I know that you each have your own problems and fight separately, when you meet, it's not just a matter of squabbling, it's a full-blown fight. Don't you know that? Amellia's personality is twisted because of the separation she experienced in her childhood. And Priscilla, because of Amellia. They fight to the point where they grab each other's hair. Children fight as they grow up, but it seems like they fight too much... Anyway, it's okay. We can monitor them inside the palace. Everyone is used to it now. But... Please, don't fight outside. It's spreading beyond the palace and becoming a rumor throughout the continent. People are saying that even when you meet someone, you greet them by saying that your children are fighting like cats and dogs. As the emperor, I can't bear it anymore. I have a request for my precious and noble princesses, my daughters. Please... don't fight outside. If you have to fight, do it inside." Amellia also laughs as if she can't believe it.

"Dad said that when he went to Temple, the kids fought all the time. He said it's not even comparable to me."

"......!"

The only perfect exception is the Crown Prince.

The Emperor is not an exception.

No, it was even more serious.

"But...! I had a reason for that time...!"

"Do you think I didn't have a reason to hit you? Why do you think I wouldn't?"

"Well, that's..."

"I also gave you something that didn't hurt your body?"

"......"

The daughters are aware that this is a lecture that doesn't even understand their own topic.

"So why did you beat the kids when you went to Temple? And now the people who were hit by Dad are all going around making a big deal out of it."

"Right. I'm curious. How much did you have to beat them to become a legend of Temple? You couldn't even graduate. There were even cases where you hit your seniors?"

As much as they quarrel when they criticize the Emperor, the only sisters who are in agreement.

"Right, Mom said. When she went to Temple, she tried to hit her too? I heard it all."

Not only the Emperor but also Amellia turned pale at those words.

"What? The witch... no, the Archmage... tried to hit her?"

"Oh. Really. Go ask her later. She said she was going to hit her cheek."

Amellia was so surprised that her mouth was wide open.

"How can you hit such a nice person...?"

"I didn't hit her! I said I was going to hit her!"

"Is it true that you were going to hit her...?"

"Well, that's it, Amellia... That's the situation... It was the time of the hurricane... At that age..."

"It's really true. Why did you get married...?"

Amellia was muttering blankly, her eyes blurred.

In fact, it's not a lie.

He actually made a threat to leave a mark on his cheek if he said one wrong word.

"Hey, girls...? That's not what we're talking about..."

"What do you mean, do it well?"

"...So."

The Emperor started to scold his daughters but ended up falling out.

It's always the case.

However, he cannot leave his daughters' quarrels alone, so he repeatedly mentions it, but he ends up being turned back and told to do it himself.

On the way back after dinner.

The Emperor's three children were riding on a tram heading to the Spring Palace.

As always, Priscilla had the Crown Prince Rune sitting on her lap and was hugging him tightly, and Rune was also hugging the cat.

Amellia was sitting on the opposite side, staring out the window.

They always end up fighting and eventually punching each other, but today neither of them wants to do that. After hearing about what Amellia went through when she was young, Priscilla realizes that there might be a reason behind Amellia's behavior. Amellia also knows that her actions only make things worse. They both refrain from fighting on the tram ride to the Spring Palace. Amellia tries to thank Priscilla for not retaliating earlier, but Priscilla doesn't understand at first. They both sit in silence for a while, with Priscilla holding the Crown Prince Rune and Amellia looking out the window. Amellia speaks up again, telling Priscilla to stop dressing up the kids in weird clothes. Priscilla gets defensive, but Amellia insists that it's because the kids don't like it. "If you don't like it, just say so. If you don't say anything, I won't assume that you like it."

"What! Why are you saying that to Rune instead of me all of a sudden! Don't talk to me!"

Amellia asks Rune while ignoring Priscilla, who is about to explode.

There is clearly a mistake on this side too.

Priscilla always just takes it quietly, so she forces Priscilla to do such unreasonable things.

"Kids, if you don't like it, just say so. If you like it, just say so. What's wrong?"

Priscilla swallows her saliva.

It is true that Rune does not like it, but Priscilla has never explicitly said that she dislikes it.

Rune cautiously opens his mouth in response to Amellia's urging.

"...I don't like it."

"See, did you hear that? He doesn't like it."

"...."

Priscilla can only bite her lips at Rune's small answer.

But Rune's answer was not the end of it.

"But...if Little Sister likes it...then I like it too."

"...What?"

Amellia was taken aback by Rune's answer.

Priscilla was also surprised.

I don't like it.

It's not because I'm not talkative or expressive enough.

It means that he just quietly endured it because Little Sister liked it.

No, it means that he likes it too if Little Sister likes it.

Amellia and Priscilla were both surprised by the unexpected answer.

How deep and lovely this child is.

Amellia's face trembles with sweetness as if she can't stand not hugging him right away.

On the other hand, Priscilla became enthusiastic.

"It's good, right? Anyway, it's good! Do you understand?"

"Even after hearing this answer, is this crazy woman going to keep doing that in the future?"

I don't like it, but it's okay if Little Sister likes it.

Then shouldn't you stop doing it?

Of course, Priscilla was also moved by Rune's words, so she had no intention of forcing him to do such things in the future.

In fact, Priscilla didn't just wear it and torment Rune.

Just by always wearing it, there was a significant meaning.

She showed Rune the life of the palace and even played with him.

It was Priscilla who helped Rune adapt to the palace life after Queen Harriet.

So it's ridiculous to do this now.

While Rune was having a hard time because the palace was unfamiliar and scary, she didn't do anything.

It's ridiculous.

Amellia's attitude of pretending to care about Rune by saying a few words now, even though she never cared before, is disgusting.

Humans are disgusting.

I was right after all.

No matter what Amellia's situation is, this is how she has always lived. Translation: "Originally, Rune wasn't interested in you. It's too late to pretend to care now." "What...?" "Am I wrong?" The promise to get along well falls apart with just a few words. "Rune, are you kidding? Trying to act like a little brother. Hmph." When Priscilla asks for an answer, Rune hesitates before speaking. "I... big sister... is good..." With that one word, Priscilla loses focus. "What did you do for him until now?" Of course, Priscilla doesn't know about Amellia's affection for Rune since they were only together when they were alone. Amellia smirks at Priscilla's reaction. It's good to see her lose her mind. Very good. "Where does your confidence come from that the child will only like you? Huh? Based on the topic of strange dresses that you forced on him. He endured it because he was kind, but he probably didn't like it that much?" "I... really, Rune...?" Priscilla looks at Rune with a faded complexion. "I... I don't like it? More than me... that's better?" He just endured it because he was kind. Did he think it was disgusting? "Both... are good..." Priscilla feels like her heart is falling apart at Rune's words. But she's still angry. He likes that too. Amellia laughs as if she finds his words interesting. Then she gets up and sits in front of Rune. As if she thought of a very wicked question. Amellia's mouth curls up wickedly. "There. Child." "Uh?" "Do you like me or her?" "What kind of question is that!" What a ridiculous question. Of course, it's obvious that he'll choose me. How much have I done for him? But the fact remains that she was forcing Rune to do something he didn't like. That's why Amellia thinks it's a good fight to try. If Rune likes me more for doing nothing, she'll see Priscilla's soul turn to dust and disappear. How satisfying would that be? "Of course, it's me!" "Well, you never know what the child will say, do you?" Amellia honestly thinks that even if Priscilla says she likes her more, she has nothing to lose. Because she feels so good that Rune said he likes her, who has only hugged him occasionally. Amellia's deep blue eyes stare at Rune. "Hurry up, who is it?" "...." Amellia looks at Rune with a wicked smile, while Priscilla sends him a desperate look to say it's her. Finally. As always, the result of this kind of question is the same. "....Sob." "!" "R-Rune...?" The little prince can't stand this situation and bursts into tears. "Sob... sob..." The two sisters are stunned in different ways as they watch the youngest cry like a bead. Priscilla's eyes narrow. "Hey! You made Rune cry by asking him such a dog-like question!"

"Oh, no. I, I..."

Amellia couldn't do anything because she couldn't imagine that the youngest would cry.

While Priscilla and Amellia were at a loss for how to comfort the crying youngest.

The youngest sniffled and mumbled with a tearful voice.

"I like all my sisters... sniff... why can't my sisters get along...?"

"......Huh?"

"......"

"Sisters shouldn't fight...?"

Both Amellia and Priscilla stared at each other in confusion at the heartfelt words of the young child.

What are they doing in front of a child?

A young child asking his sisters not to fight.

And even crying when asked who he likes more.

Is this really right?

Is this what people do?

Both Amellia and Priscilla think.

They don't know about the other person, but for now, they don't seem like humans.

They both end up thinking the same thing.

"Oh, let's not fight. Let's get along... yeah."

Priscilla hastily speaks and glares at Amellia.

"Uh, yeah... kid. Let's not fight. Let's get along."

"Then hold hands..."

At Rune's words, they hold hands without thinking.

They shake hands awkwardly, as if telling Rune to look.

"We have to get along from now on, right? We'll get along. Right, Rune?"

"Y-yeah! Of course! I'll try my best! Sorry, Rune."

As they awkwardly smile while holding hands, Rune wipes his eyes with his sleeve.

And then he smiles brightly as if asking when he cried.

"Let's be close from now on. Okay?"

Seeing that smile, the sisters think.

They don't know about anything else.

But if they can see the youngest's smile like this every day just by getting along.

"Okay!"

"Of course!"

They can get along even with iron walls.

* * *

As the tram arrives at the Spring Palace, Rune walks a little slower than the sisters walking ahead.

The two walking towards the palace are still holding hands.

Even though they can't stand it anymore and shake, they glance back at the youngest.

They're watching the youngest's reaction.

In the youngest's gaze, who wants to make sure they're holding hands until they enter the palace, the two eventually give up and walk holding hands.

Rune, holding a white cat, smiles quietly.

"That's right. Mom."

-Meow

"It's so easy."

-Meow

As if trying to compliment him, the cat licks Rune's cheek a few times.

Why can't they get along?

To that question, the cat returns to being a mother and whispers to her son.

'Rune.'

"Yeah, Mom."

'If the two of them fight in front of you again, just cry.'

'...?'

'Then everything will be resolved.'

Rune didn't know why crying would resolve everything. "Why do I have to cry?" Amellia's answer to Rune's question was simple. "Your sisters are all very different, but they all have one thing in common." "What's that...?" "They all love you very much." Rune didn't understand his mother's words. "And you're cute." "Why...?" Rune asked, and the mother cat, who had become a mother, stroked Rune's head and said, "Sometimes in the world, there are things that can be solved just by that." Rune didn't know what his mother was talking about. However, as his mother said, he just cried and the situation was resolved. So in the future, if things seem to be getting worse, he could just cry. Whether they understand each other or not, one tear from the youngest would solve everything, and it would continue to be resolved in the future. "Cute things are nice." However, the youngest prince realized that he could use cuteness as a weapon. -Meow? The white cat was a little scared as a dark shadow seemed to loom over the prince's smile. "Really? Mom." -Eeung. Did she teach her son something she should never have taught him? The white cat trembled in fear in her son's arms. No one knows what will happen later, but for now, it was certain that peace would reign in the Spring Palace, where the sound of sisters grabbing each other's hair and fighting used to echo every day in the spring.