Chapter 8
The Delinquent Princess’s Reckless Life Plan
Tap tap tap tap!
Late at night.
I was sprinting alone down a moonlit corridor.
There’s an old saying: Strike while the iron is hot.
Following the wisdom of my great ancestors, I decided to head straight to the Garden of the Gods—the Rosarium—right now.
I’ve got a long road ahead of me. I can’t afford to waste even a second. I’m charging straight ahead!
Security would obviously be tight after the incident, but there’s another saying: It’s darkest under the lamp.
If anything, while everyone was focused on guarding the perimeter, there might be an opening for a small child like me to slip through unnoticed.
I muffled my footsteps and moved carefully, avoiding the palace staff who were still patrolling the halls.
My legs were short, so I wasn’t moving as fast as I’d hoped—but honestly, that probably made it easier to hide anyway—
“Adel?”
“Gah!”
The father I had definitely parted with earlier somehow appeared behind me without making a sound!
“Oh dear. Why are you wandering around alone at such a late hour?”
He lifted me up, looking puzzled.
The position was secure, but his body—pressed right against mine—was packed with firm muscle, making it less comfortable than I’d expected.
Since he was only wearing a thin sleeping robe, the solid, rock-like hardness was even more noticeable.
Ah. Right…
I forgot. I’m still little, so I’m sharing the same palace as him right now.
“Well, um… I couldn’t sleep….”
“Why couldn’t our pretty girl fall asleep? I suppose tonight’s incident gave you quite a fright.”
“Mmm….”
“Then shall I read you the fairy tale we didn’t finish earlier?”
…Damn it.
Honestly, the strange thing would’ve been if he hadn’t noticed me sneaking around the corridors at this hour.
The heat that had risen all the way to my head cooled instantly.
At the same time, all my momentum fizzled out.
Thinking about it calmly, there was no way I could’ve reached the Garden of the Gods without getting caught by my father in the first place.
My dad may not look it, but he’s basically a carnivorous deer.
How did I forget something so obvious?
I’d thought I was being rational—but apparently not.
Once I acknowledged that I was still hyped up and unsteady from dying and regressing, the exhaustion hit me all at once.
My strength drained away, and I slumped in his arms like a melted rice cake.
“Dad… can’t we go to the Rosarium?”
Since I was already out here, it felt like a waste to turn back without trying. So I threw a fastball straight down the middle.
Beating around the bush was never my style.
If nothing else, I wanted to see how many guards were stationed there.
“The Rosarium?”
“Yeah!”
When I nodded enthusiastically, my father’s expression softened.
“Our Adel… You must be disappointed that your birthday banquet ended like that. Yet instead of sulking, you’re worrying about your sibling….”
His tender gaze made me flinch.
Huh?
Worrying about that Fourth Prince brat? It was the exact opposite, actually—
But I’ve always been shameless, so I lied without batting an eye.
“Yeah! I’m worried the fruit in the Rosarium might’ve been hurt! I want to go check if it’s okay.”
My father patted my head gently.
“But Adel, the Garden of the Gods is currently off-limits. We won’t be able to go inside.”
“Then just up to the entrance, please? Okay?”
I looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes.
A father who was infinitely weak to his daughter hesitated.
“…Alright. Let’s do what Adel wants.”
In the end, he gave in.
Cradled in his arms, I headed toward the Rosarium—the site of the earlier fire.
“Adel, aren’t you cold? I should’ve had you change into warmer clothes first.”
“I’m fine! Dad’s clothes are warm.”
Outside, the night air was a little chilly.
A bad feeling crept up on me that we might turn back, so I wriggled my way deep into the robe he’d thrown over his nightwear.
At first, he seemed a bit ticklish, but instead of pulling away, he held me even tighter.
Like this, I felt like a baby kangaroo tucked into its mother’s pouch.
The sense of being protected made my chest ache.
After living twice as Asphodel, I’d actually spent more time with Roxan than with my family in my original world.
Maybe because of that, he really did feel like my real father now.
Watching him die in my first life had hurt far more than when I’d read it in the novel.
And in my second life, when I learned the Fourth Prince had staged a rebellion, my first thought had been worry for him.
No matter what happens, I’ll protect my father.
Just as I renewed that resolve, my father’s body shifted slightly.
It was subtle, but since we were pressed so close, I noticed.
“Karus.”
“Lord Roxan?”
Ah—someone was approaching.
Moments later, a black-haired man with a gloomy aura appeared before us.
Karus—the father of the Fourth Prince. I’d seen him earlier at the banquet hall.
Perhaps because of the fire, he looked utterly drained, trudging along weakly.
When he spotted us, his eyes widened in surprise.
“On your way to see the fruit, I presume.”
“Yes. I couldn’t stop worrying, so I plan to stay by its side tonight. But Lord Roxan—what brings you out at this hour?”
“We were headed to the Garden of the Gods as well. Adel couldn’t sleep, worried about her sibling.”
“The Third Princess…?”
Karus stared at me, eyes round with shock.
Now that I looked closely, his features really did resemble the Fourth Prince’s—though he seemed far gentler, almost pitiful.
His reddened, goldfish-like eyes looked as if he’d been crying.
Deeply moved, he gazed at me.
“My goodness… To think you’d come all this way at such a late hour…. Thank you so much, Third Princess. And thank you as well, Lord Roxan.”
But I let out a small, incredulous laugh.
What is this?
The faint black haze clinging to his body began to writhe—then suddenly engulfed his entire face.
A revolting stench poured from the dark mass that was Karus.
Smack!
“Agh!”
“Adel?!”
Oops. Old habits from when I briefly played the role of a saintess in my past life kicked in.
When that happens, just act like a kid.
“S-Sorry! There was a bug!”
“A-Are you alright, Karus?”
“O-Of course. I’m fine. It didn’t hurt at all.”
Karus rubbed his forehead where I’d hit him and laughed foolishly.
I smiled innocently too, wiping the hand that had touched him on my father’s clothes.
But my eyes were locked on the black aura—which had noticeably faded.
No doubt about it.
That power was the opposite of divine energy.
It was impure miasma—the very source of strength for the villains in the novel.
“Oh my, our lovely princess! Goodness—you’re eating so well today, even without help!”
The next morning, I stuffed my face with breakfast while thinking back on last night.
“Has our princess finally become an adult now that she’s turned five?”
Margaret chuckled as she gently wiped my mouth.
“Oh dear, slow down. You might choke.”
Margaret was my assistant caretaker.
In Rozantina, emperors were often women.
In those cases, young imperial children were usually raised directly by their fathers.
They would also be assigned one or two attendants of the same gender as auxiliary caretakers.
Once an imperial child turned twelve, they would move to a separate palace with only their dedicated attendants.
“Mmm… I can do it myself.”
I awkwardly dodged Margaret’s constant fussing.
“Oh my! Look at you—eating all by yourself, so brave and clever! How can you be so smart and mature?”
She beamed and showered me with praise.
It made my whole body twist uncomfortably as I ate.
Experiencing a childcare novel firsthand is really not my thing…
I mean, sure—it’s cute when you’re just reading.
A healing story where everyone dotes on the adorable female lead? Sounds great.
But I didn’t want to be the one receiving it…!
Still, being alive like this—under Margaret’s devoted care—made my regression feel undeniably real.
I’d half-expected to wake up and find myself back in that white void as a wandering soul, but thankfully, that didn’t happen.
While I’d slept in after passing out cold, my father had already left to attend the emperor’s breakfast meeting with her consorts.
In the end, we hadn’t made it to the Rosarium last night.
While with Karus, my body had grown ice-cold, alarming my father and forcing us to return immediately.
I insisted I was fine and begged to go back—but it was useless.
Margaret, who’d rushed over after hearing the commotion, stopped me too.
And so, once again—
The Delinquent Princess’s Reckless Life Plan continued.
