Chapter 32
Joshua was startled and half-sat up.
“W-Wait…! Ah, that tickles!”
He had felt unusually heavy all over earlier and thought it was just fatigue, but now he realized something was clinging to his back.
“Kuu!”
Crawling up slowly and perching on his shoulder was one of the white baby divine beasts that should have been in the nest.
“W-What…? Did you really follow me all the way here?”
“Kyaung, kung!”
The baby divine beast chattered in response to Joshua, but naturally, he couldn’t understand it.
Still, he could feel that the little creature was genuinely worried about him.
Suddenly, he remembered what had just happened:
Bound and helpless in the warehouse, unable to move…
And then the pure white divine beasts had suddenly broken in and rescued him.
“You… you knew I was in danger and came to help me on purpose?”
Joshua cupped the baby divine beast on his shoulder in both hands and looked into its button-like eyes.
The creature responded with a “kung!” as if to say yes.
‘Not tormenting you… but showing affection.’
‘Every time the divine beasts see you, Joshua, they’re thrilled, they love you, can’t you feel it?’
‘Believe me! Joshua, you’re the kind of person worthy of love just by existing!’
The words of the adorable little princess, who had often visited the divine beast nest, echoed in his mind.
Suddenly, it felt as if a warm, bright yellow light was flooding his chest.
…Could it really be true?
Even someone like him, without parents or siblings and who seemed to excel at nothing, could someone actually love him?
Could he finally… stop being alone?
“Thank you…”
Joshua pressed his forehead gently against the baby divine beast and whispered softly.
He was still a timid, inexperienced apprentice beast trainer, but in this small warmth, this connection, he felt he could muster a little courage.
Holding the baby divine beast close, Joshua finally slept peacefully for the first time since entering the palace.
Outside, the moon and stars shone like a scene from a fairytale.
The forehead of a sleeping human and a baby divine beast glimmered faintly for a moment.
A sacred, pure bond that could form between a human and a divine beast…
It was the precursor to an imprint.
11
“What a lovely day it is today, Your Highness!”
“Yes, indeed…”
“Since the weather is pleasantly cool, it’s the perfect time to enjoy some sweet cake and drinks outdoors while taking in the scenery. Don’t you agree?”
“Y-Yes, indeed…”
Margaret hummed softly to herself, clearly excited for the upcoming tea party.
But I had little interest in the event and lay like melted marshmallow in her arms.
Today’s outdoor tea party was hosted by none other than the Second Princess, Alexia.
It was to honor a promise she had made in heels when we last met at the divine beast nest.
I had assumed her previous words were just courtesy, but it seemed she truly meant them.
Speaking of the divine beast nest, Joshua was doing much better than expected.
Though still clumsy with his duties, his personality had brightened considerably.
Having experienced firsthand how far he could go in my previous life, I felt relieved.
Moreover, Joshua’s duties had been adjusted under the manager’s suggestion to include playing with and exercising the baby divine beasts.
Even so, he was still an apprentice trainer, still handling menial tasks.
Yet the divine beasts responded so well to him that it seemed he had finally found his calling.
More importantly, Joshua seemed genuinely happy being with the divine beasts.
Actually, the change in Joshua’s duties wasn’t just the manager’s idea—it was also encouraged by our father.
After hearing me speak about Joshua’s exceptional sensitivity to divine beasts, he had been paying attention to him lately.
‘Joshua, this is good… Even if you can’t imprint yet, there’s another path. You can still become a tamer by gradually training them, and even if not, who cares if you’re not the strongest future tamer!’
I remembered Joshua’s happy face among the baby divine beasts and wiped the slight moisture from my eyes with a hint of longing.
“We’ve arrived, Your Highness. Look over there—the garden decorated amidst the sparkling waters is beautiful, isn’t it?”
While thinking of Joshua, we reached the destination.
The palace was vast, with many scenic spots.
In the south, near the secondary palace, there was even a small waterfall.
Today’s tea party was held in a garden called the “Deep Blue Sea Garden.”
Set in the center of a lake with a view of the waterfall, it was designed to resemble a mythical sacred place, boasting a mysterious and beautiful landscape.
“Welcome, Adel!”
Arriving at the garden, up coral- and flower-decorated stairs, the Second Princess Alexia was already there.
She had been sitting at a table but stood to greet me.
“Hello, Alexia.”
But Alexia was not alone.
“These cursed little rats!”
A chubby young boy with turquoise hair and pink eyes—
The Third Prince, seeing the ferrets I had brought, immediately swung a stick he was holding.
The ferrets had been on restriction in the palace and this was their first outing in a while.
Since they had helped in the recent “Protect Joshua” operation, I had specially forgiven them and brought them outside.
“Kii!”
“Kiiu!”
Rather than being intimidated, the ferrets dodged the stick nimbly, laughing and running toward the other side of the garden.
Seeing this, the Third Prince’s face turned red with frustration.
“Hermando’s here too… If I had known, I wouldn’t have brought the kids.”
Of course, I knew our ferrets had caused trouble in the Third Prince’s palace before, but apologies had already been conveyed through our father.
Moreover, his reckless behavior of swinging a stick at small animals—especially my summoned creatures—was unacceptable.
“What! Wh-What are you staring at? W-What are you gonna do about it!”
The Third Prince flinched at my displeased gaze and stepped back.
Though he tried to act defiant, his eyes betrayed anxiety.
I narrowed my eyes and let out a low sound.
“Eek.”
The Third Prince immediately became even more cautious.
Perhaps he remembered when I head-butted the Second Prince last time.
Honestly, anyone watching would think I was incredibly violent.
“I’m sorry. Hermando’s attendant had to step away briefly, which caused this sudden situation.”
Alexia seemed apologetic toward me as well.
“Hermando, don’t swing things around carelessly—it’s dangerous.”
Alexia took the stick from Hermando, and he bared his teeth at his older sister in defiance.
“What! Which side are you on, sister?! You saw those rats steal all my snacks too!”
“They seemed really hungry. Sharing some snacks isn’t a big deal, is it?”
“Nooo! They’re mine!”
“I just thought it would be good for your health since you’re gaining weight.”
“I’m! Not! Fat!”
“Yes, I said you’re gaining weight, not that you’re fat yet, my plump little brother.”
Alexia… even with her own sibling, she’s relentless.
Her gentle, coaxing voice was perfect. Anyone hearing her calmly reason would think Hermando was overreacting.
But… what the… Pio and Kino? You guys are still going to the Third Prince’s palace to steal snacks?
‘These little rascals. People might think we starve them!’
I figured I’d need a serious conversation with the ferrets later.
“Oh, I’ve kept you standing too long, Adel. Let’s sit down.”
Alexia seated the chattering Third Prince first, then looked back at me with a smile.
I chuckled faintly and took my designated seat.
“I wasn’t sure what snacks you liked, so I asked your attendant. Our palace chef tried to make them as similar as possible. I hope they suit your taste.”
Alexia displayed impeccable manners.
But inside, I felt a little melancholic.
‘No wonder these snacks look so familiar.’
The table in front of me was piled high with incredibly sweet treats, more than I could eat.
