Chapter 21
The caretaker of the spirit beast nest, whom I had seen from time to time, was scolding a boy who looked about fifteen years old with chocolate‑colored hair for his poor work performance.
“I told you the baby spirit beasts have a habit of hiding leftover food in corners, so you have to check three times a day and clean it up quickly!”
“I’m sorry! I’ll clean it again right away!”
The boy hurried into the inner part of the nest.
“Kyaaang!”
“Kuuung!”
“W–wait a second! Kids, go over there just while I clean this area— Ack!”
But while trying to clean, he was knocked around by the baby spirit beasts that rushed at him all at once, tumbling here and there. Eventually he even got buried under them and had to ask others for help. Honestly, he didn’t look very useful at his job.
“Hey, newbie! The waste bin here is full. It stinks, so hurry up and move it!”
“Y–yes!”
Still, he looked incredibly busy, running back and forth whenever someone called him.
“Ah!”
Splash!
“Ugh! Can’t you be more careful?! You spilled it on an area we just cleaned!”
“Ahh, I’m sorry! I’ll wipe it up right away!”
“Seriously, if you keep this up you’ll be kicked out by next month. Kicked out, I tell you.”
From what I could see, that sounded about right.
The boy was an apprentice spirit beast caretaker, in charge of menial tasks like cleaning the nest and dealing with the beasts’ waste.
But in the imperial palace, where only experts from every field gathered, he looked hopelessly incompetent—even for an apprentice.
“Hey! Don’t you know Lord Roxhan and the Third Princess are here right now? Stop gossiping and get back to work!”
“W–what? Lord Roxhan and the Third Princess?”
“Yes! They went somewhere else for now, but they might come back later, so do your jobs properly!”
The people who had been standing around quickly scattered, looking around nervously before getting back to work.
Hmm. I could understand them being wary of Father going to see the adult spirit beasts, but I’d been here the whole time.
Still, I got it.
I was so small and tiny that even I thought I looked like a bean, so it wasn’t surprising they hadn’t noticed me hiding among the baby beasts.
“Kuwaang!”
I gathered the white rice‑cake‑like creatures around me and slowly approached the boy not too far away.
“Kyang!”
“Kkyung!”
“Ugh, wait…! Stop that!”
Just like before, he was being pushed around by the baby spirit beasts and couldn’t clean properly.
“I got scolded again because of you guys. Why do you keep picking on me?”
After being yelled at by adults and then trampled by the baby beasts, the boy finally gave up trying to escape them and slumped down, muttering gloomily.
“Every day you shove me, knock me over… Do you hate me too? Are you trying to drive me out of here? But I don’t have anywhere else to go…”
I whispered to him softly.
“They’re not bullying you. They like you.”
“Wha—!”
Hearing a child’s bright voice right next to him, the boy jumped in shock like he’d seen a ghost.
“A sp–spirit beast talked…!”
As if that would ever happen.
The boy hurriedly turned his head, and his round, light green eyes finally landed on me hiding among the baby beasts.
“Huh? Why is there a little kid here— Wait! D–don’t tell me… the Princess?!”
As if finally realizing who I was, his eyes widened in shock.
“Hi!”
I waved at him cheerfully.
A useless apprentice caretaker who even got pushed around by baby spirit beasts.
But in my eyes, I could clearly see the faint aura surrounding him.
It was a pure, naturally clear energy that spirit beasts adored.
His name was Joshua.
In the future, he would succeed my father and become the greatest tamer of the next generation—and a powerful monster hunter.
“Lord Roxhan, Princess. The First Prince has arrived.”
“Eucled came?”
Ugh, seriously.
I’d just finished having a nice healing time and returned to the palace, and now that annoying First Prince had come to see me again.
“Hello, Fourth Consort.”
“Good to see you, Eucled.”
“Asphodel, hello to you too.”
“Blegh.”
‘Why are you here at our house, why are you here…’
Without realizing it, I started humming an old children’s song.
“Adele, I need to step out for a nobles’ meeting. Why don’t you chat with your brother for a bit?”
Just like last time, Father left the room, letting the two of us be alone.
After that, the First Prince and I sat facing each other across a table.
“I came because I had something to say about last time.”
After a brief greeting, he got straight to the point.
“What is it?”
Honestly, Father really didn’t need to be this considerate.
“That door at the back of the palace. I still think it’s too dangerous for you to go outside alone through there.”
See? This guy was already saying unnecessary things.
I rested my chin on my hand and half‑listened to him.
As expected, it wasn’t anything important.
But he continued seriously.
“Someone my age might be fine, but you’re only five. You’re too young to be going out alone.”
I couldn’t care less about what a nine‑year‑old kid was saying.
I swung my legs that didn’t even reach the floor, clearly showing I wasn’t listening.
“Hey, are you even listening?”
“Nope!”
“Ugh, stop ignoring me and listen properly. What if you fall and get hurt, or get lost in this huge palace?”
His face turned serious, as if he was actually imagining it.
“It’s really too dangerous.”
Dangerous, my foot.
“Ahem. Not that I’m especially worried about you or anything.”
Yeah, right.
I couldn’t imagine him worrying about me anyway.
He’d come all the way here just to say this pointless stuff.
Did he think I’d get lost after living in this palace for years?
And fall and get hurt? I wasn’t that kind of kid.
“Have you often gone outside alone like you did that day?”
I could feel it.
If this conversation dragged on, he was going to get even more annoying.
So I gave him the answer he wanted.
“No. That was the first time.”
“Really?”
He narrowed his eyes as if he didn’t quite believe me.
So suspicious for such a little kid.
But technically, it really was the first time in this life.
“It’s true. Going out with you was my first time.”
At my shameless answer, the First Prince flinched for some reason and cleared his throat.
“I see. That’s good, then.”
Maybe because he was still young, he seemed to believe even a lie like that.
“Then promise me. Until you’re older, don’t go outside alone again. Got it?”
Did this guy seriously have nothing better to do?
Coming all the way here just to nag me like this annoyed me.
But I quickly relaxed my face and nodded willingly.
“Sure. I promise.”
Pfft. Like it was hard to lie.
If I snuck out again, what would you do about it?
The naïve First Prince seemed to believe me again.
His expression brightened.
“Good. And like I promised, I didn’t tell anyone that we snuck out last time.”
He finally relaxed and began sipping his tea.
Hold on—who said he could sit here leisurely drinking tea?
“If you’re done talking, why don’t you head out?”
“What, already?”
His face crumpled.
He looked offended at my blatant dismissal.
“You could at least give me time to finish one cup of tea. Are you busy?”
“Ugh, I’m always busy.”
Did he think I had nothing to do like him?
I sighed deeply.
“Busy with what?”
“Just… lots of things.”
“Like what?”
“Would you even understand if I told you?”
“Of course. I’m four years older than you.”
I almost snorted.
“Whatever. Just eat some snacks.”
If he was going to keep talking nonsense, he might as well stuff his mouth.
Honestly, I also saw it as an opportunity.
I pushed a mountain of overly sweet sugar‑filled pastries in front of him.
Then I picked up a plain nut cookie meant for him and crunched on it myself.
Seeing the pile of sweets I’d shoved his way, the First Prince blinked in confusion.
