Chapter 26
“Looks like the fruit is really tired today. Let’s stop for now, Peekaboo. Daddy, let’s go.”
Before the sly little creature could manipulate me, I pulled my hand away coldly.
“Really? Then I’ll say goodbye to Peekaboo early today too.”
Karus, hearing my words, approached the fruit reluctantly, looking a bit sad.
It was at that moment I realized why this fruit was wilting so quickly day by day.
“Peekaboo, Daddy’s leaving. Rest well and stay healthy until I come again tomorrow.”
The moment Karus touched the fruit, the malice clinging to him flowed into the fruit’s glossy surface.
I could feel it twisting in agony, screaming in pain.
“Huh? Peekaboo moved.”
“Looks like the fruit has regained a little strength.”
“Could it recognize Daddy’s hand?”
“Maybe. It’s a living being, after all. And since you come every day and talk to it…”
“Then I should touch Peekaboo a bit more like this.”
Karus chuckled softly.
Even Father smiled, seeing Karus’s face brighten compared to earlier.
“Well, let’s head off first then.”
I looked down at the fruit, writhing in pain, with eyes hardened by resolve.
Karus continued to pet it, oblivious that he was killing it with his own hands.
Father lifted me into his arms.
Before I knew it, my crumpled face was buried in his shoulder.
My heart thumped unevenly.
The horrifying screams, audible only to me, gradually faded.
I turned away, pretending not to hear them.
Then, leaving Karus and the fruit shrouded in black energy behind, I exited the Rosarium with Father.
The next day, rain poured all day.
I stared out the window, feeling as gloomy as the weather.
If anyone saw me now, they might think some tiny brat was trying far too hard to act serious.
“…Annoying.”
From time to time, the fruit’s pitiful screams from the Rosarium came back to mind.
When that happened, I felt unjustified anger. Why should I be the one to feel this way?
He was the one who betrayed and killed me first.
And yet, I, living as Asphodel until now, had always struggled alone to protect him and others.
But now, it felt like I was the truly wicked one, committing truly wicked deeds.
The unblossomed fruit was so small and fragile.
So harboring murderous intent toward it felt almost like an inhuman crime.
“Chirp-chirp.”
“Chii-uu.”
At that moment, the ferrets had quietly entered the room, climbing onto my lap and peering at me.
With their soft, fluffy front paws gently patting my hands, they seemed to sense my dark mood and were trying to comfort me.
Seeing that, my mood lightened a little.
“Yeah… at least I still have you guys.”
Sure, I had no luck with siblings, but I did have luck with familiars.
Feeling my heart soften, I hugged the ferrets in both arms.
“Oh, you cute things… hmm? What’s this?”
Rubbing my face against their fluffy fur, I realized something had smudged onto my cheek.
What is this? Jam?
Or maybe cream?
Come to think of it, these guys’ bellies were puffed up again, just like last time. No wonder they felt heavy.
“Where did you even get this…”
Then I noticed the commotion outside the door was louder than usual.
“Huh? What’s going on?”
Carrying a ferret in each arm, I stepped out of the room.
On the first floor, in front of the reception room, I saw a man tearfully complaining to Margaret.
“Please, I beg you. Because of the Third Princess’s pets, our palace…”
Looking closely, he was the dedicated attendant for the Third Prince.
I remembered seeing him among the attendants the last time we crossed paths.
Father wasn’t present now, so Margaret seemed a bit awkward handling him alone.
From the look on his face, it was clear our side had made some mistake.
I mulled over the term “pets” that had lodged in my mind a moment ago and spoke up.
“Wait… Pio, Kino. You two, stand right there.”
The ferrets, who had slipped from my arms and were creeping away, froze like ice at my stern tone.
“You didn’t go to the Third Prince’s palace, did you?”
Trying to stay calm, I slowly looked at the ferrets.
But just like my voice, my face must have looked grim, because they shivered.
“You chased the Second and Third Princes last time too… What did you do there?”
I thought it was probably just a harmless prank.
And I assumed it had ended with that one incident.
But what had they done this time that the Third Prince’s attendant came all the way to our palace tearfully?
“Chii?”
“Kyu?”
The ferrets, frozen for a moment, began to widen their eyes and pretend not to understand.
These little brats…
Suddenly, I remembered the scene in the room earlier and my temple ached.
I had thought they approached to comfort me because I looked sad.
But now I realized, they had probably gone on a big adventure at the Third Prince’s palace and were sizing up my mood to see if I’d scold them.
“What? Playing innocent, are you? Hah, I won’t fall for—Ah! Hey, where are you going!”
The quick-witted ferrets attempted to escape.
“Stop right there!”
I ran after them.
“Adel, what are you doing?”
I bumped into the First Prince while dashing past the palace’s first-floor main entrance, running along the corridor.
“Where are you running off to in such a hurry? It’s raining outside.”
The ferrets were nowhere in sight.
The First Prince, seemingly avoiding the rain, walked along the corridor with his attendants and noticed me with a puzzled look.
Damn, I lost them.
They’re too fast for no reason.
But more importantly… why are you here right now?
“What’s going on in our palace?”
“What do you mean? You told me to come eat snacks anytime. And the outdoor schedule got canceled because of the rain.”
I involuntarily scowled.
Seriously? Who made you think you could follow my orders so well?
“Here, take this. I didn’t want to come empty-handed.”
The First Prince gestured, and his attendant behind him handed me a package.
It was wrapped in pale yellow paper with a purple ribbon.
“Our palace chef made these snacks.”
“….”
“Since I came by suddenly, let’s eat them today. Not that I prepared them just for you.”
Hearing the First Prince’s transparent excuse, the attendants behind him silently chuckled.
The more he spoke, the stranger I felt.
My chest felt a little fluttery, my heart pricked oddly.
“Oh, the First Prince came to visit.”
Margaret appeared just then, lightening the mood.
“Lord Roxhan isn’t in the palace right now. Would you mind spending a little time with the princess? I’ll bring the tea soon.”
“Alright. Skip everything else, just serve tea. I brought something myself today.”
Margaret praised the First Prince for being considerate.
“Margaret, I’ll leave this with you.”
I handed Margaret the gift the First Prince had brought, making it clear I didn’t want it. But she probably didn’t get the intention.
It wasn’t unusual for someone in the palace or nobility to carry something on behalf of the owner.
So everyone assumed I was just entrusting the snacks to Margaret for a moment.
“Oh, I heard you even received a gift from Her Majesty?”
The First Prince suddenly remembered and spoke again.
“Something amazing, they said. Why didn’t you show it last time?”
Why should I show it to you?
I almost snapped, but held it back.
Perhaps it was the rainy day, making my mood gloomy and my nerves sharp from small things.
“Princess, would you like to spend a little time with the First Prince in the playroom?”
“Alright… let’s go.”
I pretended to reluctantly comply and led the First Prince to the playroom.
“…This?”
After a moment, the First Prince froze in the playroom, mouth agape.
“I heard you received a gift from Her Majesty and were very happy…”
He looked horrified at the massive magical beast enclosed in white crystal.
“I didn’t expect it to be such a… beast.”
I watched the First Prince gaze at the taxidermied beast, clearly overwhelmed.
While he stared, old, tattered memories long buried in my heart began to gather and take shape.
‘Please. Just this once, trust me.’
Startled by the memory, I frowned and took a step back unconsciously.
‘What… No. Why is this coming back now?’
The reckless life plan of the rogue princess continues.
