C 74
"......"
The touching words brought tears to my eyes.
However, I don't think I'm suitable for the position of the family matriarch.
Although I thought that, I just nodded because I liked the affection.
"Yes."
I don't know what it is, but I'll do my best. Dad's large hand stroked my hair.
I fell asleep peacefully in his arms.
* * *
"Eirin, good morning."
"Sister, hello!"
"Yes, our Eirin is still small, precious, and cute..."
Sharnae, who had grown so much, took me in her arms.
She must have been only thirteen, but there was a grace about her as if she had already become a great lady of high society.
"As expected of the female lead."
I smiled and patted Sharnae's head. Sharnae kissed my cheek.
"Let's play today too!"
"Yes. Sister, can you keep coming to my room?"
It's been a week already.
Sharnae had been coming every morning for a week since the day after I opened my eyes, and she hardly left before it was time for me to go to bed.
It even got to the point where Erno Etham forcibly expelled Sharnae.
Of course, the heroine, who had splendidly grown each time, used her awakened abilities to bypass the worn-out guards and return to my side.
"However, to make up for 5 years' worth of courage, even if I stay 24 hours a day for 365 days, it's not enough."
"Yes..."
But I also need some alone time.
"Besides, today is the day we'll go to the imperial palace together anyway."
"Are you going too?"
"Yes, I'm going to be your guardian today."
Sharnae snorted and puffed out her chest.
The voice that confidently exclaimed that she had won the drawing seemed full of confidence.
"A drawing..."
I was only going to the imperial palace, but I laughed because I wondered if it was something so grand.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"As expected, you look very pretty."
I'm still small in my opinion.
Compared to Sharnae, who had grown, I was still the same as when I was five.
She seemed a bit intimidated, so Sharnae affectionately opened her mouth while holding me in her arms.
"They say a dragon needs a lot of love to grow. Don't worry; you just didn't grow while you were asleep."
"Yes..."
"We love you so much that you'll soon be able to reach 3 meters in height."
That's a bit creepy.
Maybe seeing my expression sour, Sharnae smiled pretending not to notice and pulled my hand.
"Let's go!"
When I went downstairs, Erno Etham was there.
"Dad!"
When I let go of Sharnae's hand and ran to Dad, he took me in his arms immediately.
"Yes, Eirin."
"Is Dad going too?"
"No, unfortunately, I have work today."
"Is that so...?"
I don't know why, but I somehow felt disappointed.
I need to be loved by my father.
I pursed my lips at the sudden thought, and Erno Etham pressed his forehead against mine.
"I'll pick you up in the evening instead."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Yes."
After receiving permission, the mood returned to normal.
"It's strange..."
Had I been so sensitive to every action of my father before? I guess not.
"Come on, Eirin."
Sharnae said, giving me a playful nudge.
When I smiled and approached her, the knight nodded his head towards me.
"Hello, my lady. This is Jill Hemonts, who will accompany the lady today."
"Ah, yes."
He was a man with a striking impression. His strong, large muscles looked reassuring, as if he would protect us no matter what.
"Thank you, Jill!"
"...It is an honor for me to accompany you."
After responding like that, the lobes of his ears turned red as he carefully placed me on top of the carriage.
I wondered what would happen if I slipped because the grip holding me had no strength at all.
Jill said he would follow us on horseback from outside. Soon, the carriage carrying Sharnae and me departed.
"The imperial palace..."
I'm going because someone is looking for me, but I didn't feel good about it.
"Is Enosh okay?"
When I asked Erno Etham, he hesitated and said it would be better for me to check for myself.
So, even though I was afraid of the way to the imperial palace, I couldn't hide my slight anticipation.
Since there was a potted plant that had sprouted, maybe Lillian had cultivated it and improved Enosh?
"What if something goes wrong?"
I don't know what kind of expression I should make if the news I receive isn't so good.
When I opened the window slightly on the way to the imperial palace, the atmosphere on the street didn't seem very good.
It felt gloomier and more downcast than I remembered.
There were also people lying in the alley.
"Sister, what's been happening these days?"
"Huh? What's happening? Hasn't anything happened?"
At Sharnae's response, I silently tilted my head.
"Then it's okay..."
I somehow felt uneasy.
"Five years... The heroine is thirteen years old..."
What had happened in the novel?
"Now that I think about it, it's amazing. Five years seem to have been skipped in the novel."
Due to the nature of children's novels, it wasn't possible to transcribe every period in writing, so there were times when time was skipped.
Coincidentally, the moment the heroine jumped out of time coincided with the moment I fell asleep.
"Must be a coincidence?"
I guess I should follow the novel up to that point.
"What was the first incident the 13-year-old heroine faced...?"
When I opened my eyes slightly, Sharnae suddenly leaned in with a bright smile.
"What's bothering you, Eirin?"
"Nothing."
I looked outside through the slightly open window.
At that moment, a woman on the street drank something and sat against the wall with a smile.
"Ah..."
I remembered.
Around this time, there was an incident of poisoning due to a drink called Hatar.
Hatar was colorless and transparent like water, but it tasted like sweet honey or sap, so it fascinated people of all ages and genders.
Hatar was a drink that paralyzed the nervous system and acted as a sedative.
At first, they found it thinking it was a beverage, not knowing it was an addictive poison, but it quickly spread throughout the empire.
The heroine drinks this and becomes involved with Hill Rosemont.
Hill Rosemont wasn't the culprit in this case, but Hill Rosemont knew who the culprit was and pretended not to know.
The emperor was also shocked by the death of his son and pretended not to know about the Hatar incident, and for a while, the entire empire was in turmoil.
And this incident was probably the beginning of the betrayal by those opposing the emperor, who was in danger.
I can't let that happen.
Hill Rosemont might be able to stop this.
To do that, just once...
I need to earn Hill Rosemont's favor.
Um, how can I win over that madman?
"I don't know."
For now, Enosh was the most important thing.
"Eirin? What are you thinking?"
"Eh? Oh, just... I'm nervous."
"It will be fine."
Upon arriving at the imperial palace, palace servants guided us immediately, and we headed to the hall.
As I stood in front of the hall door, my heart began to beat rapidly.
"It's okay."
It will be fine.
Sharnae tightly held my hand. She looked at me and nodded, and the attendant opened the door.
When the door swung wide open, the sunlight streaming in blinded me, so I closed my eyes for a moment and then opened them.
Faced with the slowly returning view, I held my breath, not comprehending. The outline was a bit blurry against the backlight, but the voice was familiar.
"Even after 5 years, you're still a bun."
Before the confident yet nostalgic tone, I stood there dumbfounded for a moment.
"Why are you there? Don't you have the heart to hug a friend you haven't seen in a long time?"
I stood there dumbfounded for a moment by his tall stature, well-defined muscles, and firm-looking shoulders, and looked at his open arms.
"How long are you going to let this body open its arms? Do you want to be imprisoned for insulting the imperial family?"
He spoke with arrogance, but there was no malice in it. However, it felt like a mischievous jest.
"Hey, my arm really hurts. When..."
I hurriedly clung to his arms as he sat there.
"Gosh, really..."
He seemed a bit surprised but then smiled and hugged me tightly.
"It's been a while, bun."
Enosh looked much healthier than the last time I had seen him and greeted me with an arrogant expression on his face.
