Translator: Blushy
Editor: Sam
I had been so worried about Nico that I had forgotten all about Alistair, but once I saw him, it was as if I was back to those days when he played with me in Wester. I didnât forget about him because I was focused on playing with Nico.
However, I donât think Iâve really played for the purpose of playing like this in Wester.
Everyone had a proper day job besides from being a hunter, and it was the same for Alistair, who was always aiming to become independent. So, the fact that he could play with me and Nico to his heartâs content like this meant that he was living a fulfilling life in Wester. I nodded to myself.
âDid you come to some sort of conclusion again?â
âIâm happy thhath youâve been weww.â
âI see. Thanks.â
As Alistair smiled and patted my head, Prince Albert and someone with a similar build to him walked up to us. It was a familiar person with a slightly sulky face.
âUncle!â
âHuu!â
I started running too as Nico started running. I started late so there was a gap between us, but I think thatâs because of the affection I had towards Huu, not because of my motor reflexes.
Huuâs expression softened a bit and he kneeled down to catch me as I ran.
âWhat a surprise! I canât imagine seeing you not totter around anymore!â Huu hugged me awkwardly, and I could hear the excitement in his voice, but I have something to say.
âLei never thoththered in thhe firshth pwace.â
âOh, youâre right. You walked briskly. And youâve gotten bigger... or not?â This was what Huu said as he gently stopped hugging me.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âI d-i-d. Huu, youâre shthiww rude ash ever.â
âAh, you have a comeback for every remark. Youâre definitely Leila.â
Huu hesitated as he reached out for my head.
âI donât think my relationship with you was like this.â
âYou jushth hugged me.â
Isnât it too late to bring this up?
âYouâre right. No one from Wester is watching, so itâs fine.â
He finally rubbed my head, and Iâm sure Alistair is watching us. And so what if people from Wester see? Adults with ties of obligation are a pain in the ass. I shrugged.
âHuu, whath abouth Nico and Otou-sama?â
âIâve already spoken to them. Prince Nicholas is a clever boy.â
âYup.â
âWhy are you proud of this?â
Why am I proud you ask?
âBecaushe heâsh my friend.â
âUmm. Iâm also proud of you Lei.â
âAi!â
After all, we both had worked so hard in the uproar. Iâm also a polite child. I turned towards Huu again and bowed courteously.
âHuu, thhanw you for fowwowing Otou-syama.â
âHmm. But I didnât follow him here for your sake Lei. I was just doing my duty as a member of the Wester royal family. What Alistair? What are you smirking about?â
Huuâs acting like his usual self, I thought. Huu looked at Alistair and acted a little suspiciously.
âWerenât you eager since it was Leilaâs relative?â
âI wasnât eager. As a member of the Wester royal family, I couldnât connect with those who disturb the peace, so I joined the battle.â
âYeah, yeah. You go into royalty mode when things donât go your way.â
âGah.â
Itâs refreshing to see Huu being talked down by Alistair. Or perhaps I should say that itâs refreshing to see Alistair act friendly towards Huu. Iâll have to go see how heâs living in Wester someday, since I promised Sebas I would go there someday.
Speaking of Sebas, I remembered the Remingtons. Speaking of the Remingtons...
âWhereâsh Chrish?â
Felicia was busy, so maybe she couldnât bring Chris here. But Iâm sure Chris would like to come to the castle and spend time with everyone. Since I was invited to the castle, I think it should be fine to invite Chris as well.
But what I got in reply was an awkward silence.
âIf itâs better for us Westerners to leave, then we shall.â
âNo, Hubert-dono, that wonât be necessary,â Lam-ojisama stopped Huu. I stared at Lam-ojisama. If something had happened to Chris, then Otou-sama would have told me straight away. So, Iâd like to think that nothing serious happened to her.
Lam-ojisama crouched down and looked me in the eye.
âLei, listen carefully.â
âAi.â
Lam-ojisama took a deep breath and began to speak, âYou know that the Remingtons left Kingdom and went to Easter, right?â
âAi. Chrish and Fewicia wefth.â
âYes. The Four Marquises have never done that before. And we canât judge the Four Marquises. So, we settled it by never allowing the Remingtons into Kingdom again. But then, Easter acted recklessly.â
We experienced something terrible.
âItâs no longer possible to say that the Remingtons canât be judged because theyâre a part of the Four Marquises. Do you understand what Iâm saying?â
It was probably the Remingtons who had told Cyrus about the castle passages. Or rather, it was Angelique Remington who had told Cyrus about the castle passages.
âThere has also been talk about reviving Purgatory.â
âYour Highness, you shouldnât...â Otou-sama interrupted Lam-ojisama. I guess heâs wondering if itâs alright to let people from Wester hear about this. Iâve been to Purgatory Island and have seen the Hollows there so there wasnât any need to hide this from me.
âItâs fine. Thereâs no need to keep this from people who live in a country where the Hollows are a part of their lives.â
If they go out at night, then they will encounter Hollows and lose their lives. Life on Frontier is like that.
âSomeone also proposed that we eliminate the Remingtons. But the royal family and the Four Marquises wonât always produce people with a lot of magic. Therefore, it would be a shame to lose one of the Four Marquises. So...â
So?
âWe havenât concluded our discussions yet. Therefore, Chris and Feliciaâs treatments havenât been decided yet. The Lisburns have custody of the two, and theyâre pretty much confined there for now.â
âNo way.â
That was the kind of information I didnât want children to hear. It would have been better if he had just told me that Chris couldnât come until the situation was settled.
âDonât look so sad. I thought it would be better to tell you the truth. Besides, it wonât end badly for Felicia and Chris.â
Lam-ojisama said that it wonât end badly for Felicia and Chris. Babies should think further than that. I squeezed my hands at the side of my body and pretended not to notice anything.
âGill and I have been talking and playing with them at the mansion, so they donât feel lonely.â
âAi. Thanwsh, Awishthair.â
Alistair secretly told me as each family headed for lunch. Thatâs the kind of house the Lisburnâs is. I looked forward in gratitude. Iâm sure weâll meet again soon.