Enjoying with a toddler was tougher than I believed it might be – not solely was she tireless, however she additionally cried simply.

She additionally obtained bored shortly and was continuously asking for one thing else to do.

On high of that, if she didn’t get the response she wished, she would flip pink and cry.

As time went on, I started to surprise how my grandmother managed to handle the Princess.

“Uwaaah! That’s not it!”

Because the sky turned darkish, Princess Chloe burst into tears once more. I held the brown teddy bear and watched as thick tears fell from her eyes.

‘Liel used to cry too, however I don’t suppose he was like this…….’

When he was youthful, Liel typically cried when he felt sorry for me, or when he was upset with me. However positively not this typically.

I used to suppose Liel was fairly the crybaby, however after seeing Princess Chloe, possibly I set the bar too low.

Abruptly, I wished to go residence.

Knock knock—

“Lucy, it’s getting darkish, let’s return.”

Liel’s voice got here from the opposite facet of the door, like a promise, simply as my ears have been starting to ache with desperation. This should be what it’s wish to have a savior.

On the identical time, Princess Chloe stopped crying.

My mouth dropped open in shock on the rapidity of her emotional change.

“A, are you going again already?”

Her voice was muffled from crying. I smiled at her awkward method of talking.

“I’ll come again subsequent time, will you continue to play with me then?”

I used to be simply as emotional as she was. Only a second in the past, I used to be desirous to return residence, however seeing her wistfulness made me really feel weak once more.

“If you wish to play with me once more, I’ll play with you so long as you need!”

She smiled brightly with reddened eyes. She was so cute that I nearly hugged her tightly.

However I couldn’t be so impolite, so I grabbed myself by the arm and stumbled away.

As quickly as we have been outdoors, Liel noticed me biting my lip, and requested in disbelief.

“Are you harm?”

He requested worriedly. I shortly shook my head and replied in a low voice.

“The Princess is simply too cute.”

It didn’t take lengthy for the priority to fade from Liel’s face. Stunned by the tepid response, I rapidly excused myself.

“I haven’t performed with a toddler because you have been a child, so she appears cute it doesn’t matter what.”

“After I was a child, you have been a child too.”

He identified.

No, you have been the one one who was a child then.

I swallowed the phrases I couldn’t deliver myself to say.

“There was a time while you have been simply as cute as that…….”

As a substitute, I stated one thing else.

“And now?”

“Huh?”

“I’m not cute now……?”

He requested with a critical look on his face. You’d suppose we have been discussing a life-and-death matter.

By the best way, aren’t you embarrassed to ask that query……?

“Now…….”

In fact, I used to be positively going to reply the query.

“You’re not cute.”

As a result of he had grown so hopelessly unmanageable, she couldn’t even lie and say he was cute.

Liel’s amber eyes fluttered pitifully. Did he really need me to inform him he was cute?

Even earlier than I completed answering, he was already getting ready to get upset.

“You’re cool now, and also you’re fairly.”

I shortly added, realizing that if I delayed any longer, he would actually pout. I gave him an exaggerated thumbs-up.

“I instructed you I’m good-looking.”

I patted him on the again to verify he wasn’t disenchanted. Liel curled his lips right into a smile. Seeing me stumble round should have made him relieved.

No, moderately than relieved, he seemed very completely satisfied.

⁂

After that, I went to see Empress Chloe a number of occasions.

It was solely as soon as each two weeks or so, however she by no means forgot my face and welcomed me each time.

It was as if she had been ready for me to return, regardless that she pretended to not.

There was just one drawback: Her irritation was getting worse by the day. No, not irritated, however extra like grumpy.

I’m often fairly good at letting her have her tantrums, however at the moment I wasn’t having any of it.

“I don’t like dolls! I don’t like dolls! I don’t need to play with dolls!”

It was Princess Chloe who requested me to play with the doll, however she was already bored with it. I nodded and put the doll down.

Then, with out warning, the Princess picked up a doll the dimensions of her face and threw it subsequent to me.

“…….”

“Ouch!”

I glanced on the doll, which grazed my thigh, after which again on the princess’ weeping face.

She was going to cry for ten or twenty minutes if I left her like that. Usually, I’d have comforted her, however not this time.

“Heuk, hmph……!”

After I didn’t react, the princess glanced at me. I hardened my expression and seemed her within the eye.

“…….”

Hiccup––

She hiccuped, stunned by my surprising expression. I nearly reached out and patted her on the again.

“Princess, it’s okay to cry, you may cry as a lot as you need.”

The Empress instructed me that if Princess Chloe grew to become unruly or her tantrums grew to become an excessive amount of, I may at all times go away her with a maid. However I by no means did.

And it was the identical at the moment.

“It’s okay to cry at your age, however Princess, it’s not okay to throw issues at folks.”

I stated, holding the doll on the ground in entrance of her.

“You may’t harm folks simply since you’re offended. It gained’t make you particular person while you develop up.”

If the princess instructed the Empress that I had carried out this, I’d by no means enter the palace once more, not to mention get my want.

Nonetheless, I couldn’t ignore her dangerous behavior. I’m certain my grandmother would have carried out the identical factor.

“…….”

The Princess clamped her mouth shut. Her pouting lips have been damp with tears.

I waited in silence for her to talk.

“A, are you offended?”

It wasn’t lengthy earlier than she requested in a stuttering voice. I nonetheless hadn’t relaxed my expression.

“I, I’m sorry……. I gained’t throw issues sooner or later…….”

“…….”

“So don’t hate me…….”

The Princess’ tone had modified to that of a kid’s[1], so I smiled and nodded.

“That’s good. I’m sorry I misplaced my mood, Princess.”

I adopted go well with and apologized. Then she began crying once more. I suppose she nonetheless had extra to cry.

She opened her arms to me. I blinked shortly on the sight of her brief arms.

“Do you want a hug?”

I requested, and her tiny face bobbed up and down wildly. I walked over to her on my knees and gave her a fast hug.

Till now, I had been holding again as a result of I believed it was impolite.

Maybe this was the easiest way to cease her crying.

Earlier than returning residence, I instructed the Empress the reality about my conduct and bowed my head.

Thankfully, the Empress was puzzled by my conduct and instructed me that my conduct and my grandmother’s conduct was precisely the identical.

Apparently, my grandmother was simply as unwilling to let the Princess’ misdeeds go unnoticed as I used to be.

⁂

Right this moment, I took the Princess’ hand and walked across the backyard. The palace is so giant that I didn’t suppose we’d make it midway round, however she was thrilled.

As we walked, Princess Chloe talked eagerly concerning the Empress in a voice like a fowl chirping.

Regardless of the Empress’ issues, she had quite a lot of respect for her.

Though her affections have been directed towards my grandmother, her admiration for the Empress was unmistakable.

“I dream of being as nice as her, the Empress!”

Swords clashing in opposition to swords quickly drowned out her hopeful shouts.

Strolling with no set vacation spot, we should have gotten nearer to the imperial coaching grounds.

As I anticipated, I may see knights within the distance, understanding or dueling.

Although they have been too distant to see their faces, I may inform that considered one of them was Liel.

Out of behavior, I used to be staring on the shadowed determine, whom I assumed to be Liel, when his head turned in my path.

Startled, I frantically gestured for Liel to deal with his sparring. In fact, he couldn’t see me, however I nonetheless gestured as onerous as I may.

Opposite to my fears, nevertheless, Liel gave a slight bow to the knight in entrance of him. Then he trotted over to the place I used to be.

When he was nearly in entrance of me, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with the again of his hand and requested, “What’s mistaken?”

“You got here out at this hour with no parasol?”

“Why would I would like a parasol? Oh, is Princess feeling alright? Are you feeling too sizzling or something?”

As a substitute of asking Liel if his sparring was over, I lowered my head to look at the Princess’ flawless pores and skin.

I’m fantastic, however she’s nonetheless younger and her pores and skin may be delicate.

However as a substitute of answering my query, she seemed up at Liel along with her mouth open.

“If it’s too sizzling, we could go inside?”

“W, what…….”

The Princess’ phrases trailed off. However her gaze remained mounted on Liel.

“You!”

Liel……?

The Princess’ brief index finger pointed at Liel. Feeling accused, Liel tilted his head and gave me a questioning look.

No, however why aren’t you greeting the Princess?

With out realizing it, the Princess gestured for Liel to rush up and greet her.

Liel, belatedly realizing his rudeness, dropped to at least one knee and bowed to the Princess.

“My title is Liel Marsen. It’s an honor to satisfy you, Princess—”

“You might be certainly a fine-looking younger man, and I shall have you ever as my husband at some point!”

Though she stumbled a little bit in the course of her sentence, maybe discovering it troublesome to say an extended sentence without delay, the princess nonetheless managed to complete her phrases.

At that second, I noticed that no matter age, everybody sees issues the identical method.

⁂

[1] Do not forget that Princess Chloe imitates the Empress’ method of talking