In the parlor of the Crown Prince's palace, the children who were main characters gathered in the middle, and the parents except the Emperor stood at the edge. Only families of at least Marquisate or higher levels had gathered.
Considering the title and influence of the family, I would have to sit next to Crown Prince Tess, but he and I sat quite far apart. I think this was the idea of the Empress who didn't like me very much, but I was thankful.
Sitting next to Tess was the firstborn of Marquis Xuen, Aurin Xuen.
The Xuen family was close to the Empress's family, but they're quite… Rumors spread that they are also interested in the position of the Crown Princess.
It was said that from generation to generation the Empress was often younger, and there was a story that she gave birth to a daughter again.
I glanced around to see that Tess was not crying, even though there was a stranger next to him. He was listening to what the other person had to say!
That's right, my education was finally paying off.
Nodding my head in a happy mood, I also started talking with the children around me.
"Hello, Euseniel!"
"Hello, Hanil. Long time no see."
"Miss Hardland."
I was quite popular too, so people gathered around me. And it was nothing to match the eye level of these kids.
But I think my cheeks were going to cramp from smiling. A child's body was weak, so there was a fatal flaw in that their patience disappeared quickly.
"Hello, Euseniel. Long time no see."
A boy who seemed to drive the children around appeared.
"Long time no see, Ethyl."
The one who spoke to me was Ethyl, the oldest son of the Bonart family, one of the 4 Duchies. He was two years older than me, so he's more mature than his age, so he might have a good conversational taste.
Yes, he was an eight-year-old kid, but he grew up so fast that the kids next to him crept away from him.
He naturally sat next to me and poked me in the cheek.
"What are you doing these days that you don't show your face?"
The dark brown hair fluttered over his white forehead, and the brown eyes gleamed deeply, unlike a child.
… Turns out he wasn't reborn either.
"What? I also went to the Marquisate's party a while ago."
"That was two months ago."
Little social gatherings were usually held at least once a week, so it was rare for me to attend. Even so, I couldn't go anymore because of the Crown Prince who was so close to me.
It had been a long time since I gave up because he kept crying when we went together once.
"Well, I was busy."
"How can a six-year-old be busy?"
Hearing this from an eight-year-old kid made me feel strange.
"Are you practicing swordsmanship these days?"
Ethyl laughed.
"If you're practicing, come over to my house. Come practice with me."
The Bonarts were a traditionally famous warrior family, and they were famous for producing masters of swordsmanship.
So, until Tess came, I would often visit and learn. Maybe it was because of the memories of my past life, I valued self-defense.
"Gre"
"-Uwaaaannnnggg!"
… It was somehow quiet.
"Haah. Huwaa, Huwaaaanngg!"
"Oh dear, Crown Prince. What happened?"
The Empress hastily approached Tess. Tess was surrounded by children from several influential families, including Aurin Xuen.
"Huuh, Euseniel...."
… I wonder why my name appeared?
It was a well-known fact that Euseniel Hardland was the nanny of the Crown Prince. Ethyl quietly made a 'kik' sound as he watched me stand still with my mouth shut.
"Crown Prince, you have other good friends here besides Miss Euseniel. Just now you talked with Miss Aurin —"
"- Euseniel. Eusenieeeeelllll!"
"Crown Pri-"
"-EUSENIEEEELL!"
The Empress flinched unknowingly at the loud cry, and Tess looked straight at me while crying. I didn't make eye contact.
Yes, yes, yes, no, yes....
"Miss Euseniel, won't you come over here?"
The Empress, unable to withstand the tearful cry, called to me and said blatantly. I walked with the hope that I would never arrive there in my lifetime.
"Euseniel, huuh. Huuh."
As I got closer, Tess stopped crying a little. It looked like he was looking at me.
Abominable little bastard.
"Crown Prince."
"Euel. And Her Majesty."
"Sir Hardland?"
It was my father who suddenly broke in. He hugged me half way to protect me from Tess.
"Your Highness Crown Prince, stop looking for Euel now."
"Why!"
"Euseniel is not Your Highness' accessory."
"Duke!"
The Empress said with surprise, but my father stood his ground. If he freed me from this bastard, I would seriously consider listening to my father's story.
"How can you speak like that?"
"Euel is my daughter!"
Ah wait.
"I understand that the Crown Prince is looking for Euel because she is lovely and cute, but please don't take Euel away from me anymore."
Fa, father....
I don't want to believe it, but this man was seriously confronting the kid.
"I don't have enough time to spend with Euel, so what should I do if Your Highness is like this? Hey, isn't Miss Aurin Xuen waiting to speak with Your Highness? Miss Xuen, come on, please play with His Majesty."
"No, I don't want to! I'm going to play with Euseniel! Euseniel should play 'only with me'!"
Suddenly, his hand grabbed my hand. Unlike his pale blue eyes, his eyes were dyed red.
"Euseniel, don't go. Stay with me. Huhp. Don't go."
I've been here since before, why are you telling me not to go, you little bastard.
"Your Highness, let go of this hand. Empress, please take the Crown Prince's hand away."
"No, Duke. That, now."
The Empress wanted Tess and I to separate, but now the situation seemed difficult.
I looked at the ceiling and, yes, the pattern was very beautiful. Could it be the work of Euclde, who was famous for geometric patterns?
"Uwaaaaahhhhhh! Euseniel! I'm going to play with Euseniel!"
"Your Highness, you're past the age to whine!"
"What fuss is this?"
In the meantime, even the voice of the Emperor could be heard. The voices of all sorts of people were mixed and got even louder. No matter how old I was mentally, this young body was too weak.
Oh, I'd rather lose my consciousness. I'm going to pass out. Then this damn situation will pass.
Pass out, pass out, pass out. The pattern on the ceiling spins round and round. Come on, so I can… pass…out....
"Then give up, Euel? Euel, Euel?"
"Euseniel!"
As the two men's voices collaborated, for a moment, my eyes went black.
"No. You can't."
"That's what I'm saying, Your Highness. Euel and I will go back."
People's voices were heard from afar.
"Euseniel should sleep here."
Someone was holding my hand on both sides too. Both were feelings I've felt a lot somewhere.
"Euel needs to go home."
The voices of an adult and a child. I woke up, but I didn't want to open my eyes because I thought I knew who they were. I must have passed out, but why weren't they done yet?
Even when I opened my eyes, the two continued going back and forth.
I couldn't help it.
"I woke up."
I have no choice but to tell them directly that I have woken up.
"Euseniel!"
"Euel!"
The two men tried to run at me at the same time and bumped into each other, while I jumped up and sat down. Ahh, I'm dizzy.
I glanced around and saw there were only three of us. Can I be a little cheeky?
"Euseniel, you passed out! Rest here!"
"If you hadn't cried in the first place, I wouldn't have passed out."
As the sun was setting, in the darkened room, Tess's white face grew crumpled.
"Your Highness, I will go home. Let's go, Father."
I have a lot to say, but I'll be patient for now.
"Yes, Euel!"
Seeing my father with his mouth almost stuck to his ear, I wondered if I should sleep here for a while.
"But Euseniel, I'm sick."
What are you talking about all of a sudden?
"I cried because I was sick."
I looked at Tess with suspicion, and my father seemed to have the same opinion. The look in his eyes were unusual, but I called the royal doctor to see if he had more reason than me.
"Oh my, you have a fever. How did you endure up to this point, Your Highness?"
What, he was really sick? Just by chance, I touched Tess's forehead and it was hot?