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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: First Big Sister
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"He neither cries nor laughs."
Her grave voice echoed through the audience chamber, and the mages and physicians exchanged glances.
As if to say, here we go again.
"..."
"Could it be a curse from an enemy nation? I've tried every method at my disposal, gathered all the tower lords from the Magic Tower to cast dispel spells, and poured more than half my mana into it... but nothing worked."
"..."
No one spoke in response to her words.
How do you make a son who doesn't cry start crying?
How do you make a son who doesn't laugh start laughing?
Pondering alongside the Empress—that had become their daily routine lately.
"However..."
She let out a sigh, muttering as if forcibly suppressing her anger, then turned to glare at the others.
"You lot, taking all this salary from the empire, living in peacetime, and yet you can't even properly treat one child."
For a moment, everyone averted their gazes, unwilling to incur her wrath.
"Imperial Physician."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"...Explain."
Milla pointed at the physician with her finger once more.
"..."
The physician let out a deep internal sigh and continued.
How many days had it been like this?
Even if Milla Castina was an unparalleled genius in the Castina Empire, a peerless hero who had quelled all wars and brought peace...
"Explain."
This was too harsh.
With that thought, the physician opened his mouth.
"...If I may be so bold, there is truly nothing wrong with His Highness the Prince's health—"
Thwack!
Something embedded itself right next to the real physician, who was breaking out in cold sweat.
"Eek!"
"That claim that there's nothing wrong—all the other physicians have said the same."
The woman muttered in a chilling voice as she looked at the others.
"But if there's truly nothing wrong..."
"Shouldn't the child at least laugh?"
Here we go again.
Thinking that, the physicians bowed their heads.
"There must be some illness. It's fine if he doesn't laugh at me. But he should at least smile at something enjoyable or when someone plays with him."
She poured out her words with grim determination.
Even when she set out to slay the Black Dragon, she hadn't spoken with such resolve.
"I'm just worried, that's all."
"..."
Of course, none of her subjects provided a clear answer.
"...All of you, leave. You're no help."
With that, she slumped onto the throne.
Hearing her words, the others retreated slowly toward the door as if by prior agreement.
Grateful for another safe and swift end to the workday.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Lately, it seemed more people were coming to see me.
When I was asleep, I'd sometimes feel someone injecting something warm into my body. When awake, a man with enormous glasses would poke and prod me all over.
Probably because I'm the prince, they're concerned about my health.
Overprotectiveness like this is a sickness in itself.
Of course, that wasn't all.
"Once upon a time... well, not that long ago, about eight years and two months into the Imperial Calendar, a Black Dragon invaded the empire..."
Mother was practically glued to me these days too.
Sometimes her eyes would well up with tears at the sight of me, and she'd step out only to return and resume reading the fairy tale.
I shifted my gaze to the top of Mother's head.
What to make of it.
Unlike with others, I could see something like an aura around Mother.
When I asked about it, her eyes went wide, she hugged me tight, and off we went to see the Tower Lord.
The Tower Lord took one look at me and his eyes bulged.
"The greatest magical talent I've seen since First Princess Lily."
"Not giving him to you."
"Ah, I understand."
Recalling their conversation, I snapped back to attention at Mother's words.
"Not fun, Teo?"
"Ah, no... Mother. It's very fun."
I'd been looking down, but when I lifted my head again, Mother was gazing at me with a sad expression.
When does this woman sleep?
I'd never seen her sleeping—not at dawn, morning, or evening.
She was always by my side, even fiddling with my hands if I woke at dawn.
"After destroying eleven villages, two cities, and two clock towers, the nation's hero, the Empress, finally stepped up to subdue the dragon."
I listened quietly to Mother's fairy tale.
The story itself wasn't bad.
In fact, it was my only chance to learn about this world's culture.
I needed to hear things like this to build my knowledge.
"..."
The fairy tale faded from my ears, so I turned my head and saw...
"..."
Mother was dozing off, book in hand, her head nodding.
"..."
I stared at her for a moment.
Long eyelashes, silver hair gleaming in the moonlight.
And her stunning features.
Dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep only added a decadent allure, making it feel like she was a beauty bestowed by the gods themselves.
No matter how many times I looked, I couldn't believe she was my mother.
If only she weren't such a tyrant...
"...Huh..."
Then, the dozing Mother suddenly snapped her eyes open.
"S-Sorry, Teo."
"...Ah, no. It's fine."
"Even I have limits to overcoming sleep with magic..."
She looked at me with utter exhaustion.
Meeting her eyes felt a bit awkward, and since it seemed like she wasn't sleeping because of me, I felt guilty and...
"...Ha, haha..."
I gave her an awkward smile.
"...!"
She froze as if struck by lightning.
Like someone beholding a miracle, she stared at me quietly for a moment.
"..."
Then she bolted up and strode out of the room.
What? What happened?
Soon after, she returned with red, tear-swollen eyes, scooped me up,
"...Teo, I love you so much..."
"...M-Mother..."
and hugged me tightly to her chest.
I thought I'd done something wrong.
But watching Mother read the fairy tale book, one thing dawned on me.
Right, if I read books too, it might get boring.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In any case, after that day, Mother visited less often.
I was glad for the extra personal time.
So, I started secretly reading books without Mother's knowledge.
I didn't want to get caught and stir up trouble.
I already knew the script of this world to some extent.
The letters just clicked into my head.
They say young children's brains absorb all sorts of information during development—seems true.
The fact that I could even understand speech here was odd from the start.
Anyway.
"Young master, here's the book you requested."
"Yeah, thanks."
I began reading the book the maid brought.
The title: History of the Empire.
"...Young master, can you really read that?"
The maid looked at me with worry in her voice.
"Yeah, I can read it."
In cases like this, just say you can.
They'd think a baby couldn't anyway, no matter what I said.
I preferred to seem like a normal mischievous kid rather than a genius.
As long as I stayed out of Mother's bad graces, told my sisters I'd give up the throne, then vanished, an easy life awaited.
"...I-I see..."
See? She doesn't believe me.
I gave a wry smile, watched the maid leave, then focused on the book.
Know your enemy and know yourself for a hundred victories—this empire's origins, and how someone like Mother ended up as Empress, I needed to learn.
At least I'd spot the taboos to avoid. Dodging those might keep me alive.
With that thought, I read the history book.
"..."
I found nothing about Mother.
No, there was something.
[Sage Ruler Milla Castina. Having conceived a child while still a virgin, chosen by the stars to become Empress, she rules the empire in peace, leading the nation without woe.]
They expect me to believe this nonsense?
Virgin birth? That's religious fairy tale stuff.
I sighed and closed the book.
Looks like history books are still censored.
Skip gathering info on Mother from history books for now.
Turning my gaze outside, I'd read diligently—the sun, once high in the sky, was now setting.
The maid was still bustling about cleaning the room.
About an hour from now, Mother would come.
I should put the history book away. Didn't want to get caught and cause a fuss.
As I reached for it,
Click, the door opened.
"G-Greetings, Your Majesty."
The maid's polite voice.
"..."
My body stiffened.
Already?
An hour earlier than expected?
I hurriedly looked up at Mother,
"..."
"..."
and met her rigid gaze.
Her eyes lingered on the book in my hands: History of the Empire.
Did I make her angry?
Back at the orphanage, the director scolded me for reading, saying it was pointless studying.
Maybe that's why—words tumbled out in a panic.
"M-Mother, this is..."
Before I could say more, Mother looked at the maid and spoke.
"Teo was reading a history book?"
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty. His Highness has been reading it the whole time."
The maid answered politely.
"The whole time? That one? And he understood it?"
Mother pressed relentlessly.
"Yes. It must be thanks to His Highness's brilliance."
The maid replied politely again.
"..."
Was there a problem? There had to be, or she wouldn't look at me like that.
I met Mother's eyes.
She stared at me quietly, her face stern, not smiling.
All sorts of wild thoughts flooded my mind.
My legs went numb; I even considered jumping out the window to die right then.
"...Wait here."
She glanced at me, said that, and left the room.
Should I jump now?
I looked out the window—iron bars blocked the way. No escape.
As I waited in what felt like an eternity,
Mother returned with a little girl.
Silver hair like Mother's.
Age: about seven or eight.
If not for her blue eyes, anyone would swear she was Mother as a child—the faces were that similar.
Even...
"..."
This girl had an even larger aura above her head than Mother's.
To sum up the Tower Lord's words: eyes that see mana.
A blessed vision only those innately gifted with mana affinity possess.
Higher mana than Mother? At that age?
Is this... no, is this even human?
As I stared at the girl,
"Teo."
Mother spoke in a gentle voice.
"This is Lily, your big sister. Remember? She even shared her milk with you."
"..."
I had no memory of that at all.
Confused, I looked at the girl again.
Her?
Wait, then...
The words throne struggle scrambled my thoughts.
I'm supposed to fight for the throne against this monster? Me?
The little girl gazed at me quietly.
What if she shows hostility right away? Tense, I braced myself—
"..."
She smiled brightly.
A pure smile without a trace of malice. As I flustered,
"Teo. Lily. Get along, you two."
"Yes!"
"Eek."
Lily came running and hugged me tight.
Caught off guard by the unexpected warmth, I was at a loss for words.
"And Teo apparently... read an entire history book."
"Really?!"
At Mother's words, Lily pulled back, eyes sparkling as she met mine.
"Yes. Perhaps... our Lily could..."
Mother smiled proudly.
"Help brilliant Teo with his studies? He shows the makings of a genius like you."
"Yes! Yes!"
True to her age, Lily nodded vigorously, messing up her hair.
"Come on, Teo! I'll help!"
"Ah, um. Thanks, Lily..."
"Big Sis!"
She beamed and hugged me again.
"Call me Big Sis Lily!"
This was my first meeting with Lily Big Sis—the First Princess, the continent's strongest mage, history's youngest Tower Lord, the living sage who rarely showed emotion, embodiment of knowledge.
And if I just said I was leaving home, she'd toss aside that intellectual facade seen from afar and bawl her eyes out.