Hidden past

Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Despite my fervent opposition, the grand plan of my first stroll outside proceeded hastily.

"A stroll? Go on then."

After an approval from the father who made no sounds of hesitation, Oscar squealed in delight silently.

"Since the weather is a bit cold, we’ll leave when the day becomes warmer."

Every day, the nanny checked the day’s temperature before focusing back on her knitting. It looked like she was knitting a hat for me to wear.

A few days passed and on the th day, the exact day I was born, would be one of the highlights of my baby life. Nanny, who fed me from the baby bottle, looked outside.

"Let’s go out today, shall we?"

The long-awaited day had finally come. I was frozen in place attempting my best act to show my vehement dislike to venture the outside. But of course, like always, everything I did was misinterpreted.

"It looks like Her Highness is looking forward to the stroll very much."

"Of course she would. It would be her first time out."

For once, Lalima and Xavier’s conversation were in sync.

’Sigh... fine. Do whatever you want, I guess.’

Since they were going to continue with their plans no matter what I did, I stopped all thoughts of going against their made plans and went with the flow. The nanny pulled out a thick garment, as well as the hat she knit herself.

.....I was dying from hotness even if I stood still.

"Oh my, Her Highness is calm indeed. Xavier, bring the pram from the room next door and Lalima, pack the things we need to go."

"Yes, madam."

The two attendants split off to prepare for my outside stroll. Meanwhile, Oscar heard the news and came running to my room madly. He was breathing heavily.

"I’m here, Mabel...!"

"Oh my, Your Highness, aren’t you supposed to be training?"

"I heard that Mabel was going out for a stroll today, so I finished as early as I could."

: Mabel is Sick

: Mabel is Sick

: Mabel is Sick

A gleeful smile wrapped around the nanny’s lips for she found Oscar’s mannerisms adorable and delightfully pleasing.

"If you go outside full of sweat in this cold weather, you’ll get sick. You can always come with us next time. Don’t push yourself too much, Your Highness."

".....But... it’s the first time Mabel’s going out. I can’t miss that."

Oscar smiled brightly and held my hand.

"This’ll be her first memory outside. I want to experience it with her. I’m her older brother, after all."

Something strange washed over me hearing Oscar say ’older brother’ so glaringly obvious. I did not know how to react. I had never considered the emperor and Oscar as a family, let alone expect their love. I was not sure how to act... I was unsure. I do not know how to deal with them. But I know I could not be cold towards them.

Consequently, Xavier rushed inside with the pram that glimmered with radiance. I’m sure it’s materials were made out of broken-down national treasures. I would only use the pram for a few years... was there a need to hang jewels and ornaments onto it? And I did hear from the attendants that magic had been cast onto the pram, causing my jaw to droop.

The nanny picked me up and gently placed me in the pram as if it was nothing. After pushing out the roof of the baby stroller to stop the wintry wind and covering me with a blanket, the nanny was satisfied.

’So... so hot...’

"Now then, shall we go?"

Equipped with a weapon of clothes and blanket, the nanny strode out of the room and into the hallway that was much wider than I imagined. Was it wide because I was only an infant, or was the palace itself too colossal?

"Mabel, is the hallway that interesting to you?"

"Auuw..."

Looking around in reverie, I was surprised by Oscar’s sudden question.

’If I’m being honest, yes, though I was just a bit curious.’

I did not have any memory of the palace but the bedroom I slept in for weeks, after all.

"Fun, is it not?"

"Abuba..." (Nope.)

"I knew you’d like it."

’Fine. Think however you like...’

And before I knew it, I had finally stepped foot outside and a huge wave of cold wintry wind hit me. I did not realize the severity of the coldness outside as magic controlled the palace’s temperature (apparently).

"Auu!" (It’s cold.)

I take back what I said earlier. It’s freezing!

"It looks like Her Highness is freezing."

Xavier looked worried.

Oscar immediately took off his outerwear and put it on my body.

"...?"

I stared at him in bewilderment that I had not realized Xavier following suit. He too pulled off his outerwear and placed it on top of Oscar’s clothes. Lalima did the same. Even the nanny!

’I... I can’t see...’

"Abubah..." (I can’t see...)

"You’re warm now? That’s good."

Oscar’s warm voice managed to break through the mountains of clothes piled atop me.

Though I felt warm... to go on a stroll without seeing the scenery seemed to defeat the purpose of my first experience. I was confused.

And then, the pram stopped.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Where’s Mabel?"

"She’s in the pram."

A large hand quickly pulled aside the outerwear piled one after another. That hand lifted me up. The outerwears covering me fell onto the ground. The emperor did not care.

"Have fun outside and come back safely, Mabel."

His blue eyes locked onto me as he sent me a sweet smile. I stared at him dumbfounded and unsure how to react. Fortunately, he put me back into the pram. I did not expect he would take off his own outerwear.

".....Your Majesty...?!"

The emperor’s aide who followed him from behind bellowed in shock as he prostrated over. But the emperor paid him no mind as he covered me with his pure black outerwear.

"Have fun, Mabel."

He patted my head before walking in the opposite direction, his silhouette disappearing each second.

Lalima, who did not dare speak, carefully opened her mouth.

"Madam, madam, isn’t His Majesty’s clothing made out of magic materials?"

"That’s right... it’s made out of rare and precious materials. I didn’t think he’d bestow it to her like that."

’Bestow...? Didn’t he just whimsically throw it away and left?’

I looked at the clothes covering me and studied it. The black clothing had golden linings and was not thick by any means. Despite it, I did not feel any chills at all and was much warmer.

Meanwhile, the four others picked up their own outerwear that had fallen from the ground.

Wait... it could not be that he was jealous that others had placed their outerwear on me and immediately threw theirs away and used his own, right...?

’Well, it certainly is warm...’

: Mabel is Sick

: Mabel is Sick

: Mabel is Sick

The surface of the river reflected the sunlight. It was a winter wonderland. Though the flowers had yet to bloom, their buds flew against the wind. The nanny spread out a clean mat expertly that not a single crease was seen. She lifted me out of the stroller and laid me down on the mat.

I kept leaning over from the weight, forcing me to fall into a lying position.

Oscar decided to put me on his lap.

"Mabel, doesn’t it feel good to be outside?"

I sat there motionless and blinked.

"Hmm... well, this isn’t too bad either."

Lalima sat next to Oscar and kept a keen eye on me as she organized our carried belongings. But she was too preoccupied and could not help but succumb to worries.

She looked at Lalima.

"Lalima, don’t take your eyes off of her."

"Don’t worry, madam! I’ll keep a close eye on Her Highness. In any case, madam, doesn’t it look like she’s having trouble because of her head? Oh my goodness... isn’t she so cute?"

Lalima held my cheeks and squealed.

Xavier gave Lalima a look of warning.

"At this rate, you’ll be the one to cause problems."

"You think I’m clumsy, don’t you?"

They’re getting along well.

I stifled out a yawn and leaned into Oscar’s body.

The sky hung above me.

’It’s blue.’

The last I looked at the sky was when it was a midnight black and not a single stellar light shone. I remember it well... that shabby apartment... the roof I fell from... it had not been long since then, but it felt like a distant memory from years ago. It was a memory I would never forget.

As I reminisced over the past, my eyes closed, Oscar whispered softly.

"It looks like Mable is sleepy."

"Uwaa..."

...No, that’s not it. I was not sleepy, I was depressed.

I let out a small sigh. Even they would not let me be sad in peace.

Since I did not have much to do, I looked at Xavier. He busily organized the things around me when he suddenly roared and pointed to the forest entrance.

".....What?"

What is it?

"It’s the divine beast!"

Divine beast? Ah... I remember Lalima and Xavier quarreling over the golden divine beast hatching from an egg in the north forest. What is a divine beast? Is it a cat?

’I want to see it as well!’

I stretched out both arms and expressed my wants and needs, but Oscar did not pay attention to me.

Lalima and Xavier argued again.

"Really? Xavier, don’t make up lies. I’m not falling for it!"

"It’s true! It’s over there! Why don’t you go and see for yourself?!"

"If it’s not there, then you’re dead meat!"

Lalima snapped back as she leaned forward to stand up.

"Your Highness, let’s go and check out this nonsense as well."

"Alright."

As Lalima complained, the nanny stretched out her hand to me.

’Wait... you’re all going to look without me?’

I flailed and flung my arms around. I had tried to reject the nanny’s embrace.

"Your Highness, would you like to stay with me for a bit? His Highness wants to go and see a kitty."

"Waa...!"

The nanny smiled softly and hugged me tenderly while I trashed about as much as I could, an only expression I could make to express my disdain.

’I want to see as well! The divine beast...! The kitty!’

"Kiddy...!"

The nanny would not let me go no matter how much I moved. I could not bear it anymore and let out a sound as loud as I could. I was months old, and my pronunciation horrid. Kitty as my first word was not the best moment in my life, but it did not matter.

And then I realized a moment too late that everything around me grew silent until Oscar broke the ice.

"..... Mabel?"