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Side Stories 34

The Friedrich County had been bustling for years.

One head of the family, four wives, and a total of eight children born to those wives.

Adding the previous count and countess, it meant that well over ten family members were living under one roof.

"Ta-da! I'm here! Grandpa! Grandma!"

"Me too! Me too!"

And to that bustle, the Crown Princess and Second Princess were added today.

"Welcome. Your Highness the Crown Princess, and Your Highness the Second Princess, you've come as well."

The former Count and Countess of Friedrich welcomed their two granddaughters.

The Crown Princess quickly hugged her grandfather, and the Second Princess hugged her grandmother.

"We're here to play!"

"Welcome, Your Highnesses."

"Sister was going to leave me behind and go alone!"

"Surely not. The Crown Princess would never do such a thing."

"No! Grandma! Sister really was going to do that!"

"I wasn't! Carlia!!"

Oh dear. Why are our princesses so upset?

While the former Countess of Friedrich, Ceylon, soothed her granddaughters.

"This is a bit sudden, Karl. What's going on?"

"Ah, about that, Father."

Karl had to explain to his father why the Crown Princess and Second Princess had come to the family estate.

"Her Majesty wants to spend the whole day alone with His Majesty today."

"...Ah."

"The First Prince is quiet, so it's fine, but the two princesses are more of a hindrance than a help, so it seems she's entrusted them to me for a while."

"Hahaha. The Empress too. Having three children is certainly not a small number."

I think so too, but my sister seems to think differently.

When Karl muttered this, the former Count Friedrich burst into laughter again.

Back then, when the current Emperor was still the Crown Prince.

He heard that he had been so in love with his daughter, Rikata, that he spent years anxiously pining for her.

Then, after they got married, they lived happier than anyone else in the world.

'At first, I was worried that our Rikata would treat the Emperor coldly.'

But now, Rikata is the one making advances, and the Emperor is the one who's terrified.

It seems like the opposite of what it used to be, but it's not a bad thing.

In fact, it's quite desirable, both as a subject and as a father-in-law.

"Ah, Karl. You take care of the two of them today."

"Pardon? You and Mother aren't going to watch them?"

"You rascal. Do you want to make the princesses look for their uncle again?"

"I already have eight children, so..."

Oh dear. This boy, what's the big deal with two more when he already has eight?

With a subtle hint, Karl finally nodded and said, ‘Alright.’

* * *

"Uncle! I, I want to see my little brothers!"

"Ah, is that so?"

"Yes! I can see my sisters later!!"

Although she loved her sisters, Carlia wanted to see her little brothers more.

Perhaps because she already had a younger brother, the First Prince Oliver, she seemed to cherish her cousin brothers even more.

"Your aunts will probably be there too. You have to greet them nicely when you see them. They really like you, Your Highness."

"Okay! I like my aunts! I'll greet them well!!"

The servants who had been following Carlia, the Second Princess, guided her to another location.

"..."

The Crown Princess, Lily, stared blankly at the scene.

"Uncle."

She stretched out her arms towards Karl and shook them back and forth.

"Hug me."

"Hmm. Her Majesty said you're being too clingy, Your Highness."

"Hug me anyway. You haven't hugged me in over a month!"

That was true. He hadn't seen her in over a month, so it was his fault.

So Karl carefully lifted the Crown Princess into his arms and started walking.

"Uncle."

The Crown Princess, who had been quiet for a while, spoke quietly.

"Am I… am I too heavy?"

"Heavy? Your Highness is light as a feather."

"Really? I've grown a lot since before, haven't I?"

"Even if ten more years pass and you become an adult, Your Highness, you will always be my light niece. Always."

He loved all his children, but his favorite was Luen.

The firstborn holds a special place in a parent's heart.

The other children might feel sad if they knew, but it couldn't be helped.

In that sense, the Crown Princess, his first niece, was also very special to Karl.

And her mother, the Empress, was his beloved older sister, Rikata.

Although she wasn't his own child, he cherished the Crown Princess like his own.

"...How's Mary been doing?"

[TL/N: Marien’s nickname]

"Don't even ask. She's been causing trouble every day lately."

Marien, the second daughter, acted like the youngest despite her age.

Just yesterday, she broke six decorations while running around, making Eloise cover her face in frustration.

"And Anne?"

"Unlike her older sister, she's too quiet, which is a problem."

Just as Eloise was troubled by her daughter resembling her too much, Lavrenti was also struggling with her daughter taking after her.

"Then, what about Stella?"

"She has the best personality, just laughing at her sisters' pranks."

Stella, who was the youngest until her brothers were born.

But she had such a good personality that she didn't act like the youngest.

As he answered each question, Karl suddenly realized that one person was missing.

"Aren't you going to ask about Luen?"

"Luen doesn't like me. I don't like her as much as I used to either."

"Oh my, Your Highness. That's not how a big sister should talk. You should show even more love and understanding to your younger sister."

For a moment, Karl felt a chill in his heart. It couldn't be just his imagination.

What noble in the world could remain unfazed when the next empress openly said, ‘I find her a bit uncomfortable,’ while looking at their own child?

Even if it was just the childish complaint of a young child.

"You two should get along. That way, your uncle and the Empress won't be put in a difficult position."

"If Luen and I don't get along, will Mom and Uncle not get along either?"

"Yes."

"Why? Why won't they get along? Mom and Uncle are close!"

Karl smiled and stroked the Crown Princess's hair.

"That's how parents are. If their child dislikes someone, they start to dislike them too. It can't be helped. The child comes first. Even for the Empress and me... Hmm, come to think of it, maybe the Empress and I are different."

"Right?!"

"Anyway, Your Highness, you should get along with Luen."

Meanwhile, they arrived at the garden where the four Friedrich sisters were.

Karl briefly considered putting the Crown Princess down, but since she had no intention of getting down, he entered the garden with his niece still in his arms.

"Oh, it's Dad!!"

"Daddy!"

"We, welcome back!!"

Starting with the most energetic Marien, followed by Stella, who rushed after her.

Lastly, Anne, trying to look as dignified as possible, bowed deeply.

"Yes, yes. Now, children? Look who's here."

"Oh! It's Lily!"

"Marien! I told you not to call her by her name so casually!"

"But it's Lily, so it's fine!? Right, Dad!"

"Silly Marien. You should call her Crown Princess."

Anne, clicking her tongue like her mother, bowed deeply once again.

"Welcome, Your Highness the Crown Princess."

"Ah, yes. Anne. It's nice to see you."

"Welcome, Your Highness! Do you… do you remember me?!"

"Of course I do. Aunt Lefia has been so kind to me."

And finally,

Tap Tap—

The eldest daughter of the Friedrich County, who had been standing at the back, approached.

"Welcome, Your Highness the Crown Princess. I am Luen, the eldest daughter of Count Friedrich."

"...Yes. Luen. It feels like it's been almost a month since I've seen you."

"It hasn't even been a month yet."

So, why did you come back again when you could have stayed longer?

And why are you clinging to our dad like a toddler, even though you're the Crown Princess?!

There seemed to be a strange tension between the two sisters. It was definitely not an illusion.

* * *

"You need to be careful of Her Highness the Crown Princess."

A few days ago, Luen gathered her younger sisters and said this.

"What's wrong, Luen?"

"The Crown Princess is after our Dad."

"After him? Is that… is that a bad thing? Big Sister?!"

"I don't quite understand, Luen. Why would the Crown Princess be after Dad?"

Well, you see, there's something weird going on!

Luen tried her best to create a serious atmosphere, but Marien, Anne, and Stella...

Even if you combined their ages, they weren't even 20, so how could they grasp the gravity of the situation?

Even Luen herself wasn't even 10 years old yet.

"Luen, I like the Crown Princess. She's fun."

"Marien!"

"I agree, Luen. Besides, she's the Crown Princess. There's nothing we can do about it."

"Even Anne?!"

Luen looked at Stella with her last hope.

"Mmm... I like Big Sister, but I like the Crown Princess too...!"

I have no allies! I have to protect Dad by myself!!

Luen, the eldest daughter of the Friedrich County, lamented the harsh reality.