Chapter 234 - Side story 34

[Translator - Angel Dust]

[Proofreader - Prototype]

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.

"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.

[Translator - Angel Dust]

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