I’m an Ordinary Returning Student at the Academy

[Translator - Angel Dust]

[Proofreader - Prototype]

Side Stories 33

The Head Maid of the Imperial Palace looked at the girl standing before her with an incredibly moved expression.

"How do I look?"

"You look very beautiful, Your Highness."

"Right? Don't I look all grown up?!"

The Crown Princess, who had finally reached double digits in age this year.

Although to the Head Maid, a one-year-old and a ten-year-old were the same, the Crown Princess seemed to believe that she had now crossed a significant threshold into maturity.

"I'm not a child anymore, am I? Don't I look like a Crown Princess?!"

"Your Highness, ten years old, is still considered a child."

"Why?! Isn't ten years old grown up?!"

Not at all. You still have a few more years to grow up, Your Highness.

The Head Maid wanted to say this, but she endured it with superhuman patience.

"We, well, seeing you like this, it seems like you'll be all grown up if you just grow a little more."

Alright! The Crown Princess, Lily, clenched her fist and took a step.

Today was the day she was visiting her maternal family after a long time.

She hadn't seen her uncle for a month due to various events.

She wanted to go right away, but she held back and finally got to go today!

"Sister, where are you going?"

As she passed through the garden, she came upon the Second Princess, Carlia, who was already there, gently caressing the petals of a flower.

The Crown Princess placed her hands on her hips and opened her mouth as if it were obvious.

"Visiting my grandparents!"

"Liar. I know you're going to see Uncle."

"No, I'm not?!"

"Yes, you are!"

The Crown Princess and the Second Princess. But in reality, they were just sisters, still children.

Seriously discussing imperial matters was still a distant story for them.

"If you're going, I want to go too!"

"No. You stay here, Carlia."

"Why!"

"You have to stay here and look after our little brother!"

The youngest, Oliver, the First Prince of the Empire, was two years younger than Carlia.

[TL/N: Crazy ass timeskip tf.]

Needless to say, he wasn't at the toddling stage anymore, he was a child who ran around.

He didn't need his older sister to look after him and played well by himself.

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Emphasizing this fact, the Second Princess pouted her lips as if it was unfair.

"Why do I always have to watch Oliver?!"

"Carlia, you said you wanted a little brother!"

"Not me! That was you!!"

It's not fair! You were the one who said it would be nice to have a little brother!

I know it all! Mom and Dad said it! They said you wanted a sibling!

So I got one too, but then Oliver came along, and I'm left behind!

"I want to go too! I want to see Uncle too!"

"No!"

"Why not?!"

"Because if Carlia goes, Uncle will like Carlia more!"

"That's because you're ugly!!"

"I'm not!!!"

Oh dear. Are you two really going to fight again?

The maids, each serving the Crown Princess and the Second Princess, were on edge.

If a strong ally hadn't appeared, they would have been sweating bullets.

"Lily! Carlia! What are you doing right now?"

"Ah! Mother!"

"Mommy!"

Pit-a-pat!

The two girls ran and hugged Empress Rikata.

After gazing lovingly at her daughters for a moment, the Empress spoke in a stern voice.

"You two can't be little children forever. Have you forgotten how to address your mother?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. Mother!"

"Mo-Mother!"

Even if you combined their ages, they weren't even twenty years old yet.

What mother in the world would want to be strict with such young daughters?

But it couldn't be helped. They weren't just ordinary daughters or girls.

After composing herself, Rikata continued speaking.

"What's going on here?"

"Sister is going to see Uncle all by herself!"

"Father, no, His Majesty allowed it! I didn't do it on my own!"

Of course. Even though the Crown Princess is known for her headstrong nature, she wouldn't dare use the Emperor's name in vain.

Of course, to be more precise, it would be more accurate to say that he couldn't say no to the Crown Princess's stubbornness.

The Crown Princess must have tearfully begged to see her uncle.

It had been almost a month since she had seen Karl due to the imperial schedule.

Usually, she would visit her maternal family almost every two weeks.

She would go and spend time with her grandparents, uncle, aunts, and many cousins.

For a young child, there's nothing more comfortable and enjoyable.

Since she had been made to endure a month without it, neither the Emperor nor the Empress herself could stop her.

"Why don't you both go together, Crown Princess? It would be nice if the Second Princess went with you."

"But if I go with Carlia, Uncle will hug Carlia more!"

"That's because she's your younger sister. Shouldn't you be the one to give in?"

"No! I won't give in!"

Oh dear. Has she loved her uncle so much since she was a baby that now she sees everyone else as a rival?

Rikata smiled wryly, thinking of her brother.

"Alright, then let's do this."

Negotiating with children is always difficult.

It's better to offer them something they can't refuse.

* * *

"So, the conclusion is that you're calling me back to the palace again?"

"Yes. But, Karl, it's just you, me, and the princesses here."

Karl sighed and looked at his eldest niece, who was snuggled up in his arms.

Next to her, Carlia was diligently counting numbers, waiting for her turn.

'I used to be able to hold both of them at the same time. Now I can't even do that.'

Time doesn't stop, so it's natural.

Karl himself was well past his 20s and now entering his 30s.

"Your Highness."

"Uncle, Uncle. Did you miss me?"

"Of course, I did."

"Then why didn't you come for a month?"

"I'm sorry. Your uncle was very busy."

The imperial palace was already noisy enough with two princesses and one prince.

Not to mention the Friedrich County, which had a whopping eight children.

Moreover, Karl wasn't just any count. He was involved in too many things.

Just last month, he spent the entire time in the Holy See, attending prayer meetings in person.

Besides that, there was the Elf Autonomous Region's inaugural event, and even the Lasker Knights' duel.

"Hmph. I don't care. I hate Uncle."

"You hate uncle? Uncle! Sister hates you! Don't hug her, hug me!"

"No, I don't! Go away, Carlia! I don't hate Uncle!"

"You said you hated him just now! I heard it! You're a liar!"

Oh dear. Are you two really going to fight again? This uncle is caught in the middle and dying here.

Karl sent a rescue signal, and Rikata cleared her throat.

Thankfully, both princesses glanced at the Empress' warning.

"I always tell you, Crown Princess and Second Princess. If you bother your uncle, I’ll tell him not to come anymore."

"So-sorry! We're sorry! Mother!"

"Please don't! I'll get along with my sister!"

It's definitely effective. They immediately held hands and apologized to each other.

Karl, with a sigh, followed his sister's smile and laughed along.

"Shouldn't you have brought Oliver out too?"

"It's his nap time. Unlike the princesses, he's a very quiet prince."

"I guess the princesses took all the energetic traits."

As they were talking about the siblings, a group of people approached from behind.

"I heard my brother-in-law suddenly came to the palace. How have you been?"

"Your Majesty. I saw you just two weeks ago... Ah, and I've been well."

He hadn't seen the princesses, but he had been meeting the Emperor for work.

The problem was that the Emperor had hidden this fact from the princesses, fearing their complaints.

Revealing it now would be awkward for everyone, so he decided to stay quiet.

"I heard that things in the south went very well. I heard the elves' response was very positive."

"What did I do? It's all thanks to the efforts of Your Majesty and the imperial officials."

"At times like this, I wish you were in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It would be very reassuring."

"I am deeply grateful for your words, but I must decline. If I leave my post, my eight children will each be looking for their father."

"Hmm! That would be a bit much!"

Three children were already a handful, but eight? The Emperor shuddered at the thought.

The Empress was already subtly hinting that she wanted a fourth child.

If he didn't escape quickly, he'd be sharing a bed with her tonight for sure.

"Anyway, you must be exhausted. Four daughters who adore their father, and four sons on top of that."

"Thankfully, my sons are all mama's boys, so it's manageable. It would have been truly difficult if they were all like my daughters."

It was well-known that Karl's daughters adored their father.

Especially Luen, the eldest daughter of the Friedrich County, who was known to be at odds with the Crown Princess.

"It's great that Karl is here, Your Majesty."

As Karl and the Emperor's conversation seemed to come to an end, Rikata approached.

"Since tomorrow is the weekend, why don't you send the Crown Princess and the Second Princess to their grandparents' house with Karl today?"

"Your Majesty? What do you mean all of a sudden?"

"Fortunately, the First Prince is quiet and doesn't look for his parents much, so it should be fine."

The two men blinked their eyes and then exclaimed ‘Ah!’ at the woman's words.

One to quickly and tactfully escape, the other to somehow survive.

"As Her Majesty wishes, I will take the two princesses with me today."

"Bro-brother-in-law!"

"Hehehe. What a loyal subject. Don't you agree, Your Majesty?"

"My Empress!!"

[Translator - Angel Dust]

[Proofreader - Prototype]