I Became the Teacher of the Imperial Family’s Bastard

013. Appointment Ceremony (1)

After that day’s class, the next week’s class was not held.

It was because the capital was bustling with preparations for the grand conference in the second half of the year.

Thus, ten days flew by in the blink of an eye, and today.

I was preparing to enter the palace.

“You look very good.”

My sister praised my appearance.

I don’t know if it looks good.

To my sister’s eyes, I would look great no matter what I wore, but I never liked clothes with such decorations.

“Here, this part is crooked.”

My sister reached out and straightened my collar.

It took quite a while.

The banquet attire was so complicatedly made.

As I stood still, what I saw was the top of my sister’s head.

I never had a chance to compare our heights, but my sister was shorter than I thought.

I always had the impression that it was elongated, and it felt strange.

It was during that time.

“Do you have any worries these days?”

Such a question was suddenly asked, and I was startled.

It was because Aria’s matter had been lingering in a corner of my mind.

It’s not that I think about it all day long.

Just, during daily life, the conversation we had that day would come to mind and make me feel suffocated.

– Brother, the hero is a cotton candy! He’s hiding his identity because he’s afraid the bad villains will hurt him! So, brother is not a villain! Someday, he will surely defeat the villains and go with Aria to find the legendary cotton candy!

It’s a child’s world.

But, Aria was born in the royal family and lived every moment under scrutiny.

She was precocious.

You could see it just by the way she treated the crown prince.

Didn’t she vaguely know her own situation?

Wouldn’t she have known the rumors of the royal family?

So, I couldn’t help but give meaning to the world Aria created.

Whether it had some metaphorical meaning.

Or if some part of the truth formed the pillar of that world.

That was my worry.

It must have shown.

I apologized to my sister and mumbled.

“…I’m sorry. I was very nervous.”

“It doesn’t seem like that.”

“Pardon?”

My sister spoke softly, with a barely noticeable lift at the corner of her mouth, something you wouldn’t catch unless you looked closely.

“The young master has always been like that since he was a child. Whenever he feels frustrated or something displeases him, his brows furrow. He would then stare into space or at the ground for no reason. It’s definitely not a sign of tension.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, the young master has always been like that. And also…”

My sister raised her head.

Her drooping eyes exuded warmth.

“Whenever he had such dissatisfaction, he always ended up doing what he wanted.”

Her boundless trust gave me a sense of stability.

Yet, in some ways, it also brought a sense of pressure.

‘But sister, this time, I cannot do as I wish.’

Pharos is not a family that intervenes in power structures.

Due to our unique position as the family of the Grand Chancellor, even a single misstep in our words could be seen as criticizing the royal family.

That’s why we must not get involved in matters related to the succession structure or their marriage arrangements.

Moreover, I am just about to be appointed as the prince’s tutor, so I must be even more cautious in my actions.

My rash judgment would soon become the infamy of Pharos.

I had to bring glory to Pharos.

For that, this time, just for today, I had to endure.

“When my thoughts are sorted out… I will tell you then.”

His sister spoke to him.

“Yes, you may do so. I trust you, young master. Just promise me one thing.”

“…What is it?”

“I hope you make a choice that you can be proud of, as a Pharos and as a mentor.”

With a faint smile that was barely noticeable.

* * *

I entered the palace for the ceremony.

The one who greeted me was the first princess, Erilda, a close aide of the crown prince.

No matter how much I think about it, I can’t imagine ever getting along with this person.

Regardless of the opportunities to meet,

“Please be especially careful with your words and actions today. There will be many eyes on you.”

Her nagging is really annoying.

‘This is the same now as it was in the future.’

In fact, it’s a familiar nagging.

Because I had a connection with her before the regression.

During the time of the Imperial War, this woman, despite being a legitimate heir to the throne, did not ascend to the throne.

She refused to be of royal blood and joined the military, and thus was with us until the later stages of the war.

What was the reason again… right.

– Since the army is falling apart, someone has to take control. But all the people who could take control have either fled or died. Because of that damn second prince.

– “But I am still the Emperor.”

– “That b*stard is still the Second Prince even in death. He should have acted like an Emperor to be called one.”

The command post of the battlefield suited him better than the throne.

That was true.

At that time, the country was so tilted that it wouldn’t have made a difference even if Erilda had sat on the throne.

Moreover, this woman was too competent as a commander.

If it weren’t for her, the empire’s lifespan would have ended about two years earlier.

Thinking such thoughts, her final moments come to mind.

“The defense of the Yuiten Fortress. It was then.”

The situation where the detachments scattered the formation from all sides, and the Crown Prince and I had to step forward with the main force.

This woman used her life as bait to gather the enemies in one place and performed a suicide attack with large-scale explosive magic.

It was half a year before the fall of the empire.

Anyway, it’s a thing of the past now.

What stands out now is this guy’s nagging.

I emptied my mind and listened.

“As Your Highness’s teacher, you are stepping into central politics. You may have some thoughts, but you need to be more careful. In the eyes of others, you are already part of His Highness’s faction. Your mistakes affect His Highness’s position.”

Whenever there’s a chance, it’s “be careful of this, be careful of that.”

I lost my mother early, so I don’t know, but… I think even my mother wouldn’t have been this bad.

“Especially, think carefully about your conduct among the royal family. I know Pharos is not a family that participates in factional competition. So you need to give the impression that you are focusing on educating His Highness, the Crown Prince. If you show favor to another royal, it creates the justification of ‘Pharos’s choice,’ you know that, right?”

“It wouldn’t matter if I were a scoundrel.”

“Right, it’s not your character but your justification that’s needed.”

But damn it. Really.

My rogue-like appearance is a flaw to the crown prince, but showing favor to other royals is called ‘Pharos’s choice.’

This political scene is so insidious that it gives me chills.

Whatever it is, I have only one thing to say.

“…Well, I’ll do my best.”

“Please do well. Not just your best.”

“Yes, sir.”

Erilda sighed.

Yeah, it can be like this.

How notorious was I at this time for being a rogue?

From the perspective of my close aides, I must be like a ticking time bomb.

But from now on, I have no intention of causing trouble.

Will they believe my sincerity?

Judging by their expressions, it seems unlikely.

After such a process.

Erilda also left.

Since it is a grand banquet, the entire royal family must attend, so she went to make her own preparations.

The waiting time was tedious.

My sister, who doesn’t particularly attend ceremonies, must already be at the banquet hall, greeting familiar nobles.

Should I have brought Emma along?

At least these days, she doesn’t tremble at the sight of me.

Whatever it is, time passed even while I was dazed.

It was time to move.

“Soga Lord.”

“Ah, can I go now?”

“Yes! Just a moment…”

The imperial servants swarmed in and tidied up my appearance.

They adorned me with ceremonial ornaments and gave me instructions.

Only after all that was done could I move.

Ceremonies are such a nuisance.

In front of the banquet hall door, I could hear the sounds of the ceremony proceeding inside.

Soon, it was my turn.

My name echoed.

“Entering, Soga Lord of Pharos, Yuren Pharos!”

Boom!

With the sound, music pierced my ears.

The view of the banquet hall unfolded before my eyes.

At the far end, I saw the Emperor.

Next to him, the Crown Prince was watching me, and Erilda sent me a nervous glance.

The second prince, that idiot, frowned, and the second princess and third prince looked indifferent.

But there was something more noticeable than all of them.

‘Aria.’

In the farthest corner.

The one who sat awkwardly in a large chair, head bowed to the floor, fidgeting.

The one who, upon seeing me, tried to smile brightly but then lowered his head again, glancing around nervously.

I saw him.

“Soga Lord…”

I stepped forward at the urging.

Eyes from all directions pierced me.

There must be no mistakes.

Yet, truly… it was impossible to control my thoughts, and all my attention was drawn to that little boy.

Even if it was an over-interpretation, I had nothing to say.

Those thoughts just wouldn’t go away.

– Aria is the princess of the Cotton Candy Kingdom! Aria has infiltrated the royal palace on a special mission… This is top secret, only Pharos and Alin know!

The clueless little boy needed a reason to feel important.

– So the noble and delicious Aria must hide her identity! Otherwise, the villains will take over the Cotton Candy Kingdom!

He needed a reason to be hated.

At just six years old, the little boy needed so many reasons.

And one more.

– Brother Bunny is the hero of Cotton Candy! He hides his identity because the bad guys might hurt him! So Brother Bunny is not a villain! One day, he will surely defeat the villains and find the legendary cotton candy with Aria!

Just because he didn’t harm him.

Just because he didn’t harbor malice like others.

Even that indifference was appreciated, and he harbored goodwill.

‘That…’

I don’t know if it’s right.

Yeah, if it were someone else, I wouldn’t have cared.

Why should I care if a kid is unhappy?

I’m not a saint.

I’m a selfish and reckless guy.

But still, I can’t help but care.

Because I know.

Because I’ve talked to him.

I know how that kid will break, and even if not, I know he has no future but a broken one.

Above all, I know better than anyone the feeling of clinging to something that can’t be achieved.

It was at that moment.

I finally understood why I cared so much about Aria.

‘Ah.’

What I felt for Aria was a sense of kinship.

The reconstruction of Pharos that I longed for was similar to the attention that kid desired.

In the sense of longing for something unattainable and collapsing because of it.

Knowing that, I can’t just leave him alone.

I stood up.

Erilda mouthed the words.

“`

“Please! Well!”

Well, they say.

But what does it mean to do well?

– Especially consider your conduct among the royals. I know that Pharos is not a family participating in factional competition. So you need to give the nuance that you are working hard to educate His Highness the Crown Prince. You know that if you show favor to other royals, it could create the pretext of ‘Pharos’s choice,’ right?

Ignoring it?

Evading the immediate situation with my conduct?

I saw the Crown Prince.

At that moment, the Crown Prince was looking at the Third Princess.

I don’t know exactly, but one thing is certain.

“This is not it.”

My personal feelings? Of course, they exist.

I do not deny that my sympathy and sense of kinship ignited these feelings.

Nevertheless, I dare to add one more thing.

To justify myself.

“You will regret it.”

I know that the Crown Prince will regret ignoring Aria someday. I know that staying still is not a choice for me, the Crown Prince, or Aria.

Isn’t that enough?

* * *

“`

Aria was startled as she watched Yuren’s appointment ceremony.

She had never known that he was such an important person to receive the Emperor’s appointment.

Also,

‘He’s on my side!’

Yuren is on her side.

Since he helps Kallios, it must be true.

Aria felt a sense of reassurance.

Her bottom wiggled with excitement.

But, Aria held it in.

‘The villains must not find out!’

There were too many villains in the palace aiming for the legendary cotton candy.

So, she must not act like she knows him here.

That’s why Kallios also pretends not to know her.

Aria did not want to ruin all those efforts herself.

So, she just sat quietly until the ceremony ended.

“With this, Yuren of Pharos is officially declared the Prince’s mentor…”

The ceremony ended quickly.

And what followed was a banquet.

The Emperor disappeared from his seat.

All the other siblings started conversing with the nobles.

Kallios was buried among the people.

Yuren also had many people hovering nearby.

Only Aria sat alone in her seat.

Aria clutched her skirt for no reason, then carefully stood up and headed to the corner of the banquet hall.

She tried to smile.

‘It’s okay!’

Someday, Kallios would overcome all the busy and difficult tasks and come to help her.

Yuren was just busy helping with that.

Aria carefully went to the place where the desserts were, took a piece of cotton candy, and went back to the corner.

“Hehe…”

Eating the sweet cotton candy made her feel better.

So she could endure it.

Thinking so, Aria lowered her head.

It was then.

“……”

A gaze pierced her.

Aria knew this gaze.

It was a cold and sharp gaze that instilled fear.

It didn’t end there.

Click, click.

The sound of footsteps approaching her was felt.

Aria froze.

She could tell just by the sound of the steps.

When she lifted her head, it became even clearer.

One of the people who sent letters every time.

The villain who made the surrounding gazes more intense each time.

The pot-bellied villain was walking towards her, staring directly at her.

Aria’s body trembled.

She shrank back, her head burying deeper towards the ground.

It was a wall with no more places to escape.

‘It’s okay…’

…it wasn’t.

In Aria’s world, that villain was too terrifying.

Not in the future, but right now, she wished someone would help her.

But Aria also knew that nothing would change.

Aria, who had to know too much, vaguely knew such things.

It was the moment when her eyes squeezed shut.

Tok—

Someone took the cotton candy from her hand.

Was it the villain?

No, it was something different.

Above all, the surroundings had become so quiet that even the sound of breathing could be heard clearly.

When a villain appears and approaches, the surroundings become noisy.

‘Huh…?’

What could it be?

The fear grew to an indescribable extent.

For that reason, thinking that she had to check.

Aria slowly lifted her head and opened her eyes.

Then she saw something.

At that moment, for some reason, Aria felt like crying.

“Pharos…?”

“Why are you eating something delicious all by yourself?”

Yuren was eating her cotton candy.

With a nonchalant expression.

Behind him, the villain had suddenly stopped.

End

ⓒ papapa.

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