Chapter 95

"Lilith…"

Cheshire raised his trembling arm to embrace Lilith.

Holding Lilith, who was sobbing bitterly, made him feel strange.

"Don't, don't go…. Hic. I don't want to break up. I feel like it will be weird without you…."

"……"

Me too.

I feel like every day without you will be awkward.

Cheshire wanted to say that, but he held back, afraid that he might cry if he opened his mouth.

"I'll come to see you often."

Among the days he had lived, the days he spent with Lilith were only a small part.

But the days that were the only ones that shone in his colorless life—

"I came to pick you up."

Yes.

Since the day you took my hand, that's when it started.

"Trust me just this once…."

"Anyway, it will be better than this hell."

Cheshire was certain.

"It's not like we're breaking up…."

The boy who didn't want to get hurt had resolved never to trust anyone again, but he failed once more.

"Always, with you…."

But this time, there was no regret.

There probably won't be any regrets in the future.

"I'll live with you…."

Lilith might not have heard the whisper, so small it was.

Perhaps it was drowned out by her loud sobs.

"Ugh."

In the end, the tears he had held back began to fall, so Cheshire wiped his eyes roughly with his sleeve.

"Ah."

Enoch, who had been watching them, approached with a sigh and a smile.

"Princess, stop crying."

"Abaaa… I just, just a little, to Uncle's house…."

"Oh, our princess. You'll suffocate if you keep this up."

The flustered Enoch straightened Lilith and looked at her.

"Then, Princess, let's go to Uncle's house and sleep for just one night."

"One night?"

"Yes. We'll go and see if the house where Cheshire will live is nice and if there's lots of good food."

"Hic. Hic."

"Then, if our princess feels reassured, you should stop crying and go home bravely. Got it?"

"……"

Lilith, who didn't seem to like the idea of just one night, sniffled and thought for a moment before nodding.

"Got it…."

"Really, I'm going crazy."

Enoch, trying to hold back his laughter, picked up Lilith and stood up.

* * *

I got into the carriage with my father.

When we arrived at Axion's house, my eyes were puffy from crying so much.

"Sniff. But we're almost at Uncle's house…."

"I told you it was close."

I said sheepishly, and Axion laughed.

Just a 5-minute carriage ride.

It was a bit embarrassing to have cried so much over such a short distance.

"Wow! Uncle's house is big and nice!"

First, the size passed. The environment was comfortable.

While not as grand as our house, the Livre mansion had a stately feel.

However, when I entered, I was surprised.

"Welcome!"

"Oh my, I didn't expect the Duke to come as well?"

A young butler.

A warm-looking aunt.

Axion's servants were just these two….

'Ah, now I understand why Riko said she couldn't plant a spy here.'

I nodded, recalling Riko's words.

"There's one place where I couldn't send any guild members. Livre. They don't hire any servants there…."

Moreover, the house was very empty.

It didn't even smell like a place where people lived.

"Please come often, Duke. Okay?"

"Massa, it's been a while. I'll probably be visiting more often because of Cheshire."

Massa, the aunt, seemed to be close to my father.

I had heard that she had taken care of Axion since he was a child.

"My goodness! How can both of you be so doll-like?"

"Auntie! Please take good care of Cheshire!"

I bowed politely to Massa and asked her.

"Please make lots and lots of good food. Cheshire likes his meat stew cooked red with tomatoes."

"Oh?"

Cheshire's cheeks turned red. He seemed embarrassed by my overbearing parental behavior.

But Massa nodded happily, finding me cute.

"Don't worry. I can cook anything. Our young master won't even touch food that isn't mine, you know?"

That's great!

Massa seemed to be a top-notch housewife.

"Ha ha ha, now the house will finally have a lived-in feel."

At that moment, the young butler, who had been watching us with a smile, spoke.

"I'm Karon. Please call me by my name. I'll call you young master from now on, okay?"

"…Hello."

Karun, who had been looking at Cheshire with a smile, suddenly frowned and added.

"Young master, listen to me. Do you know how much our master nagged me for a whole week? Set up the room, buy things boys like… Ugh!"

"Stop talking nonsense."

Axion quickly covered Karon's mouth with his hand.

But I, being quick-witted, had heard everything Karon said.

'What, what. Uncle was totally waiting for Cheshire, wasn't he?'

I grinned mischievously.

Looking at my father, he was giving Axion the same look with his narrow eyes.

"Since you said to do as I please, what would you have done if Cheshire didn't come? You would have cried, right?"

"What are you talking about? The room is on the second floor."

Axion ignored his teasing father and headed upstairs first.

"Come on, let's go quickly!"

Father, carrying Cheshire's luggage in both hands, led the way.

I followed Axion's sturdy back, finally feeling reassured.

'Yeah, if Cheshire needs another father besides my dad, there's no one better than Uncle!'

He may seem tough on the outside, but he's secretly very affectionate!

A third son of a marquis family, he received a knighthood and has achieved numerous feats as a successful holy knight!

He received the title of Duke seven years ago and built a new castle, becoming the first head of the Livre family!

And most importantly,

the undeniably main character's side!

Feeling much more at ease, I followed Axion into the room.

'Wow.'

But as soon as I entered, I was shocked.

The room was even emptier than the outside.

What's the point of just being big? There was only a single bed and a desk.

"Wow, what's with this bachelor smell?"

Father, who followed, also gasped in shock.

Then, Axion, who had just taken off his training clothes, quickly put them back on and frowned.

"What! Why did you follow me here? This is my room. Cheshire's room is next door."

"Oh. You should have said that earlier. I thought it smelled like a bachelor's room."

"Isn't it a bachelor's room?!"

Father ignored the sputtering Axion and led us to the next room.

"Wow, wow, wow!"

My goodness!

As soon as I saw Cheshire's room, I grabbed my cheeks and exclaimed.

'It's a complete prince's room!'

It was completely different from Axion's room.

A huge bed that could fit five adult men.

A spacious desk and a bookshelf with neatly arranged books.

The large window had new blue curtains.

"It's even better than my room!"

There was a large single sofa and a table on a sky-blue rug that matched the color.

"Wow, Cheshire, if you said you weren't coming, our deputy leader would have really cried."

Father whistled.

I was so excited that I jumped around the room, holding Cheshire's hand.

Then I noticed something on the bedside table.

"Huh?!"

It was… 'Hero Louis's Magic Sword'!

The number one toy preferred by boys!

"Yah! Cheshire, look! Uncle must have bought this for you!"

I had already given it to him, but.

Cheshire blushed, looking at the 'Hero Louis's Magic Sword'.

He seemed to have felt Axion's affection.

"Hee hee, it's really great, isn't it? Uncle is the best."

"…Yeah."

Turning around, I saw Axion, who had already changed clothes, leaning against the door.

I ran to Axion and hugged his leg.

"Uncle! Uncle is the best! The coolest in the world!"

"What? What about your dad?"

"Dad is second! Uncle is the best!"

"…Princess? What a hurtful thing to say."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Yah!"

Really, the best!

* * *

We had the best day.

Massa's cooking was excellent, and Karon's jokes were better than any comedian's.

They said they usually have meals together every day, and it felt like a family.

Now Cheshire will be part of it too, right?

'Hehe.'

I ate two bowls of stew and rubbed my belly, which was sticking out like a frog's, and picked up my pen.

'Today's diary!'

I was the first to sit at Cheshire's desk.

I had brought the diary to write during my stay, but….

'Now I have nothing to worry about!'

I felt relieved even if I only stayed for one night.

"Yawn. Princess, what are you doing?"

Father yawned and called me.

"I'm writing my diary!"

"Diary?"

"Yeah, I'm done!"

I closed the diary and turned around.

Father and Cheshire were lying side by side on the bed in their pajamas.

The bed was huge.

"Done? Come quickly. It's time to sleep."

"Just a moment!"

I ran out and knocked on Axion's door.

"Uncle, are you already asleep?"

"No."

"Can I come in?"

"Sure."

When I opened the door, Axion was leaning against the headboard, reading a book.

I ran to him.

"Uncle!"

"What is it?"

"Let's go to Cheshire's room and sleep together!"

"What? No way."

Axion shook his head.

"Hic. Can't I?"

I clasped my hands together and pouted, using my ultimate move.

"Ha."

Success!

After a long time, Axion, who had been staring at me with slow blinks, sighed and got up with a pillow.

"Yah!"

"Ha. I really…."

I held Axion's hand tightly and went back to Cheshire's room.

Father, who was chatting with Cheshire, immediately frowned when he saw Axion with a pillow.

"What? It's too crowded here! Where are you going with that size?"

"Ah, no!"

"Your daughter asked me to come."

I ran and lay between Father and Cheshire. Axion took a spot next to Cheshire.

"Yah!"

"What am I doing…."

Axion mumbled and immediately closed his eyes.

I looked at Cheshire.

"Today was really great, right? Massa's stew was delicious too."

"Yeah."

"Cheshire, are you happy?"

When I asked, Cheshire looked at me for a moment and smiled slightly.

"Yeah, I'm happy."

"Hee hee. I'm happy because you're happy."

I heard Father's laughter from behind.

I could see Axion smiling with his eyes closed.

Hmm, a bit embarrassing.

So the next words, I whispered quietly into Cheshire's ear so only he could hear.

"Hey, let's be happy forever. I'll keep living with you."

"Always, I'll live with you…."

The words Cheshire had said to comfort me when I was crying.

I repeated them to him.

Cheshire looked at me for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

"…Yeah."

"Hee hee. Then, Cheshire, good night! Uncle, sleep well! Dad, have sweet dreams!"

"Okay."

"Our princess, sleep well."

I closed my eyes, feeling happy.

It was really the best day.

* * *

[July 28th, Lilith's Diary

Weather: The sun is too strong.

Cheshire Livre.

Cheshire finally has a last name.

He has a house and a prince-like room.

I feel relieved that Uncle Axion will be a very good father to Cheshire.

Massa and Karon are also good people, which is fortunate.

Since the house is close by, I can visit Cheshire often.

Cheshire will be happy.

And Uncle will be happy too, right?

Because now Uncle has a son to dig his grave!

Today's diary, the end!]