Chapter 19

When I realized it, I had 4,000 bookmarks and had surpassed 10,000 points.

I'm really happy that so many people have read it.

Thank you all, and I hope you'll continue to support me!

"......Do I have to tell you?"

"I understand. This is the last time I'll ask for an explanation today. So please, explain it to me."

Silverwood conceded.

He thought it would be better for his mental health to hear it now rather than put it off.

"Hmm. Where should I start?"

"Princess. Please tell us everything."

"Yes, from the beginning."

Martha and Chris's request, which was almost an order to start from the beginning.

"I was still afraid of taking root in Logas and living until I died in Roundheart. I knew it was for Ishtalica, but I hesitated to dedicate my life to that family and share life and death with them."

As Olivia explained, Ein felt a sense of doubt again at the word "take root."

"Mother? What do you mean by 'take root'? And the absorption...?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Ein. 'Take root' means that a dryad becomes magically connected to the man they have a relationship with. And absorption is a dryad's racial skill; I'm a regressed dryad."

Ein was confused by the torrent of information.

Mother is a dryad? What is she talking about?

"Mother is a dryad!?"

"Yes, I am. I'm sorry for not telling you before. I really am a dryad. I can even make trees and grass grow if I want to!"

Can grow a lot, huh! Ein thought, but he was too flustered to care.

"Eh, eh..."

"I'll continue. When I found out about Ein's Toxin Decomposition EX, I also discovered the Sea Crystal while I had some free time. It wasn't a big surprise since it was in a place I had expected, but at that point, I thought the Ishtalica problem was solved! So I started to act. If Ishtalica was fine, I could start thinking about how to make Ein happy. And then I began the plan to return with Ein."

Boom!

It was as if an effect sound could be heard with Olivia's words.

"Even if you say 'return with Ein'... Lady Martha?"

"What is this woman talking about?" Chris asked, and Martha replied with a sharp tone.

"It's not that bad... I knew Ein wouldn't be happy in that family. He would just be treated as an accessory to his younger brother. Even if they understood the usefulness of Toxin Decomposition EX."

"Hmm... I can't deny that. But..."

"The Princess's idea is truly remarkable! We need to seriously reconsider the expedition team!"

"Since the Sea Crystal was no longer a concern, I planned to return to Ishtalica at the right time. This incident was unexpected, but I thought it was a good opportunity to act."

Unlike Silverwood, Lloyd praised Olivia. Martha seemed to have something on her mind and changed her expression.

"Excuse me, Princess. I heard you didn't want to take root."

"Ah... that?"

Indeed, Olivia had said she didn't want to take root.

That meant she didn't want to sleep with Logas.

If that was the case, it was a strange story, considering Ein was born.

"Princess, did you use the dryad's habits and characteristics? The preparations were too good, including the Dullahan's magic stone."

"......Hmm?"

Chris seemed to have noticed something, but Olivia smiled awkwardly and tilted her head.

"Chris, what are the dryad's habits?"

"......Princess, would you prefer I explain or you do it yourself?"

"......Yes. Please explain, Chris... I'm a bit embarrassed."

"Ah, indeed. This will be a strong story for Master Ein. Is it okay, Master Ein?"

"Eh, eh, I understand."

"Dryads are a rare race. This is due to their characteristic of 'taking root' and a certain habit. 'Taking root' means sharing life with the partner. If one dies, the other dies too. Therefore, dryads are a very rare race that only have one partner in their lifetime. For dryads, 'taking root' and having a relationship with a partner is a very cautious act among many races."

"I'm starting to understand, Lloyd... My head hurts."

"There's nothing to be done, Your Majesty. Here, have some tea."

Silverwood held his head as he listened to Chris's explanation, and Lloyd comforted him a little.

"But, if they don't have a relationship... wouldn't that mean no children? What about me?"

"That's the crux of the matter, Master Ein. Dryads can create their 'ideal' partner by dividing their core and magic stone. This is a common and safe method for dryads with the 'taking root' characteristic. It can only be used once in a lifetime. Also, dryads are very picky about appearance and personality."

"!? No, that means... um, um...?"

"However, the genetic information of the opposite sex is still necessary, so it's not asexual reproduction. So... Princess?"

Ein couldn't quite process the information.

He wondered if he was really Olivia's child and couldn't understand the meaning.

"Ugh... Because if I take root, I'll die with that person! It was scary to take root with someone I just met and didn't know well. I was lonely when I went to Heim alone. So I thought it would be nice to be with my cute, cute Ein, and I thought it was okay to be a bit lenient."

Olivia was being straightforward.

"Hmm, hmm. Lord Lloyd... The Princess must have had a hard time."

"Indeed. She went to a foreign land alone."

Beside them, Silverwood was still holding his head.

"What about the genetic information and the first night?"

"I used a cloth that had Logas's blood on it when he was injured. I used dryad hypnosis to get through the first night and the nights after. So it's not like I was refusing the nights. I thought I would eventually... when I was ready and had sorted out my feelings."

She said it as if it were a matter of course, but dryads have a slight hypnotic ability.

It wasn't strong, but it was easy to confuse the unarmed Logas.

For Olivia, with the 'taking root' characteristic, the night issue was a matter of life and death. She intended to muddle through until she was ready and had sorted out her feelings.

"I'm sorry. I haven't quite processed the information... So, what does that mean?"

Ein hadn't quite processed the information, but he understood Olivia's feelings to some extent.

For dryads, 'taking root' was a matter of life and death. Considering she had to 'take root' with her father Logas and live in Roundheart... she must have been too afraid and couldn't make up her mind at first.

"Originally, this action is to create an ideal partner for dryads. In that sense, Master Ein is not a child... but in the current situation, Master Ein is a child to the Princess."

Chris's shocking revelation.

Ein had been feeling chills, thinking he wasn't Olivia's child, but his mood rose when he heard he was born as Olivia's ideal person.

"Olivia, I've heard that dryads can adjust age and other factors when creating their ideal partner. Was it impossible to wait and give birth as a dryad after returning here?"

"......? There was no need to wait. Besides, if I couldn't have a child, it would have been a problem."

"Y-You don't mean, Princess..."

"I have a bad feeling about this."

Martha and Chris, the familiar duo, reacted.

They were a bit scared of the next words.

"Isn't it better that Ein is so small? Can't you understand the happiness of watching Ein grow up gradually?"

The so-called reverse光源氏 plan.

Yes, Olivia had a preference for young boys.

When she decided to give the Dullahan's magic stone to this child, who had Toxin Decomposition EX.

"Alright. I feel like I'm on the winning path in many ways."

Ein, understanding this, quietly felt confident of victory.

*

The morning Aine and the others arrived in Ishtalica by water train, a commotion was happening at the August Grand Duke's residence.

"...Grandfather? I want to talk about studying abroad in Ishtalica."

"N-no... It's not that simple."

Crona was confronting the August Grand Duke, demanding to be sent to Ishtalica to be with Aine and Olivia.

"What's the problem? Money? Or academic ability and manners? I don't want to say this in front of Father, but I think I'm better than him, like a noble compared to a commoner. What do you think?"

Crona casually insulted her father, Harley.

"Indeed, Crona, that's true."

"Father...?"

"What do you think, Harley?"

"......Nothing."

Harley, a hardworking man, had no choice but to agree.

In front of his most important person, Crona, it was meaningless.

Crona was indeed excellent, with better manners and academic ability than Harley, though her way of saying it was problematic.

"So, Grandfather? What do you think?"

"Are you really that eager to go to Aine's side?"

"Father, I think it's better to call Aine 'sama.'"

"Indeed, I feel the same."

Aine is the only son of Ishtalica's second princess.

Even for a grand duke, calling a prince of a great nation 'dono' seemed inappropriate.

"Yes, I want to go. This Star Crystal isn't meaningless, is it?"

"You're right, but... hmm."

"Father, it might not be possible right away, but let him go."

"Harley! Don't say it so easily!"

"But, Father, when Crona gets stubborn, she's strong. Didn't you go three months without talking to her?"

"Mu, muu...!"

When Crona was four, the August Grand Duke made a mistake.

He accidentally stepped on a doll she liked.

While it was just that, Crona felt a great anger.

For three months, she ignored the August Grand Duke, and he had to work hard to get her back to normal.

"Considering the future situation, it might be better."

"Yes, Father. Ishtalica is gentle and peace-loving, but this time it's gone too far. At the very least, we can't avoid severing diplomatic relations with Heim."

"The worst... no, the end would be if Ishtalica attacks, but what do you think, Harley?"

"Euro or Rockdam getting Ishtalica's support."

Harley's words made the August Grand Duke look down.

He had several predictions in mind.

"Father, what's your priority now? The family or the country?"

The August Grand Duke hesitated a bit but still spoke his thoughts.

"Don't tell anyone. We have served and contributed to Heim for generations. I, and the August family, have. But my priority... the most important thing is the family and those who serve this house."

"Father, that's right."

The August Grand Duke, despite being at the top of the nobility, put his family first.

He had a strong love for his family and the house.

Even while serving the country and cherishing it, his family was always his top priority.

"Then, Grandfather!?"

"Not right away. I need some time to think. ...Going directly from Roundheart to Ishtalica would be unwise."

"Indeed. They might be considering severing diplomatic relations. Even if not, the impression of Heim's ships would be terrible. Using Euro would be best."

"Grandfather! I can go to Aine! When?"

"Calm down, Crona. Within a year, you can go to Ishtalica. We'll prepare in the meantime."

"Really!? I love you, Grandfather! Thank you!"

"Fufu... Crona is a good child."

Crona calling him 'love' made the August Grand Duke smile.

Seeing this, his son Harley looked exasperated.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to exile, Father."

"Indeed."

*

A few minutes after the shocking revelation.

They were still talking in the conference room when there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

Warren responded to the knock.

"I've brought the items you requested, Warren-sama, and also..."

"I'll be right there."

The person knocking was a clerk.

He was one of Warren's subordinates.

"Hmm. It seems the preparations are ready... Olivia, no objections?"

"If you do something terrible to Aine, I'll make him absorb the other national treasure magic stone."

"I won't. I won't, so please don't do that..."

It seemed to be about Aine, but Aine had no idea what was going on.

Chris, standing next to him, smiled gently and said it would be okay.

And Aine was curious about the taste of the other national treasure magic stone.

He silently vowed to taste it someday.

"Meow! Really, Olivia is back, meow!"

"...A cat?"

"Oh, it's been a while, Miss. Your fur is even more beautiful today."

"Huh? Really, meow! Olivia understands me well, meow!"

"Mother, this cat... cat? What is it?"

Warren and the clerk went outside to talk, and in their place came a large cat about 120 cm tall, walking on two legs and wearing clothes. It was a black cat with shiny fur, looking well-cared for.

And the cat could speak human language.

"I'm not a cat, meow! How rude!! I'm the first princess, and you don't recognize this beautiful fur, meow?!"

"First princess!? A cat!?"

"From the start, I'm not a cat, meow! Katima von Ishtalica! The legitimate first princess, meow!"

Aine thought, 'But you're a cat, right?' but didn't say it out loud, as it seemed troublesome.

He could only think of it as a talking large cat, but Chris confirmed it, so he had to believe it, unfortunately.

"Mother's... sister?"

"Yes, Katima-sama is Olivia-sama's older sister. The first princess of Ishtalica."

"Is she a different race?"

"Regressed, meow! How rude... Have you understood the greatness of the royal family lottery, meow?"

"What's this 'royal family lottery'?"

For Aine, it was more casual than greeting Silverwood and the others, so he wasn't as nervous.

"The Ishtalica royal family has a vast number of races mixed in, meow. So it's not strange to regress to any race, meow! That's why we call it the royal family lottery and enjoy it, meow."

(Are they okay with that naming, the Ishtalica royal family...?)

"Who are you, meow? Not greeting the first princess is disrespectful, meow."

"Katima. This is Aine... Olivia's child."

Katima asked who Aine was.

Silverwood answered.

"Ah, I see, meow... Wait, meow! Olivia has a child!?! Then I'm... um, an aunt, meow?"

"You're an aunt," Martha told Katima.

It was unclear why Katima thought she was a sister.

"An aunt, meow...? It feels like my sister had a child, meow..."

"That's what I said."

The busy Katima, a cat that reminded Aine of a kitsune, made him a bit irritated, and he ended up rubbing her neck.

"What, what are you doing, meow... Meow... You're good at petting, meow. I'll praise you, meow. As a reward, you can call me Katima, meow."

"......Thank you, Katima."

He ended up petting his aunt like a cat, but it didn't seem to be a problem.

"Oh, Aine, you've already gotten along with Katima-sama?"

"I'm not sure if 'gotten along' is the right word, but yes."

"That's good. Katima-sama, have you checked the documents?"

"Yes, I signed them, meow."

"Thank you. I also got the Queen's signature urgently while she was inspecting the neighboring town. All that's left is the Princess's and the King's signatures."

The royal family was signing documents together.

It looked a bit strange.

"Here, I'm done. Your turn, Father."

"......Alright. I've signed."

"Then, as witnesses, Warren and Lord Lloyd will confirm. Lloyd-sama, please."

"Understood... It's fine, Warren-sama."

"Then, I'll... Yes. Approved."

They were confirming some important documents.

The word '