Chapter 45

Thank you for the evaluation and bookmark.

It doesn't seem like a bad idea to go out when Regulus goes out, but it seems that if I'm not home when he returns, it doesn't go well.

After I went to the concert, Regulus came back from the after-school class first, and the first thing he did was look for me.

He had found a beautiful stone at the sword practice place and was excited to show it to me, but I wasn't there.

When he realized this, he started to run away and cry.

Utsumi-san and Rottenmeier-san tried to calm him down, but Regulus was so energetic that they were almost knocked out.

The stamina of a child is truly formidable.

After that, I took a bath with Regulus, who was covered in dirt, and we ate dinner together. For some reason, we ended up sleeping in my bed.

Regulus, you can sleep alone, so why don't you sleep alone?

I was worried that I might crush him because I'm heavy, so I couldn't fall asleep.

By the way, the stone Regulus brought back is called sea glass, which is a piece of glass that has been smoothed and rounded by the sea and is found very rarely on beaches and riverbanks.

There are green and transparent ones, and also red, purple, and blue ones. I thought it would be cute to make accessories with them.

With my sleep-deprived, wobbly legs, I was led by Regulus to Hime-sama's place, as is our morning routine.

As expected, Hime-sama's eyes narrowed.

"You, I told you to take care of your health, didn't I?"

"Ah... I'm sorry. A lot happened."

Oh no, she's frowning.

While I was thinking about what to say, Regulus, who had been holding my hand, went up to Hime-sama and knelt down.

"Le... I slept in Aniue's bed, so Aniue couldn't sleep well."

"Why is that?"

"Well, you see, I'm quite wide and heavy... I was worried I might crush her."

"Hmm... You seem to be more delicate than you look."

Hmm, is that so?

I think it's quite tense to sleep with someone.

Anyway, it seems that Hime-sama's displeasure has subsided.

While I was at it, I told her about how I ended up sleeping with Regulus last night, starting from the incident with Maria, and Hime-sama's eyes widened.

"You... did you share the peaches I gave you with everyone?"

"Yes."

Hmm, was that not good?

When you said to share with the chick, did you mean to share with just the two of us?

If that's the case, it was wrong, and I was about to apologize, but Hime-sama shook her head.

"There's no need to apologize. On the contrary, I might be the one who should apologize to you."

"Huh?"

Why?

As I blinked in surprise, Hime-sama, with a very serious face, covered her mouth with a thin silk fan. Her expression seemed confused, or rather, she looked flustered.

Her red lips, visible through the gap, opened slightly, trembling.

"Phoenix, did you not know what the peaches I gave you were really for?"

"Eh... They're the delicious peaches used in the Heavenly Realm for medicinal purposes, which heal injuries and have amazing effects, right?"

"...I seem to have treated you a bit too much like an adult. As a child, there are things you wouldn't know, and I forgot that."

Muttering, Hime-sama lowered her eyes. She didn't seem angry, but with a frown, she took a moment before speaking again.

"Those peaches are called 'Immortal Peaches' and are believed to grant immortality in the human world."

"Immortality!?"

"Indeed. In reality, eating just a bite can heal even a mortal wound, restore physical strength and energy, and bring out hidden talents, as well as slightly rejuvenate the body, though not to the point of immortality. However, eating an entire peach would immediately return the body to its prime. This effect was mistaken for immortality."

"Such an amazing thing was given to me!?"

"There are many in the Heavenly Realm, so there's no need to worry. However... in the human world, these peaches have caused friends to kill each other and parents to deceive their children. That's why, when I said 'even the chick should get a share,' I thought you and the chick would eat the 'Immortal Peaches' alone."

"I didn't realize they were so amazing. I just thought they were delicious and decided to share them with everyone... That's... that's it..."

"I'm not blaming you. To me, they were just something to give you. However, I knew very well what 'Immortal Peaches' mean to humans. So, I never imagined you would share them with others, especially the chick. In short, I underestimated you. I thought you wouldn't share such a valuable peach with anyone."

In other words, since it has the effect of immortality, it's normal to keep it to oneself.

Maybe I would have done the same if I had known, but since I didn't, it was just a delicious peach with medicinal effects.

It's not strange to share it with everyone.

A deep wrinkle appeared on Hime-sama's beautiful forehead.

"Well, you see! I didn't know they were so amazing! If I had known, I might have kept them all to myself!"

"Yes, that might be true, but you might have also shared them with everyone. However, this time, I unconsciously held a prejudice that 'humans are such despicable beings' and applied it to you. Please forgive me, I underestimated you."

No, you didn't do anything that requires an apology.

As I was flustered, Hime-sama pointed at me with her fan, saying, "However," with a sigh.

"You are in a dangerous position."

"Huh?"

"You are wise and can interact with adults on equal terms, sometimes even surprising them with your wisdom, but your knowledge is often lacking."

"Are you saying I said something impudent that upset you...?"

The adults around me, including Hime-sama, listen to me properly. Maybe I've been relying on that too much and have been saying impudent things without realizing it.

Fidgeting with the hem of my blouse, Hime-sama shook her head with a troubled look.

"That's not what I mean. Rather, the fault lies with the adults. I forgot that you are still a five-year-old child because you understand things so well, and I assumed you knew what 'Immortal Peaches' were. Therefore, I unconsciously underestimated you."

Hmm, am I being praised?

But I feel a nuance that it's not good, and I'm getting confused.

Regulus, who had returned to Hime-sama's side, grabbed my hand tightly.

Looking up at me, Regulus saw my troubled face.

"Adults, being wise, forget that you are still a five-year-old child and expect you to act like them. However, you are still a child. It's only natural that you can't do what adults can. But, being wise, they overlook this."

"Overlook... Does being treated like an adult mean being overlooked?"

"Yes. Your wisdom hides the fact that you are still a child. Therefore, adults expect you to do things they wouldn't expect from a typical five-year-old."

Is that so?

I don't think I've been asked to do anything beyond a five-year-old's capabilities.

As I thought, Hime-sama nodded solemnly.

"The adults around you are good people. You know how to share things with others. Most importantly, even though we meet every day, no one makes a fuss, and we live quietly."

"Ah... That's right... That's true."

I'm often told that I lack common sense, but I understand that meeting a god is not a common occurrence.

But since I meet her every day, and the people who know me also know that I am under the protection of a god.

If it's not because it's not unusual, it's because the people around me are keeping quiet for me.

I've been protected without knowing it.

A sigh escaped Hime-sama's lips again.

"I didn't realize it."

"Indeed, I didn't realize it at all."

"It's fine, you are still a child. It's natural not to realize it. But, that's the source of your danger."

"Not realizing it is the danger?"

"No," Hime-sama shook her head.

Then, what is it?

I couldn't come up with an answer no matter how much I thought.

"Not realizing it is proof that you are still a child. But, I said it's natural, didn't I?"

"Yes."

"The ability to observe one's surroundings deeply is higher in those who have lived longer and have more interactions with others. There's also the factor of experience. Therefore, it's abnormal for someone who has only lived for five years, even if they have lived for nearly twenty, to notice something that someone who has lived for twenty years hasn't."

"So, my current reaction is not strange for a five-year-old?"

"Yes. However, if you were an adult, wouldn't it be a bit lacking in consideration?"

"Ah, indeed... Wait, what?"

"Do you understand the meaning of the blindfold now?"

Realizing that I was protected by the people around me only when it was pointed out is not strange, and my lack of observational skills is normal for a five-year-old, even from Hime-sama's perspective.

But if I were an adult, not noticing the care of others would be a problem.

My reaction is normal for a five-year-old but not for an adult, and since I might be overestimated, I might be looked down upon by others if I react like a five-year-old.

But Hime-sama is saying that if I were looked down upon, it would be the adults who are at fault.

I don't think the people around me would look down on me for such a thing.

As if reading my thoughts, Hime-sama waved her fan.

"There are many adults who understand such things. Cherish them."

"Yes!"

Yay, Mr. Romanov, Mr. Rottenmeier, everyone, Hime-sama praised us!

No, wait.

Then, what is the danger?

I thought.

Danger, risk, what is the cause?

I didn't know about the 'Immortal Peaches.' That's why I shared them with everyone. Hime-sama said that in itself was not bad.

But, it was 'dangerous.'

"Then, the danger is not knowing...?"

"Yes."

Hime-sama tapped her hand with her thin silk fan.

Then, she pointed at me with the fan and smiled brightly.

"This time, it didn't cause a fuss because you didn't know what the 'peaches' you gave everyone were. However, if there were 'despicable beings' around you as I think... Wouldn't that be a very dangerous situation?"

"Someone might try to use me to get the 'Immortal Peaches'... Is that what you mean?"

"Yes. You are wise, but there are always those who are wiser. They might approach you with a sweet and kind face and take advantage of your lack of knowledge. This time it was fine, but it might not be the same next time. Do you know how to prevent it?"

"Study...?"

"Yes, but that's not enough."

"Studying alone is not enough..."

Then, what should I do?

As I frowned in confusion, Regulus rubbed the crease between my eyebrows.

Why do Regulus and Mr. Romanov always try to smooth out the crease when I frown?

Is it a ritual?

A ritual I don't know about?

In return, I took Regulus's hand and gently rubbed his small palm.

His laughter was adorable.

I feel so warm... No, that's not the point.

I'm still confused.

I decided to raise the white flag.

"Hime-sama, what should I do?"

"That's what you should do."

"...Huh?"

"It's not 'Huh?' If you don't understand, ask. If you need advice, seek it. If you can't do it as a child, ask the adults. Fortunately, the adults around you seem to be good people, so you can rely on them."

What, is that it?

As I was stunned, Hime-sama sniffed.

"You said humans are like plants, right? Plants absorb various things from the mother plant to bear fruit. Then, for a human child to grow, the mother plant, in this case, the adults, should provide the necessary nutrients. What's wrong with that?"

"Wrong? No, it's not... wrong, is it?"

"It's not wrong. Otherwise, nothing would grow. However, the mother plant must not die, so plants know the balance."

"..."

Hime-sama, that's a bit too blunt, isn't it?

I was a bit taken aback by her harsh words, and she coughed and covered her mouth with her fan.

"Besides, you have an elf teacher, don't you? They have accumulated a mountain of knowledge and experience over their long lives. If you choose a guide, there's no one more suitable than them. However, they have difficult personalities. They can be unbearable."

"Hime-sama, did you just casually criticize the elves?"

"It can't be helped. They are a race that is overly polite and arrogantly rude. Anyway, elves look down on humans, so they treat them with a wooden expression. Yet, that elf pays you a lot of respect. Until I learned about your family situation, I thought you must have been very loved by your parents."

"Why is that...?"

"It's obvious. Elves are few in number. Even fewer of them don't look down on humans. Yet, you found such an elf. It must have been a lot of trouble. What else could make you do that except for the love of your child?"

I didn't know.

I really didn't know anything. No, I didn't even try to know.

I am indeed not loved by my parents. But, there was someone who loved me even more, right by my side.

I didn't realize anything.

The shock hit me like a punch to the heart, and I gripped the front of my blouse tightly.

Thank you for reading.

I would be grateful for any evaluations, comments, or reviews.

I've also written various activity reports, so please feel free to check them out if you like.