Chapter 22

Today, we have a visitor.

Moreover, it’s a relative of mine!

I prepared tea and snacks in the red room and brought in additional chairs, making all the necessary preparations.

"You seem happy, Princess Asha."

"Of course, I get to meet my cousin. We used to meet before I moved here, but I don’t really remember when I was one or two years old."

I smiled at Iku and tried to pass the time while waiting.

Today is the day when Hearti’s daughter is coming to see me.

"The permission for the meeting has been granted."

"Yeah, but at first, they were reluctant. Asking the Emperor was the right move."

"There is also the official stance that meetings with members of the royal family cannot be easily accepted, as they are from the other side."

It’s just a formality.

Well, I’m only guarded by Iku.

Pretending to be important is a kind of negotiation to maintain authority, but it doesn’t really make much sense.

Besides, the person I’m meeting is my cousin, who is only eight years old.

We ended up using a large room like the one where I meet my father, but there was no authority or anything.

"By the way, did you know about Hearti’s remarriage before me?"

"We had a discussion before informing you. It’s not a matter that can be simply refused, so we chose the right time to bring it up."

I didn’t expect to find out about it first.

I didn’t think Sefira would do something like that.

"But did her sudden request to meet me have anything to do with the remarriage talks?"

Still, there’s a reason I’m excited.

My cousin said she wanted to meet me.

"Hehe, it’s the first time someone has said they want to meet me."

"Princess Asha..."

"Oh, not the Emperor. It’s just that I’m excited to meet my first guest."

Hearti decided to stay away after the remarriage talks were exposed.

I hurried to stop her from rejecting the remarriage talks, as it wasn’t just about her but also her daughter and the other party.

So Hearti started coming home early or leaving late to continue discussions with her fiancé.

At the same time, she talked more with her family and her daughter, who was in their care.

Given the result of these discussions, the remarriage talks are not unrelated.

It’s difficult for me to meet my brother due to interference from others, but I hope I can become friends with my cousin.

In my previous life, I didn’t have any cousins.

"Princess Asha, I have kept you waiting."

Hearti appeared at the top of the stairs in the red room.

She was accompanied by a girl around my age.

The girl had cute twin-tails of dark blue hair and red eyes.

The only person of the same age I can compare her to is Princess Diora, who has orange hair.

Compared to Diora, she seemed more assertive and was tense.

I decided to approach her gently.

"Nice to meet you. I’ve been waiting. I hope you’ll call me Asha, just like Hearti."

"I am grateful for your kindness. Come on, Hina. Greet Princess Asha."

My cousin Hina was tense and didn’t move, looking down. Hearti, looking troubled, urged her.

But Hina continued to hold her skirt and look down, not even approaching the prepared chairs, clearly very nervous.

I thought something bad might have happened, but then Hina looked up.

Her red eyes were staring straight at me.

"Give me my mother back!"

"Huh?"

Hina’s unexpected demand caught Hearti off guard, and she panicked.

"What are you saying! That’s disrespectful to Princess Asha!"

"It’s not disrespectful! You’re just a prince who can be there or not. Why are you stealing my mother? That’s terrible, give her back! You’re a bad person. Don’t involve my mother!"

Her words were clumsy and full of emotion.

But there was a clear negative sentiment based on my position.

"Everyone says you’re a harbinger of misfortune! I know it. You’re all alone, abandoned by your mother and father, and can’t do anything! You’re hated, causing problems, and troubling everyone! My mother only pities you, so don’t take advantage of her kindness!"

"Hina!"

Hearti turned red with anger.

I immediately called for Iku.

Iku, who was unsure of what to do with Hina, moved to stop Hearti, who was about to raise her hand.

"Let go! This is a failure as a mother!"

"Calm down. An eight-year-old child is only this level. It’s too early for her to understand reason."

While Iku was restraining Hearti, I approached Hina myself.

"You’re right. A child shouldn’t know so much."

Hina, surprised by Hearti’s anger, was on the verge of tears and completely terrified by Iku’s struggle.

"Who are these people you’re talking about? Are they really like that?"

When I provoked her, Hina, who had already identified me as an enemy, responded.

"They are! My grandparents, aunts, and even Tety! And Nifutas’ uncle, and, and... even the servants say my mother is pitiful!"

"What... a... thing..."

Hearti was completely deflated.

I wanted to be deflated too.

I knew my maternal relatives were distant, but it seems they think of me as a problem child.

And I heard Nifutas.

That means the Nifutas family, who are supposed to be my supporters, believe this?

"The bad reputation of the princess in the palace might have spread. Despite it being completely baseless, the viscount’s family has taken it to heart."

Iku’s voice was cold.

"Since they are close to the Duke of Yurasion, it’s understandable. I don’t even want to be associated with Nifutas anymore."

"Princess Asha, I am so sorry!"

When Iku let go, Hearti immediately knelt before me and apologized.

"Because of my shortcomings, not only have I failed to improve your situation, but I’ve raised such a daughter."

"Mother? Why? Why are you angry at me? You’re the one who’s wrong!"

Hina, not understanding the situation, pointed at me, saying I was the one at fault.

But Hearti apologized to me, putting her daughter aside.

Seeing this, I felt guilty towards Hina.

Because when you call out to a mother who doesn’t respond, the deep, bottomless sadness of being betrayed is something I know from my previous life.

"Hearti, it’s not like that. All the words criticizing me are just the reverse of what Hina wants to say to you."

"Princess Asha?"

"Hina probably doesn’t care about me at all. She just loves you so much that she wants you to come back."

I laughed at the childishness of my own words.

"Hina is just being clingy. She should be able to be clingy to someone who can be clingy to. That’s a very happy thing. Why didn’t I realize it? I’m still a child. I’m sorry, Hina."

When I spoke to her, she just glared at me, clearly not caring about me at all.

It seems I won’t be able to become friends with my cousin.

I should give up on that.

Actually, I’m also at fault for this.

Because I just realized that for every moment Hearti spent with me, Hina spent that time without her real mother.

"Hearti, I don’t cry at night anymore, and I don’t need to be breastfed. It was a mistake to treat you as a wet nurse for so long. I need to grow up, and that means moving away from my wet nurse."

If I can reduce the number of children who feel lonely like I did, I want Hearti to focus her love on Hina, which she used to give to me.

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Next: Weaning 5