NOVEL NEXT Baby Princess’ Survival Diary
Chapter 10
“Shane… Hewwo…” (Shane… Hello…)
“Hello, Lady.” Shane bent over with a tired face. I was worried when I saw Shane in the office that he was roughly doing a lot of work as the Duke’s right arm. “Shane mushth be bushy…” (Shane must be busy…) “Most of the work that comes to me has been distributed to other aides.” “Ith’sh… ith’sh bwacw righth here… are you oway?” (It’s… It’s black right here… Are you okay?) In a previous life, the maids played a prank. It was a joke that woke me up in turns and kept me from falling asleep, but that’s exactly how I was then. It’s dark under the eyes and the face is puffy. Originally, my face was pale, but then it was serious enough. “Ah—. It’s a little bit because I’m taking over—. But it’s fine now.” “Reawwy?” (Really?) “Yes.” As I kept looking worried, Shane smiled and said. “I volunteered for this. Teaching you will be my joy.” Shane bowed his head with his right hand on his left chest. I noticed that it was a very polite greeting, but I was curious about something. Shane might be angry, but since Shane is a teacher, I thought it would be bad to ask someone else. My senior, who had previously informed me about the maid job, didn’t explain it well, and when I asked another maid about the job, she became furious. Gently looking into Shane’s eyes, I spoke cautiously. “Ung… i.. Whath ish vowuntheering?” (Ung… I.. What is volunteering?) “Volunteer means you want to do it yourself.” “Ah…” Contrary to my expectations, Shane didn’t get angry. I looked around to see if he was holding it in when he was in a bad mood, but he didn’t show any signs of that. Shane continued when I nodded and said nothing. “The more you study words, the more you don’t get impatient. Today, we will start with the basics of the imperial language.” “Ung!” (Yes!) Shane was a kind and caring teacher. I would be slow, but he didn’t push or get angry at all. My senior, who taught me maid work at the Duke of Enotis, often urged me that I was slow. Shane asked if it was rather too fast for me. “Lady, you’re a fast learner.” “Reawwy?” (Really?) “Yes. Didn’t you already memorize half of the basic imperial letters?” “Buth—” (But—) “You’re really fast on the first day.” I laughed a little at what he said. In fact, I didn’t just laugh, but I became a little proud. “Tho Duwe…” (To Duke…) “Yeah. Do you want to show it?” “Ung.” (Yes.) I reached out to Shane because I wanted to go quickly. Shane, who was surprised for a moment, quickly grabbed me and headed to the Duke. Duke’s office—I learned from Shane that the place where the Duke works is called the office—. When I showed him the letters I wrote, I was proud that the Duke praised me. Driane, who had been away for a while, also patted my head saying that I will soon learn to speak difficult words after seeing it. Not just a little, but I was very proud, so I fell asleep holding a notebook in my arms. ***** I had a dream. It was a dream where something with bright light gradually turned black. Later, everything turned black except for fingernails. The black figure gradually turned into a human. It was like a woman in a dress. The remaining light as big as a fingernail was floating next to the face. Just looking at it gave me goosebumps. For some reason, I felt like I was peeping. When I closed and opened my eyes, I somehow felt like I had eye contact with a black shape. “Waa!” When I opened my eyes, it was the bedroom. [Baby? What’s wrong?] “I have a shcary dream…” (I have a scary dream…) [I see.] Driane, who was on the veranda, flew all over. I gave Driane a hug. Driane is so small that it can fit on the palm of my hand, so I am hugging it tightly, but somehow it felt like Driane was hugging me. [Something scary must have come out.] “Ung…” (Yes…) [What came out?] “Somethhing bwacw…” (Something black…) [Black?] “Ith looks wike a pershon… buth noth ath the same thime… something bwacw…” (It looks like a person… But not at the same time… Something black…) At what I said, Driane nodded. [You must have been scared of that black thing] “Ung…” (Yes…) [Okay. Shall we sleep together today?] “I can’th shweep…” (I can’t sleep…) [But it’s still too early. Sleep a bit more.] As Driane said, the moon was still out the window. I nodded and closed my eyes at Driane’s words. I kept thinking of the black shape I saw in my dream, but I couldn’t think of it anymore when I hugged Driane tightly. Then, before I knew it, I fell asleep again. ****** Knights in front of the Duke’s office, who are now used to it, naturally opened the door. I began to enter the Duke’s office for a different reason than before. This is because one more thing has been added to tomorrow’s work as I study with Shane. “Duwe.” (Duke.) “Yeah.” To report to the Duke what I studied that day. “I’m proud of you today, too.” The Duke patted my head and stamped a large stamp, saying he was always proud of me. “Thankh yhou.” (Thank you.) I bowed. I haven’t read what the stamp is yet, but Shane said it was ‘Well done.’ It wasn’t much, but I felt good every time I saw the stamps piled up every day. After the report, I spent time looking at the pretty letters on the Duke’s lap and listening to the movements of the aides and the stories of the vassals. Originally, I wanted to practice my divine power, but—. “Driane… practhice—” (Driane… Practice—) [How’s the baby’s divine power?] “ith’sh powerfuw, buth…” (It’s powerful, but…) [How’s the baby’s body condition?] “ith’sh shthiww hard.” (It’s still hard.) [So, how many hours do you practice a day?] “One hour…” I couldn’t do as I planned because I was pushed back by Driane’s firm words. I knew it was going to come out like this, but my lips pouted at Driane’s words, which were too determined. While I was pouting my lips, Count Ganon approached. It seemed to be his reporting time. I was excited to see Count Ganon, who was eagerly listing numbers. The numbers were so pretty. It was amazing that it was round and long, similar to the letters, but also different. Count Ganon, who was packing the documents as if he had finished the report, suddenly told the Duke as if he had remembered it. “Come to think of it, Your Excellency. It’s foundation day soon, so how would you feel about going out with the Young Lady or Young Master?” “Uhm.” “Isn’t there a party on the last day? You’re still young, but it’ll be a good experience to participate in the ball.” Count Ganon continued to speak while keeping an eye on the Duke. “Some of the nobles make fun of the adoption of the Lady. This is the time to introduce—” “Don’t be swayed by useless rumors.” “—But.” “I told you not to be swayed.” “I apologize, Your Excellency.” Count Ganon bowed his head and stepped back. “Whath ish foundathion day?” (What is foundation day?) “It is a festival celebrating the founding of the empire.” “Whath ish foundhing?” (What is founding?) “The founding of the empire means the first establishment of the empire. In short, it is a day to celebrate the birthday of the empire.” “Aah.” [Foundation day. It’s been a while since I heard this word] I turn around at Driane’s words. The other aides and vassals were far away. “Driane awsho wnowsh abouth foundathion day?” (Driane also knows about foundation day?) [I remember having fun with the last contractor] “Ung… I shee…” (Yes.. I see…) It’s a day to celebrate the Empire’s birthday. I had no idea what day it was. Princess Enotis’s birthday has always been celebrated in a big and splendid way, is it the same as that day? I was thinking still, but I heard the sound of the Duke’s words above my head. “Are you curious?” “A witthwe bith—” (A little bit—) “Then it’s enough to go. The festival lasts for seven days—. It’s best to go sightseeing on the third day, which is the most interesting.” “Can i do thhath?” (Can I do that?) “Sure. If you promise me a few things.” “Whath?” (What?) The Duke sat me down on the desk and sent everyone else out. The aides get excited and go out When I sat at the desk and looked at the Duke, he looked me in the eye and said. “First. What about divine power?” “Noth tho ushe ith!) “Not to use it!” “Second. About divine beast?” “Tho hide ith!” (To hide it!) “Third, call Jerion as Jerion.” I hesitated while answering well. I first thought how dare I do that to Jerion. “Buth—” (But—) “Jerion is your brother.” I nodded without realizing it because I was overwhelmed by the determined words of the Duke. “Fourth and last. Now, try it.” “Yesh.” (Yes.) “Father.” I paused more than before and looked at the Duke. I closed my mouth tightly. It was a word that I couldn’t say easily. As I kept closing my mouth, looking at the Duke’s eyes, the Duke said nothing. It was not long before the Duke opened his mouth. “Everyone tells me it’s going to take time.” I didn’t understand well, so I looked at the Duke still. “So I tried to wait, but—. If I do that, I don’t think I’ll ever hear it. I’m usually a little impatient.” “Yesh…” (Yes…) I didn’t understand, but I nodded because I felt like I had to answer. The Duke stroked my head and continued to talk to me as if he noticed I didn’t understand. “You are now Biherville and my daughter.” I knew. But the fact that I was an orphan has not changed. I was adopted, not a family member. “I know what you’re thinking, but that means you’re part of our family.” “—Buth.” (—But.) “This is my answer to your answer to save you. Lione Biherville.” “….” Tears came out without knowing why. The Duke continued to talk, wiping away my tears. “Now. Who am I?” “Fathher…” (Father…) “Okay. Let’s have fun on foundation day, my daughter.” The cry that I was holding hard eventually burst out loud. That day, I had a father and a brother.
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