I Became the Teacher of the Imperial Family’s Bastard

100. New Year’s Festival (1)

Returning to the capital, if you ask what I did, there’s only one answer.

I did nothing.

Really, I did nothing but sleep in the carriage.

Whether it was physical or mental, perhaps because we had fought life-and-death battles up north, everyone, including myself, was the same.

The Crown Prince was particularly severe. Using domination multiple times and even using others’ temperaments for domination, his condition was terrible.

He wore my necklace all the time, and Historia, who woke up intermittently, periodically healed him. If not for that, he might have suffered permanent damage this time.

But that’s all in the past now.

Whatever the case, we arrived safely in the capital.

Starting with Historia, who was taken away by the papal officials waiting outside the city walls, our group scattered one by one, until even the Crown Prince and I were separated.

“Then, please go in.”

“What about the lessons?”

“Let’s do it next week.”

“Hmm, alright. Good job. Go in and rest.”

“Yes, yes.”

Seeing that face for too long reminded me of the time before regression, making me feel nauseous.

I was filled with the desire to go back and rest as soon as possible.

Thus, I arrived at the Paros mansion, where I met the person waiting for me.

“You have arrived, young master.”

“Sister? Why are you out here?”

“I heard the news of your arrival. But all these things…”

My sister looked at my luggage, which filled two carriages, with a surprised face.

Seeing that, a thought suddenly occurred to me. Doesn’t taste follow blood?

Even if my sister wasn’t as passionate about cheeseburgers as others, I wondered if she might like pizza.

“They are ingredients. I wanted to cook something that suits your taste.”

“For me…”

My sister, who was about to say something, smiled faintly.

“You should say such things to your future fiancée. But it does make me happy.”

Is it marriage talk right away?

As I averted my eyes, my sister also seemed to have no intention of continuing the conversation.

“Since I can’t stop you from entering the kitchen anyway, I’m looking forward to your cooking. You’ve had a long journey, you must be tired.”

My sister gave me a light hug.

She patted my back and then stepped away, and it was only at that moment that I realized something.

‘She was checking if I was hurt.’

How clever of her.

It seemed I needed to be more meticulous when lying to her from now on.

“Yes, then I’ll go unpack first. Let’s have dinner together.”

“Yes.”

I entered the mansion.

“Welcome back, young master!”

“Oh, Emma. It’s been a while.”

A familiar face.

My beloved bed.

It was only after confirming all that that I made up my mind.

‘Let’s just lie down for three days.’

After all the hardships, I thought I deserved at least that much rest.

* * *

The capital is the epitome of continental civilization.

So much so that it could be said that the cultures of many countries were concentrated there, and the quality of life was incomparable to that of the north.

You only realize the value of something once you’ve lost it. Lying in my bed, eating and sleeping, it felt like paradise.

How wonderful it was.

In the morning, Emma would wake me up, and after washing up, breakfast would be ready.

Then, when I returned to my room, Emma would bring me fruit, find various books for me, and tidy up.

After dinner, lying down again marked the end of the day.

My resolution to lie down for just three days was in vain, as I ended up lying down for five days.

But I couldn’t continue that any longer…

“Paros! Paros!!!”

A little kid, who might love this mansion more than I do, came running and pounced on me as I lay down.

“Ugh.”

“It’s been a while!”

I should be grateful for the sparkling eyes and the warm welcome, but if this little one’s true nature is anything to go by, I know it best now.

“I brought a gift, so please stop pestering me.”

“Heehee!”

Aria wriggled with excitement.

Her cheeks had become plumper, and her hair looked much healthier, probably because she had been eating better.

It was a fortunate thing, and aside from that, first, the gift.

“Number 1.”

“Peep!”

When I called the homunculus, the little creature that had been curled up under the blanket popped its head up.

The reason it was in my blanket… I don’t know, but it seemed to insist on sleeping with me.

Anyway, when the creature emerged, Aria was startled and froze.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Aria, who had been frozen for just that long, soon widened her eyes and stomped her feet.

“W-What is this!!! It’s so cute!!!”

“Peep?!”

“It’s so soft and cuddly!!!”

Aria pounced on Number 1.

Number 1, who had been flailing, seemed to like Aria’s embrace, and it rolled around on my bed with her, making peeping sounds.

‘She likes it more than I thought…’

I was surprised.

The homunculus basically looked like a child’s shadow molded out of clay.

With no eyes, nose, or mouth, just a round silhouette of a child, it could easily be mistaken for a ghost, but Aria, without any fear, ran towards it with joy.

“I brought it for you to be friends with. It’s a native of the North.”

“Yes! From now on, its name is Peepy!”

“Peep?”

Would it even remember the name given to it?

Anyway, it seemed better than Number 1, so I let it be.

Peepy, who had been looking back and forth between me and Aria, soon clung to Aria.

I had been worried because it wouldn’t leave my side, but fortunately, it seemed to like Aria.

“Heehee… Peepy is so soft and cuddly…!”

“Beep…!”

The atmosphere is warm.

Moreover, the awaited guest has arrived, so I should get up too.

‘Shall we start?’

Pizza cooking.

It’s time to begin.

* * *

Behind the mansion of Pharos, there was an empty lot that the ancestors used as a training ground.

It was a desolate place compared to its vast space, but wasn’t I the one who would use it from now on?

So, I had made something in the corner of the training ground.

Aria, hugging the spirit she took out from her cloak, asked me.

“What is this?”

“It’s an oven.”

“Oven?”

“Beep beep?”

[Squeal!]

“…Three answers to one question. Just watch for now.”

Rolling up my sleeves, I prepared the dough.

The oven was already lit, and the people of the mansion, curious about the food I was making, gathered around.

The chef was also among them, but I wondered why he was standing there instead of coming closer if he was curious.

Anyway, let’s start cooking.

I rolled out the dough on the table.

I spread butter on the round dough and began to place the cheese I had brought one by one on top.

On the layered cheese, I added minced northern meat and tomato sauce, covered it again with cheese, and then placed the pizza in the oven with a shovel.

I baked the pizza in the well-heated oven, turning it around and around.

In fact, the process was not that difficult, so it was easy to complete.

A savory aroma spread throughout the area.

“The smell is really good…!”

“Beep…!”

Aria drooled.

Pippi’s curiosity was piqued, and her head flattened into the shape of a tray.

In the distance, she could feel the servants slowly approaching.

A small laugh escaped her.

“Bring the lady here. I’ll give you each a piece too.”

A few servants hurried inside.

It wasn’t long before the lady appeared.

“This smell…?”

“It’s the promised meal.”

The lady’s expression was quite pleased.

At least the smell seemed to suit her taste.

‘Should I cut it like this…?’

She moved the fully baked pizza onto a large plate and used her fingertips to cut it into eight pieces with mana.

One cut horizontally, another diagonally, and a total of four cuts made eight pieces.

First, a piece for the guest and the lady.

And one more.

“Beep!”

“Yes, you can eat too.”

She gave Pippi a piece, and this time her head turned into the shape of a sliced pizza.

She didn’t know where Pippi’s mouth was, but she brought the pizza to her head, and with a slurp, it was gone.

‘This is amusing.’

Every time she saw it, she was momentarily mesmerized by the rare sight.

“Haa…!”

Aria reacted.

When she turned to check, she saw tears welling up in Aria’s eyes, as if it had hit her taste perfectly.

‘That’s right.’

She loved cheese so much, how could she not like this taste?

With her tearful eyes and stomping feet, it was clear she was at the fifth stage of being moved.

“How is it?”

“It’s so delicious…!”

“Yes, swallow and then answer. There’s plenty, so take your time eating.”

“Ugh!”

After seeing that reaction, I took a bite of the pizza myself.

I missed this taste.

Indeed, I prefer pizza over burgers.

‘Ah, sister…’

It was the moment I turned my head, lost in thought.

Clunk―

I met eyes with my sister, who was eating pizza with her mouth wide open.

Her eyes trembled with a forlorn look.

She tightly closed her mouth.

Her face turned red enough for anyone to notice.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“It seems we really are related by blood.”

“…Just a yawn.”

“Don’t mind it and keep eating. I also like taking big bites.”

Seeing my sister eat with her mouth wide open was a miraculous event, but I was first filled with joy that she liked it.

My sister slightly lowered her head and began cutting the pizza into small pieces with a knife.

The pieces she cut were getting bigger and bigger, but if I pointed it out, she would be embarrassed again.

I pretended not to notice and ate my pizza.

Then the chef approached and asked what kind of food it was, and I gave him the recipe and made the pizza together.

Since it was food my sister liked, I thought the chef should know.

What happened after that?

Once the chef got the hang of it, I just ate.

The training ground behind the Pharos mansion.

Aria, my sister, Pippi, and the mansion’s servants all laughed and ate together.

“Maximus! You should try it too!”

[Roar!]

“Spirits can’t eat pizza.”

“How could that be…!”

[Screech?!]

“Why are you surprised?”

At some point, a smile had spread across my lips.

By the time I realized it, I had already acknowledged something anew.

I liked this.

This mansion, the people, and this atmosphere.

If there was something I had to protect, it would all be here.

Thinking about such things made my heart flutter lightly.

It continued until the end of the session, and what erased the fluttering was, as expected, the royal family.

“So, Paros! When will you give me a cheeseburger?!”

“Ugh…”

Aria, having eaten plenty of pizza, was now looking for a cheeseburger.

Both the prince and Aria seemed to think that there was no food better than a cheeseburger for that blond-haired lineage.

* * *

I slept well and played well.

The pizza I had after a long time was delicious, and after that, I had to do some scheduled work little by little.

I asked Girgo for various information and received the requested information back.

My personal swordsmanship was also at a stage where it was about to break through, so I was refining it a bit.

But more importantly, it was the prince’s education.

Thud!

“Gasp!”

“That’s it for today. The sword has become very heavy.”

“Is that all after beating me up so much?”

“Do you have anything more to say? You must have felt the shortcomings yourself even if I didn’t say anything.”

“Enough.”

At the training ground of the Dawn Palace, today’s training with the prince was also conducted as a sparring match.

From the beginning, he was a type who quickly realized things on his own, so he didn’t need feedback, and the only thing he lacked was experience, so I was filling that in.

I had trained his whole body.

This much was necessary to make the prince feel something.

I hit him less than usual, but it was because of the prince’s complexion.

“Are you very tired? The area under your eyes is pitch black.”

“It’s because you punched me in the eye.”

“It was black even before that.”

“Must be busy preparing for the New Year’s festival.”

The Crown Prince sighed.

No matter how superhuman his work ability is, there seems to be a limit.

Indeed, the Empire’s New Year’s festival has as much to prepare for as the Foundation Day.

Usually, the Emperor would handle some of it, but in the current succession structure, even that is being handled by the Crown Prince.

This is because the practical work is being handed over to the Crown Prince to naturally transfer imperial power.

“Are you postponing the class?”

“I need this to keep moving. That’s enough. More importantly.”

A royal servant brought an ice pack.

The Crown Prince rubbed his eyes with it and asked me.

“Is there anything you want?”

“Maybe Your Highness’s neck?”

“…I can’t give you that. Don’t joke around and tell me.”

I don’t know why he thinks it’s a joke.

“Why are you asking?”

“Why do you think…”

The Crown Prince looked at me as if I were pathetic.

When I frowned at his annoying expression, he added.

“Isn’t your coming-of-age ceremony right after the New Year’s festival? After the ceremony, you’ll enter the succession ceremony, so if you need anything, I was going to help.”

I was surprised by his words.

Of course, I hadn’t forgotten about my succession ceremony.

“Are you saying Your Highness remembered that?”

“…What do you take me for?”

A burger thief.

…I didn’t bother to say that.