Side Story – Special Love, Special Person (4)

 The Sky Garden of Blackwood Mansion, where warm spring sunlight seeped in. 

 A pair of a man and a woman sat side by side on the central bench there, a subtle atmosphere flowing between them, like the fresh scent of spring flowers. 

 …Though, to say they were “having a thing,” both of them were quite young. 

 “Do you think you know why the big snake uncle gave Mr. Crane a wide-brimmed straw hat, Just Leonhardt-nim?” 

 “…To avoid the sunlight, since it’s summer?” 

 “Unfortunately, that is only half correct, it is so. The other reason is that because Mr. Crane, who is tall, has long legs, he deliberately emphasized his cuteness with a wide-brimmed hat, it is so.” 

 “…Oh, I see. Cecilia is smart.” 

 “That is so. Adults always fail to understand this kind of sensibility, it is so. It is fortunate that at least Just Leonhardt-nim can be reasoned with, it is so.” 

 Perhaps it was thanks to their earnest conversation for about two hours. Fortunately, Leonhardt had already grasped Cecilia’s personality to some extent. 

 Although she spoke in a somewhat difficult-to-understand manner, it wasn’t that she had any bad intentions. And that she was someone who opened up quite easily to those who empathized with her. 

 As expected of the Hero’s son, who had charmed three women, Leonhardt instinctively understood how to befriend a two-year-old girl. 

 “Hmph, I shall conclude for today, it is so. Because I was talking with Leonhardt-nim, it has already become this late, you see.” 

 “Why? It’s still a while until mealtime.” 

 “From now on, it is nap time, it is so. To maintain this beautiful appearance inherited from my mother, two hours of napping a day is essential, it is so. Beautiful women are sleepyheads, it is so.” 

 “Ah, I see….” 

 “I apologize to Leonhardt-nim, but would you please vacate the seat, it is so? As this bench is too narrow for me to lie down alone and nap, Leonhardt-nim should nap on another bench, it is so.” 

 “But why are you napping here instead of in a bed?” 

 “On clear days, napping while basking in the warm sunlight is the best, it is so. And if I fall asleep here, I will wake up in my bed thanks to the power of magic, it is so.” 

 “…The power of magic?” 

 “Anyway, I would like you to move aside now, it is so. Even now, my nap time is being reduced because of Leonhardt-nim, it is so.” 

 Although she was still speaking politely in a princess-like manner, her words had a certain bite to them, so Leonhardt had no choice but to carefully move to the edge of the bench. 

 He wanted to nap together on the same bench, but it seemed difficult due to the narrowness, and if he bothered her any more, the friendship he had painstakingly built with her might revert to its original state. 

 As Leonhardt thought that and was about to carefully get up from his seat, in his mind, the affectionate gestures his parents had once exchanged on the bed briefly came to mind. 

 “Cecilia, should I lend you my lap?” 

 “What?” 

 “Rather than a hard book, I thought it might be more comfortable to rest your head on my lap and sleep. How about it?” 

 …….

 -Squeeze, squeeze. 

 “Certainly, Leonhardt-nim’s lap is softer than a storybook, it is so.” 

 As soon as he offered his lap, Cecilia pressed down on his lap with her weight, as if checking bedding. 

 Seeing her reaction, Leonhardt felt certain and asked her once more. 

 “Then lie here. I’ll lend you my lap while you sleep, Cecilia.” 

 “Is Leonhardt-nim truly alright with this, it is so? Even though I look like this, the maids have told me that once I fall asleep, I wouldn’t know if someone carried me away, it is so.” 

 “I want to do it for you, Cecilia.” 

 “In that case, I shall accept your kindness, it is so. Please sit at the very edge of the bench so my head can reach, it is so.” 

 “Ah, mm-hmm.” 

 Although she had shown politeness once, once she made up her mind, her reaction showed no hesitation in ordering him around. 

 As this reaction wasn’t entirely unexpected, Leonhardt quietly accepted it. 

 -Thump. 

 “Hmm, it is certainly much softer than a book, it is so. It’s not as good as my pillow, but this much is acceptable….” 

 …….

 …….

 “…Cecilia?” 

 “Zzz, zzz….” 

 Just how strictly did she adhere to her nap time? Cecilia fell into a deep sleep, with even breaths, less than a minute after resting her head on his lap. 

 “Prince Leonhardt-nim. Have you perhaps seen Princess Cecilia around here…Oh, my!” 

 “My, my goodness…. The Princess is sleeping on the Prince’s lap!” 

 It didn’t take long for Leonhardt’s name to be on the lips of the maids who had come, as always, to move Cecilia to her bed. 

⁎ ⁎ ⁎ 

 A week after Leonhardt began staying at Blackwood Mansion. 

 The story that Leonhardt had started to stick close to Cecilia had already become common knowledge. 

 The Prince and Princess were always secretly watched by the mansion’s servants, and besides, the sight of two young children wandering around together couldn’t help but evoke a sense of cuteness in everyone, regardless of gender. 

 Maintaining a strangely appropriate distance, the precocious couple walking around the vast mansion with a thump-thump was a sight that captivated the servants’ attention wherever they went. 

 “Did you just see that? Prince Leonhardt-nim and Princess Cecilia walking hand-in-hand!” 

 “No way! Princess Cecilia, who doesn’t even want to hold Prince Kenneth-nim’s hand?!” 

 “I’m telling you, it’s true! I saw them earlier, heading to the Sky Garden together….” 

 Although the two of them didn’t notice, every single action of the young couple had already become a sight that most of the servants couldn’t help but pay attention to and watch closely. 

 It wasn’t just any other child in the mansion; Princess Cecilia’s ‘cute side’ was that rare of a sight. 

 Unlike Eris or Kenneth, Cecilia had developed a hobby of spending time alone ever since she started walking. 

 The rare cute moments she showed were limited to complaining about picky eating or trying to enter the Duke and Duchess’s bedroom. As such, Leonhardt and Cecilia’s ‘thing’ stimulated the imagination of the mansion’s maids, and naturally reached the ears of the Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot couple who had returned from the Elven Forest and came to pick up Leonhardt. 

 “Leon, let’s go home now.” 

 “…Yes, Father.” 

 ……?

 No matter how accustomed he had become to proper etiquette, he was still just a two-year-old child. 

 Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot, who read his son’s expression that seemed reluctant to leave, could easily guess that the cause was the second daughter of the Blackwood Family. 

 “Your expression looks regretful. Is it because you don’t want to return to the Imperial Capital?” 

 “…No, sir. I’ve been at Blackwood Mansion for a long time, so it’s about time I returned.” 

 “Then, is it because you’re sad to part with Cecilia?” 

 “…Yes, sir.” 

 His hesitation, not wanting to part with a girl his age he had grown fond of. And his attempt to hide his feelings by saying he was fine. 

 Although it was due to his Imperial Palace education, he was far too mature for a two-year-old child. 

 ‘This is the first time I’ve seen Leon look so regretful.’ 

 Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot instinctively realized. That now was the time to indulge his usually overly mature eldest son’s childish whims. 

 It was a moment when an uneasy thought crossed his mind: that if things continued this way, his child might become someone who only thought about utilitarian gains rather than his own feelings. Indeed, Seraphine, before meeting him, had also once prioritized public interest over her own emotions. 

 However, leaving Leonhardt in the Blackwood Territory and returning now was also not feasible. Although he was still young, as a Prince, he couldn’t skip his own birthday banquet and the various Imperial Palace festivals. 

 In the end, there was only one way to satisfy the child’s regret. 

 “Leon, why don’t you go ask Cecilia if she’d like to spend this summer in the Imperial Capital?” 

 ……?

 “Since you’ve been indebted to Cecilia at Blackwood Mansion, you can just say you’re repaying that kindness.” 

 “…Is that really alright, Father?” 

 “Of course. Of course, we’ll need permission from Cecilia’s parents too, but if Cecilia says she likes the idea, her parents probably won’t object.” 

 Leonhardt, who had begun to harbor quite hopeful expectations from his father’s words, immediately ran to the Sky Garden to tell her. 

 Cecilia, who had started waiting for Leonhardt instead of reading alone at some point, glared at Leonhardt with a curt voice. 

 “You are late, Leonhardt-nim, it is so. Have you perhaps grown tired of our discussion on the wisdom of Mr. Elephant?” 

 “Sorry, Cecilia. Today is the day my parents are returning.” 

 “…Ah, that’s right. You said Leonhardt-nim is a Prince. It seems it’s about time for you to return to the Imperial Palace.” 

 Cecilia, who momentarily showed a surprised expression, then immediately tried to compose herself and answered calmly. 

 Leonhardt, who found the emotion of regret in her during that fleeting moment, felt certain and offered her the advice he had received from his father. 

 “So, you are saying that to repay the kindness you received from me over the past two weeks, you will serve me at the Imperial Palace during the summer, it is so?” 

 “…Uh, well, y-yes.” 

 “Would you grant me some time to consider, it is so?” 

 “…Alright. Since they say they’re departing tomorrow morning, until then….” 

 “Very well, I have decided, it is so. I shall tell my Father and Mother that I will visit the Imperial Palace this summer, it is so.” 

 “…You’ve already finished thinking?” 

 In truth, even though she had no intention of refusing from the start, Cecilia still pretended to be hesitant once before nodding her head. 

 Her departure for the Imperial Capital in the carriage with Leonhardt and the Hero couple was the next morning’s affair.