[IHTTMBW] Chapter 36

“There’s too much chatter during the meeting.” 

His words were enough to shut up those who had been praising me. Honestly, it was a skill in itself to speak like that in the face of such cuteness. 

Euphil nudged Gelbart’s arm, signalling that it was time to go since we had accomplished what we came for. Gelbart nodded and addressed the King. 

“Then, we’ll take our leave.” 

“Hurry and get out.” 

“Oh, my disciple needs to see the world, so we’ll explore the palace quite a bit from now on.” 

And for the final shot—a direct headshot to the King. A good assistant always ensures a proper follow-up, so I chimed in too. 

“Myrthi loves exploring!” 

Even Euphil couldn’t suppress a chuckle at my innocent remark. 

The King began to tremble, unable to respond, and Gelbart quickly lifted us to leave the room. 

As we exited the meeting room, I caught sight of a guard looking utterly flustered. I widened my eyes and blinked at him before giving him a bright smile and saying, “Hello!” 

My words seemed to knock out the last bit of sense of the guard, who had already been dazed. His shoulders stiffened as he heard the King’s angry shouting from within the meeting room. 

La la, how delightful this was. 

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ * * 

“What on earth were you thinking, doing something like that?” 

We had left the palace and were heading toward the garden with the fountain. Euphil, clearly still shaken, crossed his arms and questioned Gelbart. 

Euphil must have been quite overwhelmed. It was understandable; after all, Gelbart had spontaneously decided to march straight from his estate to the royal palace. 

But Gelbart responded seriously. 

“From now on, such situations will arise countless times. When you know your enemy, striking first is the only way to win. Until now, you and Myrthi have only been on the receiving end of attacks.” 

Euphil fell silent. Interpreting that silence as understanding, Gelbart continued. 

“Make sure everyone remembers that you are my disciple, and let no one dare look down on you.” 

His words were solemn. Then, Gelbart leaned down and lifted me, who had been looking up at him while holding his hand. I burst into giggles as I was swiftly hoisted into the air. Euphil was staring intently at me as I smiled.   “Remember. Never forget the meaning behind your sword.”   At his words, Euphil slowly nodded. Only then did Gelbart smile and conclude, “If you do that, you will win. In the battles within this palace.”   Those words were beneficial to me as well. I looked at Gelbart and muttered inwardly, ‘Make sure everyone remembers that I am a princess, and let no one dare to underestimate me.’   Then, I turned to look at Euphil. The reason I set my goal was the reason I decided to change the future.   ‘Never forget the meaning of my survival. If I do that, I will win this battle.’   And then, I smiled sweetly.   I was five years old and had already altered the course of the future.      [The child had turned ten years old.]   And Euphil himself was now fifteen. He cherished these afternoons when she would come to him for her daily nap, enjoying them more than anything else. He couldn’t sleep unless she was nestled in his arms.   His little sister looked so serene with her wavy silver hair and lashes that cast long shadows over her eyes the same colour. As he gently stroked her cheek, Euphil felt a tickling sensation in his chest, a feeling that somehow scared him.   

He cautiously caressed Myrthi with his fingertips, ensuring that this little angel wouldn’t wake and that she would only have sweet dreams. Euphil found himself gazing at her smooth, soft-looking forehead as he brushed her hair back.  

On an impulse, he kissed her there, but then he quickly pulled back in shock, realising that it wasn’t an act of his own will. His face grew cold and stern.  

A warning of danger was echoing repeatedly in his mind.  

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆  

“Give us the Princess!”  

“Stand back! I have a headache. What on earth are you saying?”  

“Oh, oh. Ahem. That’s not what I meant. But at the Academy…”  

“Didn’t you come just five years ago?”  

The scholar from the Academy hesitated awkwardly, then moved forward again.  

“Even then, you did not send the prince to us!”  

And with that, he vented his frustration.  

It wasn’t the first time someone from the Academy had come. I didn’t usually attend the ministers’ meetings, but when Gelbart was involved, I could be present.  

Of course, the King wasn’t pleased.  

Five years ago, when Gelbart assigned a tutor to Euphil, he was one of the scholars who had graduated from the Academy. And it’s said that the scholar was so astonished by Euphil’s genius that he sent an exceedingly long letter to the Academy, pleading with them to ensure that the third prince of Crothasone, who possessed such an extraordinary mind, would be sent to the Academy to cultivate his knowledge.  

So, the Academy sent someone.  

He spent just half a day with Euphil and then stormed into the ministers’ meeting, looking as if he had just encountered a divine being.  

At the time, the King, who had already been interrupted several times by the ministers, asked the scholar what was going on, with a face that suggested he was about to lose his mind. The scholar replied,  

“Please, give us your son!”  

It was a request that was instantly denied.