“……Do I really have to tell you? “
“Alright. This is the last thing I’ll ask to be explained today. So, please, can you explain it?”
Silvird made a concession on this.
He thought it would be best for his mental health to ask this now and get on with it rather than carrying it over to a later date.
“Hmm. Where should I start from? “
“Princess. If you could tell us everything, please.”
“That’s right, from the beginning.”
Martha and Chris were the first ones to make that request, that was actually closer to a command.
“I was scared to take roots on Logas…… on the Roundhart house and live there until the day I died. I knew I was doing this for Ishtalika. Still, I was hesitant to give my life for that house, and share its future.”
Olivia began to explain, but Ain was once again puzzled by the use of the words ‘take roots’.
“Please let me explain the following with this. Ain was born, Ain had the Toxin DecompositionEX skill. I thought about the possibility that he could ‘grow’ the same way the monsters do. Since he could inherit my Absorb skill.”
“Mother? “What does it mean to take root? And also, is Absorb……? “
“Ahh, I’m sorry, Ain. To take roots means a dryad is able to connect with a man by magic. Absorb, is a dryad racial skill, and I’m an Ancestral Dryad.”
Ain was further confused by that chaotic explanation.
Mother is a dryad? What’s all this about?
“You’re a dryad, Mother!? “
“Yes, that’s right, sorry I’ve kept it secret until now. I’m a real dryad, you know? If I want, I can make a lot of trees and grass grow! “
This isn’t about making a lot of things grow! Ain thought, implying this was far from the point.
“Eh, Ehhhー……”
“Can I continue? Around the time Ain’s Toxin DecompositionEX was discovered, I also discovered the Sea Crystals I was investigating during my free time. It was a place that was predicted to have them to some extent, so the result wasn’t all that surprising. So, at this point, Ishtalika’s problem had already been solved! And with that being the case, I decided to start to act. If everything was alright with Ishtalika, I decided to think of ways Ain could be happy. And that’s when I started to plan coming back home with Ain.”
Doooon!
That sound effect seemed to be heard as product of Olivia’s words.
“Even if you simply say you planned your return together…… Right, Martha-dono?”
“Y-Yeah, you totally get the feeling of ‘what in the world is this woman saying?’.”
Martha answered Chris’s question like that.
“Y-You don’t have to put it like that…… You knew Ain wouldn’t be happy in that house in the first place, right? He would only be treated as an extra to his younger brother. Even if they were to understand the usefulness of Toxin DecompositionEX.”
“Umu…… I won’t deny that. But, how should I put it?”
“The Princess’ ideas are amazing, after all! It might be necessary to review how to survey team works! “
“And since the sea crystals were not a concern anymore, I decided to look for the right opportunity to come back to Ishtalika. To be honest, this was really unexpected, but I thought I would be a good time to do it.”
Contrary to Silvird, Lloyd lavishly praised Olivia.
Next to them, Martha seemed to have thought of something, and changed her expression as she spoke.
“Excuse my rudeness, Princess. But you said you disliked the idea of taking roots, right?
“Ah……That? “
Olivia had certainly said she was reluctant to taking roots.
In other words, she disliked the idea of sleeping with Logas.
With this being the case, having the boy named Ain born was something strange.
“Can it be, Princess? You used the dryad’s trait for that? It looks to me you were too prepared, even the issue with the Dullahan’s magic stone.”
“……Hmm? “
Chris appeared to have noticed something, but Olivia simply tilted her head with a puzzled smile.
“Chris-san. Excuse me, but what is that dryad’s trait you were talking about?”
“……Princess. Should I explain it? Or is it better if you do it yourself? “
Again, seemingly aware of something, Chris asked which one of them should speak.
“……Okay. You explain it, Chris……It’s a bit embarrassing.”
“Haaa, seriously. It might become a somewhat stimulating story. Are you sure you want to hear it, Ain-sama? “
“Y-Yes, please.”
“The dryads are a unique race with low numbers. This is due to the characteristics of taking root and a certain trait. First of all, taking roots is sharing their life with another person. If one dies, so does the other. Therefore, dryads are a unique race that can only have one partner in their whole lives. That’s why, as for the action of taking roots and having intercourse with a member of the opposite sex, dryads are especially cautious about that among the many races.”
“I feel as I’m understanding her actions more and more. Lloyd……I’m getting a headache.”
“There’s nothing that can be done, Your Majesty. Here, have some tea.”
Silvird held his head after listening to Chris’ explanation, and Lloyd tried to comfort him a little.
“Uhh, but if they didn’t have intercourse……then they wouldn’t have a child, right? Then, what am I? “
“That’s the heart of this story, Ain-sama. It’s a trait characteristic to dryads. Dryads can split their core and magic stone, and create their own ‘ideal’ opposite sex partner. This can be said to be the safest form for a dryad to do it without the need to take roots. Of course, it can only be used once in a lifetime. And to be clear, the dryads, rather than focusing on the physical appearance, pay more attention to the other person’s personality.”
” ! ? Then, does that means……Ahh, uhmm……? “
“Still, the genetic information of the opposite sex is needed, so it’s not like it’s strictly asexual reproduction. In that case……Princess? “
Ain couldn’t get all this information sorted out.
Was he not Olivia’s child? He couldn’t settle down since he didn’t really understand what this meant.
“Uhh……But I mean, I’ll die with that person if I take root, right!? I was scared to take roots in someone I met for the first time and who I didn’t know that well, I felt all alone by going to Heim on my own. That’s why I think you can cut me some slack for wanting to be with my ideal cute little Ain.”
Olivia answered with that.
“Umu, umu. Lloyd-dono…… It must’ve been hard for the Princess too.”
“Without doubt. She went by herself to marry into a foreign country.”
Next to these two, Silvird was still holding his head.
“What about the genes of the opposite sex? And about the first night?”
“I used a cloth with which Logas wiped some blood after he was injured. About the first night, and the nights after that, I simply used the hypnosis ability. That’s why I never really refused him at nights. I thought that maybe…………the time would eventually come when I would be ready.”
Dryads were a race that had a minor hypnotic ability.
It wasn’t that strong, but it was enough to fool Logas into thinking he had laid his hand on her.
And for Olivia, whom that meant taking roots, this night duty was a matter of life and death. That’s why, while she steeled herself and organized her feelings, she used this little trick.
“Sorry. I still haven’t been able to sort everything out…… what does that mean? “
Ain wasn’t able to organize all this information yet, however, he understood Olivia’s feeling to some extent.
For a dryad, the act of taking root was literally placing roots for life. And if she were to do it with his father Logas…………she would have to continue living in the Roundhart house for her whole life, but because she was scared of those shackles, she couldn’t make up her mind at first.
“Essentially, this trait is the act of making the dryad’s ideal partner. In that sense, although at present Ain-sama is the Princess child…… he’s also more like a child for the princess.”
Chris spoke some shocking contents.
Did this mean Ain wasn’t Olivia’s child? He thought about it while having a chill. As they heard he was born as Olivia’s ideal partner, the tension in the room rose.
“Olivia. I heard dryads can adjust the age when creating their ideal partner. It might not be possible now that he’s a complete person, but couldn’t you wait until you came back and gave birth to Ain here? “
“……? First, I couldn’t wait. After all, if I didn’t have a child, it would’ve been a problem.”
“Can it be, Princess……?”
“I only have bad feelings about this.”
Both Martha and Chris reacted similarly.
They were slightly afraid of the words that were to come.
“Isn’t it fine for Ain to be small like this? Can’t you understand the joy of loving Ain as he gradually grows up? “
The so-called “Reverse Hikaru Genji plan”.
That’s right, Olivia had a thing for shota attributes.
And when she noticed his ideal child had Toxin DecompositionEX, she made her mind.
She’ll give this child the Dullahan’s magic stone that she had in her room.
“Alright. In many ways, I feel like I’ve been placed on the winning team.
Understanding up to this point, Ain was quietly assured of this.
＊
＊
The morning Ain arrived at Ishtalika by the water train.
Around the same time, there was a bit of a commotion at the Archduke Augusto’s residence.
“……Hey, Grandfather? Let’s talk about me going to study abroad in Ishtalika.”
“Um uhmm……That isn’t something that easy, you know? “
Krone was pressing Archduke Augusto.
She asked him to send her study abroad in Ishtalika.
Obviously, this was so that she could be close to Ain and Olivia.
“Why it isn’t easy? Is it money? Or is it about manners and academy ability? I didn’t want to say this in front of Father, but I’m better when compared to him in all these areas, don’t you think? “
Krone nonchalantly spoke ill of her father, Harley, as if it was nothing.
“Umu, you’re right Krone, that might certainly be true.”
“F-Father……? “
“What, Harley? Say it.”
“……No, it’s nothing.”
Harley was a hard worker, but there was nothing he could say.
It was meaningless since, after all, Krone quite excellent, just like she had said.
In fact, Krone’s excellence was true to the point where she greatly outperformed him in manners and academic ability, and that was the reason of Harley’s troubled expression.
“So, Grandfather? What’s it going to be? “
“You want to be with Ain-dono that much?”
“Father. I honestly think it’s better to call him Ain-‘sama’.”
“How curious, I was just thinking the same, Harley.”
Ain was the only son of Ishtalika’s second princess.
No matter how great of an Archduke he was, calling ‘dono’ to someone belonging to the royal family of a great power did not feel right.
“I want to go. If not, then what’s the point of this Star Crystal?”
“That’s true, but…… uhmm.”
“Haaa…… Father. It might be impossible to do it right away, but let’s let her go.”
“Harley! Don’t say it as if it’s that easy! “
“Even if you tell me that, you know Krone’s will becomes stronger when she’s stubborn. Didn’t she stopped talking to you for three months that time?”
“W-Well……! “
Archduke Augusto made one mistake when Krone was four years old.
He accidentally stepped on a doll she really liked.
It might’ve been only that, but Krone was quite angry at him at that time.
And, until her mood finally became good again, Krone decided to completely ignore the Archduke for the next three months.
“I think this might be good considering the situation in the near future.”
“I know, right, Father? Ishtalika is amiable and a pacifist country. However, with this time’s incident, I feel we might have overstepped. At the very least, the break of diplomatic ties with them might be inevitable.”
“The worst would be getting attacked by Ishtalika…… no, that would be actually the end. Harley, what do you think would be the next bad thing?”
“Those guys in Euro and Rockdam getting the backing of Ishtalika.”
Archduke Augusto casted his gaze downwards at Harley’s words.
He then pondered on some of those predictions.
“Father. Could you tell me your current priorities? The home? The country? “
Augusto felt hesitant to answer, but still, he spoke his thoughts.
“It’s useless to keep it to myself. It is true we’ve served and contributed to Heim generation after generation. Both me, and the Augusto house as a whole. But what I think…… What I feel more precious is my family, and those who serve this house.”
“You’re right, Father.”
Despite him being at the top of the nobility, for Archduke Augusto, his family was the first and most important.
He had a strong love for his family and his household.
He did serve the country and valued it quite a bit, however, when it came to priority, his family would always come first.
“Then, Grandfather, does that mean!? “
“It’s impossible right now. Let’s think about it slowly. ……It would be fool to go to Ishtalika straight from the Roundhart port.”
“You’re right. It’s best to think about the diplomatic relations. But even so, a ship from Heim might give a terrible impression. The next best thing would be to use one from Euro.”
“Grandfather! I can go to Ain’s place then!? When!? “
“Calm down, Krone. I’m thinking a year, within a year it might be good for you to leave for Ishtalika. We’ll get things ready in the meantime.”
“For real!? I love you, Grandfather! Thank you! “
“Fu fufu……Krone is a good girl.”
Archduke Augusto relaxed his expression after being told he was loved by Krone.
Seeing this, his son Harley couldn’t help but to smile wryly at him.
“I just hope this doesn’t end in us looking for asylum, Father.”
“Indeed.”
＊
A few tens of minutes after those outrageous revelations.
Just as they talked inside the meeting room, a knock was heard on the door.
“Who is it?”
Warren asked to the person knocking.
“I’ve come after preparing what you’ve asked, Warren-sama, but……”
“I’m coming.”
The one knocking on the door was a civil servant.
He was one of Warren’s subordinates.
“Indeed. Looks like everything is correct…… Olivia, do you have any objection? “
“If something bad happens to Ain, I’ll let him suck another national treasure magic stone.”
“It won’t. Nothing bad will happen, so please spare me from that……”
It seemed this was something related to Ain; however, he had no idea what it was about.
Next to him, Chris smiled lightly at him as is trying to reassure him.
Ain too, couldn’t help but feel curious about how another national treasure might taste like.
He swore in his heart that someday he would taste it.
“Nya nyaa!? Ohh, Olivia is really back, nya! “
“……A c-cat? “
“Ara, it’s been a while onee-sama, your fur is quite pretty today too.”
“Huh?! Is that so, nya!? You have a great taste, Olivia.”
“M-Mother, who is this……cat?”
As Warren-san walked out the door to talk with the person who brought some papers, in his place came in a large cat, about 120 cm tall. It was a cat with black fur, walking in two feet and wearing clothes.
The cat’s fur was shinny and pretty, and was visibly well taken care of.
And what’s more, this cat spoke in human words.
“I’m not a cat, nya! How rude!! Just by looking at my beautiful fur you should knyow I am the first princess! “
“The first princess!? A cat!? “
“Nyaike I said! I’m not a cat, nya! I’m Katima Von Ishtalika! The respectable first princess, nya! “
’Even if you say that’, Ain thought to himself, but didn’t say it out loud since it seemed troublesome.
He seriously thought she was just a cat, but since Chris next to him said the same, he had to believe it.
“M-Mother’s…… big sister? “
“Yes. Katima-sama is Olivia-sama’s sister. She’s Ishtalika’s First Princess.”
“Are they not blood-related?”
“We are, nya! You’re totally rude……is that what you think of the great complex royal bloodline? “
“What’s this about complex royal bloodline?”
Ain felt less nervous talking to her since her greeting was more casual than Silvird’s.
“The Ishtalika Royal Family’s bloodline has had a large number of races, so it’s not surprising that new royalty is born as some of those races nya! That’s why I said complex bloodline, fun, right nya?”
“(Is the royal bloodline alright……?)”
“By the way, who are you nya? Not even greeting me, the First Princess, you’re very rude.”
“Katima. This child is Ain…… Olivia’s kid.”
Katima asked about the identity of Ain.
And the one who answered her question was Silvird.
“Ahh, I see, nya～……Eh, Nyaaaaaaa!? Olivia’s child!? How!? Then, that makes me…… uhmm, his sister, nya? “
“Your position would be his aunt.”
Martha corrected Katima.
It was unclear why she thought her position would be the sister.
“A-Aunt, nya……? Almost as if my little sister gave birth to a child……”
“That’s exactly why I said that.”
Getting gradually more irritated by the restless cat named Katima, Ain went ahead and touched her neck.
“Hey, what are you……nya～……you’re really good a petting, nyaa. I have to admit it, nya. I’ll allow you to call me Katima as a reward, nya.”
“……Thank you very much, Katima-san.”
He touched her aunt like one would pet a cat, but apparently, she didn’t have a problem with it.
“Ohh, it seems Katima-sama has already opened up to you, Ain-sama.”
“I don’t know if I can call this her opening up, but yeah.”
“That’s fine. Katima-sama? You already checked the documents, right? “
“I did nya, and I also signyaed them already.”
“Thank you very much. The Queen, who was set to visit a neighboring town, also signed it in a hurry. All that’s left are His Majesty and the Princess’ signatures.”
Every member of the Royal Family was signing the document.
It looked a bit strange.
“Yes, I’m fine with it, here Father.”
“……Alright. I’ve signed it too.”
“Then, I, Warren, together with Lloyd-dono will serve as witnesses. Lloyd-dono, if you please.”
“Umu……Alright, I see no problem with it, Warren-dono.”
“Then, my turn……Okay. I give my consent too.”
Everyone passed over and checked what seemed to be an important document.
The word witness had also come out.
Something was moving at a tremendous speed.
“Then, Your Majesty. If you will.”
“Umu. I, Silvird Von Ishtalika. Acknowledge Ain and accept him into the Royal Family of Ishtalika! “
” ! Mother, does that m……”
“Yeah. Now you have a home to return to. “
Ain was delighted.
He was happy to have a new family, since until just now, he had no place to call home anymore.
And even thought the royal family was quite a large home, his joy was still great.
“Yes, thank you very much, Your Majesty. Now, onto the second one.”
“Eh? The second……? “
Ain wondered about those words; however, the content was read without paying mind to his concerns.
“I, Silvird Von Ishtalika. By my name, I declare you Ain Von Ishtalika, crown Prince.”
From a houseless child to becoming part of the Royal Family.
Ain thought this was a considerable improvement in his life, but he didn’t think it would go even beyond that.
For the time being, he decided to look at Olivia next to him, but she was just staring at him with an angelic smile.