Chapter 53: Messenger

We rushed to the mayors mansion.

Its been quite some time since Ive come to this town. The people in this town were friendly to me since the beginning, and they were furious when they found out that Amy and I had nearly been kidnapped. They even added that I was an important child of this town. Once they found out that I was also helping people increase their magic power with Alistair, they were thankful and decided that they wouldnt treat me in a special way.

They treated me like any other child in their town.

Its been a while since Ive come to this town, I grew a lot in the time I spent here, and I could control my body better. I couldnt run yet, but I could walk to the mayors mansion without getting tired.

I walked fast to the mayors mansion in the afternoons while holding Alistairs hand.

Say, Bart, the butler, who came with us, kept glancing at me. I think we should hurry.

Oh, ah. Let them wait. Its important for kids to walk by themselves. And-.

And?

Nah, its nothing.

Bart was focused on the wrong thing.

Now, were at the edge of town. Were almost at the mayors mansion. Fuu.

Well, its fine for her to walk by herself. But its not as cute as tottering.

Oh boy, I didnt say that alright? Bart muttered his excuse. I stopped and turned around.

Noth thoththering!

Oh, oh? Sorry. Yeah, youre not tottering. Youre walking fast.

Thats fine.

For some reason, everyone was laughing really hard, and Alistair and I reached the mayors mansion. The butler opened the door and led us to the parlour as a servant who knew the way.

When he got to the parlour, he looked at Bart as if he wanted to say something, but held it down in the end and knocked on the door.

Come in.

It was exactly like the time with the previous messengers. I felt weird and glanced up at Alistair. He looked forward with serious eyes.

When the butler opened the door, Bart went in first, then Kyaro and Clyde, then Alistair and I, and Mill was behind us as if he was defending our backs. Like the other time, the mayor sat on the sofa in the back, and a messenger sat opposite him. They were gracefully holding their teacups. There was a servant behind the mayor and two people, who I didnt know, next to the wall.

Theyre probably the messengers guards.

Youre here? The messenger stood up after the mayor said that and looked at us.

Otousyama

Lei? Alistair heard my quiet mutter. Alistair, Bart and the others froze for a second because they were surprised.

Im wong.

Thats right. That person is probably around 20 years old.

He had lighter hair than the mayor, but darker than mine; his blonde hair was tied in a ponytail to the back. He had a good posture and dark violet eyes.

Yeah, theres no way for him to be my father since his age, hair and eyes are all different. Father is taller than him, and I can never tell what hes thinking from looking at him.

The mans face distorted a little as he gently said, Lei.

He never looked at me with such dark and cold eyes.

Uoah.

Lei?

I want to go home. I want to go home. I want to go back to where father is. I love Bart and Alistair, but I want to go back to where father and brother are.

Uoooaaah.

Alistair let go off my hand when I burst out into tears. Mill picked me up while Alistair was panicking.

Miww noth Otousyama, go home.

Oh, is that so? Yeah, its okay.

Mill couldnt understand what I was saying at all, but he gently swayed me while holding my head to his chest. Ive endured it all this time, but I couldnt hold it in anymore when I saw someone who looked like father. I couldnt stop crying.

This baby doesnt know anything, The messenger said in disappointment.

Theres a rumour going around saying that shes really smart.

Im surprised that they sent a messenger who would intimidate and make a baby cry, Bart growled.

Bart. The mayors voice didnt sound as energetic as it usually did.

What is it, mayor?

This person came from the capital.

Ive heard.

His name is Hubert Wester.

Bart looked as if he was searching through his memories.

Hubert Gilbert, Hubert Hubert! Then he looked as if he realised something and the mayor said in a worn-out tone, Yes. The 2

nd

Prince of Wester.

My tears stopped.

Ive never seen a prince in this life or my previous one.

I rubbed my face on Mills clothes, and he gently patted my back.

No, I just saw one.

*SNIFF*.

I lifted my face off Mills chest and looked at him. His gentle brown eyes were looking at me just like they always are.

Yeah. So what if hes a prince? I just got a little upset because he looked like father, but father is way more handsome than him and brother is also handsome even though hes small right now. And they dont have such a nasty look in their eyes.

Well, father generally has a poker-face But at least he doesnt have a nasty look in his eye.

I rubbed my eyes on my sleeves and looked at Mill. He looked at me questioningly and seemed to have noticed something. He wiped away the tear marks on my cheeks with his sleeve.

Miww chu shhouwd hab a handwerchief.

My bad, I forgot about it.

I laughed a little when I saw Mill smiling wryly.

Miww, thhanwsh. Doww.

Youre alright now?

Ai.

I asked Mill to put me down and turned around to look at Alistair. Alistairs face was stiff, and he looked at me in worry and gently wiped the remaining tears from the corner of my eyes.

Awishthair hand.

We held hands, and I turned to look at the messenger.

Oh.

Its not oh. I cant be easy-going just because he looks a little like father!