Father, I Won’t Do Anything - Chapter 58

Emperor Erga, who ruled the Empire of Delide, had two children, excluding the one who passed away. The first child being Princess Elia, and the second, Prince Kelvent.

Unlike Princess Elia who made a name for herself in the fields of liberal and martial arts, Prince Kelvent was infamous for his personality issues and weak constitution.

-Princess Elia, it would be better for her to take the throne next.

Therefore, all of nobility agreed that the throne should be succeeded by Princess Elia. To begin with, Emperor Erga had little to disagree with because of Elia’s outstanding nature.

But there was a problem.

If Elia were to inherit the throne, her only child Rosian would naturally become the Crown Prince. However, he had little resemblance to his mother.

In addition to this, Princess Elia wasn’t interested in power. She thought that she could contribute to the empire in a number of ways even if she did not succeed to the throne.

-His Majesty could change his mind.

Due to many restrictions placed on the Crown Princess, Elia would further delay on taking that position with the excuse of wanting to focus on her role as the Head Knight.

Even so, people naturally thought that Elia would still be next-in-line for the throne.

However, Prince Kelvent and his aides were of a different opinion.

He had become greedy for the seat of the Emperor.

-Prince Rosian isn’t good enough to be the Emperor, so Princess Elia should adopt her nephew and give him the position of Crown Prince. I do think it’d be better for Prince Kelvent to become Emperor than Rosian.

-Prince Kelvent has recently begun to receive support from the people of the empire as well.

However, It was obviously a foolish idea for him and his entourage, the Emperor had no such thoughts about Kelvent.

-Arnen, you would become the next emperor after me if I were to succeed that position.

Being oblivious to the thoughts of the Emperor, Kelvent would often dream of becoming the Emperor and speak to his son with a smile hungry for power.

Whenever such an incident happened, his aides would often join in.

-Prince Rosian is far too free-spirited to be the son of Princess Elia.

-That’s true, Prince Kelvent and Prince Arnen are far more calmer.

Then one day, Rosian suddenly came to his senses and began to take swordsmanship and his studies more seriously .

People then began to praise Prince Rosian, saying his previous actions were nothing more than a child’s wandering.

The two princes could not hide their anger when the crown seemed to be returning to Elia.

The two thought it was all because of Rosian.

‘Rosian… If it wasn’t for him… I could’ve become the Crown Prince… How on earth is he better than me?’

Since Elia had her child late, Arnen was the same age as his cousin, Rosian.

‘Even though we’re the same age, our status are so different. I’m the grandson of the Emperor too!’

After that, Arnen began to pick fights with Rosian whenever he could.

When he heard there was a social gathering today, he came to see Rosian.

“Rosian Delide, I thought you were done with chasing after girls?”

“And you’re chasing me, right?”

Rosian smirked at Arnen, as if he had blushed.

(TL/N: As if Arnen blushed, not Rosian.)

Arnen grinded his teeth at the relaxed expression.

“When did I ever do such a thing! You’re a member of the imperial family, yet you’re so indulgent…”

“Arnen, for how much longer are you going to bother me? I’m not interested in men, let alone an immature cousin.”

“Rosian, don’t think of yourself so highly!”

“Rosian, don’t think of yourself so highly~”

“Don’t copy me!”

“Don’t copy me~”

“Argh!”

“Argh!”

Rosian burst into laughter at the sight of Arnen getting angry.

“Arnen, you can’t become jealous of others because I don’t care about you. You’re cute in your own way.”

“You’re always like this!”

“Anyway, you didn’t follow me here, right?”

“Yes!”

“We’re leaving then, go play here. Goodbye.”

Rosian suddenly grabbed Jayna’s hand and walked away. As Arnen glanced at the backs of the two, he suddenly realized.

‘Rosian isn’t the type of guy to leave so easily, right?’

Rosian was one who would usually, with a smiling face, chase him until he ran away.

‘I can’t believe you disappeared so quickly, it’s like you don’t want to show me that child…’

Arnen recalled the report he received from the maid.

-A child living in the Wizard’s Tower is currently at a social gathering along with Princess Elia and under her support. She’s also close to Diamide, the Tower Lord, close enough for him to take her to a concert.

Two big shots are looking after her… and Rosian’s interest in her was much more than Arnen thought.

“You can’t just walk away from me.”

Arnen followed Rosian’s steps.

The guy who used to be called a playboy suddenly became mature and began focusing on swordsmanship, and now there was someone he had to see off with a carriage?

He would be a fool not to notice.

‘She must be the girl Rosian likes. She doesn’t look half-bad either, and if I steal her heart, Rosian will beg, won’t he?’

Arnen laughed slyly at the thought. He then pulled out the communication beads attached to his arm.

“Hey, you all remove your knight’s uniforms and dress up like gangsters.”

-Yes, pardon? What do you mean, young master?

“I know you’re all secretly following me. My father ordered you to do this, didn’t he? I’ll let it go this time, so hurry up before my patience runs out.”

After all, isn’t the most astounding action for a girl to have a prince on a white horse save her from villains?

How long had he been waiting? The knights hurriedly came, dressed as gangsters, and stood at attention.

“However, young master, why did you ask us to suddenly dress up like gangsters?”

“Stop talking and do as I say. Do you see that girl over there?”

As Arnen pointed at Jayna, the knights nodded with grim faces.

“You guys surround and threaten her. Do you understand? Don’t stop until she’s in tears.”

“Y-young master. I think that’s too much. She’s only a child…”

“How dare you talk back to me!”

Arnen kicked the shin of the knight who brought it up.

It was a slow attack, but knights could not avoid a prince’s attack.

“….!”

The kicked knight’s face twisted.

“So, I’ll intervene mid-way, like a just knight.”

Fellow knights looked at him with pity, but there was nothing they could do.

“Okay? Did you get it!? Nod your heads if you did!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Stupid people. I have to make a loud noise for you to listen.”

Arnen, who prepared the knights, hid behind a wall and peeped to monitor his timing.

“Jayna, then I’ll go get you some ice cream, so please wait.”

Arnen muttered as he watched Rosian rise from his seat.

“How lucky. I thought I’d have to take care of Rosian too…”

No matter how much Rosian is Elia’s son, he is still a child.

Arnen was certain that Rosian wasn’t a match for so many knights, and would take this opportunity to lower that nose that’s up in the air.

(PR/N: ‘nose that’s up in the air’ = arrogant, so to lower it means Arnen wants to educate/humble Rosian.)

“No, this is actually a good thing. He’s also an imperial child, so if you lay him incorrectly, things could get worse. Come on, let’s go!”

His knights hesitated but then rushed forwards, Arnen loosened his body by cracking his neck back and forth.

‘Excluding the fact that my mother wasn’t a hero, I’m much better than Rosian. In terms of face and swordsmanship.’

The knights were seen surrounding Jayna.

The soft-skinned child looked smaller when surrounded by knights.

“Hey, kid. Do you have any adults around you? Are you alone?”

“Give us everything you have while we’re being nice.”

Any child is bound to feel threatened when several men with bulging muscles approach.

The knights strode up to Jayna and drove her against the wall.

“Well, well…”

“What are you doing to a child…?”

Passersby only watched from behind, afraid of angering the ‘thugs’.

Seeing the fear filled faces of passersby, Arnen smiled with satisfaction.

‘Is it time for her to cry now?’

It’d be the most effective moment to step up when Jayna was scared, to the point of crying.

“Why’re you being quiet? You don’t understand what we’re saying, do you?”

“Ugh, do I have to tell you how dangerous the world is these days?”

The child’s face was not visible as she was surrounded by the knights. Arnen felt a sense of frustration.

‘Why haven’t I heard something from them even though some time had already passed? I told them to give me a signal when she cries.’

They must have forgotten. He had asked for them to do so, however how could not a single one of them remember it?

Arnen strode up to them in frustration.

“U-ugh.”

“Arnen.”

But there was no child waiting for a prince on a white horse as Arnen had imagined.

There was only a child with an expressionless face standing there.

“These knights are really bad at acting.”

Amongst the fallen knights, Jayna spoke while slightly shaking her hands.

“You sent these people to me, didn’t you?”

“Wh-what? How could a little girl injure elite knights…?”

“Elite knights? Well, that was difficult to know. They were so weak, I couldn’t have known.” /

‘What, they were ‘too weak’?’

They weren’t just elite knights, but I’ve brought knights from the imperial family?

Jayna continued.

“Well, I used wind in moderation, so their lives won’t be affected. Also, why did you send your knights after me?”

“I didn’t do such a thing!”

Arnen made an excuse. However, Jayna continued without changing her expression for a single moment.

“Everyone here spilled the truth.”

“……!”

Arnen protested, swearing inwardly.

“I didn’t mean it in a bad way!”

“You might have sent the knights with good intentions, but wasn’t sending them a bad decision?”

“I-I like you… So I wanted to look good in front of you!”

Arnen spoke subtly, after all, he couldn’t just say, ‘My cousin, Rosian, seems to really adore you. So I tried to steal your heart to feel victorious.’

“I thought I’d win your favor if I show up like a prince on a white horse and save you!”

Jayna, with a polite expression, tilted her face.

“If you like me, you should be nice to me. I can’t fathom what you’re trying to say by sending knights after me to get my attention.”

As Jayna continued to speak coldy, Arnen, who was irritated, groaned while biting his lip.

“Besides, when have you ever seen me?”

“That, it was love at first sight… this won’t happen again…”

“Did I say there will be a next time?”

Even after that remark, Arnen still continued onwards, internally saying the words ‘fucking bitch’ to her.

“Do you know who I am? I’m a member of the royal family, I can do whatever I want!”

The status of Imperial Grandson was the thing Arnen had the most confidence in.

“I don’t usually apologize either, I did it because it’s you. If you desire anything, I’ll buy it for you. If you want something to happen, I’ll make sure it happens.”

Arnen spoke with a melancholic expression.

“So just this once… could you forgive me?”

However, Jayna spoke briefly without any agitation.

“I didn’t ask.”

[T/N: Whether he’d change, etc etc.]

“…….”

“I didn’t think I’d get a proper apology anyways. I’ll get going then.”

She quickly ended the conversation and turned to where Rosian was prior to him leaving.

In a hurry, Arnen grabbed her hand

“Don’t leave!”

Contrary to his outward expression, Arnen inwardly smiled to himself.

‘Didn’t I seem powerful just now?’

As a member of the Delide Royal Family, his appearance wasn’t lacking.

‘You’re a little girl, if a handsome older brother holds your hand, won’t your heart pound?’

Contrary to Arnen’s expectations, Jayna was not impressed.

‘You suddenly show up out of nowhere, how annoying.’

It was because she wasn’t interested in his outward appearance.

On top of that.

‘They’re the same blue eyes, yet his are a hundred times better.’

Jayna recalled a person she knew whose eyes were a similar colour.

Sadly, Arnen was nowhere near better than Rosian, Diamide, and Michael.

‘With what kind of confidence do you think you’re handsome?’

There were too many handsome people around Jayna for her to be seduced by someone good looking.

Jayna wasn’t not impressed by them, other than the thought that they were handsome.

‘His personality is the biggest issue. I can’t believe he used his knights to win my favor. He didn’t even apologize properly. He’s the very opposite of Rosian.’

Jayna let out a deep sigh.

‘His gaze looks blurry and weak. He has a low nose, and his skin isn’t good either… this is the blood of the imperial family, right?’

Jayna looked at Arnen with a displeased expression. Meanwhile, he grinned, seemingly interpreting her glance incorrectly.

‘Aren’t I more handsome than Rosian?’

“What kind of relationship do you have with the Tower Lord…”

It was when Arnen tried to carry on with his conversation with Jayna.

“Arnen, what are you doing here?”

When the two turned around, there stood Rosian, who had a cold expression, with ice cream in both hands.

“Jayna, he didn’t do anything, did he?”

“What! I was just talking to Jayna because I liked her.”

After Arnen said those words, he raised her hand, the one which he held.

Rosian’s expression grew even fiercer.

“I know you don’t like me, so why did you follow me this far?”

In the fierce atmosphere, Rosian’s normally easy-going personality was nowhere to be seen.

Arnen broke out in cold sweat.

‘What, why’s Rosian looking at me like that?’

Arnen unwillingly let go of Jayna’s hand.

He didn’t want to admit that his body momentarily froze.

He spoke out loudly.

“My parents got married when they were sixteen, and they were engaged at twelve. Shouldn’t I seriously start looking for a marriage partner now?”

“Jayna is still young.”

“Pft, if you don’t want her as the royal daughter-in-law, why don’t you tell me so? You’re Princess Elia’s son, so you can’t choose your partner, can you? I’m planning on proposing to this kid.”

“R-royal daughter-in-law…?”

At those words, Rosian’s temper died down.

He suddenly became silent and looked at her in wonder, his cheeks as red as strawberries.

“Royal daughter, just what…”

He surprisingly became shy.

How can someone who smiled slyly in any situation suddenly be so embarrassed?

In their eyes, they saw Rosian back away, and cover his face with two hands.

“S-stop it, why are you two looking at me like that… Arnen, stay away from Jayna!”

When Rosian suddenly shouted, Arnen paused for a moment, surprised.

Jayna, alternated glances between the two, soon returning to her usual expression and said,

“Actually, I’m a celibate…”

[TL/N: Celibate; a person who abstains from marriage and sexual relations.]

“What?”

“What did you say?”

Rosian was dumbfounded.

“But didn’t you previously say that you have an ideal type?”

“I did, but these days, I just think it’s useless to get married.”

Arnen then intervened.

“But a woman must have a man…”

“Don’t say such weird things that could distract Jayna from her beliefs. Just get lost.”

Rosian returned to a cold expression and spoke.

“I know you met Jayna while you were following me.”

“T-That’s…”

Arnen, frightened by Rosian’s threatening appearance, quickly stepped down.

“….”

“Your Highness?”

That’s how Arnen left, and there was silence between the two for a while.

Rosians lips twitched, he seemed to have something to say.

But when Jayna tried to make eye-contact, he averted his gaze and closed his mouth.

Seeing Rosian act in such a way, Jayna decided to speak first.

“What were you trying to say to me earlier?”

“Yeah, I… I… towards Jayna…”

Rosian sighed as he looked into the air.

“……I was just thinking that I think of you like my sister.”

Jayna blinked.

“A sister?”

Rosian rarely had a serious expression.

Jayna felt that something was amiss.

However he soon let out a sigh, relaxed his expression and opened his mouth.

“Of course, I may be the only one thinking of Jayna in such a way…”

“It’s not like that, I also feel attached to Your Highness.”

As Jayna smiled, Rosian shyly laughed, as if he was only relieved now.

“On another note, I don’t think I’m the only one who changed? I think Jayna has gotten a lot taller and has become more mature.”

“But His Highness is even taller than I am?”

“Really? Well, the next time we see each other, Jayna and I might be growing so big that we won’t be able to recognize each other.”

Rosian’s tone felt strange to Jayna. It felt like he was going to leave for someplace.

“Your Highness, are you going someplace far away by chance?”

“Actually, I’ll be leaving for Melbell Academy.”

Melbell Academy.

It was founded by Mel Bell the Great, whose disciples now teach their own students, in accordance with his wishes.

“It’s been a tradition for generations that all the members of the Delidean Royal Family graduate from the Melbell Academy before entering public office. It is said that Mel Bell the Great was acquainted with our ancestors.”

[T/N: Public Office: A position of authority or service involving responsibility to the public.]

“Ah…”

“It’s a place with little interaction with the outside world, so if I go there, I won’t be able to meet Jayna for years. It really is a difficult place to graduate from.”

“Can I write to you?”

“Will you reply?”

“Of course.”

“…After I leave, I’m worried you’ll meet many kids like Arnen while I’m gone.”

Rosian, for some reason, couldn’t make eye contact with Jayna and simply shook his head.

“You won’t be seeing me for a long time, so wouldn’t you just forget me?”

Jayna took his hand and spoke softly.​

“Do you know of a sister who forgets her brother?”

Only then did a small smile appear on Rosian’s face.

* * *

When Rosian, who often came to the tower or called Jayna to the capital had left, Jayna had a lot of free time on her hands.

“Whew.”

It was one day, one in which Jayna was thinking how to spend all her free time.

“Meow.”

“Hmm?”

Izren approached Jayna with a letter in his mouth. She tilted her head at the unexpected letter.

“I don’t know anyone who would send me a letter…?”

Did Rosian send it?

-I’ll write to you often.

Jayna looked forward to the letter, recalling what he had earlier said, but soon shook her head.

It hadn’t been long since he left. Jayna wondered whether she was out of her mind.

‘Then who else could it be?’

Jayna tore the letter, which did not have the sender written on it, open.

[I am Marilyn Bondre. After reading this letter, don’t avoid me.]

When Jayna saw the name ‘Marilyn’, she began to think of a certain girl.

-Don’t try and hide behind your escort like the previous time! You and me, let’s compete fairly.

‘You were the one who asked for a duel first…’

However, just because she lost, Marilyn didn’t send shady mercenaries after her unlike Count Newin, so Jayna liked Marilyn’s way of handling things.

‘You stood up for me when Young Lady Newin started an argument… should I visit you?’

Jayna quickly wrote to Count Bondre stating she would visit them.

* * *

Time passed and it had become the day of the duel.

-In a duel, powerful weapons and armor are important!

When Jayan told Micheal she was entering a duel with someone her age, he told her she’d obviously win. Even though he said so, Micheal still worried and prepared quite a few things.

As a result, Jayna wore a magic ring on every finger, six bracelets on her wrist, and even a magical necklace around her neck.

“Huh, you’re here! I’ll give you credit for your confidence!”

As Jayna stepped inside the Count’s residence, Marilyn confidently raised her chin with folded arms.

“Of course you’ll regret that decision sooner or later!”

Jayna quietly took off the hood she was wearing.

Marilyn’s pupils shook violently at Jaynas ruthless atmosphere.

“Who’ll be the witness for this duel? How will you be handling injuries?”

[T/N: As this line suggests, witnesses are usually required for duels.]

“W-w-what…”

Marilyn suddenly lost her confidence, and wore a puzzled expression.

“You’re Marilyn Bondre, right? I wasn’t aware you knew magic or swordsmanship.”

Jayna spoke calmly and began creating a breeze around her fingertips.

Marilyn jumped up and down, raising her voice.

[T/N: jump up and down means that you’re either excited or angry about something.]

“Are you mad? I don’t have such vile hobbies!”

“You’re participating in a duel without knowing either magic or swordsmanship?”

“I didn’t mean to use such barbaric means, I was referring to a more gentlemanly duel!”

Marilyn, afraid that Jayna would become physical, quickly ran inside her mansion and shouted.

“Emily, bring me what I asked for!”

“Yes, my lady!”

“At our age, we should have a battle of the minds rather than a fist fight, shouldn’t we?”

It was a different development from what Jayna expected.

“And the loser has to treat the winner as if she’s her older sister!”

Having said those words, Marilyn put a chessboard in front of Jayna.

* * *

“Huh, so you’re thirteen too?”

Tak.

[Sounds of chess pieces moving]

“I didn’t know we were the same age.”

Tak.

As she played chess with Marilyn, the words were exchanged between the two.

Chocolate chip cookies, cheese sable, whipped cream pound cake, crème brûlée…

Colorful, pretty and cute desserts were placed next to the young ladies.

The chefs of Count Bondre weren’t half bad at making desserts.

“What are you doing, why aren’t you eating?”

When Jayna’s hands stopped moving towards the plate, Marilyn glanced at the plate and spoke to a maid.

“Have the desserts ran out? Ellie, if you have the time, please do me a favour.”

Despite Jayna eating more than she did, Marilyn didn’t mind a bit.

Jayna was impressed by that.

‘I thought you’d be more greedy, but I don’t think so anymore.’

Even though their first meeting wasn’t a pleasant memory, Marilyn now treats Jayna as if she is a close aristocratic friend.

Jayna thought that those who are stingy with food are the worst types of people, and seeing that Marilyn was generous, she didn’t seem to be such a bad kid.

After eating such sweet desserts, the two of them had a drowsy look on their faces.

The two lady’s duel had melted into sugar and mush.

As a result, the purpose of the visit had changed to small talk, not a duel.

“So you live with your brother?”

“Yeah.”

“Is he handsome?”

Jayna replied right away, she didn’t even think about it.

“Extremely so.”

“You should introduce me.”

“Then my brother will be arrested.”

Jayna answered, remembering Micheal.

“Why will he be arrested?”

“My brother is twenty-one. He’s an adult.”

“But why isn’t he engaged? All my relatives were engaged in their teenage years.”

Jayna recalled herself asking Micheal a similar question.

-What? Why don’t you have a girlfriend?

-Aristocats are usually engaged in their teenage years…

-But that happens to ‘average aristocrats’! For people like me who want to become true wizards, you don’t get engaged until you reach a certain level.

-When will you reach that ‘certain level’?

-In about 30 years?

By then, Micheal would be in his fifties.

He looked around, checking for Diamide, quietly lowered his voice and whispered to Jayna.

-I honestly think your dad’s flirtatious. It’s unbelievable that he not only had a relationship in his 20s, but also had a child.

Jayna was confused as to whether Diamide or Micheal was the normal one.

“Well, I guess wizards are a bit different from normal people.”

“Then is your father as old as a grandfather too?”

At those words, Jayna reflexively thought of Diamide, but then shook her head.

“I don’t have a father.”

“Is he dead?”

“No, I didn’t have such a person in the first place.”

Marilyn seemed to wonder about the statement, but Jayna quickly changed the subject.

“Anyways, your parents must be young.”

Fortunately, when Jayna changed the subject, Marilyn quickly followed her lead.

“My father is thirty-one, while my mother is thirty.”

The chess game repeatedly moved to Jayna’s advantage. Marilyn wasn’t bad at playing chess, however she got pushed back every time due to her lack of endurance.

“Argh, why are you so nervous?!”

Marilyn, who took apart the chess pieces, then pulled out cards and handed them to Jayna.

“This time, it’ll be a card game!”

While playing cards, Jayna didn’t win as much.

Luck was important when playing cards, Jayna frowned everytime she was beaten.

She wondered how this loss could feel so bad.

“My goodness, you could have done a better job.”

When Jayna lost rounds one after another, Marilyn’s mouth hung in her ear.

(PR/N: ‘Marilyn’s mouth hung in her ear’ meant that Marilyn spoke so much that it seems like her voice/mouth is directly against her ear.)

“But this time… I think the results will be a bit different.”

“Huh?”

Jayna put down her cards in a row.

Marilyn’s complexion dramatically changed after seeing it.

“Let’s play again!”

“I accept your request.”

Are you ahead, or lagging behind?

After playing cards, chess and several games, the sun went down before they knew it.

“Oh, how cute.”

“My lady, seeing as you’ve never had friends before, is this the first person who suits you?”

Jayna and Marilyn fell asleep at their desks, without mentioning who won the game.

The maids laughed as they pulled out blankets and covered them.

“You two are cute.”

It was night with an unusual number of twinkling stars.