My Mom Entered a Contract Marriage - Chapter 52

Lilica was taken aback.

‘Is it coming from the pendant?’

When she opened her palm, the shining pendant rose into the air.

It turned round and round while sprinkling specks of light.

‘I—it’s dazzling.’

Without realising it, she covered her forehead with the back of her hand/shielded her eyes, and a crescent-shaped light was clearly seen engraved on her palm.

Lilica didn’t spot it, but since everyone else could, they all exclaimed, “Wow!” in admiration.

Then, a small magic circle appeared from the pendant and passed through Lilica’s head, imprinting a distinct and large magic circle on the ground beneath her.

Bbam— bba— bbambba—

The song was heading towards its climax.

At that moment, the pendant stopped rotating.

The pendant slowly began its descent, and Lilica reached out her hand.

As she grabbed the pendant, the song ended with a ‘BbamBbaBbam’, and the magic circle disappeared with a burst of light.

Lilica looked at the pendant in astonishment and then glanced at Altheos.

Altheos nodded.

‘What does that mean?’

Lilica looked at the pendant again.

Now, it didn’t shine or make any strange sounds.

“That was the process of the artifact recognising you as its owner. Now you can experience the feeling of being a wizard through usage of this artifact. Say ‘Erhi’.”

It was light magic, the very same one that she learned when she first started.

Lilica cast the spell familiarly as she said, “Erhi.”

The pendant began glowing.

Everyone exclaimed in awe.

Lilica couldn’t help but make a surprised expression.

‘The pendulum feels rather strange.’

When she used magic, she encountered resistance. It felt like the magic didn’t flow as smoothly as it used to.

“This way, you can use a variety of magic.”

“Thank you.”

As Lilica thanked him, she decided to hear more about it later from His Majesty.

‘Even so…’

Lilica smiled happily.

She was glad that she could now use magic comfortably.

‘The method was quite unique, though.’

Lilica put away the pendant carefully.

With a satisfied smile, Altheos stole a glance at Ludia.

‘How about it? Isn’t it not too bad?’

He threw such a look, but what he’d received was Ludia’s furious expression.

‘You actually gave such a dangerous thing to a child as a gift?’

That’s what Ludia thought, but Altheos wasn’t able to read her mind.

He quickly turned his gaze away when he saw that Ludia, whom he expected to be pleased, was angry.

‘Where did I go wrong?’

Despite her troubled mind, Ludia clapped her hands and got everyone’s attention.

“Now then, let’s all enjoy the food and drinks. Come, gather around and have a look at the gifts.”

The orchestra quickly started playing cheerful music.

At the same time, servants in a line entered while holding trays.

Various food and drinks were given out in bite-sized portions.

Everyone took a glass, sampled the food in small amounts and gathered in small groups to chat.

There were some that went towards the gifts to inspect them one by one.

The children quickly gathered around Lilica.

“A magical girl! You’re so cool!”

“Princess, show us some other magic as well!”

“Wow—!”

“You’re so amazing.”

Although it was her first time being surrounded by kids her age, Lilica showed them small magic that she was familiar with confidently.

Everyone let out admiring sighs and applauded.

As she was feeling slightly embarrassed, Diare approached her and started a conversation.

“Let’s go play in the garden. There’s a swing, ring toss, and many other fun things.”

It was a chance for her to get away from the crowd, so Lilica immediately took Diare’s outstretched hand.

Diare swept Lilica up tightly and said

“The last one to arrive is it!”

Then, she started running.

‘Diare was much faster than I’d expected,’ Lilica admired.

The hesitating children also started running.

Awnings were set up all around the garden, and toys were placed for the children.

It was an event that Ludia had prepared with great care.

They could enjoy unlimited amounts of ice-filled lemonade or orange juice, and there were plenty of crunchy snacks prepared.

They could play ring toss, solve puzzles, run, and play tag.

They played to their heart’s content and drank plenty of beverages.

As the walls between the children gradually began to crumble, the girls started talking about Lilica’s dress.

“Your dress is so pretty.”

“Can I touch it?”

“Oh my! It’s so fluffy. How is it so puffed up like this?”

Lilica explained about the pannier, and everyone’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“I want to order one too.”

“Yeah, it looks so pretty and comfortable. You can just sit down without any worries too.”

As the children chattered happily, a voice came from above their heads.

“Having fun?”

“Atil!”

Lilica looked up in delighted surprise.

The children quickly split into two and bowed their heads respectfully.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Atil looked around rather blatantly and asked.

“Where’s Diare?”

“She’s over there.”

At the direction Lilica pointed, Diare was indeed enthusiastically playing with a leather ball, fully engrossed in the game.

It was clear that she was the one leading the game.

“Leaving you here by yourself?”

“She was provoked, so things just happened.”

Atil smiled while sighing at Lilica’s words.

“She can’t hold back.”

“Diare the uncompromising, after all.”

Lilica giggled.

Atil handed her a glass of orange juice he’d brought for her.

“Would you like some snacks?”

“Oh, thank you.”

Just as she was feeling a bit hungry, she turned around and saw Fjord.

“Fiyo, where were you?”

“I was admiring the gifts.”

“That shabby wooden doll?”

“It’s better than coming empty-handed, like a certain someone.”

“I’ll give her my gift separately.”

“I wonder what gift it would be, for you to be embarrassed to present it before an audience.”

“Don’t worry, it’s a hundred times better than some useless cage.”

As the conversation continued, the children around them gradually distanced themselves,

But they were intrigued by their interesting conversation, so they didn’t go far.

They’d report everything they heard back to others, but they didn’t want to get caught in the crossfire while they were within range.

“Both of you, stop it.”

Lilica reached for the potato chips that Fjord brought.

“It’s my Parta, remember?”

Atil and Fjord looked at each other and seemed to reach a tentative agreement.

The fried potato chips, lightly salted and crispy, were delicious.

Paired with sweet orange juice, it felt like she could continue eating endlessly.

“Shall we take a walk?”

At Lilica’s suggestion, the both of them nodded.

The surrounding children that were listening with their ears perked, felt slightly regretful.

Would they be able to eavesdrop on their conversation if they followed the three of them?

The three walked side by side to the edge of the garden.

Fjord spoke softly.

“My princess, congratulations on gaining Lauv. I thought such stories would only happen in heroic tales.”

Lilica shrugged her shoulders.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to take charge of Lauv well. I don’t know what he’d seen in me for him to choose me, but now that I’ve decided to accept him, I’ll have to do my utmost.”

‘If I leave the palace later on, will my relationship with Lauv become more comfortable?’

Although by then, he’ll still be a knight.

Thankfully, His Majesty had bestowed a permanent knighthood to Lauv.

Although it wasn’t important to Lilica and Lauv, there were others who considered it to be significant.

“If it’s Your Highness, you’ll do great.”

Fjord let out an envy-tinged sigh.

Atil shrugged.

“He’d chosen you because he favoured you. It’s not like you need to do anything special, right? Rather than that, how is it? Is there a kid that you’ve taken a shine to?”

At Atil’s question, Lilica replied with, “A kid that I take a shine to?”

“It’s the first time you’re meeting kids your age like this, right? Take a good look. If you find someone that you like, get to know their name, and socialise with them.”

Atil recalled his embarrassing past and said.

During his own Parta, he was always isolated from other kids.

‘They were all either trying to flatter me or were enemies.’

Afterwards?

He didn’t have the chance to interact with kids his age.

It was rather childish in hindsight, and he hoped that his younger sister wouldn’t make the same mistake that he did.

Also, Lilica’s Parta was a second chance for Atil.

Since it was widely known that Atil would attend Lilica’s Parta, other kids his age were also in attendance.

They would be glad to be pleasing to the princess or the crown prince’s eye.

Thanks to that, Atil was now able to build better social relationships with the other kids.

“I see, you’re right. They all looked quite nice.”

Atil let out a sigh at Lilica’s words, and said, “What else can I do?”

Fjord spoke.

“But still, it’s better to exercise caution towards those you should be cautious against.”

“Barat, for example.”

Atil said, and Fjord smiled faintly in response.

“Yes, such as Barat.”

“……”

Atil felt like he’d become a petty person.

He was about to say something hurtful, but held it back.

‘Hold it in. Hold it back. Be generous, and a little calmer.’

Atil regulated his breathing a few times and smiled wryly.

“Thanks for the warning.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Since you’re giving me a heads up, it would be nice if you’d give me a warning about other matters as well.”

“What kind of warning would you require?”

“How about a warning about what the Duke of Barat is up to next?”

Fjord hesitated in his steps. He smiled wryly.

“I wish I knew too.”

“Such a slick excuse.”

“Atil.”

Lilica tugged at the edge of his clothes and puffed her cheeks with a frown.

Instead of feeling threatened, the urge to laugh surfaced.

“Pfft.”

Atil spoke while suppressing his laughter, “Okay, okay. I got it. I got it.”

After nodding his head, he continued.

“Starting this year, there will be a new hunting festival. I hope that the Young Duke of Barat will also take part.”

“A hunting festival?”

Lilica asked, and Atil nodded.

“It’s held in the Imperial forest. It was suspended for two years after you were injured, but it’s starting once again. Since your Parta has ended now, you can participate.”

Lilica asked excitedly, “Really?”

“But I can’t hunt at all.”

“The imperial hunting festival is different.”

Lilica was curious at Atil’s words, this made him chuckle lightly.

“You’ll see when the time comes. You can look forward to it.”

Lilica was filled with excitement. Does that mean she can participate too?

Lilica looked at Fjord and said.

“It would be great if Fjord could come too.”

“I’ll do so if an invitation arrives.”

Fjord replied.

‘I see.’

Lilica recalled the children from earlier.

She was wholly unaware of the factions amongst the children while she was within the small world of the White Dragon Chamber. But now, as she mingled with them, she realised that there was a clear divide.

The expressions of the children that had been around her changed the moment Fjord appeared.

As such, perhaps wanting to walk alongside these two might just be her own childish whim and greed.

“What’s wrong?”

Atil asked, and Lilica shook her head quickly.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Your Highness!!”

Just then, Diare came running over at an astonishing speed.

She stopped right in front of them and bounced lightly on the balls of her feet.

“Did you see that? Did you see me make the shot?”

“Huh?”

Lilica turned her gaze away with a puzzled expression.

“Why is everyone on the ground?”

All the children that were playing ball with her were lying on the ground.

Hehe, Diare grinned.

“It’s because they’d tasted my Hot Crush Pepper, which is as bright as the sun and as fast as lightning!”

“It should be the Sun Flash Thunder instead.”

Atil murmured softly.

Fjord sneakily turned his face away. His lips were trembling.

Lilica nodded.

“I see, Diare. It’s cool.”

“Right?”

With a happy laugh, Diare grabbed Lilica’s hand.

Atil took the glass from Lilica’s hand before she was dragged along with an “Ahhh.”

“You should try it, too, Your Highness. I’ll try to stop it.”

“Mm!”

When she used her foot to kick the leather ball with gusto, the ball flew quite a plausible distance.

Lilica looked at the two people standing aside with a bright smile.

Atil raised his thumb while Fjord applauded.

At that sight, Lilica decided to be childish and greedy just for today.

‘Because it’s my Parta.’

* * *

After the eventful and noisy daytime schedule came to an end, night fell.

As per Ludia’s suggestion, everyone gathered in the reception room to play games.

Ludia was dumbfounded when she realised that she’d forgotten Lilica’s birthday, so she did her best to make up for it during the years that followed.

The grandeur of this Parta was partly due to her efforts.

During her first year at the palace, Ludia had completely missed Lilica’s birthday, and it was only when she was preparing for her own birthday that Ludia was startled into wondering, “When was Lilica’s birthday?”

It was a family gathering where all the servants were dismissed.

After the family gatherings that started between Lilica and Atil on that long winter night, it was rare for everyone to be present like they were today,

“It’s my Parta though!”

Lilica protested.

Atil chuckled and said, “There’s nothing that can be done if you’re unlucky.”

With a worried look, Ludia spoke.

“Lily, it’ll be for the best if you refrain from gambling somewhere else.”

Altheos agreed.

It was a light game of rolling a dice. Well, light for everyone other than Lilica, who seemed to be unlucky in all aspects.

Atil burst into laughter.

“That leaves you in last place, Ay!”

“Ah, Atil! Hahaha—”

He rushed over and tickled her sides, causing Lilica to shriek and squirm while laughing.

After tormenting his little sister to the point of tears and snot on the couch, Atil stopped tickling her.

Lilica panted heavily and got up from her seat, tears glistening in her eyes.

In a resentful voice, she said, “Let’s do something else instead.”

Everyone agreed to Lilica’s request readily.

The refreshing night breeze entered through the opened balcony window.

Everyone was dressed comfortably, and snacks were piled up on a nearby tray.

As Lilica poured cold tea for everyone, she spoke.

“This time, I’ll definitely win. Let’s play charades.”

“Sure.”

Atil nodded, cleared the dice and board and brought over an hourglass.

Fortunately, Lilica won this game.

The least skilled of the group appeared to be the prideful teenager, Atil.

Lilica jumped onto Atil and got her revenge by tickling Atil’s sides.

He laughed and pushed her away.

After getting revenge to her heart’s content, Lilica got up from her seat.

Ludia smiled and said.

“I think it’s time to sleep now. It’s too late, and today has already been quite exhausting.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Lilica replied obediently. Seeing Lilica like this, Ludia chuckled.

“Shall we sleep together?”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“Then, let’s sleep together.”

Although she was no longer a child, Lilica was still delighted at the thought of sleeping with her mother.

The embarrassment made Lilica’s cheeks turn red.

Ludia took Lilica’s hand and spoke.

“Alright, then let’s have a ladies’ night, while you boys can go to bed on your own.”

“Good night.”

Lilica waved her hand and said her nighttime greetings, while Atil and Altheos waved back.

“Sleep well.”

“Happy Parta.”

Lilica smiled and quickly went into the bedroom with her mother.

It was a blissful Parta till the very end.

* * *