The Burdens of the Crown

The rustling of turning pages lulled me into a shallow sleep and then pulled me out of it.

I did not wake because I had slept enough, but because of the door being flung open.

Instead of opening my eyes, I squeezed them shut.

[Lord Kaian!]

A cry mixed with tears rang out.

The voice, raspy with age, belonged to Ilios, the Imperial Physician.

“Brother?”

And this one… Sierra.

If it had been only Ilios, I would have pretended to stay asleep, but I could not do that with Sierra there.

I lifted my heavy eyelids and turned my head toward the door.

There stood Ilios, his finely groomed beard disheveled into messy strands, and Sierra, peeking out from behind his robe.

The golden-haired princess with lovely pink eyes beamed at me the moment our eyes met.

She looked so adorable that I smiled back.

“Hello, Princess.”

My voice cracked a little, but fortunately, I managed to greet her without my voice breaking entirely.

Sierra puffed out her cheeks and approached me.

“I told you, I am not a princess, I am an Imperial Princess!”

Ah. An Imperial Princess is higher than a princess.

Sorry, Sierra.

But “Princess” just feels more endearing to me.

It is more familiar.

While I apologized inwardly, Ilios, having caught his breath, rushed over and felt the pulse at my wrist.

Ilios had looked ready to cry with worry, but he composed his expression in the few seconds it took to check my pulse.

As expected of a professional who rose to the rank of Imperial Physician.

Opening his eyes after a moment of concentration, Ilios sighed and spoke in a reassuring tone.

“Your pulse is a bit weak… but if you recover your strength, there should be no problem.”

As soon as the physician gave his confirmation, Kallios stood up from his seat.

It seemed he was about to leave.

I wanted to exchange at least a nod, but Sierra squeezed in between Ilios and me, completely blocking my view.

“I told you he would be fine. Really, Grandfather.”

The sound of her chattering mixed with the noise of the door opening and closing.

I have never felt regret when parting with that guy, but today felt a little different.

I am not sure if it was because of the cool towel on my forehead or because of my dwindling lifespan.

Of course, that lingering feeling did not last long.

Sierra took the hand that Ilios had carefully set down and held it again.

It was incredibly cute to see her close her eyes and place two fingers on my wrist, imitating the way one checks a pulse.

“Her Highness Sierra has been learning medicine lately,” Ilios explained with a chuckle as I held out my hand.

“It… hasn’t been long.”

“She says she wants to cure Lord Kaian herself.”

Sierra shyly let go of my hand.

I wrapped my fingers around the tiny hand that had been checking my pulse.

“Is she not precious?”

“Yes. She is precious.”

If I were not sick, I would have picked her up and spun around ten times.

The twitching of her fingers inside my hand was so cute that I pulled her closer and pressed my lips to the back of her hand.

Sierra laughed as if it tickled and gave me a peck on the cheek.

“I will study hard, so please wait just a little longer, Brother.”

Instead of answering, I smiled back.

Ilios watched us with a warm expression before pulling a chair over for Sierra.

It was the same chair Kallios had been sitting in.

Once seated, Sierra began to chatter excitedly.

The pink cake she ate yesterday, the bird with the beautiful song she saw while walking, the medical studies she started recently, the dress she would wear to the ball in two weeks, the short waltz she could now play on the harpsichord…

It was Ilios who brought the long chat to an end.

“It is time to return now.”

“Already?”

“Did you not say you were attending the Emperor’s banquet?”

“Ah, right…”

Sierra, who was about to share a story about a mistake made by a new maid, stood up.

I watched her for a moment and reached out.

Sierra grabbed my hand.

“Sierra. You will come again, right?”

The disappointment on her face melted away instantly.

“Of course. I still have so many stories to tell you, Brother.”

After making a promise for a tea time in three days—”You have to be fully recovered by then, Brother!”—she left with Ilios.

Even though it was just a small nine-year-old kid who had visited, the room felt empty once she was gone.

I kept my eyes forced open, looking around the room until I fell asleep.

I drifted off before I even knew it.

Fortunately, the fever broke quickly, as if there was still some time left on my countdown.

I was glad I could keep my promise to Sierra.

Isaac became more meddlesome, but that was always the case after a major illness, so it was nothing special.

It meant I had returned perfectly to my daily routine.

So, what am I doing now?

“What brings the Crown Prince here? Are you not busy?”

I am watching little Sierra growl like an angry Pomeranian.

Sierra is a mature child, but she becomes a bratty kid her own age in front of Kallios.

She gripped her flower-bud-shaped teacup firmly in her small hands and growled.

She looked ready to pour out the cold tea if he gave an answer she didn’t like.

Of course, she would never actually do it.

Sierra’s “Imperial Princess Theory” is so exemplary it could be made into a textbook.

Kallios picked up his teacup with elegant movements, took a sip, and set it back down.

Naturally, there was no sound of glass clinking.

How impressive.

“I heard you have been learning many things lately, Princess Sierra.”

Sierra glanced at me and nodded.

“It is an age where one should focus on learning.”

No. I think you should play a bit more.

There is no age limit on learning, but there is an age limit on playing.

I only added that thought internally.

Sierra is a child with immense pride in her position as an Imperial Princess.

If I spoke that thought aloud, I would have to listen to a lecture about the duties of a princess.

Kallios praised Sierra in a tone that sounded like he was reading from a book.

He praised the medical skills she had recently begun to learn.

He mentioned her talent for feeling pulses due to her sensitive mana perception, her diligence in never procrastinating despite the heavy workload, and his expectation that she might even perform magical healing once her Dragon Blood manifested.

Sierra’s sulky expression began to soften.

That guy Kallios.

Even though he puts no emotion into his face or voice, he certainly knows how to charm people.

“That is amazing, Sierra.”

When I added my own admiration, Sierra’s mood brightened instantly.

“Since it is something I requested, I should naturally do my best.”

She spoke as if it were expected, but her beaming smile was so cute that I opened my arms.

Sierra set down her teacup, came over, and hugged me tightly.

I wanted to stroke her hair, but I knew she would be upset if I ruined her elaborately styled hair, so I kissed her forehead instead.

Hehe. A childlike laugh erupted from her against my chest.

Since I cannot leave the spire, the tea time location for the three siblings of the Caprese-na imperial family became the sunniest spot in the tower.

Where is that? My room.

I have no complaints.

In fact, I am grateful to my younger siblings for coming all this way to see their useless older brother.

Holding the hand of Sierra, who had settled onto my lap, I looked at Kallios sitting opposite us.

He was reading a thick book.

I had caught a glimpse of the title before he opened it; it was a recently revised edition of the Administrative Code.

What a relentless fellow.

“But really, what brings you here?”

Being grateful for his visit is one thing, but curiosity is another.

Today’s tea time was an appointment I had made with Sierra.

This wasn’t a secret meeting full of plots and conspiracies, so I didn’t mind the extra person… but Sierra has always been uncomfortable around Kallios, and Kallios has always treated Sierra with indifference.

I couldn’t help but think there was a reason he attended today of all days.

Kallios’s answer came leisurely.

He likely finished the paragraph he was reading first.

“The Imperial Princess’s social debut is coming up soon, is it not?”

Sierra had mentioned she would debut at the Harvest Festival ball in two weeks—no, eleven days now.

A debut at age nine felt rushed, but I heard it was unavoidable since Sierra is the only female in the imperial family.

Does that mean our Sierra will become something like the Queen of Social Circles?

“Princess” suits her better.

Anyway, what about it?

“I will be escorting her.”

“What?”

Sierra shrieked and then quickly composed her voice.

“That… His Majesty the Emperor said he would do that?”

She tried to act calm, but her voice trembled at the end.

She must be very flustered and unhappy about it.

In contrast, Kallios remained composed.

“His Majesty must welcome the Aphelion delegation.”

“I…”

Instead of saying she hated the idea, Sierra hid her face in my chest.

“I understand. I will prepare accordingly.”

Since his only business was requesting to escort her to the ball, Kallios stood up immediately.

I had to use both hands to comfort Sierra, so I simply nodded to see him off.

For a long while after Kallios left the room, my little sister remained silent in my arms.

I felt a little… no, more than a little pity for her.

This child learned how to resign herself to the inevitable far too early.

The environment forced it upon her, but still.

I wish she would say she hates things when she hates them, and throw a tantrum when she wants to.

“Sierra.”

“…Yes.”

“What color did you say the dress you’re wearing is?”

Sierra didn’t answer and rubbed her cheek against my collar.

“Did you say it was pink, like your eyes?”

“Brother.”

“Yes?”

“Do you not… hate him?”

Me? Who?

“If only you were healthy.”

She was talking about Kallios.

I slowly stroked Sierra’s back as she hesitated.

“In the first place… that position wasn’t meant for him.”

Kaian was born weak.

When he was three, they said he wouldn’t live a year.

When he was five, they said it would be difficult for him to reach ten.

When he survived until ten, they said it would be a miracle if he lived to twenty…

Fortunately, he is still breathing now at twenty-two.

But he is truly just “breathing.”

A body that could collapse and die at any moment.

That is why the Emperor adopted Kallios, whose Dragon Blood was potent, and made him the Crown Prince.

Because the only prince was in this state.

The illegitimate son of the Duke of Rottenmeier—a branch of the imperial family so distant that counting degrees of kinship was meaningless—had essentially struck it rich thanks to a sickly prince.

Hmm. Anyway, I thought Sierra being uncomfortable with Kallios was because of the distant bloodline.

“Sierra.”

“Brother, I…”

“Child.”

“I hate it. It feels like he stole everything from you.”

I didn’t know she felt this way.

As I slowly patted her back while choosing my words, Sierra apologized, perhaps thinking her words were too much.

“I am sorry.”

“What do you have to be sorry for? It is alright.”

I pressed my lips against her hair adorned with jeweled pins before pulling away.

“However, well, Sierra. There is something you have misunderstood.”

“Yes?”

“Kallios did not steal what was mine; he is doing it on my behalf.”

“…”

“As you know, I am not healthy. This is no one’s fault… strictly speaking, it is my fault for being born weak.”

“No, Brother.”

“If he were not here, things would not be as peaceful as they are now.”

Since this imperial family does not recognize female succession, if Kallios were not here, the next heir would have been a son born to Sierra.

That would be a terrible thing.

My little sister being married off early just for the purpose of childbirth, and the noblemen fighting like starving ghosts to claim the position of the future Emperor’s father.

“Besides, is he not doing a good job?”

Fortunately, Kallios manifested enough Dragon Blood to inherit the throne and possessed great talent.

If it were me, I wouldn’t be reading things like a “Revised Administrative Code” at a tea time even if I were made a god, let alone an Emperor.

If only his personality would soften a bit, he could remain as the protagonist’s ally or just a part of the historical background instead of the main villain.

I suppose I can only pray for that.

As expected, the “prayer meta” is the truth even in another world.

I comforted Sierra while indulging in silly thoughts.

Sierra didn’t seem completely convinced, but by the time tea time ended, her animosity toward Kallios seemed to have lessened somewhat.

Once I am gone, the only family left will be Sierra and Kallios.

Even if they aren’t siblings who can’t live without each other, I hope their relationship isn’t bad.

“Shall the three of us gather from the next tea time onwards?”

I asked Sierra’s back as she left for her lessons, and my little sister shook her head in horror.

It was so cute that I laughed heartily.

Yes. No matter what anyone says, a kind older brother is the best, right?

I know exactly how you feel.