ODFEN 10

Chapter 10….

First Lesson: Frog Folding! (2022.02.04)

The spacious training room, large enough for Rubellin to run around in, contained only a table placed in the center and a single sofa. While the cold, barren interior felt odd at first, I soon accepted it when I thought about Rubellin’s monstrous strength. It was better to have nothing than for everything to be broken. What is that… kind of sounds like a famous line. I tilted my head, lost in thought. Before I knew it, Rubellin had arrived at the table with quick, small steps and sat down with her legs stretched out.

“Momma! Here!”

Rubellin waved her hand above her head.

“Alright, I’ll be right there.”

However, contrary to my plan, I ran into a major issue when Mevern arrived in the training room.

“Paper folding?”

Mevern, holding a tray full of forks, frowned deeply.

“Yes. Today we’ll be doing paper folding and reading fairy tales.”

After reporting the training plan, Mevern scoffed and looked around at Rinell and the servants. As if seeking allies who would agree that this situation was absurd, but everyone simply kept their heads lowered with expressionless faces.

“Hmmph.”

Even Ken cleared his throat and turned away. I was right to have forgiven him generously. Realizing he had no one on his side, Mevern turned back to me with an awkward expression.

“Regardless, this won’t do. Her Highness must first practice holding a fork. Didn’t you see she snapped one in two yesterday?”

“There’s no need to rush. We should take our time. Rubellin is still a child—she needs education appropriate for her age.”

“Lady Lucina, if you wish to be recognized as an educator, you must focus on controlling the princess’s monstrous strength. Such fanciful play is far removed from proper education.”

That statement had some contradictions, didn’t it? When had I ever said I wanted to be recognized? I had questions, but I stayed silent and didn’t argue.

“Now, we don’t have much time. I’ve prepared everything, so let’s begin.”

Mevern shook the tray back and forth, causing the forks inside to clatter against each other.

“I’ve also prepared something.”

I shot back without losing ground, and Mevern looked displeased. Our educational philosophies clashed sharply.

“Hah.”

After a brief exchange of gazes, Mevern backed down.

“Very well. Go ahead.”

Despite his words, his eyes clearly said he would be watching closely to see how well I did. I subtly avoided his sharp gaze. But it was heartbreaking to think that little Rubellin was subjected to such bleak training every day. If not when I was here, when else would she get to freely try something like paper folding?

“Don’t keep the princess waiting. Go on.”

Mevern stood against the wall with the tray, as if to show off. His eyes were so cold that a chill seemed to run through my entire body.

“Momma!”

“Okay, I’m coming!”

Only after hearing Rubellin’s urging did I turn around.

“H-how dare you speak so casually to the princess…!”

Mevern’s flustered voice followed at my informal behavior. When I glanced back slightly, he looked utterly stunned. I’d probably get an earful later. I could feel his gaze burning into the back of my head, but I couldn’t keep Rubellin waiting, so I headed to the table and sat beside her, leaning back into the sofa.

“Yeah! Momma’s color!”

Rubellin handed me a sheet of yellow paper. I took it and placed it neatly on the table. As if she had been waiting, she followed my lead with a purple sheet of her own. How adorable. I gently patted her head.

“Shall we start, Rubellin?”

“Yeah!”

“First, let’s fold a paper airplane.”

“A plane?”

Rubellin blinked blankly. Ah, right—planes don’t exist here. Maybe I should explain it as a bird? Tapping my chin, I decided it would be better to fold a frog instead.

“Rubellin, shall I make you a frog?”

“A frog…?”

She mulled over the word “frog,” then nodded vigorously as it seemed familiar.

“Frog!”

“Alright, I’ll make you a frog.”

Relieved that she knew what it was, I began folding the frog from the paper. Rubellin rested her chin on the table, her eyes sparkling as she followed my hands intently. After a while, I placed the finished frog on the table. When I pressed the tip of the paper frog, it sprang forward as if it were real. Rubellin’s red eyes slowly widened.

“A r-real frog!”

“Yes, a frog.”

I placed the yellow paper frog into her hands. Rubellin’s eyes sparkled as she marveled repeatedly. She then held the frog up toward the others.

“Frog!”

A murmur of admiration rose from the onlookers. It wasn’t anything particularly impressive, but it still felt a bit embarrassing. Mevern was also stroking his chin, examining the paper frog closely. When our eyes briefly met, he looked away and coughed.

“Ahem. Well… it is quite fascinating.”

“It’s not just fascinating—Momma is amazing!”

Rubellin leaned her chin on my shoulder, scrunching her nose proudly.

“Right!”

Mevern drooped his shoulders, looking disappointed at her unwavering support for me.

“No one has ever said that to me…”

Seeing him like that made him seem a bit pitiful. I picked up Rubellin’s purple paper and handed it to her.

“Do you want to try folding one too, Rubellin?”

“Yeah!”

She nodded vigorously and grabbed the paper.

“Momma, stay still!”

When I reached for the paper, she raised her hand to stop me. It seemed she wanted to try on her own. Respecting her wishes, I let go and watched. With her tiny hands, Rubellin fidgeted as she folded the paper in half. From then on, things didn’t go as smoothly, and she focused intensely, lips pursed. Watching her concentrate so seriously made the corners of my mouth twitch upward. How adorable.

“Hmm?”

Unable to remember what came next, Rubellin paused and set the paper down. I barely suppressed my laughter and reached out.

“Rubellin, next you—”

“Momma, stay still!”

Alright, alright. At her scolding, I withdrew my hand under the table. After thinking hard for a while, Rubellin let out a groan.

“Hnnngh…”

As she repeatedly folded and unfolded the paper, it lost its shape and crumpled into a ball.

“This is weird…”

Looking at the crumpled frog, she frowned as if she might cry at any moment. There was no need to be so discouraged. Folding frogs is actually quite difficult—I had failed the first time myself.

“No, Rubellin. It’s a very pretty frog.”

“It’s trash…”

“Trash?!”

I quickly picked up the crumpled frog and examined it.

“Wow, it’s a frog. I actually want it.”

Perhaps I wasn’t good at lying. Her face darkened.

“The frog got all crumpled… I wanted to make it nicely and give it to Momma…”

“No, it’s so pretty. Can I keep this?”

Rubellin pouted and snatched the crumpled frog back with a sad expression.

“No. I’ll make a proper one and give it to you later.”

“That’s okay, Rubellin. That one is pretty too.”

She looked up at me, tears welling in her eyes.

“No, it’s not pretty. I’m happy that Momma made a frog for me. So I wanted to…”

She sniffled and slumped her shoulders.

“…I wanted to make Momma happy too…”

Good heavens… She wasn’t upset because she failed—she was upset because she couldn’t make me happy? I covered my mouth with both hands, deeply moved.

What kind of child would grow up to be a villain? People of the world! Do you think that makes sense?! World, my baby… no, look at this sweet child who isn’t even mine! I suppressed the urge to shout aloud.

“Phew…”

Unaware of my feelings, Rubellin sighed deeply with a troubled expression.

“I see… so that’s why you were upset…”

I gently patted her shoulder, lowering the corners of my mouth to hide my smile. I couldn’t smile in front of Rubellin, who looked as though she had endured all the hardships of the world.

“Rubellin, I’m already happy. I look forward to you making an even prettier one next time.”

“Okay…”

She nodded glumly and tossed the crumpled paper aside. It bounced off the edge of the table and landed there. Rubellin stared at the crumpled frog, then shifted her gaze.

“C-can I… keep this?”

She pointed to the yellow frog in her hand, glancing at me. I gently patted her head repeatedly.

“Of course.”

“Hehe.”

She hugged the yellow frog like a precious gift. Her mood brightened instantly as she leaned her head against my shoulder.

“Momma, I really like you…”

Ugh—my heart. I clutched my chest and slumped forward, banging my forehead on the table, but I didn’t care.

“Momma?”

I lifted my head and pulled a stray sheet of paper closer.

“Rubellin, just say the word. I’ll make you lots of frogs—”

“Frog?”

A sudden cold voice intruded into the training room. I looked up sharply to see Calix leaning against the open door with his arms crossed. Mevern reacted in shock.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

Clatter—Mevern dropped the tray, and the forks inside fell onto the marble floor.

“Ah! Th-this!”

Mevern hurriedly knelt down, scrambling to pick up the forks. Rinell and the servants calmly bowed and assisted him.

“We greet the Sun of the Empire.”

As Ken offered his greeting, Calix waved his hand dismissively and stepped into the room. His presence instantly tightened the atmosphere. Rubellin quickly hid behind my back, peeking out cautiously. Once Mevern and the servants finished gathering the forks and dispersed, silence filled the room. Mevern stood stiffly holding the tray.

“Y-Your Majesty… what brings you here…?”

Ignoring Mevern’s question, Calix surveyed the room calmly and approached. Why—why is he coming this way? I stared at him blankly as he approached. He sat gracefully on the sofa, crossing his legs.

“I’ll observe.”

I widened my eyes.

“Ob-observe?”

“Is there a problem?”

“Well, no… but…”

Rubellin hid even further behind me, then slowly moved to the farthest edge of the table, as far away from Calix as possible. Calix frowned slightly. Her obvious avoidance seemed to irritate him. Judging by that expression, he looked like he might lose his temper soon. I quietly followed Rubellin’s lead and moved back, hiding behind her as if to protect her.

“Hah.”

Calix let out a short laugh. He seemed somewhat wronged. His red eyes casually drifted to the yellow paper frog in Rubellin’s hands.

“A frog?”

Recognizing the paper, Rubellin flinched. She looked between the yellow frog in her hand and the crumpled one on the table, then seemed to make up her mind and nodded. She nudged the crumpled frog across the table with her hand. It rolled forward with a soft rustling sound and stopped in front of Calix.

“….”

Calix looked silently between the yellow frog and the crumpled one. Sensing danger, Rubellin quickly hid the yellow frog behind her back, her wide eyes showing determination not to let it be taken.

“Hah.”

After taking in the situation, Calix let out a dry laugh, the corner of his mouth curling slightly.