≈ Prologue ≈
“Little one, come here.”
The voice calling me was as sweet as honey.
As soon as my ears perked up, the handsome man with black hair and golden eyes, who had me sitting on his lap, glared fiercely.
“No. Your time isn’t over yet.”
His name was Zigfried von Orleans.
He was the head of the Orleans Ducal House, the only duke family in the Empire, a Sword Master, and my First Father.
He was also the hero who personally cut off the Demon King’s head.
“Didn’t we agree that Titi would sit on each of our laps for ten minutes?”
“That’s up to the little one’s heart. What right do you have to stop her from coming to me?”
Hearing First Father’s serious protest, another handsome man, as bright as a blooming rose, crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.
His name was Kyrios Erhardt.
He was the master of the Empire’s Magic Tower, a great mage, and my Second Father.
People said that the many powerful spells Second Father had cast helped the Warriors enter the Demon King’s Castle.
Kyrios bent down and looked at me with pleading eyes.
“Listen, little one. Zigfried gets to see you every day, but this father can only meet you once in a while.”
“Umm…”
“So can’t you spend a little more time with me when I get the chance?”
My eyes moved from side to side.
Well… now that I thought about it, he did have a point.
Just as I secretly looked at First Father’s face and started to get up—
“Kyrios, stop trying to trick Titi.”
“Why should I? You should be thankful I’m not picking her up and running away right now.”
Hmm.
For some reason, it felt like sparks were flying between the two fathers.
Was it just my imagination?
I quietly swallowed.
At the same time, Second Father looked back at me.
As if they hadn’t been arguing at all, he smiled gently.
“Or would our little one like to come to the Magic Tower with Father? Just trust me. I’ll make you the princess of the Magic Tower!”
“Really… why are you all acting so childish?”
Right then, my Third Father, Caesar, shook his head and joined the conversation.
“How can you argue like this in front of a child?”
“That’s because Zigfried is trying to keep the little one all to himself—!”
“Isn’t the real problem that Kyrios refuses to keep his promise?”
The two fathers raised their voices together.
Without even blinking, Third Father calmly added,
“Of course, our Miss Titi is the cutest, most lovable, smartest, and kindest daughter in the world. So I understand why you’re all acting so childish.”
“…”
“…”
Not only me, but even the two fathers, who had been arguing nonstop, froze with shocked expressions.
Then Third Father shamelessly looked at us.
“Why are you all staring at me? Did I say anything wrong? By the way, time is up. It’s my turn now.”
Caesar.
He was the High Priest, loved greatly by the God of Light, and my Third Father.
When they fought against the Demon King, if it hadn’t been for Third Father’s holy power, the other fathers probably wouldn’t have returned safely.
So, to sum up the current situation…
The three men passionately arguing over whose lap I should sit on were the three Warriors who saved the Human World by defeating the Five Demon Kings.
And they were also my fathers.
Seeing no end to it, I finally spoke.
“Fathers… don’t fight.”
The three fathers, who had been completely focused on their argument, all turned toward me at once.
I purposely lowered my shoulders and looked sad.
“The people Titi loves the most are all of you… If you fight, Titi doesn’t like it. Okay?”
“I’m sorry!”
“Father was wrong!”
“Miss Titi, please don’t be upset!”
All three fathers apologized at the same time.
While receiving all their apologies and comfort, I secretly smiled where they couldn’t see.
‘Good. Another perfect day.’
Actually, there was a huge secret that my fathers didn’t know.
I was the final boss of this world… the real Demon King.
‘Well, even so, right now I’m just a weak little child who could die from a single hit…’
So I made one survival plan.
Stay under the protection of the strongest people in this world—the Warriors—and safely grow up until I become an adult.
I smiled as sweetly as I could at my fathers.
‘I won’t lose control. And when I grow up, I’ll quietly leave on my own.’
‘So… until I become an adult, you have to keep me safe and raise me well. Got it?’