Fake Cinderella

"... Your Highness, isn't it heavy?

I was probably walking in an underground city for over fifteen minutes now.

I am very concerned, though the footsteps of His Highness do not seem to have changed at all from the beginning.

"Not heavy at all.... you can get a little fatter"

"... Your Highness, it is forbidden to gain weight"

I smile and embarrass myself.

This kind of thing needs to be fixed right on the spot!

"Well...... you should gain some more weight"

"... I don't like it"

Because changing words means the same thing!

I'm not fat at all. Instead, I think it's probably not vertically or horizontally overwhelming enough compared to kids my age. But still, I don't want to hear about gaining weight or anything.

"If you don't put some more meat on it, you won't get any strength"

"I exercise! That's how you muscle."

"You won't be able to muscle. … that's a problem before that."

"Huh? What do you mean before that?

"If you exercise suddenly, you fall. … so far, I guess I'm unconscious because it doesn't have as much effect on everyday life, but you are… Elzevelt is a weak body."

"... Really?

"Oh.... I hear you have a particularly weak respiratory system"

Six months ago, my attending changed. My new attending is a middle-aged woman named Mariana-Lavel. He's a college city resident over on the river in Al Glare, and he says he's taking a teaching whip at college unless I have something.

It has rarely been and has been a lot of controversy for a non-aristocratic person to officially become a royal attending physician, but in the end, Your Highness passed his will.

Thinking like this, it seems like the Royal Palace has changed a lot since His Majesty died.

"Until now, I may have barely even noticed it myself without getting out of the palace, but from now on, I won't. You are frail and weak. [M] Of course, you should avoid doing all you can, in addition to exercising."

"Huh?"

"The respiratory system is weak, that's what I mean. I'm not a doctor, but I've got a lot of knowledge.... nothing has to have such a pessimistic look..."

"No, because... I don't plan on running at all, but I feel like something very much like His Highness's luggage, me"

"Say what. I never thought of you as luggage."

His Royal Highness said with a gentle glance.

This, though a little hard to understand, is His Highness's face when you're surprised. I'm surprised, rather than nuanced, that it's "out-of-heart".

"... although I think your current condition is literally luggage"

"Do something stupid. If it was luggage, I wouldn't hold it up like this. You must be my treasure."

His Royal Highness tells me in a spoken tone when it comes to the obvious. It's like saying it's common sense.

"Treasure, is it?

"I suppose so. You're my El Ze Verut."

El Ze Verut - - - "Princess of the Keys" in the old Imperial language. But I think what His Royal Highness means is probably more of an old-fashioned "treasure princess".

"… I am the treasure of Your Highness."

Unexpectedly, the whining spilled. His Highness still heard the blurred voice.

"Oh."

Nod as if it were absolutely natural.

That attitude of course makes me a treasure, that word... yeah, everything His Highness tells me is happy and my cheeks are loose.

(Wow, what do I do...)

I don't know what to do. My back was muzzled and my fingertips felt like I was tickling. Behind my chest...... it's warmer like the middle of my body, and something twitchy and hot creaks up.

(... glad)

Little by little, the overflowing seemed as if it would never run out... and the words did not say well what it was.

(Somehow, I feel invincible!

At this moment, my heart was a diamond. Although physically very weak and poor, he was the most powerful and invincible brave man if only his heart.

"Master Nadir is also my treasure."

Whatever you said, I didn't feel like I could tell you well, but I couldn't help but say it.

In my words, His Highness suddenly stops.

It doesn't work as if it's frozen.

"Your Highness? Your Highness, can you hear me?

Slightly slap on the tight chest.

"... Nadir?

Calling his name, His Highness breathed deeply into him and took one deep breath.

"... nothing. I was just thinking."

What? Good.

I was worried because I suddenly stopped moving. I'm sure he was thinking a lot about the processing after this because he couldn't do it to pick me up.

"... from around here, it will be the property of the royal palace"

His Highness taught me as if nothing had happened. That's what they said and I did my eyes on the road surface, but I have no idea the difference.

"... Nadir, what is the light on this road surface?

It's not just the light on the road. I wanted to know what the lights were like this fluorescent lamp that was only in the basement.

(... it's obviously over-tech, isn't it)

"Relics."

"When, what?

Foreign body? No, is it a relic?

"That's a legacy of civilization from the past. If you say it in rough years, most probably from the early days of the Empire. … of course in modern general technology, so far it is not possible to replicate, even citing the total power of the university. It is also only at the stage of research on regeneration and repair. I know more or less how it works, but many materials and materials are unknown."

His Highness's voice, which explains it, is always pale. But there was a slight soft sound at the bottom of that voice. His Royal Highness does not hate these conversations.

"Underground...... we call this city the Wang Du Labyrinth"

"Wangdu Labyrinth, is it?

"Yes."

Seeing but good, His Highness looked back with me in his arms.

"... wow..."

Even though there was little feeling that we had climbed the stairs, at some point, it seems we had reached the high ground for a long time.

Under our eyes, urban ruins are spreading in the myriad of blue lights.

"... it's like a starry sky"

That was a sight as if you were overlooking illumination from the heights of skyscrapers in that world over there.

Spilling from His Highness Nadir's mouth was a poetic expression. His Royal Highness is an outgoing romantic.

In a slightly soothing air, a sentimental feeling similar to homecoming crept up in me.

(Beautiful, but somewhere it feels pathetic)

Glittering countless lights...... it was so beautiful and still seemed like a lonely sight.

Maybe it's because I know that no one lives in this underground city anymore.

"... this light of the Wangdu Labyrinth is getting smaller every year"

His Royal Highness said pompous.

"Why is that?

"Because current technology cannot repair it. Records say it used to be wrapped in more light. We have been researching this underground city for years, but only very few know. There are many mysteries left for us, and it would be impossible to figure them out even if I risked my whole life"

"... but isn't Your Highness going to give up?

"Absolutely. … I will follow that mystery to the best of my ability"

His Highness smiled softly.

I'm glad that that smile, which is truly faint, is directed at me.

"Can you help me, too?

"Am I?

"Oh."

"Is there something I can do?

"There are many.... In the first place, you are the most important part of the mystery, and all of the mystery will probably come to you. You are the Princess of the Key. After the ceremony of the Founding Festival, you will be the Lord of all the Empire's heritage"

"... Terikoku."

The unfamiliar word appeared, so I parroted it back with a bar reading and deliberately slapped my neck. Your Highness talks as if I knew everything, but there's much more to not knowing.

Though I don't think I want to break the waist of the story, I don't know it in moderation. If I don't make an appeal, the conversation keeps going without knowing it.

"How far have you heard from His Majesty?

Quietly questioned by His Royal Highness, who became a true face.

Your Royal Highness would be greatly appreciated knowing your intentions properly.

"... that this country was created to protect the blood muscles of my... Last Empress of the Unified Empire. That I am considered the last one to hold that blood muscle correctly. And that His Highness is the husband chosen to protect me like that, is it?"

Count the fingerfolds and tell them as concisely as you can what you know.

I have spoken several times about stories from His Majesty.

"That's right. … you are the only person to inherit the legacy of the Unified Empire"

His Highness continued with a satisfactory nod.

"... there are publicly two legacies of the Empire and what is called in this country"

"Two, sir?

"Oh.... college and ruins"

So he looks at me and tells me that word as if it were engraved in his ear.

"… University"

"That's right. There were once seven university cities on this continent, but now there are six. All its university cities, all the research institutes and facilities belonging thereto… all of which are collectively referred to as' universities'. Rather than…, this Dardinia is made up of a special and unparalleled composition on the continent. This Wang Du Labyrinth is to be managed by a university on the south bank of Al Glare"

"Is it really different?

"The university knows nothing. The city well people are just blockaded from entering the ruins. To say ruins is not what we think it will be. Sometimes there are other ruins similar to it, as you will know, as there is a keeper in the basement of the royal palace. If you let them in without knowing anything, they eliminate you. Most of the time the means of elimination can be disturbing, so we're blocking anything we don't know from being harmed."

"... is there a keeper like the underground of the royal palace in this place where we are walking now too?

The Keeper in the Underground of the Royal Palace does not quit killing. I mean, I hear it obviously involves killing. I knew it, and I ran into the basement.

I don't know what happened to those who followed me, and I'm not willing to check it out.

(I think it's cheating...)

Someone could have lost their life because they followed us. I'm prepared to take that result, but I don't dare to hear it from myself.

"So far, it turns out that there are two other buildings besides those of the Royal Palace. I just want to go peek with you because I have you here, but unfortunately I don't have time."

(Surely you don't have time to stop by right now)

"... if I were there, would you let that kind of building in too?

asked, biting off a small yawn.

I've been so worried until just now, but when I find out I'm okay now and the tension is getting easier, I'm kind of getting very sleepy.

"I'll let you in, because you're literally 'Princess of the Key'"

Even in the orphanage, I slept, but I think I've been feeling tense somewhere. I barely wake up at night because I woke up several times.

But now that I'm in the absolute safe zone of His Highness's arms, I'm so relieved.

(... it's so warm)

The warmer His Highness was holding me in his cape, which was also a factor in inviting me to sleep. It feels good to have a slender hand that would be silk from a cloak I gripped to grasp.

"... it's like a master key"

"Yes - Ki?

"Uh, the all-purpose key, or... that's what it is"

Apparently, he's spoken words that don't exist here, so I'll say it again.

"Right. There is no door that will hold you back, the rightful Lord of the Empire's heritage, and neither the Keeper nor the Guardian will be silent before you.... The problem is that the ruins are often of a wide and complex structure, so you probably can't get to your destination."

"... in what sense are you saying that?

If you look at that expression with a slightly raised corner of mouth, you can guess the intent of the word.

"Both of them."

"Sure, I don't have the strength, and I think I'm directional tone deaf!

"Don't worry. I won't let you walk in vain."

His Royal Highness smiled uncommonly and in a good mood. He wasn't in such a good mood at first, but he was improving at some point.

"I appreciate that..."

"... but?

"If you don't walk on your own feet, your legs will be weak, and you won't remember the way forever"

"Problem."

"Where is it?

(No, no, no, because it's full of problems!

Because I have no idea why His Highness is so confident!

"You can always walk with me holding you. I'm still working out, so I can hold you as an adult. [M]... and directional tone deafness is incurable. Poor thing, but trying is probably not going to heal."

"That's not the problem... I mean, you promised me earlier. This is the only time I can hold him up."

Your Highness doesn't know what they said, he looks like and flushes my words. You're deciding that you didn't find anything inconvenient for you, that.

"I'll walk myself as much as I can to build my strength!

Tell him to say it firmly in His Highness's ear.

Yet His Highness is a helpless child, he looked at me with a look like It's like, even if I'm being selfish.

"Your Highness."

Unexpectedly, a loud voice came out of the bottom of my stomach.

I'll tell you, you're the one who's talking selfishly! I'm telling you the obvious! For a moment, huh? Though I was going to think it was my fault.

"Well, that's a future consideration."

"Huh? Is there room for consideration?

I'm just saying I want to walk on my own feet, right?

His Royal Highness laughed lightly.

I take one small sigh to talk about.

"... I was just talking to you"

"Oh."

"When the Founding Fathers' Festival is over, take your lunch and tea"

"It's hard," he said.

"Yes.... you make whatever Your Highness wants"

"My favorite thing?

"You also like thick ham, egg and cream cheese germ bread sandwiches, hard-boiled raisined cheesecakes, and a pound cake full of fruit soaked in burrato liquor,"

"... may be so"

His Highness looks a little weird.

I almost swooped out of my head and held my mouth. What do you say, but it's so cute. I don't think anyone would agree.

"I've had a lot of replacements, but it's the most replacements around there. Didn't you notice?

"Everything you make is delicious.... Whatever they made me didn't know because they thought I liked it"

(Wow... this, I'm in trouble. I'm so happy for you!

Unless you were in His Highness's arms, you would have groaned, gobbling around on the couch and on the bed with wild joy in this little body.

(This is proof of even greater success of the feeding operation!!

I think it's the strongest way to build success into these tunnels.

But in the end, he told me that he liked what he was making, and that's what makes him happy.

(You mean the cook profits... you've been rewarded...)

I'm glad that what I tried to do to make people like me eat good food was passed on and accepted as I thought it would be.

(... because it means it's not a one-way street)

I don't know how to be too happy. I think I'm going to say how I am right now.

His Royal Highness is a hard man to understand, but sometimes he gives these straightforward praises very honestly. I'm really happy about that. No matter how many times I'm told, I'm not used to it and I can't help it anymore.

I couldn't show her a face that was loose all the time, and I hugged Her Royal Highness.

At first I hesitated, and the comfort of my hand, which stroked my back softly in the meantime as a matter of course, was no push, and at some point I slowly fell asleep.