Chapter 9. A New Story

Time passed quickly, and finally, a little angel arrived in the Hunt Kingdom.

And the king of the Hunt Kingdom…

Hector was desperately trying to protect that angel.

Buzz—

“……”

Tanner let out a small sigh as he watched Hector performing healing magic.

The baby, as if hearing Hector’s plea not to hurt her mother and to be born safely,

Charlie set a record for the ‘Fastest Delivery’ and gave birth to a healthy princess.

It was so quick that Nova said, ‘I blinked, and the princess was born.’

Buzz–

“……”

The Hunt Kingdom was in a frenzy of celebration.

The citizens enjoyed prosperity, sharing food and drink, and the country was filled with joyous laughter.

The temple offered grand blessings, and the procession of envoys to congratulate the princess’s birth seemed endless.

That’s right.

It was a peaceful time with absolutely no problems.

Except for that Hector over there.

“Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?”

At Hector’s question, Audrey shrunk her neck deeply like a turtle.

“Yes, Your Highness……”

“You’re not just failing to find it?”

“……”

Unlike Charlie, Princess Luna was born with powerful magic.

Therefore, Audrey, who specialized in ‘Zero,’ wasn’t the doctor Princess Luna needed.

Yet, she was here because of Hector.

“If there’s nothing wrong, why doesn’t she cry?”

“……”

The doctors shuddered at his low, menacing voice.

As Hector said, Princess Luna strangely didn’t cry.

There was no health issue.

She knew how to cry, having let out a big cry at birth.

She just, particularly, very well, didn’t cry.

“And you doctors can’t even find the reason.”

Crunch–

A vicious sound escaped through his gritted teeth.

“……We’re sorry.”

The royal court physician squeezed his eyes shut.

He felt like crying himself.

After all, what could a doctor do about a child who simply didn’t want to cry?

And it’s not like they could spank the noble princess to make her cry forcibly.

He understood Hector’s feelings.

Isn’t it natural for parents to feel their hearts sink even at the sound of their child coughing?

Moreover, this was his first child, so he fully understood the sentiment.

No, he was trying to understand.

“Hmm……”

As Hector was scanning the doctors with an unsatisfied gaze, his eyes narrowed upon meeting Tanner’s.

“……”

Hector had that look of ‘I have much to say, but I won’t’ since the moment he turned to the princess.

Bothered by Tanner’s attitude, Hector asked,

“Is there a problem?”

Desperate gazes from Audrey and the court physicians poured onto Tanner.

Finally, Tanner took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

“There is no problem with the princess. Rather, she is very healthy.”

“But she doesn’t cry.”

“She naturally doesn’t cry.”

“Children cry.”

All the parenting books Hector had read said so.

It was especially written that newborns cry at all hours.

That’s why Hector had intensively studied ‘How to soothe a crying baby’ so that Charlie wouldn’t have a hard time.

“Well……”

Princess Luna wasn’t just Hector’s child. That’s why Tanner was wondering.

But no matter how he looked at it, it was clearly ‘as expected.’

“Children of the Hunt royal family do not cry.”

“What?!”

“It’s exactly as you’ve heard.”

Tanner bowed his head slightly.

Tanner was from the Henderson family, which had served the Hunt family for generations.

Although it was an absurd reason, it was quite credible, so all eyes in the room turned to Tanner at once.

After pondering for a while, Hector asked again.

“Why?”

Hector turned to look at Princess Luna, seeing Tanner’s eyes that seemed to say, ‘Why are you asking me that?’

Above the cradle, covered with numerous shields, not to mention the mana stone flaunting its brilliant radiance.

Princess Luna’s face, as she slept peacefully with hand and foot coverings, was serene.

Black hair and red eyes exactly like Hector’s.

And features and firm lips exactly like Charlie’s, without compromise.

‘Already so beautiful……”

Hector, who was looking at his child fondly, suddenly stared at Tanner.

“Was I like this too?”

Nod–

Tanner nodded as if he had been waiting for this question.

“I didn’t cry?”

Nod- Nod.

This time, Richard, who was nearby, nodded.

“Then, what about smiling?”

Princess Luna not only didn’t cry much but also didn’t smile much.

Instead of answering, Tanner showed an artificial smile.

“So you’re saying she takes after me.”

Tanner, swallowing the words ‘Who else would she take after?’, bowed his head and quietly stepped back.

* * *

As expected of a descendant of the Hunt royal family.

Princess Luna grew day by day, and her magic power also entered a stable phase.

Charlie also quickly recovered her health thanks to Hector’s devoted postpartum care.

Jingle- Jingle–

In the princess’s bedroom at Spinel Palace.

The Hunt royal family, now three, was spending a pleasant time together.

“Hehehe– Peekaboo.”

“……”

“……”

Why bother making sounds with your mouth when the toy already makes noise?

Hector stared blankly at Charlie shaking the rattle, not understanding.

The same was true for Princess Luna lying in the cradle.

“Peekaboo–”

“……”

“……”

Princess Luna was undoubtedly Hector’s child, front and back, upside down.

Her jet-black hair and red eyes were secondary.

It was that expressionless face and calmness, which are unbelievable for a child.

Jingle- Jingle jingle–

“Peeee- kabooo?”

“……”

“……”

Charlie didn’t show much concern about Princess Luna not crying.

However, she took the fact that Luna didn’t smile much very seriously.

From toys that might interest Luna to funny faces.

Charlie made every effort to make Luna smile.

“Ahem–”

Hector, unable to stand it anymore, cleared his throat like he was giving the child a hint. Then he pulled up the corners of his mouth to show a smiling expression.

Did she understand the meaning?

“He… Hehe……”

Luna’s mouth corners lifted as if imitating Hector.

“Oh my, did she just smile? Did our Luna just smile at mommy?!”

Charlie, overcome with emotion, tugged at Hector’s clothes.

“Hector, did you see? Our Luna smiled.”

Could she be any happier?

Hector gently patted the back of Charlie’s hand.

“Don’t worry, Charlie. Luna is healthy.”

Charlie nodded slightly.

“I know. But I wish our Luna had more reasons to smile.”

For their child to be happy.

It was the parents’ wish for their beautiful face to be always filled with smiles.

“I’ll try harder to make sure there are only reasons to smile.”

It was a statement filled with numerous meanings.

And Hector was more reassuring than anything in the world.

“It’s already more than enough, overflowing even.”

Charlie grasped Hector’s hand.

Luna’s eyes curved slightly as she watched the two of them.

* * *

“The rabbit hopped away, fleeing from the hunter. Oh, how scary! Then, the squirrel beckoned……”

Today too, the Queen’s clear voice echoed through the princess’s bedroom.

Whether due to Charlie’s efforts or Hector’s demands,

As Luna grew, she became quite good at smiling.

“Ma- Mama.”

Charlie’s gaze, which had been reading the storybook, turned to Luna.

“Yes, Luna. What is it?”

Yaaawn–

Luna yawned widely, as though she wanted her to see it.

“Oh my, is our Luna sleepy?”

Emma, who was by Charlie’s side, whispered.

“Your Highness, it’s nap time.”

“Has it already been that time……”

Charlie closed the storybook with a face full of regret. Emma quickly took it from her.

“Our Luna, shall we take a nap together with mommy today?”

“!”

At that moment, Tanner, Emma, and Luna exchanged glances.

Charlie didn’t see this as she was adjusting her fallen shawl.

“Your Highness should also take your afternoon rest.”

Emma said hurriedly.

“I’m fine. I prefer watching our Luna sleep.”

“You mustn’t.”

Huh?

Charlie’s head tilted in confusion at Emma’s words.

Oh no! Emma quickly added.

“Ah, you shouldn’t overexert yourself yet.”

“But……”

Tanner, who was nearby, chimed in.

“That’s right. Your Highness must be healthy for the princess to be happy.”

Charlie looked down at Luna for a moment, then smiled bitterly as if she had no choice.

“Luna, when you wake up from your nap, mommy will continue reading the storybook.”

Finally, a kiss full of love landed on the plump forehead.

Luna waved her hand in response and soon closed her eyes.

“She must be very sleepy.”

Charlie patted Luna a couple of times and left the room.

After some time had passed…

Click–!

As soon as the sound of the door closing carefully was heard, Luna’s eyes snapped open.

Tanner, with a familiar gesture, pulled out a thick book hidden in the drawer.

“Today, we will read about the history of the empire and its origins, which are the basics of kingship studies.”

Her red eyes which had been full of sleepiness were now overflowing with vitality.

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, please ring this bell as always.”

Tanner pointed to the bell placed by the bedside.

Like Hector, Luna could freely use the magic power within her body without learning, and that power was also strong.

But speaking and walking…

In short, her physical abilities were slow for a Grand Master.

Of course, compared to other ordinary children, it was unbelievably fast.

“In the beginning of the continent……”

Once again, Charlie didn’t know.

No, only Charlie didn’t know that the kingship lectures by Tanner echoed through the princess’s bedroom.

* * *