The Younger Sibling Plan of the Firstborn Who Knows a Lot

“Mom! Let’s go over there!”

“Mm, okay.”

I followed as the child tugged at my hand.

The winter sun was setting beyond the western sky, and the tint of the sunset dyed the sky a bluish indigo on this late afternoon street. Lined with stalls decorated like cabins, the street was adorned with colorful lights in a charming display.

‘Christmas markets in Europe are held like this, aren’t they?’

Though this world doesn’t have Christmas, places where people live tend to be similar. I’d heard that year-end was a time when small festivals were held in various places. And when there’s a festival, night markets are a must.

We were in Edelburg, a castle located in the southernmost part of the Norhart territory.

“Wow, Mom, this looks really delicious. It smells so sweet too.”

“Looks like the little lady is seeing eggnog for the first time?”

“Yes! This is my first time at the Sunset Festival!”

“Really?”

The vendor at the festival drink stand looked at me with a skeptical expression. His gaze seemed to say I was a neglectful mother who had never brought her child to the Sunset Festival, which was held every year in the last month.

“It’s her first time this year.”

“Same difference.”

At the muttered comment from behind, Angie puffed out her cheeks.

“Don’t make it sound like we’re the only inattentive parents here.”

“Well, it’s not wrong. For you, at least.”

“Angie. We agreed to be careful with our words.”

“It does seem true that her father is particularly inattentive.”

Angie looked up at Cedrion with a playful blink. Their golden eyes clashed sharply in midair.

“Haha, I see father and daughter are quite close.”

The vendor, his suspicion easing, let out a hearty laugh.

Right. No one would suspect a well-built man nearly 190 centimeters tall of having a real snowball fight with a child who looked around ten years old…

“Normally, eggnog is made with alcohol, but we also have a version mixed with hot chocolate for young ones. Little lady, would you like a cup?”

“Yes!”

“And for the parents?”

The vendor’s glance flustered me, and I darted my eyes around in response. In truth, I was the one attending the Sunset Festival for the first time, not Angie.

Since the frail Odelia had never gone out during the year-end either, there wasn’t anything in her memories that felt familiar. In the end, it was Cedrion who stepped forward.

“One eggnog and one mulled wine, please.”

“Yes, coming right up.”

With a cheerful smile, the vendor filled the mugs one by one. The mugs, cutely illustrated with a scene of Edelburg’s famous hot springs, had the words “4th Year of the New Kingdom, Sunset Festival” printed on them.

Three years had already passed since Angie ascended the throne. Two years since Cedrion and I got married. Our little “family” had come to Edelburg on holiday to enjoy the year-end atmosphere for the first time.

“You’re thinking of going to Norhart?”

“Yeah. Cedrion had always refused, saying Norhart’s winters were too cold, but this time I won.”

“That’s right! You’ve only ever been in Belvo each winter, haven’t you? I’ve been curious about Norhart’s winters too.”

“Huh?”

“When should we go? The Sunset Festival starts on the 15th, so maybe around the 20th?”

“Uh, you’re… coming too?

“Of course! We’re a family, aren’t we?”

And so, the vacation plan that Cedrion and I had made for just the two of us naturally turned into a trip for all three.

“Your Majesty. Please reconsider. If Your Majesty comes along, there’s no chance Her Majesty the Queen will get to enjoy a commoner’s festival. You haven’t forgotten your portrait was distributed across the entire kingdom, have you?”

“That was painted three years ago, Grand Duke. Kids change overnight at this age.”

“And how many children in this kingdom do you think have silver hair and golden eyes?”

“There are ways around that.”

Though Cedrion had hoped to travel with me alone this time, we ended up using Angie’s magic to disguise ourselves and finally set off. With both the king and regent away, our schedule had to be greatly reduced as well. And Cedrion and Angie bickered the whole time.

Cedrion had particularly strong complaints, as even the honeymoon, every summer vacation, and occasional two- or three-day trips had all included Angie.

“Keep the change.”

“Oh, thank you kindly. The little lady looks just like her father—she’s going to grow up to be a real beauty. I hope you make lots of wonderful memories here in Edelburg.”

The vendor smiled warmly, adding a friendly remark at Cedrion’s generous payment. Only I could tell that both Angie’s and Cedrion’s expressions subtly twisted.

“…We should’ve matched together, Mom. You ended up standing out again.”

Grinding her teeth as we walked away from the stall, Angie muttered. Thanks to her magic, Cedrion and Angie now both had brown hair and green eyes, while I had black hair and watery-blue eyes.

“Some people would think that’s an honor, you know.”

“Bleh.”

People passing by smiled warmly at the sight of a father and daughter quarreling playfully. Even with altered appearances, their beauty was unchanged—making it a pleasant scene to look at.

We continued wandering the festival market street for quite a while.

“Mom! Look at this snow globe! The snowman inside really moves—it’s so pretty. And this wind-up toy too!”

“Would you like to buy it?”

“Should I? Or should we get one of those star lamps each and hang one in your room and one in mine?”

“One each, please.”

To be precise, it was Cedrion who was following behind while Angie and I excitedly ran around. Every time Angie and I picked out knickknacks, Cedrion would quietly pay without a word. Now, with a weary tone, he finally said,

“Haven’t we pretty much seen everything by now? It’s probably time to head back…”

“What do you mean? There’s still so much left over there! Mom and I haven’t been out together in so long. You can’t even bear this short time?”

“As if it’s been so long. Didn’t you insist on coming along to the Arno hot springs trip just the other month?”

“Insist? I gave up my picnic with Mom in the first place so you could come instead, remember?”

“And you think all these trips—touring, picnicking—are really helping Odelia get proper rest?”

“And being dragged around with you counts as rest? I’ll give you the nighttime, so just behave and follow along quietly!”

“…Angie.”

“……”

At the sight of the composed finish from a girl who looked about ten, people passing by giggled. Honestly, our eldest daughter just knows too much for her own good…

***

The accommodation was a villa owned by the Norhart Grand Duke’s family, situated on the outskirts of the main Edelburg castle. In the days of Cedrion’s late parents, the previous Grand Duke and Duchess, they used to spend the year’s end here every winter, where the climate was relatively mild.

“Ah, what a shame. I heard the snowy landscape in this forest is absolutely breathtaking when it snows.”

“You’ll probably get to see it by next week, but unfortunately, a certain royal must return to the palace before then.”

“Whew, since the Grand Duke—who’s also the regent—is away, we couldn’t even extend the holiday.”

Angie and Cedrion’s bickering continued even during dinner. We had only arrived in Edelburg yesterday. Originally, the plan was to stay for about two weeks, reminiscing about Cedrion’s childhood memories. But once Angie joined, the schedule was drastically shortened, and we now had to return to the palace in four days.

“Still, getting to enjoy the hot springs every night is nice, isn’t it? And they’re open-air too, which makes for a lovely ambiance.”

“I think it’s great, but apparently Mom’s husband doesn’t. Since she only goes to the hot springs with me.”

Sitting at the head seat, Angie leaned my way and gave Cedrion a sly glance. Cedrion, who had been eating with proper manners, couldn’t hold back and resumed a staring contest with Angie.

‘Good thing we sent the attendants away…’

Otherwise, the image of the master of Norhart and the master of the royal family it serves would’ve been a mess.

“Angie. Give your father a sweet look.”

“…Tch.”

“You too. Angie’s excited after so long; can’t you just go easy on her for a few days?”

“You’re too soft on that brat. She’s not even a real child anymore.”

“Mom! Cedrion just called me ‘that brat’! I may be above all others, remember?”

“Then, Your Majesty, since night has fallen, please retire early and preserve your royal health.”

“Why? Planning something once I’m in bed? It’s not even 9 yet! I usually sleep at 10, you know?”

“You must still be fatigued from the travel. It’s best to sleep early.”

“Actually, I feel totally refreshed after soaking in the hot springs. Ah, right, maybe someone doesn’t know that since he’s too much of a scaredy-cat to even go alone?”

“…Angie.”

Cedrion and Angie’s quarrel was heating up again. With a headache that reminded me of my days with a terminal illness, I cut off a piece of duck confit from my plate and placed it in Angie’s mouth.

“We agreed to have lunch at the Edelburg lord’s castle tomorrow, right? We’ll have to get up early and get ready, so it really is better to sleep early.”

“…Ahhh, the burdens of being a monarch. I can’t even enjoy a simple winter trip with Mom, and I have to pass it off as a diplomatic tour.”

“If we didn’t, do you think the ministers would have let both you and Cedrion leave the palace at the same time?”

Especially the Chancellor, Marquis Brendel. I silently sent my condolences to him—the poor man who seemed to sprout twenty white hairs every time Cedrion and Angie left the palace with me.

“So let’s finish up, have dessert, take a walk around the garden, and go to bed early.”

“…Ugh, fine, fine. The little one will head off to dreamland early and give you two your alone time.”

Angie exaggerated her grumbling voice on purpose, and Cedrion and I exchanged awkward glances again. Our eldest really knows too much for her own good, she really does…