The Unemployed Prince Covets My Nephew - Chapter 16
‘Oh?’
Even though he was her son, the king was very surprised by Hailey’s answer. Responsibility? This was the same guy who had abandoned his position as prince?
“I understand that even though it’s for a year, married life won’t be easy. I do not covet the position of princess or grand duchess. I have received a favor from His Highness that I can never repay in my lifetime. Therefore, I will do my best to support him in fulfilling his will.”
Hailey bowed her head quietly.
‘Impressive.’
Not only Anais, who had asked the question, but also the king and queen, who were listening, shared the same thought.
They had been worried because Axel brought her into this mess, but the woman he brought showed no sign of panic and gave a skillful and wise answer. Objectively, she seemed like a quite plausible princess.
Noticing this, Axel’s smug smile grew even more arrogant.
‘Yawn.’
Theo, who had been observing the whole situation, was very sleepy.
Standing next to Hailey, he had been dozing off but woke up with the loud noises and vaguely listened to the adults’ conversation, which he couldn’t understand.
It seemed like the giant man was being scolded heavily.
When Theo had asked the giant man earlier if he had come to rescue him, the giant man said yes. He had also added, ‘Remember this well,’ saying that a true hero repays kindness.
‘The giant man is on our side.’
Since then, Theo had considered Axel an ally and wanted to help the giant man who was being scolded. The giant man had saved Hailey and Theo twice.
‘He said to repay kindness.’
On the way to the palace in the carriage, Theo had been fiddling with the grape candy Hailey had given back to him and stared at the man who looked like the giant man sitting at the highest place. He seemed to be someone even higher than the giant man.
Then, Theo had a brilliant idea.
“The giant man isn’t a bad guy.”
“…?”
Theo suddenly interrupted the adults’ conversation in a small voice.
The king raised his head. It was the voice of a child. The child, whom he had not even glanced at until now, was saying something.
Hailey, flustered, grabbed Theo’s hand and tried to hide him behind her.
“Listen to what the child is saying and report it to me.”
Khalid, who was nearby, approached Theo.
Theo whispered something to Khalid and then handed over something secretively and solemnly. Khalid’s face turned red as if it would burst.
“What is the child saying?”
“…He says.”
“What? I can’t hear you. Speak up.”
“He says… uh. He says not to scold the giant man. Instead, he will give you this.”
“Hmm? Bring it closer.”
The king, bothered by the child peeking out from behind Hailey and staring with bright eyes, gestured to Khalid.
Khalid took the ‘thing’ Theo had given him and presented it to the king.
‘What is that?’
Neither the queen nor Anais could guess what the small item in Khalid’s palm was.
The king picked it up. It was Theo’s grape-flavored candy.
“He says it’s his most cherished grape-flavored candy.”
“…Heh.”
Anais turned her head away, and the corners of the queen’s mouth twitched.
Khalid added the most important detail.
“I forgot to mention the most important part. It’s a ‘bribe’.”
“Is that so, Your Majesty?”
“Ahem.”
“Shall I unwrap it for you, Your Majesty?”
The king’s attendant, oblivious to the situation, asked politely, causing the queen to burst into laughter. The king cleared his throat awkwardly.
‘The palace will be fun again after a long time.’
It was the grand entrance of a new family member.
* * *
Fortunately, Theo was so exhausted that he fell asleep as soon as he lay down. On the other hand, Hailey stayed awake all night.
She almost lost Theo. She might never have seen him again. She couldn’t close her eyes, fearing the child would disappear if she slept.
‘…Mommy Hailey. But what’s a fresh sacrifice?’
Though Theo had misheard ‘sacred’ as ‘fresh,’ Hailey shivered with rage hearing those words from Theo’s mouth.
When Theo, with an innocent face, asked what a sacrifice was, saying that’s what the people who took him had mentioned, Hailey was at a loss for words.
Although she had found Theo, Hailey was still distraught. She worried about the mental trauma the child had suffered in such a short time and felt overwhelmed about what to do next.
“Greetings to Your Highness. I am Merrill, the head maid assigned to serve Your Highness.”
Hailey had never properly managed servants before. At the baron’s estate, she had worked alongside them, and they often looked down on her. Having never received such devoted treatment, everything felt awkward.
Even though she was a fake princess on a short-term contract, the servants’ respectful attitude surprised her.
Hailey braced herself to endure disdainful looks but was instead taken aback by their politeness.
Shortly after the grape candy incident involving Theo, the queen had awkwardly arranged a palace for Hailey.
She said that even a temporary princess deserved proper treatment and bestowed a princess’s palace upon Hailey.
Although they offered to prepare a separate room for Theo, Hailey, who had always stayed with Theo, didn’t want to be apart from him and decided they would share a room.
“We didn’t have much time, so we prepared the clothing hastily. We will have everything perfectly ready as soon as possible.”
Hailey waved her hands, saying it was fine.
The fact that they had prepared clothes for Hailey and Theo within just a few hours, after being notified in the early morning, was impressive.
Despite not having taken measurements, the clothes fit perfectly. Hailey was taller than average, and Theo was smaller than average, yet the fit was almost exact.
The treatment was almost too gracious for a short-term princess. Warm bathwater, a soft bed, and a fresh, delicious breakfast.
Both Hailey and Theo were wide-eyed at experiencing such things for the first time.
“Your Highness. An attendant from the prince has come to request Your Highness’s presence at the prince’s palace. When should I tell them you will go?”
“Tell them I will go shortly.”
As soon as the head maid and the servants left, Theo, who had been busy exploring, ran to Hailey and hugged her.
Theo peeked out from Hailey’s skirt.
“Mommy Hailey, this place is huge! Are we going to live here now?”
“We’re just staying here for a while.”
“…Then do we have to go back home?”
After yesterday’s incident, Theo finally started calling Hailey ‘Mommy Hailey.’ Though it still felt awkward, he couldn’t just call her ‘Mom’ and added ‘Hailey’ after it.
Hearing they would only stay for a while, Theo looked frightened, wondering if they had to go back home, his shoulders drooping.
Hailey knelt down to meet Theo’s eyes and cupped his cheeks with both hands.
“We won’t go back to that house ever again.”
“Really?”
In fact, Theo had a nightmare of being trapped in that small box all night.
Theo’s mouth opened wide at Hailey’s firm answer. He was worried about having to return to that hell and see the evil baron again, even though he loved the soft bed, the meltingly soft blankets, and the warm bathwater here.
Hailey calmly explained to Theo.
“Those people can’t hurt you anymore. We’re staying here for a while to move to a better place.”
“Then this place… is the land of giants!”
To Theo, this place was as enormous as a land of giants. He was convinced.
‘Then this place must be the giant man’s house!’
Though the many unfamiliar adults were a bit scary, Theo felt reassured because he liked the giant man and thought he could be a little more comfortable if it was his house.
“Do you like that man?”
“He’s not very nice, but he seems like a good person.”
Hailey laughed and patted Theo’s head. The giant man would have called that a cheeky comment if he had heard it.
“We’ll be living with that giant man now. He promised to protect us from bad people. But he doesn’t have any friends. Could you be his friend?”
“Hmm… I guess. That man seems really pitiful. He doesn’t have any friends.”
Hailey smiled wryly and patted Theo’s chubby bottom.
‘I was worried about how to explain that I’d be married to the prince for a year and that Theo would be adopted, but this should be enough for now.’
Preparing to go to the prince’s palace, Hailey habitually straightened Theo’s pants.