The Unemployed Prince Covets My Nephew - Chapter 22
Worried that the memory might become a trauma for Theo, Hailey’s heart sank several times a day whenever she saw the child’s bright face.
At first, Hailey thought it would be fine as long as her parents and Count Roman were punished.
But she had to consider the possibility of retaliation if things were left ambiguous here, and what would happen a year later when Theo and Hailey could no longer be under Axel’s protection.
‘I want to ask Theo first. If Theo doesn’t want to, then I don’t want it either. But if Theo agrees, I will allow it.’
Hailey and Khalid took turns explaining to Theo what a trial is and what it means to stand as a witness.
Since it was a very difficult story for a five-year-old, Theo just pretended to listen while eating candy.
Just when Khalid was about to give up thinking it was too much to ask a five-year-old to stand as a witness, Theo, who had been blinking his eyes, suddenly ran somewhere.
‘This.’
With short legs running hard, Theo suddenly handed something over.
It was a piece of cloth, a bit crumpled but neatly folded.
When Hailey unfolded the piece of cloth, there was some dried grass of unknown identity inside.
The grass was folded within a large piece of cloth, almost like a mask to keep the grass from falling out.
Khalid, instead of the puzzled Hailey, accepted it.
After sniffing it briefly, he handed the cloth piece to Axel with a surprised look. Axel also sniffed it and seemed to realize something.
‘This is… parmakia.’
‘Parmakia is a plant used in medicine. Using a small amount can cause unconsciousness, but if the dosage is wrong, it can cause the lungs to collapse and lead to death. It’s a dangerous plant.’
‘Why on earth would such a scary thing…….’
In the suddenly serious atmosphere, Theo glanced at Hailey.
There was no other intention, it was just the cloth that had covered Theo’s mouth, and he had accidentally taken it while escaping.
He learned not to take things from others, so he hid it without saying anything, afraid he would get scolded.
‘It’s a rare herb found only in Vasa, and it’s strictly prohibited in Zenovia because it’s easy to use as a poison. This can be submitted as important evidence in the trial. Bringing this is quite…… astonishing. I feel like making milk pudding for you as a reward.’
‘I know all those men’s faces too!’
Enticed by the mention of milk pudding, Theo raised his hand and insisted he could describe the faces of the people who kidnapped him.
Khalid shook Theo’s small hand as if making a deal.
Hailey, recalling the conversation from yesterday, picked up Theo.
She knew it wasn’t something noblewomen usually did, but she didn’t care and hugged the child as she always did.
“Theo. It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about what happened in front of the bad people. You don’t have to force yourself. Even if you don’t do it, the uncles will protect us.”
“Yeah. I know. But I want to defeat the villains! That’s how I become a real hero.”
“Theo, do you want to be a hero? But you’re only five.”
“I’m the coolest five-year-old in the world!”
Theo clenched his fists tightly.
Although he seemed like a little kid engrossed in hero stories, this five-year-old was so smart and quick-witted that Hailey was worried.
“I will protect Mommy Hailey.”
Theo patted Hailey’s shoulder with his small hand.
Hailey smiled and patted the child’s chubby bottom.
Then Theo giggled and hugged Hailey’s neck tightly, bouncing his bottom up and down.
“Since our Theo is so cool, shall we have strawberry ice cream as a snack?”
“Really?! Great! I’m super cool, so I’ll eat it!”
To this five-year-old who modestly asked for ‘just two bites,’ Hailey said he could have ten, making Theo’s heart race with excitement.
‘Ten bites!’
Theo was so happy he was almost scared, but he calmed himself by hugging Hailey a little tighter.
“You’re quite strong, Your Highness.”
Hailey, spinning around while holding Theo, was startled by the sudden voice and turned towards the sound.
Walking towards them was the Queen.
Surprised, Hailey didn’t even think to put Theo down until her lady-in-waiting, Merrill, approached and whispered in her ear, prompting her to hurriedly set Theo on the ground.
Even though she didn’t immediately show proper etiquette, the Queen did not seem displeased at all. She merely looked at Theo and Hailey with a meaningful smile.
“Greetings to the Queen. I apologize. I am still clumsy with the court etiquette…”
“You’ll learn in time. When I was the Crown Princess, I was even more ignorant than you are now.”
Hailey gently took Theo’s hand and whispered softly.
“Theo, show her what you learned yesterday.”
Theo was staring intently at the Queen.
‘Looking directly at someone of higher status without greeting them is against etiquette, as I clearly taught him yesterday.’
Yesterday, with the help of Lady-in-waiting Merrill, Hailey had spent over an hour and a half practicing with Theo. Of course, Hailey herself also corrected her manners with Merrill’s help.
Although Theo had followed along well yesterday, today he seemed to have forgotten everything, looking up at the Queen with innocent eyes.
Suddenly, Theo exclaimed, ‘Ah! That’s right!’ and clapped his right fist into his left palm.
As if he had remembered something, he then performed the greeting he had learned yesterday and bowed to the Queen.
“Greetings, Grandma.”
“……!”
Everyone present was shocked into silence by the unexpected word.
‘This is not the time for improvisation!’
Hailey felt like crying.
Grandma?
Neither Hailey nor Merrill had taught him that.
‘How did he even come up with that?’
Theo wasn’t even Axel’s biological son and was merely the child of a contractual marriage that would end in a year.
Hailey, worried that she might appear to be using the child for her own ambition, pulled Theo back, holding him close.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. It’s my shame that I haven’t taught the child properly. Please scold me.”
“Mommy Hailey, why? Did I do something wrong? Dad said to greet pretty people like this.”
Hailey’s face turned even paler.
‘Dad??’
Despite the rigorous training the palace staff receive to maintain their composure, several young maids following Hailey couldn’t hide their surprise at Theo’s bombshell statements.
Hailey awkwardly smiled and fidgeted with Theo’s small hand.
“Ha ha. Dad…?”
Hailey asked Theo, hoping it wasn’t true.
“He told me to call him Axel when we’re alone and Dad when others are around.”
Hailey felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment and turned her head away.
‘That crazy prince, again.’
She left Theo with Axel for just a short while following Khalid to handle some unfinished documents. It hadn’t even taken ten minutes.
In that short time, Axel had managed to teach Theo this.
Furious at the prince’s obvious manipulation, Hailey clenched her fists and trembled, despite being in front of the Queen.
‘I’ve never even seen Theo’s dad!’
At that moment, the Queen burst into laughter.
“It’s my son’s doing, I see.”
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“It’s not incorrect. I’ve often sung about wanting grandchildren, so I’m in no position to scold.”
The Queen’s hair was the same black as the prince’s, which added to his intimidating look, but on her, it only enhanced her intellectual beauty.
Although she’s not as tall as Hailey, the Queen was taller than most noble ladies, with long, elegant limbs and a slightly angular face that exuded a noble aura.
Her dress was beautiful but not overly extravagant, showing a preference for simplicity and restraint.
Her appearance was not what one would typically expect from an Queen, making her even harder to approach.
Despite her attire and uncharacteristic hearty laughter, Hailey relaxed slightly but still felt embarrassed because of Axel.
“So this is my first grandchild.”
The Queen even bent slightly and extended her hand to Theo, as if asking for a handshake.
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Acho sacanagem fazer a criança se apegar pra depois de um ano jogar fora (ainda bem que tudo vai acabar bem)
Thanks for the update 🇧🇷 😸 🥰