ODFEN 11

Chapter 11 …

Reversal of Resolve 

“Do I look like I’d covet something so trivial?”

“……”

Lubellin puckered her lips without answering. Her behavior was no different from agreement, and Calix made an incredulous expression.

“Lu, Lubellin, let’s stop folding paper for now.”

Before a reprimand could be issued, I quickly slid the bundle of colored paper under the table. Lubellin looked at the fallen papers with a hint of regret.

“Mom, what about the frogs?”

“I’ll fold a lot for you next time.”

After soothing Lubellin, I clapped my hands to change the mood. Clap—!

“Alright, I’ll tell you a fairy tale now. Lubellin!”

Lubellin’s eyes sparkled as she held a yellow frog.

“Okay! Fairy tale!”

I recalled Cinderella, which I had summarized the day before, and began the story.

“Long ago, a very long time ago, there lived a woman named Cinderella.”

“Yeah! Yeah!”

Lubellin nodded repeatedly, fully focused. Encouraged by her reaction, I exaggerated the story a bit.

“Cinderella lost her parents early and lived being mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters. Despite their harsh treatment, she was a kind person who never blamed anyone.”

“Why is she kind when she’s being mistreated? Is she stupid?”

Lubellin asked innocently, her eyes wide open. I was momentarily at a loss for words.

“……Th-that’s just her natural personality. Anyway! Although Cinderella was alone, she was not lonely, because mice became her friends and kept her company.”

“Talking to filthy mice? She must be crazy.”

……? Did I hear that wrong? A cutting remark that shattered innocence seemed to come from somewhere. I turned toward the direction of the voice with a dull gaze. Calix was leaning against the sofa armrest, resting his chin on his hand, looking down at me arrogantly.

“What are you looking at?”

“……”

I immediately lowered my eyes. Seriously, can’t something be done about that personality?

“So, Mom?”

Lubellin urged me, tugging at my sleeve. Ignoring the piercing gaze that felt like it was slicing into me, I continued the story.

“Then one day! Cinderella heard the news that a royal ball was being held at the palace, so she made a dress to attend! But her stepmother and stepsisters schemed against her and ruined the dress. However! A fairy appeared before Cinderella, who could no longer go to the ball!”

Lubellin’s eyes widened.

“A fairy?”

“Yes, a fairy!”

Now was the moment! Time to introduce Lubellin to the existence of fairies, not demons.

“The fairy gave Cinderella a pumpkin carriage, a dress, and glass slippers. But she had to return before midnight, when the magic would wear off—”

“Why?”

“Huh?”

I blinked blankly. Why? Was there something questionable about that part? No matter how I reconsidered, it was simply a story meant to spark a child’s imagination—there were no flaws anywhere.

“Why, Lubellin?”

“Meberne said so. If someone helps without conditions, you should be suspicious!”

Lubellin argued point by point with a rather sharp expression. Oh no. This is where conflicting educational philosophies come into play. Meberne stepped forward, impressed. As expected of Your Highness! You remembered!—that was exactly the expression on his face. This won’t do. I grabbed Lubellin’s shoulders and faced her.

“Lubellin, the fairy is helping Cinderella because she feels sorry for her.”

Lubellin shook her head.

“Why? You shouldn’t accept help carelessly! I don’t like fairies! Helping without conditions means there must be an ulterior motive.”

“Fairies are just showing kindness.”

“I don’t like Cinderella either! Why is she kind when she’s being mistreated?”

“Cinderella is embracing and understanding them, forgiving their wrongdoing.”

Despite repeated explanations, Lubellin only frowned as if she couldn’t understand.

“I don’t like either of them! I like demons more—they clearly ask for a heart in exchange!”

So she trusts clear interests over invisible goodwill? I couldn’t argue against Lubellin’s firm stance and just blinked. Then Lubellin suddenly stood up with a rather dignified expression.

“Lubellin?”

“Mom, when I grow up, I’m going to become a villain!”

I gasped and stiffened. My mind went blank in an instant. I wasn’t the only one startled. Meberne, Rinell, Ken—everyone in the office held their breath. Even Meberne, who had been full of praise until now, had gone pale. A villain? If one were to take a child’s reckless words too seriously, it could be seen as treason. If Calix and Lubellin had a good relationship, I wouldn’t worry—but their relationship was… I anxiously grabbed the hem of Lubellin’s dress.

“Lu, Lubellin, sit down first. Okay?”

“No!”

Lubellin shook her head vigorously, placing her hands on her hips and puffing out her chest. It seemed she wouldn’t back down this time, no matter what I said.

“I will!”

Lubellin snorted and raised her voice from deep in her core. Her slightly protruding belly wobbled.

“I am a villain!”

“……”

Calix lowered the arm that had been resting his chin on, wearing a peculiar expression.

“…A butt?”

The educational room, already silent, became colder than ever. Hey, you’re the only one thinking it’s a butt! Unlike the bewildered onlookers, Calix was extremely serious. He turned to Meberne.

“Meberne, Head of Education, what is the meaning of this?”

“Pardon?”

“How is it that the future of an imperial princess could be a ‘butt’ depending on how she’s educated?”

At his stern tone, Meberne composed himself, set down his tray, and bowed deeply.

“I apologize. We will take immediate corrective measures in the next session.”

What kind of corrective measures are you planning? Are you going to tell her to become a “paired butt” instead of just a butt?

Calix uncrossed his legs and leaned his upper body forward sharply. Lubellin shrank back like a turtle and hid behind me.

“I’ll say this only once. I will not allow it.”

Calix spoke in a strict tone, but Lubellin did not back down. She peeked out from behind me, gripping my shoulder.

“N-no… I’ll do it!”

“This concerns the dignity of the imperial family.”

“No…!”

“No.”

“Nnnnooo…”

Lubellin clutched her clothes tightly, tears welling in her red eyes. How long had their silent battle of gazes lasted?

“Mom!”

Crushed by Calix’s cold stare, Lubellin burst into tears and ran into my arms.

“Yes, it’s okay, it’s okay.”

I patted her back, my vision dim. At this point, wasn’t Lubellin becoming a villain just a matter of communication issues? If communication doesn’t work, how could the relationship improve? And no one was there to explain that she was simply misunderstanding out of fear of Calix.

“Why is she crying, exactly?”

Calix’s voice sounded as though he couldn’t understand Lubellin at all. I let out a deep sigh at the relationship between the villain and the villain-maker. Me… can I really leave Lubellin like this? No—could I even leave her at all? As I faced the reality I had been avoiding all along, it felt as though a heavy stone had been placed on my chest.

Evening, Lubellin’s bedroom after the lesson had completely ended.

“Sleep, sleep.”

Responding to her request for a lullaby, I held Lubellin in my arms and hummed softly. As my hand gently patted her back, Lubellin smiled faintly and snuggled deeper into my embrace. In the soft lighting, I looked down at her. Their relationship would likely grow more distant in the future. Still, Calix didn’t seem to dislike Lubellin, so if his cold demeanor could be fixed, there might be a chance.

“Mom?”

Lubellin suddenly lifted her head. Ah—lost in thought, I had forgotten the lullaby.

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

Lubellin blinked her clear eyes. I gave a small, casual smile.

“Nothing.”

As I awkwardly brushed the topic aside, Lubellin hesitantly spoke.

“Mom… do you like fairies and Cinderella?”

Was she worried about what happened in class today? I sat up. Lubellin followed, sitting up timidly.

“Do you still not like them, Lubellin?”

“Hmm.”

Lubellin muttered, rolling her eyes in the air. Then, as if she had found her answer, she looked up at me.

“Mom likes Cinderella and fairies, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll try to like them too!”

“…You mean you’ll try to like them because I like them?”

“Yeah! Because Mom likes them!”

Lubellin nodded firmly. Just like when she made the frogs—how could her thoughts be so adorable?

“So cute…”

I buried my face in my hands, suppressing the urge to pull her into a tight hug. Lubellin tugged at my sleeve.

“But Mom, what does ‘favor’ mean?”

“Ah, favor? It means a kind act without expecting anything in return.”

Lubellin tilted her head, still not understanding.

“For example, when someone needs help, you reach out a hand to them. That’s something Lubellin’s favorite demons or villains would never do.”

While explaining, I didn’t forget to subtly reinforce the rejection of villains. Lubellin pressed her lips together and lowered her gaze.

“Why are you like that?”

“I shouldn’t reach out a hand… I’ll get scolded.”

“Get scolded?”

Lubellin bit her lip tightly, then let go.

“If Lubellin touches someone, she has to wear black clothes… Everyone doesn’t like being touched by Lubellin…”

“Black clothes…”

As I mulled over her words, realization struck me like a blow to the back of the head. Ah, why hadn’t I realized this? I had been careless, thinking the force-protection magical tools weren’t needed except in special situations. The reason they weren’t needed was because Lubellin never approached others first. Unlike her childhood described as lonely in the original story, there were many people around her, so I had felt reassured. But Lubellin is a child who cannot be certain of affection unless she is held or embraced. No matter how much someone likes her, she cannot be touched without protective gloves, and she cannot be hugged without a protective robe. I am the only one who can allow her to feel human warmth—and if even I leave… I let out a low sigh, my shoulders slumping. As I sank into pity and worry, I felt a warm touch in my hand.

“But Mom is different.”

Lubellin took my hands, which had been left defenseless, and smiled brightly.

“I can touch Mom. As long as I have Mom, that’s enough.”

At her warm body temperature, tears welled up in my eyes for a moment. How much had she longed for warmth? How much had she longed for the sensation of skin touching skin? While comforted by her touch, thinking about her fate made my chest ache.

“It’s okay, Lubellin.”

I held her tightly in my arms.

“It’s okay.”

As I squeezed my eyes shut, the tears that had gathered fell, soaking Lubellin’s shoulder.

“From now on, Mom will make it so that others can hold Lubellin too.”

It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment comfort I blurted out. I was acknowledging it—my fate had changed the moment I met Lubellin. Whether she might one day die from her own overwhelming strength, or become a villain in the future—I cannot leave this child behind. I cannot turn away from a child who returns such great affection for my small kindness. I cannot leave behind a child who says I am her only one.

“Hah.”

Taking a deep breath, it felt as though the tightly blocked airways had suddenly opened. Accepting the future I had stubbornly denied made my heavy heart feel as light as a feather. Of course, my thoughts had not changed entirely. I still don’t believe that someone as ordinary as me can alter the original story. But if there is even a slight possibility—if I can return the affection Lubellin has given me—then isn’t it worth trying? Even if, someday, Lubellin’s perception changes and she chooses to leave me first.

“Mom?”

At Lubellin’s confused voice, I held her even tighter.

Let’s try it. Let’s become her educator and prevent the world’s destruction while also succeeding in controlling her strength. Having reversed my decision, I thought—
To do that, Calix’s cooperation would be absolutely essential.