By Zephyria 
Our family of three began the morning with a brief hug.
Titi, barely awake, clung to Ruben’s arm the moment she saw him. Ruben stroked her head gently until she was fully awake, but he did not indulge her desire to be cuddled and spoiled.
Sensing Ruben’s lingering strictness, Titi tentatively reached for my hand.
I glanced at Ruben and then turned the child’s hand over to examine her palm. As expected, it wasn’t the kind of skin that would be damaged by a mere switch. In truth, she was the type of child who would remain unscathed even if hit by a falling giant tree. The heartache had likely been far greater than any physical pain.
While I meticulously checked the child’s clear, cool palm, Ruben, who had been watching in silence, let his gaze soften with relief.
“Justitia. Have you reflected enough?”
“…Yes.”
“And are you ready to tell me why you did such a thing?”
“I missed Daddy. Just, because of that…”
“I know you wanted to come to me through the portal. But you are a very smart child. Did you not realize Mika’s daddy was trying to stop you?”
“…I knew.”
“Then why didn’t you listen to him? I am curious why you chose to pour mana into the magic circle on your own. Do you remember why you wanted to do that?”
Ruben was noticeably calmer and more composed than he had been yesterday.
Titi, showing clear signs of having agonized over this all night, mumbled in a small, crestfallen voice.
“…I thought it would be okay.”
“What was?”
“When I got close to the portal, I smelled the scent that comes from Daddies. So I thought if I knocked, the door would open, so I knocked and made a wish. Mana always listens to me, and I thought Daddy’s mana would like me even more.”
“…I see. Is that what happened? And then what happened?”
“The magic circle, which was round, got squished like this. Then people were surprised… they shouted and pushed, but it kept getting pointy. I’ve never seen something that couldn’t be caught even with Daddy and Mika’s daddy’s strength.”
“And how did that make you feel?”
“…I was scared… and sorry… Because, because… the people there, blood, there was blood.”
Titi gripped my hand tightly. Then, she lifted her head to look at Ruben.
Titi is incredibly strong. Whenever she succeeded in controlling her strength, Ruben and I praised her lavishly. We taught her strictly to distinguish between things that could be broken and things that could not.
Among those, humans were the beings that had to be handled with the utmost gentleness and care. Thus, Titi had never once seen blood with her own eyes. However, she had learned the basic common sense that people bleed when they are hurt.
And Titi knew very well that human suffering could never be a game or a joke.
The child’s expression was desperate.
“I didn’t want to hurt people. I really didn’t.”
“…Yes. I believe you. You aren’t the kind of child who would enjoy hurting others.”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“But other people don’t know you. So, what should you do?”
“…”
The child’s eyes began to tremble with anxiety again.
Ruben let out a low sigh and reached out to Titi. As I handed Titi’s hand over to him, Ruben clasped her tiny hands in his and spoke calmly.
“You have to let them know that you aren’t a bad child. Tell those people how sorry you are. Ask if they were hurt badly, and if there is anything they need because of this.”
“…What if they say they need something?”
“Mika’s daddy and I will provide it. Because we are your guardians.”
“…Then, what if they don’t forgive me even if I say I’m sorry? What if they are very, very angry?”
“If they are very angry, that might happen. Titi, sometimes when you’re very angry, you don’t forgive right away even if someone says sorry. Then how do they make it better?”
“…”
This time, Titi thought for a long while. She fidgeted in Ruben’s grip a few times before her eyes sparkled.
“If they… slowly tell me three times why they’re sorry, the anger melts away.”
“Three times?”
“…Two times? Sometimes, four…”
“Right. You can do the same. Correct?”
“Like Mika’s daddy?”
“…Yes. Like Mika’s daddy.”
After that, Ruben taught Titi several phrases. He spoke about a few essential points for an apology: why the incident happened, how she felt now, how much she reflected, and what she would do in the future. He had her say them herself and corrected her into more proper language.
The brilliant child quickly made up her mind. It was quite adorable to see her working so hard to ensure not a single syllable or sentence was mispronounced. Titi was especially diligent in memorizing the names of the people she would meet today, including Marianne.
I spent the time staring secretly at the ceiling to avoid showing a smile to the child.
* * *
Justitia wore the most determined expression of her fifty-four months of life.
Because she wore several layers of petticoats under a pale blue short-sleeved silk dress, her skirt puffed out like a bell. The ribbon perched atop her well-brushed, flowing hair was the same color as the ribbon tied around the waist of her silk dress.
The unusually formal attire signaled that the child was approaching her apology with a serious heart and attitude. It was the result of Ruben and Justitia deliberating together.
Ruben had suggested darker clothing, but Justitia had strongly insisted on wearing something cute and lovely that Marianne would like. Consequently, Titi made a rustling sound with every step she took today.
As I entered the drawing room holding the child’s sweaty hand, Marianne and Benjamin, who had arrived first, immediately stood up to show their courtesy.
It was the first time I had received such profound courtesy from Marianne.
I guided them to sit with proper etiquette, helped Titi climb onto the opposite sofa, and took the seat of honor myself.
Then, Titi spoke in a trembling voice.
“I am sorry, Marchioness Philodendore. And the husband of Marchioness Philodendore.”
Marianne forgot to respond for a moment.
Justitia had always been unable to pronounce ‘Philodendore’ correctly, jokingly calling her ‘Philololo.’ Noticing the touch of emotion seeping into the corners of her eyes, I pretended to clear my throat silently. Benjamin quietly covered his face with both hands. His shoulders shook slightly.
However, Marianne was indeed Marianne. She did not smile.
Instead, she let out a long sigh, slumped her shoulders exaggeratedly, and asked nonchalantly: “Can you explain this matter to us, Princess Justitia?”
“Yes. Because I acted impulsively yesterday because I wanted to see my father, the Emperor, many people were almost hurt. So I really wanted to apologize to Philolo—no, Marchioness Philodendore. Thank you so much for being the first to handle my mistake. Thanks to the Marchioness, a great disaster was prevented.”
“Will such a thing happen again in the future?”
“No! Absolutely not. If I had known that pouring mana into a portal at will could cause an explosion, I wouldn’t have done it. It won’t happen again. Of course, I promise I won’t do other dangerous things either.”
“For example, what kind of dangerous things?”
“Things like recklessly pouring mana into an unknown magic circle. And going outside the mansion alone without listening to my father, the Emperor. Because that could put not only me but many other people in danger.”
“What will you do if such a thing happens again?”
“Then, then…”
Ah. That wasn’t a prepared answer.
That was only natural. Ruben had been quite meticulous in selecting the list of people who would receive Titi’s apology.
Titi was a young princess who had not yet shown her face to the world. It would be unwise to allow her to show her face and converse with too many people.
Ruben had carefully separated the group he had to personally manage and the group safe enough for the child to contact.
The people receiving Titi’s apology—the three most sensible elders of the Magic Tower, the two young mages in charge of the portal magic circle management team, and the five knights led by Hugh Benson—were all generally gentle in nature and not the type to ask mischievous questions.
Because Ruben wanted Titi’s first memory of an apology to be one of kind forgiveness.
Was this the ‘situation where I must protect Titi’ that Ruben mentioned? However, Marianne wore a sufficiently benevolent expression, and I trusted her. I waited patiently without intervening.
The nervous Titi pondered alone for quite a while. Then, she answered resolutely.
“If I make such a big mistake, I will give my fifth birthday cake to Marchioness Philodendore.”
“…What?”
“Of course, it might not be something adults need very much, but it is very precious to me. While other rewards might be given by my daddies, this is entirely my own thing and holds a special meaning. So… this promise is my determination to never make the same mistake again.”
Titi clenched her tiny fists desperately and stared at Marianne.
For a child of this land, the fifth birthday inevitably held great meaning. Before turning five, one does not have parties, cannot leave the mansion, and does not meet outsiders. I, too, had a childhood where I jumped with joy receiving various gifts on my fifth birthday.
Somehow, my heart stirred.
After pretending to think for a while, Marianne smiled and nodded.
“Very well. I shall trust Princess Justitia now. That you will never recklessly pour mana into an unknown magic circle again, nor leave the house alone. Is that correct?”
“Yes!”
“What about the husband of Marchioness Philodendore? Do you feel like forgiving the Princess?”
“Of course. It was something she did without knowing, and she is reflecting sufficiently.”
Benjamin also chimed in with a clean expression. At that, a bright smile spread across Titi’s face, which had been pale with tension. Everyone smiled together at the red blush blooming on the child’s cheeks.
Marianne continued.
“Then, our Titi, shall we make up with Auntie?”
“Yes!”
The child scrambled up onto the table and stretched out both arms.
Perhaps she had been very frightened, as she didn’t even think about flying this short distance. The sight of her climbing the not-so-high table with her hands felt strangely unfamiliar.
Marianne gave Titi a tight hug and left kisses on both cheeks to reassure the child.
Then, Marianne’s sharp gaze immediately pierced me.
“Now it’s Your Majesty’s turn. Why on earth were you out there with Titi? I’m sure the Emperor couldn’t even scold Michael properly and just mumbled like a rain-soaked puppy, right? Who is the one who actually needs to be scolded here?”
“…Well, yes. I was wrong…”
“No matter how sudden it was, do you know how appalled I was after hearing from the mages on site? What were you doing that you missed the mana sphere Titi fired? And of all people, Michael! If you had blocked it before it hit the magic circle, this wouldn’t have happened!”
“That is, if it were just mana, I would have blocked it, but it wasn’t a typical mana sphere, so…”
“And then?”
I had not yet informed the child in detail about her birth. Naturally, I used a telepathic message.
[I heard Spiritus is a Dragon Word. It seems Dragons can directly interfere with established magic through language. Because of that, I was surprised by the unfamiliar magic and focused on getting the child out first.]
“Oh my.”
“…”
“Up to what circle?”
“Probably…”
“Including the 10th circle?”
“…”
“Titi. Do you want to be a mage with Auntie? You can learn the formulas later.”
“That is not allowed.”
“Don’t be so stingy, Michael. We don’t know yet what kind of adult our Titi wants to become.”
At that, Titi, who had been snuggling in Marianne’s arms, snapped her head up. Her already fluffy pink hair had become completely tousled from all the rubbing in that short time.
The child smiled brightly, as if glowing pure white. And she said: “I’m going to be the Emperor, Auntie.”