When I went back to my room, Nii-sama, Gill, Hans and Natalie surrounded me.
âLei.â
âI wnow.â
Nii-sama called my name anxiously, but I know. Nico aside, I came because Easterâs Third Prince was coming to the royal capital. Because there are a lot of people who are trying to protect me. But Nico is different.
âPrince Aw onwy wanthsh tho shpend thime withh Nico.â (Prince Al only wants to spend time with Nice.)
âPrince Al does?â
Nii-sama scratched his head.
âHe didnâth thawe Nico awong for hish shawe.â (He didnât take Nico along for his sake)
âHe didnât?â
âAi. No, he did. But, he mainwy did ith for himshewf.â (Ai. No, he did. But, he mainly did it for himself.)
Everyone pondered a little when I said he did it for himself.
âTo be honest, I think itâs easier to travel without a toddler, Lei-sama. If he did it for himself, then I feel like he would have left Prince Nico at home.â Hans looked like he couldnât agree with me and I shook my head.
âPrince Aw wovesh Nico.â (Prince Al loves Nico.)
âIt certainly does seem like he has something against you, but ah,â Nii-sama was surprised because he realised something.
âIs he annoyed because he thinks that you get along better with Nico than him?â
âNoth jushth lei. Nii-syama and Giww thoo. You geth awong withh him becaushe you theach him.â (Not just Lei. Nii-sama and Gill too. You get along with him because you teach him.)
âThen why doesnât he interact with Nico? Ah.â Nii-sama realised something.
âItâs because he doesnât know how to express himself.â
âAi. Ithâsh fine if he doeshnâth wnow. Buth he canâth puth Nico in dangeroush shithuathionsh.â
When Gill heard this, he put his hand on his chin like an adult and pondered.
âSo, what does that have to do with you taking Prince Nico home?â
Hans, who was also pondering, suddenly realised, âLei-sama, were you perhaps trying to make him say, âDonât go because Iâll feel lonelyâ?â
âAi. If he threashuresh Nico, thhen he shhouwd shhow ith.â
âWill that work?â
I donât know. However, if we really had to go back, then I would feel uneasy with just us and Nicoâs guards. Itâs a game to see who will fold first.
âIf he doeshnâth geth ith, thhen Nico wiww be in danger from now on.â
âItâs a trial for Prince Al.â
âAi.â
The match starts tomorrow. We finished making plans for tomorrow before sleeping.
After breakfast the next day, we lined up outside Earl Coulterâs mansion and got ready to go home. Nii-sama and the others have already finished our travel preparations, all that was left was to wait for Natalie to get into the carriage. Well, we were also waiting for me to get onto the Rug Dragon, so nothing would proceed if I donât move.
âSo, you canât go home unless you ride a carriage after all.â
Prince Al had his arms folded like he was making fun of me, and it was stupid of him not to notice that everyone was watching him in suspense.
I folded my arms and only watched him in anger. Then, I turned to the dragon. Minnie already had her basket attached.
âDrawgon!â
âKyee!â
âKyee!â
With my voice, dragons other than Minnie also gathered. Nico had already experienced this, so he was calm. The adults, however, were not.
âWhatâs with them?!â
âHah?! His Highness! Leila-sama!â They made a big fuss. However, the dragons didnât approach us even though there were a lot of them. I glanced backwards at the fuss and reached out for Nii-samaâs dragon since it was closest to me.
The Rug Dragon lowered his big head and muzzled me.
âAah, Lei-sama is...!â
âWhat...?â
While Hans and Nii-sama were stopping the adults, who were trying to help, the Rug Dragon gently lifted me up and put me into Minnieâs basket.
âYoshi.â
I released my hand from the dragonâs head and slid into the basket. See, I got into the basket. I folded my arms and looked smug, but I donât think many people can see me in the basket.
âNexth whath wiww you do Nico?â
âAlright. Dragon!â Nico yelled for a dragon, and another dragon carefully placed his head down. Nico clung to the dragonâs head and he was put on the basket on the opposite side of mine.
âIâm in!â
âAi!â
Natalie got into the carriage when Nico and I spoke, and Nii-sama and Gill straddled their dragons. The adults could only look at us in amazement. However, I saw Ojii-sama smile wryly while shaking his head. Iâm sorry for causing a fuss, Ojii-sama.
Nii-sama called out to the stunned Prince Al, âWell then, Prince Albert, Iâm sorry for my sisterâs selfishness, but weâll be going back to the royal capital first. We will prioritize safety and return home in the shortest time possible, so please feel at ease.â
âNo, er, wait,â Prince Albert called in confusion, and Nico spoke to him, âUncle, Iâm sorry things turned out like this because I didnât behave. Iâll listen to what Iâm told, so please donât worry.â
âNico, Nico, wait.â
Nico yelled, âIâm very happy that I got to spend a lot of time with my beloved Uncle.â
Did his voice reach Prince Alâs heart? I glanced at Prince Al who was clenching his fist without saying anything and called out to the Rug Dragon, âGo!â
âKyee!â
âKyee!ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
The Rug Dragons raised their voices happily while moving lightly.
âSwowwy.â (Slowly) I added quietly, and the dragon replied in a small voice, âKyee,â before advancing slowly.
â*SNIFF*.â A voice came from the other side of Minnie.
âNico, donâth cwy.â
âIâm not crying. Itâs just that my chest hurts, and my eyes got warm.â
âYouâre probabwy paththing your shthomach.â (Youâre probably patting your stomach)
I canât see him, but thatâs probably what heâs doing. He didnât cry when he left Prince Lambert, but he must feel lonely. Then, I felt Nico lift his face up.
âLei it was fun.â
âAi.â
âI donât want to go home yet.â
âAi. Pwobably.â
âProbably?â I heard Nicoâs depressed voice.
âPwobably awright.â
âKyee.â
Minnie turned back. You want to speed up, you say?
âKyee.â
Because something is coming from behind us really fast.
âJushth weep thhe shpeed youâre going ath.â (Just keep the speed youâre going at)
I donât mind losing this game.