The Abandoned Princess, Yet She Is Loved - Chapter 123

As soon as Alice saw Grace, she shouted out in her bright, clear voice, full of innocence. Grace rushed over in a heartbeat and scooped Alice up into her arms. The baby wrapped her arms around Grace’s neck, giggling as she enjoyed the sensation of being lifted. Her tiny, adorable fingers were still pointing at the floating doll, as if it were drifting gently in water.

“I made that float!”

“Oh my, really?”

“Yes! I just reached out and really wished for it to float, and then it actually floated!”

Alice’s sparkling black eyes, like the night sky, shone with excitement and wonder. Grace gently bounced her in her arms and asked softly:

“Can you make it come back down?”

At her question, Alice’s expression suddenly turned very serious—surprisingly so for a child her age. Slowly, she lowered the hand that had been pointing at the doll. Following her gesture, the floating dolls gradually descended. Emily stared in awe, completely mesmerized, and Grace let out a small chuckle as a realization dawned on her.

“Alice… you can use magic.”

It was unexpected, since neither she nor Frederick were magic users. Normally, children are considered early bloomers if their magic manifests around six or seven. But Alice had awakened her powers at just three years old. And judging by how naturally she controlled the dolls, she seemed to have been born with the innate ability to wield mana freely.

“Ma…gic…?”

Still, the word “magic” was foreign to the young girl. She tilted her head, confused. Grace buried her nose in Alice’s neck, inhaling that sweet baby scent to her heart’s content, then kissed her cheek and explained gently.

“Magic is the ability to make things float or move through the air like that.”

“So this… is Alice’s… ability?”

Even Emily, standing nearby, had a puzzled look on her face. Both girls were still too young to truly understand what magic was. Emily, born without mana, had mainly studied swordsmanship, history, and philosophy, so she’d never had a chance to experience magic up close.

“That’s not all! With a little more practice, you’ll even be able to make light appear in the dark!”

Alice’s eyes widened to the size of saucers.

“W-Wow! Really?!”

“I want to do magic too!! I want to do it just like Alice did!”

Before Grace could stop her, Emily reached toward the dolls and fixed her gaze on them, her lips tightly pressed together in concentration.

“……”

Grace hesitated. She knew it was a futile attempt, but she didn’t want to crush the child’s enthusiasm.

Emily strained and struggled, trying her best to manifest telekinesis. But with no mana, her efforts were in vain. Her expression tightened in focus, but it was no use.

“I… I can’t do it…”

Emily slumped, clearly discouraged. Seeing her that way made Grace feel a little guilty. Of course the curious child would want to copy her sister’s amazing abilities.

“Don’t be sad, Emily.”

“Why can’t I do it? I want to use magic too!”

Emily pouted, puffing up her cheeks in frustration.

“To use magic, you need to be born with something called mana. Only those born with it can use these abilities.”

“So… I wasn’t born with it? But Alice was?”

“But our Emily is good with a sword, just like your father. Alice can use magic, but you’re amazing in your own way. Everyone’s good at different things.”

“I still think that’s way cooler…”

Even as Grace tried to comfort her, Emily pouted and drooped her shoulders. Just moments ago she’d been so excited, but seeing her younger sister do something magical had clearly made her a little jealous.

Grace knelt down in front of Emily and met her eyes, gently stroking her head as she spoke softly.

“Your father would be heartbroken to hear you say that. Emily, there’s no such thing as better or worse abilities. What matters is doing your best with what you’re given.”

“Sure, being a great mage is impressive. But being a great swordsman is just as amazing.”

Just then, an unfamiliar voice chimed in.

Grace turned her head and smiled at the intruder who’d joined their conversation.

“Frederick.”

“Incredible, Alice! Using magic at your age!”

Frederick strode over and lifted Alice into one arm, rubbing his face all over her soft cheeks.

“She really is my daughter!”

“Eeeeek! Daddy, it tickles!!”

Alice screamed and squirmed under his surprise beard attack. But Frederick ignored her resistance and continued planting kisses on her cheeks. The scene of a daughter desperately avoiding kisses while her father relentlessly pursued them was a comedy in itself.

“But…”

After what could only be described as a prolonged ambush of affection, Frederick set Alice down on the bed. Then, turning to Emily, he suddenly grinned. Grace couldn’t help but notice something a little sinister in that smile.

“Emily?”

“Yes!”

Emily replied cheerfully, her voice bright and chipper.

“Shouldn’t you not be here right now?”

With those words, her face instantly turned pale. Frederick crossed his arms, staring down at her as he spoke slowly and clearly in an ominous tone.

“I just came here straight from work after hearing from your tutor. Apparently, you disappeared about an hour ago—right in the middle of your lesson.”

Her tutor, Mr. Wilkes, had been teaching Emily history. Lessons were held twice a week in the afternoon—today must’ve been one of those days.

Emily was a cheerful and energetic firstborn who brought joy to her parents, but she absolutely hated studying. As the heir to a duke’s household, she was expected to learn a great deal, but she often found creative excuses to skip lessons. Still, it was the first time her father had caught her red-handed.

Now, the despair on Emily’s face was far more dramatic than the pout she’d shown earlier. Grace pressed her lips together tightly, struggling to hold in her laughter.

“Let’s go.”

“Eeeek!”

With a yelp, her tiny body was hoisted into the air. Ignoring her protests, Frederick slung her over his shoulder. Her body dangled helplessly, like laundry on a line.

Even as they walked away, Emily didn’t give up her protest. Her legs kicked, and her mouth kept firing back.

“Nooo! History is so boring! I don’t like Mr. Wilkes!”

“A proper duke must work hard, even when it’s hard or unpleasant.”

“I’ll just be a mediocre duke, then!”

“If you don’t quiet down and stop kicking, there’ll be no teatime snacks for a whole week.”

At that, Emily went limp—completely silent and still, like a doll. That mischievous little one must really love her snacks.

Watching them fade into the distance, Grace could no longer hold back and burst into laughter. Little Alice, too young to understand what was going on, giggled just because her mother was laughing.

“Are you happy, my little princess?”

“Alice is happy when Mommy is happy!”

The way she said it, smiling so sweetly, she looked just like a little angel. Grace hugged her tightly and showered her with kisses, just like Frederick had done earlier. Since there was no scratchy beard involved, Alice didn’t resist. In fact, she returned the kisses, making Grace’s heart melt.

“That’s my sweet girl.”

Grace gently stroked Alice’s hair.

A mischievous but growingly mature eldest daughter, fitting her role as the duke’s heir.

A darling, magical little princess of a younger daughter.

And a slightly over-affectionate but kind-hearted father, Frederick.

The afternoon sunlight warmed Grace’s cheeks as she smiled softly.

It was a perfect, blissful moment.

<Side Story: “The Abandoned Princess, Yet She Is Loved” – The End>

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