051 – Miracle

“I never thought the day would come when I’d envy a Margrave.”

Emperor Leonardo Leone, recalling the events of the previous night, chuckled softly.

“I choose to elevate the Marquisate of Eloise to a Duchy.”

He said he would use it for the benefit of others, so I thought he was showing a benevolent heart.

But he used *me*, the Emperor, to score points with his future father-in-law.

“One thing’s for sure, I’ve got myself quite the son-in-law.”

When I said I’d grant him anything he wished, I expected him to take away a treasure or two at most.

But to ask for the elevation of a Marquisate to a Duchy?

I felt somewhat outplayed, but this whole situation didn’t entirely displease me.

“There will be some pushback from the other nobles, of course.”

Indeed, there would be fierce opposition from the other nobles after the Marquisate’s elevation ceremony.

But there was the legitimate reason of praising him for his accomplishment in searching the Midnight Auction, something even the Imperial Knights failed to do.

Though the reward might be a bit excessive compared to what he did, it was a concession I could afford to make.

‘I should get back to work.’

Dismissing those personal thoughts, he immediately began to read through the documents one by one.

He had put aside all the work that had to be done yesterday to spend time with his daughter.

He resolved to finish the backlog and today’s tasks quickly, then stay by Asher’s side as she slept, but as soon as that thought crossed his mind…

“Your Majesty!”

The physician always watching over Asher rushed in, agitated.

And because of that, I knew that farewell to my youngest daughter, Asher, was coming much sooner than expected.

“Ah…”

I had hoped Asher would hold on until we found that demon hiding in the Midnight Auction.

I expected Asher to hold on until I tore that demon hiding in the Midnight Auction to shreds.

Hope was finally within reach.

I thought I could finally… be a little happy.

“aaah…”

No matter that I was an Emperor, I was still just a father.

My will be damned, tears welled up and a feeling of frustration and helplessness overwhelmed me, and at that moment that I was about to lose my mind…

“The Princess has awakened!”

“…What?”

A miracle had occurred.

“I said, the Princess has awakened!”

“…!”

Even that…

In the very form I had wished for most.

“Even that, she’s healthy! She’s been jumping all over the bed!”

Upon hearing the report, I shot from my seat with all my might and raced to Asher’s room in one breath.

Arriving before the room, I threw open the door without minding formalities or the presence of other retainers.

And within the room I opened…

“Papa! I’m jumping!”

… was Asher, a bright smile on her face as she bounced on the bed, healthy as could be.

…

Thump-thump-thump

Anyone seeing it might call me crazy.

Indeed.

I was mad with joy.

A lifetime unable to run, my daughter’s running form brought me from tears to laughter.

In a place where more than anywhere else I should observe decorum, the person who should be the most formal was creating such a commotion, and it was so very welcome to see.

“Hehe… Hehee…”

Having run until tired, she came to me and embraced me tightly, and just as tears began to flow once more…

“Papa’s friend was someone who could really do anything!”

Her words were a revelation.

“Mihan?”

“Yes! That mister!”

“…Impossible.”

The day Asher awoke.

Everything was the same, yet one thing differed…

Before Asher fell asleep, she had encountered that man.

Furthermore…

“He really does grant any wish, just like Papa said!”

“…”

Asher’s words only confirmed it.

The man who had lifted the curse that no priest could undo, was that very man.

“Actually, Papa, you know!”

“Yes?”

“I thought you were lying, Papa! Your friend who grants everything is always too busy to come.”

“…That’s right.”

“But, it’s real! I want to make another wish!”

A friend of Papa’s who could grant anything.

This… was an imaginary figure.

Created so that my daughter, who had never lost her smile, might still have hope. A being that did not exist.

But no longer.

Papa’s closest friend, who could grant anything, had from that moment become a person who actually existed.

“Shall I call you again sometime?”

“Yes! I want to play tag with you and Papa, hide-and-seek, and more…”

*

“Hnnng… Haaah… …It was a dream.”

An unsettling morning, born from a bad dream.

The dream’s strange premonitions left me with the thought that I should be careful today.

“…Figures I’d dream of being assassinated.”

The culprit of my nightmare was sprawled asleep on my stomach.

“Good morning!”

“When did you wake up?”

“About three hours ago?”

“Isn’t that too early?”

“I woke up for a bit because I had things to do!”

“I see?”

I wasn’t sure what a talking cat could have been up to during those early hours.

I lifted Isabella, busily kneading my chest with her paws, and gently lowered her to the floor.

“???”

“From now on, Isabella, no beds for you.”

“Ehhh, why not the bed?!”

“I told you to lie on the bed, but who’s ever heard of a cat lying on their owner like that?”

“I was bored, meow.”

“…”

Her utter confidence left me speechless.

“…You’re so brazen I don’t know what to say.”

“Alright, then. Since the bed’s off-limits, I’ll just climb on top of you like today.”

“…Isn’t it usually the other way around?.. ‘Let me be on the bed, and I won’t climb on you’.”

“Don’t you dare question the opinion of a cat, you mere human!”

“This is… the dignity befitting the pinnacle of all creation…”

Indeed, Isabella was the most effective alarm clock in the world.

Now that she’d woken me up so thoroughly I didn’t need a mechanical one…

“Aren’t you getting up?”

“Why would I get up?”

“Because the day has started?”

It was time to continue lying down.

“My day starts right here.”

“Huh?”

Just because I was awake didn’t mean I had any reason to get out of bed.

Originally, today was supposed to be a date with Ella.

But the need to visit the Imperial Palace had cancelled that date, leaving me with a free day. So, I became unemployed, without anyone to look for or look after.

“Perhaps a light four hours of lying down?”

“Just where do you see the lightness in that?”

“I’ll specially permit you to rest upon my stomach, you know.”

“Light.”

Just a light four hours or so of lying down and relaxing-.

Knock knock knock.

“Who is it?”

“Mmmgh…”

The sudden knocking startled me out of bed, just as Isabella, climbing onto my stomach, tumbled onto the mattress.

Surely this would teach her a valuable lesson about climbing on her master ever again.

Anyway.

“Hm?”

For some reason, someone had knocked on my dormitory door and then fallen silent.

“Some kind of knock-and-run?”

Suspecting some idle soul with nothing better to do, I decided to ignore it and just return to my light, relaxing four hours-.

Knock knock knock.

“I said, who is it?”

“Mmmgh… Master, are you doing this on purpose?”

“Oh. My. Mistake.”

Clearly intent on seeing this through to the bitter end.

For such a person, it seemed only right to indulge their need for attention. I would open the door and pretend to be surprised.

*Creak-*

“Oh my, who co-“

“Uncle!”

*Thud*

“Still a dream, I see.”

That the Emperor of the busy Magic Kingdom would dedicate his weekend to visit the Academy dormitory with his daughter like a trip to the fair?

The sheer unlikelihood of it caused me to realize instantly this was a dream-.

“..Miehen?”

“aaah… Why isn’t this a dream, Professor? It can’t be…”

“…I am feeling similarly about this rather improbable scene.”

Professor Layton’s voice from beside His Majesty left me with no other choice.

*Creeeak…*

“Uncle!”

“Ah, Asher.”

I had no choice but to open the door again.

“Quick, get inside. Someone else might hear us.”

“Please come in. …Professor, aren’t you coming in?”

“I’ll come back later.”

“No, no. You have to come in.”

“His Majesty’s presence here is to be kept absolutely secret, Miehen.”

“Please, let me in.”

*Creak…*

Professor Layton closed the door behind me, a small gesture of encouragement.

Thanks to that.

“Hello!”

“Oh… it’s Asher. Hmmm…! Come in, dear. I’m glad you seem well…!”

“Sorry for showing up so suddenly, so sorry. But, we *are* ‘the bestest of best friends,’ right?”

“Of course… we are…!”

The most awkward time imaginable began to tick by.

“A kitty!”

*Meow~*

Luckily, Isabella managed to capture Asher’s attention.

I could immediately ask His Majesty what was going on, out of Asher’s sight.

“What is the matter?”

“Asher just kept saying how much he wanted to roam around outside the palace.”

“There are so many better places, are there not?”

“And he also wanted to play with you.”

“Couldn’t he just… call for me?”

“Visiting a friend’s house was Asher’s dream, apparently.”

“…I suppose I must concede.”

Aren’t adults always endlessly yielding where children are concerned?

Just like when a friend called me in the dead of night because his daughter wanted to talk to Santa.

Even with my voice barely working from exhaustion, I put on a perfect Santa Claus performance.

“Mister!”

“What is it, Asher?”

Today, I would play with Asher to the best of my ability.

“Can I take this kitty home and keep it?”

*Mrow?!*

“That cat bites people, so you have to be careful.”

“Oops.”

“It’s really bad if you get bitten, that’s why Mister keeps it.”

“Okay. Kitty, you can’t bite people.”

*Meow~*

It was true, actually.

If Isabella, the True Ancestor Vampire, were to bite someone… we might witness the miracle of a perfectly healthy human becoming a vampire.

—

Asher Leon (9)

[Kidnapping] – Active

[Espionage] – Isabella Lilith

[Sleep] – Active

[Stealth] – Activated

[Silence] – Deactivated

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