The Case of Being Reincarnated as a Noble in a World with a Skewed Gender Ratio - 10-11

Chapter 10: The One Crying Is…

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“Hic… Hic… Sniff…”

A little girl was crying. Of course, I couldn’t possibly ignore her. However, if I suddenly came to her side with Miinya, she might get scared because Miinya was a stranger and an adult. Kids her age tended to feel afraid of adults. She might not tell us what had happened. Kids were like that after all. However, if I were to go check up on her alone, she might open up to me since we were both children. 

Miinya seemed to immediately realize what I was planning to do. She smiled at me and stepped back, keeping an appropriate distance so she could come running to aid us if anything were to happen.

But seriously, isn’t Miinya way too sharp sometimes?!

In anycase, I approached the girl slowly so as not to scare her. 

“”What’s wrong?””

My voice overlapped with someone else’s voice at the same time. We both addressed the crying girl simultaneously. Glancing at the direction of the sound, I saw a girl with red hair. She looked about the same age as me too. However, she exuded an air of elegance despite her young age. She must be the daughter of a noble or other prestigious family. 

But still, we need to do something for this crying girl…

“Hic… Mommy.. Hic… Is gone…”

The crying girl explained between hiccups. 

“”Your Mommy is gone?””

Our voices overlapped once again.

I was a high school boy on the inside, but the same couldn’t be said about this red haired girl. It was amazing how mature she was for her age. She articulated her words well as she called out to this crying girl who seemed to be lost.

“Y-Yeah…”

“”Then let’s search for your Mommy together.””

“…Yeah.”

“My name is El. Can you tell me your name?”

“…Mimi.”

“So you’re Mimi, huh? And… What about you? What’s your name?”

“Me? My name is Ti-… Elleair.”

Upon hearing her name ‘Elleair’, I couldn’t help myself from thinking of one particular tissue and toilet paper brand in my previous life. I mean, I wouldn’t be the only one! Every Japanese person would definitely think of that Elleair! That brand was really famous after all! Almost every house used that brand! I mean, I used that brand in my house…!

“Is-Is something wrong?”

“Hmm~ Nothing. It’s just, your name reminds me of something else…”

“…I-Is that so?”

“Well then, let’s go look for Mimi-chan’s mother together?”

“”Yeah.””

Mimi-chan finally stopped crying. In order to ensure Mimi-chan wouldn’t get lost, I held Mimi-chan’s right hand while Elleair held Mimi-chan’s left hand. The three of us walked side by side. Unlike in the modern world, there were no cars here. The roads were wide enough too. This was something that could only be done in another world like this. 

Meanwhile, I could hear Miinya exclaiming behind us. 

“Haaaah?! A boy and a girl holding hands…. Wha-What a precious sight to behold!!!”

However, I decided to ignore her completely. 

“Mimi-chan’s mother! Are you here?”

“Mimi is over here!!”

“Mimi-chan is right here!!”

We searched for Mimi-chan’s mother in this fashion and it didn’t take long before..

“Mimi!”

“Mommy!”

It seemed Mimi-chan’s mother had been running around frantically to search for her. Sweat was dripping down her forehead and as soon as she spotted Mimi-chan, she ran with all of her might to hug Mimi-chan tightly. 

Ah~ Reunion scenes like this really warms the heart, don’t they?~

＊＊＊

Mimi-chan and her mother thanked us. I then headed to the plaza together with Elleair. The plaza was similar to a park in my previous world, although this place was more simple and didn’t have a playground for children or any fountains. I sat on a plain chair next to Elleair before I decided to ask her the thing that had been bothering me. 

“I’m glad we were able to find her.”

“Yeah…”

“So… Elleair-chan, where did you get separated?”

“…Huh?”

“I mean, you also got separated by your guardian or whoever was with you, right?”

“That’s…”

“Now, it’s time to look for Elleair-chan’s guardian, right?” 

“… El-sama, there’s no need to worry about that.”

Miinya, who had been keeping her distance until now, suddenly spoke.

“The guards are already on their way here.”

Judging from Miinya’s words, it seemed she knew who Elleair was from the beginning.

No, but, when did she even contact Elleair’s guards….??

“El-sama… That’s a maiden’s secret, you know? You mustn’t be privy of that.”

Look at her, casually reading my mind. 

“Hence why, there’s no need to worry, El-sama and… Princess Tia.”

“Princess?!”

By ‘princess’ that means Elleair is the king’s daughter?!

“I-I’m sorry, El-chan. I was told to use a fake name when something happened….”

Well, I guess that makes sense but… -chan…?

“Umm… Princess Tia…”

“El-chan, you can just call me Tia, you know?”

Wouldn’t it be disrespectful though? I looked at Miinya and she gave me the okay signal. But still…

“Then.. Umm… Tia.”

“What is it, El-chan?”

She smiled when I called her name without honorifics. Still, I couldn’t help but to feel worried if I might sound disrespectful.

Is it really okay, Miinya?

“I-I’m a guy, so… Calling me -chan is a bit…”

“……….Fuhe?”

Tia’s eyes widened in surprise. Her eyes were comically wide, even. 

“Wha-What?!”

Tia’s surprised and flustered voice echoed throughout the plaza….

Was it really that surprising though? I mean, I believe I look like a boy though? 

Tia immediately went into deep panic. She looked very flustered. In fact, she only managed to calm down a little after the guards arrived. 

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Chapter 11: His Majesty and Her Highness’ Side

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When I heard that Tia was separated from her guards in the castle town, I feared the worst. After all, despite being a man, I couldn’t impregnate the queen, let alone any of my concubines. I was a disgrace to a man. Yet, the number of my concubines only kept on increasing. With each passing year, I felt I became more impotence. When I reached my 50s, I couldn’t even elicit a response from my turtle… Fearing the lineage of the royal family might end at my generation, I kept on searching for someone suitable to carry on the royal bloodline. 

However… When I turned 70, a miracle occurred. My turtle somehow regained its function once more. I immediately slept with one of my concubines and as if one miracle called forth another, we were able to conceive Tia.

Well, anyway… Thanks to that, a truly adorable child was born from my seed! I spoiled her rotten. Of course, I kept this fact a secret from the Prime Minister… She was too nosy for her own good after all. 

“Yo-Your Majesty… I have returned.”

“Good. Just speak to me like usual. There’s no need to talk like this.”

“…But…”

“Come on, Tia. This is a precious bonding time between a father and daughter, isn’t it?”

“…. Yes, Father! Tia is back!”

“I’m glad you’re safe, Tia.”

“I’m sorry, Father… There were so many things in town that I ended up getting carried away… There were a lot of people in town too.”

“Be careful, okay? You’re the only one who will carry the royal bloodline, Tia and more importantly… You’re my one and only daughter.”

“Yes, Father.”

“So, how was your first time visiting the castle town?”

“It was fun! It was really, really fun, Father!♪”

“I see, I see…”

Cooped up in the castle all the time must had been boring. Even I used to sneak out often when I was young. Back then, the security around me was poor. I almost got lured by women a few times back then…

“-And then, I met a lost girl. She was around my age and I helped her search for her mother…”

“Well done, Tia~ That’s my girl~”

“And then, there was another child that spoke to that lost child at the same time as me…”

“Ooh~ So there was another kind girl beside Tia?”

“No, Father. That child was a boy…”

“I see, a boy…. A BOY?! A BOY YOU SAID?!?! A BOY DARED TO FLIRT WITH MY TIA?! FETCH HIM AND HANG HIM UP TO BECOME FISH FOOD-“

BAM!!

“CALM DOWN, YOU STUPID KING!!”

“It hurts….”

“Have you come to your senses, Your Majesty?”

“…Prime Minister.”

“Look, you’ve scared Tia-sama…”

“…I… What have I done…”

“For your information, Princess Tia will become someone’s bride and experience all sorts of things on her own one day!

“I-I would never allow…”

“Whether you allow it or not, a daughter has to leave their father’s side one day…”

“Gumugumu…”

“Please start preparing yourself from now on. Especially mentally. Tch. How troublesome.”

“Troublesome?! Did you say troublesome?!”

“Oh my, it must be your imagination…”

The king had become a stupid doting parent.

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