Chapter 127
The Reincarnated Princess’ Nursing
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After the sobbing had subsided, soft snores followed .
I gently lifted my hand from his sleeping eyes . They were red and swollen with trailing tear marks, but his resting face remained ever so peaceful .
I gently caressed the leftover droplets from Johan’s eyes with my fingertips before letting out a relieved sigh .
“…Have some rest for now . ”
I murmured as my hand stroked his hair .
Its golden lustre had lost its former shine and became stiff due to mud and sweat . The orderly features along his face had not changed, but I did spot dark circles around his eyes . His skin was also sunburned and full of small scratches . To top it off, a white bandage was wrapped around his head . It was just as tattered as my brother was .
But he looked pretty cool to me .
“I haven’t seen you in a little while and look how handsome you’ve become . ”
I traced his cheeks with my fingers .
His slim nose, thin lips, and sharp jawline differed from the ones that I knew . His muscular hands, neck, and the protruding Adam’s apple on his throat were also an unfamiliar sight .
I was surprised at how low his voice was .
But his appearance alone wasn’t what took me by surprise .
Both the villagers and the knights of the Kingdom of Wind hailed Johan highly as if he was their hero . I honestly can’t picture that when he’s sleeping like a newborn chick in front of me, though . But if you look closely at the ragged condition he was in, it was hard to believe their reaction was all a lie .
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Yeah, you’ve done your best, haven’t you? As the realisation slowly dawned on me like seeping water, my love and pride for him also welled up .
My crybaby brother was no more .
The brother who solely depended on me was nowhere to be found .
It makes me… a little lonely . But even more so, I was happy .
Isn’t my brother awesome? Isn’t he cool?
I was so proud of him I could burst .
“…Now it’s my turn to do my best . ”
I want to stay together with you, but there are still a lot of things left to do .
Even now, the Kua were running around giving out treatment . Prince Nacht had gone back to the capital to gather more supplies with Leonhard coming along as his escort . When everyone was working this hard, there was no way I could afford to stay still and do nothing .
I stroked his hair one last time before carefully getting up .
When I gently opened the door, I found a child standing outside .
For some reason, people were gathering around the house . As he looked at me and was about to say something, I hushed his lips with my finger as if to say, ‘Johan will wake up . ’
I didn’t know if they got my message, but the people started to cover their mouths after that . The sight of the kid covering his mouth with both of his hands made me crack a smile .
I gently closed the door before sitting down and gestured to the kid that it was alright to speak again .
The kid removed his hands and looked away from me . His face was down and his hands formed tight fists by his side .
But the kid raised his face, his eyes determined .
“…Oneechan, you’re big brother Johan’s big sis, aren’t you?”
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“Yep, that’s me . The sleeping beauty over there is my little brother . ”
When I confirmed my identity, the kid’s face crumpled, and he started crying .
He lowered his head again, and I had to kneel down to meet his gaze .
“I’m sorry!”
“Eh?”
“I’m—It’s all my fault! I-It’s because I asked him for help… he got hurt . ”
The kid desperately squeezed out his words through tears .
“No, I’m the one to blame! I was the one involved with the child’s father!”
“Nonsense! It was me! I threw the stone!”
“No, it’s me!”
‘Me,’ ‘No, it’s me,’ and ‘No, I’m to blame . ’
The people around me were fighting over each other to confess . My eyes darted around flusteredly as I tried to wipe the kid’s teary eyes .
This was the first time I’ve ever seen anyone fighting over such things .
Disaster struck in a village where food and supplies were running low . You wouldn’t be able to blame them if they said that it couldn’t be helped . But despite that, everyone here acknowledged their own wrongdoings .
If this was what Johan tried to protect, then it was an amazing thing that he did . Not only had he protected their bodies, but also their minds as well .
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I was so happy my head could spin . My heart fluttered with joy .
I wanted to brag about Johan being my brother . Would, ‘As expected of my brother!’ be too cheeky, I wonder?
Don’t worry, your sister is not so brazen as to take her brother’s merits as her own .
“I’m sorry, big sis! I’m sorry I hurt your bro—mmph!?”
I put my finger on his lips once again . The child who got his mouth hushed a second time was undoubtedly surprised . When I smiled, his watering eyes widened even further .
“My brother stumbled over a tree root and fell . ”
“…”
“That injury is not anyone’s fault . ”
The people around me gasped at my words . I believed they fully understood what I was trying to say this time around .
I have to put the matter to rest . Whatever happened to Johan would have to end right here before it blew up, especially considering he was the prince of the nearby Nebel Kingdom .
Otherwise, there wouldn’t be a reason to say that he stumbled over a tree root in the first place .
But I couldn’t take the same approach with children . They are straightforward nature, and this quality of them is to be cherished for it is something very precious .
“But you know… If he got those injuries because he was trying to protect someone…”
I picked up the kid’s hands with mine .
“Don’t say you’re sorry . Isn’t it better to say your thanks instead?”
“!”
His eyes blinked a couple of times .
“I think he’ll be happier if you do . ”
‘Right?’ The kid vehemently nodded and let out his first smile .
After ruffling his hair, I stood up .
“Thank you, everyone, for worrying for my brother by gathering here . He’ll be okay if he rests up, so please go back to your families . ”
I looked around after telling the people, only to be met with dumbfounded faces . After a few seconds, they glanced back at me with strange expressions . It was like they had no idea what the creature standing in front of them was .
“…Your Highness-”
“Yes?”
“Are you really a prince-… No, never mind . ”
The young man started speaking but immediately withdrew his words . He shook his head and chuckled .
Before I could ask what he meant by that, I was called for from far away . When I looked back over my shoulder, Lily was waving vigorously from afar .
“Miss Marie, can you please help me with this?”
“Of course!”
I gave a slight curtsy towards the crowd before running off to join her .