The Two Babies Changing the Original Story Chapter 12

“By the way, Girian, why did you come so early in the morning?”

“I came to check whether you felt fine through the night and if anything is uncomfortable. …And your memory as well.”

Ellie swallowed dryly at the word memory.

She had almost been caught already because she could read.

She thought she knew what kind of person Princess Ellia was from reading about her in books, but living as her turned out to be full of unexpected things.

She had to stay completely alert.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yep!”

“Are you feeling any pain?”

“Nope!”

“Any discomfort when you move?”

“No!”

“How is your memory? Has anything come back?”

“…Hiccup.”

Ellie, who had been tense to the limit, ended up hiccuping instead of answering the most important question.

“Oh dear, are you alright?”

Girian examined Ellie carefully.

“I-I’m f… hic! fine!”

“Easy, easy. Breathe slowly. Have a sip of water… You’re sure it’s not a sign of something wrong with your body?”

“No! No!”

Ellie frantically shook her head and hands at the same time, face pale.

Girian tilted his head at the odd reaction, but didn’t push further.

When it seemed like he was letting it slide, Ellie gathered her courage.

“But you know…”

“Yes.”

“What if my memory never comes back?”

“Hm…”

Girian thought for a moment.

If an adult lost their memory, it would be a huge problem, but…

Princess Ellia was only seven years old.

Most people forget everything from before age seven once they grow up anyway. What mattered more was what she would learn from now on.

Her speech and behavior had changed a bit, but it caused no real trouble in daily life.

“You aren’t acting in a way unfitting for a princess, so I don’t think you need to worry too much.”

It was meant to reassure her—she still acted enough like a princess.

But to Ellie, who was not the real princess, it sounded like a heavy warning.

Thump!

Ellie’s eyes trembled in shock.

“P-princess-like behavior…”

From now on, she absolutely had to act like a princess.

…But what was princess-like behavior?

While she worried, Girian stepped away, and before long, an attendant announced another visitor.

“Duke Berndt has arrived.”

“!”

Ellie jumped to her feet.

Princess-like behavior!

“I shall go at once.”

“…?”

The attendant froze in surprise.

Regardless, Ellie walked with even lighter steps, her gaze proud and elegant.

“???”

Ellie thought she was walking gracefully and lightly, but to everyone watching… she looked stiff, like a wooden puppet.

Why was she suddenly acting like this?
And what was with the outfit?

No one knew.

But no one was in a position to question the princess.

Ellie continued her princess act all the way to the garden.

As she approached the garden door, the attendant waiting there bowed—and then flinched.

Ellie arrived wearing three giant ribbons on her head, layered pearl and gemstone necklaces around her neck, and rings on seven of her ten fingers. Her presence was more intimidating… than majestic.

“Welcome, Your Highness. Duke Berndt is waiting at the garden table.”

“Indeed, I see.”

Her strange tone made the attendants at the door suck in their breath.

Since they couldn’t comment on her behavior, they hurried to open the door and escape the situation.

“But wait.”

Ellie didn’t let them go so easily.

“I have one question.”

“Please, ask your question.”

The attendant’s tone oddly shifted to match Ellie’s.

“How do I look?”

“…….”

The attendants wondered what the princess wanted from them.

The rumor that she had lost her memory had already spread through the palace.

And now she appeared in a ridiculous outfit, speaking in a strange tone, asking a difficult question.

Has she gone mad…?

A real possibility.

But whether the princess was sane or not was not their responsibility.

Their job was simply to open doors, bow properly, and keep royalty in a good mood.

They weren’t even in charge of dressing her, so they felt no need to give honest advice.

“You look beautiful, Your Highness.”

“Your radiance is almost blinding.”

Grown adults had no shame when needed.

They sincerely believed they were protecting a child’s innocence.
It was a very inaccurate self-justification.

Unfortunately, Ellie couldn’t see their true thoughts.

“Hohohoho! As I thought!”

She hadn’t expected praise.

But since they offered it, she felt she should accept it.

Ellie laughed happily, then confirmed one more thing.

“Then do I look properly like a princess?”

“? Yes, of course.”

Good, I did it!

Ellie was very satisfied with the attendants’ reply.

She must truly look like a pretty princess to their eyes. If she just kept this up, everything would be fine!

The attendant straightened his expression and opened the door, and Ellie stepped inside with confidence.

Cleus standing beside the table in the middle of the garden turned at the sound of the door opening.

Their eyes met.

“…….”

At that moment, Cleus’s expression twisted as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing, Your Highness. I have entered the palace as summoned. Berndt Duke, paying respects.”

Then he kept his head down and didn’t lift it again.

“Raise your head.”

At her command, Cleus’s eyebrows twitched strangely.

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

He did lift his head, but his eyes still stayed lowered.

He was listening while pretending not to listen—a subtle stubbornness.

Ellie’s heart sank.

She had dressed up this fancy and pretty!

Why wouldn’t he look at her?

“Duke Berndt!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Look at me!”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

Cleus obeyed the command properly.

The problem was…

He looked for exactly one second.

A blink. One second.

“Huh?”

Ellie closed her mouth just as she was about to order him to keep looking.

Insisting only on what she wanted wasn’t good.

Cleus must have a reason for acting like that.

Ellie thought from his point of view.

He accepted the invitation but won’t look at her.
He avoids her eyes.
He isn’t talking much, unlike last time.

…Ah. Is that it?

“Do you perhaps dislike my invitation?”

“What?”

Cleus jerked his head up, clearly startled.

He quickly bowed again.

“N-no, that’s not…”

“Really? You didn’t want to come but forced yourself?”

“…I didn’t dislike it that much.”

“Then why do you look like you’re angry? Did the person who delivered the message say something bad? Should I scold them?!”

“No! I received a polite request!”

Cleus hurried to stop Ellie, who was getting worked up.

If it wasn’t that, good.

Then what else could make him upset…

“Is it because you thought I would force you to accept my apology?”

“No, that’s… Did you plan to do that?”

“Of course not!”

Cleus gave a faint smile at that.

“I knew you wouldn’t.”

The smile vanished quickly, but Ellie felt relieved.

“Then why won’t you look at me?”

“Ah…”

Cleus hesitated, cornered by the direct question.

“Well…”

“Just say it comfortably! I’m going to be a queen who doesn’t get angry!”

Ellie dropped her royal tone for a moment, then remembered.

Princess tone!

“I mean, thou may speak freely.”

“I was actually wondering about that.”

“What is it thou speakest of?”

“Why is your tone suddenly like that?”

Cleus was honest and straightforward.

“I am a princess, am I not? So I must use a princess-like tone.”

Cleus tilted his head at her words.

“There’s such a thing as a princess-like tone?”

“In books…”

Ellie had read many books besides The Tale of the Girl King.

Each book portrayed princesses differently, but most spoke like this.

She wasn’t a real princess, so she tried to imitate as much as she could…

“That’s just how the princesses in those books talk, isn’t it?”

“?”

“That’s their way of speaking. I think Your Highness should just speak in your own way as a princess.”

Oh.

Cleus was saying something similar to her brother.

You can just live as yourself.

Ellie blinked, and Cleus continued.

“Wouldn’t it be best if Your Highness acted like the princess you are? It’s your life, after all.”

Ellie stared blankly at Cleus.

“Duke Berndt… you’re a good person, aren’t you?”

“Me?”

Cleus looked at Ellie in shock.