LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 32
Episode 32: Lily’s Picture Book
“Oh, it’s almost time for my appointment with Marie,” Luke thought to himself while diligently wiping the kitchen counter until it sparkled.
Marie usually worked during the day as a maid and spent her evenings in her room with her son Emil and daughter Lily, but sometimes her tasks extended late into the night.
Tonight, Ewald, the assistant butler, was holding a regular meeting for the staff. Having heard from Marie that the kiddos would be going to bed early, Luke happily volunteered for babysitting duty.
“Thanks for the taste test, Hans. See you tomorrow!” Luke waved goodbye to Hans and made his way to Marie’s quarters where the three of them lived.
The room within the castle was spacious enough for the three to comfortably sleep and wake. It was furnished with all the essentials.
Perhaps as a reflection of Marie’s taste, the walls, curtains, and even little accessories like cushions were all unified in warm, cozy colors. Who knew Marie had such a knack for interior design?
“Emil, Lily, sorry to keep you waiting! Let’s tidy up together,” called Luke.
“Yes!” the two replied enthusiastically.
Lily answered with a bright, beaming smile, and while picking up the scattered toys and knick-knacks, they coaxed Emil, who had been lounging about all too comfortably, to help straighten the bed covers.
With a flourish, Luke spread the freshly washed sheets across the bed and draped them neatly over the corners. Ahh, that feels satisfying!
“Big Bro Luke, it smells like apples!” chirped Emil while sniffing the air as if he were a little detective.
“Oh, I was just testing some new dishes,” Luke explained, the aroma still wafting from his earlier culinary experiments.
“Next time, I’ll make enough for everyone. Let’s eat together!” he promised.
“Yay!” Emil cheered.
After lending Emil a hand with his preparations for the next day, Luke carefully began to undo the braid in Lily’s hair.
“Gotta be gentle, just like a magician performing a trick…” he mused, as he gently began combing through her hair.
“Big Bro Luke, can you read me a picture book?” Lily asked softly, turning her gaze toward him.
“Of course! Pick whichever you like!” he replied with a grin.
Excitedly, Lily’s face lit up like she’d just found a hidden treasure.
The literacy rate in the Rietberg Territory was surprisingly high. Since the time of the previous Margrave, efforts had been put into educating the citizens, and there were even schools where children like Emil could attend for free. Books were readily available, woven into the lives of the common folk.
While they might not possess the expansive libraries of the nobility, both Emil and Lily had a few textbooks and picture books to their name.
“Big Bro! This one is great!” Lily exclaimed, hurrying over with a picture book cradled in her arms like it was a prized jewel.
The cute fairy tale book, adorned with a delicate lace cover, was one Lily adored and had begged to be read to multiple times.
“Sure thing!” Luke responded cheerfully, though Emil let out a disgruntled, “Eh…”
“Lily, are we really reading that story again?”
“Because I love this one!” she shot back, determination in her eyes akin to a knight defending their realm.
“Okay, okay, calm down, Emil,” Luke chuckled as he accepted the book from Lily.
“So, it turns out you really love this one, huh?” he teased her.
“Yes! Because it was given to me by my lady!” Lily beamed, starry-eyed.
“From Alexia-sama…?!”
At this, Luke straightened his posture. This is something I have to read carefully!
Lily sat by the wall side of the bed, while Emil cuddled up at the foot. Luke tucked a thick blanket around them tightly and opened the picture book.
The story’s protagonist was a girl born into a noble family.
The girl lost her biological mother and gained a new stepmother and sisters through her father’s remarriage, but unfortunately, she was bullied and forced to work by her wicked stepmother. Mocked for her soot-covered appearance, she didn’t even own a dress for the ball at the castle. But just as her fortunes seemed bleak, a wizard appeared, transforming her with his mystical powers—what a twist!
“…‘The wizard waved his wand, and instantly, the pumpkin transformed into a beautiful golden carriage!’…”
No matter how many times Luke read that scene, he could see Lily’s eyes sparkling in wonder as she intently stared at the pictures.
While Emil seemed a bit bored, he quietly listened, not wanting to interrupt the magical moment.
The wizard, after transforming the pumpkin, also turned a mouse into a splendid white horse, and a lizard into a loyal servant.
“…‘At the touch of the magic wand, her rags transformed into a beautiful dress adorned with jewels in an instant!’…”
It remained a mystery why the wizard chose to help this protagonist. Was he connected to her in some way, or perhaps he was fulfilling some magical contract? The tale left that part shrouded in mystery.
Regardless, with the help of enchanted magic, the girl transformed into the most stunning princess imaginable and waltzed into the ballroom, capturing the prince’s attention.
The girl’s cruel stepmothers, who had tormented her, faced their just desserts and fell into misfortune, while the two lovebirds came together at last.
“…‘And they lived happily ever after…’”
Once he finished reading, Luke closed the book and readjusted the blankets for both Lily and Emil.
As they protested that they weren’t sleepy and wanted to stay awake, he cooed softly, “It’s time for bed now,” before whoosh—he blew out the candle.
Not long after, adorable little snores intertwined in the stillness of the night.
Finally, Marie returned, thanking Luke for his help.
“Thank you, Luke. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
“Marie, you too, thank you for your hard work tonight. The two of them are sound asleep,” Luke replied warmly.
As Luke left the room, turning at the last moment, he muttered almost to himself, “A wizard, huh…”
Lily’s favorite picture book—depicting a girl hated by her stepmother transformed into beauty by magic—lingered in his mind.
Luke could confidently say he had a record of being unpopular with his own stepmother too.
But alas, there were no wizards or magic in real life.
Magic—a fairy tale, divine powers—merely a product of people’s stories.
Yet still, deep down, there was that niggling envy for the girl who got to become a princess through special magic.
“How nice would that be…”
Having a wizard ready to turn Luke into a prince right this moment would be splendid!
“Prince…”
Suddenly, memories of the real prince he met before arriving here bubbled up in his mind.
On the day of the royal palace party when his engagement was shattered.
The king’s second prince, Rüdiger, had appeared just as Luke fell into despair.
“—To announce the cancellation of your engagement at a national festival.”
That stern gaze! Everyone could see he was a strikingly handsome man with fair skin.
“Do you misconstrue the royal family’s hosted party as a special stage just for you?”
The prince—with a noble lineage and a beautified appearance, left everyone in awe.
Though his words to Matthias and the others were sharp and unyielding, he certainly spoke the truth; it was difficult to argue back.
“What’s the difference between a criminal and someone causing chaos in the royal palace without proper authorization?”
Rüdiger and his older brother, the First Prince, likely had everything at their fingertips.
Even if he yearned for the only daughter of the Margrave, as a prince, a wish like that was within reach.
Luke didn’t crave high status—he sought neither power nor position.
But simply being in a spot where he could propose to Alexia was a desire that burned within him.
That overwhelming barrier of status. If only he could become something special enough to tear down that wall.
…
Or maybe it wouldn’t be someone else’s magic helping him, but it would be better if he had magical powers of his own.
The thought of having extraordinary skills or unique abilities that would make him valuable to Alexia filled him with pride.
Or what a boon it would be if his late mother had actually descended from a noble lineage—imagine the heights he could leap toward Alexia’s world.
“What am I even pondering…how ridiculous.”
Luke chuckled bitterly at himself.
He hated feeling weak, lost in such thoughts.
He knew.
Swords existed in this world, but magic did not.
There were animals and birds, yet no magical beasts or dragons roamed the lands.
People from various nationalities and races existed, but no fairies, spirits, or otherworldly beings transcending human understanding.
“Even if I dream about these fanciful things, reality isn’t going to change… I know that…”
No handy special abilities awaited him.
No convenient lineage shrouded in mystery.
While Luke possessed noble blood, he was at best the lowest-ranking baron, his other half rooted in commoner origins. He was, in no way, equivalent to Alexia’s status.
Even when he fully grasped this truth, a wave of sadness crested within him and kindled a fire in his chest.