My Precious Little Treasure

“Ah, Ai…! You can’t…!”

That’s terribly rude to the High Priest!?

Perhaps sensing that I was about to hurriedly intervene, High Priest Houghtley quickly raised his hand.

“There’s no need to worry. If Ai-sama strokes my head, perhaps my hair might even grow back. After all, she is the Saintess.”

What!? That’s what you’re thinking about!? You still haven’t given up on growing your hair back!?

While I was debating whether I should say something, Ai continued stroking his perfectly smooth head, which looked as though it might make squeaking sounds. …Or rather, she was polishing it.

Doesn’t that hurt!?

As I watched anxiously, Ai rubbed his head to her heart’s content before giving a satisfied little snort.

“Mister, your head’s all smooth and shiny!”

Whoa! Children are terrifying! They just blurt out the very things everyone else is thinking but deliberately avoids saying!

However, even that didn’t faze High Priest Houghtley. If anything, he looked delighted.

“That’s right, that’s right. My goodness, if having this head means Ai-sama will stroke it so much, perhaps being bald isn’t so bad after all.”

“Then can I touch it one more time?”

“Of course, of course. Please enjoy yourself to your heart’s content.”

After that exchange, Ai happily began stroking the High Priest’s head again.

Ai, what a terrifying child…! Still, she really has grown quite attached to the High Priest. Perhaps it’s because he looks so harmless and gentle?

While I was thinking that, Yuri-sama cleared his throat.

“…I’m sorry to interrupt your fun, but what happened with the matter concerning Her Majesty Sakura?”

“Ah! My goodness, please forgive me!”

High Priest Houghtley smacked his own head with a sharp slap. Seeing that, Ai burst into laughter. Then, laughing so hard, she toppled right over. …Apparently, she found it absolutely hilarious.

As the High Priest helped her back up, he smiled cheerfully.

“Would you like to give it a few pats yourself, Ai-sama?”

…Just a moment! Surely that’s going too far!

But before I could stop her, Ai cheerfully raised her little hand.

—And then.

Slap, slap, slap, slap, slap, slap.

With a dazzling smile on her face, Ai repeatedly smacked the High Priest’s head, producing a wonderfully crisp, rhythmic sound.

“A-AI!!!”

I screamed.

Surely! That’s! Even if he gave you permission, you absolutely mustn’t do that!

With a desperate expression, I scooped Ai into my arms.

Ai looked at me unhappily, but some things simply weren’t allowed! As her mother, I had to be stern with her sometimes…! But how was I supposed to make a frightening face when faced with such an adorable child…!?

While I was struggling with the responsibilities of motherhood, High Priest Houghtley spoke with a disappointed expression.

“Oh, dear… I really don’t mind. It was almost like hearing the divine gospel of Goddess Beze. I, her humble follower Houghtley, felt as though my body and soul had been purified. …Let’s do it again sometime when Her Majesty the Queen isn’t around, Ai-sama.”

I’m quite certain the divine gospel doesn’t sound anything like that.

And Ai, this is no time to stick out your thumb and say, “Good!” Good grief, where on earth did you learn that gesture…!? Most likely from those royal guards who had been fussing over Ai lately.

When I turned toward the royal guards, they hurriedly averted their eyes.

At that point, the High Priest finally seemed to remember why he had come and began speaking in his usual leisurely manner.

“Ah, yes. Her Majesty Sakura has agreed to receive a visitor. …However, she has stipulated that she will meet Ederine-sama, not His Majesty Yuri.”

“Me?”

Yuri-sama and I exchanged glances.

“So she still doesn’t want to see me…”

Yuri-sama let out a sigh.

“If I’m acceptable to her, I’ll go and try to persuade Her Majesty Sakura.”

“…I’m sorry. Could I ask you to do that? I intend to accompany you, at least.”

“Of course.”

After all, persuading Her Majesty Sakura would ultimately be for Ai’s sake. As her mother and the Saintess’s attendant, this was my chance to prove myself!

High Priest Houghtley smiled warmly.

“Then I shall convey that arrangement to her.”

At that moment, something suddenly occurred to me.

“…Come to think of it, Her Majesty’s detached palace is quite some distance away, isn’t it?”

“Indeed… If you intend to make the journey there and back in a single day, you may need to depart quite early in the morning.”

“In that case… perhaps Ai should stay behind?”

An audience with the former queen wasn’t exactly a pleasure trip, so Ai would probably find it boring. Besides, I had heard that Her Majesty Sakura was rather difficult to deal with these days. Meeting her might frighten Ai. In that case, perhaps it would be better to have her stay behind with the maids…

However, the moment Ai heard my words, she began shaking her head vigorously.

“Ai’s going!”

She came running over and tightly grasped my hand.

Don’t leave me behind.

There was desperation in her eyes. It was almost as though she thought I was going to abandon her.

I hurriedly reassured her.

“Then it’s a little far away, but let’s go together.”

Immediately, relief washed over Ai’s face. Seeing that, I wrapped her in a tight embrace.

Then, in a gentle voice, I spoke slowly so she could understand me easily.

“Ai, you don’t have to worry. There’s no way I’d ever leave you behind. You’re my precious treasure, after all.”

“…Treasure?”

Ai looked up at me curiously. I smiled as I brushed back her silky hair and tucked it behind her ear.

“That’s right. My treasure. Did you know? In a faraway country to the east, they sometimes use the word for treasure to refer to children.”

“Children are treasures.” I remembered how deeply moved I had been when I learned that people in such a distant country held those values. Even if we couldn’t understand one another’s languages, we still shared the same feelings deep down. Wasn’t that wonderful?

“…Then am I a treasure, too?”

“Of course you are. Ai is my most precious treasure.”

When I said that, Ai’s eyes narrowed into happy little crescents. She giggled shyly, looking rather bashful. At that moment, Yuri-sama cleared his throat.

“…Well, Ai is a treasure to me, too.”

“Ho, ho, ho! In that case, Ai-sama is a treasure to me as well.”

Looking around, I realized that the entire room was enveloped in a warm atmosphere.

Even the maids and knights who had been keeping Ai company were smiling. Though they didn’t say it aloud, their expressions clearly declared, Ai-sama is everyone’s treasure.

—That night, after Ai had crawled beneath the covers as usual, she stirred a little while later and slowly peeked her face out. Her round, moist black eyes gazed intently at me.

“…Mama.”

“What’s wrong? Can’t you sleep?”

When I gently patted her back, Ai shook her head slightly. Then, looking up at me hesitantly, she timidly opened her mouth.

“…Am I… Mama’s treasure?”

The way she asked sounded as though she wanted to make absolutely sure, and a soft smile spread across my face.

She must have remembered what I’d told her that morning. I answered in the gentlest, sweetest voice I could manage.

“Of course. Ai is Mama’s most precious treasure.”

At those words, Ai’s face softened into a delighted smile. As I gently stroked her soft, squishy cheeks, I whispered,

“Good night, Ai. You’ll always be my adorable little treasure.”