I Believe Everyone Is Born To Be Loved

After that, we did so many things that were literally just for fun.

Ai loved sweets, so one day, we all ate mountains of cake together. His Majesty Yuri bowed out early because of heartburn, though.

Another day, we even went horseback riding. Ai seemed to love animals, and her eyes sparkled at the sight of horses, not just large dogs.

His Majesty Yuri was an excellent rider, so he held Ai in his arms while they rode together. Apparently, though, it was his first time riding with a small child, and he was terribly flustered. The look on his face was so funny that I couldn’t help bursting into laughter.

We also drew a portrait of His Majesty Yuri together. His Majesty seemed at a loss for how to praise it, and when he said something like, “…You’re better at drawing than I was when I was five,” I gave him another good smack.

“Hehe, we had another wonderful day, didn’t we? Come here, Ai. Shall we go to sleep now?”

That night, after changing into my nightgown, I sat on the spacious bed and beckoned Ai over. Ai actually had a room reserved for the Saintess, but I had been sleeping with her ever since she arrived.

The Saintess’s room was incredibly spacious, but that very spaciousness seemed to frighten her.

As soon as I called, Ai hurried over. When we slipped under the covers together, Ai wriggled closer to me.

When I wrapped my arms tightly around her, Ai smiled happily.

“…Hey, Ai. You’re not forcing yourself to do anything, are you?”

I asked in a whisper as I stroked her head.

Ever since she arrived, Ai had been a genuinely good girl. She never made selfish demands and always listened carefully to everything I said. But that only made her a “good girl” from an adult’s perspective.

“Ai, if there’s something you don’t like, you’re allowed to say no, you know? You’re allowed to get angry, too. You don’t have to force yourself to smile. …No matter how selfish you might be, I’ll never hate you.”

My younger sisters had been absolutely outrageous, but that was precisely because they knew their family wouldn’t abandon them even if they acted selfishly.

…Well, I might have a problem if Ai became as demanding as my sisters, but considering how much she’d endured, perhaps that would be just about right.

At my words, Ai shook her head from side to side. Then she hugged me tightly.

…Of course. You can’t express those feelings so easily, can you? But Ai, I’ll patiently wait for the day when you can finally believe me.

I gently patted Ai’s back.

I used to put my younger sisters to sleep like this all the time. As I continued patting her back, remembering those days, Ai’s eyes grew heavy, her expression peaceful and reassured. Before long, she began breathing softly and steadily in her sleep.

The slightly humid air, her little chest rising and falling. Her cheeks squished adorably against the pillow, and those long eyelashes. Hehe. Why were sleeping children’s faces always so incredibly adorable…?

I smiled again and gently planted a kiss on her small, round head.

“At first, I was so furious with those irresponsible priests that I could barely contain myself, but perhaps things worked out for the best in the end.”

Several months had passed, and I said this while watching Ai, who had completely recovered and now smiled frequently.

Perhaps because the painful-looking bruises on her arms and legs had disappeared, Ai had recently developed a preference for short skirts that reached about her knees. His Majesty Yuri had fretted, “Wearing such a short skirt…!” but I thought she looked absolutely adorable.

“Indeed. Whatever the reason, we could never leave a child with parents who beat her. …If her parents were standing before me, I would cut them down on the spot.”

His Majesty’s eyes flashed dangerously. Yuri had originally distinguished himself with extraordinary achievements in the knightly order, to the point that he had now earned the nickname “War God King.” His piercing gaze was certainly nothing to scoff at.

…That said, I completely agreed with His Majesty.

“If it were up to me, I’d throw them into a horde of monsters. I’d make sure they were thoroughly beaten to a pulp.”

After declaring that with an indignant huff, I suddenly realized something. Beside us, Ai had been listening to everything with a troubled expression.

“I’m so sorry! I ended up saying such terrible things about your parents…”

“Forgive me! Those were not things I should have said in front of you, Ai.”

Seeing His Majesty and me both flustered, Ai smiled gently and shook her head.

Then her tiny body flew into my arms. Feeling her warmth against me, I almost started crying.

I spoke to Ai slowly and gently.

“…Ai, there’s one thing I want you to remember. Even if they’re your own parents, anyone who hits you is a bad person. You were born to be loved. No, it’s not just you. Every single child in this world was born to be loved. So please don’t ever think you did something wrong. You’ve always been a wonderful girl.”

I gently stroked Ai’s head as she clung tightly to me.

—It had nothing to do with her being the Saintess or anything like that. I simply wanted to make Ai happy. That was all that mattered to me.

Meanwhile, small changes had begun occurring throughout the Makius Kingdom. Monsters that had been spotted in various places were gradually beginning to disappear.

It was His Majesty Yuri who told us about it, his eyes shining with excitement.

“Ai, this must be thanks to you! Your powers as the Saintess are protecting the kingdom!”

Upon hearing this, Ai tilted her head in confusion again. Apparently, she was still doing it unconsciously.

“Oh my, then that means Your Majesty’s love has finally reached Ai, doesn’t it? After all, they did say that the more a Saintess is loved, the greater her powers become.”

When I stroked her head and told her how wonderful that was, Ai smiled happily, even though she didn’t quite understand what was happening. Seeing this, His Majesty spoke quietly.

“…No, if anything, I believe it’s your love that reached her.”

“Mine?”

This time, it was my turn to tilt my head.

“The more a Saintess is loved, the more her powers flourish. But that love isn’t limited to romance between a man and a woman. I believe the strength of your feelings for Ai has been her greatest source of support.”

“Oh my, is that so?”

When I turned to Ai with wide eyes, she was staring back at me with equally wide eyes.

If loving Ai was helping her become stronger… what a wonderful thing that was.

Then I finally gathered my courage and voiced something I had been thinking about for a long time.

“Say, Ai… If you’d like, why don’t you become our child for real? Mine and His Majesty Yuri’s daughter.”

At those words, Ai and His Majesty widened their eyes simultaneously.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. His Majesty and I are only husband and wife in name, but… that’s precisely why I think we can protect you. Besides…”

I paused for a moment.

“…If, by some chance, you decide you want to marry His Majesty in the future, we could arrange for a ducal family to take you in, and I could step aside…”

“No, absolutely not! I would never marry her! Ai is a child!”

His Majesty hurriedly shook his head, and beside him, Ai was shaking hers just as vigorously. Their perfectly synchronized movements made them look exactly like father and daughter. I couldn’t help snorting with laughter.

“That’s true. If Your Majesty had said you wanted to take Ai as your wife right now, I would have lost all respect for you.”

“What in the world do you take me for…?”

Seeing His Majesty holding his forehead, Ai and I burst into laughter.

—And it was at that very moment that Ai’s body suddenly gave a little twitch.

This was how Ai reacted whenever she detected monsters. I immediately crouched down to check on her.

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor, and several knights burst into the room in a panic.

“Your Majesty! There’s an emergency! A mysterious summoning circle has suddenly appeared in the Summoning Chamber! It gives off an ominous presence! It might be a high-ranking monster!”

“What did you say? I’ll be there at once! Assemble the knights!”

With his sword at his waist, His Majesty rushed out of the room.

A monster inside the royal palace? That couldn’t be…!

Even if former Queen Sakura’s powers were weakening, Ai was right here…!

I struggled to suppress my panic and clenched my hands tightly. …This was no time to lose my composure. I had to evacuate Ai somewhere safe…!

But Ai suddenly straightened her back as though she had sensed something, then took off running after His Majesty.

“Ai! Wait! It’s dangerous over there!”

I hurried after her.