Don't Concern Yourself With That Book
Chapter Side Story 2-2

Side Story 2-2

Translator: yun

“… Are you having any doubts?”

Dane’s voice was soft but the cleric seemed to have heard him just fine. For some reason, I could hear his voice trembling from his reply. 

But before I could observe him closely, Dane had already turned his back around and I could no longer see the cleric. I wordlessly stared at Dane’s face for a moment as I thought back on the earlier conversation. 

Well, the earlier sight would have been the perfect scene to reveal a character’s true self that had been otherwise hidden. 

“Pfft, no way.’

I quickly shook my head, Like me and Fleon, Dane was a powerless Imperial member. If only we had power, we could have anything and everything we wished. In any case, he did not seem to be the type. 

As I chewed on my lips, I seemed to have grabbed Dane unknowingly. 

“What’s wrong Ashley?”

Illuminated by faint lights, Dane looked as lovely as an angel. 

“Are you feeling uncomfortable? Shall I hug you again?”

Seeing his gently curled eyes was enough for me to forget about what happened earlier. 

Right. 

He must have lent that cleric from earlier some money. He must have been able to do so since Fleon gave Dane enough allowance. 

I erased the ridiculous prospect of Dane having a ‘hidden dark side’ from my head. 

‘Hmph, that’s ridiculous.’

Dane was merely an extra that never even appeared in the novel. He couldn’t possibly be dirtying his hands. I must have also been feeling under the weather since the Founding Festival was fast approaching. 

In any case, what should I do about my body? To have been turned into a baby whilst Rebecca had been nagging at me persistently to find a partner was vexing. And the reality that I could not obtain my goals was also driving me insane. 

Ah, stop it. If I frown, I would only cry again. Yet I was already crying. While I was in the midst of trying to control myself.

‘Dane?’

Dane paused. When I turned my head in curiosity, I spotted a stranger at the end of my gaze. Even under this warm weather, the man was wearing a hood over his head. Judging by his height and size, he looked like a man. Still, the moment the stranger’s lips, which could still be seen, parted.

“Do not speak a word.”

Dane interrupted.

“Yes and no. You merely need to nod. Is it something urgent?”

The corners of the stranger’s lips lifted before he soon nodded. 

“…..”

What was going on? I noticed Dane’s lips pressed tightly together. A gust of wind blew as something fluttered next to my face. When I grabbed the fluttering thing instinctively, I realised that it was the necklace Dane was always wearing. The wheel-shaped pendant. 

“This is troubling.”

As soon as those words left his lips, the nearby foliage shook.

“You were here?”

The sudden intruder responsible for damaging the greenery was Fleon. 

“You said you would only take a while! You, have a meeting soon… who’s this?”

Fleon alternated his gaze between the stranger and Dane. 

“Isn’t he one of your people? Isn’t he…”

“Brother. It’s best that you stop there.”

It was only for a moment but Dane’s voice sounded quite harsh. 

“Alright. Fine. Let me judge how urgent this is.”

Dane glanced down at me with an instance of sadness. But I wasn’t sure as the expression disappeared as soon as it came. 

“Ashley, please bear with it even if you find it uncomfortable.”

When I came to my senses, I found myself in the arms of Fleon. Dane caressed my cheek. 

“I’ll be right back.”

After saying so, Dane turned his back on me. Staring at Dane’s back, I recalled the moment I bid my farewells to him that month of Habermia. 

I didn’t want him to go. Stop. My heart ached as though it was being pricked by needles. However, perhaps it was because I was a mere baby, this pain and sorrow soon faded. Was it because of my simple mind? 

I looked up at the sky calmly. 

For some reason, my eyes were drawn to my older brother’s face. 

“Oi… that crazy bastard…”

After losing his mind, Fleon managed to calm down before saying. Then, he slowly lowered his head before making eye contact with me. 

“But I have to get to a meeting…”

Seeing my brother this flustered was so rare it was priceless.

***

-The 6th Administration, Solatonos. 

The templars of the 6th Administration, also affectionately referred to as the Wolf’s minions, gulped nervously as they exchanged glances. 

The minions of a wolf.

The reason they were referred to as such was simple. It was all because their ‘treasurer’, Fleon Clache, was the heir to the Head Templar of the wolves. 

The Templar of the Wolves was an alternate name for the Templars of the God of Blacksmiths, Vulcanus. 

The wolves were the God of Blacksmiths’ favourite animal. The wolf was considered the most sacred animal in the Temple of the Blacksmiths but they were treated a little differently in Solatonos. 

Here, the wolf was an animal similar to their head. If you were wondering how that worked…

“What do you think you’re looking at?”

That fiery temper. 

“Were you just glaring at me?”

“No, I was not!”

Their head, Fleon, had never been in a good mood since the day he started working here. He had hated working so it was only natural for him to act like a grim reaper at the workplace. 

However, Fleon’s expressions looked slightly different today. 

But it was not only his expressions, it was also the situation they found themselves in. 

“Hey. What on earth is that… that… what should I call it? Anyway, what’s with that kid?”

“Do you know why he’s frustrated? What is going on?”

The officials of the 6th Administration were frantically communicating with each other with their expressions. 

And this was solely because of the baby the 6th Prince had suddenly brought into their office.

A-a baby? In a workplace that was as demented and busy as theirs? 

Although they were no match for the 2 busiest administrations in the Central Palace–the 2nd and 4th Administrations, the 6th Administration also had their work cut out for them. 

10 minutes had passed since Fleon’s proud arrival into their office. His subordinates had pleaded with him to come 30 minutes earlier but he still managed to arrive late arrogantly. 

Of course, this was not the problem they were currently concerned about. He swung the baby in his arms around. 

This hot-headed boss of theirs!

Everyone in the 6th Administration was now on high alert. This was a problem that the officials, who already had so much on their plate, had to put their heads together to address. They didn’t think he was the type but…

“More importantly, we were supposed to have a meeting with the 2nd Administration today!”

And it was. Most importantly, this was the day they were meant to have their monthly meeting with the 2nd Administration. 

“So what!”

The templars had found themselves in a dilemma because their head did not even come even a minute early which did not give him any time to review the meeting minutes while also carrying a baby. 

“Oi, Rex! Why don’t you say something? You’re his aide!”

The arrow was now aimed at Rex. Unable to say a word against Fleon, they instead directed their frustrations at Rex by grabbing him by the collar and shaking him. Of course, while keeping their voices down so that Fleon wouldn’t notice. 

However, Rex who was supposed to appease them, instead carried an expression that gave off mixed signals. 

“You think I would know?”

Rex felt wronged. He was the man feeling the most confused right now. 

Who was he, you asked? He was the man who had been serving Fleon ever since he was a child.

“Where did that baby pop out of?”

But he had no clue. He knew all about Fleon’s life, his past and even his love life! But he had no clue. 

‘No! It must be because…’

But he could see. He might be uncomfortable around the kid but he clearly treasured the baby. The same man who hated animals because they shed fur! 

‘No matter how I look at him, she’s his daughter!’

Feeling betrayed, Rex got up with a start. No matter how much he cherished his daughter…

“This is absurd!”

Though he was close to being rude, Rex’s scream broke the still silence. 

“What is absurd?”

Remaining still, Fleon furrowed his brows. 

“You’re being too much, my prince!”

“And I asked what you’re referring to?”

“How could you, without telling me a word! A child…”

Feeling overwhelmed, he couldn’t bring himself to speak. After mustering his courage, another templar exclaimed timidly.

“C-correct! You cannot do this!”

“R-rex, you bastard, how have you raised the prince!”

“What? Who do you think raised who!”

Fleon had flown into rage. The same time his arm had slightly tilted, it happened.

“Hng, hmp, hmph.”

The baby that had been calm thus far soon twisted her expression.

“Huwahh!”

Before bursting into tears. 

“Hey, hey! She’s crying because of you all!”

Panicking, Fleon raised his voice. The officials of the 6th Administration, expressed their displeasure but they quickly fell silent when they realised they had stepped on dog shit.

“No, she. I mean, wh-why is she crying? Hey? Little chick? Why are you crying?”

But on the other hand, they were also fascinated.

“R-rex! Do something!”

“H-huh? What do you want me to do…”

This was their head. Fleon, the man who thought he was above everybody else and had no problem stepping on other people. It would be difficult to find a single person in this office who had never suffered from Fleon’s disparagement and insults. Because there were none. 

But seeing him flustered with no idea what to do–with even his neck coloured red–they were feeling a little celebratory. 

The baby continued to cry. One of the spectators carefully brought up.

“Pardon me, my prince… I think it’s because you’re not holding her neck. If you continue holding her like that, any other baby would be uncomfortable.”

Fleon glared at the one responsible for that quick suggestion. The man had been a low-ranking official who had not been as bullied by Fleon as the others.

“How would you know if my chick feels uncomfortable or hungry?”

“Uhm… It’s a little difficult to explain.”

“Why’s that?”

Embarrassed, Hethes scratched his forehead. 

“I am a father who has raised three children. My prince.”

“…..”

With the appearance of a full-time father who had experience in parenting, the baby stopped crying. From the baby’s, or Ashley’s, perspective, she had been suppressing her tears for a long time now. 

‘I’m begging you, can someone else carry me?’

She had been pleading to the officials this whole time but no one understood her which was why she had remained in Fleon’s embrace. 

‘… This life is doomed.’

It was thanks to Hethes that she was now more comfortable than before.

“The officials from the 2nd Administration have arrived.”

After a while, the templars from the 2nd Administration had arrived. The men who came at the behest of the aediles were shocked to say the least. 

It was because they noticed that Fleon was sitting at the end of the table. 

A long rectangular table sat in the middle of the meeting room. 

Two were supposed to sit at the end of the table, mainly the representatives of the 2nd and 6th Administration. 

Of course, the 6th Administration’s representative was Fleon. However, the head templar, who came as a representative of the 2nd Administration, was rendered speechless at the unexpected sight. 

“M-m-my prince?”

The head templar stammered. 

“If my god-given eyes are not tricking me, is he holding a…”

“It’s a baby.”

Fleon replied.

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“What do you think you’re doing?”

“… Yes?”

“Let’s begin the meeting.”

More flustered by Fleon’s reply, the 2nd Administration’s representative quickly glanced at the officials of the 6th Administration.

‘What on earth is going on here?’

However, they either stared back at him shamelessly or averted their gaze as though they had planned to do so together. 

‘The wolf’s minions are just like their leader, shameless!’

There was a saying in the Administrative Offices. Subordinates took after their heads. Case in point, the patrol corps, Ceres, and the 6th Administration, who continued to cause trouble and ignore the warnings of the 4th Administration. The 2nd Administration’s representative looked incredulous. 

‘What do you think you’re doing? I told you to proceed with the meeting.”

When was it ever going to start? 

“I’m sure I told you to start the meeting.”

Fleon, who already couldn’t wait to bring Ashley to a more comfortable location, was getting annoyed. 

“Are you all deaf? Could you not hear me?”

Fleon tilted his head with a creak as he spoke.

“What’s wrong? Are you looking down on me because I’m not a templar?”

His fierce expression did not seem to belong to that of a young man but it remained lively and egotistical. He was not the head of a pack of wolves, the den of all these troublemakers, for nothing. 

“… How could I!? My apologies. This old man must have gone senile and troubled you, my prince.”

The head templar lowered his head. 

At least the 6th Prince had his elegance and nobility.. Even if he was not a templar.

“I’ll be more careful.”

The meeting had begun with an apology from the 2nd Administration’s representative. 

The meeting continued without any other issues. In the middle of the meeting, some young templars glanced at Fleon. To be exact, they were glancing at the baby.

‘She hasn’t even cried once for a while now?’

The baby was very small and the air in the meeting room might be too stifling for her but she did not cry and her eyes remained wide open. 

Moreover, her purple eyes looked as pretty as jewels. Warily checking if anyone would see him, a templar gave the baby a tiny wave. 

The baby then flashed a wide smile before waving back. The templar could feel his heat stop. Oh my god, this was why people got married! However, this templar had abstained himself from marriage. Tears of his blood soon shed from his eyes.

‘Oh, dear god of mine.’

All of sudden he had realised that, because he was a templar practising abstinence, he had deprived himself of the chance to have a child as lovely as her! He had never felt this wronged before. 

On the other hand, Ashley was startled.

‘I mean, what’s wrong with everyone? I heard that this was a meeting but why are they all waving their hands at me? Are they playing with their goblets to make me laugh?’

Templars of all ages were goofing around in front of her. Yes, it was only right to say that they were goofing around. 

‘… For how much longer must I keep smiling?’

Ashley held back the urge to pull out her hair. She wouldn’t be able to reach for it anyway. Already accustomed to these reactions because the patrols would not stop fawning over her either, Ashley reacted to their attempts soullessly. 

“Let’s take a break.”

A short break was held in the middle of the long meeting. The officials and templars all sighed for different reasons. 

Some of the young templars sighed inwardly. They were the ones who desperately acted cutely to Ashley throughout the meeting while avoiding the watchful gazes of their superiors. 

‘How can she be so cute?’

They tried to suppress their tears as they stared at Ashley’s plump cheeks. They wanted to talk to her because she was so cute but that could never happen as long as the 6th Prince was here. 

If they poked her cheek even once, it would mark the end of their lives. 

It was the moment one of them stood up after scanning their surroundings. 

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