Chapter 2 - Prince Red Riding Hood

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

As I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

Turning sixteen hadn't magically changed everything overnight. Though he had made a noble resolution, Lil's first actions were far from princely—or adult-like.

 

He wanted to gift his grandmother something more tangible than a song or a dance—something made with his own hands. And so he decided to bake her favorite biscuits.

 

That much, at least, still sounded promising.

 

Queen Cyndia had a fondness for biscuits, especially the ones filled generously with hazelnuts and apples—those, she simply adored.

 

"Your Highness, I'm deeply honored by your visit to the kitchen, but I must confess that Her Majesty's favorite biscuits aren't made by me. They're the work of the former head chef. Even using the same recipe, the taste and texture come out differently... I've never received Her Majesty's seal of approval for my own attempts. Given the circumstances, I'm afraid I can't teach you the recipe."

 

So said the young head chef, wearing a troubled expression as he faced Lil in the kitchen on the castle's first floor.

 

"If it's for any other kind of biscuit, I'd be happy to show you," the chef added, to which Lil, after a moment of hesitation, gently declined.

 

"Thank you… but I want to give her the one she loves the most."

 

He worried the refusal might seem disrespectful, but the chef seemed to understand his place well. He nodded sincerely.

 

"I understand completely. They are truly delicious, after all."

 

"Breakfast this morning was wonderful, by the way," Lil said with a smile. "The potato and cream soup was so rich and smooth—I used bread to scoop it up until there wasn't a single drop left. Thank you, as always."

 

"That is a great honor, Your Highness. Your words are too kind. Since today is your birthday, I've prepared all your favorites. Please look forward to tonight's banquet."

 

"I will. Thank you."

 

"—Now, back to the biscuits… Actually, the former head chef left the castle after retiring and now lives at an estate deep in the northern woods. He bakes those hazelnut and apple biscuits just once a week and delivers them to the castle. If you wish to learn the recipe, your best chance would be to ask him the next time he visits. He's someone who enjoys teaching—he'll be delighted."

 

"And when will that be?"

 

"He was here just two days ago, so he'll return in five days."

 

That's far too late, Lil thought, shaking his head.

 

"I want to give her my gift today, so I'll visit him myself. I don't have lessons or training today, and the northern woods aren't that far. If I leave now, I should be back in time for the banquet."

 

"Y-you plan to leave now? Will you be taking a carriage?"

 

"No, if I do that, Grandmother will hear about it. I'll go on foot. Even if the biscuits I bake aren't perfect, I think she'll be happy with them."

 

"I'm sure she'll be absolutely delighted… However… I'm concerned. Parts of the forest remain dim even during the day. It's not entirely without danger."

 

"I'll be careful where I step. I won't fall."

 

"Ah, yes… that too, of course, but I also meant… other kinds of danger. You'll be wearing red, which clearly marks you as royalty. I doubt anyone would dare harm Your Highness, but still… men can sometimes become wolves… and with how beautiful you've become lately, I worry."

 

"Men can become wolves? But men and women alike—aren't we all just people? I don't think anyone can turn into a wolf. Besides, our kingdom is protected by the barrier, isn't it? No magical beasts could get in, and surely no human can turn into a wolf, right?"

 

"Y-yes… quite so… The barrier does keep out true evil, yes, but… how do I say this… It's as if there's a wolf living inside the heart of every man—or maybe not…"

 

"I don't quite understand, but thank you for your concern. I often walk alone, and I'll be fine. Today's walk is just a little longer than usual."

 

Ignoring the chef's deepening concern, Lil said cheerfully, "What should I bring as a gift for the former chef? Oh—I'll bring a whole jar of white butter!"

 

"Ah… White butter, of course. I'll prepare some right away."

 

"It's delicious even on its own, and since he loves cooking, I'm sure he'll be pleased."

 

With a soft laugh, Lil picked up an empty basket from the kitchen entrance.

 

What a good idea, he thought, satisfied with the entire plan.

 

Even though the chef worked in the castle, his status was still too low to object strongly to a prince's decision. And so, Lil departed the castle carrying his chosen gift.

 

He had heard from the court scholars that today would be warm, so beneath the newly tailored red cloak with its elegant hood, he dressed lightly.

 

A pristine white silk blouse, short black breeches that left his thighs exposed, and tall black lace-up boots with grooved soles for grip. Beneath them, he wore warm, thick socks.

 

Though the people of Vallcent were naturally resilient to cold, snow was still known to fall even in summer, and there was always leftover snow to walk through somewhere. Tall boots and long socks were essential.

 

Carrying the basket covered with red cloth, Lil gripped the handle tightly with his bare hands.

 

He'd requested the largest butter jar, saying, "Since I'm arriving unannounced, I should bring the biggest one." Then, on a whim, he'd added, "Let's bring wine, too." That had been a mistake.

 

When he'd first set out, the basket hadn't felt too heavy. But now, it weighed down his arms as though it had grown heavier by magic.

 

So shortsighted, he thought. This childish impulse of mine… I'm sixteen now, but I've hardly grown at all.

 

Burdens grow heavier the longer you carry them—that was the lesson Lil learned on his sixteenth birthday. From now on, he vowed, he would leave the house carrying only what felt almost too light.

 

Just then, he nearly stepped on the long hem of his cloak and had to pause.

 

Unlike his old ones, this one was truly long. He had to maintain proper posture just to walk in it.

 

If he couldn't manage that, he'd have to lift the hem, but in this moment, he didn't have a free hand.

 

"Well, well—Your Highness! Isn't this a rare sight? Haven't seen you in the northern woods in quite a while."

 

"And here we were thinking you'd grown up—looks like the cloak grew longer instead."

 

Adulthood is exhausting… Lil thought with a weary sigh, just as the woodsmen called out to him.

 

Fortunately, there were no children among them—just broad-shouldered men. Though he would never say so aloud, Lil always preferred to avoid children when he could.

 

Adults knew what could and couldn't be said. They would never tell a royal to his face that his "blood-colored eyes were disgusting," or call him "cursed."

 

He had no way of knowing what they might say behind his back, or what they truly thought—but at the very least, adults had the courtesy to pretend. They treated him like anyone else, looking past the strange color of his eyes.

 

"Good day, everyone. The weather is so mild today—perfect for an outing."

 

"Your Highness, we're honored by your kind words, even for common folk like us. If I'm not mistaken… today's your sixteenth birthday, isn't it? Congratulations!"

 

"Imagine that—the little prince is sixteen already. Time certainly flies, doesn't it?"

 

"I remember the fireworks on the night you were born. Magnificent, they were—had us all worrying the mountains might catch fire."

 

"Thank you all for the kind wishes. Were the fireworks really so grand sixteen years ago? If I could have seen them, I'm sure I'd never forget them."

 

"Haha! That'd be a neat trick, wouldn't it?"

 

"Maybe the next big show will be at Your Highness's coronation?"

 

When Lil first spotted the woodsmen, there had been only four. But one by one, more emerged from behind the trees and stepped onto the path. Soon, over a dozen men had come forth—and one by one, they bent the knee before him.

 

Naturally, they had left their axes behind before approaching.

 

Though rough in appearance, their bows were sincere, and most were kin—fathers and sons, or brothers. One boy, perhaps Lil's age or a little younger, stiffened the moment he saw Lil's red eyes, then quickly averted his gaze.

 

Looking uncomfortable, he cautiously moved behind the tall man who seemed to be his father, hiding from view.

 

Lil wasn't entirely unaffected by such reactions, but he understood. After all, despite his status, he hadn't done anything like real work—only study, practice, and play. He too felt awkward facing someone his age who had been laboring since childhood.

 

Vallcent, being a small and isolated mountain kingdom, rarely offered paths to success unless one possessed extraordinary talent or stumbled upon a chance to serve the realm.

 

Among laborers, only miners—whose work brought them close to death—had much hope of improving their fortunes. Most boys inherited their father's trade, helping from a young age and eventually taking it over.

 

To venture beyond the barrier meant being torn apart by the cursed wolves that lurked outside. Without ambition or opportunity, it was common sense to find contentment in the role one was born into.

 

 

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