In the dining room

"Your Majesty, this is a letter for you," Ryan handed over the letter that had arrived at the palace that morning, just before breakfast began.

Aliester, who had just finished tying his tie, walked over to take the letter still in Ryan's hand. "Remarkable. My breakfast hasn't even reached my stomach yet, and now I'm receiving a letter right on time for breakfast. Truly impressive."

It can be inferred that Aliester's statement was a subtle sarcasm. Ryan could only smile without commenting.

Aliester looked at the seal on the letter, "Hmm? Whose family crest is this?"

"Two swords with a shield and an owl? Is there a noble family in Rumanier with a crest like this?"

"It seems not, but the address is clearly from around here, and—"

"Astaford?" Aliester looked at the writing at the bottom right corner of the letter, "This is from Astaford, where I heard that family name..."

As he thought, Aliester finally remembered, "Ah, Aslyn Astaford..."

"Aslyn Astaford?" Ryan looked puzzled.

"The personal assistant of Prince Karez Alucard of Varseil, whom I just met last night. I'm surprised he sent me a letter this early in the morning."

"Is it about a problem or an invitation, Your Majesty?"

"Wait, I'll read it..." Aliester opened the envelope and scanned the letter. A thin smile appeared, and he put the letter back. Just before leaving the room, Aliester took a moment to respond to the letter.

As he affixed the royal seal, he handed the letter he wrote to Ryan and said with a pleased smile, "Send this to the Astaford residence and prepare a reception for afternoon tea and lunch."

"Yes."

"Don't you want to ask why, Ryan?"

Ryan bowed and smiled, "No. Judging from Your Majesty's reaction, this must be something delightful."

"Ahaha, thank you. Please help me out. I'll wake up my sweet little princess myself."

"Um, shouldn't you head straight to the dining room and greet Princess Magdalene?"

"Hmm~" Aliester smiled and nodded in agreement with Ryan's suggestion. The two of them left the room.

-------

In Magdalene's room, Selina was brushing the little girl's hair. Since morning, Magdalene had looked delighted. Who knows what was on her mind?

"Fortunately, Princess Magdalene looks happy this morning," Selina said.

"Ehehe~"

Behind her small laugh, Magdalene briefly pouted.

"You don't know that I couldn't sleep all night because I was planning!"

"First of all, I've already declared my desire to help Daddy find a new Mom. But a woman like Mom...IS ALMOST NON-EXISTENT IN THIS WORLD!"

"At least, in my current place. I need to get out of the palace and take Daddy on a trip like normal people."

"No, I mean my Daddy is normal, but he's still far from being normal. Um, half-normal? Maybe a quarter normal? Anyway, he's still far from normal because Daddy is very quiet!!"

"Anyway, I need to come up with a plan to get Daddy to go out with me. How can I do that? Moreover, getting Daddy close to a strange woman won't be easy."

"This body is that of a 5-year-old little girl, not my original body. It would be so pitiful if the real Magda returns and remembers my nonsensical behavior!"

"Let's think this through again to make it work! I must be able to find a new wife candidate for Aliester!"

Quietly, the little girl had been thinking about something very serious in the morning, even before she had breakfast. With her hair and beautiful dress done, she didn't forget to bring her beloved teddy bear.

"Does Her Highness want to bring your teddy bear?" Viona asked.

"Mr. Teddy has to greet Daddy~"

"I see. His Majesty the King will surely be delighted with Mr. Teddy," there was no other response from her two attendants except to agree with the little girl, because they loved her morning smile.

-------

Upon arriving at the dining room, Magdalene hugged Aliester along with her small teddy bear. "Daddy~"

"Good morning, Daddy's beautiful little princess."

"Kyaa~" Magdalene showed her teddy bear to her father, "Mr. Teddy too, Daddy, say good morning to Mr. Teddy."

"... " Aliester was briefly silent, gazing at the adorable teddy bear that seemed to be smiling at him. A soft growl began to echo in his ears.

"My sweet daughter is so adorable!!! She can even talk to her teddy bear using her imagination! Amazing! I love her!"

With an angelic smile, Aliester greeted Magdalene's teddy bear to see his little daughter smile, "Good morning, Mr. Teddy. A bright day for breakfast together, isn't it?"

Magdalene was actually very embarrassed because she refused to act spoiled like a child, but she also remembered that her current body was that of a child!

The two sat down to enjoy the prepared breakfast. Perhaps the father and daughter weren't aware of it, but all the servants and the head chef who witnessed the scene smiled happily.

Of course, no one expected that the king would set aside his dignity and sternness for the sake of his sweet little daughter.

Amidst breakfast, Magdalene managed to bring up the matter that had been puzzling her so much that she couldn't sleep.

"Daddy..."

"Yes?"

"So, when can we find a new mom for Magda?"

"Buuurft!! Cough! Cough!"

"...!!"

Not only Aliester coughed and almost choked because of his daughter's question, but all the servants were also shocked. They looked at Aliester with expressions full of question marks.

Of course, many of them wanted to ask questions. Aliester put down his utensils and forced a smile.

"Ma–Magda, it's still early and Daddy's sure that's not something to be discussed at the dinner table."

"But last night, Magda already said to find a new mom. Daddy wants to go for a walk with Magda to the city?"

"Wh–why to the city?"

"So we can observe young women who have the potential to become a new mom!" Magdalene exclaimed with a bright smile on her face.

"Cough!!" Once again, Aliester choked.

This time, Ryan handed the king a glass of water, "Please, Your Majesty. Take it easy..." "Th–thank you, Ry—"

As he slightly bowed his head, Ryan whispered into Aliester's ear, "So, what kind of mother candidate are we talking about?"

"Cough! Cough!" Again, and for the umpteenth time, Aliester choked. "Can't you just keep quiet?" Aliester asked with an annoyed face towards Ryan.

"Sorry, that was a slip-up."

"Hah, a slip-up, you say..." As he observed his surroundings, Aliester knew that all his servants were pretending not to have heard the previous conversation. Even though, in reality, it was clearly audible.

"My dear, it seems we can discuss that matter later," Aliester said. Of course, he was trying to distract his little daughter from her strange idea of going to the city. "Besides, Daddy forgot to mention that we have guests arriving today."

"Guests? Who?"

"Prince Karez and his personal assistant, Miss Aslyn Astaford."

-------

At Villa Astaford...

In the dining room, Prince Karez and Aslyn were sitting, enjoying their breakfast.

"Don't you think we're being impolite by sending a letter before sunrise?" Karez asked with a worried face.

"Maybe so, but we're going there early, so it's better if the notification arrives at the palace first. Besides, if you think we're being impolite, it would be better if we bring a gift."

"A gift? What kind of gift do you think is suitable?"

"Food, perfume, or...something beautiful to catch the attention of His Majesty the King and Princess Magdalene..."

Suddenly, Karez fell silent. He put down his utensils and thought for a moment. "Something beautiful for...Princess Magdalene..."

Aslyn smiled, seeing the young prince lost in thought with a serious expression. "It seems Prince Karez has found something that caught his attention. Thankfully~"

-------

And in Aliester's palace, Magdalene seemed unaffected by the information.

"The prince will come today, but in the afternoon, we can go together. It's no problem, Daddy. Magda will accompany Daddy to find a new mom."

"Huh?"

"Don't worry. Magda will find the best one for Daddy~"

That's not what he meant! But it's impossible for Aliester to shout that at his little daughter. At the palace dining table, rumors began to spread throughout the palace.