CHAPTER 599: HER BIG BURDEN

With shaking hands, Nina pulled her terminal close and tapped at the holoscreen. Her bright eyes welled with tears as she whispered to the glowing interface, "Brother... save me..."

She waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Nothing.

"..."

Her lip trembled. She shook the terminal like a broken toy. "Brother! Why won’t you answer me?!"

Mr. Quackers waddled over and pecked at the screen, producing a pathetic tap tap tap.

But unbeknownst to the little princess, her big brother could not answer. He was currently submerged inside a medical tank after one of Duke Leander’s so-called "private training sessions" that he had finally been able to participate in. However, that was a tale for another day, when the little girl could not have known that outside her bathroom hideout, the Empire itself was drowning in panic and alarm.

Still, unlike everyone else who could only cry in despair, didn’t Princess Gianina have the advantage of two brothers now?

Therefore, when nothing worked and her plea to run away was left unanswered, she did what any sensible child would do.

Nina sniffled loudly. "It’s okay... if Brother won’t answer me... then I must call him..."

With pitiful determination, she selected Brother Chipmunk.

There was a bit of a wait. Nina’s hope began to flicker out... until the call actually connected. She jolted, eyes wide.

"Brother Chipmunk... It’s me... Nina..." she whispered dramatically into the terminal.

On the other end, Luca had been smiling absentmindedly, thinking that maybe she would be calling to report about a new favorite. But when her tiny face appeared on his screen, all red-eyed and blotchy, his smile fell. He blinked, startled. "Nina? What’s wrong?"

The little girl hiccupped and then burst into her confession.

"Brother Chipmunk, I am so sorry! I am in grave danger! Mother has found out about the ice cream! If I don’t figure something out, I will... I will... surely end up living in the forests with Mr. Quackers and Snowy! Possibly forever! We would likely end up eating grass and drinking pond water and... and... I will never get to see you again!"

The imagery was so intense that Luca almost dropped his terminal. In his mind’s eye, he could already see it: his little sister-in-law wandering the wilderness, Mr. Quackers waddling behind with a tragic quack, Snowy gnawing bitter weeds, and Nina herself gnawing on leaves like a white rabbit who had lost everything.

She hiccuped again, wiping her cheeks with her sleeve.

Mr. Quackers flapped his wings furiously, as if to say absolutely not. Snowy thumped his foot with the air of someone despairing at the end of civilization.

"..."

Even Luca was at a loss for words.

For a moment, Luca froze with her. The dramatic little girl’s words about eating grass and drinking pond water might have sounded ridiculous to anyone else... but not to him.

Because unlike most people, he actually knew it was possible. He had lived like that once, surviving in the wild before he could even build a proper cottage inside his space. For a second, his chest tightened with panic, too.

"N-Nina," he stammered, eyes wide, "don’t cry! I’ll... I’ll help you somehow! Tell me—what should I do?"

The little princess sniffled, tears shining in her eyes. "I already packed a bag. I’m ready to leave!" She lifted her bulging backpack into view, the straps straining, a duck feather sticking out of the side like a warning flag.

Luca blinked at the sight. "What...?" He could barely process it. "You... you’re serious?"

Her tiny nod almost broke him.

Of course, she was scared. But as Luca stared at her little face, he couldn’t help but think of something else. Unlike him, who never got to grow up with his parents and had been left to fend for himself, Nina was surrounded by family. She was showered with love. She even had Xavier, who smiled when he talked about them. If that was the case, then wouldn’t both sides be sad if Nina really ran away like this?

Taking a deep breath, Luca steadied himself. His voice softened. "Nina... I think your parents only want to ask questions because they’re worried about you. And... because they love you."

The little girl blinked.

"So let me ask you, Nina. Do you love your parents?"

She nodded, a sniffle escaping. "Yes..."

"Do you believe they are good people?"

"...Yes."

"Then you should stay put," Luca said gently. "Because if you run away, no one will be happy. Not you, and not them either."

Nina’s lip trembled again. "...But... but I promised to keep it a secret..."

Luca’s eyes softened further. "I know. And I appreciate how hard you tried, Nina. Really. But listen—you don’t have to lie. The truth is, you got the goods from the daycare, right?"

The little girl froze. Then her eyes widened in surprise. That... was true. Entirely true. And completely acceptable as an explanation.

Sure enough, her tears slowed as she realized it.

But then she looked back up at her brother chipmunk and was stunned again. Because there he was, smiling so warmly and purely that her small heart squeezed.

"I’ll ask your brother about his plans," Luca continued calmly. "But if you’re ever in a difficult situation again, it may be better to say that someone with more information would be fit to answer. That way, you’re not lying."

Her eyes trembled. Luca tilted his head. "Are you alright?"

"I just..." Nina whispered, voice shaking. "I just thought I wasn’t good at keeping secrets. I panicked and got caught right away... Brother Chipmunk, I’m really sorry..."

Luca’s heart ached. "Little Nina, young children shouldn’t have to carry such burdens. You don’t have to hide so much. I only want you to live comfortably, alright?"

That was all it took. The little princess hiccupped again, wanting to cry even more now that her brother chipmunk was comforting her.

"Now," Luca smiled gently, "what do you want to eat next time?"

Her small voice, still hiccupping, began listing flavors between sobs. "Strawberry... ch-chocolate... vanilla... and maybe... mint if it’s not scary..."

Luca nodded solemnly, as though she were negotiating a royal treaty.

And while the child slowly calmed, the scene faded into an ironic twist.

Because outside the door of the now soothed little girl stood her mother, the Empress herself, clasping a hand over her mouth as she quietly listened.

Her eyes glistened.

Just who was that voice...?