I came home.
　A house with a thatched roof. There's a small field near it, surrounded by a wooden fence. The golden wheat that grows there ripples in the wind.
　You open the front door and enter the house.
　The house is quiet in the living room.

"Father. I don't see Meryl.
'It's funny . She was in her bedroom when we went to sword practice. ...... Don't tell me you're still sleeping.

　I'll look in the bedroom to make sure.
　--There it is.
　I had a bad feeling about this.
　The futon was just as puffy as when I saw it this morning.
　Meryl, peeking out of the bedding like a turtle, is breathing peacefully, saying, "Hey .......

...... Hey, hey . It's already around noon, remember?

　There's way too much sleep.

He was such a lazy kid.

　Anna put her hand to her forehead and wore a disgusted face.
　Anna, who is a strong person, may find that Meryl's laziness in sleeping until around noon is too much for her to bear.

''Meryl. Come on, wake up. It's almost noon.

　I rock Meryl's body under the covers.

Neeeeeee. I want to go back to sleep.
You can't. Get up.
Mmmm: ....... Okay, okay. If you really want me to wake up, Dad, you can kiss me on the cheek.
What are you talking about?
'See, princesses are supposed to wake up to a prince's kiss...'
What are you talking about?

　I said it again.

"Meryl. You're not a princess. You're my sister. Papa ......, please don't do anything to embarrass your father.
Mooo. Elsa is still such a prude. It's okay. It's okay. Dad. Give me a big smooch on my cheek.
Is that going to wake you up?
I can't wait to get up. I'm gonna wake up soon.
...... Totally. It's no use.

　I crouched down by Meryl's bedside and gently gave her a light kiss on the cheek she held out to me.

"You're going to wake up now, as promised?
Yeah, that's what you do best.
...... That's great.

　When my daughter tells me she's a good kisser: .......
　Meryl smiled and lifted her upper body out of the covers .
　Her pretty, rolling eyes . A clear nose . Cherry-red lips . Meryl, the youngest, was the most girlish of the three sisters.
　She was also a very spoiled child.
　She'd cling to everything and would always say "ahhhhhh" when she was about to eat her food.
　Meryl looked at Elsa, who was standing beside her and said.

"Hey, why don't you get Elsa to kiss you too?
What--?

　Elsa's face, as clear as china, turned a bright red .

'Bah, don't be silly!　Chi, Chu and other soft things like that ...... swordsman, I don't need it!
Again. I'm so embarrassed. Elsa doesn't take kindly to me.

　Meryl said and opened her hands to me . He looks up and makes a sweet tone of voice like whipped cream .

'Papa . Let me change out of my pajamas...
Meryl's too soft on me.
Because I love you so much!

　I can't help but chuckle.


　I'm the one who spoils her every time.
　If someone sees me changing my ten-year-old daughter's pajamas every time I change her, I'm sure I'll be subjected to the scolding of a fool.
　But she's cute, so it's inevitable.
　And it's not just Meryl. Elsa and Anna are just as cute.

"Meryl. Why aren't you back at magic school? Do you have class today?

　Anna asked, folding her arms.
　Meryl was studying magic at the village's magic school.

"Heh. I skipped it.
"You said you skipped school. ...... It's not free to go to school. It's paid for by my dad.
Because. Because it's boring. Your lessons are really low. I can do magic better than your teacher at school.　Look, look.

　Meryl said that and held up a finger.
　And then...
　Ice crystals blossomed on her fingertips.

This is ...... ice magic. Meryl: "Where did you learn it? Where did you learn it?
My dad taught you some water magic tricks the other day.　So, I've been experimenting with things and I've learned to do them in my own way.

　Applying water magic--it's not a skill a ten-year-old or so can do.
　There are many adult wizards who cannot reach this realm. And you've done it so easily.
　Meryl had more magic than any of the three sisters.
　She was a quick learner.
　She soaked up the magic I taught her like a dry sponge. Not only that, she could use them as you do now.
　It was an extraordinary talent that made me excited for the future.

aren't they? Praise, praise, praise!

　When I patted Meryl's head, her cheeks slackened in happiness.
　She had the expression of a distracted kitten.

I'd rather be taught magic while flirting with my dad at home than going to class to study magic.
No. Daddy's too busy. I don't have time for Meryl. So you're going to go to school and take a class.
'I'm gone!　Anna, that hurts!　Looks like it hurts!　Don't tug on my ear~
Are you going to school okay?
Go!　I'm coming!
You'll see.

　Anna smiled and turned to me and said.

"Don't worry about me, Daddy. I'm gonna put Meryl in charge of getting her to school. Daddy, you can go about your business as much as you want.
Oh, yeah.

　Anna is really reliable.
　Maybe that's why Meryl grew up to be such a spoiled brat.