11. I-I Was Caught
When I glared at Oscar with a terrifying face, Oscar smile awkwardly and avoided my eyes.
“Xavier. Will you get the book from the servant outside?”
“Yes, your Highness the Prince.”
After a while, thick books piled up on the bed. Are you going to read all that?
Oscar, who was picking up a book, felt my gaze and lowered his head.
“Ah, this is the assignment.”
‘Isn’t that too much, even for a lot…?’
Will they be difficult books again? It was possible because I couldn’t even read the letters even if I wanted to find out.
God is so unfair. If you had given me the ability to understand, you should have given me the ability to read.
I gently leaned in Oscar’s arms and watched the book he read.
There were a lot of pictures in the book. I asked, pointing my finger at the book.
“Wuah? (What’s that?)”
“This is a continental map.”
“Ooh ah!”
Interesting! I looked at the book with sparkling eyes.
But Oscar shook his head firmly and clap! The book was covered.
“This isn’t fun, so let’s do something more fun.”
What?! You’re ignoring my passion for learning?
“iiiiing.”
Oscar panicked when I whined with both arms stretched out towards the book.
“No, but last time didn’t you say the book wasn’t fun?”
‘That’s obvious. I am not curious about any of the claims made by Algor Chekhov.’
However, in common sense, it was better to know the book in advance.
When I didn’t give up and grabbed Oscar, shaking him, he reluctantly opened the book.
“Okay, okay. I get it. Now, it’s big, right? This is the Imperial Ermano, where we live.”
What Oscar pointed to was the largest piece of land in the East.
“Big, right? It’s about five hundred years old to be this big. That’s when there was a war to expand territory.”
It was an immensely large territory that accounted for almost all of the continent.
“Ooah…”
When I gave out an exclamation, Oscar muttered ‘What do you know that you like it that much…?’
I pointed all over the map. Then like a vending machine, Oscar popped an answer out immediately.
“That’s Shin Sung-Kuk Abelardo. I’ve been there before…ah. No. Forget what I just said.”
“That’s Percy Kingdom.”
“That’s the Kingdom of Vargata.”
You still six-years-old, aren’t you too smart?
I felt ashamed when I remembered myself studying world geography. He’s a six-years-old that memorized maps, what did I, a 20-years-old, do?
Having managed to overcome my sense of shame, I pointed tot he second largest country.
“Hewe?” (Here?)
Then Oscar frowned.
Hm…The reaction is unusual?
“That’s the Devlin Empire.”
‘Devlin? If it’s Devlin, then…’
The first thing that came to mind was the red eyes. The black hair too.
Only two encounters, but the boy, Devlin’s devil, left quite a deep impression on me.
‘Did he run away well?’
I caught a cold and was so distracted that I didn’t hear anything about it.
The only information I had about Devlin was what I got from the conversation between Montego, the new official, and the Emperor from the other day.
“Pay attention to Devlin’s unusual trends lately, Your Majesty.”
“Devlin’s?”
“Yes. Maybe it’s to get the hostages back. Or another dream. I’m afraid it’s going to affect the Ermano Empire, because it’s reaching out to the Holy Land.”
Recalling the conversation, Ermano and The Holy Land, Abelardo, did not seem to like the Devlin Empire very much.
Second, there were a lot of disputes because of large territory?
I stared at Oscar with my finger on Devlin.
Then he added an explanation.
“Devlin is an empire that doesn’t get along with Ermano. They’ve been attacking Ermano. Shin Sung-kuk Abelardo in the middle serves as a buffer, but there have been several major wars in history. There’s a border in the north.”
“Oong.”
“There has been a small war on the border recently, Ermano’s forces were wiped out. But there’s also a saying that it was done all by one person.”
“ing?”
One man annihilates an army, is that possible? No matter what, I think it’s a lie……
Oscar, who was explaining seriously, breathed in as if he had suddenly come to his senses and closed the book.
“What am I saying to her right now… You won’t understand anyway. Then, Mabel. Let’s do something fun instead of this!”
“Ahht!”
I took it so firmly that I missed the timing to tighten it again.
I stretched out my lips, but Oscar shook his head. He was rather stubborn, so he seemed not yield any more.
“Now. Shall we try copying this?”
Phew.
As I watched Oscar repeating opening his palm and then clenching his fist, I squeezed and opened mine roughly a few times.
Then Oscar smiled brightly and rejoiced.
“Good job, Mabel!”
Yes, well… I’m less than a year old anyway, so it’s no use finding out about state affairs.
Let’s play with Oscar.
‘Because you’re six, you need to play.’
***
I finally entered the eight month of my life.
“Since you seem to be so sure, there doesn’t seem to be a problem…… but I’m worried that she doesn’t move.”
The nanny complained to the doctor who stopped by for a regular checkup. The doctor who looked at me kindly smiled and diagnosed me.
“It’s certainly slow, but she’s done a good flip, so it won’t be a problem. She crawls sometimes. Today’s results are good. You’re very healthy.”
“I’m glad to hear that…”
The doctorsaid I was healthy, but the Nanny couldn’t take her eyes off him as she was worried about me.
‘I did just lie here.’
Should I slowly show them the flip side?
However, it was hard to match the speed at which other babies grow.
As I stretched out my arms with a sharp smile, the nanny smiled anxiously and stroked my cheek.
Time passed and night came. When I yawned with my eyes closed, the nanny approached the bed.
“It’s already this late. Then, good night, your highness.”
“Oong…”
When everyone goes out…
Click. The door closed.
When I opened my eyes, a soft light lit by a candle greeted me.
‘Now, let’s start exercising now!”
The work had to be carried out covertly and quietly because Lissandro might be outside the door.
I began to move very slowly.
In the meantime, I moved to the place where the bed rail was to flip.
“Hoo…”
‘It’s hard to do this quietly.’
After wiping my forehead with the back of my hand, I grabbed the bed rail. Then I applied strength to his limbs at the same time.
“Heub!”
Let’s go, Mabel!
You can stand up! You can do it! Remember the memories of your past life! The pleasure of walking around!
I was getting tired, but I didn’t give up.
“Eu buuu!”
I gave strength again. And finally…!
“Ooah!”
‘I stood up!’
Although I had to catch the railing, I stood up myself!
Now I can walk with two feet!
Grabbing the railing tight, I was glad at least.
‘No. This is not the time.’
If you stand up, you have to walk. I haven’t taken my first step as a human being yet.
I took a step with a solemn look on my face. I almost stumbled and fell, but I managed to get over such a crisis.
And the moment I was about to take two steps.
Tuk, drdrdr…
“!”
My head slowly turned at the sound of the door.
There stood the Emperor.
I met eyes with the Emperor.
“…”
“…”
I-I was caught.
***
I was so surprised that my hands relaxed. I fell there on my butt.
It didn’t hurt at all because I was on the bed, but I couldn’t care less about that.
It was a moment of breathtaking awkwardness. It was the Emperor who broke the silence first.
“…Mabel?”
“Oong.”
Although I answered the Emperor’s words in a bluble, my head was busy.
How can I overcome this situation?
A baby, who can only crawl at best, suddenly walks around holding onto the rail…?
Whoever sees it, it’s suspicious.
The Emperor must have thought so, too, and looked at me with a stiff stare.
What excuse should I give? I don’t mean to trick him, okay? I didn’t tell you on purpose because I didn’t want you to be surprised?
‘Ah, I can’t talk!’
I can’t help it. Let’s accept it whatever the reaction is.
I humbly waited for the Emperor’s words. But…
“…You’re great. Mabel.”
“…?”
“As expected of my daughter.”
“…??”
Wait. This is not the reaction I expected.
“So my daughter is a genius.”
“???”
“Walking right away!”
That’s not it. Go back a bit.
“nwo…!” (no…!)
My earnest cry did not reach the Emperor.
The Emperor, who approached without hesitation, held me up as I was sitting and kissed me on the forehead.
‘Ahk, what are you doing!’
The excessive expression of affection drove me out of my mind for a moment.
“I’m going to give you a gift to celebrate your success in walking, Mabel.”
“Oong…?”
“What should I give you? Yeah. How’s the Duchy of Vistante? It’s a very fertile and perfect for a vacation spot.”
A duchy? Not beef soup…?
(T/N: Duchy and beef soup sound similar in Korean)
I looked at the Emperor because I thought it was obviously a joke-
“You like it? Yeah, yeah.”
He seemed sincere again.
***
The mood at the National Assembly was particularly mild today. It was because Emperor Esteban was feeling good.
This, the faces of the vassals who were wary of the situation were naturally brightened.
‘Her Highness must have done it again!’
They could could tell without seeing it now. They also had eight months of familiarity and spare time.
The meeting went on. It was a time when discussions were in full swing over the recent battle at the border after a number of issues.
“The Devil of Devlin has appeared.”
The amicable atmosphere cooled at the words of a vassal, and Esteban frowned.
“I’ve captured him in the Imperial Palace but I missed him, he must have crawled back.”
In may ways, he was a nuisance.
“What’s the status of the border?”
“It’s getting pushed. Why don’t you consider a sword master’s presence?”
“I’ll have to. Send the 2nd knights.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After an important discussion, all that remained were minor issues.
By the time the atmosphere became somewhat cluttered, the Marquis of Gardenia, who had been quietly watching the situation, opened his mouth.
“By the way, did something happen? Your Majesty seems to be in a good mood.”
At the question, Esteban immediately recalled Mabel.
The scene of holding the railing by herself, opening her eyes wide, and falling backwards was still fresh in his mind.
‘My luck was good.’
He could see the precious scene because he went in quietly without a sound, fear of waking her up.
“Mabel finally started walking. Isn’t that great?”
Huh? The vassals opened their eyes wide.
It’s been less than a year since she was born!
“The Princess is already walking?!”
“Yes. My daughter must be a genius. Of course, it’s not long till she calls me Father. I’ve decided to give the Duchy of Vistante to Mabel for her baby steps.”
“…?”
They doubted their ears.
Give what? The Duchy of Vistante?
The Duchy of Vistante is the Duchy under Esteban when he was crown prince.
It was now a key point of the political, diplomatic, and geographically important Empire, which sent and managed representatives.
Some quickly came to their senses.
Its ridiculous to give a Princess who is only eight months old a state of honor.
“Haha, Your Majesty. What a joke.”
“It’s not a joke.”
At the cold stiffening look of Esteban, they exchanged glances.
‘He says it’s not a joke.’
‘Let’s do it.’
‘Let’s do that.’
There was no logical reason to refute the Emperor’s offer of privately owned land.
“In, in a few months, it will be a year since Princess Mabel was born.”
“Yes. I’m going to celebrate with great force.”
His vassals trembled with fear at the sight of Esteban smiling happily as if he was already thinking of it.
‘Just what the hell are you going to do to make it so fancy?!’
The list of gifts to Mabel was already no joke. The celebrations will probably be extraordinary too.
It was accompanied by fear and curiosity.
The Princess has never been seen in public, so the amount of people who had seen the Princess could be counted.
They were inwardly expecting a feast.
“Let’s end the parliamentary session.”
The meeting broke up, and Esteban was the first to rise up.
Esteban, who was excited to meet Mabel, turned away at the prospect following him.
The Marquis of Gardenia was smiling kindly.
But contrary to his smile, his eyes were somewhat belligerent.
“Your Majesty.”
“What’s your business? Marquis.”
“Let me see her Highness the Princess.”
11. I-I Was Caught
When I glared at Oscar with a terrifying face, Oscar smile awkwardly and avoided my eyes.
“Xavier. Will you get the book from the servant outside?”
“Yes, your Highness the Prince.”
After a while, thick books piled up on the bed. Are you going to read all that?
Oscar, who was picking up a book, felt my gaze and lowered his head.
“Ah, this is the assignment.”
‘Isn’t that too much, even for a lot…?’
Will they be difficult books again? It was possible because I couldn’t even read the letters even if I wanted to find out.
God is so unfair. If you had given me the ability to understand, you should have given me the ability to read.
I gently leaned in Oscar’s arms and watched the book he read.
There were a lot of pictures in the book. I asked, pointing my finger at the book.
“Wuah? (What’s that?)”
“This is a continental map.”
“Ooh ah!”
Interesting! I looked at the book with sparkling eyes.
But Oscar shook his head firmly and clap! The book was covered.
“This isn’t fun, so let’s do something more fun.”
What?! You’re ignoring my passion for learning?
“iiiiing.”
Oscar panicked when I whined with both arms stretched out towards the book.
“No, but last time didn’t you say the book wasn’t fun?”
‘That’s obvious. I am not curious about any of the claims made by Algor Chekhov.’
However, in common sense, it was better to know the book in advance.
When I didn’t give up and grabbed Oscar, shaking him, he reluctantly opened the book.
“Okay, okay. I get it. Now, it’s big, right? This is the Imperial Ermano, where we live.”
What Oscar pointed to was the largest piece of land in the East.
“Big, right? It’s about five hundred years old to be this big. That’s when there was a war to expand territory.”
It was an immensely large territory that accounted for almost all of the continent.
“Ooah…”
When I gave out an exclamation, Oscar muttered ‘What do you know that you like it that much…?’
I pointed all over the map. Then like a vending machine, Oscar popped an answer out immediately.
“That’s Shin Sung-Kuk Abelardo. I’ve been there before…ah. No. Forget what I just said.”
“That’s Percy Kingdom.”
“That’s the Kingdom of Vargata.”
You still six-years-old, aren’t you too smart?
I felt ashamed when I remembered myself studying world geography. He’s a six-years-old that memorized maps, what did I, a 20-years-old, do?
Having managed to overcome my sense of shame, I pointed tot he second largest country.
“Hewe?” (Here?)
Then Oscar frowned.
Hm…The reaction is unusual?
“That’s the Devlin Empire.”
‘Devlin? If it’s Devlin, then…’
The first thing that came to mind was the red eyes. The black hair too.
Only two encounters, but the boy, Devlin’s devil, left quite a deep impression on me.
‘Did he run away well?’
I caught a cold and was so distracted that I didn’t hear anything about it.
The only information I had about Devlin was what I got from the conversation between Montego, the new official, and the Emperor from the other day.
“Pay attention to Devlin’s unusual trends lately, Your Majesty.”
“Devlin’s?”
“Yes. Maybe it’s to get the hostages back. Or another dream. I’m afraid it’s going to affect the Ermano Empire, because it’s reaching out to the Holy Land.”
Recalling the conversation, Ermano and The Holy Land, Abelardo, did not seem to like the Devlin Empire very much.
Second, there were a lot of disputes because of large territory?
I stared at Oscar with my finger on Devlin.
Then he added an explanation.
“Devlin is an empire that doesn’t get along with Ermano. They’ve been attacking Ermano. Shin Sung-kuk Abelardo in the middle serves as a buffer, but there have been several major wars in history. There’s a border in the north.”
“Oong.”
“There has been a small war on the border recently, Ermano’s forces were wiped out. But there’s also a saying that it was done all by one person.”
“ing?”
One man annihilates an army, is that possible? No matter what, I think it’s a lie……
Oscar, who was explaining seriously, breathed in as if he had suddenly come to his senses and closed the book.
“What am I saying to her right now… You won’t understand anyway. Then, Mabel. Let’s do something fun instead of this!”
“Ahht!”
I took it so firmly that I missed the timing to tighten it again.
I stretched out my lips, but Oscar shook his head. He was rather stubborn, so he seemed not yield any more.
“Now. Shall we try copying this?”
Phew.
As I watched Oscar repeating opening his palm and then clenching his fist, I squeezed and opened mine roughly a few times.
Then Oscar smiled brightly and rejoiced.
“Good job, Mabel!”
Yes, well… I’m less than a year old anyway, so it’s no use finding out about state affairs.
Let’s play with Oscar.
‘Because you’re six, you need to play.’
***
I finally entered the eight month of my life.
“Since you seem to be so sure, there doesn’t seem to be a problem…… but I’m worried that she doesn’t move.”
The nanny complained to the doctor who stopped by for a regular checkup. The doctor who looked at me kindly smiled and diagnosed me.
“It’s certainly slow, but she’s done a good flip, so it won’t be a problem. She crawls sometimes. Today’s results are good. You’re very healthy.”
“I’m glad to hear that…”
The doctorsaid I was healthy, but the Nanny couldn’t take her eyes off him as she was worried about me.
‘I did just lie here.’
Should I slowly show them the flip side?
However, it was hard to match the speed at which other babies grow.
As I stretched out my arms with a sharp smile, the nanny smiled anxiously and stroked my cheek.
Time passed and night came. When I yawned with my eyes closed, the nanny approached the bed.
“It’s already this late. Then, good night, your highness.”
“Oong…”
When everyone goes out…
Click. The door closed.
When I opened my eyes, a soft light lit by a candle greeted me.
‘Now, let’s start exercising now!”
The work had to be carried out covertly and quietly because Lissandro might be outside the door.
I began to move very slowly.
In the meantime, I moved to the place where the bed rail was to flip.
“Hoo…”
‘It’s hard to do this quietly.’
After wiping my forehead with the back of my hand, I grabbed the bed rail. Then I applied strength to his limbs at the same time.
“Heub!”
Let’s go, Mabel!
You can stand up! You can do it! Remember the memories of your past life! The pleasure of walking around!
I was getting tired, but I didn’t give up.
“Eu buuu!”
I gave strength again. And finally…!
“Ooah!”
‘I stood up!’
Although I had to catch the railing, I stood up myself!
Now I can walk with two feet!
Grabbing the railing tight, I was glad at least.
‘No. This is not the time.’
If you stand up, you have to walk. I haven’t taken my first step as a human being yet.
I took a step with a solemn look on my face. I almost stumbled and fell, but I managed to get over such a crisis.
And the moment I was about to take two steps.
Tuk, drdrdr…
“!”
My head slowly turned at the sound of the door.
There stood the Emperor.
I met eyes with the Emperor.
“…”
“…”
I-I was caught.
***
I was so surprised that my hands relaxed. I fell there on my butt.
It didn’t hurt at all because I was on the bed, but I couldn’t care less about that.
It was a moment of breathtaking awkwardness. It was the Emperor who broke the silence first.
“…Mabel?”
“Oong.”
Although I answered the Emperor’s words in a bluble, my head was busy.
How can I overcome this situation?
A baby, who can only crawl at best, suddenly walks around holding onto the rail…?
Whoever sees it, it’s suspicious.
The Emperor must have thought so, too, and looked at me with a stiff stare.
What excuse should I give? I don’t mean to trick him, okay? I didn’t tell you on purpose because I didn’t want you to be surprised?
‘Ah, I can’t talk!’
I can’t help it. Let’s accept it whatever the reaction is.
I humbly waited for the Emperor’s words. But…
“…You’re great. Mabel.”
“…?”
“As expected of my daughter.”
“…??”
Wait. This is not the reaction I expected.
“So my daughter is a genius.”
“???”
“Walking right away!”
That’s not it. Go back a bit.
“nwo…!” (no…!)
My earnest cry did not reach the Emperor.
The Emperor, who approached without hesitation, held me up as I was sitting and kissed me on the forehead.
‘Ahk, what are you doing!’
The excessive expression of affection drove me out of my mind for a moment.
“I’m going to give you a gift to celebrate your success in walking, Mabel.”
“Oong…?”
“What should I give you? Yeah. How’s the Duchy of Vistante? It’s a very fertile and perfect for a vacation spot.”
A duchy? Not beef soup…?
(T/N: Duchy and beef soup sound similar in Korean)
I looked at the Emperor because I thought it was obviously a joke-
“You like it? Yeah, yeah.”
He seemed sincere again.
***
The mood at the National Assembly was particularly mild today. It was because Emperor Esteban was feeling good.
This, the faces of the vassals who were wary of the situation were naturally brightened.
‘Her Highness must have done it again!’
They could could tell without seeing it now. They also had eight months of familiarity and spare time.
The meeting went on. It was a time when discussions were in full swing over the recent battle at the border after a number of issues.
“The Devil of Devlin has appeared.”
The amicable atmosphere cooled at the words of a vassal, and Esteban frowned.
“I’ve captured him in the Imperial Palace but I missed him, he must have crawled back.”
In may ways, he was a nuisance.
“What’s the status of the border?”
“It’s getting pushed. Why don’t you consider a sword master’s presence?”
“I’ll have to. Send the 2nd knights.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After an important discussion, all that remained were minor issues.
By the time the atmosphere became somewhat cluttered, the Marquis of Gardenia, who had been quietly watching the situation, opened his mouth.
“By the way, did something happen? Your Majesty seems to be in a good mood.”
At the question, Esteban immediately recalled Mabel.
The scene of holding the railing by herself, opening her eyes wide, and falling backwards was still fresh in his mind.
‘My luck was good.’
He could see the precious scene because he went in quietly without a sound, fear of waking her up.
“Mabel finally started walking. Isn’t that great?”
Huh? The vassals opened their eyes wide.
It’s been less than a year since she was born!
“The Princess is already walking?!”
“Yes. My daughter must be a genius. Of course, it’s not long till she calls me Father. I’ve decided to give the Duchy of Vistante to Mabel for her baby steps.”
“…?”
They doubted their ears.
Give what? The Duchy of Vistante?
The Duchy of Vistante is the Duchy under Esteban when he was crown prince.
It was now a key point of the political, diplomatic, and geographically important Empire, which sent and managed representatives.
Some quickly came to their senses.
Its ridiculous to give a Princess who is only eight months old a state of honor.
“Haha, Your Majesty. What a joke.”
“It’s not a joke.”
At the cold stiffening look of Esteban, they exchanged glances.
‘He says it’s not a joke.’
‘Let’s do it.’
‘Let’s do that.’
There was no logical reason to refute the Emperor’s offer of privately owned land.
“In, in a few months, it will be a year since Princess Mabel was born.”
“Yes. I’m going to celebrate with great force.”
His vassals trembled with fear at the sight of Esteban smiling happily as if he was already thinking of it.
‘Just what the hell are you going to do to make it so fancy?!’
The list of gifts to Mabel was already no joke. The celebrations will probably be extraordinary too.
It was accompanied by fear and curiosity.
The Princess has never been seen in public, so the amount of people who had seen the Princess could be counted.
They were inwardly expecting a feast.
“Let’s end the parliamentary session.”
The meeting broke up, and Esteban was the first to rise up.
Esteban, who was excited to meet Mabel, turned away at the prospect following him.
The Marquis of Gardenia was smiling kindly.
But contrary to his smile, his eyes were somewhat belligerent.
“Your Majesty.”
“What’s your business? Marquis.”
“Let me see her Highness the Princess.”
