Surprised from my sudden words, Xavier dropped all semblance of composure and the stone he held onto.
“Did… did Her Highness just say kitty?”
As he spoke, Latima, too, looked at me in exaggerated surprise and let out a tattered laugh.
“I also heard it as well… but that couldn’t be it.”
“Kiddy…! Kiddy!”
‘Whatever! Just take me with you! Don’t leave me behind! I too want to see the divine cat!”
“I… I think she truly said the word kitty, right…?”
“Right? I heard it as well.”
Lalima nodded, agreeing with Xavier’s words. It was a sight to see, a historic moment where both of their opinions were the same for once.
‘…H-huh? Wait… this isn’t how it should go.’
The situation was growing tense, it looked like, but what was the problem? I only realized too late when the nanny who clutched me tight in her arms parted her lips.
“To think Her Highness would speak her first words two months after her birth…”
Oh… I soon realized my mistake.
‘Actually, why did I do that? Am I beginning to think like a baby because I am one or what…?’
This rapid change was unfamiliar to me as well, and I was sure the mind inside this body was an adult… though the only issue that remained was that this body was not fully grown, yet.
‘Perhaps the reason I’m acting on impulse is because of my childish body…?’
Though, in truth, I was not sure, only vaguely assuming that it had to do with my growth process.
‘In any case…’
The main problem I faced was not that and it’s not like I was able to properly formulate a full sentence, but it certainly was a cause for surprise. I had spoken into existence a complete word far too fast for a child my age.
‘Hmm… how do I get out of this situation?’
I was left pondering to rectify the situation when Latina suddenly hugged me tightly with an awestruck look splattered across her face.
“That’s our princess! She’s a genius! To be able to talk this early and all, my goodness…! Your Highness, you’re a rare genius!”
“Ahbubu…!” (I can’t breathe!)
“Ahbubu? What did you say this time? Please say it again, Your Highness?”
Lalima’s pair of eyes shone with vivid excitement as if attempting to decipher each and every word spoken.
‘No, no, that’s not what I wanted to do.’
I was caught off guard and I felt extreme bashfulness. Meanwhile, Oscar wore a disappointed expression.
‘Why is he so down?’
My question was answered. A short while later, Oscar mumbled weakly to himself.
“To think your first word isn’t older brother, but kitty…”
“…”
That was his problem? Though it did seem to have affected him quite terribly hard? He kept repeating ‘I lost to a cat…’ over and over to himself.
‘How do I fix this situation? I can’t bear being around his gloominess.’
‘Though that shouldn’t matter one bit. ‘Just take me to the bush’ is what I wanted to say, but my strength to form a proper sentence would only sound gibberish and foreign.’
“Sigh…”
The life of a baby is a long, tiring journey. Who said it was easy, that all we did was play, eat, and sleep?
Sighing, I trashed about in the nanny’s arms and stretched both arms out towards Oscar.
“…Mabel?”
Since birth, I had never shown nor indicated any signs of wanting to be held by anyone.
‘Well, I just wanted to lie down in the first place. Never really wanted to be picked up anyways…’
But seeing my older brother look gloomy over something so trivial, my heart was not at ease.
“Your Highness, please hold the princess in your arms quickly.”
The nanny warmly said to Oscar and he, in turn, looked at the nanny with a dazed look and pointed at himself.
“…Me?”
“Of course. Now, here you go. Hold her tight.”
Oscar walked towards me stiffly like he was the one walking for the first time and stretched his arms out to me. Oscar easily lifted me up, his actions effortless due to his sword training.
“…It’s the first time Mabel hugged me first.”
Oscar smiled and mumbled to himself. He was moved from my gesture alone. Though that mattered not. I did not have much time left. I extended my arm outwards and made a grabbing motion towards the bush entrance where Xavier exclaimed to have seen the divine beast.
“Kiddy!”
They were going there anyway, so might as well go together. And, moreover, I was born on the same day the divine beast hatched. It may have something to do with me, and it was no doubt interesting.
“Mabel, do you want to see the divine beast that much?”
Oscar asked gently as he held me in his arms. I had wanted to nod, but that proved far too difficult at the moment, so instead, I parted my lips.
“Kiddy…”
“All right, all right.”
He smiled cheekily.
At this point, it was best to go with the flow and pretend I only knew the word kiddy.
‘They wouldn’t dare to call me a genius or something, right?’
I found the idea of simply playing along with the flow resplendent. Holding me in his arms, Oscar began walking towards the bush.
“Your Highness, please be careful. Whatever happens, do not drop your sister.”
“It’s fine, nanny. You need not worry. Don’t you believe in me?”
“I don’t.”
The nanny’s razor-sharp reply sent Oscar into a sea of abysmal silence. His pained expression meant that he was unable to find words to retort.
‘Well, you did break the emperor’s precious tart piece in the past, after all.’
Turning my attention away from Oscar, I turned my head toward the front entrance of the bush. Meanwhile, Lalima, Xavier, and the nanny stood next to Oscar. Their eyes were drawn to the bush entrance, but all they saw was thick wood and heavy vegetation. No signs of life or indication of a cat nor a divine beast existed.
“Xavier. You lied, didn’t you?”
Lalima snapped.
Xavier clicked his tongue and waved his hand hurriedly to refute her claim.
“I’m not, I’m not! I swear! I saw it!”
“And I did not! Come over here. I think you need a few smacks in the head!”
They looked ready to have a beat down with Lalima rolling her sleeves up and Xavier kicking back his hind legs.
“Lalima, Xavier, you forget that you’re in the presence of the prince and princess. Calm down.”
The nanny scolded the duo, but they remained ignorant of her words as they chased one another near the river.
‘Living young and wild and free… must be nice.’
I looked at the river water. Perhaps… Xavier was hallucinating… no matter how much I stared, I could not find any signs of the divine beast.
“It looks like the servant was fooling around. Let’s sit back down, Mabel.”
‘A shame… I guess it can’t be helped.’
I let out a small sigh and leaned comfortably back into Oscar’s chest…
“!”
A luminescent glow sparkled inside the bush. I blinked and made sure it was not the reflection from the sun.
It was not.
“Kiddy!”
“Kitty? Yeah, yeah. I, too, wanted to see the kitty as well…”
Oscar turned his head toward the direction I stretched my arm to, and slowly he shut his mouth tight. A cat with golden fur walked leisurely in my direction. It was small and had a cute little horn on its forehead. Like me, the cat was born just recently.
‘Wow…’
Though I had known all along that this world was different, the sudden downpour of realization washed over me as I saw living proof of magic. It was not the golden-colored fur that fascinated me, but the gleam around its body that seemed to tell the world of its extraordinary quality.
“It… really is the divine beast.”
The nanny’s countenance was one of astonishment and a mix of certain confirmation. Lalima and Xavier stood next to us, the look on their face similar to the nanny like they’d never seen a divine beast.
The divine beast stood at a certain distance, daring not to come closer as it surveyed us and quietly studying our movements.
Xavier suddenly parted his lips while admiring the beauty of the divine beast.
“For some reason, it looks like it’s going towards the princess…”
“Achoo!”
The sneeze cut off Xavier’s words abruptly.
‘Ah, it’s leaving!”
The divine beast quickly darted back into the bush, surprised at my sudden sneeze. The nanny, too, was left in tandem surprised and looked back to check my well-being.
“It seems that Her Highness has been out for too long. Shall we go back now?”
The nanny placed my small frame back into the pram and properly tugged me inside the blanket. She placed the emperor’s outerwear as well before setting the brim down.
“Lalima, Xavier, you both stay behind and clean up after the mess.”
“…Wha? But madam…”
“It is merely punishment for behaving in such a childish manner.”
The nanny snapped back, her tone icy-cold. She pushed the pram forward thereafter.
Oscar walked with me side by side and did not let go of his sight on me.
“Let’s go out again next time, Mabel.”
He seemed closer to me. I could feel it. Perhaps it was due to my earlier action.
‘Maybe I should not have done that.’
His eyes swelled with conviction to protect me… it placed a great burden on my back. I do not know what to do. I stared squarely forward and pretended I did not hear his words.
The scenery passing me by was new. It emitted a nice feeling of relief.
‘It was pretty fun to see the divine beast.’
Before returning to the palace I resided in, we passed by many buildings.
Oscar gave me a furtive glance before asking the nanny nonchalantly.
“Nanny, Mabel didn’t catch a cold, right?”
“She’s fine right now, but I’m worried that it might be a possibility.”
“We were out there for quite a while, so–”
Oscar’s words were cut off abruptly. He breathed in sharply and took a step back.
‘What’s with him?’
He froze in face, his countenance pale and ashen white as if he had seen a ghost.
I wonder why.
I looked toward the direction of his line of sight and there stood a tall woman with regal bearing. She had auburn colored hair and donned on an air of complexity that made it difficult for anyone without guts to approach. She looked like she was out for a walk, but regardless, her clear green eyes remained sharp and salient.
“Oh my. Your Highness, it’s Duchess Donovan. We should go greet her.”
“…N-nanny.”
Oscar grabbed onto the edge of the nanny’s hem with shivering hands. From the looks of it, this Duchess Donovan was a frightening figure that sent Oscar haywire.
…Wait a minute… Duchess Donovan? I’ve heard of this name before somewhere…
“….But Your Highness, Duchess Donovan is your mother.”
“No, that’s not the problem.”
Ah! It came to me from the Nanny’s words.
Pacifica Donovan.
She is Oscar’s biological mother.
Let’s talk about the history of the Emperor’s father-in-law here for a moment…
The Emperor married twice.
The first marriage was a political marriage with the Donovan family’s Pacifica Donovan. After Oscar was born, they immediately agreed to divorce.
After the divorce, Pacifica Donovan defeated numerous objections and gained support to become the Duchess of Donovan.
The next marriage was with my biological mother, Siana Gardenia. I heard the Emperor and Siana got married because they loved each other.
But as you know, Siana died shortly after she gave birth to me…. It’s been about a month.
“Mother is, mother is scary….”
Oscar slowly backed away, holding on to my stroller with a tearful face.
*dragging*
Because of that, I was dragged back with Oscar.
The fear of Oscar, who was brazen about everything even from the Emperor’s coldness, came to me.
The husbands next woman gave birth to me. Of course I’m a thorn in the eye. I should be scared, too, right?
No matter how optimistically I tried to think, I don’t think she’d see me well.
Even more so, she is called the peacock of iron blood, who has no emotion.
“Y-your Highness.” (nanny)
The nanny seemed to be in trouble, but Oscar pulled my stroller along the other way, pretending he didn’t hear it.
The image of Pacifica Donovan became more and more distant.
The figure disappeared completely before long.
“ha…”
“hoo…”
Oscar and I gave a sigh of relied at the same time.
***
It was when I was going around like that.
I could feel the noise. The nanny and Oscar slowly stopped walking.
‘What is it this time?’
Following Oscar, I turned my eyes. There’s a white one.
There was a group of knights in armor.
I’ve never seen so many people since I was born again.
Not to mention knights.
‘Is there something going on?’
My body tilted to the side as I tried to move my head. Fortunately, the baby car supported me, so I didn’t fall down.
I could see the knights at a glance in a diagonal line of sight.
“Oong?”
They looked busy somehow. They were trying to head somewhere, but it didn’t seem to go their way.
‘What the hell is tying the legs of a bunch of knights?’ (meaning ‘what’s causing them trouble’)
It was just then when I was watching the scene with a blank face.
Something caught my eye.
There was a foreign presence intermingled among the tall knights.
‘…A child?’
I couldn’t see well because he was wearing a black robe covering his head, but it was definitely a little boy.
What’s more surprising is that he’s the one causing trouble for the knights.
All the knights seemed to be truing to restrain the resistance of the little child, bound by the black and ominous energy.
Each time the boy swung his arm, the knights fell apart.
“Hold on!” (knight)
“Defense over there has been breached!”
There was a vivid cry of struggle from the knights. Fortunately, there was quite a distance from the commotion, so there was no chance for us to get caught up in it.
Oscar, who had a pale complexion, hurriedly grabbed the nape of the nanny’s dress.
“Nanny. We need to go another way.”
The nanny, who came to her senses quickly, nodded at Oscars cry. She grabbed the stroller urgently.
The moment the stroller turned back.
Our eyes met.
‘It’s like blood.’
The moment I saw the fresh bloodshot red pupils, the accident seemed to stop.
It was a strange feeling.
Although it was so crowded and noisy, it seemed like that boy and I were the only ones left.
But it was a moment our eyes met.
“Go on , Your Highness.”
The nanny took off quickly, perhaps because she was worried that I might get caught up in the disturbance.
But when I took a step back, I heard a loud cry from behind.
“Catch him!”
“Listen and move!”
‘Whats happening?’
Such cries were heard several times, and before long, the knights disappeared at a rapid pace.
For me, who could not see anything, I could not have known what had happened.
As a result, the stroller could not move a bit.
When I raised my head, Oscar was staring behind me with a serious look on his face.
***
In front of the Emperor’s office.
Assistant Gustav received an unexpected report.
“Can you say that again…..” (Gustav)
“There was a small problem moving Devlin’s demons underground.”
“Well, I don’t think it’s small.” (Gustav)
To sum up, it wasn’t.
The process of mixing the co-called Devlin’s Devil to an underground prison in the Imperial Palace was not smooth.
Naturally, he resisted will all his might, and the knights unexpectedly had their feet tied in the middle of the palace.
‘It’s all right up there.’
The problem was from then on.
He met the precious princess who just happened to be taking her first walk!
‘Haaaaa…’
Gustav was desperate, covering his face with one hand.
As a result, nothing happened, but imagining how the emperor would look when he heard the news.
“And you’re sure nothing happened to his Highness?” (Gustav)
“Yes. The host just lost his mind and was moved safely.”
“He lost his mind?” (Gustav)
“The reason is unknown. I think it’s because he used too much energy. We’ve given off maximum mana while traveling to the Yellow Star.”
“I see.” (Gustav)
Upon hearing all the reports, Gustav returned to the emperor’s office, ready to break the news.
Esteban was on duty.
Gustav, who watched the scene with warm eyes, soon regained consciousness.
“What.” (Esteban)
The eye-catching Esteban raised his head.
Gustav opened his mouth with a nervous heart.
“There’s been a report of the Princess” (Gustav)
The somewhat languid Emperor’s expression changed instantly.
Gustav swallowed dry saliva with a strong look at himself.
gulp-
“What happened?” (Esteban)
“In the course of transporting Devlin’s hostage captured by the border, he came across the princess and his Highness, who went out for a walk!’ ‘Without any trouble!” (Gustav)
Just in case he misunderstood, Gustav put all his might into it.
Thanks to the effort, Esteban’s fierce look eased a little.
‘It ended better than I thought it would.’
The relieved Gustav grinned and shook his mouth. It was a story that he heard from a servant.
“Ah, and a servant had said that the princess said ‘kitty’”
Gustav who was about to add that the two-month-old baby would follow words, could not speak as he intended.
*Crash!*
This was the sound of Esteban’s tea cup, which he had just held, falling vertically.
Gustav covered his face with one hand.
‘Ahhh, that teacup is very expensing…’
The bottomless teacup was a treasure of a country with an enormous history.
But the emperor couldn’t bear that in mind. Gustav winked at the servant and ordered the teacup to be removed.
Esteban, who seemed to be in shock, slowly raised his head.
“…Gustav.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What did you just say?”
“His Highness encountered the drivers on the way back from the walk–.”
“Not that.”
“The princess said ‘kitty.’”
What a mess…!
This time again, something crashing could be heard. Gustav with his eyes closed couldn’t even open them.
He was too afraid to check what was broken.
‘I hope it’s not just the pottery that was beside the teacup.’
The pottery, which entered as a tribute, was a national treasure with a history of over a thousand years.
Gustav, who opened his eyes, lamented. It was the pottery that was smashed.
‘Isn’t it a bigger accident than to encounter the enemy’s hostage?’
He couldn’t understand at all.
The shocked Esteban murmured.
“…I should have gone too.”
“Yes?”
“It’s disgraceful.”
It was disgraceful that he didn’t hear his daughters first words.
But it was an easy assessment that Gustav could make because of Esteban’s crazy love for his daughter.
Esteban, who had been silken for a while, suddenly rose up.
“Your-your Majesty?”
Surprised again, Gustav bowed his head, thinking he should seek counseling on heart disease as soon as possible.
“I need to see Mabel. Follow me.”
There was a lot of work left, but if he pointed that out, Gustav probably wouldn’t be on the ground.
Following the emperor obediently, Gustav shook his head.
‘By the way, can a two-month-old baby talk?’
It doesn’t seem possible even if you’re a genius.
Surprised from my sudden words, Xavier dropped all semblance of composure and the stone he held onto.
“Did… did Her Highness just say kitty?”
As he spoke, Latima, too, looked at me in exaggerated surprise and let out a tattered laugh.
“I also heard it as well… but that couldn’t be it.”
“Kiddy…! Kiddy!”
‘Whatever! Just take me with you! Don’t leave me behind! I too want to see the divine cat!”
“I… I think she truly said the word kitty, right…?”
“Right? I heard it as well.”
Lalima nodded, agreeing with Xavier’s words. It was a sight to see, a historic moment where both of their opinions were the same for once.
‘…H-huh? Wait… this isn’t how it should go.’
The situation was growing tense, it looked like, but what was the problem? I only realized too late when the nanny who clutched me tight in her arms parted her lips.
“To think Her Highness would speak her first words two months after her birth…”
Oh… I soon realized my mistake.
‘Actually, why did I do that? Am I beginning to think like a baby because I am one or what…?’
This rapid change was unfamiliar to me as well, and I was sure the mind inside this body was an adult… though the only issue that remained was that this body was not fully grown, yet.
‘Perhaps the reason I’m acting on impulse is because of my childish body…?’
Though, in truth, I was not sure, only vaguely assuming that it had to do with my growth process.
‘In any case…’
The main problem I faced was not that and it’s not like I was able to properly formulate a full sentence, but it certainly was a cause for surprise. I had spoken into existence a complete word far too fast for a child my age.
‘Hmm… how do I get out of this situation?’
I was left pondering to rectify the situation when Latina suddenly hugged me tightly with an awestruck look splattered across her face.
“That’s our princess! She’s a genius! To be able to talk this early and all, my goodness…! Your Highness, you’re a rare genius!”
“Ahbubu…!” (I can’t breathe!)
“Ahbubu? What did you say this time? Please say it again, Your Highness?”
Lalima’s pair of eyes shone with vivid excitement as if attempting to decipher each and every word spoken.
‘No, no, that’s not what I wanted to do.’
I was caught off guard and I felt extreme bashfulness. Meanwhile, Oscar wore a disappointed expression.
‘Why is he so down?’
My question was answered. A short while later, Oscar mumbled weakly to himself.
“To think your first word isn’t older brother, but kitty…”
“…”
That was his problem? Though it did seem to have affected him quite terribly hard? He kept repeating ‘I lost to a cat…’ over and over to himself.
‘How do I fix this situation? I can’t bear being around his gloominess.’
‘Though that shouldn’t matter one bit. ‘Just take me to the bush’ is what I wanted to say, but my strength to form a proper sentence would only sound gibberish and foreign.’
“Sigh…”
The life of a baby is a long, tiring journey. Who said it was easy, that all we did was play, eat, and sleep?
Sighing, I trashed about in the nanny’s arms and stretched both arms out towards Oscar.
“…Mabel?”
Since birth, I had never shown nor indicated any signs of wanting to be held by anyone.
‘Well, I just wanted to lie down in the first place. Never really wanted to be picked up anyways…’
But seeing my older brother look gloomy over something so trivial, my heart was not at ease.
“Your Highness, please hold the princess in your arms quickly.”
The nanny warmly said to Oscar and he, in turn, looked at the nanny with a dazed look and pointed at himself.
“…Me?”
“Of course. Now, here you go. Hold her tight.”
Oscar walked towards me stiffly like he was the one walking for the first time and stretched his arms out to me. Oscar easily lifted me up, his actions effortless due to his sword training.
“…It’s the first time Mabel hugged me first.”
Oscar smiled and mumbled to himself. He was moved from my gesture alone. Though that mattered not. I did not have much time left. I extended my arm outwards and made a grabbing motion towards the bush entrance where Xavier exclaimed to have seen the divine beast.
“Kiddy!”
They were going there anyway, so might as well go together. And, moreover, I was born on the same day the divine beast hatched. It may have something to do with me, and it was no doubt interesting.
“Mabel, do you want to see the divine beast that much?”
Oscar asked gently as he held me in his arms. I had wanted to nod, but that proved far too difficult at the moment, so instead, I parted my lips.
“Kiddy…”
“All right, all right.”
He smiled cheekily.
At this point, it was best to go with the flow and pretend I only knew the word kiddy.
‘They wouldn’t dare to call me a genius or something, right?’
I found the idea of simply playing along with the flow resplendent. Holding me in his arms, Oscar began walking towards the bush.
“Your Highness, please be careful. Whatever happens, do not drop your sister.”
“It’s fine, nanny. You need not worry. Don’t you believe in me?”
“I don’t.”
The nanny’s razor-sharp reply sent Oscar into a sea of abysmal silence. His pained expression meant that he was unable to find words to retort.
‘Well, you did break the emperor’s precious tart piece in the past, after all.’
Turning my attention away from Oscar, I turned my head toward the front entrance of the bush. Meanwhile, Lalima, Xavier, and the nanny stood next to Oscar. Their eyes were drawn to the bush entrance, but all they saw was thick wood and heavy vegetation. No signs of life or indication of a cat nor a divine beast existed.
“Xavier. You lied, didn’t you?”
Lalima snapped.
Xavier clicked his tongue and waved his hand hurriedly to refute her claim.
“I’m not, I’m not! I swear! I saw it!”
“And I did not! Come over here. I think you need a few smacks in the head!”
They looked ready to have a beat down with Lalima rolling her sleeves up and Xavier kicking back his hind legs.
“Lalima, Xavier, you forget that you’re in the presence of the prince and princess. Calm down.”
The nanny scolded the duo, but they remained ignorant of her words as they chased one another near the river.
‘Living young and wild and free… must be nice.’
I looked at the river water. Perhaps… Xavier was hallucinating… no matter how much I stared, I could not find any signs of the divine beast.
“It looks like the servant was fooling around. Let’s sit back down, Mabel.”
‘A shame… I guess it can’t be helped.’
I let out a small sigh and leaned comfortably back into Oscar’s chest…
“!”
A luminescent glow sparkled inside the bush. I blinked and made sure it was not the reflection from the sun.
It was not.
“Kiddy!”
“Kitty? Yeah, yeah. I, too, wanted to see the kitty as well…”
Oscar turned his head toward the direction I stretched my arm to, and slowly he shut his mouth tight. A cat with golden fur walked leisurely in my direction. It was small and had a cute little horn on its forehead. Like me, the cat was born just recently.
‘Wow…’
Though I had known all along that this world was different, the sudden downpour of realization washed over me as I saw living proof of magic. It was not the golden-colored fur that fascinated me, but the gleam around its body that seemed to tell the world of its extraordinary quality.
“It… really is the divine beast.”
The nanny’s countenance was one of astonishment and a mix of certain confirmation. Lalima and Xavier stood next to us, the look on their face similar to the nanny like they’d never seen a divine beast.
The divine beast stood at a certain distance, daring not to come closer as it surveyed us and quietly studying our movements.
Xavier suddenly parted his lips while admiring the beauty of the divine beast.
“For some reason, it looks like it’s going towards the princess…”
“Achoo!”
The sneeze cut off Xavier’s words abruptly.
‘Ah, it’s leaving!”
The divine beast quickly darted back into the bush, surprised at my sudden sneeze. The nanny, too, was left in tandem surprised and looked back to check my well-being.
“It seems that Her Highness has been out for too long. Shall we go back now?”
The nanny placed my small frame back into the pram and properly tugged me inside the blanket. She placed the emperor’s outerwear as well before setting the brim down.
“Lalima, Xavier, you both stay behind and clean up after the mess.”
“…Wha? But madam…”
“It is merely punishment for behaving in such a childish manner.”
The nanny snapped back, her tone icy-cold. She pushed the pram forward thereafter.
Oscar walked with me side by side and did not let go of his sight on me.
“Let’s go out again next time, Mabel.”
He seemed closer to me. I could feel it. Perhaps it was due to my earlier action.
‘Maybe I should not have done that.’
His eyes swelled with conviction to protect me… it placed a great burden on my back. I do not know what to do. I stared squarely forward and pretended I did not hear his words.
The scenery passing me by was new. It emitted a nice feeling of relief.
‘It was pretty fun to see the divine beast.’
Before returning to the palace I resided in, we passed by many buildings.
Oscar gave me a furtive glance before asking the nanny nonchalantly.
“Nanny, Mabel didn’t catch a cold, right?”
“She’s fine right now, but I’m worried that it might be a possibility.”
“We were out there for quite a while, so–”
Oscar’s words were cut off abruptly. He breathed in sharply and took a step back.
‘What’s with him?’
He froze in face, his countenance pale and ashen white as if he had seen a ghost.
I wonder why.
I looked toward the direction of his line of sight and there stood a tall woman with regal bearing. She had auburn colored hair and donned on an air of complexity that made it difficult for anyone without guts to approach. She looked like she was out for a walk, but regardless, her clear green eyes remained sharp and salient.
“Oh my. Your Highness, it’s Duchess Donovan. We should go greet her.”
“…N-nanny.”
Oscar grabbed onto the edge of the nanny’s hem with shivering hands. From the looks of it, this Duchess Donovan was a frightening figure that sent Oscar haywire.
…Wait a minute… Duchess Donovan? I’ve heard of this name before somewhere…
“….But Your Highness, Duchess Donovan is your mother.”
“No, that’s not the problem.”
Ah! It came to me from the Nanny’s words.
Pacifica Donovan.
She is Oscar’s biological mother.
Let’s talk about the history of the Emperor’s father-in-law here for a moment…
The Emperor married twice.
The first marriage was a political marriage with the Donovan family’s Pacifica Donovan. After Oscar was born, they immediately agreed to divorce.
After the divorce, Pacifica Donovan defeated numerous objections and gained support to become the Duchess of Donovan.
The next marriage was with my biological mother, Siana Gardenia. I heard the Emperor and Siana got married because they loved each other.
But as you know, Siana died shortly after she gave birth to me…. It’s been about a month.
“Mother is, mother is scary….”
Oscar slowly backed away, holding on to my stroller with a tearful face.
*dragging*
Because of that, I was dragged back with Oscar.
The fear of Oscar, who was brazen about everything even from the Emperor’s coldness, came to me.
The husbands next woman gave birth to me. Of course I’m a thorn in the eye. I should be scared, too, right?
No matter how optimistically I tried to think, I don’t think she’d see me well.
Even more so, she is called the peacock of iron blood, who has no emotion.
“Y-your Highness.” (nanny)
The nanny seemed to be in trouble, but Oscar pulled my stroller along the other way, pretending he didn’t hear it.
The image of Pacifica Donovan became more and more distant.
The figure disappeared completely before long.
“ha…”
“hoo…”
Oscar and I gave a sigh of relied at the same time.
***
It was when I was going around like that.
I could feel the noise. The nanny and Oscar slowly stopped walking.
‘What is it this time?’
Following Oscar, I turned my eyes. There’s a white one.
There was a group of knights in armor.
I’ve never seen so many people since I was born again.
Not to mention knights.
‘Is there something going on?’
My body tilted to the side as I tried to move my head. Fortunately, the baby car supported me, so I didn’t fall down.
I could see the knights at a glance in a diagonal line of sight.
“Oong?”
They looked busy somehow. They were trying to head somewhere, but it didn’t seem to go their way.
‘What the hell is tying the legs of a bunch of knights?’ (meaning ‘what’s causing them trouble’)
It was just then when I was watching the scene with a blank face.
Something caught my eye.
There was a foreign presence intermingled among the tall knights.
‘…A child?’
I couldn’t see well because he was wearing a black robe covering his head, but it was definitely a little boy.
What’s more surprising is that he’s the one causing trouble for the knights.
All the knights seemed to be truing to restrain the resistance of the little child, bound by the black and ominous energy.
Each time the boy swung his arm, the knights fell apart.
“Hold on!” (knight)
“Defense over there has been breached!”
There was a vivid cry of struggle from the knights. Fortunately, there was quite a distance from the commotion, so there was no chance for us to get caught up in it.
Oscar, who had a pale complexion, hurriedly grabbed the nape of the nanny’s dress.
“Nanny. We need to go another way.”
The nanny, who came to her senses quickly, nodded at Oscars cry. She grabbed the stroller urgently.
The moment the stroller turned back.
Our eyes met.
‘It’s like blood.’
The moment I saw the fresh bloodshot red pupils, the accident seemed to stop.
It was a strange feeling.
Although it was so crowded and noisy, it seemed like that boy and I were the only ones left.
But it was a moment our eyes met.
“Go on , Your Highness.”
The nanny took off quickly, perhaps because she was worried that I might get caught up in the disturbance.
But when I took a step back, I heard a loud cry from behind.
“Catch him!”
“Listen and move!”
‘Whats happening?’
Such cries were heard several times, and before long, the knights disappeared at a rapid pace.
For me, who could not see anything, I could not have known what had happened.
As a result, the stroller could not move a bit.
When I raised my head, Oscar was staring behind me with a serious look on his face.
***
In front of the Emperor’s office.
Assistant Gustav received an unexpected report.
“Can you say that again…..” (Gustav)
“There was a small problem moving Devlin’s demons underground.”
“Well, I don’t think it’s small.” (Gustav)
To sum up, it wasn’t.
The process of mixing the co-called Devlin’s Devil to an underground prison in the Imperial Palace was not smooth.
Naturally, he resisted will all his might, and the knights unexpectedly had their feet tied in the middle of the palace.
‘It’s all right up there.’
The problem was from then on.
He met the precious princess who just happened to be taking her first walk!
‘Haaaaa…’
Gustav was desperate, covering his face with one hand.
As a result, nothing happened, but imagining how the emperor would look when he heard the news.
“And you’re sure nothing happened to his Highness?” (Gustav)
“Yes. The host just lost his mind and was moved safely.”
“He lost his mind?” (Gustav)
“The reason is unknown. I think it’s because he used too much energy. We’ve given off maximum mana while traveling to the Yellow Star.”
“I see.” (Gustav)
Upon hearing all the reports, Gustav returned to the emperor’s office, ready to break the news.
Esteban was on duty.
Gustav, who watched the scene with warm eyes, soon regained consciousness.
“What.” (Esteban)
The eye-catching Esteban raised his head.
Gustav opened his mouth with a nervous heart.
“There’s been a report of the Princess” (Gustav)
The somewhat languid Emperor’s expression changed instantly.
Gustav swallowed dry saliva with a strong look at himself.
gulp-
“What happened?” (Esteban)
“In the course of transporting Devlin’s hostage captured by the border, he came across the princess and his Highness, who went out for a walk!’ ‘Without any trouble!” (Gustav)
Just in case he misunderstood, Gustav put all his might into it.
Thanks to the effort, Esteban’s fierce look eased a little.
‘It ended better than I thought it would.’
The relieved Gustav grinned and shook his mouth. It was a story that he heard from a servant.
“Ah, and a servant had said that the princess said ‘kitty’”
Gustav who was about to add that the two-month-old baby would follow words, could not speak as he intended.
*Crash!*
This was the sound of Esteban’s tea cup, which he had just held, falling vertically.
Gustav covered his face with one hand.
‘Ahhh, that teacup is very expensing…’
The bottomless teacup was a treasure of a country with an enormous history.
But the emperor couldn’t bear that in mind. Gustav winked at the servant and ordered the teacup to be removed.
Esteban, who seemed to be in shock, slowly raised his head.
“…Gustav.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What did you just say?”
“His Highness encountered the drivers on the way back from the walk–.”
“Not that.”
“The princess said ‘kitty.’”
What a mess…!
This time again, something crashing could be heard. Gustav with his eyes closed couldn’t even open them.
He was too afraid to check what was broken.
‘I hope it’s not just the pottery that was beside the teacup.’
The pottery, which entered as a tribute, was a national treasure with a history of over a thousand years.
Gustav, who opened his eyes, lamented. It was the pottery that was smashed.
‘Isn’t it a bigger accident than to encounter the enemy’s hostage?’
He couldn’t understand at all.
The shocked Esteban murmured.
“…I should have gone too.”
“Yes?”
“It’s disgraceful.”
It was disgraceful that he didn’t hear his daughters first words.
But it was an easy assessment that Gustav could make because of Esteban’s crazy love for his daughter.
Esteban, who had been silken for a while, suddenly rose up.
“Your-your Majesty?”
Surprised again, Gustav bowed his head, thinking he should seek counseling on heart disease as soon as possible.
“I need to see Mabel. Follow me.”
There was a lot of work left, but if he pointed that out, Gustav probably wouldn’t be on the ground.
Following the emperor obediently, Gustav shook his head.
‘By the way, can a two-month-old baby talk?’
It doesn’t seem possible even if you’re a genius.
