Episode 19
It was a strange situation.
“Aren’t you going to drink, Yvonne?”
“I’ll drink.”
It was not uncommon for Hildebrandt and me to drink tea together. However, being awakened to drink so early in the morning was unusual. He seemed unfazed, as if yesterday’s incident didn’t bother him at all. Moreover, he appeared perfectly fine, unlike me, who had barely slept.
Well, embarrassment is something you feel towards someone you should respect, not towards someone you consider beneath you.
He probably wouldn’t remember yesterday’s events properly. Even if he did, there was a much higher chance he would dismiss it as insignificant.
“Why is mine black tea?”
“Yvonne didn’t like black tea?”
“I want to drink the same thing as my father.”
“Oh, really?”
His response seemed pleasing, and with a smile and a gesture, a maid poured tea into a new cup for him. He was having chrysanthemum tea, where dried chrysanthemum blossoms would bloom inside the tea.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Is it?”
As he looked at me with a smile, his expression stiffened. It seemed like it wasn’t the response he was hoping for.
“Still, Dad is much prettier than flowers.”
“Is that so?”
As he observed with a humorous expression, I felt my mood brighten again. He was peculiar in his own way. Despite appearing to dislike me, he paid little attention to my words.
No, perhaps he dismissed my words as insignificant because he was ignoring me.
“Now, I want to have tea with Yvonne every morning.”
“Sip…!”
She spat out the tea she was drinking into the teacup. Seeing him openly scowling and glaring, I had to suppress the cough that followed.
“Keh, hack, ugh…!”
But the coughing didn’t subside as I wished. I tried to calm myself by hitting my chest, but it wasn’t easy.
Even though I could sense him silently staring, what could I do? The coughing just wouldn’t stop.
“Ugh…”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes… It’s just… it’s , um, it’s too… good…”
“I see.”
Due to the coughing, the area around the eyes was already moist. I pushed the teacup, which I had spat the tea into, to the side. The maid, looking surprised, took it away and brought a new one.
“If I had known you would like it this much, I would have told you sooner.”
“Haha. Yes. It’s the best.”
One month left, Yvonne. Just one month.
“I’m happy with anything when I’m with my dad. But, I hope I won’t become a burden.”
As he smiled and looked at me, there was a strange chill. He looked at me as if he was suspicious, and after laughing with his usual expression, he quickly returned to his usual self.
“Dad, how about canceling the imperial inspection?”
“Yes.”
“Hahaha.”
After experiencing it once, without any hesitation, a mechanical answer came out smoothly. Fortunately, the emperor seemed pleased with the response and laughed happily.
“No. Even for Yvonne’s sake, you should go. To become the Crown Princess, our Yvonne will need support.”
“I don’t need support from others. I want to become the Crown Princess because Dad wishes it.”
“Don’t you want to get married?”
Why is he asking this? Unable to figure it out, I was about to ponder, but I realized that what I needed right now was not contemplation, but lip service.
“Why would I get married? I want to awaken quickly and live by Dad’s side forever.”
“Really? You’re going to bring some random guy with you and threaten me him with death if I doesn’t give you permission to marry.”
“I would never do that.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Me, me?”
“No. Just kidding.”
That joke was a bit harsh. Even though it sounded serious, it seemed he was still a bit groggy from the morning. Well, that’s probably because he’s drinking hot tea.
I stood up from the seat. So, realizing that what I needed now wasn’t thinking but lip service, I sat on the floor, rested my head on his thigh, and leaned my body against him.
“Please don’t make such jokes.”
“Why?”
“Every time you make such jokes, it’s very difficult for me.”
Raising my head and looking at him, his eyes seemed softer. Perhaps the twisted tension had loosened, and seeing him gently stroking my head, it seemed like he was fine now.
“Okay, Dad was wrong.”
“No.”
Come to think of it, there was a change in Hildebrandt’s face, and I only noticed it when he came closer.
“Dad, the color of one of your pupils has changed.”
“Oh, it’s because I temporarily released some magic power. Is it creepy?”
“No. I was just worried and asked.”
He was again hiding behind a mask-like smile. The rustling sound of the grass swaying was everywhere. This place was his sponsorship, and the flowers filled with my sponsorship were visible everywhere. Above all, the fragrance from the large sandalwood tree just above my head was delightful.
“Dad, I really like being alone with you like this.”
“…Sure.”
While he answered like that, he seemed to be pretending, making a fake expression.
“Francis.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Bring ‘that’ over here.”
“Are you referring to ‘that’?”
“Yeah.”
If I knew ‘that,’ there was only one thing it could be.
“I wonder if ‘it’ is being educated well.”
With a chilled feeling in my veins, I looked at him without closing my eyes. And he, with a twisted smile, looked back at me.
* * *
Yurian was shocked as Yvonne, the princess who left me lying on the ground, looked bewildered.
Even though he was a sturdy man. Still, he could at least cover me with a blanket.
Perhaps it was because of the lack of affection she showed in the moment she appeared. The time spent crouching and waiting for her to look at the door felt unbearably long.
Then, the sound of the door opening from the outside was heard. The footsteps seemed somehow heavy. It didn’t take him long to realize that the footsteps were not those of Princess Yvonne.
Soon after, with a click, the door opened.
“Francis Jevenel.”
When Yurian glared at him, Francis approached expressionlessly, looking at Yurian.
“Her Majesty is looking for you.”
Yurian realized, from the many footsteps behind him, that the Emperor wasn’t seeking him to set him free.
Twelve Imperial Guards.
Since yesterday, he had figured out how to control the restraint around his neck. The restraint wouldn’t activate unless he revealed the impulse to see blood emotionally.
Therefore, he just needed to suppress them without showing any signs of aggression unless necessary.
“You better come quietly, Lord Leonhardt.”
Yurian decided to follow Francis quietly, holding the restraint around his neck. There was no doubt he had to leave this basement if he wanted to escape. Besides, he remembered something that Princess Yvonne mentioned about a secret passage connecting the palace and the outside.
If he escaped through there, he could return to the Duke’s mansion, regroup, and seek revenge against the Emperor.
“Where are we going?”
“Under the patronage of His Majesty the Emperor.”
Yurian chuckled upon hearing that. The secret passage he knew of was indeed under the Emperor’s patronage.
He followed Francis quietly, knowing that the path wasn’t far. However, Francis had instructed him not to be seen by other servants. He covered Yurian’s head with a hood and ensured no one approached.
“How much farther?”
“We’re almost there.”
Francis couldn’t understand why the Emperor wanted Leonhardt brought in front of him. They had hidden him in the underground of the palace, fearing rumors if his life was ended.
Yurian had already confirmed that among the guards Francis brought, there was his loyal follower. His ability was that of an intermediate illusionist. The illusionist’s name was Michael.
Michael was looking for an opportunity. He had just learned today that Yurian was trapped in a place like this. If Yurian showed any sign, he planned to help him escape.
The hood over Yurian’s head was removed. After removing the hood, the first thing he saw was Princess Yvonne, staring at him with a frozen expression as she leaned on the Emperor’s knee.
She, who used to be so cold and hostile, now looked at the Emperor with a tender expression.
“Quite amusing.”
“Lord Leonhardt.”
Yurian found it unpleasant that she forgot to address him by name. He needed to regain composure to remove the restraint around his neck.
However, seeing the Emperor gently stroking her hair and looking down at him, all hesitation vanished.
Woodenly!
Yurian tore off the restraint around his neck.
“This…!”
It was the moment when Hildebrandt was about to flick his hand to use his ability.
“Escape, Your Excellency!”
“Form ranks and protect His Majesty!”
Michael’s ability was inferior to Hildebrandt’s. Compared to experiencing hallucinations under hypnosis, ordinary illusion abilities were considerably weaker. Moreover, he could only show it to everyone for a very short time.
Michael created thick fog around them, blocking their vision. Since the Emperor’s ability was limited to what entered his line of sight, Yurian knew he had to escape.
However, he didn’t want to go alone.
“Ugh!”
He hit Princess Yvonne and used his ability.
“Wait, just a moment!”
“Be quiet.”
The secret passage wasn’t far from here. Despite the spreading fog, he could see the path clearly with his ability.
The confused Yvonne held onto him tightly, trembling.
“Now it’s your turn, Yvonne.”
He laughed and swiftly moved through the secret passage.
