Episode 30
“Where are you going, our daughter?”
Yvonne met Hildebrandt while taking a walk in the courtyard shortly after seeing off Marcus. The weather seemed gloomy, as if it would rain soon.
Perhaps because of this, Hildebrandt’s silver hair seemed to shine even more. Just like how a red umbrella stands out on a rainy day, the Emperor’s hair particularly caught Yvonne’s attention.
“Dad.”
Yvonne ran up to him with an innocent look on her face and hugged him. Hildebrandt was about to hug her back but consciously stopped his arms in mid-air. Yvonne didn’t mind his actions and rubbed her head against his chest.
“I was feeling down, but seeing Dad made me feel better.”
“Why were you feeling down?”
“Because I didn’t get to see you today.”
Seeing Yvonne smiling at him, Hildebrandt felt conflicted. Despite wanting to tease her, seeing her smile made him feel like there was no need to.
“Did Marquis Rohan escort you to your room?”
Yvonne already suspected that the Emperor had anticipated this situation and sent him. There was no point in lying to someone as observant as Hildebrandt. People like him, who were quick-witted, didn’t believe anything if there was even a hint of falsehood.
Her goal was to escape from this suffocating palace.
Thinking about that, Yvonne hugged him tighter.
“Do you really think the Rohan chamberlain can marry me against my will?”
“Explain.”
“He said Dad was trying to kill me.”
“And?”
“That’s it. He bothered me, so I teased him a bit.”
Yvonne, speaking plainly, tried not to tremble as Hildebrandt scrutinized her face. Mocking her weak response, he said, “Dad would be better off if you were dead.”
“…”
“If you don’t awaken, you’ll die.”
Releasing Yvonne’s arms, he firmly gripped her neck with his large right hand.
“Don’t cling to me so much if you’re useless, our daughter.”
“Dad.”
“Dad only likes things that are useful. Like our daughter, if you’re useless, I want to dispose of you anytime.”
Yvonne’s eyes reddened with fear, but she forced a smile. She tried even harder to appear okay in front of Hildebrandt, who seemed to mock her expression as if he could see through her. But he just looked at her with a mocking gaze.
“Still…”
“…”
“But I still like Dad the most. If I’m discarded because I’m useless, it’s my fault.”
Hildebrandt looked down at her and paused as she pulled away her arms. Then, taking advantage of the moment, Yvonne hugged him again.
She would do anything to survive. Even though she was trembling with fear and felt unjustly treated, she would endure this luxurious yet difficult life. She gathered her resolve and hugged him tighter.
“You’re foolish.”
“Yes.”
Despite saying harsh words to her, this time Hildebrandt hugged her back. He seemed to be relieved by her actions.
* * *
Hildebrandt somehow felt that Yvonne had changed a little from her usual self. She seemed more affectionate and tender towards him compared to the Yvonne he knew.
“I only need Dad.”
That statement was undoubtedly a lie.
Hildebrandt, feeling uncomfortable, crossed his legs and glanced at the attendants who were trying to please him rather than being cautious in his presence.
“Oh, that’s right. Yes.”
As the foreign minister was reporting to him, the Emperor interrupted him with irritation. Hildebrandt couldn’t stand it.
The foreign minister was also an Esper, but his ability was practical, allowing him to speak foreign languages like his native tongue.
If Hildebrandt were to collapse someone’s mind with powerful hypnosis, they would be completely defenseless. That’s why he thought of the foreign minister, who had disappeared a few times, and buried his head deeply.
“Change the schedule to next week immediately.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t you want to ask why?”
Hildebrandt asked mischievously. The foreign minister, sweating profusely, looked to Marcus standing behind the Emperor as if seeking help. But Marcus seemed distracted, unable to focus on the meeting.
“Ma-May I dare to inquire, Your Majesty?”
“Sure.”
The Emperor spoke as if he were in a good mood.
“We’re going to spend the birthday at the palace.”
“Oh…! How astute of you, Your Majesty!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
While the foreign minister praised the Emperor with applause, Hildebrandt felt more afraid of the Emperor’s goat-like beard, which seemed to be teasing him, than the flattery.
“Yvonne wants to spend her birthday with Dad.”
“As expected of Princess Yvonne! Her Highness must love His Majesty very much.”
“Yeah. Yvonne only loves me.”
As Hildebrandt spoke, he glanced at Marcus standing to his left. Marcus felt a strange sensation in his chest as he realized that the Emperor’s words seemed to be aimed at him. Even though it sounded like Princess Yvonne was treating her father as a lover, no one found it strange.
He was involved in the matter, and he had been included in the situation all along.
“Her Highness always thinks only of you.”
Hildebrandt chuckled at Marcus’s words and looked him up and down. Every time the Emperor sent such a gaze, the attendants felt as if they were being scrutinized. However, Marcus knew that the Emperor wouldn’t kill him right away because he highly valued his ability.
However.
Obtaining the heart of the beloved Princess and marrying her to establish a family was not as easy as he had hoped, and it saddened him.
“Lord Rohan.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Your performance last time was excellent. No flaws.”
“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”
“Do you really want to marry our Yvonne?”
The Emperor’s sharp question made the attendants close their mouths and look at each other. Few had seen Princess Yvonne’s face properly. The only one permitted was Marquis Rohan.
The attendants thought that perhaps the reason was his intention to become the Princess’s husband. However, the Emperor’s questioning was rather pointed.
“Yes.”
Could it be because he didn’t like him?
The attendants thought that although Marquis Rohan was usually favored by the Emperor, they never knew when he might fall out of favor due to the Emperor’s capriciousness.
“You’re honest. I like honesty in my people. That way, we don’t waste abilities.”
“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”
Hildebrandt was very pleased that Marquis Rohan had become much more subdued since he had threatened Yvonne’s life last time.
“Let’s end the meeting for today. Submit the reports. If anything is missing, fingers will be lost, so be thorough.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Knowing that the Emperor’s threats were not just empty words, the attendants quickly dispersed, organizing what they needed to report to him in their minds as they left.
* * *
Yvonne stopped by the kitchen to bring a meal for Yurian and was on her way downstairs to the basement. For some reason, whether Hildebrandt’s mood had changed or not, Yvonne had all the cooks in her palace replaced with those from the imperial kitchen.
She thought that the cooks from the imperial palace were better at cooking than her palace’s cooks. However, it was unlikely that Hildebrandt, who was so particular about food, would have given her the cooks just for her sake.
So, it could either be a simple whim or an intention to torment her.
Thinking so, Yvonne descended the stairs, enjoying the fragrant scent emanating from the cooking.
Clack clack, the sound of footsteps filled the basement.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes, Sir Francis.”
“How about I go instead today?”
“Why? Did Father ask you to do so?”
Francis thought that when his master’s intentions and orders were different, he couldn’t figure out what to do.
“His Majesty is being difficult.”
“What do you mean?”
He wished that the Emperor would kill Yurian, but he didn’t want Yvonne to be hurt by Yurian’s death. Yet the Emperor continued to hurt Yvonne every time.
Francis considered himself to have a very good intuition, but when it came to matters concerning the Emperor, it wasn’t the case.
“Sir Francis.”
Francis hoped that Princess Yvonne would awaken as a skilled manipulator. Then she wouldn’t have to be so vigilant all the time.
The princess adored the Emperor. The Emperor seemed to hate the princess, but kept her close and watched over her.
Francis couldn’t understand their relationship.
What he wanted to protect was simply loyalty. That loyalty shouldn’t just blindly follow the Emperor’s words. The Emperor was a complicated person, and there was always a hidden meaning behind his words.
“Yvonne.”
“Yurian?”
“You shouldn’t come in.”
Yurian heard Yvonne’s voice and spoke to her. With a trembling voice filled with fear, he said to her:
“If Yvonne comes in, I’ll die.”
