Chapter 15
‘…Why did this happen?’
He couldn’t even understand himself.
No matter the fact that she is his niece, treating the Emperor badly cannot be tolerated.
It was natural to scold her severely.
‘But why…’
The time when the emperor was still stiff in a daze, Ariel straddled past him.
And…
Dump—
She sat down.
Where?
At the throne seat.
“Oh my god!”
The emperor’s attendants gasped in amazement and even the Grand Duke froze in bewilderment.
“This is amazing.”
The Emperor said in a low voice.
Seeing that the corner of his mouth was quivering, he seemed to be very angry.
“Your majesty.”
The Grand Duke urgently tried to apologize, but the Emperor spoke first.
“How?”
Tightened lips.
“How come.”
A trembling fist.
“How come…”
A gaze that did not depart from Ariel.
‘We’re in trouble.’
The Grand Duke closed his eyes.
To him, the emperor was a generous older brother.
He cherished his one and only brother, who took care of him to the point of being overdone. However, when seizing power, he was also a cruel person to the point of killing all their nine half-brothers and getting rid of them.
Having touched his temper, how should they deal with this?
‘What did my older brother like?’
The Grand Duke was contemplating how to ease the Emperor’s heart, but an unbelievable situation unfolded before his eyes.
“How come you are so cute!”
The Emperor, who had been laughing with his mouth wide open, hurriedly ran and knelt down in front of Ariel.
“……”
The attendants’ mouths hung open.
Either way, the Emperor opened his mouth and patted Ariel’s lips with a laugh.
“You’re so cute when you’re giving such a cheeky order with your cute lips.”
‘Is this man crazy? How dare you put your hand on someone’s lips!’
Just as Ariel was about to get angry, the Emperor held something out in front of Ariel.
“Now, would you like to try this, little girl?”
“…What is this?”
“Oh, is this your first time seeing it?”
The Emperor, who had a strange expression on his face, glared at the Grand Duke and shouted,
“How the hell did you raise your child!’
Then he looked back at Ariel and whispered,
“It’s cake.”
“K…ek?”
Ariel lowered her gaze without speaking.
A single red fruit was placed on top of a triangle thing covered with white, creamy cream.
‘I don’t know what it is, but it looks delicious?’
Sniff. Sniff.
Ariel, distracted by the sweet smell, bit into the cake.
‘What is this?’
The softness of the cream wrapped around her tongue, and the fruit inside on top was crushed, creating an unbelievable sweetness.
‘How does it taste like this?’
It was a different sweetness from cookies.
‘I can’t decide which one’s better!’
Ariel held her cheek and made an ecstatic expression.
This…wow…
As she bite on the cake without rest, the emperor had a very excited expression.
“How can you eat so well, little baby? Would you like to try this too?”
“How about these sweets?”
“This apple pie is also delicious.”
Shaking his hips from side to side, he eagerly offered Ariel treats.
Just like a dog who wants attention from its owner.
The Grand Duke, who came to his senses belatedly, looked around.
He saw the attendants with their mouths wide open and looking shocked.
“…Everyone out.”
While giving orders, the tips of the Archduke’s ears became red.
It was his older brother who did the shameful thing, but he doesn’t know why he’s the one feeling the shame.
***
Quite a bit of time had passed, but the Emperor’s foot wiping showed no signs of ending.
[t/n : similar meaning to boot-licking, basically, pleasing the other party]
Watching him wipe away Ariel’s cream-stained fingers one by one, he let out a sigh.
“Take Ariel out.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Jane, who was watching at the back, went outside with Ariel in her arms.
“What, why are you doing this all of a sudden!”
The emperor laughed heartily at Ariel, who shouted with a puzzled face.
“Your majesty.”
He didn’t seem to hear when he called.
“Please keep your dignity, brother.”
“Oh, this got me a little excited.”
Only then did the Emperor, who had come to his senses and cleared his throat, met the Grand Duke’s gaze again with a serious expression.
“But it’s surprising. You, who hated being with a woman, has an illegitimate child.”
Seeing that his voice was very stern, he seemed to be speaking firmly.
‘It can’t be helped.’
She was not a daughter of his own blood, but since everyone in the world knew that she is, there was no doubt that she he hurt the reputation of the imperial family.
“An ungrateful fellow.”
As expected, he heard his brother’s sharp voice so the Grand Duke closed his eyes as if he was prepared.
But the words came out were unexpected.
“How dare you have a daughter before me!”
“…Yes?”
“You know how much I wanted a daughter! Even after praying for over 10 years, only dull boys were born! How could it be only you!”
The emperor shouted in anger.
“……”
As the Grand Duke looked at him with blank eyes, the Emperor put on a shy expression as if he had come to his senses belatedly.
But the words that followed were just as absurd.
“But how did you get such a cute daughter?”
Seeing how he asked it with his eyes shining, he seemed ready to do anything if he told him how to do it.
‘It looks like he fallen hard.’
The Grand Duke secretly clicked his tongue.
“I didn’t give birth to it, I picked it up.”
“Picked it up? What do you mean?”
To the emperor with a puzzled expression, the Grand Duke confided in himself.
For unavoidable reasons, he deceived other people, but he had no reason to lie on his brother.
It would be a mistake to do that, so he just told him everything.
“Are you saying that she’s not your daughter?”
“That’s right.”
“But how could you be so similar? I don’t know about blondes, but I’ve never seen anyone other than the royal family with light green eyes like that.”
The Emperor shook his head in disbelief.
“I only noticed that fact belatedly. So…”
“Why did she look so much like me?”
“…Yes?”
The Grand Duke asked in bewilderment.
‘What did he just say?’
However, the Emperor listened and fell into his own thoughts.
“The late Emperor’s children are all dead, so there’s no way we’re related…no way!”
“Do you have any ideas?”
The Grand Duke asked just in case, but the answer came back astonishing.
“Is she my child?”
“…Brother, what are you talking about?”
“There is no other way to explain it. Have I ever embraced another woman besides the empress…”
“……”
As the Grand Duke looked at him in amazement, the emperor chuckled and waved his hand.
“It’s a joke, a joke.”
“……”
“So to say, she’s not of your blood?”
“Yes, but I have already registered her in the family register, so I will try to raise her well.”
“Hmm, is it really necessary?”
“What are you talking about again?”
“Isn’t it? She’s not even your own daughter, so there’s no reason for you to bear such a disgrace.”
The Emperor said with a sullen expression.
Anyone could see that he was an older brother who was concerned about his younger brother’s honor, but the Grand Duke felt uneasy for some reason.
So he averted his gaze for no reason and handed out the registration papers he had prepared.
“The registration preparations are complete. His Majesty just needs to put a seal on it.”
“……”
The Emperor accepted the papers with a puzzled expression.
“Ariel Claudif”
“Your Majesty.”
Mumbling while looking at the paper, he came to his senses at his brother’s call.
“Oh, yes.”
Jingle–
When the emperor waved the bell, the chamberlain who had been waiting outside entered.
“Did you call, Your Majesty?”
“Go to the office and get my seal.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The attendant, who left the door backwards, returned shortly after.
“I have brought the seal, Your Majesty.”
The hand holding the seal moved to the document, and a red ink mark was imprinted on the document.
The Grand Duke’s lips stretched slightly.
‘Now I officially have a daughter.’
It was a different feeling than when Ahin’s registration was sealed.
“Thank you, brother…”
He respectfully bowed his head.
“I can’t.”
Suddenly, the emperor crumpled the papers.
It wasn’t enough, he even tore the crumpled paper into shreds.
The Grand Duke asked, looking at the papers that had turned to trash in an instant and fell on the floor with puzzled eyes.
“What are you doing now?”
“I just can’t believe it.”
“What are you talking about?”
The Grand Duke, who was in a low mood, asked with a frown.
“Is it true that Ahin agreed to this?”
“Of course.”
“Isn’t he just forced to accept your threat?”
“Why am I threatening my son? What do you want to say, brother?”
“From Ahin’s perspective, who has grown up as the sole heir, how can he welcome a child’s registration that may threaten his position?”
The Grand Duke furrowed his brow in annoyance.
Apparently, Ahin said that he seems to like his younger sister, but why is the Emperor saying this?
He tried to protest, but the Emperor would not listen.
“It’s about my one and only nephew, so how can it go smoothly? Bring Ahin and come back. I will ask myself.”
“Older brother!”
“Ah, I think I have an appointment.”
When the emperor looked back at the chamberlain and winked at him, he tilted his head.
“What schedule are you talking about? Nothing’s special about today’s schedule…”
“Oh, yes. I was supposed to have lunch with second and third.”
The Emperor cut off the chamberlain’s words and moved on.
“Go on, Badel. See you again.”
Then he patted the Grand Duke on the shoulder.
“Yes? what is this…no, Your Majesty. Didn’t you say you would have lunch with His Grace?”
“Oh, the chamberlain has gone senile! Come on, take him to the doctor, come on!”
“Ah, Your Majesty!”
The Grand Duke stared blankly at the back of the chamberlain as he was dragged away by the hastily moving Emperor and knights.
“This is rather ominous.”
…The Grand Duke muttered.
