Chapter 23
“That child looks like me.”
Ren let out a sigh.
‘What else to say?’
Was it just because of that?
He wondered if there was another reason why he opened his mouth with a very solemn expression.
Disappointed, Ren answered in a dry voice.
“Yes, she certainly resembled Your Highness to an astonishing degree.”
“No.”
The Grand Duke shook his head.
“It’s not the face, it’s the scars that looked alike.”
After being attacked by crows and bees, Ariel called the Grand Duke to stay by her side every night.
The Grand Duke, who had been disturbed by Ariel’s rough sleeping habits, stayed up all night with his eyes open and was able to hear her heartbreaking sleep talk.
“I am not lacking.”
“I’m not defective either.”
“Don’t ignore me.”
“I am not half.”
A distorted face and a voice full of pain.
The way she vehemently denied the arrows being thrown at her reminded him of his former self.
Although he is an existence that no one can ignore now, he was as weak as Ariel in his childhood.
He lost his mother early, and the Emperor, his father, had thirteen mistresses and nine illegitimate children.
His older brother, the current Emperor, had at least the title of Crown Prince, but he really had nothing.
He didn’t even care deeply about the Emperor, and nobody looked after him properly except for one of his attendants.
Thanks to this, everything, including learning and martial arts was hard, and he became a good prey for the mistresses and illegitimate children.
He was abused by the adults, and the illegitimate children belittled him at every opportunity.
He comforted himself by struggling with a sense of shame that came from time to time.
“The whole Imperial family is enemy.”
“You can’t be this weak.”
“Don’t lose to them.”
Fortunately, the Crown Prince ascended the throne safely and they were all executed.
But the memories of that time often haunted him.
So he wanted to protect the child with his own hands.
He won’t let her childhood wounds eat her whole life.
Don’t be like himself.
The Grand Duke quietly closed his eyes.
* * *
As soon as the Grand Duke arrived at the mansion, he summoned the captain-level knights.
“Now, take your pick.”
Ariel, who was sitting on the Grand Duke’s lap and munching on snacks, tilted her head.
“Hmm? What?”
“Your escort.”
“…Escort?”
“Yes, now that you are my daughter, you should have at least an escort knight.”
Ariel’s mouth fell open.
‘An escort!’
It was really like a dream.
Subordinates exists to the Gods from birth, and their appearance and ability depends on the power of the Gods.
It was for this reason that Ariel’s subordinates took the form of little angels.
Small and fragile beings like butterflies with no abilities.
Apart from their loyalty, Ariel was envious of the other Gods taking their dignified subordinates with them.
‘But an escort for me!’
Ariel opened her mouth wide and smiled as she looked around at the knights in front of her.
‘Because it’s my first escort, I’ll have to choose carefully!’
At that time, she met eyes with a knight.
He was a pretty young man with silver hair, purple eyes, and delicate features.
‘Hmm?’
It felt somehow familiar.
Ariel, who had been making eye contact with him, stretched out her finger.
“Him!”
* * *
Having an escort for the first time in her life, Ariel was overjoyed.
Ariel put the escort behind her back and stomped around the palace.
“My escort.”
“He’s the one who will protect me.”
“He’s protecting me, not anyone else!”
She caught every passerby and introduced her new escort.
The servants could not hide their laughter at the appearance of her boasting.
“You’re a really cool knight.”
“I will take good care of you, my lady. Will you trust me?”
“Hehe, of course!”
Ariel’s wish came true.
‘But there’s still one left!’
Her last wish didn’t come true.
Ariel went back to her room, then she leaned back in the high chair and gestured towards the escort.
“Come here, Hertian.”
The knight approached without a word, and Ariel stretched out her foot towards him.
“……?”
As Hertian tilted his head curiously, Ariel banged on her chest as if frustrated.
“Oh no, you’re tactless!”
And now she has to say it.
“Originally, you should be able to understand the meaning of servitude just by looking at your owner’s eyes, but now I have to explain it to you!”
Ariel, who sighed deeply, said, “Phew, my life.”
“Kiss my feet!”
“…Yes?”
“Why do you keep asking like an idiot! Swear an oath of allegiance!”
When there was a quarrel between the Gods, there will always a case of a duel between the subordinates.
They fought for the honor of their masters, and the one who returned victoriously kisses the feet of their Gods.
It was an expression of loyalty, respect, and worship.
Ariel was very envious of that.
Because she couldn’t just send the powerless little angels out to a duel.
‘Anyway, if those little things kissed her feet, they wouldn’t even look good.’
But now that she had such a sturdy escort, she was able to achieve her dream.
“Come on, swear allegiance!”
Ariel smiled broadly and held out her foot.
But…
“…I’m sorry, my lady.”
Hertian said embarrassedly.
“What?”
“I cannot swear allegiance to you, my lady. That’s impossible.”
It was a very embarrassing refusal.
She finally had an escort, yet she can’t get an oath of allegiance.
‘What nonsense is this!’
“Why!”
The very moment Ariel jumped up in indignation, the door opened and Ahin entered.
“…What else have I done wrong?”
Ahin was surprised to see Ariel snorting vigorously.
“Then I’ll just leave. Please feel free to talk.”
Taking advantage of that opportunity, Hertian lowered his head and disappeared.
“Why are you running away! Tell me why you can’t swear allegiance quickly!”
“…Pledge of allegiance?”
As Ahin muttered, Ariel explained the situation as if she had been waiting.
Ahin laughed out loud.
“For knights, the oath of allegiance is a very important ceremony. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
“What’s that? It’s natural to be loyal to your master, why are you so picky!”
Ahin laughed softly as he stroked Ariel’s head.
“Still, as the knights of the Grand Duke, their skills are excellent. They will protect you even if they do not swear allegiance.”
Despite Ahin’s consolation, Ariel didn’t give up.
‘How to get that escort!’
Ariel made a promise.
She would definitely have to see Hertian kiss her foot.
* * *
Ariel immediately went into action.
“This is my favorite dessert. It’s such a precious thing that Jane only gives me one a day!”
“……”
“Are you impressed? Are you ready to swear allegiance to me now?”
In order to win Hertian’s favor, she brought her favorite dessert and offered it to him.
“Oh, my escort’s life is in danger!”
“……”
“Since I saved your life, will you swear allegiance now?”
When the ball the dog was playing with rolled slowly, she pushed him away.
“Now, isn’t this what humans likes the most? I got it from my father.”
“……”
“Have you changed your mind now?”
She even tried flirting with gold coins.
But…
“Sorry, miss.”
The only thing that came back was refusal.
“Oh, why the hell! Why can’t you swear your allegiance to me!”
As the annoyed Ariel went on a rampage, Hertian, who was making a puzzled expression, opened his lips with difficulty.
“In fact, I already have one person to whom I am willing to give my all.”
“What?”
It struck her like a thunder.
Ariel wrinkled her brow.
“Then you will be by your owner’s side, why are you escorting me!”
“She is too far away for me to reach. I cannot see her unless she calls for me.”
When Hertian said with a gloomy face, Ariel shouted in unfairness.
“Ah, what! Then I won’t get an oath of allegiance for the rest of my life!”
“I will not neglect my duty as a knight. I will give my life to protect you but…”
“You will give your allegiance to someone else?”
“…Sorry.”
He bowed his head as if apologizing.
Ariel was stunned, but Hertian was so adamant that she couldn’t say anything more.
After that day, Ariel no longer forced Hertian to swear allegiance.
But she didn’t look for him like before and when she met his eyes, she would turn away her head.
It was evident that she was pouting.
Then one late night…
As usual, Ariel was training away from people’s eyes.
Ariel stretched out her hand, and the beautiful flowers bloomed on the beautiful tree.
“What, only the trees bloomed again?”
It’s been quite a while since she trained, but the scope didn’t widen.
“Haa, today is also a failure, a failure.”
Ariel let out a deep sigh and stretched out her hand, and the flowers that were in full bloom disappeared.
“With only this, when will I be able to return to the Divine Realm?”
It was just then that Ariel grumbled and turned away.
“Hikk!”
Ariel gasped in surprise and drew in her breath.
A tall man was standing behind Ariel.
…And it was no other than Hertian.
“What, what!”
“……”
“Why you entering this body’s room without permission!”
“His Highness ordered to look after you from time to time, as we never know when the lady might fall out of the bed.”
“Dad? But…!”
“This was the order I’ve been given today. Didn’t you fall out of the bed yesterday and bruised your leg?”
‘Ugh! Dad, why are you doing something you weren’t told to do?’
Ariel sighed and put a hand on her forehead.
‘He haven’t seen all of them, right? Yeah, maybe he can’t see out the window from that location…’
But…
“But why are you pretending to be a human, Goddess?”
“Huh? Huh?”
Ariel was startled and covered her face.
