Chapter 9

Oops, you need to calm down.

I glanced at Rustina in my arms. Her mouth was gaping open and she was drooling.

I thought she was going to cry, but she was more calm than I thought.

‘… Blood can’t cheat?’

For some reason, it seemed that Rustina had forgotten to cry.

When you look at it like this, you really look like me.

“Why are you here, Sir Hassel?”

“Ah… I’m here to give you this. sorry. It’s a rush, so it’s hard to say.”

“No, it’s okay… Well. Yes, give it to me.”

I almost spit out the words I had in my heart, so I struggled to change my words.

Hassel approached me cautiously and handed me the tea. His follow-up skills were pretty good.

‘He was so skillful even if he was the commander of the Imperial Knights, is this because you’re a duke?’

As he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, I could see the forearm muscles blood vessels lined. Without realizing it, my eyes were directed towards them.

A rather blatant gaze reached Hassel, but he was surprisingly calm.

“I am glad to see you again like this.”

I glanced at Rustina. With eyes wide open, she stared at Hassel quietly, and then she tilted her head.

As soon as our eyes met, Rustina’s body trembled for a moment.

At the same time, Rustina’s breathing became steep.

“Heee, heee.”

“Uh… Sir Hassel? I think it would be better to leave sooner rather than later.”

“Yes? However… It’s good for a little while…”

“Ugh, boo boo.”

Right. It’s not that I didn’t know Hassel’s heart, but when Rustina started crying, no one could stop her.

After starting the engine, it seems that she has recognized Hassel properly now.

It seems that she was somehow possessed, but then she regained consciousness.

“I know you want to hug her, but hold on. My daughter is so sensitive.”

I immediately read Hassel’s eyes and spoke with a firm voice.

She can’t be hugged by another man. She refused all those who came to him as a father.

Last time, Rustina also seemed to be held in his arms and fell, but not today.

“All right. Please forgive me for being so rude.”

Hassel knelt down and took my hand and kissed the back of my hand.

Wet hair shook with a soft touch. Without realizing it, I stopped to reach out and touch Hassel’s hair.

It was because of Rustina’s cute hand that was holding my hand.

“Uuuhhh….”

What am I going to do now? Before Hassel could raise his head, she removed her hand and captured my expression.

“Go away.”

“Please find me anytime.”

Hassel got up and looked at Rustina. It’s sad to see you staring intently.

He eventually left the room, leaving me and Rustina behind.

“Boooo!”

Rustina’s lips trembled as Hassel left. I don’t think she likes him… 

Huh? What is this.

I saw a small wooden stick lying next to the tea. When I lift it with my hand, it looks like a rattle?

Did he make it himself 

I smiled and shook the toy.

“How about this, Rustina?”

“Boooo!”

It seems like she doesn’t like it, but it doesn’t seem like she’s not very interested.

In the end, Rustina made a mysterious expression with a toy in her hand, apparently lost to her instincts.

“Whether you like it or not, just do it. What is it that the child has so much trouble with?”

I sighed, stroking Rustina’s head.

  ***

It was the day of the banquet.

How fast time passes, and when I wake up, it’s the day of the banquet.

I wandered around the noisy imperial palace to make sure I was well prepared.

“Um, I’d love to have it in a fairy shape that Rustina would like.”

“All right.”

I like pretty and shiny things, so I made a fairy out of shiny jewels and walked around.

“Princess, the baby is looking for you…”

“Really? okay.”

I reached out and took Rustina to hug me.

“Uuuhhh!”

Rustina, who had grown up in no time, snuggled into my arms and chuckled.

One thing is… It’s that Kyrian didn’t show up.

I couldn’t even go to the tower in person, so I sent another letter, but he didn’t reply.

“Well, it’s okay if I don’t come.”

Why am I so anxious? In particular, Kyrian has such a selfish disposition that I doesn’t know what to do with it.

“Bell!”

I called the bell passing by.

“Yes, Princess!”

“Didn’t you get a reply?”

“… Yes, I sent several times, but no response.”

“Yeah, I see.”

After returning the bell, I sighed.

“Baaa?”

Rustina lifted her head and pulled my hair back. The look in her eyes filled her with concern.

“What are you so worried about? Babies don’t know anything, and smiling is what makes people happy.”

My heart felt heavy as if it was somehow my fault. Maybe Rustina knows too? That I’m not a real mother.

The moment my chest sting, my hair was pulled tight.

“Ouch!”

“Abu! Baaa!”

Rustina struggled with an angry look on her face. No, how strong are these small hands?

I ruffled my hair behind my back and looked at Rustina.

“I have a lot of grudges. Let’s go, if we go to the banquet hall, I won’t even be able to see you.”

Because even if you hold only the shiny things, you are calm.

I quickly handed Rustina to the nanny to get ready and headed to the room.

  ***

Even though I did the dressing every time, I was exhausted. Still, it was amazing to see how colorful it turned out.

“Princess, you are so pretty today!”

“I know.”

Because Etricia’s appearance is truly amazing. Every time she looked in the mirror, she was amazed. Her slender neckline was revealed in her neatly curled up hair.

When the hair was decorated with diamonds and various jewels, the light was reflected on the jewels depending on the angle, attracting attention.

“I think it looks too flashy.”

This style wasn’t bad for me either. Who doesn’t like pretty and flashy things?

“Princess Rustina, she came out wearing pretty clothes for today too.”

“Really? I look forward to it.”

Still, she resembled Etricia, and her appearance was outstanding. It was obvious my father would prepare Rustina’s clothes, so hr must have put on some pretty fancy clothes.

I glanced at the clock. There was still time until the banquet started.

“Ah, as of today, she will become the official  of the Empire.”

Do I want to be a playboy? If not… Well, I don’t know.

After all, she must have already made a name for herself as a villain, so what’s the point of being up and down in other people’s mouths?

My goal is to find Rustina’s dad. So the disgrace that followed me didn’t matter. It’s not really my life anyway.

“But what is this Kyrian thinking?”

After that, Damon never came. It felt like I was hugging timer bomb.

  ***

The banquet began and I cleared my breath. I saw Rustina in my arms.

“It’s beautiful, grandfather gave me a lot of pretty things. Do you like it?”

“Boooo!”

“Yeah, it’s okay if you like it.”

I stroked Rustina’s hair and entered the banquet hall.

At the same time, everyone’s eyes turned to me.

‘Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen so much attention.’

Gulping, I swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.

“Princess Etricia and Lady Rustina.”

Oh my God, a woman who is not married has a child. Everyone whispered and glanced at me.

I think the position of a princess is a good thing in a situation like this.

If you can’t see it openly and look into my eyes.

“I brought Rustina here to make it known to everyone.”

My father looked at me and Rustina and immediately made an offer that surprised everyone.

“If I find Rustina’s father, I’ll make him my son-in-law. However, my successor will be Etricia.”

At those words, everyone opened their mouths. It seemed to be the same for me and Rustina.

Rustina looked at my father and blinked.

‘… What did I hear now?’

I think you’re going to give me the right of succession now. You don’t have to! I was just going to leave once I found the child’s father.

“Huh, father?”

I called my father. But the father seemed unwilling to turn back.

“C-congratulations Princess Etricia!”

The heads of those who were bewildered at the beginning of someone’s cry were lowered.

A rare evil girl, Etricia, becomes the next emperor. This will be a huge issue within the Empire.

Perhaps there will be situations in which opposing forces will rise.

“I have no intention of becoming emperor.”

“What do you mean?”

“Is that right? If I become emperor….”

With a playful expression on my face, I swept the handle of the chair my father was sitting on.

I got up slowly, put Rustina in her nanny’s arms, and folded my arms.

“You don’t know what I’m going to do, do you? Aren’t you worried?”

Please. How can I rule this great country?

Whether you know my earnest heart or not. My father tapped the armrest.

“What more is left to do? I thought there was nothing you could do.”

Seeing her daughter like this, my father seemed to have gotten pretty strong, so I didn’t back down.

“I’m going to find Rustina’s dad and leave…”

Rustina’s mouth twitched as she looked at my father and me alternately.

“Maa.”