I Picked Up My Father Who Left Home 99
Cassian couldn’t understand it at all.
Why did Lia have to sacrifice and be so considerate for the sake of the crown prince?
Lia was naturally kind-hearted and gentle, but she was particularly so when it came to the crown prince.
If she wanted to, she could have easily ignored it.
There was no obligation for her to care about such matters.
Moreover, the Emperor was only concerned about the crown prince. He had no interest in Lia’s situation.
It was irritating enough to make one not want to comply, but that wasn’t how Lia seemed to feel.
Her bright eyes kept shaking his resolve.
The biggest problem here was… Cassian always ended up weakening whenever Lia acted this way.
He was cold-hearted to others, but why couldn’t he be the same toward Lia?
If it were someone else, he would have ignored them without a second thought, but not with Lia.
He couldn’t bring himself to be cold or indifferent to her.
‘…Tsk.’
This little angel, who was both lovely and cunning, was irresistibly charming.
If Lia were a little less lovable or a little less beautiful, he wouldn’t have been swayed so easily.
Sighing at his foolishness, Cassian finally removed his hand that had been covering Lia’s ear.
In response, Lia gave him a radiant smile, as if to say ‘thank you.’
“………”
Cassian turned his head sharply, as if he could almost hear a dismissive ‘hmph’ from himself.
The more he looked, the weaker and more shaken he felt, so it seemed best not to look at her at all.
However, even when he did that, all of his attention remained focused on Lia.
“If it’s a request, I assume I have the right to refuse?”
“……Of course.”
The Emperor nodded.
Yes, this was not a command, but a request.
Not as an emperor, but as a father, he was asking her.
He hoped Lia wouldn’t refuse his plea, but he couldn’t force it upon her.
“Then I will listen to it.”
Lia couldn’t agree without even knowing what the request was. If it was about Jeshuan, there was little chance she’d refuse, but one never knew.
Especially with Cassian growling beside her like a protective dog, she couldn’t immediately agree.
Otherwise, who knew how the fierce Cassian might react.
She had barely prevented a conflict between Cassian and the Emperor, so she couldn’t let another one arise now.
“…Could you let Jeshuan stay at the Duke’s residence until he becomes an adult, or at least until he turns 16, if that’s too difficult?”
The Emperor asked earnestly, with a desperate look.
He knew well that his request was not easy to grant.
It could be an unreasonable request for Lia.
But knowing she could help Jeshuan, he couldn’t just let it pass.
He couldn’t give up on the only lifeline that had emerged after fervent prayers.
She was the only solution.
She was the only one who could ease Jeshuan’s long-standing suffering and prevent his outbursts.
If that was resolved, Jeshuan wouldn’t have to live in resignation and hopelessness.
He could finally secure the crown prince’s position, which had been so precarious despite being his only heir.
Then, he could enjoy the rights he had abandoned until now.
He wouldn’t have to live in hiding like a sinner anymore.
Lia hesitated to respond to the Emperor’s request.
It was not something that could be decided easily.
Especially when Cassian was already staying at the Duke’s residence.
Cassian’s feelings toward Jeshuan were already negative, so if they were to live together, who knew what might happen?
“It’s a pointless request.”
Cassian dismissed the Emperor’s plea in a single statement.
It was absurd.
Meeting a ticking time bomb regularly was unpleasant enough, and now they were supposed to live with it?
And if something went wrong with Jeshuan, who would bear the responsibility?
The Duke’s house could end up shouldering all the blame simply for hosting Jeshuan.
So, the Emperor’s request was tantamount to pushing the risk of Jeshuan onto the Duke’s household.
As Lia’s guardian and someone who cherished her deeply, it was an unacceptable request.
Jeshuan himself felt the same way.
“Father, this is not what I want.”
Lia’s decision to meet him once a week was already her showing the utmost consideration. Even that was more than he deserved.
So how could he ask for more?
Even knowing the Emperor’s request was for his own sake, Jeshuan had no choice but to refuse.
More than his father’s concern for him, Jeshuan was more worried about Lia.
He didn’t want to burden her any further.
The Emperor pretended not to hear Jeshuan’s words.
Though he always prioritized his son’s opinion, this time, he couldn’t. No, he didn’t want to.
It was a matter of Jeshuan’s life.
That’s why the Emperor didn’t back down even in the face of Cassian’s murderous aura.
He didn’t care if Cassian killed him right there.
It didn’t matter if their relationship was permanently broken.
If it meant Jeshuan could live a proper life, there was nothing the Emperor wouldn’t do.
The Emperor’s biggest wish now was Jeshuan’s happiness.
He hoped that Jeshuan could live normally like others.
Beyond being a crown prince or an extraordinary being, he wanted Jeshuan to enjoy the things others did.
He didn’t want him to spend his life locked away from the world.
“If you accept my request, I will be your absolute ally. I will support every path you take and give you my unwavering support.”
To persuade Lia, the Emperor offered the highest reward he could afford.
For the first time, he abandoned his imperial duty.
The vital principle of being fair and just to everyone was cast aside by his own hand.
He was that desperate.
“…This is not something you can speak of so easily. If I were to harbor evil intentions….”
“It matters not. Even if you bring the Empire to ruin or covet this very throne, as long as you grant my request, I will allow anything.”
The Emperor’s unwavering support.
The significance of that was immense.
The current Emperor was the most supported by the nobility among all emperors in history, wielding immense power.
If such an emperor sided with Lia, there would be nothing she couldn’t achieve.
She would be the true power behind the Empire.
In a way, the Emperor was staking his own throne to fulfill his request.
Depending on how Lia moved forward, his continuation as Emperor could be determined.
He might risk alienating all the nobles, potentially collapsing the strong foundation he had built.
Such was the impact of his words.
“………”
Instead of readily answering, Lia looked at the Emperor with a serious expression, as if trying to gauge something.
The Emperor’s gaze was firmer and more resolute than ever.
It was as if he had no regrets about his decision and was unwavering.
‘It must be that desperate for him.’
And equally, he must care deeply for Jeshuan.
How could she not understand such feelings?
She had felt the same with her grandfather.
However, this was not something that could be decided rashly on the spot.
“I need time to think.”
“I understand.”
Despite his impatience, the Emperor understood Lia’s response. He knew she couldn’t easily accept it.
But there was still hope.
Needing time to think indicated she was torn between accepting and refusing.
The fact that she hadn’t rejected him outright was a sign of hope.
Meanwhile, contrary to the Emperor’s hopeful demeanor, Cassian’s expression hardened.
He was greatly displeased with Lia’s response.
“It’s a request you don’t even need to consider. If you desire the throne, just tell me. For the sake of my angel baby, I would willingly give up the Empire. So, don’t waver over such a request.”
Even for Cassian, overthrowing the Emperor carried some risk.
As a core figure among people with abilities, he could use them to seize control of the Empire, but it would be no easy task.
Moreover, he couldn’t guarantee that the hard-won Empire would remain intact.
However, that was still preferable to Lia accepting the Emperor’s request.
At least Lia wouldn’t be in danger.
He could shoulder all the risks and responsibilities alone.
“Khal, I don’t retract decisions I’ve made.”
Lia’s calm words caused Cassian’s expression to twist.
Yes, he knew it well.
He had never met anyone as stubborn as Lia in his life.
But… even so, he couldn’t support her decision so easily.
“Let’s go back for now. I just want to rest. We can discuss this at the Duke’s residence later, slowly.”
“…Ha. Don’t think I’ll grant you permission so easily this time.”
“You’ve been doing just that all day. And I’ve realized something—I seem to prefer difficult paths over easy ones.”
“You have a wicked tongue.”
“So, does that mean I’ve lost my angel status?”
Lia looked at Cassian with bright, playful eyes, as if teasing him.
Cassian let out a helpless chuckle at her expression.
She was as cunning as a fox with nine tails.
How could she be so skilled at melting someone’s heart?
“Something like this wouldn’t change what you mean to me, angel baby.”
Cassian forced himself to speak in a gruff tone.
No matter what Lia showed him now, her significance to him wouldn’t change. After all, everything he did was for her.
Lia smiled radiantly at his words.
“Then, can we leave now?”
“Go ahead.”
With the Emperor’s permission, Lia prepared to leave, and Jeshuan seemed to have something to say but couldn’t utter the words.
His hand also twitched as if wanting to hold onto Lia but remained still.
He felt sorry to stop her, knowing she must have been exhausted today.
So, he decided to save what he wanted to say for later.
Lia had gone through a lot today, and what she needed right now was rest.
***
In the carriage returning to the Duke’s residence.
Lia wore a serious expression as she pondered something.
What occupied her thoughts was none other than the dream she had while she was unconscious.
