Episode 49

Watching the ribbons flutter on my adorable daughter’s back, I smiled with satisfaction. But my mood soured when I saw Isaac’s obsequious smile and demeanor.

“To be welcomed by the Crown Princess is an honor beyond words.”

He exaggeratedly bowed and even made a show of kissing Lothania’s little hand. Despite his attempt at courtesy and friendliness, it was unnecessary behavior toward a young girl.

Lothania, who was naturally shy, seemed taken aback and hid behind my skirt, making me frown.

Stepping forward, I shielded my daughter from Isaac’s sycophantic gestures.

“This is Crown Prince Isaac of Dirmil, Lotti. And that lady is Princess Martina, the second princess of Dirmil.”

“Your Majesty, no need for such formality. We’re family, after all.”

Isaac, who had never thought of me as family, laughed heartily, pretending to be jovial.

Lothania, always polite and courteous, smiled awkwardly, making me think she was more of an angel than my daughter for putting up with him.

Ignoring Isaac’s foolishness, I spoke to Lothania.

“Shall we sit?”

“Yes, Mother.”

Lothania and I sat side by side at the round table, with Aiden standing behind us. I glanced at him briefly as he pulled out my chair. His face, usually a canvas of emotions, was now cold and expressionless.

His usual fierce demeanor made him look even more intimidating. I wondered if anyone dared to meet his eyes.

Despite Aiden’s intimidating presence, Isaac was surprisingly oblivious.

“Sitting like this brings back memories. The days we spent together in Dirmil feel as fresh as yesterday.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at that.

I had never once dined side by side with Crown Prince Isaac in Dirmil.

Isaac and Martina were children of the first queen. Isaac, especially, was the closest to our father, having been crowned crown prince early.

My mother lived as a concubine for many years before briefly becoming queen after the first queen’s death. She passed away when I was young.

The current queen, the third, had a son a few years ago, who, being the youngest, had monopolized our father’s attention.

In essence, I was the forgotten princess of Dirmil.

My encounters with Crown Prince Isaac were limited to grand events in the palace. Seeing his face more than a month’s worth of days in a year would be an overestimation.

While I held no particular grudge against him, there were no vivid memories to reminisce about either.

Even among the sisters, the age gap made it difficult to be close, especially with Martina, who was always distant.

I lived quietly, almost as if I didn’t exist, because that’s what everyone expected of me. That’s how a forgotten fourth princess could survive without drawing unwanted attention.

“Mother?”

I was pulled from my thoughts of burgeoning resentment towards Isaac by Lothania’s voice.

Her small face was filled with concern for me.

“Hm? What is it, Lotti?”

“Are you alright? You don’t look well.”

I finally had a family who cared about my well-being, a family I had never known before.

For the first time, I realized what I was capable of and who I truly was.

For the first time, I was truly alive.

Holding Lothania’s small hands gently, I smiled sincerely and replied, “It’s nothing, Lotti. Thank you for worrying about me.”

My loving daughter smiled back, her eyes crinkling with joy.

Had Isaac not interrupted, it would have been a perfect moment of happiness.

“Oh my, it seems my worries were unfounded. The Crown Princess seems very attached to Her Majesty.”

“Lothania and I care deeply for each other. We’re family.”

“Indeed, that’s what family is about. Speaking of which, Your Majesty, could you spare a thought for the other family members back home who only wish for your happiness?”

“We finished that discussion in the audience chamber.”

“Please, Your Majesty, reconsider for old times’ sake. What will I tell Father?”

“What the King of Dirmil says or does makes no difference. What’s not possible remains impossible.”

Drawing a clear line, I spoke firmly. Isaac, unable to take a hint, turned to Lothania.

“Crown Princess, please speak to your mother. Even though she’s now the Empress of Belpator, she shouldn’t forget the bond between father and daughter. A daughter should understand her father’s heart, don’t you think?”

I was about to retort, but Lothania, with her big crimson eyes, looked at Isaac and then back at me.

“Yes, family is important. But my mother is also important, and her decisions must be respected.”

Isaac blinked, clearly not expecting this response.

“You should also understand that my mother is no longer just part of Dirmil’s family; she is the Empress of Belpator. Her duties and responsibilities are different now.”

I felt a surge of pride at Lothania’s wise and mature response. Isaac seemed at a loss for words, his face turning slightly red with embarrassment.

“I see… you’re very wise for your age, Crown Princess.”

Lothania smiled sweetly but said nothing more.

I patted her hand under the table, silently thanking her for her support.

The rest of the dinner passed without further incident, Isaac keeping his attempts to influence me in check, clearly realizing that his efforts were futile.

If I had known it would come to this, I would have left Lothania out of it.

How could Isaac say such things about understanding a father’s heart in front of her, knowing full well what she has been through?

Just as I was about to snap, Lothania spoke up first.

“If Mother has decided something, it must be for a good reason.”

Lothania responded calmly and firmly.

Isaac, who had tried to sway the young girl, could only make a groaning sound, unable to come up with anything more to say.

This beautiful, lovely, and intelligent girl was indeed my daughter.

I shared a smile with Lothania and continued eating.

Isaac, who couldn’t interrupt us anymore, kept casting desperate glances at Martina while pretending to eat.

Unable to withstand his silent pressure, Martina finally spoke up.

“Your Majesty, I apologize for speaking out of turn, but if Dirmil does not receive Belpator’s assistance, our king and our kingdom will be in a dire situation. We have already agreed to support Dyron with troops.”

“I understand, but since there was no prior agreement with Belpator, it is an issue for Dirmil to resolve on its own.”

“But—”

“I believe I said this conversation is over. If you wish to continue, the Crown Princess and I will take our leave.”

I placed my fork down as I spoke. I was prepared to stand up and leave if they persisted.

Martina looked at me with a disappointed expression, muttering to herself.

“You’re so heartless. I never knew you were like this in Dirmil.”

“I have always been this way. I just couldn’t speak my mind in Dirmil.”

I stared directly at Martina as I spoke.

The second princess, who remembered the fourth princess who couldn’t say anything in Dirmil, looked at me with a complex expression before lowering her head.

Perhaps thinking Martina had given up too quickly, the oblivious and audacious Isaac raised his voice.

“Isn’t it too much to act like this just because you’ve become the empress of a great empire? Have you forgotten the king’s grace in sending you to Belpator?”

I wasn’t sure if forcing me into an unwanted marriage could be called grace, but my father was the one who had raised me.

Thanks to being born a king’s daughter, I hadn’t starved or suffered from the cold, so I didn’t deny their claims of grace.

But I had no intention of repaying that grace with Belpator’s soldiers.

“Fulfilling my filial duty is a completely different matter from mobilizing the imperial army. Moreover, the decision to deploy the imperial army is not something a foreign-born empress serving as the regent can decide on her own.”

With all three dukes opposing military support to Dyron, it would likely be rejected, but it still needed to be discussed in the state council.

I offered an explanation, albeit a weak one, because they seemed so dejected, but Isaac’s demeanor changed.

He lifted his chin, looking down at me, and scoffed.

“So, all that bravado was just a façade.”

Bam!

Before Isaac could finish his loud remark for everyone to hear, Lothania, who had been smiling all along, stabbed her fork into her steak.

The fork pierced the steak and shattered the plate beneath it.

Red juices mixed with blood spread across the white tablecloth.

Isaac and Martina turned to look at my stepdaughter in shock. Lothania, unrestrained, smiled innocently and asked me,

“Mother, what punishment would I face if I accidentally killed your brother, the Crown Prince of Dirmil?”

The room fell silent. Isaac’s face turned pale, and Martina looked horrified.

I took a moment to respond, ensuring my voice was calm but firm.

“My dear Lothania, I believe an accident involving such an esteemed guest would be quite serious. However, I’m sure such an accident can be avoided if everyone remains respectful and considerate of each other’s positions.”

Lothania nodded, her innocent smile unwavering as she looked back at Isaac.

“Then, I hope there will be no need for such accidents. Right, Uncle?”

Isaac, visibly shaken, nodded vigorously, his bravado completely deflated.

“Yes, of course. No need for any accidents.”

The tension in the room was palpable, but Lothania’s firm stance had clearly made an impact. I squeezed her hand under the table, silently thanking her for her boldness.

The rest of the meal continued in strained silence, Isaac and Martina no longer daring to press the matter further.