episode_0032

I escaped from that hell.

The tears don’t stop. The handkerchief is getting damp.

I feel a hand gently stroking my head.

It’s a peacock.

If the Duke, whom people call a monster, is this kind…

What on earth is an emperor?

Even through blurry vision, looking into the Duke’s eyes reminds me of that child.

‘Seria, I have to take classes and I’m a little busy for the time being… If there’s anything uncomfortable, I’ll tell Emilia, and the other maids are all nice too. And… I’m sorry to say this, but… you shouldn’t leave the annex for the time being. It really doesn’t work until I say it’s done, so I won’t take too long. ‘Is this a promise?’

While saying that, he gave me his little finger.

I took great care of the small child who came up to my chest as if she were an older sister. Even though he didn’t say it directly, he probably knew who I was.

That child… how much did he know before speaking?

A corner of my chest felt warm.

“Ugh, me too. I want to protect Marian. I want to become stronger.”

“…My daughter is, unfortunately, too strong. Already enough to go for a walk at night.”

It seemed like he was trying hard to hide it, but I guess he knew.

‘Seria. It can’t be too excellent. Then brother. ‘No, no.’

What my brother said passed me by.

“As I said, everything happened after the prince passed away. There are plenty of teachers if you want.”

“Yes.”

I have never truly wanted to be a maid. But if it’s a maid… . Following that child like a shadow and protecting him from behind… . I just wanted to be with that kid.

Why?

Just thinking about that child made my heart feel warm and throbbing.

When I was at the imperial palace, I drank quite a bit of poison.

‘Could I be sick?’

I don’t want to die.

What if I die? Will the child be sad?

No, I didn’t want to see you cry.

“Ah…”

Also, my heart tingled.

still.

I didn’t feel bad.

* * *

The next day, it was meal time at the dukedom.

From the beginning, we have enjoyed rich meals thanks to the chef’s excellent cooking skills, but today it is nothing short of extravagant.

Delicious food, but I still have short arms and legs, so it’s hard to eat at the adult table, but no matter how I think about it, I feel fortunate that I was able to stop my father’s crazy instructions to prepare a baby chair and a baby table for me. I helped Emilia eat. received.

A bite of delicious food, a look at a pretty face, and even though I feel like my mouth is about to loosen up, the gaze I feel sinks my mood.

In the first place, it would be easy to eat it with magic power, and Emilia would also be eating it together.

I sigh and look up and see 1st Prince Esteban sitting at the head of the table on the right.

He was cutting a steak in a very elegant manner, and then he looked at me and smiled as if he felt someone’s gaze.

He’s definitely handsome.

“Lady Marian, did you have something on my face?”

If you look at his face, he is on par with my dad in the head seat on the left. Would it be higher considering it’s a pretty boy line?

It’s not uncommon for a male protagonist to assassinate his brothers and become emperor in a novel, but seeing it in person made me sick.

Also, a lot.

His gaze shifts. Once at Emilia, who was waiting next to me with an expressionless face, and once at Maria in front of me.

‘ah. Uncomfortable.’

If that bastard wasn’t there, Ceria would eat it too.

“No, I just feel weird seeing someone I’m not familiar with.”

It’s a noble way of speaking, but to this extent, it’s said quite bluntly.

(I hate you. Go back quickly.)

It was only for a moment, but the prince’s expression hardened. Perhaps because I was only 15 years old, my mask was quite thin.

“Haha. I hope I get used to it in the future.”

But he quickly recovered and smiled slyly.

I just hate everything.

I need to tell the truth to these bastards… but I’m still too young for that.

I want to act evil like real villains.

‘Seria.’

Although it was not mentioned directly, it was evident through some conversations. The poisoned brothers, her expected command.

The second princess was murdered without even her appearance being described in the original work.

In some ways, he resembles me.

I made eye contact with Maria. Even though I told her not to smile, Maria faithfully kept a straight face.

Is it also a dark face? She already had the beauty of a rose and gave off the impression of a cold yet strong older sister. I need to practice something like that too.

And yet, even when the prince wasn’t looking, he smiled.

‘Ah heart.’

What can I do because my sister is so pretty?

In a normal romantic drama, I would be happy to be connected to the male lead.

That bastard sucks, he sucks.

‘I. big. not. ‘It’s okay.’

Even now that I think about it, the objective content of the female protagonist’s flower garden storage in the original is too abstract.

The novel ends with Maria dying and Esteban becoming the crown prince.

When I think about it, there were more than one or two uncomfortable corners.

Most events are narrated from the female protagonist’s point of view. in other words.

Those were all words he said directly from his mouth.

‘Wow.’

Just thinking about it makes me feel dizzy.

Even the objectively described content had severe narrative tricks.

Certainly, in the original work, ‘the princess and the second princess died.’ There was no such phrase directly, but…

Of course he died because of the narration of an extra who never appeared in the first place…

‘perhaps…’

Was he still alive in the original?

However, considering the girl covered in blood and shaking, it was not a good picture at all.

I opened my mouth and munched on the piece of meat that Emilia was holding out to me.

“Your Majesty is also celebrating the Duke’s birthday. He expressed regret for not being able to come in person.”

“Is that so.”

“Isn’t it natural, there are only four dukes in the empire, and among them, the Duke of Arjean, so I would like to be close to the duke even when I become emperor in the future.”

Prince, you are quite direct.

‘That’s all bullshit.’

The emperor is a quite unusual person. He is merciless towards nobles who are not interested in politics but question the imperial authority.

In other words, I don’t care what you do except for that.

‘Isn’t it really strange?’

In your territory, you can do whatever you want, whether it’s beating the drums or making a fuss.

So the nobles of this world have quite high pride.

The emperor also does not touch nobles except in special cases. Among them, the Duke, who stood at the top, not only felt touched but also felt like he was keeping his distance.

There is no information about the emperor in the novel.

Most of the information I heard from Nazar.

‘Honestly, I don’t know what kind of person he is.’

One thing is certain: he is not a good father.

Esteban’s father, who was talking about something, answered in short.

You have become a very desirable father.

Have you thought about it? It wouldn’t be a bad story for the duke at all. Even for the future emperor’s father-in-law and daughters, the status of crown princess is very powerful.”

“I know what you mean, but I don’t have that authority.”

“You’re joking. If the duke doesn’t have authority, then who does?”

“My daughters’ wishes are the most important.”

“……Haha. Of course, I am not forcing it.”

The way he said that and looked at Maria.

It’s not coercion.

If it were a typical villainess’s daughter, there would be more than a 99% chance that she would fall in love at first sight after seeing that sly face and agree to an engagement.

“She is the empress now, but as time passes, she may not be the empress. I’m not urging you, but it would be nice if you make a quick decision.”

Um, that bastard… . You call that a threat?

I’m not even thinking about who I’ll give rice cake to.

‘Am I crazy for not marrying you?’

I never thought it would be so blatant.

“Since ancient times, the most certain form of friendship has been the classic but marriage talk, isn’t it, Lady Maria?”

That bastard… . I guess I realized that my dad didn’t even have teeth, so I changed my target.

“…Yes?”

Maria’s eyes widened, as if she had never expected to receive a direct marriage proposal at the age of nine.

Esteban’s face brightened as he smiled, as if he liked that reaction.

‘hey. Don’t you close your eyes? ‘Why are you looking at our Maria like that, huh?’

I glared with curses in my eyes, but the prince looked into my eyes.

“Lady Marianne is so cute.”

“…Yes?”

I was worried that someone might be the male lead, so I flirted with my 5-year-old and fell asleep.

‘under. The food tastes bad.’

I tried to glare as sharply as I could, but my eyes were quite mild.

“Duke, I enjoyed the meal. I would like to stay for another week, is that okay?”

“There is no room.”

“There is no room in this spacious ducal residence? The duke’s sense of humor is better than I thought. I’ll just stay in the room I’m in.”

Despite his father’s iron wall, the prince stood up smiling.

* * *

‘It can’t go on like this.’

The prince was a stronger enemy than I thought.

Talking back to a guy like that doesn’t work.

If you think about it, even in the original work, that guy was like a poisonous snake that never gave up on its prey.

I need to get this guy to get fed up and leave…

“Ah.”

A good idea occurred to me.

I grinned and left the room.