Chapter 46

“Do you mean we should be mindful of Rossild?”

Isabel flinched.

Somehow, it seemed like Ron was a little angry.

But she answered bravely.

“I am the Princess of Bilotian.”

Political issues cannot be ignored.

Even the smallest flap of a butterfly’s wings can cause a typhoon.

A single word, a single action can become a dagger flying towards you.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“……Yes?”

Serna intervened.

“Ahem, if you say it like that, the child will misunderstand.”

Serna sat next to Isabel and stroked her hair.

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not ridiculous that you are a Princess.”

Isabel smiled bashfully at her mother’s affectionate touch.

“It’s absurd that you, as a Princess, should be concerned about Duke Rossild’s family. Right?”

“……”

Isabel whispered in Serna’s ear.

“Is Father angry?”

It was a very small voice, but Ron, with his superhuman hearing, heard it all.

A slight crack appeared in his firm heart.

Serna knew that it wouldn’t matter how softly she spoke. Still, she whispered very softly.

Actually, it was a story she wanted him to hear.

“Does it look like Father is angry?”

“Yes. Very much so.”

“Are you scared?”

“A, a little scared.”

Serna laughed.

Her eyes moved slightly between her crescent-shaped eyes.

Sure enough, Ron was flustered right now.

Serna whispered very softly again.

“He’s not angry.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Father is just not good at it. It’s his first time being a father too.”

For generations, the Emperors of Bilotian have only thought of their children as successors.

Ron was no different.

That’s why he didn’t know how to treat his children.

Moreover, it was even more so because she was the first daughter born in 500 years.

“If you’re really scared, ask him yourself.”

Isabel clenched her fists. Then she looked at Ron courageously.

A smile spread across Ron’s lips as he met Isabel’s bright eyes.

Of course, that smile was so subtle that no one but Serna would have noticed.

Isabel cautiously opened her mouth.

“Father.”

This was a private space. That’s why Serna called Ron ‘you’.

So Isabel also called Ron Father. She judged that it was polite to know the right place and time.

“You’re not angry, are you?”

“……”

Ron didn’t answer.

He had no choice but to remain silent for a while.

‘It’s funny.’

He couldn’t believe it himself.

He couldn’t understand why the word ‘Father’ sounded so good.

He was so angry that he felt childish and emotional in front of Isabel.

“I’m not angry.”

“Liar.”

Isabel glared.

Her bright eyes disappeared, and a suspicious gaze was directed at Ron.

“I’m not lying.”

Actually, Isabel realized long ago that Ron wasn’t angry.

The fact that he said ‘I’m not angry’ himself means he’s really not angry.

Still, his expression was terrifying.

It wasn’t particularly scary, but Ron himself had a fierce atmosphere.

‘It’s like the dignity of the Emperor of the Sword Empire Bilotian.’

It makes people shrink and nervous. According to the expression in the novel, it was called ‘presence’.

Isabel smiled brightly at Ron.

“Please be warm to me.”

Isabel knows that Ron is a cold person.

He was a person who knew how to be tired once, twice, three times, and many times.

She clearly remembered the warmth and her father’s embrace from that time.

Isabel unconsciously stretched out her arms.

Once again, she wanted to feel the warmth of that time. She longed for the stability and coziness of that time.

She had never felt it in her previous life, so she desperately dreamed of that warmth.

As if possessed by something, Ron picked up Isabel and sat her on his lap.

‘What am I doing?’

He couldn’t believe it himself.

As if under a spell, his body moved on its own.

He felt bad because of this strange feeling that his body was out of his control.

But then he became happy with his daughter’s smile as she sat on his lap and looked at him.

Ron couldn’t bear to face that sunny smile.

The thought of that smile leaving before him made his heart ache.

So he couldn’t look at his daughter’s face until the end.

“Don’t worry, and do what you want to do.”

Ron allowed it right there. The Imperial Family decided to take in the thief that the Rossild family had kicked out.

Isabel asked worriedly.

“But the Rossild family might make an issue out of it.”

“So?”

“I heard that even the smallest things can become big weaknesses in political relationships.”

“That’s not your concern.”

Ron smirked.

As an Emperor, there was a lot to say to the Princess. But he decided not to bring up such complicated stories.

He spoke not as an Emperor to a Princess, but as a father to his daughter.

“I’m stronger.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Empress’s Palace, the most secret bedroom.

Serna, wearing a thin silk nightgown, snuggled into Ron’s arms in bed.

Ron was also wearing the same silk nightgown, but his chest was embroidered with a cute teddy bear.

It was the nightgown that Serna had embroidered herself and that Ron cherished the most. For reference, this fact was managed as a top-secret of the Imperial Palace.

Serna said.

“Even so, I didn’t expect you to allow it so recklessly.”

“The Rossild bastards can’t do anything if they mess around.”

There was something Isabel hadn’t thought deeply about.

As much as the Rossild family ignores the Imperial Family, the Imperial Family also ignores the Rossild family.

This was a long-standing history.

If the Rossild family implicitly ignores the Imperial Family, the Imperial Family openly ignores them. Especially if you have absolute power like Ron.

“That’s true.”

“Aren’t you going to scold me?”

“How can I scold Your Majesty, the Emperor who is like the sky?”

Outwardly, the Empress has never scolded the Emperor.

The Emperor also knows that fact well.

But sometimes, no, often, he felt like he was being scolded, but it didn’t seem to be today.

“Now that Father has shown his strong support, Mother must show a different kind of strength.”

“……”

“Anyway, the Rossild family won’t be able to make an issue out of it. I’ve already looked into it since the child named Yuri entered the capital.”

The Empress has already figured everything out.

She also knows that they framed her.

“Since they’re also feeling uneasy, they won’t want me to step forward.”

Anyway, it was a case of chasing out a powerless child, and they didn’t bother to fabricate evidence that much.

If the Empress steps forward, she can prove Yuri’s innocence.

The Rossild family wouldn’t want that.

“So, a letter with a subtle threat would be enough to bury it in Rossild as well. Actually, it’s not that big of a deal for Rossild either.”

She also knows why they kicked Yuri out.

It was because of Reina’s jealousy.

Since it wasn’t a matter of complicated interests, it could be easily buried if they wanted to.

“But I want them to know. What is a very trivial event for them is the biggest event in someone’s life.”

The trivial decision they made easily changed Yuri’s life completely.

And the changed life seeped into Isabel.

“I’m very sorry for Yuri, but I think it turned out well. I was so sad that Isabel didn’t have any friends her age.”

“……”

“She’s a child with the boldness to come to the Imperial Palace without hesitation. I think she can be a good friend to Isabel.”

Serna smiled brightly.

“Today, our daughter made her first friend.”

Ron casually wrapped his big arms around Serna.

This moment, when she was in his arms, was the happiest time in the world for him.

He asked cautiously.

“Was I a good father today?”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Meanwhile, Isabel was biting her nails. Her legs were trembling too.

“I’m worried.”

Dailtha, who was making Isabel’s bed, asked.

“What are you so worried about?”

“When I think about it, Yuri unni isn’t coming alone. She has to bring her mother, and then I think it will cost more than 10 million Luden just for that.”

It seems like the prize money won’t be enough.

Dailtha straightened up and walked up to Isabel.

“You don’t have to worry about the cost.”

Dailtha told her about the 100 million Luden.

Isabel’s eyes widened and blinked a few times.

At first, she seemed unable to accept reality, but then she let out a cheer.

“꺄아악!”

It was a sincere exclamation.

She let out a cheer that was almost like a scream and hugged Dailtha tightly.

“Chief Attendant-nim, I love you.”

Isabel’s body was still six years old. When Isabel relaxed, she unconsciously spoke with a lisp.

That was today.

Isabel fell head over heels for the sweet taste of capital.

She rubbed her cheek against Dailtha’s chest.

“……Princess.”

Dailtha’s body stiffened.

“I wuv you vewy vewy much!”

Oh my, 100 million Luden.

She never expected it.

And 100 million Luden every year.

“Am I getting a salary of 100 million? No, it’s 100 million after tax, so how much would that be as an annual salary? Wow, anyway, I love you!”

She spoke a very realistic story in a childish voice.

“……Let go of me.”

“No. I won’t let you go. Try to run away if you can! Hehe.”

Isabel jumped up and down with joy.

“Chief Attendant-nim is the best!”

Isabel hugged Dailtha and enjoyed the joy of capital.

“……”

Dailtha stood frozen like a statue, sweating coldly.

To Dailtha, this place felt like a flower garden. It was like a fragrant and beautiful flower in full bloom.

After a long time, she closed the door and came out.

As soon as she came out, her body staggered.

As if possessed by something, she muttered and walked down the hallway.

“Money……is the answer.”

✦✦✦✦✦✦

Isabel pulled the blanket over her head and kicked her feet inside.

She would be able to help Yuri settle down and launch a soaring rocket.

Thanks to Dailtha, everything went well.

“Hehe.”

The afterglow of the joy of capital was very long.

She turned around and rolled up the blanket.

Roll, roll.

She saw herself tucked inside the rolled-up blanket in the mirror.

“Sausage hot dog! Hehe.”

Her appearance wrapped in a blanket looked like a sausage hot dog.

It might not be related, but anyway, the whole world felt beautiful.

And someone outside the window was watching her.

‘Huh?’

Feeling the gaze, Isabel looked out the window.

There was nothing outside the window.