Chapter 27
Ever since Ror realized that the firm and warm embrace of her father could dispel the darkness, she would wriggle into his arms at every opportunity.
Alcade lightly patted Ror, who was rubbing her face against his chest, and gently set her down in her seat.
“Come on, you need to sit down if you want to eat.”
Ror grinned at Alcade and grabbed a fork in one hand and a knife in the other.
Bang bang!
Excited, she began tapping the table with her utensils. The sharp sound made Reikal, sitting next to Yuren, frown.
‘Still no table manners,’ he thought.
After last night’s cream puff incident and now this… to think someone like her was the daughter of her uncle. It didn’t sit well with him.
His sharp gaze turned toward Ror.
“Ror. You shouldn’t do that.”
“Ah, sorry!”
When Alcade gave her a gentle warning, Ror widened her eyes and obediently put down her fork and knife, just as the maids busily began placing dishes on the table.
Once again, a light-hearted exchange occurred between father and daughter—whether Ror would be fed or eat on her own.
As Reikal tried to maintain his composure and eat, Ror babbled excitedly.
“Daddy! Look! There’s a rainbow in the sky! And the clouds are so fluffy!”
On the way to the dining room, Ror had come up with her perfect plan to ‘free’ her friend. The plan? Tell her father that the weather was nice and she wanted to go for a walk with her friend!
“Uh…!”
Just as Ror was about to continue her persuasion,
“Uncle.”
Reikal set down his cup.
Clack.
It was a small sound, but enough to divert Alcade’s attention from Ror toward Reikal.
‘Ah…!’
Ror’s eyes widened. She was about to say something important. Instead, she sulkily poked her steak with her fork.
“What is it?”
Alcade looked at Reikal intently. Reikal spoke with a deliberately serious expression.
“Have you seen the agenda presented by the Elder Council? They are discussing reducing taxes in the northern territories.”
“I see.”
Alcade nodded. It was one of the few worthwhile topics among the Elder Council’s usual tedious chatter.
“They said the Temple claimed that this matter requires the mercy of the royal family.”
Mercy, huh.
Alcade smirked at that. The north was a harsh land, bordering the monster-infested areas, requiring massive defenses. A tax reduction there made sense. It would also boost the loyalty of northern lords.
However, the Elder Council was made up of nobles unrelated to the north. And suddenly, they made a proposal favorable to the north…
‘There must be another motive.’
Alcade had already predicted that the Temple would try to influence the north. They had likely inserted their sway into the Elder Council’s discussions. The Temple claimed that royal support alone could suffice for the northern tax reduction, intending to drive a wedge between the throne and the north.
“I see.”
Alcade nodded calmly and turned his gaze to Ror.
‘Earlier, Ror seemed like she wanted to say something.’
Ror, who had been waiting for the perfect moment to talk about rescuing her friend, brightened when their eyes met and began speaking.
“Ah…!”
“And one more thing. The Temple says that if someone is part of the royal family, they must learn the doctrines to possess the virtues appropriate to their position. Under the Temple’s guidance.”
But Reikal interrupted again, and her attempt failed.
Alcade’s gaze returned to Reikal, and Ror widened her eyes and parted her lips.
“What did you say?”
Alcade’s face toward Reikal was deeply frowning. Fortunately, Ror did not notice the menacing glare.
‘How dare they.’
So that was the Temple’s real intention. The royal family and the Temple were covertly at odds. The royal family aimed to prosper the empire, while the Temple sought to guide the people according to divine doctrine.
At some point, the Temple had begun subtly encroaching on the royal authority, reaching out to nobles and even the royal children. They wanted political influence.
Until now, the royal family had successfully defended against the Temple’s power, but then Ror appeared—the untouched Grand Duchess of Ateleon.
The Temple intended to use her lack of doctrinal training as leverage to manipulate the Grand Duchess and, ultimately, the Duke of Ateleon.
Meanwhile, the Grand Duchess targeted by the Temple was now pouting in frustration.
‘I want to go for a walk with my friend and bring a blanket…’
But with her father and Reikal speaking so seriously, she could not interrupt. Ror was a child who waited her turn patiently.
Even when talking to her mother, she would wait quietly if the doctor began speaking. Seeing Reikal’s expression reminded her that this was very important.
As Ror glanced at Reikal, their eyes met.
Hehe.
But… Reikal raised one corner of his mouth in a smile?
Her sharp feelings hit clearly.
“Huh… Hwaaang!”
Ror burst into tears.
Did Reikal oppa hate me? Was it because I put too much cream on the baby cream puff yesterday?
He doesn’t like cream… I didn’t even know. What if he thinks I was being naughty? What if he keeps hating me?
“Ah, young lady!”
“Ror!”
“Wha-what’s wrong!?”
Everyone in the dining room looked up, startled by her sudden crying. Among them, Alcade panicked and hurriedly checked on Ror.
“Why? Is the food not good? Should I bring something else? Ror, what’s wrong…?”
“Sniff… snff… sniff.”
Even though someone patted her back to calm her, Reikal’s cold gaze and smile haunted her.
Hic… hic! In the end, Ror could not stop crying.
“Ugh…”
Yuren kept glancing back, worried.
“Why, Yuren?”
“I’m worried about Ror…”
Since Ror could not calm down easily, breakfast ended as it was. Yuren and Reikal left the dining room first.
Thinking of Ror, still wiping her tears with her tiny fists, Yuren hesitated.
“Hyung… I wonder what was wrong with Ror?”
Yuren’s clear, innocent eyes were so pure that Reikal instinctively looked away, not wanting her to see his dark thoughts.
When Reikal said nothing, Yuren tilted her head.
‘…’
Ror had looked sulky earlier, unable to interrupt her uncle’s conversation, and had poked her steak with her fork. It had actually made Reikal feel a little mischievous.
He wanted to tease her just a bit because he didn’t like her getting all of his uncle’s attention.
But when he smugly thought, “I win!” things escalated. His wicked grin slipped out.
Now, remembering the child bursting into tears at the sight of his face…
Ouch!
‘What… what’s this?’
Reikal felt an unfamiliar pain and frowned, realizing he had done something wrong.
It was the first time he felt guilty, but he could not figure out why. He just wanted to escape the uncomfortable feeling.
“…Let’s go.”
He hurriedly walked away, ignoring Yuren’s question. Yet each step felt heavy, as if something clung to him.
Only later did Reikal understand what it was.
“Ugh…”
Ror rubbed her eyes as she got out of bed.
Her eyes wouldn’t open easily, and they felt hot. She had slept in tears, leaving them puffy.
Her soft cheeks and small nose were red from crying.
‘Ugh…’
She gasped for air; breathing felt difficult. Rubbing her stubborn eyes, she looked around.
No one was nearby.
Ror’s small shoulders trembled, and her eyes rolled around.
It was dark… cold. Lonely and scary.
She thought she could sleep alone at her father’s house, but tonight, the darkness was terrifying.
Just as she sniffled, looking like she might cry again…
Flash!
[“Ror… are you okay?”]
