Chapter 19
I pressed my thumb and forefinger beneath my chin, letting out a long hum through my nose.
If you were to ask me what should be done—
“You must never, ever pick a fight with Father again.”
“But if whatever I do, that child insists on looking at me with hostile eyes, then inevitably my anger will—”
“You can’t do that!”
I cut off the Emperor’s words, narrowing my eyes into sharp triangles.
“Father said that while living here, it was unbearably hard.”
“……”
“Because no one ever stood by his side. Because no one ever listened to his story.”
“That is…”
“Because it felt like no one loved him.”
Even Berthold—the one person Harzen trusted and leaned on—was destined to betray him.
By killing the woman he loved most.
“I think Grandfather is greatly at fault for that.”
If he had hugged Father even once.
If he had looked him in the eyes and listened to him, even once, the way Father always did for me…
Then no matter how much Berthold tried to drive a wedge between them, things could never have gotten this bad.
If Grandfather had listened, the lies would never have taken root.
My chest tightened with emotion, and I bit down on my lip before continuing.
“So that’s why—”
I wasn’t even sure if this was truly what Father would want.
But even so—
“This time, I think Grandfather must keep apologizing to Father.”
“……”
“Even if Father gets angry, even if Father rejects you, I think the only thing you can do is that.”
If he truly wished to reconcile with Harzen, there was only one path forward.
To sincerely repent.
“Just those words: I’m sorry. Thank you. That’s all.”
I met his gaze, offering my most heartfelt advice.
“Whether Father accepts them or not—that’s his choice.”
“……”
“But even if Father refuses, I hope you won’t hate him for it.”
Father’s childhood had already been ruined. No apology could restore those lost years.
All I wanted was for even a little of that bitterness in his heart to ease.
If even this was rejected—
Then so be it.
That only meant his wounds had cut too deep.
“…I shall try.”
The Emperor’s reply came in a subdued voice. His expression suggested he had turned over countless thoughts in just that short moment.
“If only someone had spoken to me the way you just did, my relationship with that child might never have soured to this extent.”
He exhaled a long breath and pressed his fingers to his temple.
“No one has ever pointed out my failings. Not even the Empress… Or perhaps, it was I who refused to listen.”
Regret filled his tone.
“What was it about this throne that blinded my eyes and deafened my ears?”
“……”
“In the end, it became poison.”
Was it really the throne’s fault, though? To me, it sounds a lot more like a father’s mistake…
“But still, it is fortunate. At least belatedly, you have awakened me.”
He opened his eyes again and reached out to stroke my hair.
This time, his touch was gentler, more practiced—almost like my fathers’.
Instinctively, I leaned into the warmth and smiled.
I’m glad…
Part of me had feared I had overstepped terribly, but—
Thankfully, he had taken my words in good faith.
“Hehe.”
Being petted like this was wonderful.
“But tell me,” the Emperor said, pausing mid-stroke, “where did you learn to say such things? For a child to speak with such weight… it is unusual.”
“Eh?”
I blinked wide-eyed at him.
I thought he’d just let it pass!
“Um. Ahaha.”
I plastered on a goofy smile. At times like this, there was always one universal answer.
“I read it in a book!”
“A book?”
“Yes. A book.”
Books are the treasure troves of knowledge. Let us all read more books.
“You can already read such difficult books at your age?”
The Emperor’s eyes widened even more.
Oh no, is he starting to doubt me?
My eyes darted frantically as I searched for the next excuse, when—
“Indeed, you take after Harzen.”
He ruffled my hair again, this time with a satisfied smile.
I laughed along with him, breathing a silent sigh of relief.
Thank goodness Father is a genius…
Time passed in a strangely gentle lull.
“At any rate, I cannot let such valuable counsel go unrewarded.”
His voice rang with both authority and unexpected warmth.
“I shall grant you a reward.”
“A reward?”
“Yes. Is there something you desire?”
As he patted my head once more, I quickly set my mind spinning.
What should I ask for?
Presented with such an opportunity, my brain chose the perfect moment to go completely blank.
“U-uhm…”
I squeezed my eyes shut, my thoughts swirling uselessly.
“Do I have to say it right now? Can’t I answer later?”
If I could just think carefully, I’d come up with something good!
“I will wait as long as you need.”
He patted my shoulder reassuringly.
Whew, thank goodness.
Kyle-father would have said, ‘Ten seconds or you lose your chance!’
Anyway, it seemed the Cecilia-style family therapy session was at last concluded.
“Well then…”
I slid off his lap with a little hop.
“I’ll sit over there and think hard about what reward I want.”
“Hm?”
His brow tilted slightly in disapproval at my sudden escape.
But I had no intention of climbing back up.
Because—
“Grandfather has work to do, doesn’t he?”
He’d spent all this time chatting with me, without touching a single document.
“And besides… my bottom hurts.”
I must have been too tense. Sitting on the Emperor’s lap was bound to do that.
Ignoring his reaction, I scampered over to a chair in the corner of the study.
From now on, I would become the thinker.
A girl deeply pondering what she wanted.
What I really need is Kyle-father’s invisibility cloak.
With that, I could tail Berthold in secret, unseen.
He hadn’t made any suspicious moves yet, but once Father returned, who knew what schemes he might hatch?
Still… asking Grandfather to take Father’s cloak away for me would be—
Complete and utter disaster.
Our father–child bond would shatter instantly.
Not to mention I’d be grilled endlessly on why I wanted it in the first place.
So no, the cloak was out.
Unless Kyle-father takes it back himself—that might work…
My eyes drifted toward the faintly glowing scroll in the corner of my vision. The steadily decreasing time showed my fathers were still racing this way.
Ah! That’s it.
“Grandfather.”
I sprang to my feet, turning toward him.
“For my reward, I want my dads!”
“Your dads?”
The Emperor slowly set down the paper in his hand, looking at me intently.
“You mean… you want even more fathers than you already have?”
“Ah! No, no, that’s not it!”
Heavens, more than five dads would be a nightmare. That wasn’t what I meant at all.
“What I mean is—I actually came here without my fathers knowing.”
“That much was clear.”
“So by now, they’re probably on their way to fetch me. Which is why—”
I clasped my hands tightly before my chest, making my eyes as round and pleading as possible.
“When my dads come storming into the palace, please don’t drive them out.”
They might be in such a state that they couldn’t see straight.
Who knew what kind of rudeness they might commit?
But still—
“Please? Just this once?”
