Chapter 71
“One of you should teach Loti how to read and write,” I said. “You can take turns. Since we’re all free these days, I’ll leave it to you.”
Loti’s face twisted like she had just swallowed something bitter.
Rena and Alfred glanced at each other and then suddenly stood up together.
“Oh! I think I washed your laundry yesterday, my lady. I should check if it’s dry!”
“I don’t know where you’re going, but I’ll carry you there. You were sick, and walking might not be good for you!”
“My lady, I’m really not good at studying!”
I tapped Alfred on the back as he crouched in front of me, pretending to be helpful.
“You need to walk after eating. And Rena, you already brought in the laundry earlier.”
Looking down at the three of them suffering from my orders, I chuckled and left the room.
***
The Emperor wasn’t in his office this time. The chancellor said he was at the training grounds, so I decided to take a walk and head that way.
“Hello, Lady Monica.”
“Good morning.”
The palace was filled with so many people. Some of them had been in the audience hall when I was declared the Emperor’s goddaughter. Many of them recognized me and greeted me politely. Most just said hello and moved on.
But one boy didn’t.
He stood in my path as if he had no intention of letting me pass.
‘I was trying to look busy and keep walking…’
I sighed and gave him a small wave.
“Hi.”
The boy was a head taller than me. He had wild-looking reddish-brown hair and golden eyes. He looked about my age, but for some reason, he gave off such strong energy that I felt like I was standing in front of a lion. I instinctively stepped back.
“Sorry.”
He seemed to realize that I flinched and pressed his fingers to his temple as if he had a headache.
“My energy’s still rough. I must’ve scared you.”
I could feel the sharp aura around him fade. Only then did I relax and shake my head.
“No, I’m okay.”
“…”
He narrowed his eyes and looked down at me silently.
If you start a conversation, you should either say what you want or leave. But he just stood there, quiet.
So, I ended up looking past him, awkwardly.
Then he muttered under his breath while messing up his hair.
“Ugh… Damn.”
“Huh?”
“No, no. It’s nothing.”
He waved his hands at my confused face and sighed, placing them on his hips.
Then he raised his head and spoke more calmly.
“You’ve probably had tons of people come up to you like this lately.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think there’d be so many.”
“That’s just the nobles in the capital. Once the news spreads, nobles from other regions will start coming to see the Emperor’s goddaughter. It’ll get more annoying.”
What?
I was already exhausted after just a few days. And now he says this is only the beginning?
I muttered, looking defeated.
“I’m just a goddaughter, not adopted or anything. Why are they making such a fuss…?”
“Because His Majesty has never accepted any noble’s request to take their child as a foster. Even Count Hester’s son was rejected. But then, suddenly…”
He stopped mid-sentence. I smirked, already guessing what he meant.
“Suddenly took in an illegitimate child? That’s why they’re shocked, right?”
“No! I didn’t mean that… I mean, kind of, but…”
He started stammering, completely flustered.
I shook my head and softened my voice.
“It’s fine. I understand what you mean.”
“Sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. Maybe I’m tired from hanging around the palace too much.”
“Why were you hanging around?”
“Probably the same reason everyone else was. To meet you. Some kids your age were probably pushed here by their parents too.”
Oh, no.
Hearing that made me feel awkward.
From now on, if someone talks to me, I’ll feel guilty ignoring them, thinking they came all this way just for me.
I sighed and rubbed my still-full belly.
“So you came here like that too? Everyone would’ve been better off resting at home. I was just stuck in my room eating nonstop.”
At my words, the boy shook his head firmly.
“No, I came on my own. My parents think doing stuff like this is tacky. I just wanted to come. Wait—why were you stuck in your room eating?”
“His Majesty said he wants to turn me into a pig. Then maybe roast me, steam me, or fry me.”
“…I don’t know what that means, but it sounds like you and His Majesty are pretty close. That’s good.”
The boy smiled slightly, then looked in the direction I had been walking.
Then, in a calmer voice, he asked,
“You seemed like you were heading somewhere. To make up for my rudeness earlier, can I escort you? If I walk with you, no one else will come up.”
I glanced around slowly.
Hmm, where was I going?
“I was on my way to the training grounds, but I think I got lost after running into so many people.”
“Perfect.”
I raised an eyebrow, and the boy slapped his forehead like he made a mistake.
“Not that you got lost! I just meant—it’s fine. I must really be tired.”
Yeah, you do seem a bit all over the place.
I looked at him with genuine concern.
“Maybe you should rest.”
“No way. Oh, and by the way…”
He suddenly stepped back like he remembered something and flicked his cape away. Then, with a polite bow, he said,
“I’m Oscar Tradie. Pleased to meet you, Lady Izana Monica Rohia. You can call me whatever you like.”
“Oscar Tradie?”
My eyes widened in surprise.
Seeing my reaction, Oscar smiled proudly. But then he frowned at my next words.
“You’re the one who’s going to break Boris’s leg, right?”
“…What?”
“Ah, never mind.”
I quickly smiled.
“I’m Izana Monica Rohia. Nice to meet you, Oscar. Can I call you Oscar?”
Oscar seemed to think over what I had said earlier but soon nodded and smiled back.
“Then can I call you Izana?”
“Sure!”
I shrugged like it was no big deal.
Oscar Tradie.
He showed up right on time.
That made me smile for real.
***
Oscar guided me back the right way. Turns out, I had gone in the completely wrong direction from the training grounds.
But that mistake gave me more time to talk to him.
“Oh right, I remember. Joseph sent me a letter asking if I could spar with Boris. But that was before Duke Rohia’s pilgrimage was planned. So I don’t know if that duel will actually happen. They must be busy now.”
Oscar and Joseph were closer than I had thought.
A few years ago, Judith had gotten pregnant again with Yubel’s child. But she had a miscarriage scare and had to rest, so she sent Joseph and Boris to her family’s house, Count Bluebell’s estate, for a while.
‘So that’s when Boris didn’t visit me for a long time.’
At the time, Count Bluebell’s estate was right next to the Tradie family’s land. That’s probably when Oscar, Joseph, and Boris—being around the same age—spent time together.
“By the way… are you okay?”
“Me?”
“There are a lot of rumors about you. We all heard that you were really sick.”
Oscar looked at me with honest concern in his eyes.
The reaction to Izana’s orders to teach Lottie to read were great