Chapter 5

Today, Brin reported that Lirika's forehead was also injured, so she was told not to leave the palace by Mrs. Glendelin.

"Shouldn't we contact Her Majesty and see if she can come once? It's just about teatime."

"Is that okay?"

Lirika's face lit up, and Brin smiled.

"Of course, it's fine."

Brin ordered another maid, "Inform Her Majesty." The maids had all been replaced, but they seemed to work well together, as if they had been with Brin all along.

A moment later, a maid returned and said politely, "Her Majesty has asked you to come quickly."

Lirika held back her excitement and stepped out into the corridor.

Her mother's room was not far away; it was just up one flight of stairs.

"Lirika, you adorable thing!"

As soon as she entered the parlor, her mother pulled her into a tight embrace. Lirika burst into a happy laugh.

Now there was nothing to worry about. The Emperor had promised not to trouble her mother, so she would be able to see her every morning.

Rudia hugged Lirika tightly and looked at Brin.

"You?"

"I am Brin Sol, Your Majesty. I have been newly appointed as Princess Lirika's maid."

"A Sol, huh."

Her mother's tone was peculiar, so Lirika lifted her head. Her mother smiled and looked at Brin, who also smiled and gently lowered her gaze.

"That's fine."

Her mother said this and looked at her daughter, who was looking puzzled.

'Really.'

Rudia laughed. She was proud of her daughter, even as she worried.

Until Lirika could establish herself as Empress, she had no choice but to stay in the guest room.

The Emperor didn't care about such things. She thought he wouldn't interfere with Lirika's maids or teachers until she took control of the inner palace and replaced the head of the palace maids.

There were many people who subtly obstructed her, claiming they couldn't recognize her as Empress after just one night.

But Lirika had gone to the Emperor herself and secured her position with her own hands.

'Well, she is so adorable.'

The Emperor couldn't resist her either.

She chuckled to herself. If anyone so much as touched a hair on Lirika's head...

"Mother?"

Lirika tilted her head, confused by her mother's silent laughter.

She was so cute. How could she be this cute? And why didn't I realize it before?

Regretting her past foolishness, Rudia hugged Lirika even tighter.

In the joy that threatened to burst her heart, Lirika giggled. Her mother wrapped her arms around her shoulders and led her inside to sit down.

Snacks were quickly placed on the table.

"So, you went to see His Majesty, didn't you?"

Lirika was startled and looked at her mother. She hadn't expected her to know so soon.

Rudia stared at her daughter and said, "His Majesty came and went."

"His Majesty?"

"Yes."

Rudia sighed and hugged her daughter's shoulder.

"Lirika, I appreciate your heart, but you don't need to take such risks. I was so worried when I heard the news."

"But..."

Lirika bowed her head. Her mother hugged her tightly and gently stroked her hair.

"I know, Lirika. You were worried about me. But I'm also worried about you. You shouldn't go to His Majesty without permission. Understand?"

"Yes..."

Rudia smiled and kissed her daughter's forehead. Lirika said softly,

"But His Majesty didn't seem like a bad person."

"That's why it's dangerous."

Rudia said seriously.

"Just because he treated you kindly, you shouldn't trust him. Understand? That man, or rather, that person, can cut your throat with a smile."

Lirika swallowed and nodded. Rudia's expression softened.

"I'm not trying to scare you, but you should be careful. Still, thank you. Thanks to you, I can finally rest. Would you like to sleep with me tonight?"

"Really?"

"Yes. Let's sleep together for the first time in a long time."

Lirika smiled brightly. The tea and snacks were delicious, but what made her happiest was being with her mother.

A tailor came in the middle of their conversation, bringing designs for new dresses.

They were all beautiful, but Lirika felt a bit disappointed.

The dress named 'Bustle Style' was certainly beautiful. Her mother said, "This dress will dominate the social scene," and the tailor replied with a smile, "It already has."

But Lirika thought that a princess's dress should be a full crinoline.

She couldn't say this to her mother, though.

Watching her mother try on the new dress, talking together, and discussing new party invitations, the time passed quickly.

That night, in a smooth and soft bed, Lirika fell asleep in her mother's arms, breathing in the good smell. It was incomparably happy.

Lirika slept in late for the first time in a long time.

* * *

'Mother clearly told me not to go to His Majesty...'

Since then, she had been summoned to His Majesty's office every day. When she went, there was nothing much to do.

Snacks were served, and while eating, she just listened to the stories of His Majesty, Lat, and occasionally Tan.

Her mother was flabbergasted by this situation and seemed to have argued with His Majesty, but it looked like His Majesty had won.

The changing snacks were delicious, and Lirika was gradually getting used to the office atmosphere, so she became a bit lax.

Whenever she did, she recalled her mother's words and pulled herself together.

Sometimes His Majesty asked questions, and Lirika answered as seriously as possible.

When she did, Tan often laughed heartily, and Lat would turn his head and cough lightly.

Altears watched Lirika eating the financier baked by the chef and sighed.

"Why don't you grow?"

Lat looked up, puzzled.

"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

"I'm talking about the kid. I'm feeding her so well, why isn't she growing?"

"Your Majesty, it hasn't even been ten days."

"Athil was always growing. Maybe she has some kind of illness?"

"Your Majesty. Princess Lirika is not a Takar, Barat, Sandar, or Wolf, or any noble race."

Lirika rolled her eyes. She raised her hand and Altears asked,

"Why?"

"I don't have any illness and I'm strong. And I'm growing well. Brin said my clothes might need to be made larger soon."

She added cautiously,

"And I am a Takar."

She was adopted, but still a Takar.

Lirika of the Takar.

Isn't that her new name? As a contract princess, she insisted that 'Takar' was correct. If she backed down in important matters, the contract would be meaningless, wouldn't it?

Lat smiled at Lirika's words.

"You're right. Princess Lirika is also a Takar."

"Growing? Shouldn't she grow a finger a week?"

Altears stared at Lirika. Looking closely, her face was smoother and less dry than when he first met her.

"Does anyone grow that fast? That would be a disease, wouldn't it?"

Altears raised an eyebrow at Lirika's words and smiled.

"I grew that way."

"You're not human, Your Majesty."

The words were thrown out as a joke, but a subtle atmosphere spread like ripples. A child who needed to grow up was sensitive to negative emotions.

Did I say something wrong? Calling him not human could be very rude.

But...

"Who said that?"

Altears asked lightly, but Lirika knew it wasn't a light question. She needed to answer properly. She said softly,

"Brin said that the royal family is descended from dragons... so His Majesty is like a dragon..."

Altears sighed heavily, suddenly deflated. Lat said,

"Princess Lirika is right. However, saying that His Majesty is not human could be misunderstood, so it's best not to say it."

"What's the big deal. Don't people think that?"

Altears chuckled. Lirika quickly said,

"I thought it was really cool when I heard it! It's really amazing."

When Brin explained the room names, Lirika asked, "What about His Majesty's room?" Brin smiled and answered,

"His Majesty's room doesn't have a dragon's name. His Majesty is the dragon."

She was amazed by this story. It felt like a fairy tale.

She wanted to convey this amazement to His Majesty, so Lirika tried hard.

At Lirika's words, Altears snapped his fingers. Lirika understood that this meant to come closer, so she ran to him.

Altears found it amusing.

If he snapped his fingers once, she would die, yet she approached without fear.

No, she wasn't fearless.

She recognized that he was a threatening presence but believed he wouldn't harm her, which made him not want to break that trust.

He picked her up and placed her on his knee. She was more comfortable now than before.

A child's heart beats much faster, and the sound is soft. Their body temperature is high, and they are surprisingly light.

Few people look at him directly, but Lirika always did.

'Rudia does the same.'

Rudia, who proposed the contract marriage, also looked at him directly.

He would be her strong support until Athil, the crown prince, became emperor.

To enable her to do everything as Empress. However, there are limits to what an emperor can do, and the social scene is a completely different battlefield. Could she handle the foxes, flowers, snakes, and wolves of the social scene?

So far, she has done better than expected.

But compared to such a mother, what about the daughter?

'A type I've never seen before.'

An interesting type rarely seen in the palace.

"Your Majesty?"

Lirika tilted her head and called him cautiously. Altears grinned.

"Why 'Your Majesty'?"

"Huh?"

"Isn't it 'Father'?"

"Huh?"

"Isn't it?"

"Well, yes, I guess so?"

"Then call me."

Lirika looked around, unsure. Lat watched with interest.

"Well, that is..."

Her mind started to spin. His Majesty is scary but good. But can she call him 'Father'?

Just for a day?

Is it because it's a job that she should call him that?

But she might be called presumptuous.

Lirika rolled the words in her mind.

Father. Father.

To her, a father was something in a dream. But now, there was a person in front of her who would be her father for at least eight years.

A real person.

Thinking about it, tears inexplicably welled up in her eyes. Lirika was startled and patted her cheeks.

No adult likes a crying child.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"Stop it."

Altears grabbed her hands. Was she going to hit herself?

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry—"

"No, I shouldn't have forced you to call me 'Father' just because I married your mother. That was my mistake."

Altears said this and held out his hand to Lat.

"Handkerchief."

Lat silently handed over his clean handkerchief. Altears wiped Lirika's face and said,

"It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. If your mother finds out you cried, she'll make a fuss."

Lirika couldn't help but smile as he sighed. Despite everything, it was good to see a good relationship between her mother and His Majesty.

"Come on, blow your nose."

Lirika's face turned red at the suggestion. Lat said,

"Let her stop being embarrassed."

"I'll do it myself."

Lirika took the handkerchief from Altears and wiped her tears and nose. Altears roughly stroked her head.

It was rough but caring, so Lirika smiled. She took the handkerchief from her and threw it to Lat, then said,

"Let's get back to work."

He turned his chair to the desk with Lirika on his knee.

He didn't seem to be pressing her to call him 'Father' anymore. Lirika felt a bit disappointed and rolled the word 'Father' in her mouth, fidgeting.

The scary Emperor suddenly felt closer.

'Father, Father.'

Would he let her call him that again later?

She felt ticklish and a bit embarrassed, so she fidgeted until she was startled.

'Dirty!'

She hadn't noticed because of the documents, but the ink bottle's mouth was caked with ink. The pen nibs were rolling around, and there were crumpled papers everywhere.

She couldn't bear the mess on Father's, no, His Majesty's desk. She wanted to do something for him.

Lirika said cautiously,

"Your Majesty."

"What is it?"

"Can I clean the ink bottle?"

"Ink bottle?"

"The mouth is caked with dried ink. If I clean it with warm water, it will be much cleaner."

Lirika pointed to his ink bottle. Lat frowned, about to say something, but Altears readily agreed.

"Sure."

"Your Majesty."

"What's the problem? I don't like people coming and going, so if you want to, you can use people to clean the office as you like."

Lat pressed his forehead with his palm at Altears' words. It sounded like he was being generous, but wasn't he just trying to use her?