Chapter 56

“Your… Your Majesty… there is no need for you to…”

“And what kind of curse are you going to get if I didn’t?”

“…”

How did he know?

If anything happened to Haniel, I couldn’t be sure that neither I nor this man could be standing properly like this.

However, rather than me being scared by this, I wondered if this man was even scared of anything in this world.

“Well. It’s not even that big of a deal.”

“…”

The Emperor inhaled, his hair completely wet with droplets running down from his hair tips, the water collecting in the area of his foot.

Because his clothes stuck tightly onto the body that had escaped his cloak, the curves of his firm body could be fully seen.

After staring at him absentmindedly, I hurriedly turned my head away from him.

“… A-Anyways, it’s not just a bird.”

“It’s not?”

The voice that came after was as sunken in as his wet body. However, it was a little gentle.

It would be nice if he was like this usually.

After thinking about it that far, I suddenly shivered.

“It’s a life too, you know? She has eyes and a nose, imagine how much she would’ve liked it if you spoke to her gently.”

“…”

“What I’m saying is that since life is important…”

Hours before, I was trying to avoid this man. Although I knew it wasn’t going to work out at all, since these were words I really wanted to say, courage was summoned.

“She wants to continue living this badly, as her mom- I mean, as an adult, I have to protect her. Even if I weren’t an adult…”

“Then, what about your life?”

“Yes, my…”

I genuinely don’t know how to respond to this.

However, there was no chance I would reply with “no” if he asked me whether I wanted to live or not.

This is because I am a woman who wishes especially more than others to live happily with a loving and endearing family for a very very long time.

There was something more valuable than my life now only because there was someone I had to protect.

I didn’t feel wronged nor did I consider it a waste.

Because I didn’t know how to explain these feelings to the man who walked with blood marking each of his steps, I hesitated for a long time. I wondered if my lips were frozen from the cold.

“…”

Regardless, he was not someone I could dare keep waiting.

With him walking by my side, this was also the reason why I couldn’t slow down my pace.

“I… I’m fine the way it is now…”

“No need.”

“…”

It wasn’t like he asked in the first place. His displeased mood even filled the Emperor’s wet cloak to the brim. It even felt more suffocating to be outside of the water, only Haniel was covered securely in vain.

At this point, mommy might die from suffocation outside of the water.

However, being offered a single rope when I wanted to die was how my life was like.

After passing over the small hill, the Duke’s residence started to come into view.

“Ah…”

It’s home! My home, it’s my home!

Other than the fact that I was captured after trying to run away from here, there was no place that was more cozy than home. My staggering steps eventually regained its strength.

“Call in the attendants immediately. Tell them to prepare a bath and food…”

“…Will… Will you come in?”

“…”

This woman.

With indescribably complicated eyes, he turned to look at me.

What do you mean to prepare a bath and food!

This man seemed to have completely mistaken things.

Couldn’t he tell from the state of the building, without a single light on nor any people around?

If I opened this door right now, there would be nothing but half-dried fish jerky to see. Once again, this was definitely not something worthy to show the Emperor.

[Maa, b-bwother scary.]

And above all else, I needed to drag this man out if I wanted to melt down my rigidly frozen princess.

After trying to think up numerous excuses, I ended up making a long face.