Chapter 88

Unable to speak, my lower lip trembled.

It probably didn’t matter to him whether this duck was my daughter or not, but it was my fault that I had deceived the Emperor, so even begging until I died wouldn’t be enough.

“She has a lot of fear. And she is very, very shy.”

“More than that?”

“…….”

When the Emperor’s finger pointed towards me, Selene was already half gone. Her legs were shaking, and if someone saw and took her for having collapsed, I would have a hard time stopping them.

“Yes. This child over here is on the social side. Which is why today…. I brought her.”

“Even as you lied to me?”

“……well, that’s…”

“Tell me. Why did you do that?”

Instead of whether Selene was my daughter or not, he now seemed like he took more offense in the fact that I had lied.

An especially calm and low tone of voice, that was the sign that this man was now in a bad mood.

***

I wasn’t sure how we’d come to know each other this well, but my thoughts remained the same.

‘It’s a good thing I didn’t bring her.’

If our Haniel had seen her brother’s eyes like this, she would have definitely had another convulsion.

Even if he glared at me like this, I, well, I was someone who’d done something wrong, so I deserved it. Still, it would feel very excessive for a baby to be exposed to this.

“Why, did you think I would do something to your daughter?”

“…..”

Wouldn’t you have?

When my eyes slid up to his, his red eyes shook almost imperceptibly.

Clear eyes, seeming like he’d been a bit hurt.

Though I knew that wasn’t possible, from my perspective as an observer, it was enough to prick at my own chest.

“Who am I to you that you’d think I’d put my hands on such a little…”

“I-in case you get distressed!”

“…..”

His red eyes, which had still been rippling slowly, narrowed as if he was faltering.

“You personally told me to bring my own daughter, but I thought, ‘how much must he love and care for animals that he would ask that of me.’ Hic…”

“….No, our brother wouldn’t have.”

“Shut that mouth, Tenon.”

Continue.

At one shake of Rashid’s head, Tenon awkwardly left off trying to stop her from saying what wasn’t true.

Turning back to him, who appeared to be waiting for me to speak, I pressed my trembling lips with the back of my hand.

“Though, though this is not my daughter, I wanted to show her to someone so much that…”

“…….”

“I did so in hopes of bringing even the smallest joy to Your Majesty, but…. sob.”

When I bit my mouth holding back more sobs, even Selene, who had collapsed and died, slowly stood back up. She waddled closer to me like she was taking my side, and I hugged her tightly and placed my cheek on her head.

“Mmmph, I’m sorry, Selene. To think you’d die as well, all because of me.”

“….Qua, quack!!”

“I’d only wished not to disappoint His Majesty, but I never would’ve thought that your head would be cut off, too, even though you’ve done nothing wrong. Hic hic.”

“Who’s cutting whose head now?”

“….you’re not going to?”

A yell.

His one question somewhat shattered the tight tension in my body. With tears glistening in my eyes, I blinked and tried holding out Selene to him once more.

“If, if you look closely, Selene is quite charming and beautiful too, though not as much as Reina…”

“It’s fine, so leave.”

“…..”

Rashid waved his hand at Selene, who was still being offered to him, and turned away.

Poor Selene.

Once again, she had been heartlessly rejected right in front of her face. Holding her in my arms, I hastily headed outside. If there was another truth I’d learned from knowing and spending time with this man, it was that if I didn’t leave quickly when he was angry, then I wouldn’t have a second chance.

“Wait….”

See? If you’re even a little late, he does this.

“….hic, Your Majesty.”

“Tomorrow, bring her properly.”

“……”

“You’ll learn whether I’ll follow your expectations or not then.”