Chapter 166

Princess Lania looked into the mirror and met Ronin’s eyes. Ever saw him, his paler complexion and red lips gave her goosebumps, but he was a man who brought her more luck than anyone else. Of course, she would also be that kind of person to this man.

“Your Majesty would have chosen the most plausible and stubborn Duchess in name, as a shield, but who do you think would be next if he realized it was the wrong choice?”

“Next to the Duchess, huh? Of course, it will be you, princess.”

“That’s it, then.”

“But what are you going to do? It probably won’t be easy to convince him since he won’t budge on anything, either.”

“I heard that His Majesty’s banquet will be held soon at the Winter Palace.”

Already intoxicated by her reflection in the mirror, Lania slowly lifted her head which made her silky silver hair flutter. In her head, the process of capturing and caring for the young princess to gain the Emperor’s trust had already been completed. “It’s a good opportunity to show you what I’m capable of.”

*JINGLE*

This time, the amethyst decoration she removed rolled straight on the floor this time. Lania, who gently stepped on top of it, burst into a joyful laugh.

“How greedy and sinister you are!”

“Darren, you’re here!”

“Duchess, you look even more beautiful today!”

“Oh my gosh!”

She placed her hands on her burning cheeks to hide her smile. She didn’t want to make it obvious in front of other parents that she liked it too much but if this worked out as she thought, she didn’t have to come this far.

“I’m just wearing what I always wear!”

“No. Your beauty is too elegant, Duchess! What more can I say?”

“Teacher!”

She couldn’t help but fan the shy smile stretching her cheeks because she was having too much a great time. Selene would probably beat this man’s chest openly if she was in her place but  Catherine desperately needed this gentleman’s sugar coating right now. Why? That way, she could prove that Rashid’s words hadn’t shaken her at all. She would still be able to feel her heart flutter even if he wasn’t the guy in front of her.

“Duchess, are you alright? Even if you are weak, you might collapse like this.”

“What?”

In that regard, no other person was more suitable than Darren. He was the only person who could instill an image of a true gentleman in a single mother who wasn’t immune to males.

‘Alright. If I want to make my heart flutter, I should be thrilled by a man like this instead of having sleepless nights because of that blunt and brutal Emperor.’ Rashid could make her heart pound hard but she would have to take that secret to the grave. It was so embarrassing to admit that the man who made her heart flutter for the first time in her past and present life was a tyrant.

“Mom, why don’t you come get me?”

“Yes, baby.” Perhaps, that’s why her lies came out so well today. As she picked up Haniel, who was rushing towards her, she rubbed her cheek against her face as if she had been waiting to do so. This moment was the happiest and most overwhelming experience she had in her life. Yes. She didn’t need anything more! With such a warm existence, what else could she ask for?

“You’re late, Catherine.”

“…”

The mother and daughter, who were both moved by the reunion in half a day, felt a twinge in an instant.

Haniel was also trembling as she was and their cheeks separated from each other.

“Your Majesty, what are you doing here?”

“I thought you weren’t coming so I have to come here.”

“I sent a message in advance that maybe I can’t make it today. I’m a little under the weather.”

“What are you doing here?”

“… … .”

‘Get your eyes and ears together, Catherine.’

If she had a crush on a man like this for a moment, her five senses were truly at fault. It was a pity that he couldn’t easily fix it on this day because she had been living like this until now.

“… … .”

Rashid also looked regretful when his cold gaze landed on her old shoes. It wasn’t even her fault but it was the kind of look that made her feel like she had committed a big mistake.

*CRIES*

“…”

Just when she was in the mood to cry, her princess burst into tears instead of her. She had been fluttering her feathers since earlier, so she must have been recharging her energy to wail.

“Older brother is here! He’s here again! He’s not supposed to be here, but he’s here again!”

“Fail, oppa, come again! Come on again! Oppa, I’m not going to come, but I’m going to come again!”

“Ah, baby.”

“He keeps coming! This is our house. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.”

For Haniel, it was a situation that made her go crazy enough to throw a tantrum. She had been able to get here by running away from a faraway place but the next day, a human, called her eldest brother, visited without permission. Still, seeing what Haniel was doing, it seemed like the right decision to close her heart.

“Why is your daughter like that again?”

“Oh, no big deal. Ah, by the way, this is Mr. Darren I mentioned before. No, Darren———”