Chapter 12

I could not deny it, Ira’s unrequited love was impossible to ignore.

It had begun when he took his daughter to the palace.

But of course…he never believed that this love would last 12 years.

Maybe his mistake was not stopping her, but he didn’t take it seriously, it was a little crush.

He accepted it, believing that in time she would get over it. But she ended up exceeding his expectations.

The Duke believed that there should be a passionate experience in a person’s life, at least once, so he supported his loving daughter.

Although part of him knew, the only reason he encouraged his daughter, was because he was sure that the Crown Prince would never reciprocate her feelings.

They could not end up together. Their union would only put the Duke in the sights of the Imperial Court, and it was very likely that his family would be hurt by a seemingly innocent love.

This was because there would be a coronation and with it a war of power. A war that would end with people choosing the wrong side.

Regardless of whether you have a good relationship with the Crown Prince or not, you should attend the palace for the honor of your family and the welfare of the kingdom.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince, or the present Emperor, was not interested in Ira. In fact, he had drawn a clear line.

The Duke had witnessed the way Rubelus treated his daughter, in a dignified and very polite way in times when he was only the Crown Prince. Which, for his luck, had turned out to be beneficial.

After so much rejection, his daughter was finally able to open her eyes and accept her reality, just as she expected. She was finally able to choose herself and not live behind others.

Everything had been quiet until now, that was what the Duke tried to repeat over and over again in his head, it was impossible that the Emperor had felt something for his daughter in the past and refused to accept that he felt something in the present…

Although his immature daughter suffered a violent reaction after experiencing her first unrequited love, her parents, the Duke and his wife, were able to help her move on.

But there was something…

That unrequited love…

The Duke’s eyes shook slightly with bewilderment.

What if…it had all been a plan of the Emperor? If he had only pretended not to reciprocate his daughter’s feelings?

Did he hide his true intentions so well and was now willing to reveal his plans?

If that were the case…

_____“Darling, you look terrible.”

The Duke, who had been so focused on his thoughts, looked at his wife as if he had woken up from a dream.

He held her in his arms lightly, trying to reassure her, although that innocent action seemed to need him more than she did.

Either way he could be wrong, drawing hasty conclusions about the Emperor’s intentions…it was better not to think about it.

Yes, perhaps they were just distorted ideas in her head.

He sighed and smiled at his wife.

_____“As I grow older, I am worried. Don’t worry too much. I’ll tell you all about it as soon as I understand what’s going on.

_____“It’s all right, dear.”

The Duchess nodded and looked at her husband, who turned his back on you and plunged back into his thoughts.

Not going out was one of my mother’s main punishments, after my little escape…I went back to when I was a child, where if she said ‘You will not go out’ I had to obey without complaint. Of course, I never obeyed that rule.

The first punishment I remember was probably when I was seven years old. When I destroyed all the elegant flower varieties that the gardener had planted with great pride.

And I was also punished for not finishing my algebra homework and sneaking into the kitchen to get a glass of milk and cookies.

Yes, I wasn’t really a very exemplary child.

Anyway, these punishments were always my nightmare, my mother knew the perfect way to affect me, I loved my freedom so much.

I like to go out, walk around, enjoy life!

But when I am forbidden to go out, my creativity is great…

_____“You can’t lock me up!”

Hahaha! I smiled coldly and placed my hands on my waist. Standing in front of a full-length mirror in the dressing room, I wore a loose shirt and jodhpurs for men with a very short haircut.

__________*T/N: Jodhpurs are a kind of baggy pants that gets thight below the knees.

Of course, this is just a wig. I smiled and looked around. My breasts were bandaged and somehow I achieved just the look I wanted.

I had bought a short black wig when I went out for the last time. My blue eyes were glowing and my face without makeup highlighted my fine features.

Am I not beautiful?

I smiled as I looked in the mirror.

_____“Miss, I’m not sure about this, do you think it will work?

Samara laid out some boots for me, very concerned, she was a very special person to me.

I received the boots and said in a good mood

_____“Oh, don’t worry, Samara. If I get caught, it’s my fault.”

_____“If you are caught, you will be condemned, many things can go wrong!”

_____“I have escaped several times before. You can’t stop me, I’ve decided, don’t worry too much, okay?”

I put on my boots and smiled, they were the present Elpine had given me for my birthday and today was the day they were to be launched.

Besides, these boots have more heel than I thought. I also liked them a lot.

I put on a cape and, with my little triangular cap, I covered my head.

_____“What do you think? Do I look like a man?

She looked at me up and down for a moment, then answered calmly.

_____“No way.”

_____“What?

I can’t believe it!

I turned my head and looked in the mirror.

I look like a man!

However, Samara shakes her head enthusiastically as she looks at me in the mirror.

_____“You don’t look like a man. You are too old to try to imitate a child as you used to. In these three years, your height is different, your features are more delicate, your chest is prominent…I think you are announcing that you are a woman who has dressed as a man on purpose. They might think you’re a pervert, and you’ll be, you’ll never be seen as a man!”

_____“Come on, a pervert…”

Samara’s point seemed to sink into my body. I stumbled as if I had been hit by an arrow, and made a crying face.

_____“What should I do then?”

_____“You shouldn’t leave….”

_____“I refuse!”

Samara recoiled at my little tantrum, and then her eyebrows rose.

_____“The only way out is for you to take Dale with you.”

_____“Dale?”

I had a pretty scared look on my face. Dale Granny was a gardener. The stubborn gardener who could swear hated me.

He is not a very friendly person and even though I am the daughter of such an important person, he treats me like an annoying child.

I think he has hated me ever since I plucked his flowers and has been yelling at me several times since then.

He didn’t like it at all…he’s a very scary man.

_____“Otherwise, you won’t get out.”

She really couldn’t be serious…

_____“I can’t just let you go alone, it could be very dangerous, besides, Dale said he would go buy some seeds. He is reliable, so this is my last offer. You won’t leave this house without Dale.”

I frowned and rolled my eyes, this couldn’t be true, come on don’t be like that…

I looked at the wedding invitation on the dressing room shelf. You can see the crumpled lavender color and a familiar pattern appearing before my eyes.

I tightened my lips and then my fists.

No.

I have to go today.

_____“It’s okay.

I nodded heavily. I heard her scream of joy and almost grunted in response. She never thought I would accept.

I guess she planned everything in advance…

_____“Really? You’re going with Dale?

_____“I can’t help it. I really have to go out today.”

I shrugged my shoulders, and then frowned again at Samara.

_____“Then… Help me! I want to look like a boy.”

_____“Oh my God.”

She sighed, then stared at me. Her eyes scanned me from top to bottom, much sharper than before.

_____“Okay, let’s cover your breasts, let’s get you a tight black tie and a shirt, maybe a hat would do you good…that way we could cover your feminine features more accurately.”

_____“That’s it?”

I smiled, it was simple.

I ran excitedly to get the clothes she had told me about. I’m going to be a man!

_____“Oh, no, miss. Don’t make such a mess!”

_____“Help me! I’m in a hurry!”

I shouted to Samara, who was running after me, and I started to crush the piles of clothes.

It’s time for me to become a man!