Chapter 13

And so, some time later.

I sat at a hastily prepared table inside the audience chamber, swinging my legs back and forth.

A wide variety of snacks had been laid out in front of me.

As for how things ended up this way…

‘By the time I realized what was happening, everything had already been set up.’

People had suddenly rushed in carrying tables and chairs.

Then came warm, freshly baked cookies, fruits, and even beautiful cakes I’d never eaten at home before.

So this is the power of an Emperor.

“It’s delicious.”

I stuffed a cookie into my mouth and spoke while covering it with my hand.

The Emperor gracefully raised a hand and casually slid a tart toward me.

‘It feels like he’s been taking care of me this whole time.’

Even the cookie I’d just eaten had been handed to me by the Emperor himself.

Holding the tart, I kept sneaking glances at him.

His expression was still scary.

But something, something just…

“If you’d like more, I can have some brought in.”

At that moment, he spoke again.

“Umm, as for me…”

I instinctively started ranking the snacks before quickly shaking my head.

Get a grip, Cecilia.

Just because you never got to eat things like this at home doesn’t mean you should fall for snacks.

The enemy is sitting right in front of you!

I looked at Bertolt, who was seated to the Emperor’s left and watching me.

‘Don’t be fooled.’

I’m a child who knows moderation.

“I shouldn’t eat too much. They say it’s bad for you.”

“So you know how to restrain yourself.”

The Emperor slowly nodded.

At the same time, a strange certainty began forming in my mind.

No matter how I look at it…

‘I think he actually likes me quite a bit.’

Well, I did make a good impression earlier.

Or maybe he thinks I’m Daddy Harzen’s biological daughter?

Is this the power of royal blood?

“Child.”

While I was lost in thought, the Emperor addressed me again.

“That boy doesn’t seem likely to answer honestly, so I’ll ask you instead.”

Eyes as piercingly blue as Harzen’s focused entirely on me.

“Who is your biological father?”

“Well…”

The moment had finally arrived.

I set down the tart I’d been about to eat and answered firmly.

“I don’t know either.”

“…”

“Mom never told me.”

Sounds like a lie, doesn’t it?

But it’s true.

Mom had never once told me who my biological father was.

Ever since I was born, all four of them had been my dads.

And I had been their daughter.

“Have you never thought your family situation was unusual?”

This time Bertolt tilted his head with interest.

I remained wary of him, but answered honestly.

“I have.”

The other village kids only had one dad.

I was the only one with four.

Of course I was curious.

Kids had asked me before.

“Why do you have four dads?”

But…

“Just because it’s unusual doesn’t mean it’s bad.”

This world was originally that kind of world.

And even if it wasn’t, there was nothing wrong with our family.

“The other kids were jealous. They said I had four dads to play with me.”

They complained that their dads always told them to go play outside but never played with them themselves.

Feeling proud, I puffed out my chest.

In that sense, my dads really are the best.

They never get tired, they’re always asking me to play with them, they’re annoying…

…Wait, are they really the best?

“Then.”

The Emperor spoke again with a stern expression.

‘Eek.’

When you keep staring at me with that face, of course I’m going to get scared.

I flinched before quickly hypnotizing myself.

The Emperor doesn’t dislike me.

That’s just what his face looks like.

I have an incredibly strong Mom and Dads who defeated the demon king and can destroy the world…

“Are you not curious about who your biological father is?”

Unaware of my internal struggle, he continued questioning me without softening his expression.

Only then did I stop hypnotizing myself and think about his question.

Was I curious about who my biological father was?

‘Of course I am.’

But that’s only because I’m a reader who read the original story.

As Cecilia Miller…

“Not really.”

I deliberately answered in an even clearer voice.

“Mom said she and my dads made a promise before I was born.”

“…”

“They promised that from the moment I was born, they’d all be my parents. So they’d all love me equally.”

As equal parents.

As guardians who would equally share responsibility, duty, love, and devotion.

“So all four of them are my real dads.”

The people who always love me.

The people who always love Mom.

The people I’m always proud of and love.

My dads.

“So I’m not curious at all.”

And besides.

If the world’s going to be destroyed anyway, what does it matter?

‘Suddenly I feel depressed.’

Actually, forget what I said about being proud of them.

This whole situation is happening because my dads failed to protect Mom in time.

“Sigh.”

The gloomy thoughts hit me all at once, and I accidentally let out a sigh.

The Emperor’s blue eyes immediately narrowed.

I instantly snapped back to reality.

Oh no.

I just sighed in front of the Emperor.

I’ve become a child who ate her manners along with her snacks!

“U-Umm…”

I quickly straightened my posture and tried to think of a way to recover.

Then…

“You must have been asked that question quite often before.”

The Emperor spoke first.

There was even a faint trace of sympathy in his voice.

My eyes grew even rounder.

So that’s how he interpreted my sigh.

‘I think he’s completely misunderstood.’

Me?

Frequently asked that question?

Not even once.

“Hehe.”

I scratched the back of my head and smiled awkwardly.

At times like this, vague answers are best.

“Given the circumstances, it couldn’t be helped.”

This time Bertolt spoke with a gentle smile.

“It seems those men are determined to keep it hidden, so openly asking about this little one’s biological father would be difficult.”

“I’m not a little one.”

And your guess is completely wrong too.

Trying not to lose, I widened my eyes and answered sharply.

“That part really is exactly like Harzen when he was young…”

As though examining an interesting toy, Bertolt murmured softly.

What was he trying to learn from me?

Whatever it was, I had no intention of making it easy.

Did he think he was the only one who could investigate me?

‘I can do it too!’

When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back.

“By the way.”

I don’t know all those titles like Your Majesty and Your Highness.

Because I’m just a country girl named Cece who arrived in the capital for the first time.

Blinking innocently, I spoke.

“Are you Daddy Harzen’s older brother? And is Grandpa Daddy Harzen’s dad?”

“…Haha.”

Bertolt blinked in surprise before letting out a small laugh.

“That’s right. I’m Harzen’s older brother.”

“Ah.”

Pretending to focus on my snacks, I muttered quietly.

“Then why didn’t Daddy tell me he had a brother…?”

“Hm?”

Bertolt’s eyes widened further.

“Do you mean Harzen has never mentioned me even once?”

“Nope. That’s why it’s surprising.”

I answered with a bright smile.

I didn’t expect him to react so quickly.

Still wearing an innocent expression, I picked up the tart again.

‘I was only testing the waters.’

Bertolt wasn’t described in great detail in the original story.

But there was one line I remembered clearly.

[Bertolt, despite his arrogant and narcissistic personality, always took exceptional care of Harzen.]

And the important part was obviously…

‘His narcissistic personality.’

Think about it.

Just a moment ago.

The Emperor was sitting right beside him, yet he introduced himself specifically as Harzen’s family member.

‘The kind of person who thinks everything revolves around him and that he’s the most important person.’

That was Bertolt.

I still didn’t know why he treated Daddy so well.

But anyway.

How would someone like that react to hearing…

“I’ve never even heard of you.”

“How strange.”

Exactly like this.

I quietly watched Bertolt as he stared blankly into space.