Chapter 17

“Sigh.”

I let out a long sigh and didn’t add anything else.

No matter how much I complained or tried to persuade him, it wouldn’t work on Dad.

If I suddenly said, “I think that guy is totally bad. Dad, you’re being fooled by him,” without any proof…

‘I’d get lectured for two hours!’

Things like not judging people recklessly, not speaking badly about someone important to others, and all that.

‘I don’t want that!’

More importantly, what if I said the wrong thing and Dad ended up disliking me?

I’d hate that even more.

I shook my head violently and slumped my shoulders.

If only my other dads were here, at least they would’ve listened to me…

‘Hm?’

Wait a second.

The other dads are on their way here right now.

What if I tell the dads who come to the imperial palace about all the suspicious things concerning Bertolt and ask for their help?

‘Perfect. I’ll wait.’

Unlike Daddy Harzen, the others can judge Bertolt objectively!

Of course, that didn’t mean I could just sit around doing nothing until they arrived.

The moment they arrived, the original story progress would reset.

‘Which means we’d be one step closer to Mom’s death.’

I needed to prepare thoroughly so the original story wouldn’t start even after the dads arrived at the imperial palace!

“Dad, I’ll do my best.”

“Good. Grow up strong and healthy.”

Thinking I was responding to his earlier comment about me still being young, Dad lightly pinched my cheek.

Meanwhile, I clenched both fists and made a vow.

I will save the person Dad loves most in the world.

Even if that means bringing down the person he trusts most.

To do that, I needed to keep Operation Constant Bertolt Surveillance running.

‘But how do I watch him?’

Mom and Dad would never leave me alone, so sneaking around the imperial palace wasn’t an option.

And Daddy Kyle’s invisibility cloak had already been confiscated…

‘No, I can do this.’

Come to think of it, Bertolt is the only person Dad completely trusts in this palace.

So whenever Mom and Dad need to leave me somewhere, won’t they entrust me to Bertolt?

Then I can monitor him without needing any tricks!

“I think I understand Dad now.”

With a heart that had suddenly become much more generous, I smiled like a benevolent Buddha.

Go ahead and trust Bertolt all you want for now, Dad.

I’ll take care of the rest.

* * *

But life never goes the way you want it to.

“You seem dissatisfied for some reason.”

The Emperor spoke, his blue eyes glimmering strangely.

That’s right.

Early this morning, I had been summoned to his office by imperial command.

Of course, Dad hated it.

Really, really, really hated it.

‘Dad can’t beat Mom, though.’

According to Mom, Dad had eventually surrendered after she said there wasn’t time to waste.

“N-No…”

I shook my head with an awkward smile.

This must all be because I’m so adorable that I managed to pique the Emperor’s curiosity.

Anyway, now that things had come to this, there was no helping it.

“Did you sleep well?”

I casually greeted the Emperor as though nothing were wrong.

The Emperor tilted his head slightly before speaking again.

“You look as though you didn’t sleep very well.”

“Gasp.”

I immediately touched my face.

You can tell?

I had been tossing and turning all night because I was worried Bertolt might change his mind while I was asleep.

“Well, it’s your first time staying somewhere unfamiliar. That can’t be helped.”

The corners of the Emperor’s lips lifted faintly, as though he found my reaction amusing.

“If you’d like, I’ll have your bedroom recreated exactly as it is at home.”

“No! It’s okay!”

I shook my head even faster than before.

I don’t want to experience the taste of power through something like this!

“The bed was super soft. It felt like sleeping on a cloud. It didn’t shake at all, and it was really comfortable.”

“Hm.”

“Princess bed is the best!”

I gave a thumbs-up while listing all the bed’s virtues.

The bed really hadn’t done anything wrong, after all.

“So that’s how it is. Then I’m relieved.”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow and replied casually.

“Stop standing there and sit down.”

“Oh, okay.”

Just as I started walking toward the sofa in one corner of the office.

“Not there.”

The Emperor stopped me before I could take another step.

Then he tapped his knee.

“Sit here.”

I immediately widened my eyes.

“Huh?”

Since when were we that close…?

“R-Really…?”

Unable to stop myself, I carefully asked again.

‘Is that allowed?’

No matter how I thought about it, sitting on the Emperor’s lap felt like something I definitely shouldn’t do.

Wouldn’t one of the knights outside immediately arrest me while shouting, “You dare sit on His Majesty’s lap, you insolent child!”?

“Do I look like I’d say such a thing as a joke?”

The Emperor tilted his head as though he genuinely couldn’t understand my reaction.

“If you sit over there, it makes it difficult for me to focus on my work. The chair is too low, so I’d have to keep bending over.”

“Oh?”

Then shouldn’t I just sit there by myself?

Wouldn’t having me on your lap make it even harder to concentrate?

“…Come here already.”

Perhaps even he thought it was a poor excuse, because the Emperor frowned and urged me again.

Then he narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Or do you dislike the idea?”

“N-No.”

It’s not that I dislike it.

‘Actually, I like it.’

This means the Emperor is completely favorable toward me.

If I keep this momentum going, I can gather as much information as possible about Dad and Bertolt.

I quickly shook my head and cautiously walked forward.

Since the Emperor personally ordered it, that knight guy won’t arrest me, right?

Still, can I really sit there…?

Just as I stopped in front of him and hesitated once more.

“Hm.”

The Emperor suddenly lifted me up and placed me on his lap.

I froze and swallowed hard.

Gasp. I really ended up sitting on the Emperor’s lap.

You shouldn’t compare people to chairs, but if you think about it, this is basically the most valuable chair in the world.

‘I’m so nervous!’

I couldn’t even wiggle a finger and sat stiffly like a statue.

And at that very moment, a large hand gently settled on top of my head.

Startled, I looked up at the Emperor.

“…Seeing you up close, you’re even smaller than I thought.”

His touch was infinitely careful.

Like someone handling a porcelain doll that might shatter at any moment.

It felt different from when Mom or Dad patted my head.

The sensation of his wrinkled hand.

The hesitant touch that seemed ready to pull away at any moment tickled my heart.

After stroking my head several more times, the Emperor slowly continued.

“This is the first time I’ve ever held someone like this. It makes me nervous as well.”

I widened my eyes once again.

“I’m the first?”

“Yes.”

The Emperor slowly nodded.

“It seems old age has made me sentimental.”

No, no.

This isn’t just a case of becoming sentimental with age.

‘That means he’s never held his own children like this.’

How is that even possible?

The moment I wake up in the morning, Daddy Derek hugs me.

While eating lunch, Daddy Kyle hugs me.

While reading bedtime stories in the evening, Daddy Harzen hugs me.

And before going to sleep, Daddy Shion hugs me.

You have at least three sons and you’ve never held a child even once?