Chapter 10 (1/2)

Episode 10

This is translated by Bane with Editing by Morin (currently unedited version)

“It’s great like this, Stiana.”

I also gave him a boost to his words.

Sitting down on his knee felt like a prickly cushion as I watched the meat brown.

The emperor held me with one arm and sliced the meat thinly with the other.

He blew on the cut pieces with a ‘Ho-ho’ and brought it to my mouth.

I ate like a baby bird that was being fed by its parents.

The princes looked at me with envy.

They glanced at us sneakingly as if they weren’t looking this way.

They were usually cool as if they didn’t care about not receiving their father’s love, but they would still be envious of what they didn’t have.

I chewed at the meat for a long time on purpose.

While my mouth was full the emperor held what he had cut off and gave it to the princes once in a while.

The princes were thrilled by the action that had never happened in the meantime before.

The emperor often looked to see if everything in my mouth had disappeared.

But I chewed my food for even longer intentionally, and the princes were able to eat much more.

The princes were both still young and not loved even by their own mothers.

The emperor seemed to think that the princes should grow up strong, but showing them a bit of love wouldn’t harm them.

“Stiana, what are you doing chewing for so long?”

The emperor said, “You kept munching on the meat so that the princes could eat it five times over.”

Now I felt like I had to swallow it, so I gulped it down, and the emperor cut another slice of meat as if he had been waiting for me to finish my piece.

Then, at the same time, small arms popped out from here and there.

The princes seemed to be waiting to feed me themselves.

“Dad, Stiana wants to eat what her brother gives her.”

Karhill’s words had the emperor give him a look to stop playing around.

“I’m telling you, Dad, Stiana. You want to eat what my brother gives you, right?”

Adelgio looked at me and asked, and I nodded my head.

It was quite embarrassing at times like this.

I just want them to end the tug-of-war on their own, but they keep dragging me back into the trouble.

Adelgio looked triumphant and held out a piece of meat, but it was too big to fit in my mouth.

“Stupid.”

Karhill shook his head and held out a smaller cut of meat.

But now it was too hot.

“Cool it down first, Karhill! Are you going to burn Stiana’s tongue?!”

The emperor shouted out like a bolt of lightning.

There was no kindness from him when the princes made mistakes, as if the only time he could be gentle was only to treat me.

Karhill became sullen trying to feed me meat.

Eventually, I blew on the meat myself going ‘ho-ho’ and ate what Karhill gave me.

“Drink what Karhill oppa gives you!”

“Right? If it’s a little hot, you can cool it down in your mouth and eat it.”

Karhill said, pouting his lips as if he was sorry for the emperor.

“Stiana, eat a lot and grow up like your brothers so we can do swordsmanship and play together.”

Adelgio, who patted my head, spoke.

I felt good and my stomach was full, so I ended up falling asleep on the emperor’s lap.

I was sleeping comfortably for a long time when I heard a whisper.

“Find out who’s missing.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“But didn’t you notice anything before Stiana had started crying?”

“This, I’m sorry. Your Majesty.”

It seemed to be the leader of the Knights who was speaking to the emperor.

I listened in on their conversation with my eyes closed.

“Stiana knew. She must have sensed something. That’s why she cried. This child seems to have the ability to sense danger.”

“Her highness the princess had called out for your Majesty.”

“Yes, it’s not just because she cried. Stiana cried on purpose in order to bring us together. And she also knew he had disappeared.”

“…”

The Knights Commander seemed unable to speak because he knew how much the emperor loved me, but he still didn’t seem to believe it.

“Your face looks like you find it unbelievable.”

“Your Majesty, how could I look so? I believe it. Your Majesty, her Highness is the blessing of the Eastion Empire.”

“I’m not asking you to say such lip service. From now on, look carefully at the princess, and if her expression is strange, be more vigilant around her. She senses danger in advance.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, I will bear this in mind.”

The emperor held me higher and put his face on my cheek.

“This child, she must be protected. By any and all means necessary.”

His voice got wet.

People in the world may not have had the chance to know him properly.

The outward appearance was centered on his achievements.

He didn’t want to know or listen to his agony.