My Mom Entered a Contract Marriage - Chapter 4

Immediately, she bowed her head and placed her hands together neatly.

“Then I’ll take my leave now.”

“Why?”

When His Majesty asked crookedly, Lilica looked up again in surprise.

“What?”

“Come here.”

At his gesturing hand, Lilica took a step forward hesitantly. His Majesty beckoned.

“Come over here.”

“Why are you harassing the cute Princess?”

His Majesty frowned at the brown-haired man’s words.

“When have I ever harassed you? I’m just asking you to come here. Come on over here.”

Lilica plucked up her courage and circled around the desk to stand in front of him.

As such, His Majesty surprisingly lifted her up and sat her down facing him on his lap.

“It feels like I’m lifting a candy wrapper up. I can only hear the rustling sound of clothes. She adored her daughter so much, and yet she made you starve?”

His Majesty’s words made Lilica angry. If anything, she couldn’t stand her mother being badmouthed!

“I didn’t starve!”

“Then, why are you so light? I think you’d fall if I pushed you with a finger.”

“I’m strong.”

Lilica rebutted unknowingly. She was used to doing so, as she was unable to get a job if she wasn’t healthy.

“But look, just like this.”

His Majesty held his middle finger with his thumb and flicked. With a snap, an impact passed.

“?!”

Lilica’s head dipped backwards from her precarious position that’s facing him and she fell on the floor.

“!!”

Lilica turned red.

While both her forehead and head hurt, she felt more embarrassed and ashamed, so Lilica scrambled to get up hurriedly.

Fortunately, a soft carpet was covering the ground, so she managed to avoid being seriously injured.

But the other two shouted in astonishment.

“Your Majesty!”

“Altheos!”

The knight that unknowingly called out the emperor’s name approached and lifted Lilica up in an instant.

“Oh, Princess. You’re as light as a sugar cookie.”

“Your Majesty, goodness, what are you doing? Princess, are you alright? Your forehead is turning red. How’s the back of your head? Now, does it hurt when I touch it like this?”

At their worried expressions and their kind tone, Lilica held back her tears.

“I—I’m alright.”

However, anyone could see the tears brimming in her eyes. The man’s voice turned frosty.

“Your Majesty.”

“She said that she’s strong.”

“Your Majesty.”

“Atil was perfectly fine.”

“Isn’t His Highness the Crown Prince a boy and a Takar?”

At those words, His Majesty sighed deeply and said.

“I’m sorry, it’s my first time with a daughter.”

“At least call for a doctor. Here, please have a seat. Princess.”

He put Lilica on the sofa on one side of the office and said.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself. My name is Lat Sandar. The big guy over there is called Tan Wolf, calling him Tan will do. While it’s unfortunate for the Empire, surprisingly, he’s the Knight Commander of the Imperial Guard.”

At those words, Tan snorted and growled.

“You being the Chancellor is the Empire’s true misfortune.”

“You seem to possess a rather pitiful level of wit, seeing as how you’re only capable of using the words of others to respond.”

“What—”

Lat ignored Tan’s words and spoke.

“Goodness, Princess. You have a lump on your forehead.”

Lat sighed, and His Majesty—Altheos called for an attendant. Call for a doctor, he said, and added.

“Bring some sort of snack over. Something that the princess would like.”

Altheos words caused an odd gleam to enter the attendant’s eyes. After watching him leave quickly, Lat told Altheos with an amused look.

“While I think trying to cover up the situation with something delicious is lowly, that isn’t the case given the current situation.”

Regardless of the newly married empress’ evaluation, everyone deliberated over how they should treat the adopted daughter, Lilica.

If the emperor calls Lilica into his office at this period of time and provides a doctor and snacks to her, their attitude would naturally change.

After all, the best backing within the imperial palace was the emperor.

Altheos stared at his new daughter.

In fact, he had completely forgotten about his daughter’s existence. But now, he wouldn’t be able to forget her.

‘How can there be such an impactful appearance?’

While the brown, wavy hair, and the smart impression she gave off was completely different from her mother, her eyes were of a similar shade.

Lilica met His Majesty’s gaze directly. Her forehead throbbed.

Her first impression of His Majesty was like that.

He was tall, very handsome, but for some reason, he didn’t seem like a human.

She heard that he was a very scary person, but she looked at him like this, she thought that he was a good person.

After a while, the imperial doctor entered the room. With his physician’s bag in hand, the imperial doctor flinched upon seeing the various people present in the office.

His Majesty the Emperor, the Chancellor, as well as the Knight Commander of the Imperial Guard. The key figures of the empire were present.

The doctor asked, “Where were you hurt?” and after inspecting Lilica’s wound, he told her that the swelling would subside quickly after applying ointment.

After a while, the doctor applied ointment on his forehead and applied a bandage on it. As soon as he took his leave, the attendant came in with a snack.

There was a small cup containing chocolate, and a bowl containing stick-shaped fried bread. It was evident that the chef had racked his brains as he was pressed for time to make this snack.

“You can dip the bread in a cup of chocolate and eat it like that.”

After the attendant explained kindly, he backed away. The hesitant Lilica looked at the beautiful silver tray and asked.

“You’re not going to eat it with me?”

“I’m fine, so go ahead, child.”

“Wasn’t this ordered for the Princess? Please help yourself.”

Altheos and Tan alternately spoke, so Lilica used a silver fork to lift a stick of fried bread gingerly, dipped it in chocolate, and put it in her mouth.

“!!”

Her eyes became round and her expression brightened up. The expressions of the three adult men became merry.

“I can’t believe there’s something like this in the world,” said Lilica, and began to eat the chocolate dipped bread diligently.

“Let’s also order a drink.”

“Milk should do, right?”

After eating the sweet bread and washing her palate with milk, Lilica exhaled, “Phew.”

“Thank you for the meal.”

With both hands tightly clutching the glass out of fear of dropping it, Lilica expressed her gratitude.

When she looked up to say her greetings, she was startled as the three of them were staring at her so intently.

“Excuse me, is there something on my face?”

She wondered if she’d been sloppy while she ate, but Lat shook his head.

“No, it’s just that the Princess is very cute.”

Lilica’s face flushed at Lat’s words. It was her first time hearing someone tell her that she’s cute.

Her mother was very beautiful, and she felt ashamed that she couldn’t match her in that aspect, so when she heard that, she couldn’t help but wiggle her fingers and toes.

“T—thank you.”

“I was telling the truth. More importantly, Princess, did the Empress tell you about that story?”

“What?”

“The story that the Empress is being bullied every night.”

“No, it isn’t her!”

Frightened, Lilica shook her head vigorously. She was afraid that her mother might be misunderstood for making her go to them.

“It was my idea to come here.”

“Then who told you that?”

Lilica became troubled by Lat’s words and she lowered her gaze to a cup in her hands.

“That’s, it’s just…….”

“I see.”

Lat nodded and continued with another question.

“Then, this is a different question, but do you like your current life?”

Lilica raised her head and replied to Lat’s words.

“I’m currently working hard.”

While her response was a little off the mark, Lat still maintained his smile.

“I understand that, too. Your Majesty, why don’t you make Brynn the Princess’ lady-in-waiting?”

Tan raised an eyebrow, and Altheos looked at Lat for a moment and then nodded.

“Sure.”

“Yes, I think someone young would be a better fit.”

Lat spoke with a gentle smile and looked back at Lilica.

Lilica thought that while Lat appeared gentle, he wasn’t someone that’s as kind as he seemed.

‘Kind people rarely are someone of high standing.’

Although kindness wasn’t synonymous with being soft-hearted, it was similar in Lilica’s mind.

A person with a high rank is resolute, and even callous at times.

As such, wouldn’t Lat, the Chancellor, be like that?

“Well then, I’ll let the two of you talk about work. Let me escort the Princess back.”

Tan waved his hand and broke the impasse. Lilica quickly hopped down from the sofa and spoke.

“It’s alright. I can go back by myself.”

“Of course not. The Princess can’t wander around alone. Though I can ask an attendant to escort you, let me do so today.”

Tan winked and said.

“Thanks to you, I can ditch work for a while.”

Unsure of how she should respond, Lilica said, “Is that so?” and Tan lifted her up suddenly and set her on his shoulders.

“Kkyahhh?!”

Tan held the alarmed Lilica’s leg tightly.

Nothing embarrassing occurred as she wore underwear and several layers of petticoats inside, but it was a sufficiently embarrassing posture.

“S—Sir Tan.”

“You can just call me Tan. A Takar never addresses others like that, unless it’s amongst themselves.”

Tan grinned and left the office with Lilica on his shoulders. Astonishment filled the eyes of the waiting attendant.

Of course, Lilica was so embarrassed that she didn’t notice that.

It was so high that she was…not scared of falling.

Tan’s hands were securing her tightly, and his shoulders were broad and comfortable.

Moreover, it was quite fun to look down at her surroundings from such a high angle.

‘Alright, let’s not be ashamed. For all I know, this might be how princesses walk around? You’re a princess, Lilica. Let’s act like a princess.’

She tried her best to regain her dignity from her position on his shoulders.

“Guide me to the Princess’ residence.”

At Tan’s words, the attendant began leading the way. Lilica looked around and suddenly asked a thought that came to her mind.

“By the way, Tan.”

Her heart felt a little ticklish at calling out the name of someone that’s much older and of a higher standing than her.

“Yes, Princess.”

However, Tan responded readily, like he didn’t care about that.

“If you’re a Wolf, do you know the knight Lauv…?”

The reason the end of her words trailed off like that was because she was changed from honorifics to normal speech. Tan nodded.

“He’s part of my family, too. As he’s a distant cousin.”

“As I’d expected. Could you tell him that I’m sorry for the bad words?”

At Lilica’s quiet whisper, Tan asked with an interested expression.

“Bad words?”

“Well, I thought Lauv was trying to kidnap me…”

At the words that followed, Tan smiled comfortably again.

“How harsh could the Princess’ bad words have been? I’ll convey it to him though.”

“Mm.”

Only then did Lilica relax and turn her gaze to the front.

When they reached the doors to her room, he set Lilica down and said.

“It was quite fun, even though only those nasty people were around. I’ll get going now.”

After a polite greeting and turning around, Tan somehow seemed like a knight, and Lilica let out a long exhale.

She had used too much energy since this morning. She decided to rest until Madam Gwendolyn comes.

‘But the fried bread was delicious. Chocolate, too.’

How should she describe that dreamy taste? She didn’t expect that black liquid to taste so good.

As Lilica said that, she jumped onto the high chair that’s placed next to the window.

She could see a part of the garden from here, so she could only sit close to the window like this.

She stared blankly at the garden and when she opened the spelling book, the sounds of a commotion trickled in from outside.

The doors opened widely and a girl that appeared to be around fifteen years old entered. Her neat, bobbed haircut and shiny headband came into view.

She strode over, executed a curtsy before the seated Lilica skillfully, and said.

“My name is Brynn Sol, Your Highness the Princess. I’ll be Your Highness’ lady-in-waiting from today onwards. I’ll be in your hands.”

Oh! That’s right. Lat had mentioned something like that earlier.

Lilica nodded.

“I’ll also be in your care.”

Brynn straightened up from her position and clasped her hands.

“Now then, Princess, His Majesty has given an order for your room to be shifted. Let us do so now.”

“Oh?”

“Now, don’t worry and follow me. The luggage will be moved by the servants.”

Lilica was a little bewildered, but it was His Majesty’s order, so she had no choice but to obey.

When she entered the new room, Lilica let out an exclamation.

The room she’d originally stayed in was extravagant and pretty.

But it couldn’t be compared to this. When she entered the room, there was a lovely reception area, and the expanse of the garden was visible through the window at a glance.

The bedroom’s windows were also large, and the window frame was thin and beautiful.

This room seemed to be around three times wider than the place she was staying at in the beginning, and it seems like just walking around in here would be a workout.

Brynn asked.

“How is it, Princess? Do you like your new room? It’s also very close to the Empress’s quarters.”

“Really? Yes, I like it. I can see the garden clearly from the window… Can I go out and take a look?”

Her previous room didn’t have a balcony, but this room had quite a spacious balcony.

“Of course.”

Brynn opened the windows, so Lilica stepped into the balcony cautiously.

“Wow!”

She let out a joyful exclamation. Although her heart pounded as she stood at such a high place, she felt very happy.

It felt similar to when the Knight Commander gave her a ride on his shoulders earlier.

The balcony was relatively spacious, enough for her to have tea in.

Brynn smiled, relieved.

“I’m glad that you like it, Princess. The room is called the ‘White Dragon Chamber’.”

“White Dragon Chamber?”

“Yes, you’re aware that Takar’s first emperor is a dragon, right?

In the Sun Palace, all the rooms that members of the imperial family used have ‘dragon’ attached to them. His Highness the Crown Prince lives in the Black Dragon Chamber. The Empress’s room is always named the Silver Dragon Chamber.”

“I see.”

Lilica had no idea.

‘Then, what was the name of my previous room?’

For some reason, she thought that if she asked that, Brynn would have a troubled face, so Lilica didn’t ask. Anyway, she didn’t think that room had a dragon attached to its name.

* * *