My Mom Entered a Contract Marriage - Chapter 5

Brynn said that Madam Gwendolyn was informed that she didn’t need to enter the palace because of Lilica’s forehead injury.

“I’ll contact Her Majesty the Empress, so why don’t you go over? It just so happens to be time for tea.”

“Is it alright if I do that?”

Brynn grinned as Lilica rejoiced.

“Of course. Certainly.”

Brynn ordered another maid to inform Her Majesty. All the maids have been changed, and worked perfectly together like Brynn was the one that led them originally.

After a moment, the maid returned and politely said, “The empress says to come on over.”

With a broad smile, Lilica held back her desire to run over and walked out to the hallway.

Her mother’s room truly wasn’t that far, and she’d reach once she climbed up a flight of stairs.

“Lily, you cute little thing!”

As soon as she entered the drawing room, her mother gave her a tight hug. Lilica laughed joyfully.

Now, she wasn’t worried anymore. His Majesty had promised not to bother her mother, so she could see her mother every morning.

Ludia hugged Lily tightly and looked at Brynn.

“You are?”

“My name is Brynn Sol, Your Majesty. I am Princess Lilica’s newly appointed lady-in-waiting.”

“So you’re from the Sol family.”

At the odd tone her mother used, Lilica looked up. Her mother looked at Brynn with a smile, and Brynn also lowered her gaze with a smile.

“That’s great.”

Her mother said that and looked at her puzzled daughter, whose head was tilted while in her embrace.

‘Honestly.’

Ludia laughed. While she was worried, at the same time, she was proud of her daughter.

She could only let Lilica stay in a guest room until she’d gained a firm foothold as the empress.

It’s because the emperor didn’t care about such things. She thought she wouldn’t be able to interfere with the maids and teachers around Lily until she managed to change the head lady-in-waiting and take control of the palace.

As there are many people that didn’t acknowledge Ludia, who’d become the empress overnight, they secretly interfered with her work.

But didn’t Lily look for the emperor personally and gain her rightful place with her own hands?

‘Well, she’s so cute.’

Even the emperor can’t help but fall for her.

She snorted inwardly. Just try to raise a finger at her Lily.

“Mother?”

Lilica tilted her head at the sight of her quiet smile.

She was so cute. How can she be so cute? And why didn’t she know about this?

Ludia regretted her past foolishness and tightened her arms around Lily.

Lilica giggled jovially in such crushing happiness. Her mother wrapped an arm around her shoulder, led her in and sat down.

With a hand gesture, refreshments were quickly set down on the table.

“Yes, I heard that you went to find His Majesty.”

Lilica became surprised at those words and looked at her mother. She didn’t expect that her mother was already aware of it.

Ludia stared at her daughter and said.

“His Majesty paid me a visit.”

“His Majesty?”

“Yes.”

Ludia sighed and hugged her daughter’s shoulder.

“Lily, I appreciate your intentions, but there’s no need for you to take such a risk. I was so alarmed when I heard the news.”

“But…”

Lilica lowered her head. Her mother hugged her tightly and spoke as she gently stroked her hair with her fingertips.

“I know, it’s because Lily is worried about Mom. But I’m also saying this because I’m worried about you. From now onwards, you mustn’t visit His Majesty rashly. Alright?”

“Yes…”

Ludia smiled and kissed her daughter’s forehead. Lilica spoke in a soft voice.

“But His Majesty doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

“That’s why it’s dangerous.”

Ludia spoke earnestly.

“You can’t give him your complete trust just because he treated you a little gently and kindly. Alright? That bas— no. That person is someone that’s capable of cutting off someone’s head with a smiling face.”

Lilica gulped and nodded at the warning. Ludia’s expression eased.

“I don’t mean to scare you, but it’s better to be careful. Even so, thank you. Thanks to you, my body will be comfortable from now on. Would you like to sleep with Mom tonight?”

“Really?”

“Okay. Let’s sleep together after a long while.”

Lilica smiled brightly at her mother’s words. The tea and snacks were all very delicious, but most importantly, she was happy to be with her mother.

In the midst of that, a tailor came with a dress that’s made with a new style and design.

While it all looked very pretty, Lilica was still slightly disappointed.

The dress, which was named ‘Bustle Style’ , was obviously very pretty. When her mother said, “This dress will take over society,” the tailor laughed.

“It has already taken over society.”

Despite such a response.

Lilica thought that a Princess’ dress should be a flared out crinoline dress.

But she couldn’t say that to her mother.

Time flew by as she watched her mother, who was wearing a new dress, chatted with her about making new invitations to a party.

To Lilica, changing into her nightgown and falling asleep in her mother’s arms on a smooth, fluffy bed was an incomparably blissful thing.

Lilica slept in for a very long time.

* * *

‘Mother had definitely told me not to look for His Majesty…’

For some reason, she was called to His Majesty’s office every day ever since then. Whenever she went over, she didn’t do anything in particular.

When snacks were served, she ate them and just listened to the conversation between His Majesty, Lat, and Tan, who’d often make an appearance.

Her mother was rather dumbfounded about the situation and seemed to have argued with His Majesty, but it appeared that His Majesty had won.

The snacks that changed everyday were delicious, and as Lilica slowly became accustomed to the office’s atmosphere, she became a little relaxed.

Whenever that happened, she recalled her mother’s words and pulled herself together.

His Majesty would occasionally ask some questions, and Lilica would answer them as seriously as possible.

For some reason, Tan would often smile cheerily, and Lat would turn his head and clear his throat.

Altheos sighed as he looked at Lilica, who was nibbling at the chef’s baked financier.

“Why isn’t she growing?”

Lat raised his head, an expression asking what he was talking about on his face

“What are you talking about out of nowhere?”

“The little one, I mean. She’s being fed so well, so why isn’t she growing any bigger?”

“Your Majesty, it hasn’t even been ten days.”

“I saw Atil growing larger every day. Is she sick or something?”

“Your Majesty. The Princess isn’t a Takar, Barat, Sandar or Wolf, in any case, she isn’t a blueblood.”

Lilica’s gaze darted around. She raised her hand and asked Altheos.

“What is it?”

“I don’t have any illness and I’m strong. And I’m growing very well. Brynn says that my clothes can be made a little bigger.”

Afterwards, Lilica added cautiously.

“And I’m a Takar too.”

She was a foster daughter, but she was a Takar regardless.

Lilica Nara Takar.

Isn’t that her new name? As she was a contract princess, she insisted that “Takar” was right.

If she backed down at an important juncture, the contract would become meaningless, right?

Lat smiled at Lilica’s words.

“That’s right. You’re a Tarkar too.”

“You’re growing? Shouldn’t you be growing finger span by finger span every week?

Altheos said that and stared at Lilica. Now that he looked at her like this, it seemed like her face was smoother and less gaunt than when they first met.

“There shouldn’t be anyone that grows like that though? That seems more like an illness.”

Altheos raised his eyebrows and grinned at Lilica’s words.

“But I was that tall, though?”

“That’s because Your Majesty isn’t human.”

Although it was a joke, a subtle atmosphere spreaded like a wave.

A child that had to be mature was very sensitive towards negative emotions.

Did she say something wrong? The words ‘isn’t human’ can sound rather disrespectful.

But…

“Who said that?”

Altheos asked lightly, but Lilica knew that wasn’t the case. She had to answer properly. Lilica responded quietly.

“Brynn said so. Members of the Imperial family are descendants of dragons… So Your Majesty is like a dragon…”

At that moment, the tension was cut with a snap and Altheos let out a sigh. Lat spoke.

“The Princess is right. However, it’s better not to say things like His Majesty isn’t human, as it might cause misunderstandings.”

“So what? Isn’t that what everyone is thinking?”

Altheos snorted. Lilica quickly spoke.

“When I heard about it, I thought it’s really cool! It’s really cool.”

When Brynn was explaining the name of the room, Lilica asked, “In that case, what is the name of His Majesty’s room?” Brynn replied with a smile.

“His Majesty’s room doesn’t bear the name of a dragon. His Majesty, himself, is a dragon.”

She’d exclaimed so much at that story. She thought it was like a fairy tale.

Lilica tried her best to convey her moved feelings to His Majesty.

Altheos nodded at Lilica’s words. Now, she understood that it meant for her to come closer, Lilica dashed over swiftly.

Altheos thought it was rather amusing.

She’d die with a flick of his hand, but she approached him fearlessly.

No, it wasn’t that she’s completely fearless.

While she was aware that he’s a sufficiently threatening presence, she trusted that he wouldn’t hurt her, and when she ran over like that, for some reason, he didn’t want to destroy that trust.

He picked her up and placed her on his lap. Now that he was used to it, her posture became much better than before.

A child’s heartbeat was much faster and softer. They have a high body temperature, and surprisingly light bodies.

Few people would look at him directly, but Lilica would look straight at him when they’re in this position.

‘It’s the same with Ludia.’

Ludia, who offered him a contract marriage, looked directly at him like this.

He’d be her strongest backing until the crown prince, Atil, became the emperor.

So that she could do everything she needed to do as the Empress of the Empire.

But there’s a limit to what the emperor can do, and society was a completely different type of battlefield. Can she handle the foxes, flowers, snakes and wolves of society?

She’s doing much better than he’d expected thus far.

But compared to a mother like that, what could he say about her daughter?

‘It’s my first time seeing this kind.’

He found her very interesting because she was a kind of person that’s hard to see in the palace.

“Your Majesty?”

Altheos grinned as Lilica tilted her head and called for him carefully.

“Why ‘Your Majesty’?”

“What?”

“Shouldn’t it be Imperial Father?”

“What?”

“I’m correct, right?”

“Well, yes, you are?”

“Then?”

Come on, call me with that once.

Lilica averted her gaze when Altheos said that. Lat was also watching this with interest.

“Well, I mean…….”

Her head began to spin. While His Majesty is scary, he’s a good man. But is it really alright for her to call him Imperial Father?

Isn’t it just work?

Should she call him that, because it’s work?

But wouldn’t others say that she was arrogant?

The words kept circling around her head.

Father. Imperial Father.

In her eyes, ‘Father’ was something that existed in her dreams. But this person in front of her will become her father for at least eight years.

It existed in reality.

At that thought, tears began welling up unconsciously. Lilica was surprised and slapped her cheeks.

There isn’t an adult that likes a child that cries like this.

“I—I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t do that.”

Altheos grabbed both of her hands. She could have hit something else, so does it make sense for her to hit herself?

“I’m sorry, I’m sor—”

“No, marrying your mother doesn’t make me your father at will, so I was wrong to force you like that.”

After Altheos said that, he extended a hand towards Lat.

“Handkerchief.”

Lat handed him a clean handkerchief without saying a word. Altheos wiped Lilica’s face and said.

“It’s alright, you didn’t do anything wrong. Your mother will make another fuss if she finds out that I made you cry.”

When he sighed, Lilica couldn’t help but smile. It was fortunate that the relationship between her mother and His Majesty seemed quite good.

“Come on, hnk.”

Lilica’s face turned red when she was told to blow her nose. Lat said.

“She’s embarrassed, so please stop.”

“I, I’ll do it.”

Taking a handkerchief from Altheos hand, Lilica wiped away her tears and snot. Altheos stroked her head roughly.

While it was rough, his touch was caring, and so Lilica smiled. After taking the handkerchief from Lilica and throwing it at Lat, Altheos spoke.

“No then, let’s get to work.”

With Lilica on his lap, he turned the chair towards the desk.

It seemed like he wouldn’t ask her to call him ‘Father’ anymore. For some reason, Lilica felt apologetic, and she wiggled around, mouthing the word ‘Royal Father’.

She suddenly felt closer to the frightening Emperor.

‘Imperial Father, Imperial Father’

Won’t you ask me to call you that again in the future?

As Lilica felt a tickle in her heart, she wiggled in embarrassment, and became startled.

‘It’s dirty!’

It wasn’t obvious as a stack of documents was blocking it, but the ink bottle’s opening was covered in ink. The tip of the pen was rolling haphazardly, and crumpled paper was everywhere.

She couldn’t stand Father’s, no, Your Majesty’s desk being so dirty. She wanted to do something for His Majesty.

Lilica spoke up cautiously.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“Can I help you wipe the ink bottle?”

“Ink bottle?”

“The ink at the opening of the bottle has dried up. It will be much cleaner if it’s wiped with warm water.”

Lilica said as she pointed to his ink bottle. Lat was about to say something with a frown, but Altheos allowed it mildly.

“Alright.”

“Your Majesty.”

“So what? I’m saying this because I don’t like people going back and forth. Lilica, you can use the people as you want, and tidy up the office comfortably.”

Lat pressed his forehead in his palm at Altheos words. Even though he’s speaking like he’s being generous, wasn’t he actually trying to make him do it?

* * *