My Mom Entered a Contract Marriage - Chapter 7

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Lilica was stunned.

“What?”

“I’ll go.”

“But.”

“Is there a problem?”

Lilica looked blankly at the civil official that stood at the door to the Imperial Guard Office with a blank face. Tan followed Lilica’s gaze and spoke sternly.

“You should know that the matters of the imperial family come first.”

The civil servant sighed deeply and bowed his head.

“Please have a safe trip, Commander.”

“Mm.”

With a solemn nod, Tan left the Imperial Guards’ Office, gently holding her in one arm.

Lilica said quietly.

“I thought you’d say no.”

“Haha.”

With a boisterous laugh, Tan said to Lilica.

“Princess, how many people have you learned that you need to bow your head to?”

“Three people.”

Lilica opened up three fingers. Tan nodded gravely.

“That’s right, Princess. His Majesty’s commands are called Dragon Words. In this empire, Dragon Words are absolute. Even if His Majesty puts up a figurehead and calls him a Takar, all the nobles of the Empire must bow before him.”

Lilica’s eyes widened.

Of course, she’d been diligently repeating, “I’m a princess. I’m a princess,” but she’d never thought that it was so amazing.

Naturally, His Majesty was great, but her mother was also amazing.

She didn’t think that she was like that. Lilica suddenly felt like she was waking up.

“His Majesty has officially taken you in as his daughter. That means that you’re the only princess of the Takar Empire.”

Brynn nodded from behind.

All kinds of negative words were about to come out of Lilica.

Tan wasn’t aware, but she was a contract princess, and while it’s temporary, a foster daughter…

Tan gently lifted the gaze that was falling to the floor.

He winked playfully.

“You’re the princess that orders around the Knight Commander of the Imperial Guard with a gesture of your chin.”

“What?”

Although she made a strange sound out of embarrassment, Tan merely laughed loudly. The distance, which was lengthy when she walked over, instantly decreased with Tan’s strides.

He spoke nonchalantly in a gentle voice.

“There are only four Takars that exist today. His and Her Majesty, the Emperor and Empress, His Highness the Crown Prince, and Your Highness the Princess. In other words, currently, you’re the second in line to the throne.”

Those words were beyond Lilica’s perception, so it didn’t feel real.

Lilica said.

“Yeah, well, but it doesn’t matter because His Highness will succeed it anyways.”

Tan nodded.

“That’s right. What I meant was, the princess’ position is that high.”

When they arrived at the entrance of the Sun Palace, Tan asked.

“So, where were you stopped at?”

“May I lead you there?”

Brynn asked with a grin, and Tan nodded. Brynn spoke.

“Why don’t you catch them red-handed?”

Tan paused at that remark and grinned. He set Lilica on the ground and said.

“Then shall we catch them red-handed?”

‘Now, I’m going to hide over here, so please go ahead,’ Tan gestured with both hands, and Lilica figured out the situation.

She cleared her throat and strode forward proudly, but it seemed a little stiff in other’s eyes.

The soldier blocked her path again.

“I can’t go here?”

Lilica could tell her voice was squeaking. The soldier frowned and said.

“You may not pass.”

She flinched, but she couldn’t back down once she thought of Brynn and Tan that were behind her.

It took a lot of strength for her to speak up to a large man that’s carrying a weapon.

“Why can’t I go in?”

“It’s His Majesty’s orders.”

“Ah…”

If His Majesty had ordered that, wasn’t it impossible for her to go in?

Lilica looked back at Brynn with those eyes, and Brynn’s smile deepened.

She opened her mouth.

“Was His Majesty’s order specifically preventing the Princess from passing through this place?”

The soldier banged the floor with the ferrule of his spear.

“No matter what, you may not pass!”

“What no?”

A low, chilling voice came from behind.

Lilica looked back in surprise. Brynn remained still and continued facing forward.

Tan’s usual playful expression vanished from his face without a trace, and an expressionless look unique to carnivores took its place.

The soldier gulped in surprise.

“Tell me, why can’t she pass?”

Tan slowly approached, but an oppressive sensation could still be felt. The soldier’s face turned white.

Tan, who’d stopped right in front of him before he knew it, took the spear from the soldier’s hand.

“Rank?”

Tan, who was inspecting the spear, began to bend it without much difficulty.

The soldier answered quickly.

“John Enders, first-class soldier from the 1st regiment of the Palace Guard.”

“Yes, Enders, so why can’t she pass?”

“T—that’s…”

“Of course I’m aware that even if a blueblood, access to different parts of the Sun Palace differs according to the level of the pass. But would those levels apply to the imperial family?”

“No, sir.”

“Can’t you recognise the mark of a trusted lady-in-waiting?”

“No, sir.”

“Don’t you know that being accompanied by a trusted lady-in-waiting is fundamental to the Imperial family?”

“No, sir.”

As the soldier sweated profusely, he quickly responded. During that period of time, Tan twisted the bent spear here and there.

“Go and get your superior then.”

Tan said as he returned the bent spear to him.

The soldier received the twisted spear with trembling hands and began walking off.

As he walked, he seemed on the verge of collapsing. Tan looked at him slantedly.

It was speechless enough that she blocked the Imperial Princess’s path, but didn’t he frown and threaten her by hitting the floor with a spear?

It couldn’t have happened in the Wolfe family, which cherished the young.

Tan felt disillusioned.

Furthermore, even if Lilica was an adopted daughter, she was a legitimate princess.

Someone that a lowly soldier shouldn’t be able to stop.

‘While I’d expected resistance, but to a child in a place like this. And from a first-class soldier at that.’

Tan smiled and said to Lilica.

“Now then, Princess, please head on in. I’ll take care of things from here.”

As there’s no need to show her his way of handling it.

Lilica was secretly worried about his words.

If he was going to fight, wouldn’t it be more reassuring to have several people on their side than being by himself?

“Would you be fine by yourself? I can stay with you.”

Tan blinked at those words. It’s been a long time since he’d heard such words, and the consideration contained within them was quite pleasant.

Lilica added just in case.

“Of course, I know Tan can settle everything by himself, but still…”

“If you’re afraid, you can go to His Majesty, so please don’t worry.”

Tan blinked.

“There’s no need to come over.”

Lilica looked back in surprise. His Majesty was standing there before she knew it.

Lat gave a slight nod in greeting to Lilica from behind him.

“I give my greetings to Your Majesty.”

Lilica quickly gave her greetings, and Tan let out a sigh after greeting him half-heartedly.

“I’d intended to teach the soldier a lesson, but I didn’t come here to pray that he’ll find repose.”

“Isn’t it interesting? Where would a lowly soldier find the guts to do something like this? Doesn’t that mean that he has considerable backing?”

As Altheos spoke, he looked at Lilica and pressing on her forehead with his hand.

“!!”

While she swayed a little, she didn’t fall down. Altheos chuckled when the triumphant Lilica remained upright.

“You are a Tarkar. It doesn’t matter what kind of person you are, the things that you possess and don’t, and whether you’re worth it or not. I see you as my daughter. As such, everyone should kneel before you. Otherwise, they’re defying me.”

Lat asked Tan.

“Who is it?”

“A first-class soldier from the 1st regiment of the Palace Guard. John Enders.”

At Tan’s reply, Lat let out a, “Huhu,” and smiled pleasantly.

“It’s rather delightful that it really fell within the expectations, Your Majesty. Then, Princess. Please enjoy the Sun Palace as much as you want. You can leave this place to us.”

Lilica stared at Lat dazedly. As expected, just because the Chancellor looked kind, it didn’t mean that he was nice.

“Yes, I understand. Then I’ll take my leave first.”

Lilica greeted them and went in with Brynn. Afterwards, her journey was smooth sailing.

When she went to the places the soldiers had previously stopped her at with Brynn, a different soldier was standing there and treated Lilica rather cordially.

‘I received a salute.’

After walking past the soldier, Lilica spoke quietly to Brynn

“The news must have spread very quickly.”

Brynn chuckled.

“Of course. It concerns the princess, after all. No one here isn’t sensitive to the imperial family’s affairs.”

Brynn added playfully.

“So, how do you find the taste of power, princess?”

The taste of power

Lilica’s eyes widened at those unexpected words. It kept lingering on her mind, throughout the journey around the Sun Palace with Brynn.

“The taste of power.”

When it was time for snacks, Lilica stared at the apple pie. If she hadn’t become a princess, she wouldn’t have been able to eat this, would she?

“The taste of power.”

She thought about it even while sleeping in a soft bed at night. If she wasn’t a princess, she wouldn’t have been able to sleep on this soft bed, would she?

‘Is this the taste of power?’

When Lilica gave Lat her opinion in the office later on, Lat, who was looking through documents happily, gave her a smile.

“Princess, that doesn’t seem to be the taste of power, but the taste of wealth.”

Lilica tilted her head. After listening to Lat’s words, the words were plausible.

“If you want to know how arbitrary power can be.”

Altheos said that and tossed documents onto the floor messily. When Lilica ran over and picked up those papers, Altheos flung the other documents that were on his desk.

Lilica ran and also picked them up. Altheos hurled the papers, and Lilica picked them up eagerly, like a squirrel that’s diligently collecting falling acorns.

“Your Majesty.”

When Lat frowned and called Altheos, he placed his chin in his hand and dropped the final document.

Lilica snatched up the document before they reached the floor with an “Oh no.”

She then arranged the documents with a satisfied face and placed them on Lat’s desk.

Lat was impressed by the princess’ diligence, who’d picked up the fallen documents and organised them by type simultaneously.

“In that case, I think I possess sufficient power.”

It was her first time living as she wishes and as easily as she does these days. I even felt uncomfortable because I didn’t work. I’m glad something happened in the office.

Lilica smiled and said.

“Then I’ll get going now. Brynn said that she’s going to introduce the maids today.”

“I see. I hope that you’ll have a pleasant time.”

Lat got up and saw Lilica off. He closed the office door, took off the monocle that was symbolistic of the chancellor, and spoke after rubbing it with the hem of his clothes lightly.

“Thanks to the princess, the Palace Guard also underwent an overall reorganisation, and most of the guards within the Sun Palace were completely changed to the knights of the Imperial Guard. For the sake of their honour, the Palace Guard will still be used externally, but it’ll be absorbed into the Imperial Guard just like this. Also, I heard that the empress has changed the head lady-in-waiting and her aides recently.”

“Ludia asked if she could change the head lady-in-waiting, so I told her that that was under the empress’ jurisdiction.”

Afterwards, Ludia found evidence of embezzlement and completely changed the head lady-in-waiting and the ladies-in-waiting. She’d wiped out all the aristocratic faction’s spies that had infiltrated the inner palace.

Lat had a satisfied expression. How was it that only the appropriate ones were newly selected?

It even made him wonder if she’d somehow seen the data of his prior investigations.

Altheos didn’t think Ludia would move so boldly. She didn’t even seem like an empress without backing from her relatives.

She didn’t move like a chess piece on the board, but the one moving the chess pieces.

She’d exceeded his expectations, causing Altheos to be drawn into admiration for her.

Lat spoke.

“After these changes, the fishes under the water are surfacing. It made it rather easy for me now, because all I have to do is wait for them to take the bait.”

The chancellor looked at the emperor blankly and asked.

“Is it alright if an escort isn’t attached?”

“There isn’t a need for that yet, is there?”

“Understood.”

Lat bowed his head. If Tan heard it, he’d think that it was a conversation that the cold-blooded animals would have said was cold-blooded, and the snake smiled faintly at that thought.

* * *

Recently, Lilica was having quite a fun time at the library. A joy of herself was to look for the difficult words, which she’d seen in the office’s documents, in the library.

The encyclopaedia in the Takar Library was famed for being the only version in the Empire. It was entirely wrapped in chains, and Lilica could take the dictionary out and as she pleased without any procedures.

“Waterwheel, waterwheel……. So this is a waterwheel.”

Lilica looked at the painting and let out an exclamation. She’s a child from the slums and living in the slums was her entire life.

She’d never thought about the lifestyle of people in rural or fishing villages.

Of course, the same goes for the lifestyle of aristocrats.

As such, she was really happy to discover that a new world and a completely different life existed.

“Imperial Princess, shall we stop reading now? It’s time to go to the kitchens.”

“Right.”

Lilica jumped up from her seat. Brynn inserted the heavy encyclopaedia back into its position.

The palace is wide, so the food would cool down as it’s being brought over.

However, Brynn recommended that they head to the kitchen and eat warm bread that’s fresh from the oven today.

There was no reason for Lilica to refuse.

The kitchen, which was built facing the north to avoid the intense heat of summer, was enormous.

The kitchen, which was large enough to handle parties held by the imperial family, seemed rather quiet, despite the large number of people.

Ever since Altheos became emperor, balls have only been held in the Sky Palace and not in the Sun Palace, so this kitchen had only been preparing meals for His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince for a long period of time.

However, with the entrance of a new empress, a new chef was hired, and the kitchen also became lively.

There was a rumour that the Empress would soon be holding a small party soon.

In the meantime, the princess, whom the Empress cherishes, appeared.

No one found it bothersome. Rather, they became delighted at the thought of a high-ranking person coming down in person.

If the emperor or empress came in person, they would dissuade them, saying ‘But, for you to step into the kitchen…’ but the story is different if it’s a young princess.

Thanks to that, Lilica was able to sample the fresh and fluffy white bread amidst warm hospitality and friendliness.

Of course, in order to appeal to the empress, things like newly made cookies and buttercream were placed before the princess secretly.

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