Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Family Meal (1)
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“Lydia, Your Highness…?”
As I put on a bewildered expression, Lydia smiled brightly.
“You can make that kind of face too, huh. Now you finally seem human.”
She gazed curiously at my furrowed brows.
Propping her chin on her hand, she spoke in a playful tone.
“How did you get into the bedroom?”
“You weren’t getting up no matter what, so I came to check if you were still alive.”
The girl in her school uniform-style attire carefully examined me from head to toe to see if I was hurt.
Unlike her usual fully buttoned-up look, she was in light short sleeves today.
Thanks to that, my fully exposed arms drew her particular stare.
They were covered in countless knife scars.
“I thought the wounds were only on your forehead… but you have them in more places than I imagined?”
I brushed off her question with a smile, as if to say not to worry.
“Not just my arms—I've got plenty on the inside too.”
“On the inside…?”
Lydia’s gaze slowly traveled up from my arms.
Then she looked toward my torso, and as if imagining something, she abruptly turned her head away.
“Ahem….”
She covered her mouth with her fist, as if trying to maintain her dignity.
Her face seemed a bit flushed.
“Anyway, enough about the wounds. Change your clothes first.”
“My clothes?”
When I asked back, Lydia pointed to the dress shirt and black trousers laid out on the bedroom table.
“You didn’t seem to have brought any, so I borrowed some from Father.”
Lydia said it proudly.
However, something felt off as I heard her words.
‘Clothes Father wore…?’
Lydia’s father… that would be Emperor Bodwin IV…!
“You don’t mean clothes worn by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor?”
“That’s right. He wore them when he came to see me when I was nine.”
Lydia closed her eyes, reminiscing about her time with her father.
“How could I wear such precious garments?”
“It’s fine. He only wore them for the one day he visited me, and never asked for them back.”
Lydia waved it off like it was no big deal.
“So, go ahead and try them on.”
Lydia swallowed deeply.
She clasped her hands tightly together and watched me holding her father’s clothes.
As if she wanted to confirm something.
“In front of you, Your Highness?”
I asked with a reluctant expression.
“Uh….”
Lydia’s eyes lost focus for a moment.
Then she realized what she’d said, and her mouth fell open.
“Of course after I leave! What kind of nonsense are you thinking?”
The Third Imperial Princess shot up from beside the bed.
She crossed her arms alone, pretending nonchalance as she headed for the door.
The click of her shoes echoed.
Once the sound faded away, I smirked, lifting the corner of my mouth.
Then I looked down at the shirt left by the Emperor.
It certainly felt pristine, as if barely worn.
Hearing it had been worn just once and then forgotten brought to mind the First Imperial Princess’s chessboard.
The strange feeling of using all these items hit me.
―――.
Before changing, I took a shower.
Afterward, as I buttoned the shirt, I opened the terrace doors.
I approached the railing, savoring the cool early summer air.
And took in the expansive view of the Eastern Palace.
The palace built by the young yet coldly rational ruler of the East and her mother, the Third Imperial Consort.
As I admired it, my gaze drifted to the first floor.
And there I spotted the ruler of the East.
The Third Imperial Princess, who had left while I changed.
She was squatting in front of the flower bed on the first floor.
‘What’s she doing down there…?’
I followed her gaze to the flower bed.
There, a black cat had curled itself into a neat square.
“You, how did you get in here?”
The Third Imperial Princess scolded the cat in her lordly tone.
She stared it down with utmost seriousness.
“My palace guards are supposed to be top-notch….”
She teased the cat like a playful girl.
I watched the rare sight with fascination.
“What is your purpose for daring to intrude into my palace?”
Lydia mimicked His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, asking with dignified eyes.
But the cat just looked up at her blankly before promptly ignoring her.
“Ha…!”
Lydia was dumbfounded by its attitude.
She raised her hand as if she might squash the cat flat.
‘Is her temper flaring up here of all places?’
Worried for the cat, I nearly called out to her without thinking.
But the words slid back down my throat.
“Heh heh… In that case, I have my ways.”
The moment she reached out toward the cat.
A red plum appeared in her palm instead of a weapon.
“I bestow upon you the grace of this lady.”
The cat seemed interested and eyed the plum.
Then it lifted its face and sniffed it.
“Then you won’t be able to refuse my touch. And from there, I’ll torment you as much as I please.”
Lydia narrowed her red eyes and smiled like a little devil.
But…
“Hah?”
The cat sniffed the plum’s skin a few times, then turned its head away.
“What… You’re no pushover like that guy either. You even look similar.”
Lydia stuck out her tongue at the black cat.
I tilted my head and scratched my black hair.
‘That guy…? Who’s she talking about?’
As Lydia stared at the cat with a defeated look, a familiar-faced maid approached.
It was the cool woman who had shown me to my room last night.
“You probably need to peel it for it to eat.”
“Even that takes effort—just like that guy.”
Lydia chuckled and looked down at the plum.
“I’ll peel it for you.”
“No, I’ll conquer this insolent beast with my own hands.”
The Third Imperial Princess took a fruit knife from the maid.
And began clumsily peeling the plum.
“You’ll hurt yourself….”
“If you want to win someone’s heart, you have to put in the corresponding effort….”
Lydia ignored the maid’s advice.
She steadfastly focused and sliced the plum, finally revealing the golden flesh.
“One of the lessons Father taught me.”
The princess placed the peeled plum on her palm.
And offered it to the cat with a gentle smile.
“Here, try it now. You’re the reason I held a fruit knife for the first time in my life.”
Only then did the cat show interest in the fruit again.
It stuck out its small tongue and began lightly licking the skinless plum.
“Ooh… It’s finally eating!”
Lydia’s lips parted.
Her fangs peeked out like a cat’s, and her red eyes sparkled.
“So cute….”
The maid silently watched the princess.
But then she could no longer keep her straight face and covered her mouth with her hand.
The Third Imperial Princess, who had insisted on mature speech and lordly demeanor until now.
In front of the cat, she’d become a nineteen-year-old girl.
That sight had melted even the heart of the strict imperial maid.
“I’ve finally conquered this beast.”
Lydia said to the maid with a pleased expression.
The black-haired maid nodded in approval.
“Now, come into my arms.”
The Third Imperial Princess spread her arms wide.
And waited for the cat to nestle into her embrace.
“…”
But the cat indifferently licked only its own paw.
It wouldn’t come to Lydia.
“Having received my grace, shouldn’t you obey my command?”
Her lips pursed, looking offended.
She glanced up at the maid with a haughty expression.
“It’s probably because the language doesn’t communicate.”
The attendant advised the ruler of the East, her face straight once more.
But something felt off.
Of course language doesn’t work on animals.
Was this really advice?
“Language, you say?”
“Yes. You probably need to speak in ‘Cat-ese’ for it to obey.”
Only then did I catch her intent.
She just wanted to see more of Lydia’s cute side, like before.
“Cats are inherently finicky beasts, hard to handle. So you need to think from their perspective.”
“What… In the Empire, even lowly beasts require learning their language.”
Despite the obvious ploy, the Third Imperial Princess pondered seriously.
Did she see even cats as her subjects? She rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
“Right… If the people lack learning, that’s the ruler’s failing too.”
Lydia cleared her throat.
And slowly surveyed the area around the flower bed.
“Then, I must lower myself to match my subjects’ level.”
Confirming no one else was around, Lydia.
She gave a light fake cough and widened her eyes round like a cat’s.
“Meow-?”
Clenching her hands like claws, she meowed.
She stared intently at the cat to see if her intent got across.
“…”
But the cat made a displeased face instead.
It ignored Lydia and hid in the flower bed bushes.
“As expected, not an easy one.”
The Third Imperial Princess awkwardly stared at where the cat had vanished.
Then she stood, brushing off her skirt.
She tilted her stiff neck back.
Her gaze naturally turned to the second-floor terrace.
And met the eyes of me, who had been watching her all this time.
“…”
An awkward silence fell for a moment.
Then Lydia asked me coolly, her face expressionless.
“How much did you see?”
“What do you mean?”
I kept a straight face.
But the sharp Third Imperial Princess caught on right away.
That I’d heard her meow just now.
“Uh… Probably up to the meow.”
At the word “meow,” she scowled coldly.
She turned her head away alone and ordered me indifferently.
“I only did this because you bored me to death. Hurry up and come down.”
“Understood.”
I lightly jumped down from the terrace.
And stood side by side with the Third Imperial Princess.
“Let’s go….”
Lydia walked ahead faster than me.
As if wanting to hide her face.
For her sake, I cleared my throat.
And casually changed the subject.
“Did Batsch and Tau return safely yesterday?”
“Yes, they even brought back the captured elite soldiers intact.”
With the topic shifted, Lydia seemed relieved and matched my pace.
“What did you do with them?”
“What else? They had anti-confession magic, so I killed them all.”
She said it flatly in a cold voice.
The girl who had gazed lovingly at the cat moments ago was long gone.
“Really?”
“No, just kidding.”
The princess soon lifted the corner of her mouth again.
She dropped her icy expression and told me.
“I’ve locked them in the underground interrogation room. Sent in torture experts, so they’ll confess soon.”
She spoke of torture with a smile.
In official matters, no one was colder than this imperial.
“What will you do once they confess?”
“Keep them locked underground for now. Once Father awakens….”
Lydia’s red eyes flashed.
With the ruthless glint befitting the daughter of the Conqueror King, she told me.
“I’ll use them as evidence to pressure Brother Leon.”
“An excellent choice.”
Even lowly gang members became key cards in Lydia’s hands.
Satisfied, I nodded.
“Your contribution was enormous.”
“My contribution? It was just luck. I never dreamed bandits would actually show up.”
I answered with a straight face.
Lydia chuckled, saying no need to be humble before her.
“The place we’re going now is to honor your contribution too.”
“To honor my contribution?”
When I asked back, the Third Imperial Princess led me to a secret garden hidden within the palace.
“Yes, someone’s been eager to meet you over this incident.”
Following Lydia’s guidance, we entered the lawn.
A long dining table was set there.
Arrayed atop it were all manner of delicacies.
Someone was setting the food alone.
‘Who is it…?’
She didn’t look like a mere cook or servant.
Her clothes were all silk.
Soon, she turned at the sound of our approach.
At that moment.
I recognized her immediately.
The beautiful face identical to Lydia’s, and her black hair.
And even the red eyes that pierced all things.
“Mother, I brought him.”
Lydia’s mother and the Emperor’s third wife.
Princess Vanessa of the Samid Empire.