Baby Empress - Chapter 7
I sat on the chair.
< Why did you say you liked her? >
The wind spirit that suddenly appeared talked to me. It was the same spirit who listened to Sarina’s words last night.
The spirit asked me with a pure face.
< That woman hurt you. >
It was about Sarina. The spirit didn’t reveal herself, but she seemed to have been by my side throughout the class.
I replied, “…Sarina wouldn’t have said that if she had known I was listening.”
< What do you mean? >
“Sarina had no intention of hurting me.”
< You cried when you heard that, though. >
I held the pen still. There was a fresh scent from the wind spirit. The spirit was a dear friend for me.
I fiddled with my pen. The feather on the pen was soft.
“Everyone makes mistakes.”
< But Adele, that woman didn’t apologize to you. And yet you forgive her? >
“Forgiveness is more comforting than hatred. This is what I think for my own convenience.”
< ….. >
The wind spirit flew around in wonder. I saw the little movement as it was. The wings of the spirit wind twinkled in the air. The spirit whispered.
< I like Adele. We all serve you only. >
“Thank you.”
< As the human who taught you said, you need to cherish yourself more. >
The word was a little difficult.
I spoke informally to Sarina as Ehin taught me. Is that not enough?
‘I spoke informally to—’
When I was thinking plainly, someone knocked on the door. The spirit disappeared right before my eyes. I wasn’t surprised because the spirits used to appear and disappear at will.
I saw Sarina holding a tray through the door that soon opened. No, it wasn’t just Sarina. Five knights were also coming in.
‘Michael?’
My eyes gradually widened.
“Princess, please come here for a moment.”
Sarina’s voice was soft. I got up from my chair and approached the knights.
In the meantime, Sarina put the cup of tea down on the table.
Michael said, “I am Michael Battenberg, who will be in charge of the Princess’s escort in the future. I formally introduced myself.”
Michael brought his sword to his chest and bowed his head. I also bowed my head.
‘I’m happy.‘
When Ehin said that five people were appointed as my escorts, I thought I would love to have Michael there too.
He’s really here. I smiled with joy.
I held back my bright smile. Other knights might be sad.
“…Hi.”
In order not to speak respectfully, I almost bit my tongue.
“I’m Terra Humidite. Please call me Terra.” said the only woman out of five. I replied, clumsily grasping her hand.
“….Please take care of me. Terra.”
Had it not been for the sword on her waist, I would have thought she was a noble lady. Her long down hair, big eyes and calm atmosphere were as elegant as an estemeed daughter from noble family. I was melted by the faint smile of Terra’s eyes.
“I’m Chopin. Yes, I’m a very artistic soul.”
When I let go of Terra’s hand, the shortest of the five said. His hair was in the color of rainbow, whether it was dyed or not. In order of the rainbow, it was a red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
‘It’s amazing.’
It seemed to be wherever I went. Chopin grinned and said, “If you’re bored, you can talk to me. I’m the funniest one among them.”
I nodded. The man next to him continued.
“Please call me Rogue. I’m a bit talkative, but if it’s too noisy, you should’ve told me to shut up.”
“What, shut up, in front of the Princess.”
“Don’t tell me to shut up.”
“Shut up.”
“Not you.”
Rogue and Chopin talked back to each other. The two were like close friends.
I thought of Madeleine and looked up at them with a smile. Rogue scratched the back of his head when he saw my smile.
“I’m a little rough-spoken.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“You understand, Princess. He doesn’t have any basics.”
The man in the glasses next to them listened to me. It was a man wearing a suit with a neat style with his bangs pulled back completely.. He skillfully obtained the say.
“Princess, I need you to remember. My name is Fabian. I am the eldest son of Count Tersher. If you succeed later, please remember me first.”
“You’re already asking for favors.”
“Of course, she is destined to be a precious person.”
Fabian responded skillfully to Chopin’s words. Fabian said, “They were all ordered to be here, but I volunteered. You know, right? The difference between order and volunteer.”
No, I didn’t know. I know the order.
‘Volunteer?’
I turned my head casually to find Sarina. Sarina, whose eyes met mine, said clearly.
“It means he said he wanted to do it before someone told him to.”
“Ah….”
That’s what volunteer means.
Fabian had a face similar to the look the chef made earlier. I felt my cheeks getting a little hot. Not because of embarrassment, but because of joy.
“Thanks.”
“Yes? Oh, yes.”
“Princess, you don’t have to thank him. Didn’t you hear that? He’s impure from the inside.”
Chopin grumbled next to Fabian. I just laughed away. Terra kept looking at me. I could feel goodness in her shy smile.
Glug.
I heard Sarina tilting the teapot and pouring the tea. Soon the fragrant scent spread.
I called out the names one by one.
“Michael, Terra, Chopin, Fabian, Log….”
“It’s Rogue.”
“Rogue.”
“I’m Adele. Adele Alcibiades. I’m glad to meet you.”
“…”
Even though it was an introduction that required great courage, everyone was quiet.
I blinked my eyes and blushed my cheeks.
“What am I supposed to do, she’s so lovely.”
Belatedly, Terra bit her lips and muttered. Her face was filled with excitement as if she couldn’t hold back her words.
I opened my eyes wide. The other knights looked down at me and couldn’t speak for a moment.
“Yes, um.”
“Me too….”
“It’s an honor, of course.”
Fabian, who regained his slyness, replied the longest. Chopin also murmured while looking at the distant mountain.
“I just wanted to have a younger sibling.”
“…”
Michael, who was silent, quietly raised his hand. Then, the chaotic atmosphere was properly captured at the moment.
‘Is this what you call charisma?’
I was a little surprised and focused on Michael. Fabian stepped back, too. Michael had one knee in front of me, as the Duke did in the morning. He matched my eye level.
I didn’t step back.
“Princess, are they noisy?”
“They don’t. N-no.”
I blinked my eyes as I recalled Ehin’s teaching me to speak casually.
“….everyone seems like a good person.”
“You are kind.”
Michael smiled softly. I wanted to say that I was glad Michael was my escort, but I held it in.
“I’ll tell you some rules in advance. The escorts will take turns three times a day. This is often referred to as three shifts.”
“….Uh huh.”
Nice voice.
I thought I would fall asleep quickly if he read me a book before going to bed.
“Terra is the only one of us who has a younger sister. If there is anything difficult to tell us about, please tell Terra. She will listen to you kindly.”
I lifted my head and glanced at Terra. She still looked like she was dying because I was lovely. Seeing that smile made me happy too.
“And—”
I stared at Michael again. He had a little complicated face.
“You shouldn’t be nice just to anyone. Especially Fabian.”
“What do I do!”
Although Fabian protested as if it were unfair, Michael didn’t even care.
“From now on, you can’t follow anyone for food.”
“Eung.”
I nodded my head in silence. Michael spoke with a warm smile.
“Very good. That’s the only thing you need to know. Do you have any more questions?”
The purple eyes were still sharp.
His blunt impression brightened up as he smiled. I pulled my chin in. From some point onward, the other knights have been strangely quiet.
“Yesterday, I had a question.”
“Ah … yes, it was. You said you had a question. I said I would answer any questions,” Michael asked, “What was it, Princess?”
I slowly shut my mouth.
If it was before my class with Ehin, I might have asked him when I would go back to the orphanage, or if I blocked the Duke’s prospect in marriage.
However, this question could have been difficult for Michael or embarrassing for Sarina.
‘I don’t like that.’
Ehin said that the child of prophecy is precious. If it wasn’t a lie, I wouldn’t be sent back to the orphanage easily.
As long as there are people who want to stop the war, they will protect me from danger. Like Michael from now on.
‘I won’t be abandoned.’
Still, everything was like a dream.
If I was caught wanting to be a family member, I felt like I would be severely scolded by the adults.
I was still scared.
But now I was a princess. The Duke’s daughter. Maybe I will continue to be a princess. That’s how hope arose. I have a family, too.
‘I am no longer an orphan.’
So now there was only one thing I was curious about.
“If I want to be close to daddy, the Duke … what should I do?”
