"According to the witness, he easily freed himself from the magic restraining sphere, knocked out the guards and soldiers, and fled."
"The blood trail extended to the bushes near the northern forest, but then he disappeared without a trace."
"He ran toward the forest, then."
Come to think of it, the place where Mabel went for a walk today was also the lakeside at the entrance of the northern forest. Esteban was relieved that the dangerous hostage had escaped but had not encountered Mabel.
"Since there's no report of anything blocking the royal city's barrier, he must not have escaped yet. Seal off the city gates and strengthen the entry and exit surveillance. While searching, enhance the security of Mabel's palace tenfold. No one will be allowed to enter except those who have permission."
The purpose was to prevent Mabel from being in any potential danger. However, Gustav went even further.
"I've already ordered the security to be increased twentyfold."
"Well done. Since the trail was cut off near the northern forest, focus the search on the forest."
The discussion about the escaped hostage finally came to an end. Only then could Esteban breathe a sigh of relief.
"Everyone, you may leave."
At the emperor's low command, everyone bowed and left the room. Only Oscar hesitated, unable to move.
"Will Your Majesty not go?"
Esteban, with a bitter smile, wiped Mabel's sweaty face with a cold towel.
"Someone needs to stay and take care of her, right?"
'If it's just nursing, the nanny can do it.'
The words rose to the tip of his tongue, but Oscar swallowed them and silently left the room. Mabel's fever had slightly dropped, probably due to the fever-reducing medicine, and her breathing was much more stable. Time would be the medicine from now on. Esteban placed the back of his hand on Mabel's cheek.
"Don't be in pain, Mabel."
It was painful. This small and weak child would inevitably face many hardships as she grew up, and he was unsure if he could bear the shock each time. Despite being the ruler of the largest territory on the continent and owning the most wealth, there was something Esteban could not achieve: perfectly protecting those he cherished. He had tried many times but failed repeatedly.
He recalled his wife, who had groaned in fever and eventually passed away.
"...You should not have told me to give up you instead of the child, Siana."
"But... in the end, Your Majesty did not refuse my request..."
"...Because it was your request."
"Lie. You wouldn't have given up the child... or me... from the beginning..."
"To take me away from someone like you... the only thing I can give you is an apology."
She closed her eyes without ever holding Esteban's hand.
What he wanted was not Siana's apology. The words "I'm sorry" instead of "I love you" became a wound that never faded for him, a wound that festered and would eventually become an unhealing scar. That's why he wanted to protect this small child from any threat, safely and perfectly.
His thoughts were interrupted.
A small hand touched Esteban's large hand, accompanied by a whining voice. It was a chance touch as she tossed and turned, but it caused a great ripple in Esteban's heart.
'What was I thinking just now?'
He snapped back to reality as if splashed with cold water. Esteban looked at where Mabel's hand had touched. It was hot due to her high fever.
Just seeing her with a cold was so painful that he wanted to give up on the many trials that lay ahead, fearing that Mabel might leave him like Siana. But he couldn't. Esteban's blue eyes turned cold.
"Because I'm your father."
"I will definitely protect you. No matter what."
He would protect Mabel from any threat, no matter what. Even if it meant destroying and breaking everything, he would do it.
That day... it was an unusually hot summer. In a house of about 10 square meters, I was alone. Without an air conditioner, I had to rely on a fan that barely turned to escape the heat. At five years old, with a weak immune system, I had caught a summer cold and lay in front of the fan with my eyes closed. I was paying the harsh price for taking a cold bath.
It was so hot that I was drenched in sweat, but then I felt a chill.
'...Am I really going to die?'
It had been over a month since my father came back. My mother... would never come back. No one would help me if I just lay here. I realized long ago that I had to solve my own problems. I staggered to my feet. As my vision spun, I rummaged through the storage and found some fever medicine. It was long past its expiration date, but I had no energy to buy new medicine and no money to buy it, so I swallowed it anyway.
It hurt as if something was stuck in my throat from swallowing it without water. I curled up and lay in front of the fan. Soon, the medicine started to spread, making my stomach feel queasy. It was probably because I had taken it on an empty stomach. In the meantime, I started comparing, a habit that had become routine. Why don't my parents love me? Why do other children have someone to take care of them, but I have to do everything alone? Why do people look at me with pity when I walk down the street? And...
'...Why am I always alone?'
Meaningless questions. Questions no one could answer. But I wanted to find the answer. Maybe the loneliness would disappear if I did. As I closed my eyes, my consciousness became hazy. The lukewarm fan breeze was felt, and then only the dizzy spinning remained. Even though I was lying still, it felt like the surroundings were shaking.
A voice was heard. A man's voice. Who is it? Could it be...
A stranger's hand wiped the sweat from my forehead and cleaned it with a cold towel. The cold, damp towel felt good. A bitter-tasting liquid flowed into my mouth, and I coughed and swallowed it. A dry towel gently wiped my mouth.
"Don't be in pain, Mabel."
A voice came intermittently. An adult man's voice calling me Mabel.
"Get better soon and let's go out and play with this dad."
Ah. This is a dream. A dream where I'm someone else.
My name isn't Mabel. I'm Yoon Gyeoul, and... our dad is gone.
"I will definitely protect you."
So, this isn't my dad. Tears came. Just a taste of something I couldn't have, but it was so sweet. I knew it was just a dream, but the gentle touch made me want to believe. After all, it's just a dream. In a dream, you can do anything and be forgiven. So, I just wanted to stay in the dream a little longer. *** I slowly opened my eyes. The sunlight cut into the shape of the window shone hotly on my body. I winced at the brightness. The intense sunlight made it seem like it was already midday. I absentmindedly touched my face and realized a towel was placed on my forehead. It was still damp, having been freshly applied. I was definitely burning hot and dizzy when I fell asleep, but now I was only slightly dizzy and not in much pain.
'Was it just a passing summer cold?'
More than that, I had a dream, but I couldn't remember it well. My dad seemed to be in it... If so, it must have been a nightmare. Maybe it's better that I can't remember.
At least the cold was gone, so I could breathe a sigh of relief. But then a sense of unease came over me. The room was unusually quiet. Normally, there's always someone in my room during the day, so where did everyone go? That's strange...? As I turned to my right, I doubted my eyes.
The emperor was sitting in a chair with his arms crossed, his eyes closed. For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating and squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again. But the emperor was still sitting there.
It's not the time for the emperor to come. Perhaps because of my slight movement, the emperor slowly opened his eyes. His blue eyes, hidden behind his eyelids, gradually revealed themselves. His expressionless face, which looked angry, immediately turned into a gentle smile when our eyes met.
I had seen his clear change in expression many times, so it wasn't surprising anymore. More importantly, why was the emperor here? Where was the nanny? As I looked around with a worried expression, the emperor approached me and placed his large hand on my forehead. The emperor's hand was cool as expected.
"Your fever has gone down a lot."
Hmm... I blinked stupidly. The emperor's awkward touch to check my temperature felt strangely familiar. While I was surprised, the emperor moved busily. He soaked a towel in cold water, wrung it out, and placed it on my forehead, then wiped my body with a lukewarm towel. Finally, he gave me the medicine he had written himself. I obediently took it, but I still couldn't grasp the situation.
'Where is the nanny, and why is the emperor taking care of me?'
I stared at the emperor's face. His complexion wasn't good, probably from not sleeping well last night.
I vaguely remembered. At the end of my painful past life, someone had taken care of me, and it wasn't a dream but real.
I tried to hold back the tears that were about to burst out, but they formed in my eyes anyway. The emperor, surprised, gently picked me up. His gentle patting was incredibly tender.
"Mabel? Are you still in pain? Hmm?"
His worried and restless voice was so warm that my tears wouldn't stop.
'Really... does he love me?'
I wondered if I was a person worthy of such love, and it felt like a blessing. It felt awkward, like I had taken something that wasn't mine, just like in the dream. But the biggest reason I couldn't trust anyone was the sense of insecurity.
'...Even after a few years, will I not be abandoned?'
Perhaps because I had a severe cold, I didn't go out after that.
'If that were the only thing, it would be good.'
A warm breeze blew through the window left open for ventilation. The smell of summer flowers was strong. The nanny, who was quietly sewing, glanced at the window and ordered Larama, who was nearby.
"Larama! Close all the windows."
Not only did I not go out, but I was also sensitive to anything that might hurt me. It was as if a little wind would cause a disaster, so they only opened the windows for ventilation and quickly closed them.
It must be because of the emperor. Even the mobile hanging above me, which could fall, was taken away. The same went for other toys, which were collected because they might be dangerous. The doll given to me by my favorite maid was also collected. All - collected. As a result, I was much more bored than before. At least at night, I could move freely since no one was around, but during the day, there was really nothing to do. The only consolation was that I finally escaped the crib and was allowed to stay in a bed.
'Even though it's a baby bed, it's something.'
Rolling around secretly was the joy of my life. While lying there idly, Oscar came in, fanning himself.
"You're here, Your Highness? I'll bring you some cool tea."
Oscar went straight to the bed. He naturally sat on the bed and held me in his arms. I reflexively turned my head and looked around for something.
'There he is. Lyssandro Donovan!'
The human who was my guard and obstacle was half-hidden by the door, watching us. I glared sharply at Lyssandro.
"Mabel. Why are you looking at him like that? Ah..."
Oscar's expression darkened as he followed my gaze. This way, Oscar won't be able to rest properly, always on edge. I pointed at Lyssandro with my finger and shouted.
If translated, it means "Go away!" or something like that.
"Too much... sniff sniff sniff."
Lyssandro pretended to cry and completely disappeared behind the door. Then Oscar burst out laughing.
"Do you dislike your uncle so much?"
'It's because of you, you.'
Oscar, already playing with my now somewhat grown hair, scolded me.
"Don't hate your uncle too much."
"Until recently, he used to play with me, but after he became my sword and academic teacher, he became strict. I think he does it because he wants me to do well. He's not a bad person, Mabel."
Who made Lyssandro leave!
'If you defend that man, what does that make me?'