Chapter 10

Daughter of the Emperor Volume 1 Chapter 10

The Emperor’s only daughter vol 1 ch 10

The Emperor’s only daughter vol 1 ch 10

“Cerera, you are amazing! Where did you get the courage to talk to the Emperor like that?”

Elaine started complimenting Cerera as soon as we returned to our room. I also joined in praising her.

I had given her my applause along with Elaine.

*Clap Clap*

‘You were so cool!

How can you just state right in front of the Emperor’s face that his hair was “durity”?

Well, you are not wrong. That is “durity” to me. Everything except food is “durity”!’

“Huh? What?”

However, it seems that Cerera had no clue why Elaine was praising her.

As Cerera placed me in the crib, she cocked her head questioningly.

‘Huh?’

“What you said…”

“What?”

“That, that…”

Elaine diligently tried to explain herself. Unfortunately, Cerera had no idea what she was talking about and frowned.

‘Nanny, what she’s trying to say is about that thing earlier! Agh! Why can’t you just get it?!

Earlier that, that.’

“Durity. When you said Durity.”

Elaine was so frustrated she hit herself on the chest. Only then did Cerera seem to understand what was going on. Her face lit up brightly then it turned sullen.

“So, what about it? It was durity.”

‘Huh? What is this?’ I gave her a slightly surprised look.

‘Cerera you…

I knew you were amazing, but do you also have an attitude? The Emperor was laughing but his entire face froze when you said his hair was durity. Did you not see that?!’

I honestly thought her head was going to fly off at that point. She also pulled me out of his arms without asking and wiped my mouth. After that, she checked inside my mouth in case there was any of his hair still stuck in there – while she was right in front of Caitel.

‘Ah. So did you not see his expression?’

“Princess, don’t eat hair. It durity. Durity.”

I looked into the green eyes that gazed into mine and cheerfully laughed.

‘Nope. I wasn’t trying to eat it but chew it.’

“Mrs. Cerera, you have an unexpectedly large liver.” ( )

As I heard Elaine mumbling to herself, I also agreed with her. I didn’t know, but my nanny really was Superman. I had always assumed Cerera would just shake and cower in front of Keitel but it turned out I was wrong about her, or was her concern for me so great that she overcame her fear?

I felt slightly strange. It’s true that she is my nanny, but I am not her real child. How can she pour so much love onto someone else’s child that is not her own?

I felt a lump form in my throat.

“What are you saying? Stop talking nonsense and bring me a warm towel.”

Elaine stuck out her bottom lip and left the room. Her expression was full of complaints but I was so used to it by now and it looked cute to me which made me get serious.

‘To think that human being looked cute to me, I am really out of my mind.’

As soon as Elaine left, Cerera took a chair and sat near my crib. Then she proceeded to pat my chest as I laid there. When our eyes met, her eyes gently turned into half moons and she gave me a smile that was like a sunny spring day. It was the kind of smile that was welcoming, like flowers swaying in the gentle breeze with plenty of dew drops sprinkled on them. Her smile was that peaceful.

“It’s great that the Emperor cherishes you so much.”

‘What the…

Actually, Nanny, he’s not really cherishing me. He’s just playing with me. On top of that, the bastard treats me like a thing. He says I’m his. He’s a funny Japong! I like jajangmyeon way better.

No, wait a minute that’s not the point.’

“Princess, you only have your father on your side.”

‘Huh? What are you saying?’

I slowly looked up at Cerera. She was looking at me with a sorrowful expression and her eyes were glazed with tears.

‘Why are you suddenly crying?’

“It’s true the Emperor gets fingers pointed at him for being a tyrant, and other empires and kingdoms condemned him as a mass murderer and an invader, but this is not just his problem.”

I just quietly gazed into Cerera eyes.

This frail and delicate lady was quietly explaining herself to me who can’t possibly understand what she was saying. It was as if she was confessing her sins to God. To me, it seemed to the act of praying. I held back my breath and watched her.

Her face grew dark.

Her face wasn’t angry or fearful, but rather sorrowful.

“I wish for the Princess to grow up cherished and to be able to show the Emperor what true happiness is through the experience of raising and protecting what is his, rather than through the act of stealing other people’s things and stepping on them. That is what I hope for.”

Everything she said was things I couldn’t possibly accomplish. They were all things I didn’t know how to do myself. ‘What is the feeling of wanting to protect something and raising them and getting to know them?’ I looked far away as I got lost in my own thoughts

For a second, Cerera laughed so brightly, like the sun that chases away the darkness.

At that warmth, I lost all the words I wanted to say. I was just melting away from all this gentleness.

“Princess, you can surely do this, right?”

‘Why do you expect this from me?’

I started to whine at this impossible situation where I couldn’t say yes, but I felt I shouldn’t say no either. This was more difficult for me than the phenomena of the seven wonders of the world.

‘Can’t you ask me a question like, “Who do you love more, mommy or daddy?” Ask me that instead!’

“Mrs. Cerera.”

For the first time since I met her, Elaine did a good deed. As soon as Elaine walked in, Cerera stood up and took the towel from her. Then she cleaned my face and cheeks thoroughly. Her movements were gentle and full of consideration.

“I feel it all the time, but I feel Mrs. Cerera treats Ariadna as if she were your own daughter.”

I guess Elaine felt the same way I did as she observed Cerera.

Cerera laughed at Elaine’s admiration and took care of me with gentle fingers.

“She is my daughter.”

Her voice was firm and strong as she said this.

‘Ah, I shouldn’t get emotional over every single thing.’

Even as I said this, I knew it was too late and my heart was greatly moved.

I tried to hide my tears by forcing myself to laugh.

Cerera noticed my tears and assumed I was sleepy.

Well, I am pretty sleepy.

“What about Mr.Graecito who is at your relative’s place?”

Elaine acted out of character and said something heavy.

I guess watching Cerera take care of me made her heart heavy.

‘Anyway, Graecito?

I guess that’s the name of her son whom she left with her family.’

At the mention of her son’s name that she didn’t hear for a long time, Cerera’s face grew heavy.

‘Huh?’

Then her cheeks started blushing and her suddenly lively face surprised me.

“In fact, I’m going to see him tomorrow.”

“Oh, really?”

‘“Oh, really?”, indeed. I want to ask her too.’

I tried to attract her interest by shaking my hand and foot at her.

I guess Cerera was shy because she just lowered her head and nodded a few times.

“At most, it’s only for six hours…”

“I’m so happy for you!”

Elaine clasped Cerera’s hands.

I also wanted to grab her hands.

‘It’s great! It’s really great!’

I was always grateful to Cerera for taking such good care of me, but as soon as I heard that she had to leave her own child behind at her home to take care of me I had felt an unknown feeling grow larger in the corner of my heart. However, I now felt it suddenly clear up.

The burden in my heart had lessened.

‘Cerera, you must become happy one day.’

This was a thought that came naturally to me, and one which I carried with me at all times.

‘That’s right, this woman must become happy.’

“Oh my, the Princess is happy for you too.”

Thanks to Elaine looking at me, Cerera turned around to look at me too.

Seeing my happiness, Cerera looked like she was going to break out in tears any second.

“Our kind Princess.”

Cerera held me up. As soon as she embraced me I kissed her cheek.

It was something I shouldn’t be able to do yet due to my age, but I wanted to do it for her.

Obviously, it was a big surprise to them.

“Oh my! The Princess kissed Mrs. Cerera!”

Cerera stared at me with a surprised face.

I smiled back brightly.

‘Cerera!’

Elaine was going nuts by her side.

She threw a fuss saying “Our Princess is good!” and how she loved her “to death” and was “an angel” but despite all these praises I just looked at Cerera.

‘My pretty nanny, Cerera. I really like you a lot.’

“Our princess…”

Her voice shook and there was a great change upon her face.

She was barely holding her tears in.

I grabbed her hair which fell into my hands.

‘Don’t feel pain. Don’t cry. And please be happy okay?’

I guess she must have heard me because she didn’t cry a single tear. She only laughed.

“Tch.” ( )

I heard Elaine’s voice come from my side.

The both of us stared at Elaine’s face which was filled with jealousy.

“Are you jealous?”

“No, no. Not at all.”

‘She is…’

I laughed.

‘Oh, Elaine, you are an idiot.

Stupid Elaine.’

But I don’t hate that moron, so I held out my hand.

“Oh, oh, oh?!”

It was the first time I held out my hand out to her that Elaine was caught off guard.

She didn’t know what to do and just stuttered with shocked eyes.

‘Yeah, you find this strange right?

I find it strange too.’

“Ma-Ma-”

“Ah, Ah- is she calling me mom?”

‘What in the world?!’ I’m just yelling randomly, but Elaine looked greatly moved.

‘Hey! I wasn’t calling you mom!’

“Ummm Ahhh~”

After I screeched out one more time Elaine’s expression changed.

‘Good. She understands now.’

“So she wasn’t saying, mom.”

Cerera laughed at Elaine’s tantrum.

She caressed my head one more time and smiled brightly at Elaine.

“She seems happy.”

Elaine walked up to us. Then, she grabbed my hands that were hovering aimlessly in the air. When I saw how small my hands were in her hands, even I thought my own baby hands were just too cute. Elaine laughed nonsensically after seeing that I stuck out my bottom lip.

“Our Princess is just too cute!”

Elaine exclaimed as she rushed toward me.

Cerera agreed with Elaine.

“Yes, you’re right.”

*********************************************************************************

Time flies by quickly for children. Soon enough, I had become a six-month-old baby. There wasn’t anything especially different about turning six months old, but I did have one good news. I could sit up! ‘Now give me applause!’

*Clap Clap*

‘Heh heh, I like it.’

When I turned around five months old, even I felt the difference in my development. I started to slow down in growth which made me think it was a bad thing, but seeing as Cerera remained calm, I guess it was normal at this stage. I was able to put more strength into my legs and hands so I thought I could start crawling but damn! My hopes were dashed. I ended up pushing myself on my stomach and failed numerous times. Numerous times I wailed inwardly and looked for Cerera so I could ask her when could I start crawling.

‘Cerera, I can’t crawl!’

“Oh, my Princess are you sitting up again?”

‘Yup, I really wished for this to happen.’

I unconsciously answered her and then realized suddenly.

‘When did you get here?’ When I was playing with my toys Cerera appeared out of nowhere and looked down at me.

‘Really, sitting up again? Isn’t it obvious? You shouldn’t say it like that.’

I giggled and Cerera laughed with me.

Cerera could now see her child once a month because I played well with the other servants, and so she could relax and visit her child with peace of mind. I guess that’s why she looked happier these days. It felt like she was growing prettier day by day.

‘Ah, to be honest, I don’t like the other servants but, for Cerera’s sake, I try my best to play along with them.’

“Princess, please eat this.”

I cocked my head as she pushed a bowl in front of me.

‘Isn’t this solids? It’s solids! Yum

I will eat it, but isn’t it too early to eat solids?’

Then I remember how my nanny would spend a long time checking out my mouth after she bathed me. I think she was checking if I had teeth… ‘I have teeth!

Ah, is that why I’m starting on solids? Oh, can I start talking now?’

“Ughwahh…”

Even I think that that wasn’t a sound a human could understand, but these days I feel so light-hearted that I unconsciously let out screeches randomly. ‘Damn.’

*Sob Sob* ‘I’m not a monster.’

“Here, say ‘ah~’.”

As soon as a spoon came toward me I automatically opened my mouth. What nanny usually gives me is fruit. Today, it’s fruits again. The only thing is that I have no idea what kind of fruit it is because it’s mashed beyond recognition. Also, my taste buds were dull due to the fact that I only had milk for several months.

‘Anyway, this is delicious!’

“Eat slowly. Good girl.”

‘What kind of fruit is this?’ I unconsciously asked her but unfortunately, no human words came out. So Cerera just ended up patting me on the head and that was the end of it.

Damn, I gotta get out of this baby phase so I can actually do something.

“Was it that delicious? Good girl. Have some more.”

‘Yup, that’s right.

For now, Hand over that bowl. It is pretty good.

I feel like Columbus discovering a new continent. Is this a whole new world?’

It was solids but, instead of chewing it, it was more accurate to say I was just swallowing the puree whole. In other words, it was like drinking fruit juice. At first, I thought solids were too much for me when I didn’t have teeth, but Cerera was a master at early childcare development.

‘Cerera, you’re the boss! I believe in your abilities!’

As I ate up the small snack, Cerera smiled and left the room.

*********************************************************************************

He’s a funny Japong!

Japong is a popular Korean spicy noodle soup that is loaded with various types of seafood.

Depending on the restaurant, it can have various types of ingredients that can be quite random.

When you make it at home, you end up mixing all sorts of stuff in a spicy broth.

So if someone compares you to as a funny japong it means you’re random and weird. It’s not a compliment. Don’t go around saying this.

I haven’t heard this expression in years. It’s dying out.

I like jajangmyeon way better.

Japong is the most enjoyed (take-out) delivery food in Korea along with jjajangmyeon. It’s like if you go get burgers there will be fries there, right? It’s the same with japong. The restaurant will always have both choices.  Our MC is just playing around with words. The last part is unnecessary. \n