CH 37

Did my biological family ever love me at all?

Why did they abandon me?

If I were a half-demon-half-human hybrid, even I would be reluctant…….

My heart went cold.

‘Seriously, what would be the point of possessing a book?’

My first memories were of the hard labor in the slave quarters.  And the despicable smiles of the high-ranking demons who found me. 

Before that, my memory is a blur, as if someone had cut it out.

The other book possessors remembered everything from when they were babies, but what the f*ck about me?!

However–

I gritted my teeth.

And clenched my fists.

‘Well, what was I supposed to do?’

I don’t care if my biological parents wanted me or not.

I’m me.

Just because I don’t have biological parents doesn’t give anyone the right to ignore me!

“What does it matter if Tati is an orphan or not?!” I shot back at Rudolph sharply.

“You don’t have the right to speak to me like that……!”

At that moment.

Someone burst into the room.

“What do you mean the little kid has no parents?!!!”

It was Kirios.

“Ma-Mage Tower Master?” Embarrassed, Rudolph shuffled backwards.

Kirios glared at Rudolph, his eyes flashing.

” I am! I am her father!” Abandoning even the most minimal courtesy to the royal family, Kirios roared like a wild beast.

‘No, what the hell is going on?’

I was stunned.

But it wasn’t over yet.

Cesar, who had joined Kirios, scooped me up into his arms.

“I, too, consider Miss Tatiana to be my own daughter.”

He was smiling, as always, but his smile was sharp as a knife.

“So, there’s some truth to the idea of feeling superior for being favored, because Miss Tatiana is indeed a pretty girl.”

“I will take up the matter of Tatiana’s adoption at Orleans.”

Finally, Siegfried, who had walked up from the back, crossed his arms and spoke.

Golden sharp eyes, glared at Rudolph.

“Once the adoption is finalized, Tatiana will become the one and only Lady of Orleans.”

“Lady of Orleans.”

“About what the second prince just said……… You should apologize, right?”

The color drained from Rudolph’s face.

The emperor and queen rushed in, panting.

“‘Rudolph, what the……!” The Emperor and Queen exclaimed in astonishment, hugging Rudolph first.

“Mother!”

Rudolph burst into tears, clinging to the hem of the queen’s skirt.

No, he’s trying to save face with tears again! Isn’t that too much?

I glared at Rudolph with fire in my eyes.

“Apparently, the Second Prince doesn’t like our Tatiana very much.”

Siegfried spoke up in a sharp tone.

“I mean, one minute you’re trying to punch her in the face, and the next you’re spouting off about her being an orphan.”

“What are you saying, there must be some misunderstanding…….”

The queen was about to make a hasty excuse, but someone interrupted her.

“It’s not a misunderstanding.”

Huh? This familiar voice?

I turned my head quickly.

Lakius was somewhat pale, but his gaze was nevertheless unwavering.

“Rudolph said so with his own words.”

“First Prince!”

The queen called out to Lakius in a shrill voice, but Lakius did not back down.

“Rudolph may be young, but as prince of the empire, he is in a position to care for everyone.”

“Is the first prince about to lecture this mother?”

Mother.

I almost burst out laughing, forgetting the seriousness of the situation.

Since when was she his mother, and who was she to talk about motherhood? Calling Lakius the ‘first prince’ repeatedly is like drawing a line in the sand.

Apparently, Lakius felt the same way.

“I’m not trying to lecture you; I’m just stating the facts.”

“Look at this!”

“If you are the heir to the throne, who might become the emperor in the future, you should value each and every citizen of the empire.”

Her eyes, sharp as shards of broken ruby, stared straight at the prince without a moment’s hesitation.

“For Rudolph to pressure Miss Tatiana about being an orphan is, in many ways, unseemly, isn’t it?”

The queen’s face contorted.  But she couldn’t retort, because he was absolutely right. 

“Therefore, in my opinion, Rudolph owes Miss Tatiana a polite apology.”

That’s how Lakius ended his sentence.  And I thought that was the kind of person Lakius was……. 

‘God, I feel so sorry for him.’

I pressed my lips together.

Again, instead of defending himself, Lakius was only taking my side.

‘The insult of “having no parents” was heard not only by me, but by Lakius as well.’

“Rudolph.  Apologize to Miss Tatiana at once,” The emperor ordered, his face stern. 

“Father!”

“Now!!!” The emperor shouted.

Rudolph sobbed and looked back at the queen, but this time she avoided his gaze.

“……Come and apologize.” The queen gritted her teeth and pushed Rudolph’s back.

At the same time, the way she glared at me with her piercing eyes made me feel sick to my stomach.

However, the three warriors can see through it, so the imperial family could only apologize by crying and eating mustard.

‘Hmm, in that case.’

I said, shaking my head, feigning ignorance.

“Well, you know what, Tati was always wondering about this…….”

What else could she say?

Turning to the imperial family, who were giving me such wary glances, I asked.

“Why are you only apologizing to Tati?”

“Miss Tatiana, what do you mean?”

“You should apologize to both of us.”

For a moment, the imperial family looked puzzled.

“What do you mean, why apologize?

Their eyes blatantly asked that question.

At that moment, I felt something stirring deep in my chest.

‘To them…… Lakius isn’t even worth their attention.’

This reaction made me unbearably angry.  He’s a vulnerable, lonely child. 

Why doesn’t anyone treat him with respect…….

“He said the word ‘parentless’ not only to Tati, but to First Prince as well.”

There was a surprising sharpness in my voice.

“Doesn’t that mean he has to apologize to the first prince as well?”

“Tatiana is right.” Just then, Siegfried spoke up.  “Come to think of it, Second Prince, you didn’t properly apologize to the First Prince at the victory party either.” 

Cold golden eyes glanced at Rudolph.

“Of course, you may have apologized when I wasn’t looking, but…….”

“…….”

Rudolph reflexively averted his eyes.

Siegfried watched him, then sneered, “I see you didn’t, after all.”

“…….”

Rudolph’s shoulders stiffened, as if he’d been hit on the head.

But Siegfried was unrelenting.

“Why don’t you also apologize for your earlier rudeness?”

“Oh, Duke of Orleans.  I am…….” 

“Apologize, or will you not?”

Siegfried pressed again.

Rudolph’s face flushed bright red with shame.

“Duke of Orleans!”

At the same moment, the queen urgently joined the conversation.

“For the disrespect my child has shown to Miss Tatiana, I offer my most respectful apologies.”

Now that she had made her point, the Queen chewed her lip and glared at Lakius.

“But the affairs of the first prince are…… between the brothers, aren’t they.  I will take good care of them, so…….” 

“Mother.”

Rudolph seized the opportunity and grabbed the hem of the empress’s skirt.

“I am not the only one! Lakius, that bastard got me by the scruff of the neck!”

Despite all this, he didn’t forget to tell him off.

‘Ugh, I hate that.’

I shook my head in frustration.

Apparently, the warriors felt the same way.  Judging by the overtly pathetic expressions on their faces. 

Finally, the poor emperor spoke up, his brow furrowed.

“Enough, Queen.”

“Your, Your Majesty.”

The queen looked back at the emperor as if the world had come crashing down around her.

“Do you mean to tell our Rudolph to bow to the first prince?!”

It was a pleading voice.

No, if anyone saw that, they’d think I asked Rudolph to go to his death.  I sneered to myself. 

“Queen, come to your senses!”

The emperor shouted.

“How much longer are you going to continue your scandalous behavior in front of the three warriors!”

“…….”

Meanwhile, the queen seemed to have come to her senses.

She looked nervously at each of the three warriors, and finally glared at me with a ferocious gaze.

‘Well, what are you going to do with that glare?’

Even as I thought that, I cowered into Cesar’s arms, hugging him tightly around the neck as if intimidated by her glare.

Cesar patted me on the back as if to reassure me not to worry.

Then he opened his mouth to speak coldly.

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