It was not easy to tell the child who said he was okay, that he didnât look okay.
Anastasia decided to wait and see for now. Because she didnât know if she was just mistaken.
âBut why arenât you eating, Empress?â
Did he notice that he was eating it all by himself?
Louis belatedly asked her. Anastasia replied with a smile.
âJust watching Louis eat makes me feel full.â
âOh, thereâs no such thing.â
âItâs true. Seeing Louis eat so well is so pretty that I want to give you everything.â
ââŠâ
âYou must have had a hard time studying hard, right? Youâre still young, but youâre so special.â
Louisâ expression shook greatly when he heard it.
It was because no one had ever given him such a compliment.
Olivia was not interested in how hard Louis studied and only praised him when he got a perfect score.
However, it was insignificant considering how much she scolded him when he failed to get a perfect score.
âBaby, if you want to become an emperor, a perfect score is only natural. How can you get two wrong?â
âThe language is so difficult⊠⊠Iâm sorry. I tried so hardâŠâ
âWhatâs important about that? The results arenât perfect. Itâs not an effort. If itâs garbage, you wonât know the difference.â
Louis, who recalled what had happened on Schweig Island, asked.
âYouâre complimenting me because I got a perfect score, right?ââ
âWhat?â
âIf it werenât a perfect score⊠There would have been no compliments or dessert.â
âI donât know what youâre talking about, Louis.â
Anastasia said in a slightly embarrassed voice.
âCompliments and desserts are gifts for Louis who studied hard. I canât deny that itâs better because itâs a perfect score, but thatâs not the point.â
ââŠthen whatâs important?â
âItâs important how hard Louis worked to get a perfect score. Thatâs what studying is.â
ââŠâ
As expected, Her Majesty was strange. She says the exact opposite of Olivia does.
As Louisâ expression became serious, Anastasia was worried about what she had said.
âWell, LouisâŠ? Did I say something wrong?â
ââŠNo, itâs not like that.â
Louis shook his head quickly.
âItâs just, I feel a little weird.â
âWell, is that so? Why do you feel weirdâŠ?â
At the words of the incomprehensible child, Anastasia caught his eye and picked up the chocolate placed in front of her.
âWhen you feel weird, you should eat something sweet. It makes you feel better.â
âI still feel good.â
âYesâŠ?â
But why did his expression look so serious�
Anastasia thought Louisâ answer was a lie, but what he said was true. Louis was in a good mood now.
âIf I feel good⊠I canât.â
Feeling good, it was a problem.
Not only at this moment, but also whenever he was with Anastasia these days, it was always like this.
He was scared that Olivia would be greatly surprised if she knew he was feeling this way.
âWake up, Louis. Her Majesty is the enemy of your parents!â
He figured the discipline had been loosened because they played together these days.
Louis grappled with his confused mind and bit the cookie in his hand.
~~~~
After Anastasia left, Olivia continued to be angry.
âThat leech of a woman! Does she have nothing to do? I donât know why she keeps coming back!â
When Anastasia was spending time with Louis, her heart grew even more nervous because she didnât allow her to enter his room.
âMy baby, what did that wicked witch trick you with today?â
Olivia had always asked Louis this after Anastasia left, and from some point on, Louis felt irritated by the fact that he had to report every move.
âJust⊠⊠We played with toys. Drank teaâŠâ
So, from a certain moment, Louis was reporting what had happened in a very awkward way.
But today, a lie was added.
âI ate dessert⊠⊠But it should be kept a secret.â
If she had known, Olivia wouldnât have left it alone.
Unaware of the lie, Olivia continued to swear.
âThatâs easy. Iâm worried about the future of the empire, having such a thoughtless woman in the position of the Empress. Why on earth did the goddess choose such a stupid woman as her Empress⊠What?â
Olivia, who had been organizing Louisâ desk while swearing at Anastasia for a long time, found something and narrowed her brows. At the same time Louisâ complexion turned white.
âThat isâŠ!â
What Olivia found in a large leather pen pouch was chocolate.
âIf youâre having a hard time studying, eat one at a time, Louis.â
It was given to him by Anastasia as he looked at the chocolate leftovers with regretful eyes. Louis secretly hid it in a pouch.
Olivia immediately turned on her heels and stared at Louis.
âBaby, what is this?â
âItâs⊠I donât know.â
Louis fibbed without realizing it. Olivia was angry.
âThat wicked witch snuck this thing into my babyâs stuff, how dare she! To poison you!â
Olivia let her imagination run wild.
âIâm going to throw it away right away. There might be poison in here. No, I need to see the palace doctor to see if itâs poisonous. Yeah, Iâm sure she did this to poison you. No wonder, there was a reason to come in and out of here! And then when you died, she will try to blame me for everything! Nasty thing!â
âOh, no. I actually told Her MajestyâŠ!â
Then Louis quickly covered his mouth when he knew he had made a slip of the tongue, but it was already late.
Olivia, who had been angry for a long time, stopped like a fuse had left, and stared at Louis with a creepy cold face.
At that moment, an inexplicable fear engulfed Louis, and he became immobilized and hardened on the spot.
âMy babyâŠâ
Olivia slowly approached Louis. She looked like a ghost in a white dress, and Louis hurried to beg for forgiveness.
âIâm sorry, Iâm sorry!â
âHow can you do this to me?â
Before I knew it, Olivia, who came in front of Louis, grabbed Louisâ shoulder and pushed him with a scary face.
âBaby, how can you deceive me, how!â
âIâm sorry, aunt. Forgive meâŠâ
ââŠis this a mistake?â
Without paying attention to Louis crying, Olivia asked persistently, increasing strength in her hand holding the childâs shoulder.
âMy baby wouldnât betray me. It must be a mistake. Right?â
Louis nodded desperately, whimpering.
âIt was because the chocolate looked so delicious⊠Iâm sorry, I beg your pardonâŠâ
ââŠOkay, good.â
Olivia then patted Louis on the shoulder and laughed coolly.
âMy baby, Iâll forgive you once. But not twice. Iâm sorry to hear that youâre given something by someone else who hates you. Iâm sure she gave it to you to harm you.â
Olivia said, wiping the tear marks on Louisâ cheeks with a blank face.
âMy baby, donât do that from now on, okay?â
Louis nodded hurriedly, and Oliviaâs expression brightened up.
âNow go study, baby. You have to stay up all night doing your homework today, right? This is all because youâve been playing with her and youâve been losing your study time.â
ââŠâ
âHurry up and go.â
Louis bit his lips and struggled to walk to the front of the desk.
~~~~
ââŠLouis, are you sure youâre sleeping well?â
A few days later, Anastasia visited the palace and looked at Louisâ face with a serious look.
Not too long ago, it wasnât that obvious, but now it was getting serious. It looked like he wasnât in a good condition and anyone could tell.
âYou look tired, are you sick?â
It was when Anastasia was about to touch Louisâ forehead with a worried face.
Slap!
Louis struck Anastasiaâs hand in frightening surprise.
Anastasia was surprised by the hostile response after a long time.
âLouisâŠâ
ââŠDonât touch me, Your Majesty.â
Louis spoke in a sharper voice than usual.
âIâm fine.â
ââŠâ
âItâs fine.â
But the words were not accepted at all.
It was when Anastasia was about to say that she should call the court doctor.
âPlease go home for the day. I want to rest.â
Louis showed a stubborn refusal, and Anastasia realized that no toy could change the childâs mind now.
âYes, Louis. I think you need more rest than play today.â
ââŠâ
âTake a good rest. Iâll go.â
Anastasia struggled to smile and turn around, and walked to the door.
ââŠOh, I brought the chocolate that I got as a gift.â
Then she thought of it belatedly. It was the moment when Anastasia turned around to leave the chocolate.
âLouis, I actually brought you some chocolateâŠâ
ââŠâ
ââŠLouis?â
The childâs condition was not very good now, just by looking at his dim eyes.
Anastasia took a step closer to Louis with a frightened face.
âLouis, itâs okayâŠâ
Thud!
At that moment, Louis, who was staggering, fell forward.