Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Dream a Bit Longer (2)

“Have you hidden my wooden sword, father?”

When asked by his daughter, the emperor knew that it had finally come. But the natural monarch asked back, deftly hiding his expression. “Wooden sword? What kind of sword? Did you have a wooden sword?”

“Don’t feign innocence. I know you took it when you came to my room the day before yesterday. While I was asleep!”

Aran couldn’t contain her anger and burst into tears. The emperor looked at his daughter with a troubled face, and put her on his lap, gently soothing her.

“Don’t cry. I’ve decided to teach the sword formally on your birthday. Please wait a little longer.”

“On my birthday, you’ll postpone it again under the pretext of my weakness,” said Aran, without even looking at the emperor. “Why don’t you let me learn anything? My brothers are both studying and learning swordsmanship so hard. Why am I the only one… I’m the most stupid in this palace.”

“Haha, if there is another fool in the world who controls the emperor like you, let him come out.”

“That’s because you love me. Being loved is completely different from not being an idiot.”

The emperor sighed. His daughter was just immature, not stupid.

He knew what the fate of the imperial family members, who failed to ascend the throne but had outstanding talent, was, so he deliberately did not teach the princess anything.

The princess, who did not know her father’s inner thoughts, always wanted only things he couldn’t grant her. He would have let her closet overflow if she wanted dresses, jewelry, or even a fancy villa.

“Your brothers don’t want to study nor learn swordsmanship, so they’re always playing tricks, but contrarily, you are always hurting your father’s heart.”

“Just grant my request so your heart wouldn’t hurt.”

“Do you know how difficult it is to study and to practice swordsmanship? You probably wouldn’t be able to handle it and quit after a few days.”

“It won’t be too late for me to judge it myself after I start. I also want to do my share.”

The emperor stroked Aran’s long hair. “You’ve done enough of your share just by being born. Didn’t you bring joy to your father, to your mother, and to all the nation? It’s something your brothers could never do. By the way, did you hear that? These days, its trendy to hang your portraits in every house.”

“…You mean I’m worthless if I can’t give you joy. Then what’s the difference between me and a clown?”

Realizing that the time had come when his sophistry will no longer persuade the princess, the emperor sighed sadly. “Aranhrod, I want to show you my heart if only you’d be able to understand my feelings, I’d be happy to show you. The reason I don’t give you the right is that there are too many obligations after that which would follow you. You are too weak and soft to handle them.”

“…”

Aran didn’t fully understand what her father emperor said, but she could feel that he was grieving. So she held back what she wanted to say.

“Can’t you just live happily without rights or obligations? That’s all I want. If by chance heaven and earth are overturned later and you become empress, then I will admit that this father of yours was wrong.”

Later on, heaven and earth were overturned, and Aran became the sole empress of the empire. But her father, who would admit his mistake, had already passed away.

Father.

Aran shed tears even though she knew it was a dream. She finally understood what he meant. If she were to go back to that time, she wanted to remain a lovely clown who knew nothing and could do nothing she wanted.

Someone gave her a tight hug as she sobbed in a quailing voice. A big hand soothed her head. Somehow she shed more tears. Aran burrowed into a wide, cozy chest. She fell asleep again, and her dreams continued.