Empress Isabelle, who had been waiting to point out Prince Luciano as the initiator, became perplexed and hardened.

 

Betty blinked blankly, not knowing that she would be pointed out.

 

Everyone was surprised by my taunting.

 

Even if children were bullied, they couldn’t confess in a situation where everyone was looking at them.

 

Tell on to the empress was something unthinkable.

 

Most people endure being bullied because they are ashamed and embarrassed.

 

That was a normal child.

 

I was too upset to keep my mouth shut.

 

In particular, any child who grew up as a nobleman couldn’t speak more openly.

 

Empress Isabelle also knew that. So in the absence of my guardian, she pressured me with bullying.

 

‘Because isolated children can’t make rational judgments.’

 

She must have intended to manipulate me at my disposal by pretending to be the only adult here.

 

There was something they didn’t know, I wasn’t really 9 years old, and I didn’t have the pride of being a noble.

 

“Betty’s been bothering me.”

 

I was a wise person who knew how to confidently take advantage of this situation!

 

Prince Luciano’s mysterious gaze pierced my cheek.

 

“W–when did I ever bother you?”

 

Betty, who came to her senses late, jumped up and shouted.

 

“I called you earlier, but you ignored me and left.”

 

“Tha-that!”

 

Betty glanced at Empress Isabelle.

 

She just did what she was told, but the situation seemed embarrassing for her.

 

‘You can’t hide your feelings because you’re still young.’

 

Only then did Empress Isabelle step up.

 

“Isn’t it perhaps Aesvin’s misunderstanding? Could it be that Betty wasn’t deliberately trying to ignore Aesvin?”

 

“I think deliberately ignoring someone is also an act of bullying.”

 

I replied with a sullen look at Betty’s frustration.

 

“Think about it carefully. Betty must not hear what Aesvin said, didn’t she?”

 

“Yes! I didn’t mean to ignore you! I didn’t hear it!”

 

Betty quickly took the bait from Empress Isabelle.

 

“Seeing Betty speaking so truthfully, I think it’s true that Aesvin misunderstands.”

 

Empress Isabelle accepted Betty’s reasoning.

 

She tried her best to cover each other.

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Of course, Betty couldn’t have done that. Think again, Aesvin. Have you ever been bullied by anyone else?”

 

Empress Isabel still seemed unable to give up her desire to have Prince Luciano as the initiator.

 

“Someone else?”

 

“Yes, Someone else other than Betty.”

 

‘Do you believe that if you comfort me gently, I’ll give me the answer you want?’

 

I glanced at Prince Luciano briefly, and Empress Isabelle’s expression brightened.

 

I almost laughed at the blatant reaction after I seemed to give her the answer.

 

“Now tell me. Who’s bothering Aesvin?”

 

Empress Isabelle’s expression was enthusiastic as if she would have the answer she wanted this time.

 

I nodded slowly and pointed my finger again at another person.

 

“Her! She also ignored me!”

 

This time my finger pointed to Catherine.

 

Catherine, who was pointed out, widened her eyes.

 

Empress Isabelle’s excited expression gradually hardened and turned cold.

 

“W–when did I!”

 

Catherine made a strong plea.

 

“You ignored me earlier,” I responded calmly.

 

“No! I didn’t hear you either! I didn’t know you were talking to me!”

 

Catherine was more thoughtful than Betty. She countered using the conversation that had just happened.

 

“Oh, did you? Why didn’t everyone hear me? My voice isn’t even that small.”

 

“Still, I might not hear it!”

 

“Everyone has bad hearing. It’s a big deal when you’re still young.”

 

I sarcastically said in a serious tone full of concern.

 

Betty and Catherine glared at my sarcasm.

 

‘It’s very easy to provoke them because they’re still a child.’

 

“You–!”

 

“Just now–!”

 

“Stop!”

 

The moment Betty and Catherine were about to shout simultaneously, Empress Isabelle cried out and interrupted.

 

The coldness made them shut their mouth and look at each other.

 

“It seems that Aesvin misunderstood the two of them.”

 

Empress Isabelle looked gentle again as if she never had a serious face.

 

But if you listen carefully, she concluded that it was my fault.

 

I’d like to argue more, but it would be a wrong move, so I have to hold out now.

 

‘I can’t fight Empress Isabelle’s power yet.’

 

“I’m sorry. I must have misunderstood everything.”

 

I quickly apologized and stepped back.

 

“So there’s no one bothering Aesvin, right?”

 

A question asked afterward by Empress Isabelle, who hasn’t given up until the end, 

 

“Yes, if they didn’t bother me, no one would.”

 

“Well, how did you faint in the palace before?” Asked Empress Isabelle suddenly.

 

Did Empress Isabelle know about that shameful incident?

 

That was why she thought I had fallen out with Prince Luciano and did this.

 

“T-the one when I fainted?”

 

I stuttered in confusion without realizing it.

 

Then Empress Isabelle rushed sharply as if she had caught my weakness.

 

“Think Carefully, Aesvin. I’ll help you, so don’t be afraid. How did you faint?”

 

Huh?

 

‘You know I fainted, but you don’t know exactly what happened that day?’

 

I glanced at Prince Luciano, who sat expressionlessly.

 

Up until now, I thought Prince Luciano was heartless.

 

However, a strange sense of relief came to me because of his indifference.

 

I didn’t know how he did it, but he seemed to have made up for my mistakes.

 

I was grateful for him hiding the worst situation.

 

So I decided not to drag this situation any further.

 

I looked at Empress Isabelle with a cheeky face.

 

“I think the Empress must have misunderstood. It wasn’t because someone was harassing me. It was because I was greedy for food.”

 

“Greedy for … food?”

  

 

Empress Isabelle’s voice rose as if she had heard something strange.

 

As I told the story, I acted more embarrassed.

 

“Yes, because the muffins I bought were so delicious. I had a stomachache because I ate up Prince Luciano’s share.”

 

“Are you saying that you ate a lot and fainted?”

 

“Yes, because I like to eat. I don’t know if it’s inappropriate.”

 

Empress Isabelle’s expression was unfavorably distorted as I pretended to be shy and smiled brightly.

 

She seemed disappointed that it wasn’t in the direction she had envisioned.

 

‘Who’s misunderstood now?’

 

She took advantage of me and tried to bring up the issue about Prince Luciano’s personality, but when it went down in smoke.

 

“I see. I shouldn’t have cared too much,” said Empress Isabelle coldly.

 

Empress Isabelle withdrew the attention she had given me.

 

“Come to think of it. I heard you had some good news a while ago, Hazel.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Hazel, who had been called out of nowhere, uttered a panicked sound.

 

“I heard that Marquis Louis praised you for your talent in swordsmanship.”

 

“Oh, yes. I have received excessive praise.”

 

“Marquis Louis is a tough man. You must have a great talent for him to say that. Congratulations.”

 

“Thank you. I’ll try harder.”

 

Empress Isabelle had a friendly conversation with others as if I had never existed.

 

I glanced at Prince Luciano. He already turned his gaze away from me and sat calmly.

 

I didn’t think he would ever pay any attention to me again, so I spent my time in a daze.

 

‘I’m bored. I hope the tea party will be over soon.’

 

So, I sat absent-mindedly for an hour or so.

 

“Oh my, the time has already passed by so much. Shall we call it a day?”

 

I almost cheered when the moment I had been waiting for came.

 

“So, that’s all for today.”

 

“I hope today isn’t the last time we will meet.”

 

“I hope there will be another good opportunity next time.”

 

“Thanks to you, I had a good time.”

 

“Go home safely, and then get together with your close friends.”

 

Empress Isabelle looked at a few children and gave a meaningful smile.

 

The children’s faces brightened when they received her gaze.

 

They seemed to feel that they had been chosen.

 

Empress Isabelle and Prince Steven left first.

 

She ignored Prince Luciano and me until the end because things didn’t go her way.

 

‘Ugh, an adult is acting really mean until the end.’

 

It was a place I didn’t want to stay any longer, so I hurriedly got up.

 

I had a hard time sitting still.

 

‘I need to go home and lie down.’

 

I was about to leave this place when I saw Prince Luciano still sitting.

 

Should I just go or say goodbye?

 

I think I would be ignored if I did.

 

The negative thoughts were stronger, but I pulled myself together in the end. Saying goodbye wasn’t that difficult.

 

Instead, I just stood and said goodbye without getting too close.

 

“I’ll go in first. It was nice to see you again. I wish the best of luck for the prince in the future.”

 

I bowed politely and flinched as I raised my head.

 

I thought he would continue to ignore me, but Prince Luciano looked at me.

 

I waited to see if he had anything to say, but he wouldn’t speak.

 

‘I really don’t understand him.’

 

“I’m really going.”

 

I said my last goodbye and left.

 

It must be just my feeling that my back felt burning, right?

 

Still, a great hurdle has been overcome.

 

There was no need to visit the Imperial Palace anymore.

 

It was said that our territory was far down from the capital. Should I go there?

 

I would go to relax my mind and body.

 

The exhausting tea party was completely over.

 

***

 

For a while, I lived a leisurely life at home.

 

I had nothing to do except visiting Prince Luciano’s palace, which I had been going in and out of almost every day.

 

So, I spent a peaceful time at the mansion to my heart’s content.

 

But the peace was broken by a single letter.

 

 

[Come over at 2 p.m. tomorrow.]

 

 

The sender was none other than Prince Luciano.

 

I pulled my cheek when I saw the letter, which was simply written with the intended purpose, and I could feel the bluntness in the letters.

 

‘Ow, it really hurts!’

 

I pinched too hard without realizing it.

 

The pinch really hurt my cheek, so I gently rolled my chubby cheek with my palm, but it didn’t calm down.

 

Feeling the pain, all of it was real, but I still couldn’t believe it.

 

“Nanny, am I not dreaming, right?”

 

“What? What dream suddenly?”

 

“Look at this.”

 

The nanny came up to my side and checked the letter, then she looked surprised.

 

“Goodness, my lady! Did Prince Luciano invite you first?”

 

Seeing my nanny’s happy expression, I wasn’t dreaming.

 

Today, more than a year has passed since I got to know Prince Luciano.

 

He invited me for the first time.