IBRIP l CH 149

Chapter 149 

“Uh… I…”

In my head, memories of all the trouble I’d caused flashed by like a slideshow.

It made sense that the Emperor might think I was a reckless child he couldn’t control.
But from the look in his eyes, I felt he saw something more than that.

It reminded me of how Hojen looked at Noe — as if the Emperor felt an odd sense of distance and discomfort with me.

Right now, I was hiding in Winter’s shadow while causing trouble here and there, but… if Winter hadn’t been around, I was sure the Emperor would have suspected me a long time ago.

I swallowed hard. I thought I should come up with a more believable lie.

“I was… doing something very important.”

But instead of lying, I blurted something else out.

“Important?”

“Yes. Something very important for the Grand Duke, and something that needed me. Actually, it was something that had to be done for all of us.”

Maybe because I’d just witnessed the conflict between the Rustin father and son, I didn’t feel like lying.

“But I promised the Grand Duke I’d keep it secret. No… it’s something that must be kept secret. So…”

The Emperor crossed his arms and frowned deeply.
I clenched the blanket tightly in my hands and muttered weakly,

“I can’t tell you…”

The Emperor seemed a little angry. But instead of pressing me, he leaned back and closed his eyes.

“[Igrio] told me… that you were ‘necessary.’”

He sighed like he’d realized something.

“I guess he meant it literally — that you were needed for some ‘mission’ given by God, something we can’t understand.”

I nodded quietly.

“No matter what, you can’t tell me what happened?”

“…”

“What kind of situation needs a child like you? I can’t understand it, and honestly… I don’t want to.”

I nodded again and added softly,

“The Grand Duke… is also young.”

“…What?”

“He’s only fifteen. Just like I’m only ten…”

The Emperor’s slight smirk faded, and he sighed.

“So… he lied about wanting you. He made you lie too, just so you’d marry him.”

He muttered, looking like the puzzle finally made sense to him.

“So he plans to use you and then throw you away? You’re following him so willingly… He must’ve bewitched you with that face of his. This is why northern men can’t be trusted — especially snake-like ones…”

Muttering angrily, the Emperor suddenly grabbed my shoulders and turned me toward him.

“Look me straight in the eye and answer me. And don’t lie.”

I gulped and nodded. The Emperor then asked slowly, like talking to a baby:

“Do you really like Grand Duke Winter Orsches? Like… ‘I’ll die without him’ or ‘I can’t sleep without him’ like?”

Seriously…

“No…”

Or… that’s what I was going to say. But suddenly, I thought:

If Winter wasn’t around, would I die?

‘Not feel like dying… I’d actually die.’

I couldn’t even imagine the world without him — because he was the main character of this world.

So yeah, I guess I couldn’t do without him. Maybe I won’t be able to sleep either.

I was lost in thought when the Emperor frowned and pressed me again.

“Why are you hesitating?”

If I said “no” here, wouldn’t he start accusing Winter of forcing me into marriage?

Then he might say, “He’s using you — there’s no need to marry him!” and get mad.

And if I told him I was marrying Winter to help pay off our empire’s debt… he’d just get angrier.

Ugh… so annoying.

I suddenly thought, Well, I’ve already embarrassed myself once. Doing it a second time will be easier.

“…Uh… yes.”

“…What did you just say?”

Forget it.

I avoided his wide eyes and mumbled while looking elsewhere:

“Well… he’s handsome, isn’t he? The Grand Duke Winter Orsches. Extremely handsome… He says he’ll buy me whatever I want… He even lets me ride on his back when he flies… Plus, he’s a dragon, so he’s super strong, right? I mean, is there really any reason not to like him?”

The Emperor twitched like a broken machine, then his face slowly twisted in disbelief.

I quickly waved my hands.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already gotten plenty from him. So even if someday he says I’m useless and calls off the engagement, I won’t lose anything! And if we do break up, I’ll make sure to take a huge emotional damage fee from him.”

The Emperor rubbed his face and muttered,

“I have no idea what kind of conversation this even is… Talking to you feels like…”

He trailed off, then sighed.

“…like all my worries are pointless and light as a feather.”

I shrugged.

“Everything will be fine. I don’t exactly look like someone who’d get scammed, right?”

The Emperor chuckled and patted my head roughly before standing up.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m letting you off. I’ll need to talk with [Igrio]. And you’re grounded — no going out. You’ll also be moving to the main palace so I can keep an eye on you.”

I wanted to protest, but since I had caused trouble, I just nodded… until I remembered something important. I quickly clung to his waist.

“But… I really want to apologize to the Duchess in person. Can you please let me visit her, just this once?”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes.

“I’ll think about it. But for now, you’re grounded. This is the consequence of your own choices.”

Feeling guilty toward the Duchess, I thought maybe I should at least write her a letter.

“While you’re grounded, you should work on the palace garden.”

Garden?

The Emperor cleared his throat and whispered,

“I don’t think you’re the only one tending it. The others seem to be waiting for you, so you’d better go.”

When he left, I hurried down to the garden. I remembered how much effort I’d put into pulling out all the weeds before…

‘It better not be full of weeds again…’

I bit my lip and ran — but what I saw was different from what I’d imagined.

“Izana!”

The garden wasn’t empty.

“Oscar?”

When Oscar called my name, two other heads turned — Boris and Joseph.

Oscar ran toward me, his hair bouncing, but stopped just in front of me.

“What happened to you?!” he demanded.

He looked pale, spinning me around to check me over.

“I heard you were coming to my house, but then you vanished! You said you’d be back in two days, but you disappeared for five!”

“I’m really sorry, Oscar. I wanted to apologize to the Duchess in person, but… I’m grounded for a while.”

Oscar rubbed his forehead and groaned.

“Well… at least you’re safe. Mom and I were so worried something happened to you…”

“Where did you go, Izana?”

Joseph slipped in between us with his usual sly smile.

“When you didn’t come back after two days, we all gathered in the garden to talk about you.”

“Nobody worried! Joseph, stop making things up!”

Boris, who’d been lounging nearby, sat up with a scowl.

“I… went to the dragon’s lair the Grand Duke gave me. Oscar, can you deliver a letter to the Duchess for me later?”

“Of course, that’s easy.”

“That’s really all?”

Joseph looked at me suspiciously. I forced a smile and nodded.

“Of course.”

Then, to change the subject, I pointed at his face. Joseph had a blue bruise on his left cheek.

“What happened to your face?”

Joseph touched the bruise and winced.

“Oh, that…”

“I punched him — like I promised,” Oscar said.

Joseph nodded.

“Lucky or unlucky, Boris’s punch hurt more.”

From a distance, Boris clicked his tongue and stood up. He grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward a corner of the garden.

“Because you were gone so long, weeds started growing again! We couldn’t pull them all out ourselves, so we left a patch for you. Go on, pull them!”

I followed him — and burst out laughing when I saw the patch of fresh green weeds left perfectly in the middle of the neat garden.

“What—why are you laughing?!” Boris shouted, flustered.

But soon, Oscar and Joseph also started laughing, and Boris only got angrier.

“Don’t laugh! I said, don’t laugh!”