Chapter 105
The duel suddenly stopped when Oscar dropped to his knees and screamed in pain.
Boris, who was about to swing his sword, stumbled while trying to stop and ended up falling beside Oscar.
“I don’t understand what’s going on,” the emperor said, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully.
“What should we do…?”
I nervously laced my fingers together and asked,
“Can I go check on them?”
“They’re still holding their swords. No one has surrendered, so we can’t stop the match just yet,” the emperor replied.
I blinked at him with big eyes.
He turned away, his face blank.
“Not everything can be solved with cute expressions.”
“…Tch.”
“Unless… you call me Dad.”
What? This man… seriously?
“You just said one second ago that cuteness doesn’t solve anything!”
“That’s true. But this is a deal. I’m the emperor—the top of this country. I don’t take sides just because someone makes a cute face.”
“Then there’s no other choice.”
I spoke with determination.
“Tonight, I’ll stop acting coy and show you how I eat four of those breads you love—in one bite each!”
The emperor’s eyes sparkled.
“You know how to make a deal. But there’s something wrong with what you said. You’ve never acted coy. Are you saying that was being coy?”
“Eek.”
“Anyway, now that you’ve used your card, next time—no matter what—you’ll have to call me Dad. Be ready.”
“Don’t be so sure! Who said I’d stop at four? My mouth is not that weak.”
The emperor raised his hand, signaling the duel to stop.
I quickly jumped off his knee.
I started to run toward Oscar and Boris, but then stopped and turned around awkwardly.
I bent my knees slightly and bowed my head.
“Please, Your Majesty… try not to be too angry. Those two are still young, like me. I think someone else deserves the punishment more.”
Yes. The one truly at fault is someone else.
And for some reason, I thought the emperor might understand that.
I don’t know what kind of expression he made. I turned away and ran to Oscar and Boris.
“Oscar!”
At my shout, Oscar slowly turned his head.
With a trembling voice, he said,
“Izana… You were right.”
Tears began to fall from Oscar’s eyes.
He turned to Boris, who still looked confused on the ground, and said,
“It wasn’t you. You didn’t hurt Love.”
“What… What nonsense is that?” Boris’s eyes were also filled with tears.
“What the hell are you saying?!”
Boris stood up and tried to grab Oscar by the collar, but I stepped between them and blocked him.
“Get out of the way, you damn br—Ow!”
“Maah!” (from the sweet potato doll)
Good job—wait, no! This little guy!
I quickly covered the sweet potato’s eyes that had smacked Boris on the mouth with a root.
Boris covered his mouth and stepped back, his face pale.
Feeling the emperor’s intense stare behind me, I swallowed hard.
“Oppa, he saved your life. If you keep talking recklessly like that, you’ll be in real trouble.”
Boris glanced behind me—he must’ve locked eyes with the emperor.
After calming down the (former) sweet potato, I took a deep breath.
“Okay. We need to talk. But not here.”
“Boris!”
Ugh, another interruption.
Lady Yudis suddenly ran onto the stage and hugged Boris from behind.
“Hello, Mother,” I greeted with a smile.
“Boris, are you hurt? Turn your face, quickly!”
Even though Oscar had screamed and collapsed, the Duke and Duchess of Tradi stayed calm once they saw him get up. They remained in their seats.
Only Yudis was overreacting.
I glanced at her as she checked Boris all over, then whispered to Boris with just my lips,
‘Ma. Ma. Boy.’
Boris glanced at me, then subtly pulled away from Yudis’s touch.
“Mother, I’m fine.”
“Fine? You’re hurt right here!”
“I said I’m fine!”
Boris raised his voice, and Yudis flinched and stepped back.
Using that chance, Boris moved away from her.
Yudis’s eyes trembled like she’d just been rejected badly.
I reached out my hand to Boris.
He wiped sweat from his forehead and frowned.
“What now?”
“I told you, you didn’t do it. And if you just listen to me, you’ll get free bread, too.”
His eyes wavered.
I wiggled my fingers and smiled.
“So, how about taking a short walk with me and Oscar?”
“What nonsense is this! Boris needs to see a doctor right away!” Yudis objected loudly.
“I even told them to prepare all your favorite foods—come now!”
But she didn’t know…
She was already starting to lose what she cherished most.
“Boris…?” she called softly.
Boris looked at my hand for a moment… and didn’t take it.
But instead, he walked past me and stood beside Oscar.
Through clenched teeth, he whispered to me,
“You better explain properly. What the hell is going on?”
I shrugged and lowered my hand.
“Don’t worry. Unlike you, I’m very calm and logical when I explain things.”
“You little—!”
The sweet potato sprouted a root again.
This time, it just waved the root around cheerfully instead of hitting Boris.
But Boris turned pale again. He was clearly scared.
This little thing was threatening him with a smile.
I had a feeling… that today was the day Boris met his personal bully.
“Boris…? Are you saying you won’t come home with your mother?”
I gently grabbed Yudis’s outstretched hand and said,
“Mother, of course he’ll come home.”
Yudis’s face twisted with emotion.
“But today, you’ll have to go back alone. We have a lot to talk about.”
Yudis pulled her hand back, shaking.
Maybe she thought I stole him from her. And maybe, she wasn’t completely wrong.
I didn’t do this because I liked Boris.
I just didn’t want to forget that every child—every person—deserves certain rights.
Like having healthy parents.
And from any angle, Yudis didn’t seem like a healthy person.
‘Boris, Yosef…’
And someday, Yubel too.
All of my brothers, who are predicted to become villains.
They’re already being consumed by darkness… and I don’t know how to save them yet.
But I won’t just stand by.
“Seoa, other moms are even worse. Your mom is nothing. Why are you so weak?”
Because of that voice from my past…
I must act.
So I won’t be ashamed of the tears I shed, hoping someone would help the old me.
“Oscar, we do need to talk. But… someone’s missing. Where’s Yosef?”
Oscar’s voice, confused and panicked, kept asking about Yosef.
Just then, a loud sound exploded nearby.
BANG!
“Kyaa!”
I felt a blast of air, and suddenly I was in Winter’s arms again, protected by someone’s strong back.
The emperor’s cold voice rang out:
“Sir Sudden and Sir Radd, evacuate the people immediately. I’ll check the accident area myself.”
Dark smoke was coming from one of the special VIP seats.
Tiny sparks floated down from above.
Oscar shouted in panic,
“That’s where Count Bluebell and Yosef were sitting!”
Screams followed—Yudis’s cries and Boris yelling Yosef’s name.
Let me say it again.
A butterfly’s wings can cause a storm.
And we were already standing in the eye of it.
