Chapter 75

As if I had been given a shock unlike anything in this world, I looked at him with empty eyes and took a few steps back, then raised my hand to my lips. I thought this much was perfect, but Rashid was also uselessly sharp.

“….didn’t you get surprised a little too late just now?”

“Not at all. It was just so unexpected.”

“Hmm.”

He regarded me with his habitually lowered eyes, as if he was taking the person’s measure, before he smiled heavily again.

We were already in a relationship where neither considered the other party normal.

More than anything else, this man might be very sharp, but there was no way he could’ve even imagined that I was keeping Haniel.

“Anyways, since the imperial family’s princess has disappeared, we must find her.”

“But why in the Northern Lands…”

“Because we last found her traces in the North.”

“…..”

“You’ll get to learn about that little by little from now. Anyhow, I intend to stay here until we find the princess. And since this is progressing in top secrecy, nobody must know.”

His eyes full of clear warning grazed past me. But there weren’t many other women out there that would understand matters that progress in top secrecy like I did.

“…..Your Majesty.”

Because I have your sister right now in top secrecy, you see.

“First, she does appear safe for now, but I will have to see that for my own eyes. If she’s still alive, if her body is still whole.”

“What an ominous thing to say!”

“…..”

Panting, I looked at him reproachfully and cried out.

I’m her mother!

***

I couldn’t believe how he could say something as scary as that so nonchalantly. Unable to calm down, my chest heaved up and down.

“I, I mean… That’s impossible! And one shouldn’t imagine something like that so easily, either. You need to be careful, even with your words…”

“Are you usually overflowing with attachment to everything in the world?”

“….”

“To a princess you’ve never seen before.”

These weren’t meaningful words attempting to find something out from me. But his characteristic tone of displeasure was enough to daunt anyone.

“I only meant to say that as none other than the princess of the Empire, she should be safe. W-when you find her…”

“Then a death that is longer than the time she has lived shall come.”

“No! What did the baby do wrong!”

“I mean that b*stard.”

What are you even trying to say, sir.

He raked back his hair, an incredulous expression on his face. The one strand of golden hair that flowed down from between his fingers matched his boredom well.

“Then should I keep such a man alive? The b*stard who dared to take the princess of the Empire as he pleases?”

“Shouldn’t checking if the princess is fine and gathering her into your arms to comfort her come first?”

“……”

Seriously, were all older brothers like this?

Instead of thinking of how to take care of the found child, this Emperor first thought of destroying the culprit he’d caught. I shook my head side to side at him.

Even if I took out the fact that the culprit destined for this very destruction was me, I was shocked again to find that the difference in thought processes between older sisters and older brothers was this extreme.

“You’re telling me to gather the kid into my arms and comfort her?”

“….Never mind.”

If he hugged her with that face, the child would have a heart attack after all that hard work of finding her.

“Ha!”

But the Emperor also burst out laughing, as if he had heard what he shouldn’t have heard.

Seeing his heartless face that seemed to question what he’d just heard, I quickly took a step back. I already had so many sins; facing those bloodthirsty eyes would feel like I was being eaten alive.

I was more desperate than ever now for our panacea, our cure-all: the fragrant baby smell from Haniel.

“Umm, then I don’t quite understand why my assistance is required for Your Majesty to stay here…”

“I’m not someone who can remain in a place like this without any reasons.”

This great me, that is.