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Chapter 47

Pluck .

I pulled out Lania’s handkerchief from under the basket .

Lania may have to dab at tears that wouldn’t come out, but I was a woman who lived her entire life in an environment that made me want to cry .

“Sniff, so it’s like that after all . I thought since you asked for it so impatiently, you were finally opening your heart to me… . ”

“Th-that’s not it . How can I dare, in front of His Majesty the Emperor…”

“I do not care . ”

“… . ”

“And here I was wondering what was happening . ”

The incredulous voice of the Emperor was laced with irritation .

Exactly as I wanted, he drew a line in the air with his sharp jaw in the form of a beast .

“I do not care one bit about something like this, so if you want to eat it then do so . ”

“… . . ”

Bothersome but still subtle .

The Emperor’s order that was not an order was directed at Lania . Unable to avoid his indifferent eyes, she hesitantly picked up the fish jerky in her hands .

As for me, of course, all I had to do was to watch her with already tearful eyes, as if I was deeply moved .

“How is it? It’s perfectly to your taste, isn’t it, my daughter?”

***

“… . . I apologize greatly, but I must be back to the estate . ”

“Whyever so? Eldest daughter, your face looks pale . ”

“Not at all . It is only that I must deal with some urgent business . ”

Urk .

Lania pressed a hand to her mouth and turned on the forest road, walking away hastily .

Seeing how she was turning back first even though she was in front of the Emperor she so wanted, she really must not have been able to handle it anymore .

“… . . ”

“Oh my, what should I do now . ”

I said, but not really because of Lania .

As I looked at her receding figure regrettably, two thoughts suddenly sprang into my head .

The first was that I was not of the fortune to spend a day clutching at my stomach from laughing too hard just because something enjoyable happened to me, because I did not live such a free and fortunate life, and…

“Duchess . ”

The second was that I was now left with this beast all by myself .

“… . . ”

No, really .

What do I do now .

The Emperor’s hard gaze from above me was truly the greatest hurdle throughout all of human history .

As frantic as I was, I ducked my head under and bent down to pick up the basket Lania had dropped . I tried to avoid him as much as possible as I put the fallen fish jerky and other bird feed back into the basket .

“The princess* must have been very busy . She left all these things she so loves behind . ”

If there was anyone I was most envious of at this very moment, it would definitely be Lania .

Why? Because she already ran away .

“Haha . My daughter is not always like this . ”

“……”

Step .

Even without turning my head, I could feel who the owner of the approaching steps was with my entire body .

I didn’t know if I was picking up fish jerky or picking up dirt—I blindly packed everything into the basket as fast as I could .

But when I finally straightened, the shadow that cast over my head was already a level darker .

“You say you came out for an outing . Is there a reason you need to be in such a hurry?”

“Your Majesty . ”

“It almost looks like the Duchess really was trying to run away . ”

The arrogant tone of voice pouring over my head blocked my path .

As a man without openings, he was as bad as that wire fence over there .

Following my gaze as if exasperated, Rashid suddenly pulled out his sword .

“The princess* did something ridiculous . ”

“……excuse me?”

Shiing . Something seemed to flash before my eyes, and in a moment that tight wire fence crumbled down with a crash .

What in the world is this?

I stared blankly down at the fence fallen on the ground as it still kicked up dust . In the meantime, the Emperor simply and indifferently sheathed his sword .

“A human who will run away will run away however they manage to, so there is no reason she should block it so desperately . ”