Chapter 130

“He did that when you were in the palace?”

[Yes.] She must have strongly believed in what she saw as she was drained of energy after that reenactment.

[And he, he did this with his hand too.]

“Above your head?”

[Yeah, he raised his hand like this, almost hit me.] Haniel shut her eyes tightly as she raised her own wing above her head. Looks like she had recalled his scary actions from the past.

*Flashback*

Emperor Rashid’s sword clanked as he entered the princess’s living quarters. The young Haniel began to tremble the moment his dark aura entered the room, but Rashid had shown no reaction to her. Rashid slowly approached his baby sister’s crib even though he could see that she was so fear-stricken to the point that she could not cry out.

“You…” Rashid’s crimson eyes narrowed as he looked at the little princess. As he raised his hand which was as large as the princess herself, the fear-stricken princess started hiccuping.

Brother is so scary! Don’t hit me!

She looked at him with those puppy eyes, but the cold-headed Rashid did not stop. Tap, his middle finger stopped on her cheek, and Haniel shook her head.

Though she wasn’t hit, it didn’t feel like an affectionate action either.

“Wahhhhh!”

“Your Majesty, please bear with it! Please think of the late queen. Please, she…” Haniel burst out wailing, making the other princes who were waiting by the door barge into the room.

The princes were waiting for an explanation, but Rashid just shot them an annoyed look. “What did I do to her?” He then threw a final heartless glance at the young princess.

*Flashback ends*

[Koong! Brother hit Haniel here!] Haniel turned around to show and then acted as if she was in pain then fainted. The startled dog started barking and circled round, whilst Haniel recalled the pain from a year back as her eyes were still trembling shut.

“Sweetie.”

[S,scary! What if brother hits me again?]

“I said that I’ll hit him back if he does that again.” Haniel’s eyes narrowed into slits at my response. Haniel has been getting better at making that doubtful expression recently. This must be an inevitable process while raising kids.

I helped Haniel get back up in the basket with a bitter smile. But I’m grateful and proud of her seeing how she went along without any complaints.

“If. If this time, your big brother does it again, I’ll never bring you along next time.”

[…Really?]

“Yeah, but if Haniel is in any way mistaken….” The Winter Palace was visible by now. I quickly bowed my head whispering as I spotted the fidgeting shadow that had already arrived at the garden.

“…I’ll do it again. Got it.”

***

“Your Majesty, the food has all been prepared as per your orders. When will the guests arrive…”

“There they are.” Rashid slowly raised his head as he remained seated at the table in the garden.

Unlike how he had been giving out orders to prepare the food and low tables near the lake without rest, he raised the documents in his hands once more when the Duchess was within his field of vision as she walked on the path along the lake.

Unsure of his motives, but anyone could see that he had intentionally put up the facade of ‘I don’t care who’s here’.

“I see Her Ladyship has arrived. But what about the remaining guests?”

“They’re here together.” Rashid replied calmly.

Viscount Dion, who had been in charge of setting up the banquet table, fixed his glasses for a clearer look.

Viscount Dion had thought that Rashid was expecting an extremely secretive guest or about to have an extremely important discussion seeing how he had asked him to prepare everything personally.

“Um… But I could only see…” Could they be counted as guests?

It was the Duchess, His Majesty’s dog with a baby white swan on its back, and following behind them was a Mallard. Strictly speaking as living forms, there were four of them.

“Why? Is there something wrong?” Rashid asked.

“Of course not.” Viscount Dion was surprised at the relentless gaze from Rashid poking from behind the documents, and continued cleaning the tableware. However, he was bound to be flustered since he had never entertained such guests before.

“Umm, Your Majesty.”

“Keep everything to yourself. Don’t think either. If you make them feel awkward in any way, I’ll make you responsible.” Rashid ordered in a strict voice.

“…Yes, Your Majesty.” Viscount Dion fidgeted at Rashid’s straightforward and clear warning.

Rashid quickly threw a fierce glance at Viscount Dion, as if he knew what he was thinking exactly. Viscount Dion instinctively lowered his head and assured Rashid. “Please don’t worry.”

Deep down, Viscount Dion knew that Rashid wasn’t one whose actions could be understood. His Majesty must have his own motives… So he found it better to stay away from this.

Even the princes greeted the Duchess and her companions without much surprise, so he might just be the only person who was acting strangely there.

“You’ve arrived early, Your Majesty. Thank you for gracing…”

“Get up.”

She might have been cut off heartlessly at first glance, but His Majesty had already stood up from his seat.