Tessa wrinkled his brow. His large hand gripped the doll’s neck tightly. 

He asked in a blunt tone.

“Do I hold her like this?”

“Great!”

At Tessa’s terrifying question, Lucinda clapped her hands.

This was the secret meeting held in Tessa’s office.

That’s right, they practice on how to take care of Ariel!

“Hmm.”

Despite Lucinda’s praise, Tessa lowered his eyes. 

However, after several meetings, Lucinda learned about Tessa’s emotions in his expressionless face.

‘He’s happy!’

Tessa was happy right now. 

‘At first, I was very scared.’

Of course, he was not an easy opponent even now. 

She would be fearless if she wasn’t afraid of him.

‘He could cut my head off!’

That was what she thought at first, but knowing that he wasn’t the kind of man who would cut anyone’s neck like a maniac made him a little easier to deal with.

‘And he’s not a bad guy either.’

When Lucinda was standing with her hands clasped behind her back, trying hard not to laugh, Tessa asked her.

“……How is Ariel?”

In the end, Lucinda couldn’t hold back her laughter and smiled broadly. 

It was at this time that Tessa felt humane to her.

It was when he called Amelia’s nickname, Ariel, awkwardly.

‘Oh, I laughed too loudly.’

No matter how friendly he seemed, he was still a person she didn’t dare to do anything towards. Lucinda answered, holding back her laughter.

“She’s doing well. These days, she’s obsessed with making fun of Sir Alexander.”

“Alexander?”

Tessa’s eyebrows twitched at the familiar name. Lucinda tells him about Alexander.

“Sir Alexander has a nephew, so he’s very used to babysitting. And he understands Ariel’s babble very well.”

“……”

Tessa kept his mouth shut this time. 

Lucinda flinched as he saw Tessa fiddling with the doll again with an expressionless face.

‘Is he hurt again this time?’

She was talking about Ariel’s daily life, so why was his heart broken?

Lucinda, who was watching Tessa, asked cautiously.

“……Are you getting impatient to get close to Ariel quickly?”

Tessa did not respond to Lucinda’s words. 

But in this case the silence was positive. 

Lucinda said in a stern tone.

“Don’t be in a hurry. Your Majesty is Ariel’s family, no matter what anyone says. She must be a bit shy because she’s young. But you will soon become her favorite.”

At the heartfelt advice, Tessa turned his head in the opposite direction.

“I don’t really think about it that way.”

‘Am I wrong?’

Lucinda smiled awkwardly and desperately comforted Tessa.

“It seems that your hugging has become very natural. I’m sure Ariel will notice too!”

“ ….”

Again, Tessa kept his lips shut. When Lucinda was feeling increasingly awkward…

“Your Majesty.”

The assistant knocked on the door. 

Lucinda quickly grabbed a teddy bear the size of Ariel that was in Tessa’s arms. Tessa asked in a strict tone.

“What’s going on?”

A look of embarrassment was evident on the aide who entered cautiously. 

He answered without raising his head.

“Madame Ricardo asks for an audience.”

“Reject it.”

Tessa answered right away. Then the assistant bowed his head even more deeply and continued speaking.

“She has one last thing to say. If she listens to this, she will leave the palace.”

“…….”

Tessa’s brow furrowed.

The position of Madame Ricardo was ambiguous for Tessa. 

Because it was also true that she had tried to seduce Emperor Lloyd to remain in the palace

and she only took care of Emperor Lloyd for a short time.

‘But she’s going out on her own?’

She greedily tried to stay in the Imperial Palace, but now he has no idea why she suddenly changed her mind. After thinking about it for a while, Tessa finally allowed her.

“… … Please come in.”

The aide hurriedly went out. Lucinda, who was watching them, asked.

“Should I go out?”

“You…….”

When Tessa was about to say something about wanting to hear more about Amelia, a hoarse voice resounded in the office.

“Your Majesty!!”

Madame Ricardo, who came inside, had her long brown hair flow freely, like an unmarried woman.

 A black dress gracefully wrapped around her voluptuous body, and she was also enchanting.

Madame Ricardo, who was staggering in, suddenly glanced at Lucinda, who was standing in a corner.

“Who is this woman?”

“It has nothing to do with you.”

“Your Majesty!”

At Tessa’s words, Madame Ricardo froze. 

And looking at Tessa’s eyes that didn’t waver no matter how delicate she pretended to be, she finally bowed her head.

“My son is dead.”

“… … .”

Madame Ricardo said while trembling. Tessa, who had never seen Sika, raised his eyebrows. Madame Ricardo considered it a positive sign and forced herself to cry.

“Now that even the Emperor’s child has disappeared, who do I have to depend on to live…?”

“Did you come here to talk nonsense?”

It would have been better for her not to say such reckless things.

Since Lloyd was Tessa’s everything, he kept the things that reminded him of Lloyd, and at the same time did not forgive anyone for insulting him.

Tessa glared at Madame Ricardo, who carelessly uses the word ‘Emperor’s child’ with ferocious eyes.

“The generosity my brother has given you is absolutely not love, so how dare you say that he’s a child of the Emperor? Do you want me to cut your tongue?”

At the ferocious look, Madame Ricardo’s eyes trembled. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the NøvᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

‘How dare he treat me so harshly on my son’s death.’

She didn’t expect much because she knew Tessa but…

‘Still, he is a man capable of falling for an attractive woman.’

It was confidence that Madame Ricardo, who had come all the way from the countryside due to her beauty, could have.

‘But if I can’t become the emperor’s woman, there’s no need to waste your time.’

When she was young and beautiful, she could do many things. 

She bowed her head and asked politely.

“Your Majesty, I want to leave the palace as you wish. It is painful to think of my son when I am here.”

“So?”

“Could you give me some money so I can get married?”

At the unexpected words, Lucinda’s eyes widened as she unintentionally overheard the conversation.

‘Money? She’s getting married again?’

Didn’t she just say that her son is dead and she wants to leave? 

Lucinda blinked, not understanding the situation.

Tessa, on the other hand, did not point out the heartless mother who talked about her son’s death and remarriage at the same time. Because he knew she was this kind of person.

Tessa asked in a very businesslike manner.

“When are you leaving?”

“As soon as you give me what I asked for.”

“Talk to the aide.”

It was a permission.

Madame Ricardo, who thought there was another chance in those words, reached out her hand.

“It is still not too late, Your Majesty.”

Tessa’s eyebrows rose. He looked down at Madame Ricardo and called his familiar.

“Langrisser.”

[Awooo!]

The snow-white fox wiggled its nine tails and came to the office in an instant. 

As soon as Langrisser appeared, it raised its claws towards Madame Ricardo.

“Hey!!”

Now, the dress covering Madame Ricardo’s shoulders was torn and blood splattered.

Lucinda closed her eyes tightly. Tessa looked at Madame Ricardo and grabbed her by the shoulder with cold eyes.

“Remember that I have no reason to show mercy to you.”

The words were meant for Madame Ricardo, but Lucinda bit her lip. It sounded like he was talking to her.

* * *

Madame Ricardo abandoned her son and left the Imperial Palace with a lot of money.

Sika was still locked up in an abandoned chapel inside the Imperial Palace. It was difficult to tell how much time had passed in the dark.

‘How long have I been imprisoned here? Has my mother completely abandoned me now?’

The five years old Sika didn’t even know what dying was. Falling in despair, he just stared ahead blankly.

‘I’m thirsty and hungry.’

He was so hungry that her eyes were now closed. It was when Sika was blankly counting, an unfamiliar voice was heard.

“You mean the floor could open? What if the princess’ familiar is lying…”

It was a male voice. After that, a little baby’s voice rang out.

“Al, Choco.”

“Choco? What is it?”

After the baby’s voice, a young woman’s voice rang out. 

Then the man spoke in a voice full of enthusiasm, unlike before.

“What the princess said is correct. You said this is the floor, right?”

“What? Ariel, are you threatening Sir Alexander right now?”

“Abu?”

The bright voice somehow caught his ears.

‘……No way?’

Sika got up from his seat. Since he was imprisoned, his body, which had not had a sip of water, was weak, but the baby’s voice was so sweet that he couldn’t sit still.

‘I can’t do that.’

The baby might be looking for him.

It was impossible, but only one person came to Sika’s head.

‘It must be that baby.’

He remembered the baby whose name he didn’t know. The little hand that gently hugged him saying not to cry, and the sweet smell of milk.

‘It must be that baby!’

The moment he realized that, Sika pounded on the wall above his head like a madman.

“Here! I’m here!!”

The floor wasn’t thin enough for Sika’s small voice to pass through. 

It was loud enough for Alexander, who had been looking for Sika on the floor.

Sensing the sound, Alexander said as he rubbed the marble floor with his finger.

“I think it’s here. I don’t know how to open it… … .”

Alexander walked away after some time.

“I will try my best.”

A bluish energy rushed over Alexander’s forearm and rose up. 

It was an aura that could only be used by people who had trained to the extreme, but neither Amelia nor Lucinda knew about it.

“Please step back a little.”

Thud!

His fist and the floor collided, and there was a loud sound.

At that moment, the floor cracked.

“Oh!”

“Abu?!”

Lucinda and Amelia screamed as they watched Alexander shatter the thick marble in an instant. But as if it was nothing special, Alexander muttered.

“Huh? The space below is really empty.”

If it wasn’t empty, it couldn’t be broken in this way. 

Before Amelia could say anything, Alexander shouted, pointing his finger at the exposed space.

“Oh! He seems to be here.”

“Abu!”

Sika blinked his eyes. The faces of the three people looking at him was bizarre. It felt like seeing a painting rather than a living person.

“You……?”

Sica blinked his red eyes. A small, white hand reached out in front of Shika, who was startled.

“Kaa, Sika!”

“……!!”

Small, plump fingers.

A baby with reddish cheeks was looking at him with a bright smile. The eyes that contained Sika’s face were bright green like freshly bloomed buds.

‘Are you an angel?’

She must be an angel.

To him, whose mother doesn’t even love him, who else would reach out to him?

‘An angel.’

Sika thought blankly.

“I will take you out. Take my hand.”

Alexander reached out to Sika, but Sika looked at Amelia blankly, as if he couldn’t hear them. Amelia called his name.

“Sika! Sika!”

“…….”

He wished he knew her name.

‘Then I would have called your name now.’

Sika smiled faintly. And he collapsed.

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