Chapter 9
I started to become anxious. If I didn’t answer properly, I would die here.

He tapped his wrist as if signaling the passing time. And when I spoke, his hand stopped.

“A..Abamama?” [1]

Oh my gosh. I couldn’t believe I said that out loud. Pleasure say goodbye to Lili and the maids for me. I shouldn’t have said that, what was I thinking, calling the psycho Emperor Abamama? I should’ve just asked him to kill me instead!

Did I think I was the real Athanasia because the maids kept on calling me Princess? I should’ve flattered him by my saying something like Your Great Majesty or something like that.

“….”

But shockingly, Claude didn’t kill me.

He stroked his cheek as if telling me to go on. H-hm? I didn’t fail?

But wait….

Didn’t Claude like Jannette’s style? The bright and beautiful Janette who always surrounded by light.

And she was different from Athanasia, who watched Claude from afar, because Jannette went towards him first.

If….so….I could be like Jannette, although I couldn’t replace her…but if it was just for amusement.

I decided to say some crazy things while I was at it.

“…Papa?”

A deadly atmosphere that gave me goosebumps surrounded me. I was holding my breath while Claude slowly tilted his head. His gold hair shined as he moved. My heart was beating like I ran a marathon.

Why, why wasn’t he having any response?

Let’s just do it. I put on the biggest smile I could and shouted.

“Papa!”

…..Did I just hold up the death flag? Someone tell me something!

***
In conclusion, I survived.

If I explain in detail, I finished all the remaining cakes with Claude watching me, and the knight oppa carried my back to my palace.

While I was fighting for my life, the Ruby Palace was in chaos. I was supposed to be taking a nap, but I had suddenly disappeared, so it was inevitable that everyone would be surprised.

Lili saw me in the arms of the Emperor’s knight and almost fainted. Her face was so pale that I seriously worried about her.

She took me from his arms and moved far away from him like he carried a deadly disease.

I couldn’t tell because my face was buried in her chest, but I could tell what kind of expression she had from her trembling

Lili held me tight with her shaking arms. When I lifted my head, I saw Felix bewildered at being treated like a kidnapper.

But I didn’t want to take his side, since he left me and Claude alone!

I almost cried tears of blood when I thought back to the time with Claude.

These bastards. How dare you bully a weak child like me. Hope you go to hell.

“The Emperor said that he will come ask for Princess Athanasia soon.”

What did you say?

Not only was it just me, but everyone pulled back in astonishment. But why does everyone have fearful and half happy faces? Were they glad that the outcast princess was getting attention from the Emperor?

I wasn’t some kind of concubine who just waited for the Emperor to call me! But why was he going to ask for me?

Nothing ever went the way I wanted it to.

When Felix dropped that bombshell and left, the palace was once again in chaos but for another reason.

“Keck!”

I threw up because I was so emotionally tired.
“Princess!”

***

That night I lay in bed making new plans.

‘Plan A failed.’

I crumpled the note in my hand that I wrote in Korean so no one could read it.

I scribbled out the words on the top of the paper.

My first plan, Plan A was to live like this at the Ruby Palace without getting noticed by Claude forever.

I thought the only time Athanasia would see Claude was on the night of her 9th birthday. But that was a naive thought.

The moment I saw Claude this plan was done for. Who would’ve known he lived in such a simple palace?

And why was the harem so close to the Emperor’s palace? It seemed like Obelia’s emperors lived quite a life.

I looked at the next line on the paper.

‘Plan B: Leave the palace before I turn 18 and collect funds until then.’

This one was still possible. Since Claude killed Athanasia when she was 18. I couldn’t be sure that that was the same since the time I met Claude had been pulled forward by 4 years, but Claude was probably gonna keep me alive for the time being.

Would my plan to gather my pretties like that be able to continue? When I left the palace I would have to leave as a maid or some other way. Well, I’ll keep this plan for now.

And the last plan, Plan C.

‘Pick up Claude’s heart by acting cute.’

When I read what I wrote, I could already feel the stress piling up.

Ugh, I needed to escape from reality. I can’t believe I was planning on picking up Claude, of all people. But even if I can’t make him love me, couldn’t I at least make him not want to kill him? And he sent me back with my head intact when I called him Papa!

I was debating whether or not I should erase that, but I just crossed my arms and looked at it with a forehead creased.

….But this isn’t completely impossible, is it?

I kicked the blanket high in the air as embarrassment overcame me. Did I really say Papa? The fact that I have to keep doing this in the future is more embarrassing.

I continued cringing over the fact that I called him Papa. And I lifted my head from the pillow as I came to a decision.

Ok. Then let’s carry out both Plan B and C. better to have more backup plans. I got rid of the paper in case Lili came.

And the embarrassment that would come while I carried out these plans….I would just think of it as an investment for the future.

“Princess, it’s time to sleep.”

“Lili, come sing for me!”

And I swallowed my blood of tears by listening to Lili.

***

“Lilian Yorke, it’s been a while.”

I didn’t know why time went by so fast when you didn’t want it to. 10 days had passed since my teatime with Claude, and he was in front of me again.

“Blessings and glory upon the sun of Obelia.”

One thing that comforted me was the fact that Lili was with me this time. Sorry, Lili, but Claude is too scary. I feel like I’ll get a heart attack any minute now.

I was definitely in the body of a 5 year old seeing from how intimidated I was by Claude. In the receiving room that was as big as a basketball court, there was me, Lili, Claude, and the knight, Felix. I had noticed this before, but there weren’t a lot of people around the Emperor.

“I was busy with the duties of being an Emperor that I haven’t been able to concern myself with the one and only princess. But Athanasia has grown up well, thanks to you.”

“It is an honor.”
Ha, don’t lie. You weren’t busy, you just didn’t care! And that’s not all. You completely forgot I existed!

“Now, I myself will take care of the princess so don’t worry.”

I heard thunder rumbling over my head. Claude was still sitting on the throne smiling at me

What, he was smiling? But it wasn’t a warm smile because he thought I was cute, it was a malicious smile as if asking me what I was gonna do next.

I’ll take back what I said earlier. Thank you for forgetting about me all this time! Please continue to forget about me! I’d be grateful if you move me out from the royal family too.

But I was just a weak citizen, so I couldn’t do anything. I saw Lili’s eyes shaking at the Emperor’s words too.

[1] A Korean term for father used by royalty