Chapter 15. Do you dare to take my daughter?2020.03.24.
“Leave the throne to Mabel Gardenia Ermano.”
A smile formed on Esteban’s lips as he finished speaking. Ever since Abelardo announced the news of the God King’s visit, she had been waiting for this moment. There was a moment of silence and people just exchanged glances. Before long, the inside of the banquet hall became noisy like a market hall. The priests of Abelardo were particularly upset. Esteban stared at them warily. Among them, only the one with the robe pulled down stood motionless. Esteban was convinced that the man was Michael Abelardo, the God King.
‘You dare take my daughter?’
Esteban never intended to send Mabel to Abelardo. However, like those who believe in God, they thought that even absurd things were possible with faith. Knowing that persistence, it was important to cut off the possibility from the root in the first place. For that to happen, a legitimate cause was needed. There were several ways. The first is to get married, but since Mabel is only one year old, it is immediately dismissed. Even if Mabel was given a title, it was useless if they were forced to do so. In the end, the last remaining method was to abdicate the position of emperor to Mabel. It was a surer way than marriage. Of course, he faced various objections, but Esteban succeeded in obtaining the consent of the majority of his subjects. The nobleman who first heard the news grabbed the Marquis of Gardenia and asked.
“marquis. What is this? Didn’t you say that Her Highness the Princess would be your successor?”
“well. It’s something I don’t know.”
The Marquis remained unaware of the flood of questions. The rest of the servants attending the meeting were also carefree. Amidst the agitation of foreign delegations and nobles who had no right to attend the meeting, there was the final destination for their eyes. Naturally, all eyes were on the first prince, Oscar Alle Hermano, who was thought to be crowned as the next emperor of Ermano. But Oscar also sat calmly, unmoved. It was as if he knew in advance that this would happen. The priests, who had been buzzing for a while, looked back at the god-king.
“God King. If this happens, you won’t be able to take Her Highness!”
“Maybe?”
But the god-king only kept silent. His red eyes were focused exclusively on Mabel. The priest pressed for an answer.
“God King.”
“Not yet.”
“yes?”
“I can’t take you yet.”
The one closest to God, excluding the Seed of God. In Michael’s eyes, he could fully see the divine power living and breathing inside Mabel’s body. Mabel’s divine power was enormous. But it was a latent ability. The sleeping divinity waiting for an opportunity was useless because it had not yet awakened. The God King thought that there was no need to make the effort himself.
“I’m going back this time.”
“But it is better to take the princess while she is still young.”
“If that daughter can handle the mad emperor, you can bring it.”
“…”
There was no one who did not waste their lives. However, he could not give up the seed of God. Moreover, it would be difficult to take the princess in the future because the still young emperor had a strong belief that he would abdicate the throne to his one-year-old daughter.
“But the god-king. Wasn’t there some way?”
“There was.”
“yes.”
“It’s gone.”
“…”
Despite the priest’s bewildered gaze, Michael looked at Mabel. I wondered when that ability would bloom. He knew at a glance what kind of abilities Mabel would have in the future. At that time, Mabel will naturally come to Abelardo. So he just had to wait.
‘Because it’s the ability to drive the people around me crazy.’
The seed of God will eat away at itself and eventually come back to itself. Michael was confident. Esteban narrowed his brows. The response was less than I expected. I thought they would call me crazy right away and scold me.
‘If that’s the case, it would be a waste to oust the group by tying it up as a cross-country issue.’
Anyway, since war was declared, all that was left was to protect Mabel. I didn’t ask Mabel’s doctor, but in fact, what’s important to a 1-year-old doctor. Even if I spoke, I wouldn’t be able to understand. At the age of one, he could repeat words well and use sentences, but he was still a baby. No matter how much Mabel was a genius, it was impossible to understand this situation. Esteban, who turned to sit on the throne again, was taken aback. Mabel was crying with a frown on her face.
“Mabel? Why?”
“Sir…” (I don’t like…)
“What?”
“laxative. See!” (I hate the emperor!)
Aaaaaaaa! Then I cried until the banquet hall left. Esteban was flustered and hugged Mabel to comfort her, but instead she only cried louder. Mabel’s crying was something he never thought of. Esteban was shocked inside.
‘Mabel… said he didn’t like it. It’s not like you hate me, right?’
***
2 months ago. The conspiracy to make aka Mabel the emperor was secretly carried out by some people. Esteban first picked the people he would oppose. The first was the Marquis of Gardenia. It was very easy to convince the Marquis. Esteban secretly summoned the Marquis of Gardenia and brought up an affair.
“I intend to make Mabel emperor.”
“yes? What does that mean-.”
“marquis. If you object, Mabel will leave for Abelardo. If you don’t want to see Mabel’s face forever, say no. What are you going to do?”
“…”
The persuasion took less than a minute. Next, Esteban went to visit Oscar himself. Oscar, who was swinging his sword in the corner of the gymnasium, turned his head when he felt someone else’s presence.
“Meet the Emperor.”
After greeting, Oscar immediately sheathed his sword. Esteban looked at his son quietly. Most of Oscar’s education was under the care of Duke Donovan. That’s why Esteban usually only looked at it a few times and didn’t pay much attention to it. Could it be because of the harsh education? Despite his young age, Oscar was quite precocious. It seemed like he was desperately trying to avoid his youthful appearance.
‘It’s probably because of the successor training that started early.’
He knew that Duke Donovan was driving Oscar. The fact that the child feels the pressure. The rich man sat side by side on a chair prepared on one side of the gymnasium. It was a long conversation.
“Oscar.”
“Yes, Father.”
Esteban asked the question without hesitation.
“Do you really want to become emperor?”
“That’s…”
Oscar hesitated, unable to answer right away, and lowered his head.
“…I do not know. Of course, they say I should become emperor, so I’m just working hard to match it. It is not a place where you can say you want to do it, and it is not a place where you can say you do not want to do it.”
Oscar had no choice. If the father and mother wanted to, they had to go up there. Wasn’t that how I was born? He thought that the meaning of his existence was only to become an emperor.
‘Why are you asking such a question?’
Oscar looked up at Esteban with calm eyes. I felt strange because I had never had a conversation like this with my father. Esteban, unable to capture his complex expression, sighed and stroked Oscar’s head.
“I intend to abdicate the throne to Mabel.”
Unlike the friendly touch and peaceful atmosphere, what Esteban said was not a light matter at all.
“I’m going to announce it on Mabel’s birthday soon. If you make him emperor at all, Abelardo won’t be able to take Mabel any more.”
Esteban watched his son’s reaction. As expected, Oscar looked quite surprised.
“I’ve always considered you the next emperor, so if you don’t like it, I’m going to cancel this plan. Another way is to find it again. Oscar. What would you like me to do?”
Oscar answered without any hesitation.
“I agree.”
“Are you serious?”
“yes. So as long as Mabel can be out of harm’s way, it doesn’t matter. If Mabel really becomes emperor…”
A stern smile spread across Oscar’s face. Esteban was a little surprised. It was the face of a child he saw for the first time in front of his father.
“I will become a knight protecting Mabel.”
It was Oscar’s sincerity spoken for the first time.
***
The next target of persuasion was Duke Donovan. Of course, it was expected that he would oppose Mabel’s abdication because his own son, Oscar, would become emperor. It will probably be the most difficult opponent to convince. Esteban prepared several methods in advance to appease Duke Donovan.
“I am about to abdicate the throne to the princess.”
Once he got to the point, he waited for Duke Donovan’s objection. But there was no objection.
“Do as you please.”
“…why don’t you object? Of course, you would have expected Oscar to become the crown prince.”
Duke Donovan, as well as Esteban himself, thought so. If it wasn’t for the damn oracle, I wouldn’t have thought of this method. Duke Donovan calmly took a sip of his tea and put the cup down.
“Oscar has no desire to be emperor. Although he is quick to learn, he is rather talented with a sword.”
Duke Donovan smiled at the surprised Esteban.
“Didn’t you also say that you didn’t want to be emperor?”
He said nothing, but seemed to understand everything. Esteban laughed at the duke’s seemingly cold face.
“Have you talked to Oscar beforehand?”
“I haven’t seen Oscar in about a week.”
I didn’t even meet you, but I expected everything. The duke knew Oscar well.
‘I thought he wasn’t interested in entrusting all of his education to Lisandro Donovan, but he wasn’t.’
Now that Duke Donovan’s persuasion was over, all that was left was to notify the rest of his subjects. In fact, they didn’t even need to be persuaded. If the Emperor, the Marquis of Gardenia, and even Duke Donovan pushed ahead, there would be no one else to speak out. In fact, when the servants were notified, voices of concern erupted.
“Anyway, Her Highness is still young, so it will be difficult for her to take care of state affairs.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll do all the work anyway.”
Literally, it meant to hold onto justification. No one dared to oppose him. Thus, all the families agreed to the abdication except for the Javier family, who were absent to visit the southern mines and estates. In fact, this majority agreement had their own circumstances, unknown to Esteban.
‘His Highness, a princess who is not yet a year old, is much better than Her Majesty the Emperor, who doesn’t know when to change.’
‘I can’t wait to see how cute he is.’
That’s how the conspiracy was over that only Mabel, the party involved, didn’t know about.
***
Let’s say that gives castles, forests, and even principalities. Because the emperor seemed to care for me quite a bit. But what the hell is it to give the country even if you can’t do it! I just turned 1 year old today, you burn! No matter how much you care for me, how can you give the emperor a hug like this? It was clear that the emperor was also insane. But what’s even more absurd is the fact that no one raised any objections. It felt like common sense was being destroyed.
“Aww! Shea!” (Ahh! No!)
It was so shocking that all I could do was cry. The emperor looked puzzled for a moment, then glanced at the nurse. The nanny came over and comforted me.
“majesty. are you okay.”
“seer! Sheaaaaa!” (No! Noaaaa!)
‘This is absolutely ridiculous!’
The emperor was still young. Guess I’m not even 30 years old. In addition, the heir, Oscar, was sitting right next to me.
‘okay. What about Oscar!’
I suffered so much every day because I was taking classes for the heir, but what should I do because I feel sorry for you if you give me the throne now? I cried for a long time. Everyone in the banquet hall looked at me with their eyes wide open, but I didn’t pay any attention to that. The country looks ruined, but I can’t cry and I’m exhausted!
“Huh…”
I cried so hard that even my cry was powerless. The emperor winked with a puzzled face.
“Madame Loupe. Take Mabel and go back first.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…”
…that’s how I got kicked out of my first birthday party.
***
I woke exhausted to the sound of birds chirping outside the window. I cried so much that I couldn’t open my eyes.
“Then how should we summon Her Highness now? Your Majesty the Emperor?”
“Since it’s still before the coronation ceremony, Your Highness Larimar.”
The conversation between Xavier and Larimar made me despair.
‘As expected, that yesterday wasn’t a dream…’
I was really depressed. I regained my composure and reflected on yesterday’s situation. My grandfather, the Marquis of Gardenia, said when we met before that he considered me the next Marquis. However, yesterday’s crazy announcement was not at all agitated. It’s normal for Oscar to be surprised, but he was calm. Duke Donovan was calm even when his son was dethroned. The meaning of the circumstantial evidence was clear.
“Aww!”
I scream and thump the bed! hit it Except for me, they squeezed and hit each other. My doctor didn’t even ask at all!
‘How could this be like this? I don’t want to be like an emperor!’
