Chapter 17. Not enough Mabel2020.03.31.
Gustav’s complexion turned pale as he watched the series of events taking place in the bedroom.
‘ruined.’
He was afraid to even imagine how much his Majesty, who had been rejected by the princess, would stir up him. On the other hand, Lisandro, who was observing the situation at the gate, was extremely carefree.
“As expected, it’s not easy, so what about our little princess?”
That composure that even leaves comments as if it’s fun! Gustav was mad with envy of Lisandro.
‘Even before becoming an escort for Her Highness the Princess, she went through so much trouble together with me!’
He even feels betrayed by his comrade’s escape. Receiving those jealous gazes, Lisandro tilted her head and smiled kindly.
“Why is that?”
“…no Sir.”
Meanwhile, the situation in the bedroom was heading toward catastrophe.
“go!”
“may-.”
“seer!”
“Bul…”
“Go!!”
It was such a tearful scene that I couldn’t bear to open my eyes.
“…Come back later.”
“seer!!”
bang. The door is closed. In the end, Mabel’s resolute refusal led to Esteban being kicked out without even being able to lay a finger on him. Esteban’s face was devastated when he was rejected by his daughter. Gustav was again put in a situation where he didn’t know whether to console him or treat him casually. It was none other than Lisandro who broke the delicate silence. He smiled and said a word to Esteban.
“Welcome to ‘Memoji’, Your Majesty.”
“…No notes? What is it?”
“yes. This is a gathering of people Mabel hates!”
‘This madman.’
Sparks flew in Esteban’s eyes. Even if it wasn’t, it was as if Lisandro had poured oil on her distraught heart. Murderous intent was seething. There was a time when Mabel felt superior to the fact that she hated Lisandro. I did, but…
‘To be in the same situation.’
My heart broke at the misery that I was experiencing again.
“…Gustav.”
“Yes yes!”
Gustav was very nervous and answered with discipline. Naturally, he assumed that Esteban would not leave Lisandro alone. But isn’t Esteban turning away without regret?
“Go back.”
“…yes!”
Following Esteban, who was strangely calm, Gustav tilted his head.
‘I thought you’d break at least an arm?’
When I turned my head, Lisandro was smiling and waving as if he didn’t know what had happened to him.
‘Has His Majesty finally come of age!’
It wasn’t until ten minutes later that I realized that it wasn’t.
***
Every time the emperor came, he got angry at me and told me not to come.
‘I feel a little better now.’
I couldn’t possibly forget the moment when he declared that he would abdicate the throne to me without any discussion (even though he couldn’t). Not being able to come doesn’t solve the abdication problem, but at least my anger has eased a little. Come to think of it, I couldn’t say that there was no fault of Oscar or grandfather, who kept their mouth shut about making me emperor. But the worst of all is the emperor.
“Whew…”
I let out a deep sigh, and Larima, who was looking at me with a chin rest, widened her eyes.
“His Highness sighed! if…!”
if?
“Isn’t it that you miss His Majesty?”
“Aww!”
No!
“I knew you would too.”
Larimar interpreted my whining as he wanted and left in a hurry.
‘Ah, my motivation is broken.’
I didn’t even have the energy to correct it now. In frustration, I crawled to the side of the bed to exercise, and Oscar, who just came in, came running to me in surprise.
“why? Do you want to come down?”
“yes.”
“In that case, call a nanny or maid, Mabel.” “I
hate it
.”
‘I acted like a child again.’
I didn’t like this. I knew very little about the background of this abdication. All I know is that the emperor passed on the throne because it was a birthday present. Why did they try to put me on the throne of emperor, overtaking Oscar, whom they considered their natural successor? It would be wiser to put Oscar, who thought he would become emperor, on the throne rather than putting me, who knew nothing, into the throne. To say it was a matter of heritage, both Oscar and my birth mother were empresses recognized by the imperial family. As time passed and my head cooled down and I thought about it more calmly, there were more than one or two strange things. More than anything…
‘Is the Oscar okay?’
He knew very well that he had undergone a rigorous education to become an emperor. It was as if all of his efforts were denied and taken away by me, a newborn baby, overnight.
‘I didn’t take it because I wanted it, but still.’
As I stared at Oscar with some sort of guilt, he asked with a clear smile.
“why?”
“…I’m sorry.” (…I’m sorry.)
“I’m sorry? What does that mean?”
Today, too, I sighed as I keenly felt the limitations of my pronunciation.
“Haje sir.” (I hate the emperor.)
“Do you hate the emperor?”
“Uh.” (Yeah.)
“You mean you don’t like the emperor?”
“Ah.” (No.)
“Then you say you don’t want to be emperor?”
“yes.”
I nodded slightly, and Oscar made a serious expression. Because of that, I also became serious.
‘Is it too heartbreaking?’
For some reason, I fumbled with my fingers and looked at Oscar. Oscar, who stared at my face, spoke seriously after a while.
“…so smart.”
“?”
“As expected, Mabel must be a genius.”
‘No, hey.’
Why is the conclusion like that? You were talking about something else! When I looked at him with a puzzled look, Oscar grinned and poked me in the cheek.
“Mabel. Are you listening to me now?”
“yes.”
“My Mabel is the only baby in the world who understands and responds at the age of one. Why are you so cute and lovely?”
“ Ah!”
As I stared at Oscar persistently, he muttered, “I can’t stop it,” and laughed lightly. Then he sat down on the bed and sat me on his lap.
“Even if you don’t want to be emperor, I can’t help it, Mabel.”
“Hey?” (Why?)
“Because it was to protect you.”
‘Is it to protect me? What makes me emperor?’
I couldn’t quite understand it. Does that mean it’s dangerous if it’s not the emperor? I wanted to hear a detailed explanation, but Oscar wouldn’t tell me. Looking at the two bright eyes colored with faith and affection, I couldn’t help but feel better. Ehyo. As I was sighing, Oscar suddenly called me as if he had just remembered.
“Oh Mabel.”
“yes.”
“Are you saying you’re sorry for saying ‘Myanne’ earlier?”
As he nodded, Oscar’s eyes widened.
“I thought it was the name of an artist I didn’t know.”
‘…Wouldn’t it be more creepy for a 1-year-old to know the name of a painter you don’t even know?’
The mindset is strange. Also, Oscar was an unusual guy. The guy with a small smile touched my ponytail.
“You don’t have to say sorry. that’s what i wanted too Mabel, you become emperor.”
“Gombu Mai Haetana.” (You studied a lot.)
“I studied a lot, but I don’t think it was a waste of time. There is nothing wrong with learning it.”
“Gtima…” (but…)
I blurted out, and Oscar gently stroked my hair. It was a kind hand that made me sleepy for a moment.
“It is a study that must be done. You don’t have to know anything to stay by my side and help my lovely little brother who will soon become emperor.”
Indeed, Oscar seemed to have no attachment to the throne. The emotion in the two sunken eyes seemed to be only worrying about me.
‘But why?’
I had nothing to give Oscar. What could I have done as I was lying in the cradle without being able to speak properly? That’s why I didn’t even give you a smile or hold my small hand.
“And above all, I did not want to be emperor. So now I am really happy.”
“Didya?” (Really?)
“Yes. I don’t mean to tell you that I don’t want to be emperor, though.”
I looked at Oscar with an embarrassed smile and thought about what I had just heard.
‘To protect me?’
For some reason, I felt like I could guess the reason.
‘It’s not like I’ve just been lying still!’
But I’m not sure, so I’ll have to gather some information.
***
‘It’s almost like a broken atmosphere.’
It was a brief impression of Gustav, who took a quick look at the conference hall. The expressions of everyone in this place were so rotten that they could no longer rot. The cause is none other than Emperor Esteban. He rested his chin on the throne and sat obliquely, staring straight ahead with cool eyes.
“Hee-!”
The servants desperately bowed their heads, trembling in case their eyes met. Under Esteban, the heads of dozens of people were confused. Esteban twisted the corner of his mouth and laughed.
“They are pure idiots.”
flinch. It refers to those who were involved in the mine scramble that took place in the south, but the servants could not relax. Gustav shook his head and pressed his forehead tightly.
‘So… it was a week ago.’
Esteban, who had been rejected by Her Highness and ridiculed by her escort Lisandro, must have grown old enough to let go. But it was an illusion. At the State Council meeting, which entered about 10 minutes later, Gustav had a vision of meeting Esteban in the early days of his accession.
“It won’t be enough to put a hot piece of iron in this madman’s mouth. Shall I throw it in?”
“Funny. Talk more.”
“Are you disobeying Jim now?”
“You can’t see an inch ahead and talk.”
“Is life right? If you want to end the rest of your life, shouldn’t you have told me in advance? Jim will help.”
Every single word was brutal. Naturally, the atmosphere of the heated meeting quickly died down. The servants did not dare to open their mouths. It was only when the emperor left the conference hall after the same amount of hell had passed that the people let out the breath they had been holding back. They ran straight to Gustav.
“What the hell happened to His Majesty?!”
“Yeah…”
“Come on, tell me!”
“His Highness…”
“Has something happened to Her Highness?!”
“No, no.”
“then?!”
“Her Highness said that she hates Her Majesty.”
“…?”
That was already a week ago. It’s only been a week, but the faces of the servants are embarrassed. As if walking on a tightrope, the agenda went backwards even in a precarious state.
“Duke Javier has informed me of the return.”
“The timing is odd. The mine reconnaissance is over.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Esteban frowned. Duke Javier. On the outside, he was one of the leaders of the imperial faction, but he was like a serpent who didn’t know what he was thinking inside. Rather, it was enough to trust the Marquis of Gardenia, the leader of the aristocratic faction who was openly hostile to the emperor.
‘Duke Javier must have been involved in this mine case.’
However, since there was no evidence, the reconnaissance was sent as a warning. Despite the warning, he will appear at the conference venue with a friendly smile as always. If the opportunity arises, he was prying at the timing to cut it off, but Duke Javier was not the type to plan things with his own hands. Because of that, there were several cases in which the aristocratic families used by Duke Javier were destroyed. Esteban sneered and shook his head.
“I hope you bring us some useful results and don’t disappoint Jim.”
‘Are you saying they won’t let you go if things don’t change?’
Everyone had the same idea. The atmosphere was further subdued by the emperor’s bloody voice. Eventually, there was only one final item left.
“Next… there will be a remark from the Marquis of Gardenia.”
Everyone’s attention was focused on the Marquis of Gardenia. Of course, the Marquis was the only one among the nobles in the meeting room who was not overpowered by the emperor. There was also a great history of opposing the Emperor, who was famous for being a tyrant, when he proposed to his daughter. The aristocrats gathered at the conference hall had been in politics for a long time and had quite a few thick bones, but they couldn’t compare to the Marquis of Gardenia.
“What is the agenda?”
“This is about Her Highness Princess Ermano of Mabel Gardenia.”
In an instant, a chilling silence fell over the conference hall. Like the tyrant before meeting Empress Ciana, the emperor has been desperately avoiding the topic of princesses ever since they heard that the reason for their military service was none other than ‘Princess Mabel’. It was like their unwritten rule to protect their lives.
‘Please make Her Highness feel better and make Her Majesty soft again.’
All you can do is to empty.
‘Isn’t this a bit dangerous even for the Marquis of Gardenia?!’
Gustav, who was watching the situation, opened his mouth wide and screamed silently. Esteban’s cool eyes scanned the Marquis of Gardenia.
“Speak.”
“It has already been more than a week since His Majesty announced his abdication.”
“It did.”
“I think it is appropriate to establish a temporary ministry for the coronation ceremony. If it’s delayed, the Seongguk side may ask to bring Her Highness again.”
Contrary to everyone’s concerns, except for the fact that the subject was about Mabel, the Marquis’ remarks were extremely trustworthy.
“We were looking for the right person. If you have someone to recommend, please put it up in writing.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Is there anything else you want to say?”
“doesn’t exist.”
Contrary to his tremendous presence, the Marquis of Gardenia’s remarks ended with that.
“Dismiss the meeting.”
With Esteban’s declaration, sighs of relief erupted from everywhere.
‘I passed today safely.’
It feels like walking on thin ice every day. While the servants were praying that these days would end quickly, Esteban rose from the throne. and-. Beetle.
“!!”
Everyone was startled when Esteban stumbled. Gustav hurried over to help him.
“Are you okay, Your Majesty?!”
Even if it wasn’t so, I heard from the chief chamberlain this morning that His Majesty’s diet has been reduced recently and that he has been having trouble sleeping.
‘Aren’t you overdoing it!’
Gustaf stared at Esteban seriously. Esteban, who had closed his eyes with a frown on his face, sighed lightly. Just as the atmosphere darkened with concern for the emperor-.
“…I don’t have enough Mabel.”
“…?”
Everyone doubted their ears.
