Chapter 16. It’s family
2022.10.08.
Oscar and Aidan stayed by her side while Mabel communicated with Veron.
It was the role of protecting Mabel, who became completely defenseless after assimilating with nature in order to communicate with the sealed person.
Mabel, lying obliquely on the clothes of the two escorts spread out on the floor, was holding Oscar’s knee.
Aidan looked down at the sleeping face. The white skin that was blocked by the sun and cut into pieces by the leaves shone as if it had been stained by the sunlight.
A face you can’t take your eyes off of.
Aidan moved the branches with the power of God to create the perfect shade.
‘…eternal seal.’
Often, when we think of revenge, we think of an act that brings death.
However, Mabel’s revenge was different. I left only my ego so that I could never die of my own will.
Those who had not suffered did not know what a cruel punishment it was.
Aidan had been through the situation Veron was going through.
Some of her memories that Mabel peeped at.
Before the world was created, Mabel must have felt the sensation of struggling with loneliness in a space of nothingness.
Was the memory of the indirect experience strong?
It is unknown why Mabel took revenge in this way because he is not the person involved. But Aidan was not sorry for her methods.
If you think that the reason why you took revenge in this way is all because of yourself, you will be satisfied.
Now that Aidan has recovered all of his memories as a god, he is surprisingly ignorant of Devlica.
What Devlica’s blood relatives did to her was rather insignificant now.
It was strange. It was painful enough to tell me to kill him.
It was not difficult to guess the reason.
Mabel.
‘My Mabel.’
In the world under his jurisdiction, he was the only one he did not create.
Also, Mabel was the savior of God.
Eventually, as if the conversation with Veron was over, Mabel’s eyelashes trembled, revealing light blue eyes.
Mabel, who was looking around, noticed Aidan first and smiled.
Aidan’s low desire was met by the fact that he found himself first and laughed, not Oscar.
Oscar asked as Mabel stood up.
“Mabel. What does Baron say?”
“I want you to kill yourself.”
“So what did you say?”
“Of course I said no. Who do you like?”
Mabel, who came with a cool tong, felt good as if she would fly away.
“It’s okay.”
After robbing the seat, Mabel got up and organized the coat she was laying on and gave it back to Oscar and Aidan.
“Let’s go back now.”
After hesitating for a moment, Mabel grabbed Aidan’s hand. He realized that it meant comforting himself.
Because Aidan also had painful moments like Veron now.
Of course, it was nothing, but Aidan was willing to accept Mabel’s sympathy.
Pretending to be weak was easier than anything else.
But lately, I’ve often thought that I want to stay closer and longer.
***
The three immediately returned to Ermano’s true nature. Unwillingly, Yangyang, who had been alone for several days, was the first to welcome Mabel.
[Abandoned me. Mabel abandoned me!]
His tail was swollen as if he was very angry. Mabel avoided the sheep’s horns and stroked her head.
“My nanny gave me a lot of delicious food while I was gone.”
[That’s true!]
“Didn’t Larimar and Xavier hang out together?”
[That’s right!]
Yang was having more fun and excitement than anyone else.
The next guest to visit Mabel was Esteban. As soon as he received the report, he rushed over.
“Mabel…! My puppy!”
It was a runaway that wasn’t that long, but he looked everywhere for his daughter to see what he was so worried about.
“Did you do well without skipping meals? not tired? Where are you injured? Did you sleep well? Was the bed okay?”
Mabel widened her eyes at Esteban’s bombardment of questions.
“Aidan took care of my meals, and my dad grabbed me and shook me, so I seem to be getting tired.
“The Grand Duke of Aserad…?”
Esteban glared at Aidan with a wary look.
Of course, there was no right way to look at the abductor.
Aidan smiled lightly and shrugged.
“You said you couldn’t find it.”
How absurd it was to hear the news that the search party had been wiped out.
In the end, Mabel came back voluntarily, so it wasn’t wrong. Aidan’s provocation made Esteban very angry, but he couldn’t say anything to him.
It was because his eyes could see that Mabel’s complexion, which had been tired during the short leave, had become much clearer.
It could not be denied that this kidnapping (?) was a break for Mabel. Esteban told Mabel to keep quiet.
“Next time, don’t disappear so suddenly. If you are going on vacation, you should tell me in advance.”
“okay. I’m sorry for worrying you, Dad.”
“Yeah, I’m glad you had a good trip.”
Thus, the case of Aidan’s abduction of the emperor was concluded.
Mabel was puzzled by the fact that Esteban had gone unnoticed, but thought that good things were good things.
“Oh right. I have a present.”
Mabel took out the two boxes she had been carrying without forgetting to return.
The eyes of Esteban and Oscar, who each received a box, were filled with emotion.
“You mean this daddy’s gift?”
“and…! Thanks Mabel.”
The two opened the box at the same time. What was revealed in it was a colorful hat bought on Hailin’s festival street.
Esteban and Oscar opened their mouths.
But it was a surprise in a different sense.
“oh my god. Mabel gifting me a hat.”
Esteban was impressed, as if he didn’t care about the ugly design. He even carefully swept the hat with all kinds of decorations as if it was a waste.
On the other hand, Oscar, who remained rational, hardened into a smile.
“This is…”
“Isn’t it pretty? I chose it myself.”
“Yes, it is pretty…”
It was a design that could not be called pretty even with empty words. However, Mabel’s eyes, which were full of anticipation, twinkled excessively.
Oscar smiled brightly and thanked Mabel.
“Thank you for the gift. I will treasure it.”
No matter how bizarre the hat was, Mabel gave it as a gift, so what he said was sincere.
‘Of course I have no intention of writing it.’
I was going to keep it, but Aidan, who would normally stand silently, helped me with a word.
“Try it. There is sincerity that Mabel carefully selected.”
“uh…?”
“Are you sure you don’t like it?”
Aidan, as if seeing through Oscar’s intentions, deliberately pretended not to notice.
Embarrassed, Oscar looked back and forth between Mabel and the hat.
“You don’t like it? Then you don’t have to force it.”
She said it was okay, but Mabel’s eyes drooped as if she was sad.
‘It’s all my fault for making Mabel sad. But this hat is a little…’
Esteban put on the hat and laughed when Oscar was at a loss for words.
“I really like this daddy!”
“Father…”
Even Esteban, whom he trusted, was wearing a hideous hat and smiling as if he was happy, so Oscar had to put it on.
Oscar had no choice but to put the hat on his head.
“It suits you well.”
Aidan was satisfied. The sight of the rich man wearing a bizarre hat side by side was spectacle, as expected.
Since then, Esteban only wore that hat for a while, so strange rumors circulated in the imperial castle.
‘His Majesty’s taste in hats is unique…’
Naturally, Esteban’s taste was questioned by many.
***
The next day I attended a regular meeting. As I attended the meeting, I somehow sensed a strange atmosphere.
It was because the complexion of the servants was bluish.
“Long time no see. But why are all the faces like that?”
At my question, all the servants smiled awkwardly hahaha and averted their gaze.
It seemed like something was going on, but he didn’t seem to want to tell me.
‘Are you bullying me just because I went on vacation for a while? Even the emperor is sad…’ I
quickly sat down, thinking that I should ask Emily insinuatingly later.
Before long, Gustav put down the paper with the agenda for today’s meeting in front of me.
I tilted my head and looked back at Gustav.
“Gustav.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Is this all there is to it?”
Of course, I expected the answer to be no. Only the first agenda must have been given in advance.
However, Gustav smiled faintly and answered calmly.
“Yes, Your Majesty. That’s all.”
“Is this all…?”
I couldn’t believe it. The review list, which was usually long, was organized into a single page.
‘What the hell happened while I was away?’
I think it was Dad who entered the meeting instead.
Embarrassed, the meeting started.
Of course, there was only one review list, so the meeting wasn’t that long.
In the past, the meeting would have gone on endlessly.
“I will end the meeting now.”
At my words, the servants left with pale faces. I caught Emily trying to get out.
“Lord Javier. Was the meeting always like this when Jim wasn’t there?”
It wasn’t just the two of them left, and there were a lot of eyes around them, so I couldn’t speak comfortably.
“Your Majesty. His Majesty’s situation… was amazing.”
Emily told me how her father robbed the council aristocrats during my absence.
In my own way, I thought I was conducting the meeting like a dignified emperor, but compared to my dad, it was nothing.
said Emily with a faint smile.
“If you are going to take a vacation in the future, I would like you to inform me, Your Majesty. Prepare your mind…”
“I’ll do that.”
After the meeting, I entered the office and was surprised again.
Originally piled up like a mountain, there was only an amount that could be measured by hand on the office desk.
“Old Gustaf.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Are those papers going to be processed today?”
Then Gustav shook his head.
“no.”
“Yes, I guess. Just that-.”
“That’s 3 days worth.”
“…!”
I covered my mouth with both hands. Not one day, but three days’ worth!
It was the first time since joining the office.
“Dad is the best…”
I immediately jumped out of the office and ran to my father.
***
As the meeting time was shortened and the workload decreased, of course Mabel’s free time was also guaranteed.
Strangely, however, Aidan’s alone time with Mabel decreased.
I used to be by my side during office hours, but Mabel went out to play.
And beside him, unemployed Esteban was always with him.
“Today, let’s float a boat on the lake and drink tea.”
“good. Then let’s ask the chef to bring snacks for us.”
“okay. You can’t leave out snacks.”
Esteban, who was the number one contributor to reducing office hours, naturally, Mabel’s affection was the highest.
As if to compensate for her negligence, Mabel had a good time with Esteban.
Hwangseong dating has already been covered. I went around the market in disguise and went on a family trip abroad with Yelium.
Esteban deliberately excluded Aidan as if in revenge.
“You’re not trying to disrupt the ‘family’ time, are you?”
“….”
family.
Why is that so important that it takes away time to be alone with Mabel?
To the newcomer Aidan, the concept of a ‘family’ of mere humans was difficult to understand.
“I’ll be back, Aidan.”
However, Mabel left Aidan alone at Esteban’s words about family and went outside. Left alone, Aidan pondered his thoughts.
‘…Family.’
If it was a concept that was important to Mabel, Aidan was willing to go along with it.
And this incident later becomes a decisive opportunity for Aidan to decide ‘something’.
