Chapter 52. Gene was defeated 2020.08.01.
‘My heart skipped a beat.’
Maybe my preference was the 3rd generation chaebol? Unlike me who was surprised, the staff nodded very calmly. As if it’s always a thing.
“yes. Can I send it to the imperial castle?”
“okay.”
My dress shopping ended with the purchase of an enormous amount of dresses. Since the person I was with was my opponent, I was nervous without even realizing it, so I lost all my energy. I stood there swaying, and when Duke Donovan turned around, I stunned and straightened up quickly. Duke Donovan said to me smiling brightly.
“Then, Your Majesty. Let’s go.”
“Do you want to go to the imperial castle now?”
Can I finally rest? I asked with great anticipation, but the answer came unexpectedly.
“What do you mean?”
“…yes?”
“You need to go to another dressing room.”
“That…”
“You better hurry.”
I followed the urging Duke Donovan into the dressing room with a bewildered face. She really went to another dressing room. And I had to try on a lot of dresses there too, and Duke Donovan spat out his famous line again this time.
“I will buy them all.”
Next was the jeweler. The duke scanned the items with his eyes, pointed out a few things, and bought them right away. Then he clicked his tongue slightly.
“Tsk. There isn’t anything that catches my eye.”
You mean you live without hesitation even though you don’t notice anything? It was unimaginable for me to buy precious metals worth a castle like cheap accessories sold on the roadside.
‘It’s my first time spending money like this, so I’m so scared!’
The petit bourgeois self in me feared Duke Donovan. This was not at the level of buying things, but at the level of robbing the store! It was around the time that I was exhausted from the relentless purchasing process that continued. In the dressing room I stopped by for the fifth time, I encountered an unexpected person. Honey blond, bright yellow like honey, and amber eyes shining like jewels.
‘Enrique? …is not it?’
At first, I thought it was Enrique, but I belatedly thought that it might not be. The Enrique I knew was a pretty boy, not a boy who grew up like that. I couldn’t have grown that much in just three years.
“Meet Your Majesty the Emperor. How have you been?”
…there was. Enrique smiled softly and greeted me. In no time at all, the little boy had become a well-bred boy. Both are the same boy, but there is a distinct difference. He’s the same age as Oscar, so he must be 11 now. Of course, Oscar has grown a lot compared to three years ago. But since I met Oscar every day, I couldn’t see his growth. On the other hand, Enrique, whom I saw after three years, was strangely big.
‘You grew up really well without any adverse changes…’
I hurriedly came to my senses at Enrique’s question, ‘Your Majesty?’
“It’s been a while, Enrique.”
“Enrique. … okay.”
“huh. Enrique!”
I was very proud of the fact that I finally made full use of the pronunciation of ‘Enrique’ instead of ‘Ennike’. nobody knows That I’ve been practicing pronouncing other people’s names from time to time… Enrique’s gaze, smiling lightly, turned to Duke Donovan, who was standing next to me. He bowed politely.
“Meet Your Excellency, Duke Donovan. My name is Enrique Javier of the Javier family. I heard a lot from my father.”
“It’s Enrique Javier. He must be the heir of the Javier family.”
“yes. That’s right.”
“My name is Pacifica Donovan. Nice to meet you.”
A natural voice came and went. As I watched them say hello, I felt someone staring at me and tilted my head.
‘It looks like my cheeks are punctured.’
Slowly turning my head, I met golden eyes staring at me. The main character was a red-haired girl with a fresh impression. Who is it? From the first time I saw Enrique, she was the girl next to me. Maybe seven or eight years old. The boy with his hair tied in two pigtails was very cute. As soon as our eyes met, the girl smiled brightly.
“Ah, this child is my sister, Emily Javier. Greetings to Her Majesty Emily.”
After greeting Duke Donovan, Enrique introduced me to the girl. The child gently lifted her skirt and bowed politely.
“Meet Your Majesty the Emperor. Greetings, Duke Donovan. I am Emily Javier of the Javier family.”
Even though she seemed young, Emily, who greeted her with a sharp smile, seemed more mature than her age.
‘It seems that kids these days grow up really fast.’
How could Enrique and her sister Emily be so precocious?
“Nice to meet you, Emily.”
Although Emily is older than me and is the daughter of the Javier family, it was right to treat Emily without a title. Although I still can’t get used to it. Somehow embarrassed, I laughed and said ‘hehe’, and Emily put her hands together and made a look as if she was thrilled.
“I heard a lot from my father and older brother. His Majesty is truly a wonderful and lovely person. So I’ve always wondered, and you’re right! It is an honor to meet you like this.”
“Yes?”
I opened my eyes wide at Emily’s words that came pouring in like rapid fire. But that wasn’t the end.
“Light pink hair like cotton candy, light blue eyes that look like they just moved the sky on a sunny day. From immaculate skin to lovely cheeks! It’s just what I heard!”
“Ughhhh?”
I don’t know what to do with the excessive praise. Anyway, if that’s what I’ve heard, did Duke Javier or Enrique say something like that? Enrique smiled awkwardly and pulled Emily by the arm.
“Emily. What disrespect to His Majesty the Emperor?”
“It’s rude… I was just telling the truth. Isn’t your brother like that? His Majesty the Emperor is such a lovely person!”
“That…”
Enrique opened his mouth to say something, but soon closed it. In an instant, the atmosphere darkened.
‘Enrique must have been like Emily.’
I remembered that one day he told me the story of his younger sister. I felt a strong sense of responsibility to rectify this awkward situation. So I smiled brightly at Emily with horns.
“Thank you, Emily. Emily Doo is very lovely.”
“Oops. really?”
“huh.”
“Be happy, child.”
Emily, who was excited with her cheeks flushed, wasn’t just empty talk, she was really lovely. When I suddenly remembered that the father of the siblings was Duke Javier, my heart felt cold.
‘The genes… have been defeated.’
Or maybe the mother’s side was a great beauty.
“Anyway, why did His Majesty and the Duke visit the dressing room?”
It was Duke Donovan who answered Emily’s question.
“I stopped by to buy clothes for His Majesty the Emperor.”
Emily, thinking deeply about something, nodded as if she understood.
“The rumor that His Majesty will be attending the founding banquet is true.”
Are you saying that rumors have already circulated that a few days have passed since the decision was made? He realized that there were no secrets in the imperial palace. The first time I did flip-flops, the first time I was a toddler, and the first time I called my dad, rumors spread in less than a day. Unfortunately, there was no protection of my privacy.
“I decided to attend this time too. Emily Doo?”
“yes. I’m also going to make my debut at the founding banquet this time.”
“I see.”
As I nodded, an employee came over and bowed his head.
“Lady Javier. The clothes you mentioned are ready.”
“Send it to the Xavier duchy.”
“yes.”
The staff nodded and then disappeared. Enrique, who had been watching my conversation with a somewhat uneasy expression, hurriedly intervened.
“Then we’ll just go for it. It was an honor to meet you like this today.”
“Yes, go to Zoshimi.”
“I’ll just go.”
When he waved, Emily greeted her coldly and followed behind her brother. When the surroundings became quiet, Duke Donovan asked me.
“Do you interact with the children of the Javier family?”
“yes. I saw Emily for the first time today, and I met Enrique a few times when I was young.”
“okay.”
After replying like that, Duke Donovan belatedly added a word.
“The Javier family should be careful.”
At the advice uncharacteristic of Duke Donovan, I blinked and nodded.
***
For the first time in my life, I spent a lot of money and went back to the imperial city. The carriage drove along the evening streets, which had already become dark. After looking around more than 10 stores, my body became limp. I wanted to lean my head against the wagon wall and doze off like a chimney, but I woke up in front of Duke Donovan.
‘Let’s pretend to be smart. Pretend to be smart!’
It was a time when I endured a long silence while chasing the horses that swarmed my eyes with difficulty. Duke Donovan’s indifferent gaze turned to me.
“Are you afraid of me?”
“yes?”
I froze at the unexpected question. I checked Duke Donovan’s expression, but it was the same as usual. An indifferent face showing no emotion whatsoever. I hesitated, then lowered my head and answered.
“…yes.”
I didn’t want to lie. I thought Duke Donovan would see through all my petty lies anyway. Why did you ask me this question? It was a time when we held hands and were nervous.
“Keep your head up. A monarch knows no fear.”
At the firm words, I slowly raised my head. But I was still afraid of Duke Donovan.
‘That’s probably because I… don’t want to be hated.’
So I started to notice more and act like a docile child rather than wanting to look like a bad kid. But Duke Donovan never turned a blind eye to me. Is that why?
“Isn’t Prince Donovan loaded?”
It gave me courage that I wouldn’t normally dream of. The answer came right back.
“I have absolutely no reason to hate you, Your Majesty.”
I was a little taken aback by the cold, stern reply. there’s no reason There are so many.
“But I’m afraid Oscar can’t become emperor.”
“It is not your fault. Oscar gave up the throne himself. If you have greed, you should have competed until the end.”
“So… I’m the daughter of my father’s remarriage…”
“That has nothing to do with me.”
“Also, you say that you are trying to seduce the ignorant.”
“Who told you that?”
I replied in bewilderment to Duke Donovan’s calm question.
“Oscar is like that.”
“You misunderstood.”
This cut off all reason for Duke Donovan’s dislike of me. It was a time when I was speechless and rolling my head about what to say.
“Even if you think I hate you, you don’t need to be afraid of me at all.”
The setting sun coming through the window made Duke Donovan’s green eyes dark like olive green.
“Don’t be swayed by other people’s evaluations. You must further solidify His Majesty’s position.”
Duke Donovan’s nonchalant advice. It was something no one had ever said to me.
‘Am I worried about this?’
Of course, it is highly likely to be an illusion, but since it was my own idea, I wanted to be misunderstood to the fullest. Feeling more at ease than before, I smiled broadly and nodded my head.
“I will, Lord Donovan. Thank you.”
“I am grateful that you listened to God’s advice.”
Certainly, the duke seemed less afraid than before.
‘Actually, it’s still a bit scary though.’
***
The carriage finally stopped. Along with the sound of horses gurgling, there was a buzzing noise outside.
‘what? Did something happen?’
It was when I woke up from the messy spot. Knock-! The carriage door opened without warning.
“Mabel!!”
“Oops!”
My father, who had a somewhat exasperated expression, put on a relieved expression and hugged me.
“Mabel. Aren’t you lonely without this father? Didn’t you fall?”
“Yes!”
“How scary was it? I wasn’t sending you to that dangerous place!”
“It’s okay.”
“You don’t have to pretend to be okay, Mabel.”
I was bewildered by my father’s great concern. He lifted me up and set me down outside the wagon. Then he opened his eyes wide and carefully covered my cheeks.
“Your face… why is your face so pale? I lost weight! What the hell happened!”
I only went out for half a day, so how did I lose weight?
“Don’t talk about that-.”
“I can’t. Let’s sleep with Daddy tonight.”
My dad, who interrupted me, made outrageous demands. I shook my head mercilessly.
“nah.”
“Mabel…!”
Looking down at the top of his frustrated father’s head, he let out a deep sigh. Before I knew it, my eyes met Duke Donovan’s, who got out of the carriage. It was embarrassing to see face to face.
“I’m resending you for showing you such an ugly thing, Lord Donovan…”
“No, I’m used to it.”
“…go see Josimi.”
Somehow, I felt as if the distance with Duke Donovan, which had narrowed just before, had grown farther than at first…
