Chapter 71. Do you like mom or me? 2020.10.06.
For a while I had to go around as a mummy.
‘Is this the karma for lying?’
I humbly accepted. I was able to bear enough because the gains were greater than the cost. After expelling Duke Javier from the parliamentary seat, he imprisoned him in the estate. Enrique could see it as a happy ending because he could live in the capital’s mansion and not have to face his uncomfortable father.
‘It’s kind of embarrassing because it seems like I sent it in vain.’
Still, it was thrilling to think that he would no longer have to see Duke Javier every day. At first, it was difficult to walk because Aidan was still wearing bandages, so I hired Xavier as a mount.
“Wuhai War!”
“yes yes.”
“Self-harm battle!”
“Yeah, turn left.”
I was enjoying a walk with Xavier, and the passing maids sympathized with me because I was a mummy.
“oh. I’m sorry, what should I do? Are you very sick?”
“Fine. It hurts a bit.”
“What can I do because it hurts a bit…”
The maid who was trying to hold my hand with a teary face was hit hard by another maid.
“Watch out, Sandra! You spent all your salary.”
“Oh right!”
Sandra lifted her hand in amazement. And he muttered like he was angry.
“I’ll see you next month when I get paid, Your Majesty.”
“Eh…?”
“I’m going to shake hands a hundred times.”
The maids left, leaving behind a stern warning. Xavier sighed and smiled at the lonely back.
“thank god. I am an aide-de-camp. You can touch the walking fine as much as you like.”
“On mercy. Are you kidding me?”
“It can’t be.”
It’s not. I think you’re just kidding me when you’re laughing.
***
Teaching time with the teaching priest who returned today without fail. Upon entering the drawing room, I saw the God King, who was stretched out like a hanryang. I looked at the God King with narrow eyes.
“And how much is your salary?”
“Don’t take it. Because Abelardo is mine.”
“right. Jaeseopseo.”
As soon as I sat down on the sofa, the God King glanced at me.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Fall over.”
The god king nodded his head slightly, and a warm feeling ran through his body and disappeared. It was after the scars had completely disappeared when I reflected my face in the tea water. Even if it wasn’t, it was uncomfortable to wear a bandage pretending to be a mummy, but it worked out. I regret why I didn’t ask for it sooner.
‘They don’t mind that healing with divine power lowers their self-healing power.’
So, usually when war-like injuries occur frequently, he would call for a healer.
“be careful. You cannot heal yourself.”
“Arseo.”
Again today, the God King didn’t seem to want to teach me anything. After watching the god king lazily drinking tea, he put his pocket on the table.
“What is this? gift?”
“Multiple bars.”
What was in the pocket was a stone that the moles found in Duke Javier’s gold mine. It looks just like the holy one. I brought it wrapped tightly in a double-layered pocket, in case I touched it and it would be absorbed like the last time. Aidan didn’t react when he touched it, but he had better be careful.
“I wanted to find out the dust, but I didn’t know. But I guess the God King sent that and the one that looked like a magpie to me.”
Even the power of the guild could not find out the identity of the stone. Why the hell was Duke Javier collecting those stones? The God King, who put the stone back on the table, replied.
“Essentially the same, but slightly different.”
“Where?”
“The holy relic I sent you was processed so that it could be absorbed right away, and this is just a raw stone.”
“Then are those two holy things?”
“Yes… To be precise, the power of the gods that pervades the natural world. It is called the essence of the tree of creation or the moonstone.”
It made me more curious about Duke Javier’s intentions since it was a holy relic before it was processed.
“Can I get away with this?”
“To ordinary people, they are just stones. It’s not particularly useful to ordinary priests either. There is a limit to the potential divine power that can be unlocked, so you can’t absorb it. I don’t know if you have a strong latent power like you or me.”
It was a really useless stone to Duke Javier, as there would be no two people in the world with divine power as strong as the God King. While I was moaning over the Duke’s intentions, the God King changed the subject.
“They said the drought has been getting worse lately.”
“yes.”
“It must be because someone is intentionally destroying the essence.”
Somehow, it was strange that it was a drought that could not be resolved even if it rained.
‘Did Duke Javier collect the essence to cause a drought on purpose?’
I don’t know what you’re thinking either. I sighed and put my fingertips on the stone. Like the god king said, it was not absorbed.
“What should I do to prevent a drought?”
“We have to collect them first so that no one destroys them.”
“Whew…”
I let out a sigh.
‘Go away. A dream of dethronement.’
Far from dethroning, he had to take on the heavy duty of protecting the world.
***
“This is the document related to the guild finances you mentioned.”
I looked at the papers Aidan had laid out in front of me. Buildings and mines owned by the guild were written at length. Among them, many of the properties of Count Mytheron were also mixed.
“When will our guild become so rich?”
“It is the deputy master’s credit for making the fortune.”
“Haeji, Casey?”
“yes.”
“He is a great talent. Take care that you never leave, Joe.”
“…I’ll try my best.”
Somehow the answer is lukewarm? I looked at other documents as well. It was a list of debts borrowed by nobles from the guild.
“Is this the list of candidates for slavery?”
Feeling like a vicious loan shark, I smirked. It was proof that not only Duke Javier but also many nobles borrowed money.
“Even if you are sick, lend me money. Because they are precious Gauguins.”
Write it as a customer and read it as a slave candidate. Some borrowed for emergency funds, but most of them borrowed money from gambling houses. The loan interest rate was lower than that of other banks, so he often opened his hands to the guild. As time passed, the possibility of repayment became slimmer, but it didn’t matter.
‘I don’t think I can get the money anyway.’
My goal was to have their weaknesses. As long as you have money to pay, you owe me.
“Master, are you doing well?”
“yes. At first, he seemed dissatisfied, but when he heard about his salary, he smiled broadly.”
“Hi-Hi. Gotta do it.”
With this, the guild operation went smoothly.
***
Peaceful days followed. Today was the day I decided to go on a picnic with Oscar. As I was diligently walking toward the shore of the lake, I suddenly became annoyed. I miss the old days. The time when I was carried around in a baby carriage.
“Eh. One month was too early…”
“…?”
I felt everyone staring at me, including Nanny Oscar, so I chuckled awkwardly and shut my mouth. Arriving at the lakeside, Oscar and I shared the snacks prepared by our nanny.
“Come on, Oscar. Isn’t Daddy a bit strange these days?”
Oscar pondered my question and nodded.
“You are strange.”
“Guchi…”
I wasn’t the only one who thought so. If you don’t look closely, it’s the same father as usual, but if you look closely, you can feel it. His complexion wasn’t very good, probably because he couldn’t sleep well, and sometimes he was deeply immersed in other thoughts. And every time I see my dad like that, it reminds me of the first time I went to his bedroom.
‘I said it was Siana.’
And the expression my father made when he looked at me at that time. Cyana Gardenia. my birth mother. I knew very little about her. even the appearance. Never once did I ask about my birth mother, and no one else ever deliberately told me about it. I had a nanny and attendants who took good care of me, so I never felt the absence of a guardian. I sipped my strawberry juice and asked Oscar.
“Oscar. What kind of person is my mother?”
“Coke!”
Oscar coughed as if he suddenly heard a cough. I patted him on the back.
“I’m not going to take it off, so I’m going to mug you.”
“No, that’s not it…”
Oscar sighed as he looked at me in amazement.
“…why is he suddenly?”
“Hunt. Because I’m curious.”
“hmm. He was a very kind person. Even though I am not your real son, you truly loved me.”
Oscar smiled lightly, probably remembering his birth mother. What kind of person is a good enough person to make you smile just thinking about it?
“Tell me more Joe.”
“hmm. When I was young, there was a time when I used to be immature and wanted other people’s things.”
“huh.”
“You’re the only one who firmly said no when everyone told me to just give it to me. And you scolded me terribly. He was strict in his mistakes.”
Despite talking about the chaos, Oscar seemed happy. I imagined Oscar scolding me with his chin resting quietly.
“…it’s fine.”
“huh?”
“Oh no.”
I shook my head hastily and shoved a cookie into Oscar’s mouth.
“Drink this and stay here!”
I could feel Oscar watching me closely, but I just ignored it.
***
Maybe it was because he talked about his mother with Oscar during the day. I had a nightmare. The time when my mother in my previous life abandoned me. I’m no longer digging or depressed like I used to be, but I still don’t feel good. When I opened my eyes, it was still a dark night. I looked for the sheep right away, but I couldn’t find it because it went out for a night drink. Feeling lonely for some reason, I got out of bed. When I opened the door and went out, Lisandro, who was guarding the front, knelt down and made eye contact with me.
“your majesty? Are you awake?”
“yes.”
“Aren’t you sleepy?”
“Break everything.”
Lisandro looked at me troubled. It was the first time this had happened and I didn’t seem to know what to do.
“Shall we go for a walk at night?”
“Um… no.”
“Then can I sing you a lullaby?”
“Does Lisandro sing well?”
“I’m calling again.”
I had a strange feeling of not being expected. I shook my head doridori. Then, somehow, Lisandro became sullen.
“Then what do you want to do?”
“What about Dad?”
“Probably in the Oval Office.”
Dad is really amazing that he is working until such a late hour.
“I’m going to see Dad.”
***
“Now go back and rest.”
Esteban checked the time at Gustav’s words and nodded.
“You are late.”
“yes. I want to go to work too.”
“what?”
“Oh, did I… tell you my heart?”
Gustaf, who had a pale face, smiled awkwardly. Esteban smiled and shook his hand.
“Tomorrow you will be two hours late for work.”
“Thank you thank you!”
Gustav was delighted at the thought of being able to sleep in. Esteban left the office, leaving Gustav alone.
‘I’m sure I’ll be late for work because I came to work late.’
Sometimes it was fun to watch the stupid Gustav. Esteban was walking down the hallway lit by magical lights when he noticed an unexpected guest. Mabel in her nightgown was walking along holding Lisandro’s hand.
“Mabel? not sleeping at this hour.”
“Wake up and come here.”
At Mabel’s answer, Esteban looked at Lisandro. It meant that something had happened.
“His Majesty Sanghwan said he wanted to see you.”
“…I?”
“yes.”
Esteban looked down at Mabel again. Mabel, who kicked the floor with her tiptoe, was so cute that I almost bit her.
“Is that what Dad wanted to see?”
“…”
“A cute guy.”
It was okay even if no answer came back. Esteban lifted Mabel up.
“Tonight, let’s sleep with this father.”
“With Dad?”
“okay. with dad.”
Although Esteban had begged her a few times, she had never slept with her. Esteban expected Mabel to refuse this time too, but no.
“Joe.”
Where did the daughter, who was usually cold-hearted, go? Esteban went to Mabel’s bedroom on purpose. Because of an incident not long ago, he was reluctant to have Mabel in his bedroom. I’m afraid that I’ll be afraid of myself when I think of that memory. As we lay side by side on Mabel’s bed, it felt full. Esteban, who made an arm pillow, gently stroked Mabel’s head with his other hand.
“Did you have a bad dream?”
“huh. But whatever, now.”
“As expected, she is my brave daughter. You have to defeat nightmares, cancer.”
“Aren’t you brave and not your daughter?”
“What are you talking about? A cowardly baby is also this father’s daughter.”
A night with only the dim moonlight. The sleepless father and daughter talked in whispers.
“It’s okay, Dad.”
“Yes, my baby.”
“Sipper to see mom?”
Esteban was momentarily taken aback by the sudden question. It was because they had never talked about Mabel and Cyana before.
“Do you want to see it?”
“…okay.”
“Take something like that.”
It’s not that talking about Siana is taboo, but at some point, it naturally became quiet. When I think about it, I miss the time when I was alive. So I didn’t say anything, so no one said anything.
“Oscar’s mother is kind and strict.”
“…okay?”
“What kind of person is mom to dad?”
The hand stroking Mabel slowly slowed down. Esteban thought of Siana.
‘Siana…’
Light pink hair that swayed like flower petals. Amber eyes looking up affectionately. It reminded me of Sianna’s smiling face, which looked like a scene from a painting. Esteban smiled bitterly.
“He was a heartless man.”
A bad lover who made me fall in love so badly and then suddenly left. But still, I loved it. Esteban tapped Mabel’s cheek as he looked at him with calm eyes. Mabel laughed bashfully.
“Really?”
“I had the same hair color as Mabel.”
“Does your mom have pink hair too?”
“okay.”
“What about the eyes?”
“She had amber eyes like the Marquis of Gardenia.”
“Ipugeta.”
“then.”
It was strange. I usually feel like dying when I think of Sianna, but I just enjoyed talking to Mabel. Esteban told his young daughter the story of the first time he and his wife had met. The first meeting of the young lady, a tomboy who sneaked out of the mansion due to the overprotectiveness of the marquis, and the emperor who happened to be passing by. The memory of the summer day when I unknowingly took the leaves off my hair strangely didn’t hurt.
“Is your mother a trouble maker?”
“Only you.”
“what? I’m not buying it!”
“Yes, yes.”
Esteban laughed at Mabel’s cheeks puffing out as if she was deliberately angry, and pulled up the blanket to cover her.
“Now go to sleep, Mabel.”
“Arseo.”
Silence quickly filled the bedroom, which had been filled with the sound of conversation.
“…Why aren’t you sleeping, Mabel?”
“I’m curious.”
“What is it?”
At this time, Esteban couldn’t even imagine.
