MTD 7

Someone came from the imperial palace to pick me up, and I was heading to the palace in a carriage with Adam.

The carriage seat was large compared to my small frame, but it was soft and comfortable.

“Looking at the map of the empire, the distance between the capital Cheran and Galnem seems considerable, but there was a shortcut and variable called the underground cave, and His Majesty the Emperor used an ingenious plan. He entered Galnem, leaving everything behind.”

Adam explained to me the reason why Parmes was in Galnem while looking at the scenery outside.

“The three princes who were keeping the 4th Prince, now His Majesty the Emperor, in check thought that His Majesty had given up on the succession competition and became a recluse, but they didn’t know. The fact that His Majesty was drawing a big picture.”

It was said to be a plan spanning ten years. To spend ten years in that countryside as ‘Uncle Zimmer’ to claim the imperial throne.

Even now, remembering the uncle’s innocent smile, I can’t believe he is the tyrant Parmes.

“But…… Wasn’t it originally planned to take longer than ten years?”

“Ah, you know about that too. It was originally expected to take twelve to thirteen years, but for some reason, His Majesty the Emperor hurried the plan. Because of that, it took an additional year to completely eliminate the political opponents after ascending to the throne.”

To cleanly eliminate people, gives me chills.

“What about…… the three princes who were keeping His Majesty the Emperor in check?”

“Naturally.”

Adam smiled coldly.

“They would be by the side of the late Emperor.”

“Eek!”

A chill ran down my spine again.

Indeed, Parmes Aslet is a terrifying tyrant. He’s…… different from the Uncle Zimmer I knew.

‘Get a grip, Arinel.’

☁⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ ▫ ┈ㆍ🌱ㆍ┈ ▫ ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹☁

The garden of the imperial palace, the huge greenhouse was large enough for birds to fly around, and it had plants as colorful and diverse as any botanical garden I had seen in modern times.

The scent of lush greenery and the sky with clouds drifting above the high glass ceiling.

But I couldn’t take a deep breath of this clear air created by the plants. Because…

“……Arinel.”

Former Uncle Zimmer.

Current Emperor, Parmes Aslet.

A man with beautiful silver hair and blood-red eyes. He was sitting in front of me, staring intently.

“……Yes, Your Majesty.”

Not looking into his eyes and answering, and being alone with him, it felt just like being with Uncle Zimmer.

I used to have tea with Uncle, just the two of us, watching the drifting clouds and chatting…

I stopped thinking about the past and shook my head.

This person is no longer Uncle Zimmer.

If I treat him the same way, caught up in memories of the past, my life could be in danger…

“……How sad.”

I flinched at Parmes’ voice.

“Eh?”

Parmes’ red eyes were staring at me intently.

Somehow, they seemed a bit moist.

“Before, you would come to visit at every opportunity, but now Arinel doesn’t move until I ask you to come. Every time I see this golden hair while looking out the window from my office……”

His eyes, gazing at my hair, wavered forlornly.

“I would hope it was Arinel, only to be disappointed. So I’m considering issuing a ban on blondes entering the palace, except for Arinel.”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words and stared at him blankly.

Only after a while, I pointed at myself with my finger and open my mouth.

“……Me, me? You’re waiting for me?”

Parmes nodded with an innocent face as if wondering what was strange about it.

His expression was just like, exactly like, the former Uncle Zimmer.

“But, uncle, Your Majesty……”

I almost blurted out Zimmer…… but barely managed to catch myself.

“So, Your Majesty is now……”

You’re busy, aren’t you?

It’s natural for an emperor to be busy.

However, Parmes shook his head with a wistful look.

“Even yesterday, I stood up from my seat at the office window, searching for Arinel’s flickering shadow, and here.”

Parmes slightly rolled up his jacket sleeve.

Underneath, not the dirty, stained shirt from before, but when he rolled up the sleeve of the high-quality silk material, a faint wound was visible.

I was startled and opened my eyes wide.

“……I ended up getting hurt on the corner.”

That pitiful look! And what’s with those tears suddenly welling up?!

“I told you to be careful, did you get distracted again?”

Without realizing it, I stood up abruptly and approached Parmes.

And carefully examined the wound.

Parmes had the same scent as Uncle Zimmer. A faint mint fragrance.

“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be torn. It would be good if there was some ointment, but I left everything at home……”

I habitually searched my pockets, but of course, there was nothing.

But I have to say this again today.

“Please be careful. It upsets me when you get hurt, uncle.”

As I scolded him sternly, a glimmer of joy appeared in Parmes’ eyes.

Soon, he gave a faint smile.

I stopped talking with an “oops” and closed my mouth with a gasp.

Parmes reached out his large hand and placed it on top of my head.

What’s this? Is he checking if my head is still on my neck?

“Arinel.”

As if ending all the jokes until now, his soft yet serious voice was heard.

“It must have been very difficult, thank you for enduring it so bravely.”

Looking at me gazing up at him with trembling eyes, Parmes spoke in a kind and sincere tone.

“I’ve always missed you, Arinel.”

☁⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ ▫ ┈ㆍ🌱ㆍ┈ ▫ ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹☁

On my way back home, I slapped my cheeks with both hands repeatedly.

I mustn’t be fooled by that kind face and innocent smile.

“If Arinel doesn’t visit, I plan to move the imperial palace next to the Marquis Mylar’s residence. Then I’ll be able to see Arinel often, right?”

“D-Don’t say such absurd things.”

“We’re family now, daughter-in-law. It’s natural for family members to actively visit and live close to each other.”

Parmes Aslet is a terrible tyrant……

“Your Majesty is a formal title, so you can call me father-in-law. If the pronunciation is difficult, you can even drop the ‘si’ sound, I don’t mind.”

(T/n: The honorific suffix “(으)시” is used in Korean to show respect towards someone. It’s added to the verb stem when speaking to or about someone who is older or holds a higher status.)

He who has swallowed up the empire and is planning to rule with cruel tyranny, staining the world with blood……

“I sent the marriage contract you signed to the bishop. Since he only has one life, he’ll obediently declare the engagement, but somehow I’m more nervous than when I got married. Arinel, aren’t you excited too?”

……

“How can Uncle Zimmer be a tyrant!!”

With Parmes’ excited voice constantly echoing in my mind, I grabbed my head and shouted.

In the quiet stillness, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Clip-clop, clip-clop, that left the imperial palace was diligently heading towards the marquis’ residence.

“Haah……”

I took a deep breath. Parmes Aslet is indeed Uncle Zimmer. Let’s admit it.

In the original story, he was a chilling tyrant…… but now he’s still the uncle who cherishes and likes me.

Though the extent of it seems a bit excessive.

Even if people have many facets, the two sides of uncle are so opposite that it’s inevitably confusing.

It seemed I would need more contemplation and sorting out on how to deal with him in the future.

“……But why Briton.”

At Parmes’ suggestion to meet Briton before leaving the imperial palace, I fled from there as if escaping.

The image of Briton, who must have been passing by at that moment, calling out to me cheerfully and reaching out his hand, was vivid.

However, I pretended not to see him and ran away quickly.

“Ah, my lady……!”

I looked at my still small hand, spread out.

Even though the maids bathed me yesterday, my hands are still rough and darkened from the sun.

In contrast, Briton’s face and figure gave the impression of never having touched bare earth in his life.

Since I’ve never seen him in Galnem village, he must have grown up as royalty in the capital, and compared to the delicately raised girls here, I’m quite rough.

‘If I stand next to Briton, we’d look like Beauty and the Beast. Frustratingly, I’d be the Beast.’

“……”

Sigh. I shook my head as I let out a deep breath.

‘Perhaps Briton doesn’t want this engagement either, but he might be in a situation where he can’t refuse Parmes’ orders.’

Anyway, I’m eleven years old, and according to imperial law, one must be eighteen to get married….. There’s still plenty of time.

By then, the handsome prince will surely have a girlfriend or two. Then I’ll naturally fade from Briton’s mind…….

Clack-

The carriage stopped, presumably having arrived at the Marquis’ residence.

A moment later, the door opened, and a hand in a white glove entered at an angle to escort me.