─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
After dinner, I could barely keep my eyes open.
Today was… eventful, to say the least. I cannot believe this bastard wants me to call him 'daddy' of all things.
Admittedly, After the trashman carried me back to the palace, I can recall there being instances where the trashman held me. But that was only a handful of times. I would not give him the 'Best dad of the year' award just yet.
Ugh, this sucks. Why is it that when I am so tired, no one is here to pick me up?
"Amara, why are you just standing there? Where is your guard?" I heard a voice from behind me.
I slowly turned. It was the trashman with Ezra and another knight.
"I… I do not know. I think… he said he had to… get something… honestly, I am so tired. Can I wait for him here on the divan over there?" I said as I forcefully raised my eyes open.
"Ezra, find her guard and hold onto him until I come back. You go with Ezra. I will take her back."I ordered the trashman. I could hear the agitation in his voice.
I suddenly felt lighter, and a hand gently pressed against my back.
"Rest your head on my shoulder."
I closed my eyes and laid my head forward.
"...Daddy?"
"...Yes?"
"Do you still hate me? You shouldn't hate me anymore since you want me to call you daddy, right?"
"... Rest easy; we will be there shortly."
"I hate you; you know that? You find me unbearable because I was born, though I did nothing wrong. My only sin was being born into this family. I did not wish to be born. Now, I have to suffer for a crime I did not commit. Now, I have to call a man who hates me 'daddy.' I wish… I wish…" I mumbled as I dozed off.
"The emperor is coming! I see him outside the window! Quick! Everyone form a line and bow your heads! Marina, prepare yourself to receive the princess! Open the doors for his majesty! He has the princess with him as well!" ordered the head maid.
"Greetings, your Majesty! May the sun and the moon shine upon the Giodivonia empire!"
Xavier looked disinterested and handed the princess over to Marina.
"She went to sleep as soon as I held her in my arms. Make sure to give her a proper bath in the morning before breakfast. Also, make sure she eats well before her lessons."
"Y..yes, your Majesty."
Xavier had an uneasy feeling that he could not shake off. After hearing the princess's outburst in her sleep, he felt a pang of heavy guilt. Something he has never felt before. He kept playing her harsh words over and over in his head.
He sighed heavily before entering the imperial office.
"Your Majesty, her guard." Said Ezra while holding the guard on his knees.
"Y..your Majesty! Please forgive me! I…I have a few stomach problems! I did not want to leave the princess alone! Please! I committed a grave sin!" cried the guard.
Xavier quietly sat down, served himself a glass of wine, and looked at Hansol.
"Do you understand that you committed a crime by leaving the princess unattended? She could have been harmed. Yet again, I will take partial fault for only assigning one guard to her. She should have been assigned two and four at night. Ezra, for his crime, and partial fault, as respect; give him a painless execution. Also, assign six of your best guards for the princess. Two-day guards and four-night guards." Demanded Xavier.
Ezra nodded and dragged the crying knight out of the room.
"Say it, Hansol. Your facial expression is more exhausting than your words." Xavier commanded.
"You seem… a bit...disoriented? I am not sure if that is the correct term. Uhm… you seem…" Hansol struggled.
"I am tired. Make sure Ezra finds six guards immediately and have four of them posted outside of her door starting tonight. Have two of them with her at all times during the day. Have them alternate shifts between themselves so that there is no fault in their schedules. You may rest once you request this of Ezra."
Hansol nodded and left.
"Tch, she hates me? After providing only the best of the best clothes, jewels, toys, foods, and tutors, and yet I am hated? The emperor? No… her father of all things? Nonsense. She is not of importance for me to care what an entitled brat thinks of me. I am the emperor. I rule the whole northern continent without fail. I do not need a child's approval or love for me to triumph in life. Such nonsense. This was only meant to be a fun game while I am bored." Xavier mumbled as he looked at his unsolved mathematical equation on the board.
"This… equation is more foolish than that girl. The answer … there is no answer… When was the last time I visited those whores at the harem? Right. I killed them all and tore down the harem after she turned four. Guard!"
"Yes, your Majesty?" responded the guard as he opened the door.
"Bring me the blonde, no...the brunette with the blue eyes immediately. Also, have the maid bring me five more bottles of wine." Xavier ordered as he finished the last bottle of wine.
"Yes, your Majesty!" Ran out the guard.