Chapter 4
Only then did I understand that the cloak worn by the knight leader and the one worn by the knight in front of me were the same kind.
In the original story, it was a cloak that neutralized physical force and reduced damage from her super strength.
When the knight lifted Rubellin, she looked like she might cry at any moment.
“No! I don’t want it! I’m going with Mom!”
She struggled, and the knight stumbled.
“Ugh! Princess, please stay still!”
“No!”
Rubellin pushed hard against his shoulder.
“Ah!”
The knight was sent flying into the air.
At the same time, Rubellin fell straight down head-first.
“Princess!”
I jumped up in the carriage.
Silence filled the air.
No matter how strong she was, she was still a child. What if she got hurt?
But my worry was unnecessary.
Rubellin bounced right back up like a spring, completely fine, then stretched her arms toward me.
“Mom!”
Unlike normal children, she didn’t even cry. As expected of the princess with dragon blood.
I sighed in relief and looked around.
All the knights, including the commander, were swallowing nervously.
Of course they were scared. The knight who got thrown far away was unconscious with spiral eyes.
I exhaled deeply.
Right. She didn’t hurt me when she touched my shoulder either.
I tried to stay calm and got out of the carriage.
Slowly, I walked toward Rubellin and carefully lifted her up.
I closed my eyes and picked her up like pulling up a herb.
I held her in my arms awkwardly.
“Hah!”
Gasps came from all around.
“She’s holding the princess without protection!”
“Is she that strong?”
I opened my eyes slightly.
The knight commander was staring in shock.
“How…?”
But Rubellin just smiled brightly and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Mom!”
She rubbed her cheek against mine.
“Mom, I like you so much!”
Her soft cheeks pressed against my face.
I looked at her arms around my neck.
I was worried she might choke me, but strangely, it didn’t hurt at all.
So it wasn’t a coincidence that my body didn’t get hurt before.
But that wasn’t the only strange thing. In the original story, the princess was never allowed outside the palace. So why was she in Haeington village?
I was thinking deeply when I noticed the knights still frozen.
The commander finally shouted.
“Dismissed!”
“Yes, sir!”
The knights quickly left in formation.
Only the commander remained.
He turned and spoke.
“This is the back gate of the Emperor’s palace. I will guide you to the office.”
I followed him up the stairs.
Click, click.
My shoes echoed on cold marble.
We passed through a long, endless hallway filled with luxury and decorations.
After a while, Rubellin kept rubbing her cheek against mine so much that it started to hurt.
Then the knight stopped in front of a huge oval door.
“Inform His Majesty that the princess has returned safely.”
The guards opened the door.
With a heavy sound, the massive doors slowly opened.
I swallowed hard and gently put Rubellin down.
“Mom?”
“Sorry, Princess. We are going to meet His Majesty now.”
I was afraid the Emperor might shout, “Who are you to hold the princess?”
Just how scary was he for the village chief to warn me like that?
I took a deep breath and looked forward.
Inside was a grand office filled with luxury.
The commander walked ahead. Then I saw someone standing by the window.
A man with an overwhelming presence.
He had black hair like a night sky filled with stars.
On his hand was a silver ring with a blue jewel and strange tattoos.
Even though he was the Emperor, he looked strangely fitting.
At his feet, people were kneeling.
They were probably the princess’s attendants and tutor, pale and sweating.
The commander knelt.
“Your Majesty, Knight Captain Ken. I have returned with the princess.”
Silence filled the room.
I carefully stepped forward.
Rubellin stayed behind, pressed against the door, scared of the atmosphere.
I knelt awkwardly beside Ken.
“As reported, I am the one who was with the princess.”
But the Emperor ignored us and looked out the window.
I just wanted to go home.
My legs were getting numb from waiting.
Then—
“The flowers are beautiful.”
His voice was low and calm.
A man with glasses nearby smiled nervously.
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty. The garden flowers are—”
“Pity.”
“Pardon…?”
A cold laugh came from the Emperor.
“It should have been your heads falling like those petals.”
Gasps filled the room.
A chill ran down my spine.
Am I going to die without even clearing this misunderstanding?
I wanted to travel, eat good food, and buy clothes after paying my debts…
Then the Emperor turned around.
His sharp gaze landed on me.
“Is this the one who kidnapped my niece?”
“…Excuse me?”
I looked up in shock and met his eyes.
Black hair like ink, red eyes like blades.
A dangerously handsome man stood there like he belonged in another world.
He blinked slowly.
Then tilted his head.
“Hamster?”
“…What?”
Before I could react, he waved his hand.
“Throw her in prison.”
Ken immediately bowed.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
HEY! Don’t agree so easily!
“I didn’t kidnap her! I saved her!”
“You say there’s a misunderstanding?”
The Emperor raised one eyebrow.
Maybe he’ll listen?
But then he said calmly:
“You can explain it in hell.”
…Nope.
Ken grabbed my arm.
“Get up. We’ll discuss your value later.”
“My value?”
Before I could resist—
“NO!”
A flash of pink hair blocked my view.
Rubellin spread her arms in front of me, trembling.
“No… don’t touch my mom…”
The Emperor frowned.
“Mom?”
Ken let go of my arm.
“Based on the princess’s behavior, she means ‘mother.’”
I looked between them in shock.
Mom… meant mother?!
Before I could process it, the Emperor looked at Rubellin.
“Your parents are dead, Rubellin.”
“No!”
She shook her head violently.
“They are dead. You are mistaken.”
“No!”
The Emperor sighed.
“Let me be clearer. They died early. Weak people die. That is fate.”
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING TO A CHILD?!
Rubellin trembled with anger.
Then she snapped.
She charged at him.
But she was bounced back by an invisible force and slammed into the wall.
BOOM.
“Princess!”
Everyone screamed.
The Emperor didn’t even move.
Just then—
“Stop.”
His voice froze everyone.
Rubellin stood up again, unharmed, and shouted:
“Don’t bully my mom!”
The Emperor looked surprised.
And I suddenly remembered something about him from the story…
