-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: A Father's Guilt
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A few days later.
Lellia was sneaking toward the cabin when she hid behind a large tree.
*It's Yuriana...!*
She had spotted Yuriana in the distance.
Honestly, nothing good would come from running into her, so it was better to hide.
*The twin brothers are probably with her.*
She didn't want to get chewed out by those brats again.
But perhaps because she was still young, she found it hard to suppress her curiosity. Lellia carefully peeked out from behind the tree.
"Cheer up, Princess. Alright?"
"How about we go look around the main street? Getting a pretty dress made will surely lift your spirits."
"Or shall we go see the princes?"
A large, burly knight with a good-natured smile was giving Yuriana a ride on his shoulders.
And Yuriana's handmaiden was gently consoling her.
*Looks like something happened.*
Yuriana's expression, as she rode on the knight's shoulders, was quite dark. As if she had been deeply hurt.
"His Majesty can be so harsh... To refuse the princess's hand. He's so heartless."
"Indeed."
The handmaiden and the knight tried to soothe and comfort Yuriana. But she just pouted and muttered timidly.
"No... Father is a good person. He's just... still uncomfortable around me..."
Listening to them as they walked along the forest path, Lellia narrowed her eyes.
*Ah, I see. So this is that time?*
Right before the doll incident in the original story, the one that turns Emperor Perseus into a complete fool for his daughter.
Yuriana musters the courage to take Perseus's hand, but he rejects her.
It seemed today was that fateful day.
After this, Yuriana becomes crestfallen whenever she's in front of Perseus, and to appease her, Perseus buys her a doll.
The greatest doting emperor in history was about to be born.
*She must be really hurt...*
Lellia thought, watching Yuriana's particularly gloomy figure from behind.
Though the knight giving her a ride and the handmaiden did their best to console her, Yuriana's shoulders remained slumped, showing no sign of straightening.
When she was younger, Yuriana had grown up under a biological father who was quick to resort to violence.
But her new father, Perseus, was different.
He was gruff, but fundamentally kind to everyone. Kind enough that a young Yuriana would reach out her hand to him first.
Perhaps Yuriana knew. That Perseus carried a deep wound within him. That must be why she tried to take his hand.
*Well... you'll be smiling again in a few days. Hang in there.*
Lellia offered a silent word of comfort to the miserable-looking Yuriana.
With that, she hurried on her way to the cabin.
Unfortunately, Lellia couldn't go to the cabin that day.
Because she spotted Emperor Perseus standing in front of it from a distance.
*Why is everyone wandering around so much today?*
Lellia grumbled to herself.
Emperor Perseus looked to be in a very somber mood. He stood in front of the cabin for a long while before going inside.
*He must feel guilty for hurting Yuriana...?*
Lellia wanted to tell him to stop moping and hurry to the doll shop, but she held her tongue.
*I need to find something in that cabin, and fast...*
Lellia wanted to get out of the imperial castle as soon as possible. To do that, she needed some insurance to protect herself.
*I'll come back in a few days.*
It seemed the emperor would be coming and going from the cabin for the next few days, at least until things smoothed over between him and Yuriana.
After all, Emperor Perseus always sought solace in that cabin whenever he was mentally and physically exhausted.
But now, the same was true for Lellia.
That cabin was a space cherished and loved by Emperor Perseus and the future Yuriana, but to Lellia, it was her mother's embrace.
And so, Lellia had no choice but to grumble as she returned to her tower.
