Teacher Darren, who was by her side, embraced Haniel under his wings as if saying, “It’s all right, Duchess.” Darren’s sweet eyes turned to hers, and she buried her head from the uncontrollable humiliation. “Is your daughter doing this again because she’s ill?”

“…”

Rashid wasn’t really the type to just sit back and watch. It appeared like he was holding it back while watching Haniel, who was chirping and trembling. When the child managed to bite the hem of her dress and delivered her to Mr. Darren, the man’s patience broke right there.

“You really don’t care much about her. Why would you entrust your daughter to something like that?”

“Something like that?”

“He’s a wild bird. How do you know what he’s going to do to a kid like Haniel?”

“…”

Was he acting jealous right now? Tired of all the nonsense, she looked up at him. Now wasn’t the time for the King of Beasts seated at the top of the food chain to accuse someone as wild. She was upset but she burst into laughter, instead.

“If you had always been nice to Haniel, Your Majesty, she would have gone to her older brother first.”

“You’re really going to do this here?”

“M-mother?”

*THUD*

Haniel, who had surpassed the limits of a three-year-old’s patience and tolerance, fell again. Fortunately, she didn’t sink in the water like last time. However, this wasn’t be good for the little princess’ emotions at all. In the end, Teacher Darren carried Haniel with his wings and urgently transported her out of the bush.

“Ah. So that’s how it is.”  Rashid murmured while scowling at Darren. His glowers were knife-like as if he was looking at an enemy general. “Are you really sending her that way? What if something happens to the child?”

“That——”

She didn’t think that was what His Majesty would say. His three-year-old sister, who had run away from him all the way here, ended up getting caught in a vase so where the hell did he get that confidence to say that? I glanced at him without hesitation.

“I’d rather call the councilor. If she really dies———-”

“Your Majesty!”

“Don’t get carried away and think of your daughter.”

“I’m thinking of her so enough!”

“…”

She couldn’t think of this anymore because she was too overwhelmed. She had lived a life where that particular child was her everything.  As she let out a bitter laugh, Rashid withdrew his murderous scowl from Darren.

“Why? Do you have anything to say?”

“…”

She quickly noticed something. It was all too sudden but she said it first. An opportunity was an opportunity. As she noted Haniel, who seemed so surprised today, she decided to organize things as soon as possible.

“Hey. I-I don’t know how how this would sound like but… I wonder if I should keep my distance from you from now on, Your Majesty.”

“…”

*SWOOSH*

As the Emperor’s body turned obliquely, the fluttering movement of his platinum-colored hair overlapped with last night’s appearance. “Why would you?”

“What?”

“Why don’t you just do as you please?” Really, how could he  talk like that? Perhaps because she was with Darren just a moment ago, she had no choice but to compare them even more. She held her breath for a moment and looked at him again. Where and how should she start? Looking back, it wasn’t that he had confessed to her openly or that both of them were intimate.  But every time Catherine went out of her way to put some distance between them, there was no place where she couldn’t feel a tingling sensation, such as the nape of her neck or her cheeks. Apparently theie atmosphere was like that! She wasn’t an idiot, and if she didn’t know what Rashid looked like last night, it wouldn’t make sense. If another man did it, she would rather dismiss it simply as passing kindness. But because it was Rashid, she couldn’t even be mistaken.

“If you’re not going to tell me, I’ll talk about your daughter’s education again..”

“Oh, no! Then, please do, Your Majesty.”

After struggling to avoid his urging gaze, she pretended to be in his position as much as possible and took her luck off.

“No matter how much I help His Majesty with his work, others don’t know about it. Others might misunderstand.——-”

“What kind of misunderstanding?”

Was he really asking because he absolutely had no idea? Catherine rubbed her eyes in frustration.  Having to say these words with her own mouth made her feel like dying too.

“It’s a common misconception, Your Majesty. If a man and a woman stick together for too long, there will be a lot of stories about this and that. It won’t be good for you either.”

“Me?”

“My reputation is kind of like that. I’m a widow, and I don’t really have anything…….”

“Is that any fault of yours?”

“What?”

“Is there any of that you wanted?”

“…”

Even though she thought this wasn’t the case, she was almost shaken for a moment.

Of course, it’s not her fault that she was in this position, but he was the first person to have said that.

“Are you awake? Come on, you need to drink some water.”

“Raise your head! You’re going to be exhausted at this rate!”

“Oh, my god. Elder Brother, were you’re angry at that time?”

“…”