“Annette, are you ready?”

“Yes, Madam.”

Annette looked fresh on the day of adoption.

The girl, wearing a calm sky blue dress with a ribbon and a scarf, her blond hair braided, looked smart and lovely.

Even if it was said that the unmarried prince fell in love with her and adopted her, it would be convincing.

Madam Mimosa and Julius were seeing off such an Annette.

I said, looking behind.

“Madam Mimosa, when the children wake up, be sure to give them the letters and gifts!”

The Trees were still playing around in their dreamland.

In the Forest, they made sure the Trees always got enough sleep so that they could grow.

“Don’t worry about that. I already left your letters and presents at the bedside of the children while they were sleeping.”

“…Thanks for your concern, Madam.”

I was relieved to hear that she had already given it to them.

At that time, Julius, who was standing with a stern face as usual, said;

“It’s a pity you’re leaving like this, Annette.”

It was not a sad look at all.

‘You’re not good at acting, Sir.’

“To become a member of the royal family, Annette is a model for the Trees, and is definitely the pride of the Forest.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“But before you leave like this… Do you have any gifts for me?”

Julius showed his true intentions after an unworthy compliment and held out his hand in expectation.

He was staring at the ‘Pluto Ring’.

‘Ah, go away, Mister.’

‘Do you have no conscience?’

I smiled, raising my plump cheeks like a bright hamster.

“Sorry, I couldn’t prepare things for the teachers!”

“……!”

Then I grabbed Julius’ hand, shook it vigorously, and said,

“Don’t be too sad. We will see each other often!”

“……!!!”

Julius tightly closed his eyes at the words ‘see each other often’, like PTSD, where he had been summoned in childish panties, was coming.

He could very well feel the girl’s willingness to suck out his soul.

I smiled brightly.

“Then shall we go now?”

‘We can’t make the prince wait, can we? He has a bad personality.’

I turned around, took a deep breath and checked myself.

‘First of all, the treasures… Okay. I have them .’

The luggage I was holding in my hand were all treasures, except for the clothes layered over them.

‘Magic tool, check.’

The magic tool the size of a fingernail, given by the phantom thief, had a ring, so I disguised it as a necklace pendant and hung it around my neck.

Thanks to that, the magic tool was hidden in my dress.

Now I was really ready.

I just needed to leave.

I said with my eyes shining;

“Madam Mimosa. Please make it work!”

“…Yes.”

At my words, Madam Mimosa quietly glanced at Julius.

Immediately, Julius briefly recited the starting words.

Ji-ying– Boom!

Then, right next to the door, a huge shield fell down.

“……?”

Julius opened the door with a puzzled expression.

Even the person who was involved in implementing the magic shield didn’t know why the shield would drop at that moment and broke.

When the door opened, the reason was revealed.

A boy with purple eyes appeared in great bewilderment while being locked in the shield.

“Heinrich…?”

I called out to the boy in surprise.

“…Sister?”

The boy who was trying to get on the carriage with Annette while watching the movements in the room next door was suddenly stuck in the shield like a trapped mouse.

At that moment, Heinrich’s gaze fell to the suitcase Annette was holding.

And the outfit of a person who was clearly going to leave.

“……!”

Heinrich’s eyes popped, and at the same time, he clung to the shield and shouted urgently.

“No, Sister, what is this? …Open it, tell them to put this away!!!”

Squeeze, strength entered my hand.

‘I’m sorry, Heinrich.’

***

The previous morning.

I went to Madam Mimosa and suggested something.

“You want a shield?”

“Yes, Madam.”

I made a request for a shield to be put up where Heinrich and Sislin were just before my departure.

Madam Mimosa asked curiously,

“Why do you want that?”

“I think the kids might do something unexpected.”

“…Did you tell the children that you were leaving?”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“But these days, Sislin and Heinrich are a little—”

So to say,

“–Suspicious.”

It was no coincidence that Sislin was hiding and watching when I was dealing with Avilos.

He must have noticed something and followed me secretly.

There was no reason to hide if he had simply happened to pass by the incinerator.

‘If Sislin noticed… I’m sure it was the same for Heinrich.’

Didn’t I even ask Heinrich a suspicious question?

A question about adoption.

Until now, I had never asked Heinrich about such a thing.

Heinrich, who was particularly sensitive to things pertaining to me, didn’t seem to pass it on.

And if that chihuahua decided to do something, he would create a real big mess.

Heinrich, who said he would tear a bad person up like a pastry, might even try to tear Gerard apart.

‘He’s still 11 years old… No matter how powerful magic he has, Gerard is too much to handle.’

Little Heinrich couldn’t predict how difficult the one and only prince’s escort would be.

He was a human who even signed a contract with the sorcerer’s soul.

We wouldn’t know what power he would use.

And Gerard wasn’t a good man who would just keep quiet and let the human who attacked him go.

Therefore, I must prevent Heinrich from acting dangerously.

‘I’m going to escape in the middle… I just have to calm them down until I actually leave the forest.’

If I disappeared, the children and Gerard would no longer have a connection.

So the shield I asked for was a temporary safety device to protect the children from Gerard.

However, giving another reason to Madam Mimosa was better than explaining this in detail.

“We have to leave a good impression on the prince without making any mistakes, isn’t it Madam?”

I smiled softly and continued.

“And if there’s a commotion in the morning, the Forest’s reputation in the social world would be very bad.”

“…….”

“Eyes and ears often follow the imperial family.”

It meant that if there was a disturbance in the Forest, the group who came with the prince would talk excitedly when they entered the social world.

Fortunately, the madam figured it out right away.

And she immediately promised.

“You are right. Let’s prepare a shield.”

“Thank you, Madam!”

***

…But I didn’t expect this to happen.

Heinrich hiding in the next room, it was a situation I hadn’t expected.

I really hadn’t expected I would meet him like this.

“Sister, you’re lying aren’t you? …Why did you prepare this!!! Are you really trying to leave me?”

Bang, bang.

Heinrich, feeling frustrated, slammed the shield harshly with his fist.

I couldn’t stand it and took a step closer.

“Heinrich… don’t do it! Your hand will hurt.”

“You said that you would be with me on my birthday, that you would stay with me.”

Tears filled his purple eyes, which had always been arrogant, and dripped down.

“Liar.”

‘Heinrich, I’m sorry.’

I tried to calm my mind to the best of my ability.

My chest hurt, but I knew.

That this was the only way to save Heinrich and to survive myself.

If I didn’t do this, the children would be at the mercy of Gerard and would be crushed.

‘It’s for them.’

‘And it’s for you.’

Like the fairy tale books with a happy ending that I once read at the boy’s bedside… By all means, it was a decision made with the hope that Heinrich would always live happily ever after.

However, Heinrich, who could not understand the meaning of it, was desperately crying.

“Sister, it feels strange. If it goes on like this, it feels like we won’t be seeing each other for a very long time.”

“…….”

Even at the moment of parting, his premonition about me was brutally correct.

“Sister, please… please!!!”

Heinrich’s cheeks were wet with tears.

The boy begged and trembled as if he was standing alone in a field in the middle of winter.

“Don’t go.”

“…….”

I looked at the boy with trembling eyes, then turned my head away.

And I said calmly and softly.

“Goodbye, Heinrich.”

“……!”

Goodbye, it was just a light greeting.

That single word turned the light off from Heinrich’s eyes.

The boy collapsed helplessly like a doll with a broken string.

Thud.

Then Madam Mimosa closed the door. She said with a cold face;

“The Prince is waiting. Let’s go.”

“…….”

I was choked up and barely nodded my head. Then I slowly walked away.

***

I breathed slowly.

I had to meet Gerard soon, so I didn’t have time to grieve.

‘Now that it’s like this, it’s sure to succeed.’

Because I made Heinrich sad. It had to be worth it.

I steeled my resolve again and went out of the front door.

“……!”

The outside sun was so strong that it pierced my eyes. As soon as I covered my eyes with my hand, I heard a cold, low voice in my ear.

“Good morning, Annette.”

—It was Gerard.

‘Um, I can’t see your face because of the sunlight.’

I looked up at the gigantic tall man slowly.

Black shoes, slender and strong legs, and beautiful silver-gray hair flowing down his wide chest.

Past the tip of his sharp chin… was the crooked red corners of his lips.

“……!”

Soon our eyes met, and I stiffened.

‘Has he completely lost it?’

The red eyes looking at me were eerily filled with euphoria.

‘Why do you look like that?’

‘Are you not even acting anymore?’

The thought ran through my mind for a moment, but I soon understood why.

“I couldn’t sleep last night. Excited to know that you are finally mine.”

—He couldn’t hide his feelings. Which was full of anticipation.

Without realizing it, I staggered backwards as his fingers in black gloves gripped my chin.

“Heuk.”

“Thank you for coming into this father’s arms, Annette.”

Goosebumps sprang up behind my back.

“Let’s hug.”

“Oh, no…”

Despite my refusal, Gerard knelt down on one knee and hugged me.

Contrary to expectations, except for the faint smell of cigarettes, he smelled good. And this gave me even more goosebumps.

He whispered in my ear.

“From now on, you will live in the Imperial Palace with me. Please use your talents to the fullest and become a pretty daughter who can help me.”

“……!”

“Night and day, I will take good care of you, Annette.”

It was a voice deeply stained with longing and obsession.

I thought blankly.

‘If I run away, will he go crazy?’

Ah, really–

‘He’ll certainly go crazy.’