Chapter 39. Aigoo, He Likes It
I hit the first round, but it was up to my grandfather to finish it. Marquis Gardenia finished Duke Javier very simply.
“You must have lived with a big mouth.”
“Haha, that can’t be.”
“Look. Only your mouth is living.”
Marquis Gardenia thoroughly blocked Duke Javier’s retreat, who tried to avoid it with a friendly smile and his indifferent and spiteful speech.
Thus, Duke Javier took on a ma.s.sive supply of food and drinking water to ease the western famine.
It was quite a lot of manpower and money to move water from an area rich in water sources to the west.
“You’ll be doing good work. Congratulations.”
“…hahaha.”
As usual, Duke Javier had a nice smile, but it wasn’t a refreshing one.
I was wondering how things were going well, why everything was going my way.
“I’m against it.”
The stand-in-Emperor, who was quietly observing, suddenly voted against it. One of his subjects carefully asked.
“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, what are you against?”
“Mabel is still too young to make an official appearance.”
I agreed with his opinion.
‘That’s right, that’s right. I am still young.’
I was pushing ahead with the genius concept, but I was just a child who recently only had her second birthday.
To be honest, there was no complaint about the rain ritual even if it failed because Duke Javier accepted to feed the west.
Naturally, Duke Javier, who had already lost something big, could not let it go.
“But Your Majesty, there is nothing like rain to control the unstable public sentiment.”
“The official schedule was just birthday parties. But suddenly, you want to hold a rain ritual for the public?”
The face of the stand-in-Emperor was hard, cold and low. It was easy to make even me flinch from just watching.
The rest of the subjects looked dark and felt the same way as me.
“Duke Javier, I doubt that you put the rain ritual on the agenda for the people. I suspect you have other ideas.”
“What do you mean, Your Majesty? This subject is only speaking for his country. Why don’t we rule over the devastated public sentiment and let the world know of her Majesty’s strength-.”
“It sounds like the Emperor didn’t exist to me.”
“That is not what I meant. Please do not distort this subject’s words and listen with sincerity.”
The war of words between the two showed no sign of ending.
I secretly sighed when I saw the faces of the subjects turn blue and white.
‘These old men, stop it.’
I couldn’t stand to just watch.
I threw my pillow on the floor.
Flop!
It was an act of attracting attention, but the faces of the subjects were shocked.
“My, my pillow…!’
‘Huk.’
Is that the pillow he gave me…!
As I went down from the throne with a whimper and hurriedly hugged his pillow, the face of the uncle relaxed.
‘I can’t hurt anyone.’
Anyway, the intention to attract attention was a success. I held the pillow and looked around at the subjects and the stand-in-Emperor.
“Ah’m tiwed. I want to gwo.” (I’m tired. I want to go.)
“Yes…?”
I heard someone’s silly question. I purposely made an ugly expression.
“If you’we gwoing to fite, fite tomorrow. Ah’m gwoing to gwo sweep.” (If you’re going to fight, fight tomorrow. I’m going to go sleep.)
I could see some of the subjects’ mouths gape. I suddenly felt better because I thought I had shown an image of an Emperor who had no intention of being a proper one.
“Mweeting done!” (Meeting done!)
I declared the end of the meeting.
For some reason, as I tried to leave the dumb subjects behind and leave the meeting hall with a reshreshed mind, I heard a conversation from behind.
“As expected of her Majesty-!’
‘Was it too arbitrary?’
I expected that kind of back talk.
“-she’s very, very wise!”
“……”
My steps stood out cooly. I looked back with my mouth wide open.
‘Why, why? Just. What. Was. Wise!’
I looked back on my previous behaviour. But no matter how hard I thought about it, it was a mess.
I just cut the meeting! I was reckless!
“This subject couldn’t stop admiring Her Majesty’s desire to calm the situation down and discuss it again tomorrow!”
“How could you be so determined!”
“Hohoho. As expected of her Majesty, you’re the best!”
I shook my head while looking at the subjects with a tired face and hurried out of the meeting. I didn’t know what else I would hear if I stayed.
“Ha…”
A sigh burst out of me.
‘I became competent again.’
***
As soon as the meeting ended, I found the kitty right away.
I sat down next to the guy who pretended to be calm after rolling around in the gra.s.s.
“Ah’ve aweady saw you roll awound.” (I’ve already seen you roll around.)
[I wasn’t rolling around.]
“You were rolling around…”
[It’s because my back was itchy! Just why are you like that to me? You don’t know anything!]
It’d get difficult if the kitty got upset and didn’t say anything. I put the steak that I brought in front of the kitty and comforted it with all my might.
“You’we cute and cwool today, kitty.” (You’re cute and cool today, kitty.)
[Nam, namnam! Why are you saying something so obvious? Nam.]
The kitty, who wasn’t a kitty and didn’t eat cat food, quickly ate up all the steak.
‘I shouldn’t be giving cats human things…’
The kitty was furious at my thoughtless innermost thoughts.
[I’m not a normal cat! I’m G.o.d’s lion!]
‘Yeah, that’s right. The great lion of G.o.d. I have a question.’
The kitty raised its head as if it felt better when I was lower.
[What is it. Ask me.]
‘I’m curious about the limitations of my humble power. You said I can communicate with nature, but is there a chance I can make it rain?’
[Huh?]
The kitty looked at me as if it were dumbfounded.
As expected, I can’t do that, can I? I thought of it when I thought I’d oppose the rain ritual at tomorrow’s meeting.
The kitty spoke, grooming its front feet.
[Of course it’s possible. Mabel is truly loved by nature.]
“Uung?”
[Do you think you can only make it rain? Water, fire, wind, and earth. That’s all within your power!]
I covered my mouth with my hands when the kitty shouted as if it were frustrated.
“…thath cwazy.” (…that’s crazy.)
[You can’t handle it right now though.]
The ability to communicate with animals and plants was incredible, but now I had an ability that made no sense.
Only one idea was firmly embedded in my head.
‘I can’t ever get caught!’
If caught, it would be impossible to be dethroned. I would also receive pa.s.sionate love from the Holy Kingdom.
Of course, it’s a no for me.
***
I organized what to do at tomorrow’s regular meeting in my mind. There was no reason not to do a rain ritual after learning that I could make it rain.
I thought about practicing just in case, but I stopped because I was worried that it wouldn’t rain during the ritual because I ran out of my sacred power.
I think it’s better to stock up as much as possible.
“Mabel!!”
It was Oscar who suddenly came in screaming. He was practicing swordsmanship and was sweating a lot.
“You’wl cath a cwold.” (You’ll catch a cold.)
Oscar strode toward me, ignoring my light nagging.
“What do you mean by doing a rain ritual all of a sudden? You’re not doing it, right?”
“Euuuuum…”
There’s no such thing as a secret in the Imperial Palace. The meeting was just hours ago, but it quickly reached Oscar. It’s not a secret, so I nodded calmly.
“Thath wight.” (That’s right.)
If it’s a rain ritual… it’ll be from the altar outside the capital, will you be okay?”
“Ung?”
I’ve never heard that before. I thought it would be held in the Imperial palace or the square in the capital at best. I was embarra.s.sed for a moment but nodded with a smile.
“Ith okway.” (It’s okay.)
“Will you really be okay?”
At Oscar’s question, there was a lump in my mouth. I shut my mouth tight.
There was a time when I was attacked inside the Imperial Palace, where it was proudly stated to be safe. Oscar was asking me because of what happened. Will I really be okay.
‘Actually, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared.’
After that day, I no longer thought of the escort as a nuisance. I couldn’t be relieved if someone wasn’t guarding me.
I could walk around freely because Lissandro was next to me.
I had a tremendous ability, but there was a limit to what I could use as a child. I still needed more time to protect myself.
However, I didn’t intend to stay curled up for a long time.
‘I know who’s behind it anyway.’
Duke Javier. You only need to be cautious of people who are unknown on the inside.
In addition, unlike the time when I was attacked without being prepared, my escorts had been much enhanced.
Even if they sent another kill, they won’t even be able to reach my toes.
“Ith weally okay. Ah’m not gwoing awone.” (It’s really okay. I’m not going alone.)
“I’m relieved if Mabel is okay with it, but.”
Oscar smiled mildly and stroked my head. I asked casually while laughing.
“…ith it far?” (…Is it far?)
As soon as I asked, I knew I shouldn’t have, but Oscar was already responding.
Oscar’s face hardened.
“…you are scared, Mabel.”
“N-nwo.” (N-no.)
“You don’t say it’s okay when you’re not okay.”
I looked at Oscar with discontent. It was something I wanted to tell to Oscar.
“Ah’m gwoing.” (I’m going.)
I had already made up my mind.
I was guessing that what Duke Javier was after was a decline in my authority as Emperor.
Of course it won’t rain easily because rain doesn’t just come down when you want it to. He intended to undermine the Imperial family’s prestige.
But what if it really rains?
‘He’s only blowing up relief supplies as a human being.’
Just the thought of it made me happy. It didn’t matter if it rained just a little. If it rains, a rumor will be spread.
When I made a determined expression, Oscar suddenly kneeled on one leg in front of me. Like the greenery in midsummer, his green eyes stared at me clearly.
“Then make sure to take me with you.”
“Ung?”
“I will protect you.”
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Oscar was definitely a child, but the way he talked was just as good as any knight. So reliable.
“Okway.”
But it was weird. For the first time, I thought Oscar was like an older brother.
***
On the day of the regular meeting, a rare sight unfolded.
This was because Mabel, who laid down on the throne right away, was sitting up with her eyes wide open. The subjects were fl.u.s.tered and forgot how to speak. In the meantime, the meeting began. While numerous agendas pa.s.sed, Mabel sat still and observed the meeting without yawning.
‘I can’t concentrate because she’s too cute!’
Finally, there was only one last topic left, bearing the agony that only Mabel didn’t know about.
It was about the rain ritual.
First, I listened to the points prepared by Duke Javier, who presented his opinion on the rain ritual. He seemed to be fully prepared.
“-so I think it’s the most effective way to get rid of public sentiment. That’s it.”
There was cold silence after his long speech. Some agreed with Duke Javier’s opinion, but they could not open their mouths. Because the baby Emperor was staring at them with wide eyes. It was time for everyone to believe that the stand-in-Emperor and Duke Javier’s tedious battle would continue.
Mabel, who had been sitting still the whole time, jumped up.
“I am in fabwor.” (I am in favor.)
“……?”
Everyone looked confused at my sudden cry. The stand-in-Emperor and even Duke Javier.
“I agwee wit de rain ritual. Dwuke Jabie hath a point.” ( I agree with the rain ritual. Duke Javier has a point.)
“Your Majesty…?”
“Mabel.”
Marquis Gardenia and Esteban tried to dissuade Mabel in a hurry, but it was useless.
Duke Javier realized that this was an opportunity. He didn’t know why the baby Emperor agreed with his opinion, but he thought what’s good was good.
‘I guess she wants to go on a picnic.’
Duke Javier pushed for it hard, thinking that it was the moment to do so.
“Her Majesty wants to go. Who will stop her?”
“Thath wight. I want to gwo.” (That’s right. I want to go.)
“This is all for the royal family.”
“Thath wight, thath wight.” (That’s right, that’s right.)
“It’s a chance to consolidate Your Majesty’s position.”
“Thath wight. Pubwic announthment.” (That’s right. Public announcement.)
“Please permit it, Your Majesty.”
“Ah pemit it!” (I permit it!)
Even if we suit each other, we couldn’t get along this well. Esteban even felt a sense of betrayal.
Thanks to the Emperor’s enthusiastic approval, even the pro-rain ritual faction, which had been silent, joined in. This was because the idea of holding a rain ritual itself was not bad.
With Mabel playing, the game was already over. Duke Javier smiled at his cute little helper.
‘A baby who knows nothing is easy to handle.’
She stared at the Duke and smiled back.
‘Aigoo, he likes it.’