Chapter 10 (1/2)

“From today on, Athanasia will exercise her rights as princess.”

But you don’t acknowledge me as your daughter. The Claude in the novel had said he never once considered Athanasia his daughter.

I didn’t know if he was joking or not. Just what in the world was he thinking?

And Lili seemed to be thinking the same thing as me. Even after leaving the throne room, her face was still deathly pale.

“It’s ok, princess.”

I heard her quiet whispering voice and I hoped so too.

***

“You’ve gained weight since the last time I saw you.”

And after some more time had passed, Claude and I were the same.

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It had only been five days since he saw me, there was no way I had gained that much weight.

“Hehe, Papa is pretty too!”

Claude and I met two more times, and during these times, I realized he wouldn’t kill me just because I asked sassy and confident.

On the contrary, the more I appeared scared, the more emotionless his face became.

It was the scariest when Claude looked at me with a bored expression. It could’ve been in my head, but I thought Claude was just keeping me alive for amusement.

And right now, I felt scared to death. I could see Lili be surprised from the side of my eyes after what I said.

But as expected, Claude didn’t kill after what I said!

“Come follow me.”

He narrowed his eyes at me and turned around. Then Lili and Felix let out the breaths they had been holding. I felt that the string that was holding onto my life was growing thinner by the second.

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“I was just about to go boating, so get ready.”

What did you mean, get ready? Also, ‘just about’ my ass. He called me here at this time, I can’t believe he was pretending it was a coincidence that I arrived at this time. If I needed to get something ready beforehand, he would’ve asked me, so what he really meant was probably to shut up and follow him.

“Your Majesty, I apologize but the princess and water….”

“She’ll be with me, so what’s the problem?”

That was the problem!

Lili, who had courageously spoken up to Claude looked at me with anxious eyes. It was clear she was worrying about me because she couldn’t come along.

Don’t do that, unnie. What is he does something to you for speaking up?

To be honest, I didn’t want to go with him either. What if he suddenly decided he was bored and threw me overboard?

But that damned bastard stopped in place and asked me.

“Do you not want to come with me?”

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“Nonono, Ati wants to go with Papa.”

I once again smiled brightly to show that I meant no harm. Lili’s face paled again at my words, but there wasn’t anything I could do. So I ended up feeling like I was being pulled to my execution and followed Claude to the lake.

I floated on a boat in the lake in the middle of the Imperial Palace with Claude, an exhausted expression on my face.

But this boat, it was really quite nice! It was smooth, and it didn’t bump around.

Wait, but neither of us were rowing. How was the boat moving? Was there a motor? Or maybe there were slaves rowing for us somewhere under me.

“What are you thinking about?”

Don’t talk to me. Don’t look at me.

I was going to say ‘The weather’s nice!’ or ‘The lake is pretty!’ but I decided to flatter him instead.

“Papa’s hair is twinkle twinkle! Pretty!”

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It was true that his hair was pretty. I liked my light blonde hair, but Claude’s dirty blonde hair was more my style.

“I like twinkle twinkle! Hehe.”

Claude lightly smiled upon hearing my words. No wait…when he laughed like that it was foreboding of something.

“You had that jewel pouch with you that day.”

Hole in one! Player Athanasia isn’t able to properly function!

“I’m taking good care of your treasure so come to take it yourself next time.”

Ack, this was bad. I was already devastated from leaving it behind but to think that Claude had it.

As I remained silent, Claude looked like he was getting bored again. He turned his eyes away from me to look at the far side of the lake. I was able to observe him easier than I was before.