Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Chapter 53
“I’m a worried brother, so I’ve been a little overprotective of my younger sister.”
Saying so, Andre gently wrapped his arms around Stella’s shoulder and raised his voice a little, “I’m always anxious because she’s such a pretty little sister in my eyes.”
“The Crown Prince’s love for his younger sister is famous.”
“Of course. How can you not worry about the Princess being such a beautiful woman?”
“The Princess is the treasure of our kingdom.”
As if waiting for Andre’s words, compliments continued one after another. The more that happened, the lower Stella’s head went down. Meanwhile, Declan glanced at her for a moment, raising his eyes slowly before turning his gaze back to the food that he would give to me.
At that moment, Andre’s face brightened.
“My father was against it, though I asked to take responsibility and protect her, and he gave me permission.”
“What a good brother.”
Then, he looked at Andre.
“No. Compared to Your Majesty, I am still far behind.”
Replying so, Andre sighed and waved his hand. He continued, “Last time I saw Your Majesty, I reflected a lot. That’s why I thought about bringing my sister. Hahaha.”
“I am not a very good brother either.”
Declan stroked the doll’s head with a bitter face.
“When I told my younger sister the story of the Princess, she was envious because the friendship between siblings was strong.”
‘…Right, Stella?’
For some reason, there was power in Andre’s gaze towards her.
“…Ah, I really wanted to see Your Majesty and the Princess after hearing the word from my brother.”
Stella nodded her head. As she looked at the doll, she struggled to smile.
‘She tries very hard not to look at Declan.’
Her figure looked exactly like a rabbit with a lion in front of her. And, more than that, Andre’s attitude was strange.
‘Didn’t the two of you not get along well in the original story…? Andre treated Stella as an invisible person.’
However, he was now tenderly wrapped his arms around her shoulder and acted like a younger sister fool…?
That was strange.
Every time Andre did his thing, she acted like a startled rabbit.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty… Though would you give my younger sister a chance to get acquainted with the Princess?”
Declan, who was diligently moving his knife and fork, stopped.
“Our Chloe?”
Seeing his furrowed eyebrows, he didn’t seem to like it.
“Yes. My younger sister was so introverted that she didn’t have a chance to make close friends. Somehow, I think she’ll get along well with the Princess.”
What do dolls and humans have in common?
“No, thank you. Our Chloe is very shy.”
When he refused with a single cut, Andre’s smiling face cracked.
“Your, Your Majesty. I wanted to meet the Princess, so I prepared a small gift for her. Please, please don’t turn away from my sincerity.”
‘Oh, I feel bad… I can’t watch this anymore.’
Thinking that it should be left like this, I opened my mouth.
“Your Majesty, please reserve a place with the Crown Princess.”
“No.”
Stella’s face went pale as if that was the answer to her question.
“I am no longer uncomfortable.”
“It’s unnecessary.”
Declan answered with a firm face.
On the other hand, Stella couldn’t hide her embarrassment as she saw him talking to the doll.
“It’s not difficult. We have to talk, too, so wouldn’t it be okay to listen to this much?”
“It’s dangerous.”
“Your Majesty would be concerned because of the last incident. But, will we, who came to conclude a peace treaty, not hold back ourselves?”
Hearing that it was dangerous, Andre quickly noticed.
“I’ll send only my younger sister with the Princess. What can this slender child do at a glance?”
Andre smiled softly and persuaded. Nonetheless, there was nothing in return so he continued, “If you’re really worried, how about in Your Majesty’s presence?”
There was tainted energy in his question as he carefully asked.
‘Is that his intention?’
Somehow, I thought that it was suspicious to keep putting pressure on Stella. Declan’s expression was also different, perhaps thinking the same as me.
“I’m going to attend, too?”
Declan clenched one of his chins and raised the corners of his lips.
“Oh, please don’t get me wrong. It’s just that since Your Majesty is worried about the Princess.”
“That’s a useless idea.”
The atmosphere at the dinner hall suddenly became chilly.
“Do I need to get acquainted with the person who will be leaving in a few days, anyway?”
“Haha, even if we are physically separated, we can still have a friendship. Wouldn’t it help to strengthen the friendship between our two countries?”
“I don’t use our Chloe for politics.”
“…You can call it social, isn’t it? Whether it’s the Royal Family or the imperial family, it’s up to the women?”
Andre tried to put on a relaxed expression.
“I don’t know what Ielro is like, but here, my ability is enough.”
As if Andre understood the meaning, his face hardened for a moment.
“….”
“Did Duke Heather visit the Empire last time? You worked hard.”
To change the mood, Mason spoke to the deputy head of the delegation, Duke Heather.
“Well. I can only thank His Majesty for giving me the opportunity.”
Duke Heather responded with a friendly smile.
At that point, the frozen atmosphere gradually revived, though Declan kept his mouth shut after that.
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The mood of the delegation who returned to the detached palace after the dinner was not very good. They all looked at Andre’s eyes, which had changed in a ghastly way.
“Follow me.”
Andre squeezed Stella’s wrist tightly. She couldn’t make a proper groan and followed him almost as if dragged away.
Bang!
The door slammed shut as she was thrown to the floor.
“Useless.”
A leisurely smile was on his face. However, his eyes were empty and only filled with contempt turned to Stella.
“Have you forgotten your purpose here?”
“No, no—br, brother…”
Stella got her body up quickly and knelt in front of Andre on her knees.
“Br, brother?”
A cold, frozen voice fell over her head.
“Bu, but here…”
“You meant to speak in front of the Emperor. In front of him, you couldn’t even speak.”
Saying so, he stared down at her like a petty thing.
“I told you to smile like that in front of the Emperor, although you can’t even make eye contact and you’re just stuttering.”
“That’s, that’s because I’m so scared.”
“Have you forgotten how important this is? It’s a national matter!”
“I know. I know it well.”
“The only way you can live is because you have the status of a princess. You have to pay for it, right?”
He then grudgingly grabbed Stella’s chin and made her raise her head.
“Yes, yes…”
Tears fell from Stella’s eyes, but Andre didn’t blink.
“All I can see from you is this face.”
Stella’s face contorted even more painful as the grasp got stronger.
“I found out the Emperor’s movement with difficulty and informed you. Even so, you couldn’t catch him. Then, I tried again at the dinner table, but you couldn’t grasp it?”
“I, I was wrong. Please, forgive me.”
“Vulgar and useless thing.”
She staggered and fell to the floor as Andre threw Stella’s chin, which he was holding in his hand.
“…A bastard who can’t seduce a single man.”
Still muttering, he then wiped his hands with a handkerchief.
“The girl in Thierra Kingdom only attracts men. Here, it’s obvious that it’s the same.”
Andre clicked his tongue and stared at Stella before uttering his last remark, “If this goes wrong, you will die. Don’t forget that fact.”
The next moment, he pulled the rope and the maids entered.
“Take her and wash her.”
The maids politely bowed their heads as they grabbed Stella roughly and led her out. As soon as Stella left the room, she couldn’t take it any longer and cried aloud.
“Your Highness, this is the Empire.”
Her body trembled at the pressure of the maids to stop crying immediately.
“Swollen eyes are difficult to hide even with makeup. Are you trying to buy the Crown Prince’s wrath?”
Stella shook her head helplessly.
“Be patient. It’s all for the Kingdom.”
The handmaiden, spitting bitter words, took her along with the others to the bathroom.
Stella, who barely stopped crying after immersing herself in the bathtub, was treated more carefully than ever before. Nevertheless, her face was getting darker and darker.
“Your Majesty, are you in a bad mood?”
I kept my mouth shut from the banquet to the time we came to the bedroom.
“Because it’s the same thing. To build friendships with dolls, this is not the first time I’ve ever met such a crazy person.”
I let out a small laugh.
“It must have been to please Your Majesty’s mood.”
Even though Declan frowned as if he didn’t like it, he didn’t object.
‘He probably has nothing to say because they’ve been doing it all this time.’
“I feel sorry for the Princess.”
It was apparent how much Andre had been working hard while he was here.
“It’s the same no matter what. Sympathy is unnecessary.”
At his resolute words, I suddenly wondered what he thought of Stella and opened my mouth.
“Is this the first time you’ve seen the Princess?”
“Why are you asking that?”
“I was just curious.”
Although he didn’t seem to care at all on the surface, I didn’t know what he was feeling inside. He only bullied Stella in the original story and even tried to kill her. Before, I just thought Declan was crazy, but it was weird no matter what.
“Hmm, I don’t think it’s just because it’s unfamiliar.”
As I was drenched in thoughts, suddenly, his face came closer as he persisted.
“Did she do anything without my knowledge?”
“Yes…?”
Declan’s eyes gleamed as though he would kill her at any moment if she did.
“I continued to be with Your Majesty all the time, where would I have the time for that?”
“Hmm.”
I waved my hand to deny it, but I narrowed his eyes to see if he was relieved.
“Though why do you look like that?”
“How?”
I tilted my head.
“Like it was as ugly as meeting an enemy right in front of you.”
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