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Chapter – 28
Watching Dolorasa show proper manners, Rachel quickly pulled herself together and also made a proper bow.
“Greetings, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
At the mention of “Crown Prince,” Graham turned around in surprise. Seeing Dolorasa tightly nestled in Rachel’s arms, the color drained from his face.
“Mom!”
Graham shouted and ran forward, squeezing between Rachel and Dolorasa.
“Hey, brat! My mom is mine! Go away!”
Rachel, wide-eyed, hugged Graham.
Except for when he got angry at Theodore, it was the first time Graham had raised his voice like that. It was startling—and also a little frightening. How dare he speak like that to a noblewoman!
“Graham, how can you call a princess ‘brat’? Apologize at once.”
Dolorasa, pushed out of Rachel’s arms by Graham, lowered her head in embarrassment.
“It’s okay, Lady Rachel. I was at fault. Sorry, Graham… it… it was a mistake.”
“No, it’s okay. The princess did nothing wrong. You don’t need to apologize.”
“Uh, Mom?”
“Graham, quickly apologize to the princess. That was rude behavior.”
Tears welled up in Graham’s eyes.
“Mom… scolded me.”
“Of course. If you do something wrong, you need to be corrected so you grow up properly. I’m your mom.”
“Do you hate me?”
“I don’t hate you. I’m doing this because I love you. I can’t let you grow into a bad adult. Now, go on, apologize.”
“Ugh… sniff… I’m sorry, p-princess…”
Dolorasa, half-teary and unsure of what to do, quickly nodded.
“Yes, you apologized. That’s enough. Lady Rachel, you can stop scolding him now.”
“Understood.”
“Mom scolded me…”
Apparently, being scolded was a huge shock for Graham, who crouched down on the spot, sobbing.
Dolorasa crouched beside him and gently patted his back with her small hand.
“It’s okay. My dad scolds me too.”
“Lies.”
“Really! I once got scolded while folding paper in my dad’s study. It was so scary, I’d never seen anything scarier than that. His eyes shot fire, I swear!”
“My teacher would never get mad. He’s such a great person.”
“Even great people get angry. Your mom’s great too, but she scolds, right? Didn’t you hear just now? It’s because we’re loved.”
“Sniffle.”
“You were upset, right? I understand.”
It was an incredibly heartwarming sight.
Truly a heroine. Dolorasa’s ability to calm the murderous Graham was remarkable. At just seven years old, she was already skilled at soothing him.
At the back, Atreiu’s eyes sparkled.
“So this is what being scolded is like. Amazing! I want to get scolded by my uncle too! Since he’s so cool, it must be the best thing ever to be scolded by him!”
Dolorasa sighed heavily, thinking, “I have to take care of two kids…”
“Your dad wouldn’t scold the Crown Prince. He’s a prince. He’s different from us.”
“Tch. Boring. My dad cut off the necks of everyone who scolded me, so if my uncle scolds me, his neck will be cut too. He always scolds me, yet his neck stays intact.”
…Cut off necks?
Atreiu’s words sent shivers down Rachel’s arm.
Atreiu scratched his head with the branch he was holding.
“I envy you, Doli! I want to see my uncle get angry! I want to be loved by him too!”
“You’re Doli, not Duly. And Your Highness is loved by the Emperor, right?”
“Ugh. Do you want it?”
The sensible Dolorasa simply kept her mouth shut instead of saying no.
She spent quite a while soothing Graham and Atreiu, explaining that adults sometimes scold or disappoint because they love us.
Four-year-old Graham and ten-year-old Atreiu nodded, listening carefully. Their levels seemed about the same.
Soon, Graham was back to his cheerful self.
“Mom, I’m sorry for being upset. You work so hard raising me, and I didn’t realize it.”
“Hmm, it’s okay. It’s natural to be upset sometimes. I’m sorry for scolding you too.”
“And I’m sorry too, Princess. I won’t call you ‘brat’ anymore.”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind that.”
Rachel smiled warmly at Dolorasa.
“You’re amazing, Princess. How can you be so mature?”
“That’s just how I am.”
Oh my.
The adorable and lovely answer from a princess of such high rank made Rachel chuckle softly.
Dolorasa’s cheeks flushed as she looked at Rachel.
‘Lady Rachel’s arms are really soft and gentle. Her scolding when I was wrong, her kind smiles, the feeling when I’m held—they’re completely different from Dad.’
Her heart raced. She suddenly felt jealous of Graham.
Although there were other adult women around Dolorasa, they treated her with formal distance, addressing her as a “princess.”
The nannies and maids kept their distance because of her origins. Sian had taken her from somewhere and made her a princess without marriage. They cared for her, but also looked down on her.
Not knowing the full story, Dolorasa simply thought, “Everyone except Dad is strange.”
Rachel was the first to hug her warmly, protecting her. Dolorasa wanted to be held again, though Graham would be jealous.
Being embraced freely by someone other than her father was surprising, and the feeling was different from her father’s embrace.
She wanted to get closer to Rachel. She didn’t like being treated with distance as a “princess.” She wanted Rachel to call her “Doli,” the nickname she had only ever allowed her father to use.
‘Someday, I hope Lady Rachel calls me Doli. Then I’d be so happy.’
Atreiu tilted his head.
“Duly? Suddenly, what are you thinking about? Duly? Dulyyy?”
“….”
Atreiu had been calling her by a name she hadn’t allowed.
“It’s nothing. But please don’t call me Duly.”
“Ah, why not? You’re just mad because I shortened your name, right? Then you shorten mine too! ‘Ayu’ will do!”
“Is Your Highness’s nickname Ayu?”
“Nope. I don’t have one. I just thought Ayu would be fun. My teachers always go ‘Ahyu!’ when they see me. So I thought it would be fun if you call me Ayu.”
“…I see. Ayu, Your Highness.”
“Oh, yes, yes. Rachel, call me that too! Ayuuu.”
Rachel, unsure what to do, awkwardly smiled.
“Ayu, Your Highness.”
“Oh, oh, oh! It’s refreshing!”
Atreiu giggled at his own joy.
Graham puffed out his cheeks.
“Mom, don’t just play with the princess and the Crown Prince! Play with me too!”
“Oh, you’re upset because I only talked to the princess and the Crown Prince? My most beloved Graham, come here.”
“Waaah!”
Graham jumped into Rachel’s arms.
Dolorasa looked on, envious of Graham and Rachel, while Atreiu snickered and accidentally poked his nose with the branch, causing a nosebleed.
After cleaning Atreiu’s nose, they all sat in the reception room. A nosebleed from the Crown Prince! Rachel felt like the Emperor might cut off his head.
“It’s fine. This happens often!”
Atreiu laughed it off and lifted his leg to show it, wrapped in bandages.
Rachel recalled Sian applying medicine at the mansion. He had said, “The Crown Prince gets hurt often, so we keep medicine in every emergency room.” Rachel had thought it was an exaggeration, but it was true.
After drinking a sweet beverage, Dolorasa asked Atreiu,
“How did Your Highness come all the way here with an injured leg?”
“My teacher carried me halfway, then I crawled the rest!”
“…You’re still amazing.”
“Of course. I’m incredible. I’m quick, and I hide well too!”
Despite appearing clumsy, if he hadn’t sneezed, no one would have noticed his stealth.
“This mansion was empty for a long time, right? But I heard Lady Rachel moved in! She used to be married to Theodore, who ruined my party? I had to see what kind of person she is.”
Even though his tenth birthday party had been ruined, Atreiu didn’t look angry at all. His eyes gleamed with curiosity toward Rachel.
“I just wanted to see for myself, but Lady Rachel is so pretty and fun, I feel great.”
“I’m glad you’re happy.”
“But you can’t tell anyone I came! If my dad finds out, he’ll slap me.”
A slap? Even the Emperor slaps his son?
Rachel was surprised, but Atreiu acted as if it was nothing.
“They wouldn’t believe anything from little kids, but you’re an adult. Maybe your dad would believe an adult.”
Rachel nodded, even though she probably wouldn’t tell the Emperor about meeting the Crown Prince.
“Of course, if it’s the Crown Prince’s request, I’ll do it.”
“Good, good.”
Atreiu dug into his clothes and took out a neatly folded piece of paper.
“I promised you’d keep it a secret, so here’s a gift. A special gift only for those who fulfill my request.”
It was a very high-quality sheet of paper. Thin, soft, smooth, neatly folded, with the royal crest delicately embossed in gold.
“Thank you, Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
“Yes, yes.”
What kind of gift could it be?
Carefully unfolding the paper, Rachel saw messy handwriting that read:
[Wish Coupon
Atreiu grants a wish]
“….”
Rachel was at a loss for words. Atreiu proudly shrugged his shoulders.
At that time, she didn’t know that this playful note would become a decisive item in healing Atreiu’s wounded heart.
