Goddess Kingmaker Chapter 11

“That’s strange. She was awake just a moment ago.”

 

“What on earth did she do to fall asleep so quickly?”

 

“She didn’t do anything special. Just the kind of babies do—shrugging her shoulders, winking, little things like that…”

 

“… Enough. Who even asked about that?”

 

And then the emperor gulped as if his throat was dry. The moment he heard Roen’s words, his gaze subtly but persistently roamed over my shoulders and eyes.

 

‘Go ahead and stare all you want. I’m not waking up.’

 

Since I couldn’t outright laugh at him, I exaggerated the steady rise and fall of my chest as I pretended to be deep in sleep.

 

I pretended to be asleep like this every time the Emperor grandfather came, but I didn’t feel the slightest bit guilty.

 

‘How do I even look like a boy?!’

 

If he was going to be mistaken, he could at least be mistaken about something reasonable.

 

‘No matter how poor his eyesight was, could he not see the ribbon tied in my hair?’

 

I was the type to hold grudges, so I stubbornly refused to let even a single eyelash twitch.

 

While my other movements might still be influenced by this baby body and its emotions, pretending to be asleep was something I had complete control over.

 

Most of the time, though, this act ended with me actually falling asleep.

 

“If you’re going to do something, at least make it useful.”

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

“When is she going to start walking?”

 

The emperor, who had a severe lack of conversational skills, gestured toward my legs with his chin.

 

It became clear from the following question that he had never paid attention to the development of babies, not only his own children but also his grandchildren.

 

“I think it’s about time this child started running or at least training in basic spear techniques.”

 

“Your Majesty….”

 

‘Roen, you just cursed under your breath, didn’t you?’

 

My eyelashes, which had been holding up well, almost fluttered for the first time.

 

Fortunately, Roen managed to cover her reaction with a barely audible sigh before bowing respectfully.

 

“My apologies, Your Majesty, but most babies begin walking around on their first birthday.”

 

“That’s for ordinary babies, isn’t it?”

 

“……”

 

“A child who might carry my blood can’t possibly be ordinary. Absolutely not.”

 

‘Then why don’t you just outright declare, ‘She’s my granddaughter’?’

 

Instead, you’ve practically taken me hostage and now, of all things, you’re being greedy about this?

 

Well, if he had really thought of me as his granddaughter, he would not have put me in a place like Gonjiam.

 

“Hmph. So you’re saying it’ll take another three months before this child can walk properly?”

 

“There is no set time, but on average, yes, Your Majesty.”

 

The emperor sighed in displeasure at Roen’s cautious answer.

 

If only he would leave now.

 

But just as he turned as if to go, he hesitated and turned back.

 

“Is there anything particularly inconvenient about staying in Layton Palace?”

 

“Your Majesty…”

 

“It doesn’t seem like a very suitable place for a baby to stay.”

 

“…..”

 

My twitching eyelids faced a second crisis. I almost opened my eyes wide and asked, ‘Are you finally getting your eyesight back?’

 

If only I could speak properly, I definitely would have.

 

“It’s been so long since I left this place empty, it’s a lot different from what I remember.”

 

“But the baby is doing quite well here.”

 

“……”

 

‘Sister, are you serious right now?’

 

I felt another surge of frustration and let out a stronger breath through my nose.

 

‘How could she just throw away this golden opportunity to escape this place?’

 

Being too kind wasn’t always a good thing.

 

Sure, I had been eating well and sleeping well here, but did she really have to be so honest about it?

 

Especially to a clueless emperor who would only toss out such an opportunity once in a hundred years?

 

“…Okay then.”

 

As expected.

 

“Besides, all the better palaces are already occupied by other children. Unless I build a new one, there’s no real alternative.”

 

Perhaps even he found his reasoning unsatisfying, as he left without much hesitation.

 

I had a feeling he glanced back one last time to check if I had woken up, but it didn’t matter anymore—I had no more business with him.

 

The moment I heard him leave, I dramatically opened my eyes.

 

“Oh my, baby. Why wake up now, of all times?!”

 

“…Aang.”

 

Sorry, but I’m not exactly thrilled to see you right now, either.

 

Still sitting in place, I pouted, refusing to smile even when Roen gently replaced the ribbon in my hair with a bigger one.

 

“I should have put this on earlier. Then His Majesty would have recognized you as a princess right away!”

 

“…….”

 

I thought this girl was kind, but she’s actually stabbing me again.

 

‘Not that I had forgotten, but did she really need to bring that up again?’

 

Her remark soured my mood even further.

 

She was the only family I had here, so I couldn’t even get mad at her.

 

“Oh my, my baby. Did you have a bad dream today?”

 

“Hngg.”

 

“But you know, His Majesty came to visit today. He didn’t say it outright, but I think he’s very interested in you. He even said you were so adorable that he couldn’t stop thinking about you!”

 

“……”

 

At least she wasn’t a good liar.

 

Watching her struggle to sweeten the truth, I suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for the woes of the working class.

 

“Aaang!”

 

Hold me!

 

As soon as I stretched my arms out, Roen picked me up as if she had been waiting for it.

 

I don’t know if it’s just because I’m a baby, but there really was something comforting about being held.

 

“Are you fully awake now? I don’t have the courage to call His Majesty back, so what a shame.”

 

“Aang. Aaang!”

 

“Why are you squirming all of a sudden? You never do that.”

 

Roen, who didn’t know my complicated feelings, seemed to be enjoying everything.

 

She even placed a small kiss on my cheek before beginning her usual routine of pacing around the palace halls.

 

“I didn’t know this before, but apparently all the items here once belonged to His Majesty. I’ll have to be extra careful when cleaning from now on.”

 

“Mmm.”

 

Yeah, do whatever you want.

 

I, who was not interested in things, only glanced at the huge portrait.

 

When will I ever get used to seeing that father?

 

No matter how many times I see him, his beauty is so overwhelming that it leaves me in awe.

 

‘Is he really dead?’

 

That would be a problem.

 

Even now, I’m just a ‘good-for-nothing illegitimate child’, but if my father dies, I’ll become a ‘good-for-nothing illegitimate child floating in the air’.

 

‘Please, at least become emperor before you die.’

 

With my hands clasped together, I prayed for the first time in a long while.

 

‘Come back alive, Father. Just come back alive first.’

 

‘I’ll take care of everything else.’

 

I was starting to feel a bit anxious.

 

Since I couldn’t just run off and bring him back myself, I just wiggled my toes in frustration.

 

“Are you feeling frustrated? Well, I suppose. But when I saw earlier, His Majesty would be absolutely delighted when you start walking.”

 

“Aang?”

 

Really? Then maybe I should never walk.

 

I immediately pressed my fidgety toes back down.

 

Roen, unaware of my changing whims, was brimming with excitement.

 

“Girls usually walk a little earlier, so I’m sure you’ll be walking soon.”

 

“Aang.”

 

“But you don’t have to feel burdened. Anything can be done if you take it slow and take it one step at a time.”

 

Roen was drumming her own beat and playing her own music, so I decided to join her with some responses.

 

I listened to her chatter about how there might be more and more people looking for me in the future, and that she should clean up the area before I can walk.

 

I made eye contact with the father in the portrait once more.

 

“…Aang.”

 

No matter where my father was, I would walk my own path!

 

◇ ◆ ◇

 

Roen’s words weren’t just meaningless chatter.

 

Ever since the emperor visited a couple of times, the number of visitors to Layton Palace gradually increased.

 

But most of them were useless—maids who would peek at me from behind a pillar and squeal or whisper curiously among themselves.

 

However, on rare occasions, some very valuable guests would visit.

 

“Look at this, baby. Count Montes sent you a dress.”

 

“Aang.”

 

Oh, he has good taste.

 

As expected from the emperor’s closest aide, Count Montes’ eye for quality was practically sky-high.

 

Just how much did all this cost?

 

Back in South Korea, where I lived as a commoner, I wouldn’t even have gotten to see fabric like this. I gently pressed my cheek against It.

 

“Do you like it that much?”

 

“Uh-huh.”

 

Ah, nothing beats the taste of capitalism.

 

It’s funny that I, the granddaughter of the emperor, am only able to afford one dress, but perhaps it’s the nature of babies, so my mouth just fell open at the soft and fluffy texture.

 

I know how to appreciate good things, too.

 

I have eyes, you know.

 

I didn’t want to let go, so I clung tightly to the fabric.

 

Seeing this, Roen smiled helplessly.

 

“I was going to put it on you anyway. It’s baby clothes, so of course the baby should wear it.”

 

“Mm!”

 

“This would be the perfect time for His Majesty to visit again. He wouldn’t be able to get you out of his mind if he saw you in this.”

 

If you look closely, Roen was also quite ambitious. It wasn’t for herself, but her goals were surprisingly specific for someone who claimed to have no personal desires.

 

“He’d keep getting more and more attached to you, and before the duke even arrives, he might just declare you his granddaughter on the spot!”

 

“……”

 

“Then, all of a sudden, you’d be in the duke’s hands… No, never mind. What am I even saying? Phew.”

 

She was quite skilled at stirring up sudden anxiety.

 

I don’t know for sure, but if Roen had been born in South Korea, she would have made a living by writing novels.

 

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