Goddess Kingmaker – Chapter 18

Author: Chewyy

‘Hmm?’

The emperor, who had been responding calmly, suddenly hesitated.

Why should he care whether they went to see that tiny child or not?

The very fact that he felt fortunate about that made the emperor feel extremely uneasy.

“By the way, Your Majesty, I can’t tell you how envious I am. I only have grandsons, so I always felt a bit regretful—but to think you now have such a lovely granddaughter.”

“Hmm.”

His tangled emotions seemed to ease just a little.

Normally, he wouldn’t bat an eye at flattery, no matter how much it was sugar-coated, but this time, he merely raised an eyebrow.

“Well… who knew Targa had it.”

“……”

Though he didn’t explicitly say what “it” was, the tone—part praise, part not—wasn’t entirely displeasing.

‘A girl, born into the imperial family.’

Just thinking about it made his neck feel stiff.

Having been surrounded by sons and grandsons his entire life, he had never even imagined a girl would be born into the imperial bloodline.

Ever since he found out the baby’s gender, his restlessness only grew day by day, and he often found himself staring at the clock for no reason.

“Your Majesty, if there’s nothing else you need from me, may I go to Clayton Palace now?”

“Why you?”

“Well… um.”

Because she’s so cute.

The count, flustered, trailed off his words.

But the emperor’s sharp gaze didn’t soften, so the count took something out of his briefcase.

“Actually, I was planning to deliver this. My wife made it herself and insisted I give it directly to the baby.”

“So you’re carrying something like that at that age?”

The emperor frowned as he looked at the tiny dress Count Montes held.

If he were asked to carry something like that, he would immediately cut off his own arm and leave.

“Ahem, but the baby really liked it. She smiled so adorably.”

“……”

“Then, if you have nothing else to do—”

“No.”

The emperor, who had regained his composure, drew a clear line.

Count Montes thought he had done enough. What could possibly be left?

The ever-obedient Count Montes tilted his head in confusion.

“If it’s about Duke Targa, we’ve already dispatched a tracking team. Please give it a little more time. As for the dark beasts that were the issue during this last inspection, the knights are handling the cleanup. Ah, and if you’re looking for Count Hazel from the Treasury—”

“Lunas.”

“…..”

“Call Lunas. Now.”

It was the Emperor’s stern order, but the Count blinked, unable to understand.

It was understandable, since Lunas was the designer in charge of the Emperor’s clothing.

Of course, it’s not that the Emperor’s clothes aren’t important, but Count Montes doesn’t know if it’s something that should be said so solemnly.

Especially when the emperor had never once asked for him for the first in decades.

When the count, who had no idea what was going on, hesitated for a while, the emperor forcefully shook out the hem of his clothes.

“Hmph. Look at this mess—it hasn’t even been that long since it was tailored.”

◇ ◆ ◇

—Splash splash!

Today, too, I dunked my hands in a large basin of water. As long as my passionate older sister Roen didn’t give up, I couldn’t let go of the water play that was supposed to discover my talent.

“Ta, ta, taaa!”

I added some enthusiastic vocal effects as I splashed. It was starting to be kind of fun in its own way. Feeling bold, I plopped right into the basin, and water spilled everywhere.

“Oh my, baby! Are you finally trying something?”

“Ugh.”

Please, calm down.

Roen’s eyes sparkled even when I just twitched a finger.

She wasn’t just passionate—she was relentless. Still, I figured she meant well, so I gave in and playfully splashed her.

‘I told you to give up, sis.’

It’s not that I don’t want to do it—I can’t.

I tried everything a ten-month-old baby could possibly do in water. Blowing bubbles, flailing around, even doing the Spider-Man wrist-flick thing—at least a hundred times.

‘But still… nothing’s happening.’

Maybe it was too optimistic of me, but I was definitely of Duke Targa’s bloodline. Even if my powers awakened a little late, surely nothing bad would come of it.

What can I do? I was already born.

“This won’t do, baby!”

“Aang.”

Great! You finally realized reality, sister!

I laughed and splashed water, then looked at Roen, who was covering her face awkwardly.

Not that I should be the one saying this, but kids will grow up in their own time. Still, Roen was already busy pulling something out from her waistband.

“Euuung?”

‘what’s this!’

As the green powder that Roen had sprinkled spread across the water, my eyes grew indescribably wide.

“Actually, I heard it from young master Lucas’ maid. I heard that he usually practices like this.”

“……”

“This is just regular herbal bath powder, but he could apparently purify even the dirtiest water with it.”

“…..”

Great. Another “mom’s friend’s son” type.

As I faithfully follow the baby’s extreme emotional changes, my heart is already pounding and my breathing is short of breath.

This is really too much! I was just trying to play around and get a feel for it!

Roen pulled me out of the water in surprise at my face, which looked like it might burst into tears at any moment.

“Wahhh!”

“I’m sorry! Please don’t cry, okay?”

Roen, who had kissed my forehead, seeing that she had no other option, went for the ultimate weapon.

“I’ll go and get some condensed milk jelly!”

“Baba!”

Go on, sis!

My tears dried up instantly as I opened and closed my little hands, urging her to hurry.

Giggling at how ridiculous I was, Roen laid me in my crib and rushed off.

‘Phew.’

I stretched out my arms and felt my strength drain away.

I was already so sleepy that my eyelids were heavy.

‘Anyway, just what kind of man is my father for Roen to be so worried about?’

The red eyes I had seen in the portrait were eerily beautiful. They were emotionless eyes that seemed to go beyond whatever the rumors were saying.

‘Could he really…? No way, right?’

I shook my head repeatedly, trying to shake off the anxiety that had suddenly surged up in me.

Let me think about it. Maybe this was all caused by rash prejudice.

Right! Time for image training!

Even if I had all my memories as a former goddess, my body was still that of a baby—instincts were bound to override reason.

What if I throw up the moment I see Dad’s face?

No matter how much I’ve never met my father, I know well that he’s not the type to comfort a baby who throws up on their first meeting.

So I should at least try to make it a little easier for the baby to adapt.

‘Dad’s red eyes.’ Oh, this is good so far.

‘Beautiful and pretty red eyes. Red is like an apple, and apples are delicious. Delicious things are….’

“Aaaah!”

‘Sister, when are you going to bring me my jelly?’

“Mm….”

After stuffing myself with jelly until my cheeks almost burst, I woke up from my nap, and it was already evening.

Unlike Gonjiam, Clayton Castle has large windows and faces directly south, so I can leisurely enjoy both the sunrise and sunset.

‘Is this heaven?’

Having slept with my face down, I barely opened one eye and looked out at the hazy window. I felt good, full, and cozy in my blanket, so even though Roen wasn’t by my side, I didn’t feel like crying.

‘I’ll wait until you come, sister!’

This is why rich kids grow up with a good personality. They eat well, sleep well, and have everything they need, so there’s no reason to feel upset.

I might want to hum a little song, but since I can’t speak yet, I just hummed a soft “Hmmm.”

The sunset sky is pretty, the clouds are pretty, the falling leaves are pretty, my ex-boyfriend with shiny black feathers….

『Yaaaaah!』

『Can you see me?』

Belzer, who was sitting proudly by the window, was sulking as if he had been waiting for quite some time.

I looked up in surprise, but the marks of the pillow that had been pressed against my chubby cheeks as if it were a drawing paper were still visible.

I tried to cover it up in a hurry, but Belzer just laughed ridiculously.

『Hey, it’s fine.』

『What’s fine!』

『Do you think I have anything left to expect from you now?』