“Either it is or it isn’t. Don’t worry. I’ve made sure to remember that His Majesty the Emperor doesn’t treat me as less than an insect.”

I felt like I had to do that so I wouldn’t have any other expectations from the Emperor. I mustn’t be deluded by such appearances. The Emperor and I must never become that sort of relationship.

‘I hate married men with kids.’

When I don’t even know when the wife might appear, I absolutely, absolutely hate it.

“That’s right. Very well done. But not an insect, either…….”

Although his speech seemed to pause strangely, the Emperor nodded his head as if he greatly agreed with me.

“Yes. Don’t worry about falling in love. And.”

“Yes. We must not love. I hate women. And?”

“Thank you. I didn’t know you’d come. It was quite nice.”

“What was?”

“When someone helped me when I was in trouble. It looked like light.”

It was strange. I didn’t even like the Emperor, who seemed to have a problem with his personality. Yet, at that moment, he looked like light. He almost took my heart away.

“Light……?”

“Yes. It just sparkled. But it doesn’t mean I’ve fallen for it.”

I hastily denied it, just in case he doubted me.

“Well. I do shine.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Still, light. It’s a bit of a new expression.”

He chuckled and slowly nodded his head.

“Oh. Can I ask you something I’m curious about?”

“What is it?”

“How did you come so quickly? It seemed like you knew the Duke was coming. I even thought for a moment that His Majesty the Emperor and the Duke might be on the same side.”

I mixed a joke to lighten the mood, but the Emperor hardened his face as if he was quite offended.

“That X and I are on the same side?”

“I’m just saying that you were that fast.”

I didn’t think he would be so offended.

“I hate women. Even so, I can’t forgive those who treat women, no, humans, indiscriminately. Those who divide people and think they are superior even when they’re not royalty. What’s so great about them?”

Clicking his tongue, he wore a genuinely fedup expression.

“Anyway, I don’t want to be associated with such a person.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Right. You shouldn’t have. But I understand. I did come that quickly.”

His expression, alternating between hot and cold, now brightened after showing displeasure… It seems he’s a little fickle too.

“You did come as if you were waiting.”

“Wait, waiting? I just…….”

“You even thoroughly investigated the Duke and our family, so I was a little touched.”

“Touched, even?”

He cleared his throat with a hmm and glanced around.
In the meantime, whether the preparation was all finished or not, Shasha, who had gone into the mansion, came outside, sweating profusely as if she had run.

“Sister. Haah. Ha.”

“Did you run here? You could have come slowly, you know?”

“I missed you so much, Sister! And… and actually……”

Shasha elongated her speech as if she had something to say.

“Actually?”

“Huh?”

Scratching her head as if she had something to say, Shasha asked.

“Why are you like this?”

“Actually, Sister…! I wanted to leave.”

“Is that so?”

Why does Shasha’s statement that she wanted to leave hurt so much?

“Yes. I’ve felt that way for a long time! Of course, it was also because the temple and other people treated me well… but I was too scared of Mother and Father…”

Shasha stammered and then laughed awkwardly.

‘You’ve wanted to leave this family for a long time.’

You were powerless, so you waited. You wanted to leave, but you were too young. Unable to fend for yourself, you waited until you were an adult.

When the time finally came to leave, you must have been waiting for your family to apologize and support you. How pitiful.

“I see.”

“Yes! So when you said that, Sister… I was so excited! I couldn’t sleep from the day you said that. I folded my fingers and waited every single day, and packed my things every time I thought about it! Hehe. I just had to bring that, so I came quickly! I… did well, right?”

“Of course!”

Why was Shasha so happy with my praise? She smiled brighter than ever, her eyes almost disappearing, her white teeth showing completely.

Why did the words of Shasha in the novel come to my mind as I looked at her? It seemed like her feelings then and now were not much different… A mere 7 years old, she must have lived with those feelings for the next 13 years.

[I believed in you even though you used me over and over. Because you were my family. Because I loved you. I thought that someday you would call me. Shasha, with that sweet nickname, hug me, and apologize. Saying that you didn’t know how to love, but you loved me. Just a single word like that… was all I wanted. But… you were busy using me until the end. But, but let me tell you. Mom… Dad. Sister… Celpion. I’m stupidly… waiting for you to apologize at this moment, to love me…]

That was Shasha’s last word. The words that Shenenia, who was leaving her family, said in anger on the day she left her family. But not a single member of the Earl’s family apologized to Shasha.

This time too, they simply thought she was being whimsical. Just throwing a tantrum. Why was she so rotten? Shasha’s family didn’t hesitate to say those words.

In the end, Shanencia left her family.