The next morning.
It was a morning with clear blue skies and quite decent clouds spread across them.
Today, Jeff appeared again with the physician.
The elderly physician with black hair and a white headband carefully examined the condition of my leg, sitting me up on the bed in front of Jeff.
“How is the princess’s condition? Is it perhaps broken?”
Jeff asked with a restless face.
He was fidgeting anxiously, clenching his hands and twisting his body, not knowing what to do.
“I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
I informed Jeff of my improvement.
‘My, he’s being dramatic.’
Suddenly, I remembered yesterday’s events.
‘Because Jeff made such a fuss, I received excessive treatment yesterday too.’
I thought I was going to die from frustration.
‘I don’t want to do that again. I absolutely hate it!’
I looked at Jeff with a forced smile on my face.
“As expected of my brave daughter!”
Jeff’s eyes sparkled brightly with an impressed expression.
“Do not worry, Your Majesty.”
Meanwhile, the physician who had waited for the conversation to end, stood up from his seat and reported.
“I’ve applied the ointment thoroughly, so it should heal cleanly in a day.”
I weakly swung my leg back and forth, then turned my head.
‘Is that the ointment I applied earlier?’
I could see a small box placed on the bedside table.
‘It looks expensive.’
Judging by the gold plating on the surface and the intricate patterns, I guessed the price would be formidable.
“It’s fortunate that it will heal, but make sure to take utmost care of the princess so that no scars remain.”
Jeff, who had suddenly returned to his dignified emperor persona, said seriously.
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
The physician answered with a gentle smile and added a few words.
“As you commanded, today I used an ointment made from dragon’s breath. Not only is it effective, but there are only three left in this world.”
I was shocked by the physician’s action of emphasizing by holding up three fingers.
‘D-dragon’s breath?’
I thought it was just an expensive and precious ointment, but I couldn’t believe what I had just heard.
It felt like lightning had struck my head.
‘Dragons left the earth over 500 years ago, and they used such a precious thing?’
Dumbfounded, I looked up at Jeff, who was making a heart shape with his arms, pleased about something.
‘Jeff, you rascal!’
Oh my, my head. I was overcome with a dizzying feeling.
‘He must know that dragon’s breath can even resurrect the dead!’
It was a shame to use such an expensive item for a minor injury.
‘Did he have it applied to a bruise even knowing that? Hey, are you really crazy?’
What kind of thinking could lead to this? I ended up gaping with my mouth wide open.
Knock, knock.
And then someone knocked on the door.
“Your Majesty, Lord Cain has arrived.”
“Let him in.”
Soon after, the door creaked open and a gray-haired servant delivered the news to Jeff.
“An alchemist named Milaton has requested an audience with Your Majesty. What should we do?”
To the servant asking for his opinion, Jeff said while resting his chin on one hand:
“Milaton, is it. For that fellow, it would be better to meet in the office rather than the audience chamber.”
“If that is your wish, I will bring him to the office immediately.”
“Then I shall go there at once.”
Jeff nodded vigorously and soon prepared to leave.
‘Aren’t alchemists wanderers who don’t belong anywhere?’
As I quietly listened to the conversation, a question arose.
“Why did the alchemist come?”
I tilted my head and asked.
“Daddy asked him to do something. I’ll tell you more about it when I get back.”
“Okay.”
Jeff, who had approached swiftly at my question, knelt on one knee to meet my eye level.
“My daughter, don’t cry missing daddy while I’m gone, okay?”
After kissing my forehead, Jeff approached the dedicated maids.
‘I won’t cry!’
Who said I was going to cry? I rubbed the spot where Jeff had kissed with the back of my hand, irritated.
‘How long do I have to put up with this guy’s affection?’
I wonder if I’m getting used to it at this rate.
“Make sure Darjeeling doesn’t come near the office area. Understood?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A moment later, I happened to see Jeff and a maid whispering in hushed voices, but the sound was so low that I couldn’t hear clearly from where I was.
“Darjeeling.”
After finishing his words, Jeff turned towards me.
“Daddy’s going now.”
He blew flower petals and hearts of love and even winked, and I felt a chill from that sight. It felt like all the hair on my body was standing on end.
Thud!
After Jeff left like that. The dedicated maids approached.
“Your Highness, shall we play the popular jingle dance of the empire today?”
One maid enthusiastically shook a rattle.
“Shall I read you a fairy tale?”
Another maid suggested an intellectual activity.
“Hmm~.”
I fell into thought after hearing the maids’ words.
‘I’m more curious about why Jeff called in an alchemist than those boring games.’
While pretending to consider what game to play, I devised a plan to see if I could get even a clue of the information I wanted.
“The azaleas in the central garden are blooming beautifully, let’s go see them!”
Since the office was right in front of the garden, I thought I might be able to see something, so I even clapped my hands and smiled, thinking it was a good idea.
“?”
But the maids were suspicious.
They hesitated at my words and then scrambled.
“What? The, the garden?”
Why are they trying to stop me? The maids desperately tried to change my mind by offering various alternatives.
“How about building blocks inside?”
“Th-that’s right! There are scary giant bees flying around the central garden!”
What’s with them?
‘Are they preventing me from even going near the office?’
I sensed something suspicious. It was because there was a possibility that there was something I shouldn’t see.
“Look at this, Your Highness!”
Soon they started performing acrobatics, and their dedication was so touching that I decided to pretend not to notice.
“Then take me to a scenic spot where I can draw pictures.”
“Yes~ Your Highness!”
Ugh, their relief is too obvious. I clicked my tongue inwardly.
* * *
Clatter.
A little while later, in the indoor garden of the imperial palace.
“Come to think of it, Your Highness is already 3 years old.”
As I watched the dedicated maids bring and neatly arrange the canvas, paints, and brushes, I sat in a tiny armchair, gently swinging my feet and staring blankly at the sky.
“That’s right. It seems like just yesterday when Your Highness was crawling around.”
“It’s already been 3 years since that day.”
In front of the lavishly blooming rose garden, the dedicated maids lowered their voices and spoke softly, so I couldn’t hear what they were saying this time either.
‘As long as they’re not badmouthing me, it’s fine.’
In my previous life, I could hear people talking from far away, but this reborn body is too ordinary.
‘When I was emperor, I used to get stressed because I could hear too much muttering… this is much better.’
While the maids were preparing the art supplies, I fiddled with some toys.
“We haven’t heard news of the end of the war yet, but I hope Your Highness continues to be safe like this.”
“Of course. Now we just have to wait for the day the Great General returns.”
Even though I can’t hear the conversation clearly due to the distance, I observed the maids’ actions from time to time.
“I still don’t know how we managed to escort Your Highness from that place to the imperial palace.”
Just prepare quickly, why do they have so much to say? I grumbled inwardly, getting bored of waiting.
“I know. Me too. That day 3 years ago… there was a fishy smell everywhere and it was raining, wasn’t it?”
As the two maids seemed lost in reminiscence, my ears perked up involuntarily, but I forced myself to turn my head away, fearing our eyes might meet.
“That’s right. Back then, we helped with the Great General’s childbirth and ran to the imperial palace with all our might. When I think about how Your Highness caught a fever from being soaked in the rain, it still makes me shudder.”
“The doctor at the time said we might need to prepare ourselves because we missed the treatment window. I’m so grateful that Your Highness miraculously recovered.”
“And now that His Majesty has recently obtained the medicine he’s been seeking since then, we don’t have to worry as much as before if Your Highness falls ill.”
My patience is now escaping. I got down from the armchair with a grunt and approached the maids.
“I wonder what kind of picture Your Highness will draw.”
The two maids guided me, who had now come close, to the front of the canvas.
‘Shall we begin?’
I stepped onto the luxurious white cushion chair, then immediately dipped the brush in paint and started drawing.
‘My true skills aren’t coming out today.’
After concentrating to the point of leaving colorful paint marks on my face, I finally completed the work and threw the brush on the floor, leaving my regrets behind.
“I’m done!”
I proudly exclaimed and showed the painting to the maids, saying:
“Guess what this is! I’ll give a reward to the person who gives the correct answer.”
The finished work depicted Jeff… or rather, a creature that may or may not be human, standing on a green meadow. The key point was the rainbow behind his back.
“Is it a rock?”
“No.”
“A flower?”
Oh my, why can’t they guess correctly? None of them were the answer I wanted.
“Did you draw a tree spirit from a fairy tale?”
“That’s not it either.”
I shook my head left and right each time the maids gave wrong answers.
“Is it the mashed potatoes you had for breakfast?”
“No. You don’t understand art.”
The maid who failed to guess again looked disappointed, and I shook my head while lost in thought.
‘Is this how the god who dealt with me felt?’
Suddenly, I recalled something from long ago.
‘Is it this?’
‘No.’
‘How about this?’
‘No.’
Back when I was the first human, I had a long exchange of questions and answers with the god.
“Ah! Is it His Majesty the Emperor?”
“How can you say such blasphemous things…!”
“Yes, that’s right! Correct answer!”
Hayley looked shocked at Miranda’s words, but she didn’t say anything when she saw my smiling face.
“You seem to know how to appreciate art. Next time, I’ll draw you as a reward.”
I declared to Miranda that I would make her the model for my next drawing.
“Your Highness, His Majesty is looking for you.”
Just as we were taking a breather, a maid came.
“Why?”
“I only received orders to escort Your Highness to the office immediately.”
“Alright, I’m coming now.”
Why didn’t they tell me in advance, making me go back and forth?
‘And here I thought I could finally immerse myself in the world of art.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly but moved to meet Jeff anyway.
* * *
“Your Majesty, I have brought Your Highness.”
Soon after, we arrived at a room near Jeff’s office.
“My daughter has come!”
Jeff approached with a welcoming face.
“Just one kiss~.”
He took me from the dedicated maid’s arms and kissed me, and at that moment I felt my body stiffen.
It was terrible.
“I have something prepared to give you when you start walking.”
“What is it?”
Cancel what I just said.
‘I can’t resist gifts.’
For now, I was interested and asked him to tell me what it was.
“Now, look over here!”
Soon, Jeff held me with one arm and pointed in a direction with his other hand.
“That’s just for you, Darjeeling.”
Where his hand was pointing, there was a gift box decorated with red ribbons, pearls, and gold lace.
__________
“Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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