Chapter 133: Future and Family

"It would be nice if he visited our tower at least once!"

"Wow, it would be an honor if the guardian of the Black Tower actually came to our Black Tower. It's like a living legend coming back, isn't it?"

"But there's a hole in our tower. It's annoying, sure, but I still haven't fixed it. And for a living legend to see that is..."

"Oh!"

"Oh my god!"

At that very moment, the wizards who had taken the bait I had thrown about the guardian of the Black Tower suddenly stopped gossiping and gasped, as if they had been enlightened.

They leapt from their seats and hurriedly organized their table.

"Quickly, fix the ceiling!"

"Starting today, we must repair the interior!"

"But we should fix the exterior walls first to make them presentable!"

"Oh, great thinking!"

"After all, the world is all about blackmail!"

I watched them with interest before leaving the discussion room. Well, it appears that the wizards in the tower know very little about the fake guardian, just like the attendants.

I was curious about the guardian of the Black Tower they claimed to have seen, but they said they hadn't seen his face in person yet. I left the tower feeling a little disappointed by the absence of the tower Grandpa, who had disappeared back to his research, with my hair.

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"I've heard that an envoy from Arlanta will be arriving soon."

"Really?"

I stopped massaging Daddy's shoulders and paused for a moment. I think I remember this event from the novel, was it when Jennette was seventeen or eighteen? Then will Cabel Ernst serve as an escort knight for the envoy?

TL/n: Cabel Ernst is part of the Ernst family(two brothers) who are friends with Ijekiel from his school in Arlanta. They made a brief cameo in Ch 63 of the manhwa but no names were mentioned. They are also the main characters of Plutus's second web novel: Beware of the Brothers.

I suddenly remembered a boy with brown hair who was surrounded by the Arlanta School's walls.

"Sir Fairy!"

Ah, it came to mind without having to think all that hard about it.

"Your hands are dawdling."

Daddy was surprised by my abrupt exclamation and spoke to me. I pursed my lips a little and resumed moving my hands.

"Yes yes, Little Me will continue to massage so that Your Majesty can finish the documents."

TL/c: Oooo Athy getting sassy with Claude. xD

"A bit further over."

"Yes sir."

At his request, I massaged the area closer to his neck.

Daddy inclined his head forward in time with my hand. When I first started giving you massages you seemed so stiff, but now that you've gotten used to it, doesn't it seem like you're actually enjoying it?

Massage here, massage there, if you use too little effort, it'll only tickle. He's always giving unwelcome tips.

As I pressed my fingertips against his stiff shoulders I could feel my hands begin to ache.

"Athanasia."

"Yes."

"I've been thinking, it wouldn't be a bad idea to test your new magic formula during the harvest festival."

Huh? I moved my gaze, which had been staring off into the distance, and perked up at the unexpected suggestion.

But I couldn't see Daddy's face from this angle, I could only see the back of his pretty blonde head.

Looking at Daddy like this, he's still so pretty!

"Did you see what I wrote?"

"Didn't you bring that for me to see?"

Hehe, of course that's the case, but even so, I was a little embarrassed and laughed. Just as I thought last time, I had gathered opinions on the use of the new formula that's based on Aeternitas' magic formula for plant growth and left it on his desk.

"But, if we use it as is, we'll have to spend far too much manpower. Make the necessary changes within the month."

Oh my god! Mission Impossible!

Ping!

[Unexpected Quest Start!]

[Rejection is not an option!]

I was devastated by Daddy's mandatory quest. It was difficult enough to shorten the formula to this extent, but now I have to do more! I'll need the energy of the universe for this, ugh.

"Athanasia."

"Yes."

Jeez, why do you keep calling me today? Are my hands dawdling and you're telling me to move a little harder?

But it's because of you! Is it so hard for you to praise your good daughter who's massaging her father's shoulders with such delicate hands? Sob, sob.

However, that wasn't the reason Daddy called me. I paused again at the subsequent silence.

"Do you want to sit on the throne?"

I reflexively moved my gaze but I still couldn't see Daddy's face because he was seated with his back towards me. He was asking me about my future.

"No."

I thought about it for a moment before responding honestly. Since I was a child, I've had just one wish: to live a long and healthy life. To be honest, I wish Daddy could just quit being the Emperor and live peacefully with me.

I'd feel sorry for Mom, but if there was someone Daddy liked, I don't think it'd be such a bad thing if he remarried. Of course, I'd be a little sad, but if Daddy likes them then I won't object.

"I've honestly never given it any thought, but if you asked me if I wanted it, then, well."

But Daddy would probably say that he didn't need things like a new marriage. I sometimes think of Mom, who would appear in my dreams occasionally, too.

"Yes, it's better not to have a position like this, regardless of who gives it to you."

Daddy responded bluntly to what I said.

"It's a position where more is taken than given."

"Didn't Your Majesty, the Emperor of Obelia, say that you could have the world if you wanted it?"

I said with a small laugh. The important decision of whether or not I would succeed the throne still seemed like a distant one to me, and Daddy probably didn't ask that question with the intention of deciding something right now anyway.

But it was a fact that I am the only child who can succeed Daddy. And I knew that it was a tremendous privilege to feel like I had a choice in the matter.0

I also knew that if Claude was simply the Emperor of Obelia and not my father, I would not be asked such a question.

"Originally, there is nothing in this world that is attainable without a price, so even those who have the world in their hands have paid a price equivalent to that. Be mindful of that too."

"Yes, Daddy."

I was able to speak my mind honestly as his daughter because he was asking me as my father. I smiled quietly as I looked at Daddy's back, which always felt reassuring.

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"Hmm."

I walked down the corridor after leaving Daddy's office. Maybe because of the mood, the atmosphere here always seemed heavier and colder than anywhere else.

Was it because the previous royal family members were looking down with stern eyes at the person that passed by them? I walked, feeling the gaze of the portraits, and eventually stopped in front of a particular painting.

[Emperor Aevum and Crown Prince Anastasius.]

Next to this painting was a solo portrait of the former emperor, Anastasius.

I quietly looked at the two people in the painting and snorted. I've felt this before, but every time I see them I can't help but think: aren't they really unlucky?

He looks so bad-tempered too! You can tell right away from a person's face just what is on the inside!

What did Daddy do so wrong to be tortured so much in his lifetime?

They shamefully had portraits drawn of only themselves. Just who do they think they are, only bullying my dad? Ah, hey hey hey! Now my Daddy has a portrait too!

After diligently looking at the unlucky faces in that painting, I fluttered and side-stepped down the hall.

And then, after seeing a large portrait hanging in the best spot in the corridor, a happy smile grew on my face.

Oh my, how pretty. Who is this pretty girl? And whose dad is this handsome man next to you?

I wanted to pat our portraits with affection, but I couldn't, so I praised them in my heart instead.

The family portrait of Daddy and me, which had been drawn when I was fourteen, was just truly exquisite.

Well, hm. Honestly it does look like it's drawn a fraction cooler and prettier than the original, but isn't it normal to beautify something that everyone takes for granted?!

I'm sure that the other portraits here must have undergone even more extensive modifications and retouching!

"Wow, our portrait is the best."

The portrait of Daddy and me was actually slightly different from the other royal portraits hanging in the corridor. To start, the atmosphere in ours was noticeably warmer.

If you look at the other portraits here you get the feeling they're saying 'Look everyone, I'm the Emperor! I'm royalty! I'm the best!' Like they were pretending to be arrogant with their narrowed eyes, but Daddy and I didn't have that look.

Is it possible that I'm to blame for the royal family's most unconventional portrait? But, despite their serious expressions, everyone was still beaming and smiling.

This could have been our first and last painting together. At the very least, I wanted the ambience of a warm family portrait.

Was he aware of my wish? Surprisingly, Daddy was also smiling, albeit faintly.

But of course, when Daddy first saw the unfinished painting, he said 'You must have terrible eyesight. When did I ever have such a stupid expression on my face?' and broke the painter's heart, but when I said I liked the painting, he said okay without requesting any further corrections.

So, in the end, this heartwarming portrait with the two of us smiling, was displayed in the Imperial corridor.

In a way, I thought that we might've been the black sheep of the entire royal family of Obelia.

Oh, but that doesn't mean that Daddy looks inferior to any of the former Emperors. My Daddy is so full of charisma that even if he's relaxed, he's still so cool!

It's only natural that I'm pretty too, since I received good genes from both my Mom and Daddy.

I smiled happily again as I recalled their love.

After looking at our portraits, I felt satisfied and resumed walking.

Felix was undoubtedly waiting for me at the end of the corridor, but my attention was drawn to a man in one of the portraits.

[Emperor Aeternitas]

With his pure, golden hair hanging down, he had a dignified demeanor that was befitting the title of the strongest wizard Emperor of all time and the wisest man of the century.

As both an Emperor and a wizard, I had studied and discovered that his achievements were truly enormous, so the aura that emanated from this painting seemed unusual.

Well, I guess I will be analyzing and dissecting the magic formula you have honed. Please don't be angry at your distant relative for destroying a formula that is almost an art form.

I made a sincere apology to the ancestral wizard Emperor, and left the corridor.

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Who Made Me a Princess - Recruitment:

๑‧˚‧₊♡₊꒷︶︶꒷꒦‧₊ଓ︶︶꒷꒦⊹๑‧˚₊꒷︶✦︶꒷꒦⊹୭

[3 Positions Open]

Korean Translator (っ◔◡◔)っ you 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗞𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, so don't worry :). We will 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗠𝗧𝗟, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗟 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝗧𝗟, you have to change the meaning into your own understanding. Please Dm @kanna#2133 or send a message to [email protected] if you are interested in applying as one.

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