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ORIGINAL AUTHOR/S: **천혜랑**

“No . . . Mama please, please don’t die . . .”

My mother couldn’t even answer my desperate plea.

Even though I had seen my mother die nine times already, I still couldn’t get used to it.

Drops of tears trickled down to the back of her still, motionless hand.

“Mama . . .”

As her breathing became more shallow, her pallor became even more pale.

It was the tenth life. And this time, too, my mother was going to die. I crawled and moved a rug that was much bigger than my body, while the knights who were supposed to be guarding us were still away.

“Mama, wait for a little bit . . . I’ll save you!”

My mother’s breathing was so weak that it seemed like she was going to take her final breath any second now.

While moving the rug away, I ran to my mother’s side and placed my ear over her chest.

Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump.

She’s still alive.

However, because my mother still had a fever, even when I dragged myself over to her side, she still couldn’t regain her consciousness.

“Stay with me . . . just . . . just a little more . . .”

Soon, I was able to push the rug aside, and there appeared an incomplete magic circle.

I took out from my pocket the pebble that I cherished deeply and used it to complete the circle.

“It hurts . . .”

My hands were getting sore because of the jagged surface, protruding stones scratching me as I drew.

But there was no time to lose.

Thud, thud.

The sound of heavy footsteps from afar gradually drew closer, and it prompted me to move faster. However, because my arms were as thin as a branch, my body did not move according to my will at all.

Blood dripped from my hand for every stroke I drew on the jagged floor.

“Come on. Come on! I have to . . . I have to save Mama!”

I shifted my gaze towards my mother, who was sleeping on the floor with only thin curtains as her blanket.

My hands hurt so much. It hurt so much that I couldn’t stop myself from crying.

Thump, thump, thump.

I had to finish this quickly, but my hands kept shaking.

‘Snap out of it. Get a hold of yourself.’

I’d been drawing this magic circle for a month just for this moment. I wouldn’t be able to afford to stop now.

I couldn’t finish drawing the circle under the shabby rug in time. My mother would die again today.

“Mama . . . I’ll never lose you again, Mama . . .”

Tears flowed down my cheeks.

“Don’t just cry like an idiot. I can save her. This time, I’m going to save her.”

My hands were numb. The footsteps were getting closer.

“She’s avoiding me because she’s ‘sick’? Who does she think she is, the Empress? How foolish!”

“But Your Majesty, she’s on her deathbed. Please control yourself.”

“. . . Damn it, she was quite useful. If she doesn’t pull through, then I can still use that bastard child!”

It was the voice that never failed to give me goosebumps.

The Emperor was near. If he came to this place, then we’d be hit by him again. He was angry right now, and his footsteps grew louder and louder.

I glanced at my mother. She was as white as a sheet.

I put down the stone and used my bloodied hands to draw on the floor instead.

All I had to do was draw the complete circle.

“I-I did it!”

The roughly drawn circle was big enough for both me and my mother. As I hurried to my mother’s side, I held her hand tightly with one hand, and placed my other hand on the floor.

Then, a brilliant light enveloped us.

Bang!

Whether they noticed the light or not at that moment, the door was forced open with a tremendous sound.

“What is this . . . !”

But it was too late.

Even if they came in now, they wouldn’t be able to stop us.

“You f*cking wench! Don’t you dare escape! You’re mine!”

“No! I belong to my Mama!”

“Damn it, grab her now! Get rid of the magic circle!”

All kinds of magic were automatically supposed to have been nullified inside the Imperial Palace, but finally, a magic circle had been successfully activated.

Because of this, none of the Emperor’s men approached us.

Moreover, they couldn’t come close or launch any attacks because of the magic circle around us.

“Get her! Get her now! Unless you want to die in her place!”

The Emperor and his knights rushed to us, but when a rift in time and space opened between us, their hands only got injured.

“Good! You all deserve to get hurt after bullying us!”

There was a strong force behind my words, and they resounded in the air as they rang loudly in the ears of those who tried to catch us.

“You wench!”

“Bye bye!”

I yelled goodbye to the Emperor who I hoped I would never see ever again.

It would have been better if I could get my revenge on him, but for now, running away was more important.

“No!”

The Emperor wouldn’t give up until the end, but as he shouted, his voice already sounded far away. Before I knew it, the space that surrounded us became distorted.

It was a perfect success.

I finally got out with my mother!

I opened my eyes to a dazzling light and found that we had arrived at our destination.

Right now, we’re in a different place from the shabby room we were in just a second ago—that shabby room where there was nothing but a settee with a broken leg, a broken window where cold wind blew in, and curtains that were used as blankets.

Where they were now was completely different. It was an unknown place that had a warm fireplace, and there was a distinct scent that smelled of paper and books.

“Ah . . . !”

Thick rugs were laid on the floor, and small pieces of lumber crackled in the fire, giving off some warmth.

I finally arrived at where I intended to go.

“Who are you?”

A voice from out of nowhere drew my attention.

The owner of the room furrowed his brows, clearly surprised by two strangers who appeared suddenly.

“Ah . . .”

I stood up from the floor, mumbling.

The man who was looking at us was incredibly handsome, as if God himself paid special attention to sculpt his features. He had black hair and a large build; a man who looked like he didn’t need any morals but could still get away with it.

Wary of him for different reasons compared to the Emperor, I pointed a finger at him.

“Grand Duke Avelant! It’s you!”

A smile crept on my lips as I saw him nodding instead of answering.

“I came here right away. I found you, my Papa Candidate!”

“. . . What . . . ? Papa Candidate?”

“Yup! Please take care of Mama and me!”

I hugged my sleeping mother, who was still tucked into the tattered curtain blanket.

“Then I’ll make you Emperor!”

“Ha . . . ?”

“Because I’m strong!”

“This situation . . . How exactly should I take this?”

“While taking care of us and when I grow up, I’ll make you Emperor . . . because you want to be and because you’ll need me . . .”

Unfortunately, I lost consciousness right then.

My mana was considerable enough that I would be considered strong, but my small body would collapse after only using magic once.

It’s okay though.

I finally got away from the clutches of the fake father who abused both me and Mama. So I closed my eyes knowing that I would open them again to a future that was brand new.

* * *

I slept peacefully without any dreams, as if I were floating on my bed.

The first time I ever slept peacefully was when my father was killed off that one time. I was so happy I didn’t want to open my eyes.

Usually, when my mother and I would sleep, the knights who were stationed to watch us would often change shifts and kick us. It was natural for a person to fall ill when she couldn’t eat or sleep properly.

And yet to them, we ‘deserved’ this kind of treatment.

Because my fake father, the Emperor, abused us, it was natural for others to follow suit. And he even openly ordered others to abuse us.

Tonight, I slept for a long time. No one kicked me.

“Ah . . . this is nice.”

I hugged the blanket that was placed over me, drawing it closer to my body.

It was warm.

But it was a luxury that she couldn’t truly be comfortable with.

The moment I realized this, my eyes snapped open.

“Ack!”

Whenever I’d feel that I was too comfortable, goosebumps would crawl all over my body. Bad things always happened when things seemingly worked out in her favor.

I clutched my chest and gasped out loud.

When I opened my eyes, what I saw was a ceiling covered in the elaborate patterns of wallpaper.

It wasn’t the ceiling that was full of cobwebs, looking as if it would collapse anytime.

“This is—!”

As soon as I saw that it wasn’t the room I was used to, I jumped from the bed.

Then, I saw that the room was quiet. It was warm, and the atmosphere was tranquil.

Antique wallpapers, things that were neither torn nor frayed, a room entirely of things that weren’t broken.

“Why are you so surprised?”

A man was staring at me, and I winced at the sound of his unfamiliar voice.

“Ah . . . !”

I belatedly grounded myself to reality.

I thought it was all only a pleasant dream, but it really wasn’t. The man in front of me was Grand Duke Avelant.

When I warped here with my mother, I saw this man before I closed my eyes, but I thought my brain had only conjured a vivid illusion.

“It wasn’t a dream! I knew it, I’m amazing!”

“You appeared out of nowhere and thought it was only a dream?”

Sitting cross-legged opposite me, the man leaned forward and smirked.

“Interesting.”

With a gaze as cold as ice, he stared at me intently. His blue eyes were severe and sharp, not unlike a butcher’s.

Flinching from the intensity of his gaze, I shook it off and puffed out my chest. I pretended I was fine.

“So now that you’re awake, don’t you have something to say to me, Ms. Cat Burglar who made such a wonderful home invasion?”

It’s true that it’s a home invasion, but who’s the burglar here?

In the book that I read secretly, it said that I should never be intimidated in front of others.

Especially when it came to making deals. It wouldn’t be good to show any weaknesses to the opponent.

So I straightened my shoulders and raised my chin.

“Bebe isn’t a burglar! Bebe’s just . . . Bebe’s just here to make a deal!”

“A deal?”

“You can use me. Let’s become a contractual family. In exchange, to me and my Ma . . . Ma . . . Mama!”

I tried to say everything I needed to say with conviction, but there was one person that should have been here but wasn’t here.

“M-Mama! Mama!”

I looked around the room in a hurry. I thought my mother would be lying next to me since we always slept together, but she wasn’t there.

“The woman you came here with must be your mother.”

“What did you do to Mama! Give me back Mama!”

I hurriedly jumped to my feet.

But the nightgown I’d been changed into, which I didn’t even notice in my sleep, was longer than I imagined. I almost fell forward and tripped myself.

“Be careful.”

If the Grand Duke hadn’t caught her body, she’d probably have fallen over. In front of such a dazzling man, she stood up.

“…Let go of me.”

He even naturally put his hands between her armpits. Then he lifted her up.

“Light.”

As if playing with a paper doll, he shook her body back and forth.

This small gesture hurt her dignity as a person, so it made her even angrier.

“S-stop!”

“Very light. Like an empty cushion.”

“Let go of me!”

But she was like a paper doll fluttering in the wind, so it was too much for her to shake him off.

“I’m going to use my power! You’ll regret it!”

She raised her hand, but he just smiled as if he didn’t feel threatened.

“…Are you looking down on my power?”

“I think once you use it, you’re going to faint. No?”

‘Eh, I got caught.’

‘How did he know immediately?’

Her body flinched momentarily.

“No…”

“Then, go ahead.”

A low and serious voice came out without a slight change of expression.

‘You don’t think I will use it if you say that?’

She was going to use her power, but soon gave up the idea. Instead, she drooped down.

In this situation where her mother is gone, it will be a big problem if she uses her power and faint. Her power could do anything except heal the sick or resurrect the dead, but her body would collapse every time she uses her power.

‘It will be hard for my body to handle depending on the power.’

Especially when it comes to a great deal of exertion. It’s not uncommon for her to pass out for a few days.

‘I’m sure I’ll have to show my power as strong as last time to convince the Grand Duke.’

It would be unwise for her to use her strength without knowing where her mom is.

“Heeung…”

She mumbled her lips.

‘What should I do? Use my power or not?’

When she was agonizing over the decision, the Grand Duke spoke.

“You, how old are you?”

“Five years old.”

“You’re small for five.”

The blue eyes that seemed to hold the sky stared at her.

“I know I’m small, so let go. Put me down!”

“I’ll let you go.”

“Huh?”

Unexpectedly without much resistance, he sat her in his chair.

“Okay?”

“…”

“Okay, then. Now tell me, unidentified and uninvited guest, explain yourself. I need an explanation on how this happened.”

Looking up at his overbearing gaze, her body trembled.

The gaze of an adult man is not something unfamiliar to her. The people who abused her were all grown men.

“A mere child. A sick woman. And you showing up here through magic where all magic is nullified, so who on earth are you?”

“…”

“Your mother and you woke up after three whole days. That alone makes me feel like I’ve shown mercy.”

Three days.

She guessed it would be so. She woke up after three days and saw this guy sitting here.

‘Don’t tell me you been here all this time?’

Having thought of that, she shook her head.

It can’t be. It’s just a coincidence that he must have made a short visit at the time she woke up.

“T-that’s! I’m not telling you now. Give me my mama back first! I’ll answer after that! If you did something to my mama, I’ll kill you…!”

If by chance there’s a problem with her mother, all she has to do is give up on her life.

When her mother dies, she will die and time will be rewinded.

After that, she can take revenge against the fake Emperor and the Grand Duke who bullied her mother.

“There’s light in your eyes.”

Everyone not her mother is the same.

They bullied them, and let her mother die. They didn’t hesitate to experiment on her body to extract the near-infinite power from her body.

The knights who watched them also committed violence.

So humans-particularly adults-are not to be trusted.

Except for her mother.

“Stop talking nonsense! My mama is all mine.”

“It’s like a rabbit showing its big teeth with its nose flinching.”

“I’m not a rabbit!”

“A rabbit who thinks it’s also a huge predator. So you don’t want to answer me till the end, do you?”

“I won’t tell you!”

There’s only one candidate for her father anyway.

Grand Duke Avelon was just the easiest opponent to deal with.

“If you don’t say anything, your situation will be even worse, because you’re a child and I’m not such a kind man who keeps an uninvited guest alive just because a weak woman has come.”

In his eyes he did not see her as a mere child.

She felt it for sure.

This man, perhaps even more dangerous than her fake father, the Emperor.

‘So it’s more than perfect.’

It shouldn’t be a weak person. For her perfect revenge, it had to be such a villain who even disregarded children.

She has already experienced the life of a five year old ten times. Luckily, she had survived to the age of seven, and even managed to live to the age of nine when she bowed down to her fake father.

And this man, Grand Duke of Avelon, has consistently triumphed over the Emperor.

‘You’re mean and selfish.’

She gulped.

“If you give me my mama, I’ll tell you then. Because I don’t trust you.”

“Quite a daring child. You think you’re on the same footing as me. But I could have killed your mother, couldn’t I?”

“You just said, ‘I’m not such a kind man who keeps an uninvited guest alive,’ but I’m alive, so my mama is alive.”

“You’re smart for a five year old. But that cleverness, of a person who has nothing, such confidence can be your downfall. Uninvited guest.”

At that moment, his hand turned to the sheath of his sword.

‘Kill me? Was it wrong to be too confident?’

‘Oh, was it wrong?’

To her, the world is just like the world of books.

She was certain that she had to be strong.

‘Eh, was I wrong?’

“Your face is revealing your feelings.”

“…What, what!”

 “Surprised at my words. You seem to be thinking about what you did wrong.”

“…No I’m not! I’m strong, so I was thinking! Before I do something really really big, take care of my mama!”

She raised both hands.

Then.

The door burst open.

“Your Highness, I have brought the one you asked.”

She felt that this place had magical restrictions as strong as the imperial palace.

In that case, she can draw a magic circle, but it would take too long.

‘I’m going to use a magic trick to break that spell first.’

The palace was so huge and big that it seemed like it would be too much for her body, but she thought it would be okay if it was this size.

Then she can attack.

“Are you attacking? Huh?”

She puffed up her face in a threatening manner.

The gaze of the Grand Duke fell on her.

Then.

“If you use magic and faint again, you won’t be able to see her, the woman who might be your mother.”

“What?”

“Look over there.”

With a deep sigh, she who was about to attack, quickly turned her head at his words.

Indeed, a familiar person entered through the open door.

“B-baby!”

“Mama? Are you okay?”

It was her mother. Really her mother! Her mother, who’s been sleeping all this time.

She sprang down from the chair and rushed to her mother.

“Mommy…Mama!”

As soon as she felt her mother’s warm scent, she calmed down. Her mother’s soul, which was dying day by day like a withered flower, faintly flickered. It was enough for her to open her eyes.

She hugged her mother’s waist.

“My baby…My baby. What’s going on…? Are you all right?”

“Mama. Are you okay?”

“Of course, Bebe, are you okay?”

“Yes!”

“I’m glad to hear that…Thank God.”

The brilliant starry eyes of her mother closed.

“Thank God…”

Tears fell from her mother’s eyes.

“Why are you crying? Are you hurt?”

“No. I’m not hurt. I’m just… just happy to see my daughter like this…”

Her mother said she was happy, but she shed tears without reserve. While crying and asking her if she’s okay, her mother held her tightly.

Seeing her mother cried, she cried too.

‘I finally saved my mama.’

She died nine times, and in the tenth life finally saved her mother.

She was the late Emperor’s first born, but unfortunately couldn’t even be called a princess because of her mother’s status.

‘Poor mama.’

Her mother, who sat down in her seat, swept her cheek affectionately.

Her mother was born the royal daughter of the Afreta Kingdom and was born with strong mana, but was abandoned by her family for failing to use it. Her maternal grandfather hated her mother, calling her a useless bloodline.

Such a woman caught the eye of her father, who was the Emperor of another country, and that’s how the two became in love with each other.

Her father loved them with all his heart.

So he gave her his name, and would visit them every day when he had time.

But because of her mother’s bloodline, her father hid them, in fear of them being used for something.

Although there’s already an empress, regardless of her, her father really cared for them.

Until the age of three, every day was happiness. She had a father and a mother. She was confined, but did not lack anything growing up. Then, a rebellion broke out.

Her father lost his life to his brother, and the imperial palace was overthrown by the new Emperor. The Empress, who was her father’s wife, was said to have given her father a very strong poison.

The nightmare began ever since then.

“Is my baby girl okay?”

She bitterly looked at her crying mother.

“Yes! Bebe is fine because she has mama!”

She rubbed her cheek against her crouching mother’s cheek. It looks like she’s going to collapse any minute now, but her mother was still breathing.

‘Mama finally lived.’

Her mother had been assaulted by the Emperor and knights on her behalf. That’s why her mother died on her 5th birthday every time.

Exactly nine times, the day of her mother’s death was the same.

The fake Emperor continued to commit violence against her mother, and she was destined to die today.

And this time, it was only this time that she was able to perfectly use her power.

“Mother was so worried that she couldn’t see her baby.”

“That can’t be. I’ll always be with mama.”

“That’s a relief. Are you alright? Are you hurt? What’s going on? When I woke up, I found myself here.”

Her mother, who didn’t know what was going on, looked around as her eyes rounded.

Of course, it was natural for her eyes to turn to the Grand Duke standing in front of them.

Afraid of her daughter being abused again, her mother hurriedly hugged her just in case.

“W-who are you?!”

“Mama! Well, that nice mister must have saved us!”

“What are you talking about?”

“When I woke up, that mister was already here! I woke up before mama.”

Her mother frowned at her words, then stared at the man.

Like her mother, she shifted her gaze to the Grand Duke.

The eyes of the Grand Duke, who stood leisurely while watching them, dimmed.

As if to not show that he was flustered, his very lean body hardened. However, she could detect that little change because she has always been conscious of others.

“I-is that so? Did you…save us from there?”

“…From the looks of it, I guess so.”

Looking at him, her eyebrows slanted.

‘I will not let mama get caught. I possess strong power.’

She had already told her mother of her power in the past.

However, her mother was devastated when she found out. Her mother said it was not a blessing but a curse because she is too young, thus, she must hide it.

‘I’m sure she’ll say the same thing this time.’

If the Grand Duke tells her mother how they got here, she was certain her mother would worry about her.

Fortunately, the Grand Duke didn’t say anything else, contrary to her worries.

Instead, he looked at her and her mother, then laughed as if it was funny.

Perhaps she came to her senses a step late, her mother stood up with an ‘ah.’

“I’m sorry! I didn’t know.”

Then she bowed at the waist to the Grand Duke.

‘N-no. Mama is not in any condition to bow yet.’

She tried to stop her, but her mother was too fast.

“Thank you. I don’t know who you are, but…You saved our lives from hell.”

At this point, she was suspicious because her mother is very sick.

But it was impossible to judge objectively. After all, her mother was on the verge of death.

The Grand Duke, unaware of that fact, stared at her intently.

She turned her head around because she felt a lot of pressure.

“Mama, what about the place you’re hurt?”

“I-it’s alright now. I feel like my energy is renewed. A kind man called a doctor gave me medical treatment.”

“Huh?”

She stopped in a hurry.

“A doctor? Have you been treated mama?”

“Yes. I just came back from treatment.”

“Then mama wasn’t here because…”

“I was treated in another room because the doctor feared that you might disturb me. Although nobody told me where I was…”

When she saw her mother stroking her hair with her skinny hands, she turned her eyes to the Grand Duke.

“You…are a good man after all!”

She changed her mind again.

‘For curing mama, I will make Grand Duke Avelon my papa.’

‘I can do that because I’m strong.’

“Bebe, be polite. Nonetheless, I’m indebted to you for saving us…”

“It’s fine. Your child doesn’t have to be reserved.”

Like watching an interesting play, he stood crooked with his arms folded.

Then, he looked at her and creased his eyebrows.

“Ah, by the way, why would you save us?”

Now that her mother has fully recovered, her eyes were shining brightly.

So she can finish her negotiation with the Grand Duke, she quickly turned her mother’s attention to something else.

“Uh, mama. That kind of thing you can ask later! Mama’s face has turned paled. Quickly go to sleep.”

“Huh…?”

“You’ve been awake for a long time. It’s too much. Go sleep.”

“Bebe, mother is really okay…! I have even more energy today!”

“No. You’ve collapsed every time we met each other after being hit.”

With a pout, her mother walked all the way to the bed.

She forcefully led her mother’s body, which is as frail as hers. The body of her mother, who protected her from the fake Emperor and knights all this time, was like a withered tree.

They were only given a loaf of bread and milk, which seemed to have gone bad, each day. Even so, her mother would give it to her. That’s why her mother was nothing but skin and bones.

“Mama…is sick. So listen to Bebe!”

“But…”

“Mama, listening to Bebe has never been wrong!”

“T-that’s true.”

“So listen to me and don’t fall down again.”

Only then did her mother slowly move.

“Okay. Mama, get well soon…so you can give Bebe a lot of hugs…”

“Don’t worry and quickly lie down.”

“But Bebe, if I lie down here…”

“Don’t refuse. This is a prepared guest room for you to rest. You can relax.”

“C-can I…?

Looking up, she saw her mother’s pupils shook incessantly.

“Of course, mama. So lie down.”

After being urged several times, her mother finally put her butt on the bed.

“But Bebe, I haven’t even properly greeted the lord who saved us…”

“Gosh, he’s a kind man, so it’s okay. Yes!”

“Indeed.”

Seeing him reacting moderately, she patted her mother’s chest lying in bed.

“Mhm. Mhm. My mama. Go to sleep. Sleep comfortably.”

“Gosh. Look, your cheeks are red. Mama, you must be getting a fever!”

“Huh? No… I’m in good condition today. I took some medicine!”

She put her hand on her mother’s head, who was struggling to stay awake. Even though she can’t use powerful magic, it’s not hard to put her mother to sleep. She won’t faint after such a small magic.

“Mama, good night.”

“I’m not sleepy…”

“You’re going to sleep. Good night, mama.”

As soon as a warmth flowed from her hand and through her mother’s body, her mother fell asleep.

She put her ears to her mother’s face. It was not long before she felt slight breathings. Covering her with a blanket, she jumped off the bed.

“Is that also magic?”

“That’s right. Thank you for treating my mama.”

“She says she’s not feeling very well. You seem to be able to use magic, so why didn’t you cure her?”

“I can’t cure her.”

The only drawback of her magic is that she can hurt others but not heal them, and that when she dies, time rewind on its own.

It’s only when she turned five that she could start using magic.

She thought her mother dying was the trigger, but it was not. It was her fifth birthday that was the starting point.

‘I told them not to bully mama because my power could be used instead, but I couldn’t prove it, so mama would be hit by the Emperor every time.’

Because of her power, the Emperor would even use her as a weapon or as an experiment.

“Anyway, let’s sign a contract. It has to be you.”

She swept down her mother’s hair, then reached out her hand to him.

“I have only one condition. I want you to take care of my family! Ah, of course, that includes my mama!”

She thought this was not a bad condition and that he had enough room for the both of them anyways.

Nonetheless, she was grateful for the room they were in right now. And at any rate, she was determined to offer anything the Grand Duke wanted, but he shook his head.

“I have no intention of doing so.”

“…What?”

“I’m not lacking strength to the point of signing a contract with a child.”

She looked up and made eye contact with him.

“Strength, you need strength!”

“Why do you think I need it?”

“You want to be an emperor! I would be a lot of help.”

He wanted to be emperor more than anyone else.

She is certain he won’t fail if there’s someone next to him who’s as good and strong as her.

“I want to be emperor? Why do you think so?”

“Because I have special powers. I know how you feel!”

“That’s ridiculous. You want me to believe that with no evidence?”

“Haven’t you seen a little bit? That I’m strong?”

‘Of course, being strong and being special was different, but it should be enough to impress him.’

“You’re telling me to just believe you?”

“Yes. You just have to trust me.”

She looked at him fiercely.

The Grand Duke, who seemed to be agonizing over it, didn’t say anything for a long time, then finally opened his mouth.

“I can’t even dismiss what you said as a lie because of what you’ve shown.”

“Yes! So. Trust me.”

“But even if it’s true, you should not say such words about a rebellion lightly.”

“…You mean I might die?”

“Of course.”

“I’m not worried about that. I’m not afraid of death.”

She has already died nine times.

So she was not afraid.

She’s only afraid of losing her mother.

“And you want to be an emperor!”

The Grand Duke was taken aback by her determination, but soon came back to his senses.

‘Only this man can protect mama.’

“It’s a rebellion. It’s a sin just by saying it. Even if it came from a child.”

“I know. How heavy such words are. But the Emperor… He killed my papa. And he abused my mama and me.”

His eyes dimmed, perhaps by her unexpected remark.

“Ah, papa.”

“I’m the last heir left by the late Emperor. Isn’t this quite attractive to you? Besides, you saw it. I’m really strong.”