MCFATTKM

25

Perseus could not say anything, his brows twisted. He was amazed.

Was it because of the food? Because she was hungry?

Finally, he saw the space inside the tower.

This tower was built as small as Elizabeth's hut. However, it looked old and shabby.

He knew that she was living in a tower, but....

"You don't have anyone to cook for you?"

He hadn't asked before because he never wanted to know if there's anyone who can take care of this child or what she was doing. However, he took it for granted that at least someone was taking care of her as she was still a member of the royal family.

But...

The space inside the tower looked old and shabby, but it was neatly organized giving the impression of being cozy. It felt like it was organized by someone else's hand.

This kid couldn't have cleaned it up all by herself.

"......."

Emperor Perseus lowered his head again and looked at Lelia. The child looked thinner than the last time he had seen her.

When Lydios died the other day, the man who had been looking after the child seemed to have left. Has she been starving ever since?

Emperor Perseus clenched his fist bitterly.

No matter how much he hated her, he was also a father. He was not such a cruel person as to get angry when he heard the child was hungry.

Moreover, this child was the same age as Juliana, whom he cherished.

She looked sick compared to his daughter.

And when the child said those words, "I didn't steal anything," it must be true.

If she had stolen anything from the hut, Carius would not have let her go.

"Didn't anyone take care of you after Lydios's death?"

"..."

Lelia quickly raised her head at his words. Emperor Perseus's voice seemed a little less angry.

"They didn't know that I came to the neutral territory under the orders of Emperor Lydios."

Well, it was more likely that all those who knew about it were killed by Lydios's own hands, as that was his nature.

"...I'll send someone here. But if you go there again, you'll have to follow your mother."

Having said that, Perseus turned his back and went away.

[I can't believe you're sending me to my mother. Well, do you think I'll die so easily?]

Lelia deliberately criticized him more openly.

Emperor Perseus's threat was frightening, but Lelia planned to go back to the hut.

[Of course, I should be more careful not to get caught this time.]

She couldn't help it. The food was not the only problem, but she also had to find a way out of the imperial castle.

Lelia was so surprised that she had to lie curled up under the futon for a while to calm her heart again.

***

Contrary to the decision, Lelia had a hard time going to the cabin for a while. It was because a maid began to go back and forth to her tower the very next day after Emperor Perseus visited her place. The maid brought food once a day and that too with a frown on her face.