For the One Who Hates Me - Chapter 16

Aura sat down in front of Riel to meet her at eye level. Round, golden eyes and dark blonde hair—she was clearly a true-blood of the Kasa imperial family.

‘She would have been cuter if she didn’t resemble the Crown Prince so much.’

Riel, on the other hand, seemed to know who Aura was. “…A witch.”

‘Her personality is also a lot like the Crown Prince’s.’

“A witch? Where did you learn that?”

“They said you’re the witch who escaped the north tower.”

“Princess Riel!” Josh exclaimed in horror.

“And?” Aura asked again.

Riel glanced at Josh. “And… they told me I wasn’t supposed to talk to you…”

“Oh no. You ended up talking to me, didn’t you?” Aura smiled and stroked Riel’s hair.

Riel looked dazed for a moment, then, as if she finally understood the situation, she brushed Aura’s hand away. Her face was red with anger, and she seemed to have quite a temper.

‘How did Riel know about me? She’s been living in a separate palace all her life.’

Just then, “Princess Riel!” Tasha appeared from around the corner. She was startled to see Aura, but then she started to gasp for air. Her body was too old to handle a seven-year-old’s energy.

‘I think I know who told her about the witch.’

“Empress,” Tasha said, bowing a moment later. “Princess Riel, please come here.”

“No. You’re no fun, Wet Nurse.” Riel stuck her tongue out at Tasha.

Tasha’s voice was stern. “I told you not to come to the main palace.”

“I don’t care. The main palace is much bigger than the separate one. I’m going to play here now.”

The Crown Prince had forbidden Riel from entering the main palace. Now that he was gone, Riel seemed to feel a sense of freedom. It was as if the Crown Prince was being punished for ignoring his daughter.

Aura looked at Riel and thought about it. ‘Still, she’s the Crown Prince’s biological daughter. Just in case, I should see if she knows anything about the Pin.’

Of course, she felt a little guilty for trying to get information from a child as young as Riel. But Aura couldn’t afford to be scrupulous.

“Riel. How about a walk with a witch instead?”

At Aura’s words, Riel’s ears perked up like a puppy’s. The young witch seemed more interesting than the stuffy old woman.

Tasha said flatly, “That won’t do, Princess Riel. It’s time for your studies.”

“Oh, is it study time? Then I’ll teach you. How about a witch’s magic?”

“S-Such a thing exists? Teach me.” Riel’s eyes sparkled as she clenched her hands.

“Alright. Let’s go.” Aura held out her hand. Riel joyfully took it.

“Whoa!” Aura lifted Riel with one smooth motion. Riel giggled as her body was lifted into the air.

“Your Majesty, you cannot do that,” Tasha said, blocking Aura’s way.

“Why not? I want to educate my great-niece. Is there a problem with that?”

“Princess Riel is a princess.”

“And?”

“The education of a princess is different from that of a princess consort.” Tasha was making a jab at Aura’s origin. It seemed she had decided to become a complete enemy of Aura. Her arrogance from raising the emperor was on full display.

Aura had no reason to tolerate Tasha any longer.

“Josh.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“This woman has insulted me. Take her away and lock her in the dungeon.”

Josh was flustered. Tasha stared at Josh, her eyes wide, as if to ask how a mere knight would dare to lock up the emperor’s wet nurse.

Aura asked coldly, “Josh, did you not hear me?”

Josh snapped to attention. “Yes, I heard you, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Head Knight Josh!” Tasha cried out in shock. But Josh didn’t even meet her gaze.

“Follow me.”

“What are you doing?! I am His Majesty the Emperor’s wet nurse!”

“Yes. You’re just a wet nurse. Not a mother.” Aura said in a low voice.

Tasha’s hand flew to her chest. “I am! I am the Emperor’s mother’s replacement!”

“You’re right, Tasha. And that’s what makes it so unfortunate.” Aura’s eyes narrowed. Her turquoise eyes shone brightly within them. “That a low-born woman like you would act as Karl’s mother. I feel so sorry for Karl.”

Tasha seemed to have lost all words. She tried to say something, but she was dragged away by Josh.

Mina was walking down the hallway, fuming. ‘The education of a princess consort is different from a princess’? How dare that ugly old woman…!

Just thinking about it made her angry, as if she had been the one who was insulted. All of Mina’s siblings were now getting an education with the money Aura had given them. Aura was Mina’s benefactor, her angel. She felt like she could understand the feeling of a knight sacrificing his life for his lord.

Mina stopped in her tracks. ‘I can’t just stand by. Tasha is in the dungeon… this is my chance.’

Mina went to the small building connected to the main palace. On the top floor of the building, which was used as the servants’ quarters, were the rooms of maids who had come to the palace like Mina and Tasha. As she was going up the stairs, she ran into a young girl coming down from the top floor. The girl cleaned the servants’ quarters.

“Hello, Head Maid.”

“Wait a minute.” Mina looked around and led the girl to a corner of the hallway.

“Is something wrong?”

“You clean all the rooms on the top floor, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.” Mina looked around again and whispered to the girl. She handed the girl one of Aura’s earrings.

A moment later, they went to Tasha’s room. The girl, with trembling hands, unlocked the door. The room was simple and shabby. There were only three dresses, and some of the dishes were chipped.

Mina sent the girl out. “You stand guard in the hallway. Understood?”

“Y-Yes, Head Maid.”

“Don’t be scared. Tasha can’t come back right now.”

Mina patted the trembling girl’s shoulders and began to search Tasha’s room. Since there weren’t many things, it wasn’t hard. But even after searching the closet, the desk drawers, and a box of odds and ends, she found nothing. Mina tilted her head.

“That’s not right. Something is definitely strange…” Mina opened the desk drawer again. Inside were a hairnet, a quill, and ink. Mina was disappointed and was about to close the drawer when she paused. She sat on the floor and felt the bottom of the drawer. Her hand touched something rustling. She bent down further and looked up at the open drawer. A worn-out, yellowish envelope was taped to the bottom of the drawer.

“…I found it.”

Riel had been silent the whole time. She didn’t even look at the storybook or the cake. Aura was sitting in front of her with her chin in her hand. She had brought her to the room, but Riel had been acting like this the whole time.

It seemed she was quite shocked to see her wet nurse dragged away by a knight. She was too proud to show it, but she was probably a little bit traumatized. Thinking about it made Aura feel a little bad.

“Riel. If you don’t want to read or eat cake, how about we go for a walk?”

Riel shook her head and glared at Aura. “You really are a witch.”

“Why? Because I called Tasha a low-born?”

“Royals have to love their people. You’re not supposed to call them low-born.” Riel said something surprisingly mature. That made Aura want to tease her even more.

“But Riel, you called me a witch, didn’t you?”

“That’s—!”

“I’m a citizen with the Kasa family name now. Shouldn’t I be loved?”

“That’s…”

“Or… is it okay to be loved less because I’m from the Kingdom of Zenia?”

“That’s not true!” Riel slammed her small hands on the table.

Aura pretended to be surprised and leaned back. “It doesn’t matter that you’re from a different country. I didn’t call you a witch because of that! I just…”

“Just what?”

“My wet nurse… she said you tried to drown her…”

Aura was speechless. ‘What did she say to a seven-year-old? Did she not think about the shock Riel would feel?’

At this point, Aura hesitated to ask about the Pin. Riel was already traumatized enough and was probably being used by someone without even knowing it.

Aura stroked Riel’s hair. “Alright. I apologize for being mean to your wet nurse. Will you eat the cake as a sign of my apology?”

Riel finally looked at the cake with strawberries on top. She seemed hungry and swallowed, then nodded. “…I’ll eat it.”

“Here.” Aura offered her a fork. Riel started to eat the cake with gusto. The cream on her lips made her look like a typical seven-year-old.

Just then, Mina entered the room. “Your Highness, His Majesty the Emperor is looking for you.”

“Now? Where?”

“You should go to His Majesty’s office.”

Aura flinched at the word “office.” But then, she calmly asked Riel, “Riel, I have to go see your uncle for a bit. Can you eat the cake by yourself?”

“Yes.” Riel was already lost in her cake.

As Aura left the room, Mina followed her. “Your Highness, wait.”

“What is it?”

Mina looked around and pulled out a few sheets of paper from her pocket. “This came from Tasha’s room. It seems to be quite important.”

Aura looked at Mina. “You already went?”

“I was so angry at Tasha’s rudeness. I took the opportunity when she was in the dungeon to bribe the maid who cleans her room and we searched it together.” Mina’s eyes shone with passion. Aura thought Mina was not a normal girl either.

Aura took the papers and looked at the contents. ‘This is… interesting.’

A moment later, Aura arrived in front of Karl’s office. She stared at the large wooden door. Just then, Josh, who was guarding the office, came to her.

“Y-Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Josh. We will meet again.”

“My apologies, Your Majesty. When I reported the situation with Tasha to His Majesty the Emperor, he immediately released her. Tasha is now meeting with His Majesty inside.”

She had expected this. Josh had to report to Karl, Karl would release Tasha, and Tasha wouldn’t just stay quiet. But Aura was almost thankful to Tasha. She had given her a reason to enter the office.

Aura told Josh, “It’s alright. Please open the door.”

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