The Abandoned Princess, Yet She Is Loved - Chapter 122

Light brown eyes were fixed straight on Frederick. In that moment, a shock pierced his heart, and a dizzying sensation swept over him as if the ground beneath his feet was spinning.

“Ah… Emily…”

Frederick stared blankly at the baby, entranced. She smiled. She smiled at him. Emily did. His little princess.

“So… beautiful…”

In that instant, he forgot every hardship he had faced caring for her. As long as he could protect that smile, he felt he could endure anything.

“Daddy will protect you… for life.”

Choking back tears, he made a vow to his baby. That he would become a shield for her, protecting her from the world no matter when or where. It was a promise he had already engraved into his heart countless times before, but he did it again.

“Frederick!”

Grace returned a little after 3 p.m. Frederick, noticing she had come alone, asked:

“The maids?”

“I told them to take the day off. Half the day’s already passed, and I figured I could manage on my own for today.”

Grace checked on the sleeping Emily, then looked over Frederick. Her large eyes sparkled with concern.

“Why do you look so worn out? You must’ve had a hard time.”

“Sigh…”

He wanted to say “I’m fine” even as an empty comfort, but the words just wouldn’t come. His mind and body were screaming too loudly to pretend otherwise.

“I was pretty much just surviving.”

His voice carried a hint of a whine, making Grace chuckle.

“I told you, raising a baby is tough work.”

“…Honestly, I’d rather be working all day.”

Frederick let out a quiet sigh. The past three days had been some of the most exhausting of his life.

Of course, the moment Emily flashed him that sweet smile, he thought it had all been worth it.

“But I’ve learned a lot, Grace.”

Frederick gently cupped Grace’s cheeks with both hands, smiling softly.

“Just how hard you’ve worked. And how beautiful and lovable our daughter is.”

“……”

“Being responsible for someone is hard and exhausting—but it’s also incredibly rewarding.”

“Sounds like you had a real epiphany.”

Grace was both amused and proud of how much Frederick had changed.

He had always been a good man, but now he seemed more mature.

“I realize now just how lucky I am.”

Frederick pressed his forehead against hers and whispered:

“I love you, Grace.”

“……”

“And our baby too. I’ll protect her forever.”

As if sealing his vow, a warm spring breeze swept around them. Smiling at each other, Frederick and Grace shared a tender kiss.

Emily stared at the baby, completely mesmerized. The tiny fingers that wiggled, not even half the size of her own hand, were so fascinating she couldn’t look away.

She reached her hand out. The baby’s tiny hand moved and grasped Emily’s index finger with its entire palm. Then a soft smile bloomed on the baby’s face. Emily couldn’t hold back anymore and burst out:

“Wow! So cute!”

“Do you like your little sister, Emily?” Grace asked with a smile.

“Yes! And she’s a girl, too! Mommy, I think the moon granted my wish!”

Emily was convinced her efforts had finally paid off. Her playmate Anthony’s daughter, Stella, had an adorable younger sister named Reina.

Emily had been jealous and begged her parents every day to give her a sibling just like Stella. When she found out her mother was expecting, she started praying every night to the moon, just like the maids had told her, wishing the baby would be born safe and sound.

She would talk to her mother’s growing belly every day, cooing, “Big sister~ Big sister~” to the unborn baby. Her father had teased her, asking what she’d do if the baby turned out to be a boy, but Emily ignored him and firmly asserted her status as a big sister.

Watching Emily proudly celebrating her “achievement,” Frederick called out to her.

“Emily.”

“Yes, Daddy!”

Emily answered brightly. Frederick Million VI’s eyes sparkled as he looked at his innocent six-year-old daughter.

“You didn’t get a little sister because you wished on the moon. Your ‘power’ had absolutely nothing to do with it. Babies are born because…”

“Frederick!”

Sensing his explanation was headed in a very un-child-friendly direction, Grace yelled, cutting him off. Frederick turned his head slightly, glanced at her, then turned back with a mischievous smile.

“Your mom’s yelling because—”

“Let’s not say anything unnecessary.”

Grace shot him a sharp glare.

“Haha, I’m just kidding. Just a joke. Can’t I tease a little?”

Of course…

Frederick’s “just a joke” wasn’t exactly reassuring. While his intentions might be innocent, most of his attempts at fun with Emily only made Grace nervous. Just a while ago, he had nearly gotten Emily seriously hurt by putting her on a wild horse while “teaching” her to ride.

Grace, who rarely got angry, had become ice-cold with fury that day. Frederick’s defense?

“I could ride a horse like that when I was her age…”

“It listens well if you just handle it right.”

Even as he shrank back, he kept making his point. It was a clear example of him mistakenly applying his own exceptional childhood to his daughter. That day, Grace had a realization:

“Even if I have to do it all myself, I need to take charge of raising our children.”

Leaving it to Frederick meant risking not only the direction of their parenting but the kids’ safety too. And that shameless attitude of his…

Ugh…

As Grace sighed inwardly, Emily gently whispered to the baby:

“I’ll be a good big sister, okay?”

Then she kissed the baby’s tiny hand.

So sweet…

Grace and Frederick both fell silent, watching. Their young daughter’s affectionate gaze and gentle tone toward her sister were so endearing that they simply stood and watched the two sisters for a long time.

Grace was sitting in her room reviewing documents related to hiring a new maid when the door suddenly burst open, startling her. A small figure zipped into the room, and only after the little body stopped did Grace recognize her eldest daughter, Emily.

“Mother! Mother!”

Emily called out, her voice loud and full of excitement. She was panting, her small hands on her knees, catching her breath from running. Grace bent down and gently asked:

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s… it’s…!”

Emily was clearly thrilled. Her cheeks were flushed, and her mouth kept twitching with excitement. Grace had a hunch that something amusing had happened—and judging by Emily’s urgency, it must have been something quite unusual.

“Alice! Alice just…!”

“Hm?”

“Come with me, quick!”

Emily cut herself off and grabbed Grace’s arm, tugging her urgently. Though confused, Grace couldn’t resist her daughter’s insistence and followed her, half-standing, half-dragged.

To her surprise, Emily didn’t take her to her own room but to the one where her younger sister, Lady Alice, was staying.

“Were you playing with Alice?” Grace asked.

“Yes!”

Emily answered loudly and threw open the door. Inside, Grace immediately spotted Alice standing in the middle of the room, reaching out toward the air.

But it wasn’t just her arm stretched out.

Floating about three inches from the baby’s fingertips, a teddy bear and a bunny doll hovered side by side. The baby waved her arms left and right, and the toys followed her movements, fluttering as if blown by wind. After making the dolls float around for a while, Alice held them in place and turned her head—locking eyes with Grace.

“Oh my goodness, our little princess!”

“Mama!”

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