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nIn response to Rieta’s hesitant response, the Princess decided to express her gratitude for the gift again with certainty.

n“The Princess will not know. How surprised I was when I received that gift.”

n“Are you surprised?”

n“That’s right. Usually, one would think these leather shoes didn’t suit me.”

nThe Princess’ image that the Emperor has built up for a long time is ‘a lovely girl’.

nSo the gift given to her was usually something with a cute shape.

nBut her nature was more crude and rough than that.

n“So when I received this gift . . . from the Princess, I was sure.”

n“Sure?”

n“I felt like someone who knew me well.”

n“. . . !”

nThe smiling Princess’s face looked a little sad.

nRieta had an urge to answer ‘I know.’

nShe knows how strong she is, and how wonderful she is.

nSo . . .

n“Of course, that’s not going to happen. We are just talking now.”

n‘No!’ Rieta almost replied, without realizing it.

nBut the tiny voice was completely drowned out by the sound of the drums from afar.

nDoongg! Doongg!

nIt was the same sound they heard at the start of a hunting contest in the morning.

nRieta and Gabriella looked back at the same time.

nIt is a signal of the return of those who left for the hunt.

nGabriella’s face, which Rieta looked up at, was dark.

nShe didn’t know why.

n* * *

nGabriella’s other wish has just been trampled on.

nNow that she was sixteen, her desire to compete in hunting competitions ended in the morning.

nThus, the second hope was born.

nIf so, at least.

nMay it not be for the glory of victory with the animal his father caught.

n“This honor is, of course, for my one and only daughter. The jewel of the royal family, Gabriella Farrell’s.”

nBut ironically, her father eventually gave her a brilliant victory.

n“. . . Thank you, Your Majesty. Your grace and glory will be with me forever.”

nWith her long life as a Princess, these words flowed naturally.

nWith a proud smile.

nBut the truth is, Gabriella was ashamed of herself.

nShe sits still, putting on the token of the winner that her father had brought to her chest, and waving her hand so that everyone can see it.

nIt was a place where she could not show her emotions. Otherwise, she would have run far away, covering her face with her hands.

nAfter the embarrassing time of boasting the glory of the gift, the Emperor and the Princess went to see the wounded.

nIt was an event that emphasizes safety the utmost every year, yet several people still became hurt like this.

nOn the way out of comforting them, the Emperor stopped at a rather deserted place.

n“Gabriella.”

n“Yes.”

nThere was a heavy silence.

nNaturally, the servants following the two took a few more steps back.

nIt was not until their ears reached the distance that the Emperor looked back at his daughter.

n“My Gabi.”

n. . . With the face of a daughter fool who seems to have lost a little screw.

n“By any chance are you sulking at this father?”

n“. . .”

n“Is that so? Are you sulking?”

nHe was in agony, touching his forehead with exaggerated gestures like an actor.

n“Actually, I regretted it the whole time I was hunting.”

n“What . . .?”

nGabriella asked with a look of anticipation in her heart.

nLooking at the other parents and children who went hunting together, did he regret leaving Gabriella behind?

nAs the emperor loved carrying her around.

n“When I talk to my daughter about her protection and studies, I think I said it too coldly.”

nHe now covers his face with both hands.

n“Even if the servants are around, I want to always be sweet to my daughter! Kindly! And I have to be gentle! To think that my attentive daughter might have been hurt . . . !”

nHe raised his head and trembled with both his hands.

n“I couldn’t hunt because my hands were shaking!”

n“. . . Didn’t you win?”

n“That’s what my dedication to honoring my daughter did. It’s something I’m proud of too.”

nHe glanced at the winner’s mark on Gabriella’s clothes and smiled.

n“It suits you well.”

n“That.”

nGabriella clenched her fist tightly and gave it some strength.

n“Does that mean that ‘glory from others’ suits me well?”

nDid it sound like rebellion?

nShe was worried about that for a while.

nAfter all, Gabriella loved her father.

nBut she didn’t bother to withdraw her words.

nThe Emperor also looked at Gabriella with a surprised look for a moment.

nBut soon the usual answer came back.

n“Yes, it suits you well.”

n“Father!”

nThe tone of resentment was deeply mixed with the shouts that flowed naturally.

nBut he did not withdraw his words.

n“My daughter is a person who knows how to grace herself with the glory of others.”

nNo, he emphasized again.

n“And that’s what the Emperor should do best.”

nWhat does that mean?

nGabriella was about to ask.

nBut she soon found the answer himself.

nThere was something she had been learning for a very long time.

nWhat made the Emperor exist was the respect and glory offered by his subjects.

nWithout it, the dignity of the Imperial family could not exist either.

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