At that moment, I looked at the red dot emerging on the back of Mercedes' neck, where her skin was already bright red. A spot so small that she didn't even know it existed. Normally, its color is so light that it blends into her skin, but whenever she gets a little excited, the red color strangely stands out. To the point that I felt like that red dot was like a dangerous warning signal that she was gradually losing her temper.
At that moment, an indescribable feeling ran down my spine, making my skin tingle and prickly.
How strange.
It's like looking at two paintings with completely different styles being cut up and haphazardly patched together.
Just like the scene of a beautiful landscape being scrawled by a child in a crude, unpleasantly out-of-tune graffiti.
That's right, it was the crack I had glimpsed before. Those rough lines are carving deep cracks in that otherwise peaceful landscape. In that abyss, we can't predict what might pop up, making me even more surprised.
A drop of cold sweat slowly rolled down my spine.
But I can't show weakness right now. This is like putting yourself at a disadvantage.
“Cesar can do it.”
I said softly, then immediately observed Mercedes' face. The pale color gradually spread on her face like a layer of lime being spread.
“But… that… I… am worried that in the process, your highness will be hurt.”
After all, her concerns were not unreasonable. I understand what she is afraid of.
But if we ask if Cesar should live like this all his life, only relying on her protective embrace, we can answer unequivocally.
Absolutely not.
"No results are achieved without bloodshed. Whatever happens, brings with it pain and wounds."
As soon as I finished speaking, Mercedes let out a small moan, “Ah…!”
She stood silently for a long moment. Then her whole body trembled before she jumped up from the chair.
"No... No! You can't do that!"
Her voice was hoarse with emotion. It was the sound of someone trying their best to suppress their rising emotions. The tears that had welled up in the corners of her eyes finally rolled down her cheeks. She looked at me with eyes filled with guilt, almost resentment.
Mercedes' eyes were so sharp that I felt like my cheeks were being pricked. Clearly she no longer intended to hide her hostility.
Because her aura was so strong, the servants in the dining room also began to look at each other worriedly.
In contrast to that tense atmosphere, Cesar was just busy spinning the fork in his hand as if he didn't know anything.
I sighed softly. At this point, I realized something: yes, there is something unusual about Mercedes.
She is too sensitive, and the difference between when she is happy and when she is not happy is so large that it is scary. Sometimes that level makes us really feel insecure.
Such a person is absolutely not beneficial to Cesar's growth. Even though up until now, she was the one who took care of it.
Therefore, for Cesar's sake, I must separate you from him. I opened my eyes wide and said decisively:
“From now on, I don't need your help anymore.”
"…Yes?"
I blinked a few times then looked straight into her eyes. Mercedes' eyes gradually became lifeless and empty.
“….”
“….”
A heavy silence fell between us. I won't say anything more, and that's clear enough.
That's a refusal. Not only the times I asked her for help, but also my request to stop interfering with Cesar.
Understanding what was hidden in that silence, Mercedes staggered. The chair collapsed to the ground, and she stepped back and ran out of the dining room.
I looked thoughtfully at the empty space she had just left. Perhaps I will not easily forget that face filled with resentment. A cold current ran through my body, making me shiver slightly.
“This is the right thing to do.”
It was an unflinching truth, but my mouth was dry. I tried not to look towards the door where she had just left.
I glanced at Cesar. I'm afraid that getting rid of the nanny will make him sad.
“…You don't like it?”
I asked, but he just opened his eyes wide and looked at me quietly. I don't know if I agree or disagree.
"You're very good at saying 'don't like'... Come on, let's do it again. Today you have to use a knife and fork to eat."
That's right. Now that's all that matters. I calmly put the fork back into Cesar's hand.
“Don't throw it again this time, okay?”
Of course, even if he threw it, I could just bring another one back. That day, I had to sacrifice seventeen forks to persuade him to do the right thing.
Mercedes couldn't hide her sadness. She couldn't understand how things turned out like this. She bit her nails hard.
“…It wasn't pleasing to my eyes from the start.”
A child who is only the duke's illegitimate child, yet dares to hold onto Cesar and act strangely.
After all, your highness's former fiancee at least has a clear background. Even though it was later discovered that she was just the adopted child of a child adopted from the Marquis Fellegrino family, it was still better. At least she has noble blood.
Mercedes remembered Irenea's eyes. I heard it used to roam the streets. Such a dirty, vile person suddenly became such a vile and arrogant royal concubine.
“That's why it jumps around like that!”
Its insolent appearance made her uncomfortable. It's definitely due to not being taught properly. Mercedes walked boldly, her heels pounding on the stone floor, somewhat soothing the sadness in her heart.
But soon, the emptiness rose again, causing her steps to stop.
Mercedes stood frozen in the middle of the hallway, looking out at the courtyard outside. The garden of Luc Thach Palace appeared desolate and desolate, just like her current state, making her want to vomit.
She took a few steps then had to quickly hold onto the pillar. Her breath hitched, and suddenly nausea arose. Mercedes fell to her knees, vomiting into the dry grass.
Panting, she used a handkerchief to wipe her mouth. A feeling of sadness rose up, making her eyes sting.
She clenched her fist and pulled out a handful of dry grass. It's hard to believe that she's experiencing these emotions... because of that little girl.
The thoughts in her head were as tangled as tangled threads. She couldn't arrange it.
Thinking back, everything about it made her uncomfortable. From head to toe, there's nothing to like.
A child with such a crippled leg dares to... A body that is not even healthy.
What is it? That unsightly limping gait made her frustrated. Pretend to be pitiful and limp like that to attract men's attention? That pretty face is so adorable. Ugh, I'm a little beautiful but I think I own the whole world. There's nothing interesting about that face.
“I don't need your help anymore.”
The image of him chasing her out of the room flashed through her mind. A humble stepchild. A person who used to wander the streets, a useless piece of trash...
Mercedes grabbed a handful of dry soil again. This garden is so desolate that it is unpleasant. The palace originally reserved for Cesar was the Purple Stone Palace, but it was demoted here all because of that girl. Because it displeases the Queen.
It's funny, that thing is waving like a fish out of water just because it's pretending to be a royal concubine. Without a single relationship to back him up, what does that bastard rely on to dare to be so arrogant? He should have bowed down before the Queen, but instead he chased away the maid whom the Queen personally appointed. Why do you bring disaster upon yourself?
Mercedes collapsed there, beating her chest and sobbing. Thinking about the scene where the two of them used to rely on each other, she felt even more choked up.
She seemed to see his face right before her eyes. So mad that she scratched the ground with her bare hands.
“Dare… dare to treat me like that…”
Mercedes is Cesar's real mother. No one in this royal palace dares to deny that. Even the Fairy Queen Adelaide once told her:
“Cesar was raised by a Mercedes guy.”
In the end, even the child's biological mother abandoned him because she was crazy, forgetting her own child. Someone like that doesn't deserve to be a mother.
So her son Cesar of course recognized her.
“Even the Queen can't do anything to me…”
Even though the new Queen appeared, no one could separate her from the prince. The love between them is too deep.
One might say that it was Mercedes alone who controlled Cesar, but she had erased that from her mind.
She wanted to believe that she was that important to Cesar. And so, Queen Cornelia must also recognize her.
“Dare to treat
my son
like that…”