Chapter 49 - Happy Birthday Lotty!

People alternated between Henriette and me, and looked like they seemed to be convinced about something.

"What do you mean? She's such a cute daughter, so they're not able to bring her out anywhere."

"How could Princess Wensgrey be so outstanding even at a young age?·······"

I could even hear a voice praising me.

I wanted to dig a rat hole myself and hide in it.

Henriette looked very satisfied so please read this at Travis translations to support the original translation.

Avelle smiled calmly and slightly stroked my completely red cheeks.

"I'm glad everyone recognized Lotty's cuteness."

At least Avelle's reaction was the mildest.

"Otherwise, they would have been in trouble."

····Now that I see it, he had one hand on the sword he was wearing on his waist.

I forgot that Avelle sometimes acts very aggressively.

I couldn't stand the offensive praise of the people anymore, and eventually hid behind Henriette's back.

"Shy········"

Henriette smiled and patted my head.

I was wondering where Camillean disappeared for a moment in the meantime, but he was talking to boys of his age in the distance for a moment.

He soon brought them to my side.

"Lotty! they're my academy colleagues!"

"Wow, Camillean! Is she your younger sister?"

Awkwardly, I looked at the noble Young Master, who seemed quite close to Camillean, and their eyes were strange.

It's blurry, like...

"Hello, Princess Wensgrey. As I've heard, you're really cute."

"Wow, you're really cute. My younger sister isn't even comparable. I didn't know you would be this cute and pretty."

It seems to have been brainwashed using… protection.

Camillean began to show off to them, and Avelle is just talking to people he knows.

"Everyone is like a jerk."

I don't know why Carlyx is smiling with a face that looks rather pleasant.

The corners of his mouth, which have been tightened, are twitching.

All right, let's correct one thing.

Everyone in my family is aggressive!

From 1 to 10!

From the sky to the ground, everything!

"Wow, I've only heard happy birthday and cute and pretty so many times today."

I tried to fold my shyness by rubbing my red cheeks.

At that moment, the orchestra's performance, which was gently winding around the inside of the banquet hall, suddenly turned majestic.

Soon after, a cry came.

"Your Majesty, your Highness the Crown Prince is coming in!"

Knights in silver armor appeared through the opened doors with a magnificent sound.

It was the red-blonde emperor and the pale-faced crown prince who had tied long black hair that appeared among them, dividing them into two sides in a row and lifting the sword.

It's Kian.

His white and beautiful face like a doll looked like he had no expression.

He was unfamiliar standing white, as if he would be broken when touched, but as if he were separated from reality.

"I would like to express my gratitude to those who visited the banquet hall again today. As for today's event, it was hosted by the Duke of Wensgrey for his daughter, Princess Wensgrey, who has been by my side for a long time."

The emperor brought it up, and soon Kian seemed to have found me while looking away.

Kian's face suddenly brightened the moment he made eye contact with me.

I felt a little strange when I saw his expression blooming as if he had colored the wax pale face.

Oh, are you happy to see me?

Once I gave him a slightly awkward eye greeting, he replied by smiling with his eyes.

"We sincerely celebrate Princess Wensgrey's seven-year-old birthday this year."

Rather, wouldn't I be the only child in this country except for the crown prince who celebrated the emperor's birthday?

I thought I could brag about that later.

As soon as people began to applaud me, I hid behind Henriette's back again.

It's good to receive birthday wishes, but I'm still shy about this!

"It's okay, Rossette."

As I held his collar tightly behind his back, Henriette whispered as if soothing me with a soft voice.

"In a little while, the last present prepared by this father is waiting for you, so you can look forward to it."

You're not done with presents?

Is there more?

It was a little scary now.

You're not going to give me the entire palace, are you?

When the emperor's celebration ended, this time the emperor's servant was speaking in a polite tone.

"Then before the banquet begins, I will present a picture that will be in this year's Hall of Fame."

Announcement?

Hall of Fame?

What does that mean?

"It's about presenting this year's representative picture that will be hung in the Imperial Palace, Lotty!"

Camillean explained.

"It's like a dream for our imperial painters. When a painting rises to the Hall of Fame, it simply takes a tremendous honor as a painter,"

He said in a very excited voice.

Oh, that's how it is.

Then should I look for that spot when I grow up?

I'm going to keep drawing.

In particular, my ambitious work, Landscape of the Imperial Palace, which I painted before leaving the Wensgrey Fortress, was highly praised by everyone in our castle.

How much Henriette liked it, and as soon as he saw my painting, he took it with him.

Anyway, it seems to be a really important event.

The eyes of the nobles were all focused on the podium, full of expectations.

On the podium lies a painting with a large cloth on it, and the emperor began to peel the cloth of the painting himself between the rising instruments.

I watched the scene with a nervous face for no reason.

"Oh, oh!"

"T, that picture..!"

I was so surprised and I hardened.

"This year's Hall of Fame is Princess Rossette Charlotte of the Duke of Wensgrey's 'Imperial Palace Landscape' painted by Princess Wensgrey herself!"

My painting!

Why is it there?

It was definitely my painting in a huge frame decorated with gold and jewels.

The size seemed to have been enlarged by magic, but I could definitely recognize it because I drew it.

The imperial palace's splendid exterior, savagely luxurious decorations, and luxurious gardens.

Although it was a delicate painting in its own way, it was only a painting that clearly revealed the skills of a seven-year-old child.

In addition, my family was drawn in the corner.

In the meantime, because of the sound of people starting to make noise, my face turned completely red.

"If it's Princess Wensgrey, she's 7 years old now, right? How can such a skill····!"

"Congratulations, Duke Wensgrey!"

"That delicate expression even at a young age, that's incredible!"

Seeing a painting that was only a child's skill wherever you looked, nobles began to praise to the point where they're mouth dried up.

I was almost embarrassed.

I thought my drawing compliments would end with my family.

Perhaps Camillean brainwashed everyone here using protection?

I thought so, but I could see a male aristocrat pointing his finger at my painting as if he were embarrassed nearby.

"Well, does that make sense?"

This year's competition candidates were so competitive that when I looked back on it, thinking that even though it was my painting, he's right.

It doesn't makes sense.

Then I found Henriette, looking right back at the nobleman.

The male aristocrat flinched when he made eye contact with him.

Henriette stared at the nobleman without blinking.

Soon after, the male aristocrat seemed to be sweating, but he raised his hands and began to applaud.

"… It's like a masterpiece of the century! Long live Duke Wensgrey!"

It was not Camillean's protection, but the power of "hurray for influential power."

It was only then that I could figure out how my painting won the highest honor over prominent candidates.

"Do you like the gift, Rossette?"

"Yes·······."

At first glance, I heard a sound of speech among the people.

There are not many painters who are selected for their real skills, and it is common to be selected for the Hall of Fame by giving them power or money.

The words comforted me at least.

It was a bit uncomfortable.

Soon after the banquet began in earnest, it became several times more chaotic than before.

People didn't dance to it, but kept flocking toward us, to be exact, toward me.

Even the emperor came.

I took a peek to see if Kian had come, and he was talking to the nobles from afar pretending to be a good and harmless boy.

"Today is the day of glory, Duke Wensgrey. Princess Wensgrey's paintings will be on display. In addition, the agenda to designate today as a national anniversary in commemoration of the princess' birthday passed safely."

"It's an honor, your Majesty."

Also, not only the people but also the vassals responded very well to yesterday's incident.

"Considering the relationship we saw last time, the relationship between the two seemed to be maintained externally, as Duke Wensgrey, the pillar of our empire, stepped up and rooted out the vicious groups."

That stern face of the emperor didn't look very nice to me.

It was because the large swarm I saw last time kept overlapping.

I should skip the content of the conversation between the two.

Now I don't have the energy to react more.

More than that, I decided to slowly look for Young Master of Elger.

Original Male lead, where are you?

"Lotty, who are you looking for?"

I wondered if Avelle was looking closely at me before, but he talked to me slightly.

Judging from the last conversation, is it better not to mention that I am looking for Young Master Elger?

I rushed around.

"I want to make a lot friends."

Then it came to me a little late.

The reason why my brothers didn't respond well last time was not because I wanted to know about Young Master Elger, but because I brought up my friend's story.

Even Camillean and Carlyx were looking at me.

I looked around again.

"Ha, but even though I have friends, I like you guys better!"

"Really?"

"Yeah. I like you guys the best."

Wouldn't my family be the best rather than others?

In that sense, only after speaking honestly did Avelle and Camillean's expressions brighten up.

Carlyx is snickering.

They gathered.

"Lotty, who do you like more?"

Avelle asked about something, but seemed to be waiting for an answer, Camillean stared at me with a nervous face.

Carlyx seems to have forgotten the grudge that I named him Shushu.

"······What are you looking at? We're waiting. Hurry up and answer. Beans."

Oh·······

This is really embarrassing······.

Wasn't there a story like this in Greek mythology?

One day, the three goddesses handed the shepherd a golden apple and gave him a choice, saying, "Give it to the most beautiful goddess."

It was a terrifying option for him to receive curses and revenge from the other two, although he would receive gifts from the goddess who gave him the golden apple.

Of course, the brothers who were not chosen will not curse and take revenge on me, but it is clear that they will be disappointed.

Above all, considering that the result of the myth was war….

Uh, um·········

I have a lot of worries.

I don't think they'll get revenge or curse just because my brothers weren't chosen, but I think there could be enough war between themselves.

"What are we talking about?"

Henriette, who was talking to the emperor and the nobles, then turned to us.

In the sense of asking for help, I went to Henriette and said, clinging to his clothes.

"Oppa asked me who I like the most, so I was choosing. But I like all of Lotty's brothers, so I can't pick just one!"

"Is that so?"

Henry looked like he lost interest.

(tl: i just want to make this clear, because i might have made a mistake. A few chapters back, lotty already called Henriette as Henry but I thought it might get confusing so i continued using Henriette but from now onwards, whenever it's Lotty's POV, i will use henry)

"It's childish."

The three older brothers were staring at Henriette with firm faces.

This reaction was already expected.

But.

"Then, Rossette. Who do you like the most?"

".... Huh?"

"Among three of your brothers and your dad."

This time, an unexpected question is coming up.

"Who is your favorite?"

I was spaced out for a moment.

Dad, you just said it's childish!