Chapter 12

"It must've been disgusting, but Sanya handled it well."

I almost spit out the tea from my mouth when I heard that. I feel like russian roulette's back. If I said 'Yes it was disgusting, but I was okay because I have a strong stomach' I will probably meet the maid who was taken to the garden earlier.

"…It wasn't disgusting."

It's not like that. You're not a monster. I answered quietly as if I had become a heroine in a novel. In fact, this was the method that Yehwa (Emperor) used on Mirina, and he fell in love with her, who accepted him, like a fish stuck on a harpoon. (If you can't remember they were talking about Mirina's eyes from the last chapter.)

"All eyes are the same, there isn't anything different. I'm sorry for causing you concern."

It was neat, flawless, and exactly what I wanted. I smiled at my apology.

"It's alright."

Good. Pass.

I thought my anxiety was relieved, however it was too soon to rejoice. Now he looked awkward and reached out towards me carefully this time. The hand stopped midair as I unconsciously shrank back. He then asked,

"Can I pat you?"

Who, me?

I'm not a big fan of others touching me. Besides, petting my head would make me feel like a dog. (FINALLY one of these novels pointed this out… I always thought that way too.) But it's not like I can stop him, so I nodded. Looks like my hair might get messy now. Honestly, I don't even know why I'm doing this.

"Sanya is nice, you know how to apologize."

I'm always nice. So, take your hands off my head now…

"No one else is as nice as you."

Mirina then took his hand off and regained his posture. He then whispered to me with a subtle smile.

"I hope you don't tell anyone."

"Of course, Your Highness."

I answered without any hesitation. There is no way I plan on telling anyone. I know how snakes digest their prey, and even the idea of that makes my stomach turn. The thought of overcoming the crisis made my body weak.

Anyway, I want to go back when I'm done talking. Before I knew it, I glanced outside as the sun began to set. Maybe he noticed my eyes, and also looked.

"It's getting late."

Yeah, so that's enough-

"Why don't you have your dinner at my palace?"

What?

I couldn't believe my ears. More precisely, it was a desperate hope rather than belief. He misunderstood, right? I grinned.

"The masters of this palace are quite good. Today it is said the dessert will be…"

He said and paused.

What should I do? Even if the dessert is delicious, I think I'll have an upset stomach because of the person l be eating it with.

"Do you want to?"

I faced reality. My position was lower. In other words, I can't refuse his offer.

"…I'll look forward to it."

I squeezed those words out.

***

I picked up my chopsticks and looked around. The food smells very good and it's very appealing. I could see Mirina using chopsticks in a very elegant posture. I feel a little ashamed of myself. Sanya was severely educated and practiced perfect manners, it was passed on to me who came into this body. But my hands are very short and the chair is still too low. I can't wait to just eat and get out.

I then sped up my movements. I ignored the side dishes and constantly shoved rice in my mouth until my chopsticks picked up meat from my bowl.

"…?"

I raised my head and saw a smiling Mirina.

"Try it, it tastes good."

I glanced at the meat in front of me, it looked like braised short ribs. It was small enough to fit in my mouth.

Why? Did you poison it? These thoughts naturally occurred to me. However, I chewed it in my mouth because it wasn't something where I could avoid. I thanked him in advance. The seasoning was sweet and melted in my mouth. I'll take another bite of this even if I die here.

When I started looking at the table for the meat, Mirina gently pushed a plate that had something brown on it. I glanced up again and picked up the meat. While I was chewing, he asked,

"You said you are eight years old this year. Is that right?"

"…Yes Your Highness."

I coughed once because I was in a hurry to swallow my food in order to answer him. Why did you ask for my age all of the sudden? 

I glanced at him while not realizing I was chewing on my chopsticks. He mumbled in thought without noticing me doing that.

"Eight years old…"

His voice was filled with sorrow. I don't know why my age is so sad. At that moment, the corner of his mouth went up.

"Only eight years old."

The low voice gave me goosebumps. You want to ask me how I captured the emperor when I was eight years old? The meat that went down my throat earlier seems to rise again.

"You have a cute face, but you don't smile as much…"

He reached out with an expressionless face and touched my cheeks. His cool hands touched my skin, which is higher than the average body temperature of an adult. I stopped moving by reflex.

"You would be cuter if you smiled. What?"

His lips then hardened. I don't like to laugh a lot. That's because it was annoying to smile by moving my facial muscles. I don't know what kind of expression I had on my face, but I still laughed.

"Good."

"Cough."

I ended up coughing again. But I tried to hold my breath as I realized I can't just recklessly cough. Now my breathing became inconsistent and Mirina looked like a ghost.

"Sanya?"

"…Cough, yes."

"What's bothering you? You look like -"

"No. It's fine."

Oh damn it. I can't pretend to be okay anymore. I thought and tried to smile.

"It's alright Your Highness -"

Boom Boom Boom!

Sorry to worry you. That's what I couldn't say because of the sound of feet running on the ground. As soon as the sound of footsteps got closer, the sliding door was opened and the door frame hit the other side.

Mirina and I turned our head towards the door to our surprise, I faced red hair and burning blue eyes.

"There!"

"Hic!"

This time, hiccups popped out without stopping. It was because I was really surprised. Mirina then rushed towards me.

"Sanya, are you okay?"

"Ha ha ha. Yes, definitely. Aright. Hic."

I could barely breathe. It was very embarrassing for me to hiccup since this is the first time I've done it in this body. Garam looked at me with a tired face and then grabbed me.

"You, what did you do to her – !"

The words stiffened Mirina at once.

"If your eyes are straight, can't you see what you've done?"

"It's. Hic. Fine."

I just want to get out of this situation right now. I don't want to stand between those two who look like they're about to overheat any minute (she means Garam and Mirina). Garam turned his head at my words. His eyes widened when he could feel me hiccupping.

"What's wrong with you? Did you eat something wrong? Did he feed you something weird?"

"Oh, no. Hic."

"She was eating fine just now. If you hadn't burst through the door at that moment she wouldn't be hiccuping."

My round eyes opened at once. Is he mad? Mirina rarely gets upset. Something has changed.

He got upset and grabbed the maid's hair earlier. He also threatened me but still offered me a nice meal and now, he's getting mad with Garam.

I got the hiccups because I was surprised. I started blankly at him, and he raised his eyebrows.

"It's okay."

It's like déjà vu again. The only difference is they're calming me down and making sure I'm okay.

"You were only surprised."

A gentle voice spoke. I gave up trying to think. I might as well as go crazy.