I Became the Abandoned Daughter of an Underworld Boss

“That’s true.”

“How about writing your name to give when we part? My dad said he was grateful for the thing Levina mentioned yesterday.”

Who on earth!

Levina’s face almost turned fierce at the thought of catching and punishing the imaginary maid Yuriana was talking about.

That maid was actually a kind teacher from a textbook.

Instead, Levina spoke as if making a vow.

“Miss Yuriana, listen carefully. I have something very important to tell you.”

“Hmm?”

“This is more important than memorizing 1,000 words in the imperial language.”

“What is it?”

“Meow…”

As Yuriana perked up her ears, Lulu, who was lounging on the windowsill, yawned widely.

The cat walked leisurely over and curled up at Yuriana’s feet.

The combination of the girl and the cat was always adorably cute.

Levina, looking serious, seemed to ignore this scene completely and spoke firmly.

“Miss, you shouldn’t be too nice to men. Do you understand? If you give them everything they want, men will change.”

“Where did you hear that? Lord Karas is a guest. We should treat guests well.”

“A guest is still a guest, but it depends on the guest.”

“The storybooks say you’ll be punished if you treat a guest from far away poorly. I don’t like that, so I’ll be nice!”

‘Ugh!’

Levina’s insides churned as the clueless Yuriana spoke innocently.

Was it too late?

No, it couldn’t be.

Yuriana was seven years old, and her mind could still change as she grew up. She couldn’t give up!

The talk about marrying into the Empire was just a joke, but was it really going to come true?

Don’t be ridiculous!

While Levina was making up her mind, time kept passing.

Two more days passed, and they had only about five or six days left before returning to the Empire.

Although it hadn’t snowed more, the cold weather meant it didn’t melt easily.

‘I want to play with Karas, but why is she so adamant about stopping me?’

Yuriana was only allowed to see Karas once or twice a day for snacks in the main house’s drawing room.

Maybe her father stopped it.

Levina always rushed in and insisted on leaving quickly, so there wasn’t much time for long conversations.

The atmosphere got even stricter without Harun around!

‘Ha.’

Yuriana, being soft towards Levina, couldn’t even express her desire to spend more time with Karas.

But today was different!

It was finally the day to visit the kingdom’s capital, Trisha.

The excuse of waiting for the snow to be cleared was no longer valid.

Her father had told the Dark House’s servants to clear the paths completely.

“Hehehe.”

“Are you that happy?”

“Yes!”

While Yuriana was smiling, Karas’s cheeks in the main house of the Dark House were also puffed up with expectation.

‘Yuriana.’

While waiting for Yuriana to finish getting ready, Karas recalled the unexpected conversation he had with Al.

It was unbelievable but listening to it felt like a dream.

Could he really be with Yuriana?

He was excited.

-Lord Karas, His Majesty the Emperor is considering your marriage with Lady Yuriana in the future. Did you realize?

-What, what did you say?

Him? With Yuriana?

-Yes. One of the reasons for delaying formal exchanges with the Nea Kingdom was included in that decision.

-I… I…

-What are your thoughts? Setting aside practical matters, speak purely from your feelings.

The princess he met in the bushes.

After returning to the Empire, he thought of Yuriana at least once a day. To be exact, about three times on average…

She was cute and lovely. Thinking of her made him smile unknowingly.

Last time, he smiled brightly during a meal, surprising his aunt.

She thought he had eaten some kind of poisonous mushroom that made him laugh uncontrollably.

There was no way he disliked Yuriana.

If there were no confidentiality orders, he would have told his mother all the good memories about that child.

Thinking about that miraculous meeting warmed his heart.

Even if Asil had intentionally sent her to meet him, hoping for a match, he would have liked it.

The feeling of liking someone was inherently like that. His first love was Yuriana!

-Good. With Yuriana… I like it.

-Is that so.

-But it’s not something that can be decided by my will. I don’t even know what Yuriana thinks.

Al nodded with a calm expression.

-That’s true. And His Majesty’s intentions can change before things progress. In that case, the conversation we had today will also disappear. But remember this.

-What is it?

Even if the marriage with Yuriana got thwarted, Karas had no intention of blaming the circumstances around him.

The poor boy had always lived a life of resignation and giving up.

Being closely attached to Yuriana was just a dream.

It would be wonderful if it came true, but it would remain a sweet dream to be graciously given up.

However, the moment of touching the dream would never be forgotten in his life.

-If you overcome various hardships and get married, you should plan for the aftermath. For example, you might be granted land at the border between the Empire and Dark Town.

-Ah…

Then what would happen to the Ifrit family?

Karas was nominally the heir of Ifrit. The original head was his maternal grandfather, but his position was stripped by the imperial order.

He had almost no expectations that the status would be maintained even after he came of age.

If his grandfather or uncle returned, they would naturally succeed him.

‘Becoming a lord? If the climate of that land is decent, I want to go there with just my mother. Can’t it be? I should work hard so as not to make Yuriana suffer.’

Karas’s hopes extended to that point.

-Or…

Al paused.

-Or…?

-There is a possibility that you might succeed the current Emperor. Although this probability is lower than the previous story, keep it in mind.

A thunderous statement!

Was this a clever trap set by Al?

Karas instinctively rejected it, as his survival instincts dictated.

He pretended to block his ears and shook his head vigorously.

-What nonsense is that? Al, stop it. I have no intention of plotting rebellion!

Al’s tone was calm despite his shocking words.

-I heard this directly from His Majesty.

-What!

-Let’s go back to an earlier event, the downfall of the Ifrit family. At that time, His Majesty acted to survive, to maintain the Empire.

-Al…

Everyone knew the truth but kept it quiet in front of Karas.

The boy took his hands off his ears.

He stared blankly at Al’s indifferent lips.

-Think and come to your conclusion. If the Ifrit family’s intentions had come to pass, what would have happened?

-…

Al spoke as if scolding the entire Ifrit family.

-Pushing to enthrone a man married to the Empress carrying the Ifrit child? Does that make sense? Even if they set the child as the crown prince, would the imperial authority remain the same? Allowing someone not related to the imperial family to ascend the throne gives rebels a pretext to rise.

-I…

-Once the imperial authority falls, no other legitimacy will work. It will no longer be the Reef Empire. It’s a completely different country just by name.

Karas couldn’t easily argue.

Everything Al said was correct.

At this moment, the boy’s heart was filled with one person.

His uncle, the great Emperor.

If the Emperor’s thoughts were indeed like Al said… who had the Ifrit family been seeking revenge against all this time?

Al’s fervent speech calmed down.

-I want to respect both His Majesty and you, the Ifrit heir. I deeply care about His Majesty’s choice and your misfortune.

Coming from Al, it was believable.

If Baine Dasser or Charon had said it, there would have been more doubt.

-But…

-What is it? Speak freely. If it’s troublesome, I won’t convey it to His Majesty.

Karas spoke very honestly.

-Forget all the other reasons. As for Yuriana, she doesn’t seem to have any such thoughts. She just enjoys meeting and talking with me here, right? She doesn’t have peers in this Dark House.

-That’s good, isn’t it? You can monopolize her.

-No! Lo… love is different. And… I don’t want to force her into a political marriage and make her uncomfortable. What if she hates me but is forced to marry me because of the people around her? She’s just seven years old!

Al found it absurdly funny and laughed inwardly.

If the throne was right in front of him, human instinct would drive one to grab it at all costs.

Thinking of Lady Yuriana first!

‘Indeed, His Majesty once said. Men of the Empire become intensely romantic when they fall in true love. I may be a magician, and His Majesty a cold person, but such lives seem improbable.’

Al spoke for Karas, who was considerate of his potential partner.

-Then make her feel love.

-Al?

-Snatch her heart or show yours. There’s plenty of time for you two to meet, so try it.

The suggestion to wage a betrothal war after the marriage alliance made Karas laugh weakly.

-Al! You’re joking, right? Yuliana is seven. At her age, playing is more important than love, or liking boys.

Karas himself was only nine years old.