Chapter 8

In my confusion, I couldn't make a clear decision, so I quickly shut my eyes tightly and pretended to be asleep.

"Is this really the king's chamber? No, why am I here? And the king got splashed with my vomit—is he okay?"

In that brief moment, countless thoughts raced through my mind.

Just before losing consciousness, I distinctly remembered seeing him standing there, covered in my vomit.

"I really thought he was going to kill me."

This heartless man, who beheaded all his brothers to claim the throne, couldn't possibly be the type to laugh off getting vomited on by his daughter.

"Above all, why am I in the king's chamber?"

Our relationship isn't close enough to share a room.

Swish.

It seemed the king had noticed I was trying desperately to grasp the situation, as I heard him moving slightly.

I was startled and tried to calm my trembling body, focusing on breathing as steadily as possible.

I felt the king's presence close by, as if he had put down his brush and approached me.

"Did you fall back asleep?"

He seemed to think I had woken up and then fallen asleep again.

"That was close."

Just being in the same room as the king made me uncomfortable, and the thought of having to talk to him made me anxious.

I silently prayed for this crazy father to leave.

But contrary to my hopes, the king seemed to settle down right next to me.

Despite having my eyes closed, I could feel my face heating up under his intense gaze.

I concentrated on pretending to be asleep to escape this situation.

Quite a bit of time passed, but I heard no sound from the king.

"I'm starting to get really sleepy..."

Children are naturally sleepy, especially lying on soft, comfortable bedding.

Gradually, I began to forget the current situation and started to drift off.

Thunk!

"?!"

Snapped out of my drowsiness, I almost let out a surprised yelp but managed to hold it back.

Swoosh.

A strange sensation touched my forehead.

"Is he... petting me?"

His large, calloused fingers slowly moved my sweat-soaked hair behind my ear with care.

His touch was surprisingly gentle, making it hard to believe it belonged to the king.

"...I."

The king's voice, slightly roughened as if from the late hour, flowed from his throat.

"I thought you would like it."

He spoke while clumsily brushing my hair from my forehead.

"So I did nothing wrong. Of course, I have no reason to apologize either."

What a jerk.

Just as I expected, he was showing his true unmanageable nature.

"However."

After hesitating, the king slowly uttered his final words.

"I won't do it again."

Swoosh.

His rough, calloused hand softly brushed my head again.

"Why are you so weak?"

The king, who seemed invincible and had a proud face, gently stroked his daughter's head with trembling fingers. It was almost comical.

The calluses, which couldn't have formed through mere clumsy practice, told the story of his harsh life.

"..."

For some reason, feeling unbearable, I curled my toes under the blanket.

"Let's not be mistaken. This person will surely try to kill me someday."

I knew.

Such fleeting kindness was utterly pointless.

It takes just a moment for a powerful being to turn on a weak one.

It was simply ridiculous.

The fact that these rough hands, undoubtedly stained with the blood of countless others, were trembling over such a trivial matter.

"Why now, of all times?"

I don't know what kind of life you've lived.

Why you had to kill your brothers, why you forgot my mother, and why you neglected me until I was in this state.

But what does it matter?

"I decided not to trust anyone anymore."

"Why did you repeatedly spare the targets' families?"

In my previous life, I could never become a ruthless assassin.

Despite being an assassin, I wanted to save as many lives as possible and trust people.

But in the end, it led to betrayal and death.

"Hah, even after becoming like this... you still trust me?"

Suddenly, the words he spoke at the last moment of my previous life flashed through my mind.

After being abandoned by my father from birth, I realized.

Yeah, you were right.

"Don't trust people. Don't try to save them. Senior."

As you always said, trusting someone and feeling compassion were all meaningless.

Realizing this, I made up my mind.

In this life, I would never trust or try to save anyone.

So there was no way I would ever take my father's trembling hand caressing my cheek.

Not now, not ever.

***

After the arrow incident, where the king gave me medicine after making me sick.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the king left for a fifteen-day trip to pay respects to the late king.

At first, I was anxious about what strange thing he might do to me next, but with him out of the palace, it was a relief.

But soon, I realized something was very wrong.

"Have you heard? The king might bestow a title upon the young lady when he returns from his trip."

"He personally tended to her in his chamber, they say?"

"Was there a princess in the palace all along?"

Three days into the king's trip, rumors about him personally tending to me spread and became a hot topic among the palace staff.

As a result, I became the center of attention wherever I went.

"This isn't good."

This jeopardized the plans I had carefully laid out.

"I intended to build up my strength and save money quietly, then escape secretly!"

This sudden turn of events disrupted my secret training and weapon collection, throwing my plans into disarray.

"Your pulse examination is complete, Princess."

Still, not everything was bad.

"You are definitely improving. Soon you can start eating regular food."

In the past, no matter how ill I was, summoning a physician was unthinkable. But now it was possible!

Even just once, the king's interest in me had significantly improved my treatment.

"Now, Princess."

"?"

Physician Kang, who had finished examining my pulse, gave me a rather suspicious smile.

Feeling uneasy, I braced myself, but he, as always, brought a bowl of foul-smelling, dark liquid to my nose.

"It's time for your medicine."

"Ew, I don't want to!"

"Come on, drink it all."

I really didn't want to drink it.

This bitter, unidentifiable, and foul-tasting medicine!

But I had no choice but to gulp it down in one go.

"Ugh!"

Having successfully taken the medicine, I scowled and reached out my hand.

"Sweet!"

"No, you can't. It'll ruin your teeth."

Kim Sang-gung, who had been assigned to look after me by the king's order, firmly refused.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I glared at her resentfully.

She seemed slightly hurt by my reaction but remained firm in her stance.

"Ugh...!"

No, I can't.

It's dangerous. I feel like crying...!

Living in a child's body was exhausting.

These uncontrollable, childlike emotions surged up against my will.

"I must control it."

Hoo. Hoo.

After a few deep breaths to calm my emotions, I managed to plan my next actions.

I opened my eyes wide and tilted my head cutely.

"Sister, really, really no?"

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