The Abandoned Empress

Chapter 23

I opened my eyes to his unexpected words. Why did he prepare a birthday present for me? Wasn't I supposed to receive it after I came of age? I shook my head and received the box from my father. It was almost half the size of my body. Why is this so big? When I unwrapped the navy blue ribbon and opened the lid, there was a big doll inside. A woman doll wearing a pretty dress with her shiny gold hair tied together.

I was speechless at that moment. I guess he gave me this gift because he thought I was young, but it was a little embarrassing for me who had lived up to seventeen years. I would have thought so even if I had no memory of the past.

"You don't like it? Well, actually, the knights told me that a kid your age..."

"No, Dad. I really like it! "

I laughed brightly when he spoke awkwardly as if he tried to make some excuses.

What's the big deal anyway? It's a gift from my father. After I shook my head several times, telling him to make any excuses for the gift, my father smiled a faint smile. I closed my eyes when he was touching my hair gently.

"Khmm, it looks like you don't like dolls."

When my father, who was having breakfast with me, said that in passing, I flinched.

Obviously, he felt sad to know that I kept the doll for a few days without playing with it.

Coming back to my room, I sighed, looking at the doll. Thanks to Lina's good handling, the doll's golden hair glowed brightly.

I felt I had to pretend to play with the doll. With a big sigh, I held the doll in my arms. I didn't really want to do this, but it seemed like I had to carry it for some time. Because of the big size, my vision became narrow, so I hugged the doll with one hand and grabbed the railing with the other hand and cautiously went downstairs.

"Hut, lady?"

"Wow, I love her image like that!"

When I arrived at the front door, I heard several people holding their breath and looking at me.

The knights waiting to accompany my father opened their eyes wide. A knight who silenced another young knight's shouting, smiled awkwardly at her. I was so embarrassed to see the surprised servants. I knew I would go through this.

"Tia?"

While coming downstairs, my father's eyes popped up wide. When I blushed in embarrassment, he naturally smiled at me. When he extended his hand to me, I tilted my head, but one of my feet almost missed a step. I instinctively hugged the doll and looked at my father's navy blue eyes.

"Dad?"

"Let's go together."

"Pardon? To the Imperial Palace? "

"Yeah. Don't you like it?"

"Oh, I'd love to."

When I hurriedly shook my head, my father walked away. When I could no longer see the knights looking at me curiously because of the wagon blocking my vision, I suddenly came to remember I was holding the doll.

'Oh, I wish I had left it behind.'

The closer the wagon got to the imperial palace, the more anxious I was.

I wondered for a moment if I had to take the doll with me, agonizing about what's the best way to deal with it. But when I saw my father looking at me pleasantly, I decided to take it, though I was a bit embarrassed because he liked it.

When I was getting out of the wagon with my head down, I could not see well because of the doll in my arms. I held my father's cuff with one hand, walking after him cautiously. I felt many people around were looking at me curiously. Even though I could not see them, I could imagine what kind of expression they were making on their faces. I quickly followed him, with my blushing face down.