I Became the Black Swan Mother of the White Swan Princess

I only hoped to lessen the amount of Your Majestys workload

How easygoing you are. Do you think you can manage with that mental strength of yours?

Not on your life.

As if telling him not to talk nonsense, the Emperor coldly crossed his legs.

Even he himself.

A crack appeared in his previously flawless forehead.

Anyways, things will be clearer if I do the observation myself, so dont act rashly and interfere. If you dimwits get involved, too, things will only get more complicated.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Seeing Rashid draw a line like that so clearly, certainly brought relief to the younger brothers.

He was the man who didnt just sweep through the war, but overturned it completely. Judging from how he spoke of mental strength, instead of the more common military strength or stamina, this Duchess may have more dark powers than they had originally thought.

Is there anything that youve figured out about her?

.Thats..

Of course, he was about to say, but Rashid drummed his fingers on the knee hed crossed over the other.

Technically speaking, he hadnt just stopped at observing.

Whether hed wanted or not, she was the woman that hed had the closest physical contact to, so there was no way he couldnt know anything.

She likes birds.

..

And she very much obsesses over them.

A strange expression began overtaking his two younger brothers faces again.

But the face of Rashid, whod said those words himself, became even more serious, raising the tension in the room.

How much does she like those birds that you act like this, Your Majesty? Well, I have indeed heard that many among those who use black magic use birds as their tools.

Rather than tools..

Like a family, if he had to say.

But that wasnt something he could really say with his own mouth.

His two brothers in front of him now was inside the realm called family, but just from that thought, his entire body itched and his neck and shoulders stiffened.

How should he say.

It was like when he thought of that newly born sister of his.

Your Highness?

..shes an unbelievably suspicious woman anyways. Cant tell the front from the back, and fearless to boot.

Enough to risk her life for a mere bird, but he didnt say that. And it was a good thing he also didnt add that it didnt feel bad when theyd touched.

Then what do you plan to do in the future?

What do you mean, what. Ill have to keep her closer and continue watching her.

..

The tone of his voice said that he found nothing more annoying, but in contrast, his expression didnt look that bad.

Tenon, whod been thinking for a while, spoke up his concern a little.

But last time, she seemed to find meeting people uncomfortable, so if I may ask how you intend to keep her close

Thats why I cast out some bait.

By bait, do you mean what you sent through elder brother Peyton today? I was wondering what you were sending, but I see now that it was for this purpose.

Of course.

Setting his hands on the armrests, Rashid narrowed his eyes as if to say there could be no other motives, and Tenon was quickly convinced.

But that was only possible with Tenon, because he had been busy tracking Haniels location down and so didnt know of its contents.

As for Peyton, who had personally carried out Rashids order, perhaps he could not understand right awayhe stared at Rasid with a sheepish look.

what are you doing? Peyton. Do you have something to say?

N-no, Your Majesty.

As befitting his status as the most close-mouthed brother, Peyton closed his mouth just like that.

Rashid ran a hand through his hair as if to say he knew hed do so, and he leaned back onto the black velvet chair, his eyes shining with expectations.

Shell definitely take the bait. if its that woman.

***

[Madam, look at this! I wonder what all this food is!]

What do you mean? Thats just food.

I said so in a disgruntled voice, but this wasnt actually something that I could smooth over like that.

The warm soup with its fluffy steam rising up into the air, the steak that looked like it would melt at the tip of my tongue with only a single look, and even the extremely luxurious dessertit was perfect.