Bella and the Emperor sat across from each other. Nobody spoke.

Bella, you idiot! she thought. You made a huge mistake! You called the Emperor a pillar! What if he gets angry and throws me out? What if he cuts off my head?!

"You..."

The Emperor finally spoke after staring at her for a long time.

"...look like a koala. A pink koala."

Huh?! What did he just say?!

Bella stared at him in shock.

Why is he talking about koalas?

"I am not a koala!" she shouted.

"You called me a pillar."

Wait... Is he really arguing with a seven-year-old because I called him a pillar? Bella thought.

"I didn't mean it! And I'm not a koala!"

"Then what are you?"

What kind of question is that?

Bella puffed out her chest proudly.

"I am Bella! A cute and adorable seven-year-old!"

The Emperor looked at her pink dress.

"All I see is a tiny pink koala."

Again with the koala!

"I am NOT tiny! And I am NOT a koala!"

SLAM!

Bella hit the table with both hands. Her pink eyes were full of anger.

But instead of getting angry, the Emperor felt strangely happy.

Seraphina... he thought. She really is our daughter. I can't believe she's alive.

He remembered Bella's mother.

"Your Majesty, stop calling me that! I am not a firefly!"

Mother and daughter were so similar.

For the first time, a gentle smile appeared on the Emperor's face.

Huh? Why is he smiling? Bella wondered.

Before she could think more, the Emperor stood up and picked her up.

"W-What?!"

"Yes, you are cute and adorable," he said softly. "No one in the empire is as adorable as you."

Then something unbelievable happened.

The feared Emperor hugged Bella tightly and rubbed his cheek against hers.

"So cute... so very cute..."

Bella froze.

This is not what I expected!

Where is the cold and scary Emperor from the novel? Why is he acting like this?

And the worst part...

He was acting exactly like the excited maid sisters.

What happened to the story?!

Bella stared into space while the Emperor continued treating her like a stuffed toy.

Emperor Kevin Ambashiro... why are you acting like such a fool?