Louisa, a lady-in-waiting who also served Jeanne, muttered coldly. Beatrice furrowed her brow and looked at her. Though Louisa had always tended to be cynical, today she seemed especially cold.

“Isn’t His Majesty leaving for Akambras soon?”

“That’s why, even more……”

“Have you thought about who Jeanne will stay with when His Majesty leaves the palace? She won’t be sent back to her family home.”

She understood what she meant. Jeanne would soon part with her husband.

To become Emperor of the Riscarlo Empire, one had to satisfy two conditions. First, to study under the High Priest in Akambras, the city of priests. Second, to necessarily experience the battlefield as a soldier.

Without satisfying these two conditions, ascending to the throne would be difficult. These two things were considered as important as the Emperor’s legitimacy. So he had to leave. Though the Emperor was in a power struggle beneath the surface with his mother the regent, power ultimately lay in obtaining legitimacy and justification.

The current Emperor was the first Adam to appear after Richard II’s death, but the Empress Dowager was the mother who bore such an Adam. Moreover, the Empress Dowager had considerable ambition for power. Her family, the House of Albrov, also refused to let go of their control over central politics.

Though the Emperor had hastened the royal wedding to bring his wife’s family to the center to counter such a mother, well…… Anyway, it was true the Emperor had to leave the palace. He was now fifteen and mature enough to leave the palace.

No. His frame was no different from an adult man’s. So…… This meant Jeanne’s peaceful life in her husband’s shadow would soon end.

The Empress Dowager was not someone who would raise her young daughter-in-law like the Emperor did. She was stern and heartless, and above all, not someone who would look kindly upon Count Spetunia’s illegitimate daughter. In any aspect. So…..

“So leave them be. She’ll be alone soon…… How harsh will that child’s life be without her husband.”

Louisa shook her head. Beatrice closed her mouth. Her words were right. Jeanne would soon part with her husband. She probably couldn’t imagine how long that separation would be.

When her departed husband returns, Jeanne will have become a mature woman who has finished her first blood. And during the time the Emperor is gone, she will always be alone. 

 * * *

 It was summer. Jeanne spread her small fingers to count her age. Jeanne was now nine years old. And her husband was fifteen. They had their wedding last winter. They would have to wait a full five months before their wedding anniversary. However, Cesare wouldn’t be in the palace in December.

Jeanne couldn’t imagine the palace without her husband. Cesare seemed like he would always be wherever she turned her head. It seemed like he would come running to hug her when she called, and whisper that he loved her every day while kissing her cheek.

It was noon. Jeanne visited her husband’s office after a while. Unlike his noble position as Emperor, his office was simple. Jeanne pretended to have other business as she traced the walls with small portraits, then opened her lips.

“Hey. Then when will you come back?”

Cesare stared at his young wife. Jeanne kicked the floor while holding her hands behind her back. She tried not to cry. She bit her lip hard. Last night she had heard Cesare was leaving for Akambras.

Her husband’s face as he announced their parting was no different than usual. Jeanne was too shocked to say anything before leaving the bedroom. Without even asking how many nights he would be gone……

Cesare found her and brought her back to the bedroom. Jeanne kept grumbling angrily that she wouldn’t sleep with brother. Cesare gently embraced her as she raged with a face about to cry and sat her on his thigh.

‘Don’t be angry.’

The gentle baritone soothed her. Jeanne buried her face in his chest, sniffling until she finally fell asleep. When she opened her eyes again, his place was empty. Jeanne traced the space filled only with morning sunlight and quietly ate her meal.

After eating breakfast, changing clothes, and working on the literature homework he had given her, she visited his office. He, who was in a meeting with the chief secretary, merely nodded at his wife who approached with quick steps. The secretary also gave her a gentle smile and a bow.

Jeanne waited for the secretary to leave before clearing her throat, trying to get his attention.

“Brother, how many nights until you return……”

“It will be more than a hundred nights.”

The faint smile on Jeanne’s face scattered. Jeanne began counting on her fingers again. A hundred nights meant…..

“Jeanne.”

Tears blurred her vision. Hot, sticky moisture flowed between her lips. A long, elegant hand grasped her shoulder. Jeanne looked at her husband with a distorted expression.

“……It will take a very long time.”

His beautiful face was heavy with worry. Jeanne’s lips trembled finely. He pulled his young wife into an embrace. After completing his training in Akambras and finishing his military service, Jeanne would be a seventeen-year-old girl. He could easily picture seventeen-year-old Jeanne.

“Jeanne.”

“Brother is mean!”

“I’m sorry.”

“Take me with you! I want to go to Akambras with brother too.”

Jeanne, who had been crying with her face buried, shouted. Cesare looked down at his wife who clung to him with a flushed face. His heart felt like it was being torn apart seeing her unable to accept their parting.

Jeanne despaired seeing her husband not responding. She clasped her hands and begged to be taken along, but he only gently kissed her lips. Jeanne pushed away her husband and ran out of the office. 

 * * *

 No matter how much Jeanne denied and clung, the time of farewell approached quickly. Beatrice, her lady-in-waiting, held the hands of Jeanne who was crying while hugging her pillow, and explained carefully.

‘The one who married Jeanne is none other than His Majesty. He has his duties and destiny. And as his wife, Jeanne must trust and wait for him.’

The kind face wiping away her tears was resolute. Jeanne stared at the gentle but solemn woman before bursting into tears at the heartbreaking feeling.

‘Jeanne. Once you part with His Majesty, you won’t be able to see him for a long time. The priests of Akambras are so closed off and conservative that they demand complete separation from the secular world. He won’t be able to come see you until he completes all his harsh training.’

Beatrice murmured to Jeanne who was throwing a tantrum about using separate rooms from Cesare. Jeanne was very surprised by the lady-in-waiting’s words that he wouldn’t be able to come see her even once until he completed his training.

“Brother……”

Jeanne, who had spent days crying and resenting him, was now indifferent. Cesare stared at his wife who walked over with heavy steps and a haggard face. Her sunken eyes worried him.

They said she hadn’t been eating properly these past few days. Though it was true he had waited for her to give up and accept it, seeing her pained face like this hurt his heart.

“I’m sorry. For getting so angry all this time……”

“It’s alright.”

He raised his hand to stroke her reddened eyes. Her crescent moon-like face had grown even paler recently. Cesare embraced his tiny wife. Though she had turned nine, Jeanne still seemed like a small, thin child. Even though he fed and cared for her well…..

“Even when we’re far apart, we are one.”

Jeanne didn’t answer. She felt she would cry again if she opened her lips. She just closed her eyes, leaning against his firm chest. Beatrice had said that after Cesare left, her father from her family home would come see her more often.

Jeanne wanted to ask why she couldn’t be with both of them. What she always wanted wasn’t beautiful dresses or delicious food, but time together with all the people she loved, without anyone missing.

But what Jeanne wanted didn’t come true. The more she wished for something, the more it felt like God took it away from her. So she decided not to wish for brother to stay by her side forever.

“Don’t forget me. Understood?”

She looked up at her husband. Cesare didn’t respond. He only smiled faintly. 

 * * *

 Two weeks passed. It was the morning of the Emperor’s departure for Akambras.

Jeanne wore a white, elegant dress like magnolias, just as she had on the morning of their wedding. She also tied her cascading hair in a low updo and neatly clasped her silk-gloved hands together. Cesare gazed at his snow-white wife before turning his gaze to study his mother.

His mother, who had swept back her unusually bright blonde hair to reveal her forehead today, looked particularly cold and solemn. Not even a trace of sadness could be found on her face. Cesare looked at his mother expressionlessly.

While he was gone, Jeanne would grow up under the Empress Dowager’s shadow. Since he had already moved his belongings out, it wouldn’t take long to completely relocate her quarters. He turned his gaze. He gently grasped his young wife’s hand.

Jeanne whimpered. He smiled tenderly at his wife.

“Don’t forget my love.”

He whispered. Jeanne looked up at her husband distantly. His red lips touched the back of her hand. Jeanne repeated his whispered words until her husband’s procession completely disappeared. Don’t forget my love…..

After that, Jeanne never forgot her husband’s love.

How gentle he had been and how mature he had been. But as Beatrice said, the time alone was lonely and endless. Her faraway husband occasionally sent letters.