Do All Mothers in Childcare Novels have to Die?

Chapter 32

“Do you know about Marquis Lackl?”

Liliana immediately answered Vail’s question.

“Of course.”

Anyone from Nieta would know. The Lackl family had long been counted, loyally and steadily ruling their territory in the western part of the Kingdom of Nieta.

Then, the current Marquis Lackl expanded his business significantly, becoming the leader of a trendsetting merchant group.

Marquis Lackl, then Count Lackl, was ambitious and invested heavily in the Kingdom of Nieta. When he was elevated to Marquis, no one was surprised.

People even whispered that he might become a duke by the time he was old and gray, and many sought to align themselves with him.

“Why would he seek citizenship in the Empire? No matter how grand the stage of the Empire, he has too much to lose in the kingdom.”

“I found that curious as well and investigated further. The Lackl merchant group has liquidated many of its businesses for this move, but some major operations remain.”

“Taking such a large capital to a foreign country would surely provoke interference from the Kingdom of Nieta.”

Especially given the country’s instability after the war, they wouldn’t have stood by and watched as significant capital left.

However, Vail shook his head.

“There was no interference.”

“Why not?”

“I believe a larger force is involved, one that leaves the Kingdom of Nieta no choice. Who stands to benefit most from the Lackl merchant group’s capital flowing into the Empire?”

Liliana had no formal training in politics or economics, but thinking through the implications, the answer seemed clear.

“The Carlo Empire itself?”

But Vail slowly shook his head.

“The Carlo Empire would benefit, yes. But not enough for a ‘larger force’ to be involved.”

His red eyes met Liliana’s directly, and she had a thunderous realization.

Liliana’s mouth opened slightly. Her voice, when it came out, was filled with a mix of minor certainty and tremendous anxiety.

“…Are you suggesting it’s me?”

“Yes. They will undoubtedly want to align themselves with you, Your Majesty. You’ll gain a maternal family tied by capital. And I suspect the ‘larger force’ involved is His Majesty the Emperor.”

Indeed, Marquis Lackl’s citizenship was not in the original story. The Empire had no reason to take such a biased stance just for the Lackl merchant group’s capital.

“Would Helio really do this for me?”

Liliana’s heart pounded, but she suppressed it.

“Even if he did, it would be a mix of responsibility and political maneuvering.”

She couldn’t fathom Helio’s feelings. She doubted he would go to such lengths to bestow her with immense, unchallenged power.

And the negotiator in front of her likely thought the same.

“His Majesty wants to raise you as a political force. To counter Duke Gabriel, no doubt. But what do you think will happen after he neutralizes Duke Gabriel? He won’t leave you with all that power.”

“…So you’re saying the Gabriel household will back me in the future?”

“At least they won’t let you be discarded and forgotten in some corner of the palace.”

Vail’s message was clear.

‘The Emperor will eventually abandon you, and you must be prepared for that.’

Liliana recalled Helio’s playful smile and promised to take responsibility for bringing her to the Empire.

Seeing her hesitation, Vail added,

“We won’t put you at the forefront. My sister Agrina and I will lead. Agrina will become the Empress of the Empire, and I will become the head of the Gabriel household. I hope you will join us on this path.”

* * *

Liliana didn’t see Helio for a while. Her days were filled with lessons from the tutors Lucia had assigned her.

The strictest tutor was Hesdin, who taught politics and economics. He had light blue hair tied low and tired-looking eyes behind glasses.

Originally a professor at the academy, he had entered the palace at Lucia’s behest to teach Liliana.

While other tutors were mindful of the favor Liliana received and went easy on her, Hesdin was different. He treated her strictly as if he were still teaching at the academy.

Hesdin permanently assigned homework; if she failed to complete it, he would assign even more instead of scolding her.

Unable to withstand his sharp, weary gaze, Liliana diligently completed her assignments.

“Your Highness, for your next assignment…”

Hesdin began as the lesson ended. This was the moment Liliana dreaded most. She swallowed nervously as Hesdin looked down at her, speaking coldly.

“Recently, Marquis Lackl from the Kingdom of Nieta applied for citizenship. Analyze what the Kingdom of Nieta stands to lose, what the Empire stands to gain, and Marquis Lackl’s intentions.”

“What?”

Liliana blinked in surprise. Hesdin typically assigned tasks based on historically significant events.

But this time, he had given her an assignment based on a current, unresolved issue on the continent.

“This assignment, Your Highness…”

As Liliana was caught off guard, Hesdin looked past her shoulder. Then, he respectfully bowed.

Liliana assumed that Lucia had come to observe the lesson and turned around cheerfully.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

However, it was a man she hadn’t seen in a long time standing there.

Liliana quickly stood up and bowed respectfully. Helio approached, chuckling softly. His low-heeled shoes gently pressed into the carpet.

Liliana stared at Helio’s shoes, which had come into her line of sight before she cautiously looked up.

Helio tilted his head and rested his chin on his hand, looking puzzled.

“The court etiquette instructor isn’t strict. Is that right?”

At his words, Liliana realized she had risen too abruptly and looked up without Helio’s permission.

“I-I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

She hastily bowed her head again.

“Haha.”

A clear laugh rang above her head, and she saw a pale, long finger enter her line of sight. The finger gently lifted her chin, and her eyes widened in surprise.

Liliana’s heart pounded as Helio’s blue, flame-like eyes gazed at her unwaveringly.

She realized there was no anger in his eyes.

“Again…”

“Again?”

“You’re teasing me again?”

Liliana whispered quickly, unable to raise her voice with Hesdin present. Helio’s face lit up with amusement.

“It seems you’ve missed me too much. Falling for this again.”

“Anyone in the Empire would fall for it. It’s not just me.”

Liliana’s face turned bright red with frustration. Upon meeting Helio again, she had wanted to show a more mature side, but it was all in vain.

“Ahem.”

A low cough interrupted their exchange. Liliana turned her head in surprise to see Hesdin still bowing.

“Your Majesty, I will take my leave.”

Why did his voice sound like, ‘I’ve had enough of this nonsense’? Liliana felt a bit embarrassed.

It wasn’t like that, but Helio would surely tease her again if she tried to explain. And then Hesdin would definitely think, ‘Please, no more nonsense.’

“Hesdin, thank you for your efforts. I’ll complete the assignment.”

Liliana awkwardly smiled, trying to dismiss him, but Helio stopped her.

“Wait.”

Hesdin, who had been about to leave, halted in his tracks. He still looked tired, even in front of the Emperor.

Worried that Hesdin might get scolded, Liliana whispered in Helio’s ear.

“Hesdin hardly sleeps. That’s why he looks tired.”

Helio leaned back and looked at her.

“You.”

“Yes?”

“What do you take me for?”

Helio looked as if he wanted to flick her forehead but restrained himself, considering Hesdin’s presence. He glanced back at Hesdin and spoke.

“You had something to say about the assignment, didn’t you? Go ahead.”

Liliana remembered that Hesdin had been interrupted by Helio’s entrance.

Hesdin bowed respectfully again before continuing.

“For this assignment, think from a higher perspective, as if observing from above.”

“Alright, I will.”

Liliana interpreted Hesdin’s remark as a suggestion to think objectively, not letting her background as someone from the Kingdom of Nieta influence her perspective. As she nodded in understanding, Hesdin finally left the room.

“Phew.”

Liliana let out a long sigh of relief. Helio grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her toward the sofa. She was too tired to resist and followed him without a fuss.

“Classes must be tough, huh?”

Liliana leaned back on the sofa and grumbled.

“I’ve never had such lessons before. But it’s fun. Especially Hesdin…”

She trailed off. Helio’s familiar demeanor made her forget the distance she usually maintained with him.

As Liliana stopped speaking, Helio leaned on the sofa’s backrest, using his other hand to brush her hair aside.

Thump.

Why does Helio do things like this?

While Liliana pondered, Helio asked with a smile on his lips.

“Who’s Hesdin?”

“Oh, the teacher who just left. He teaches politics and economics. He also covers a lot of history. There’s so much to learn.”

“He seemed strict.”

“Well, yes… but…”