In short, the two had the same goal, so they joined hands.

Lilith pouted her lips and flopped onto the bed.

“Fine. I get it. Who could ever win against Mommy? Even Dad, who scares everyone in the world, loses to her.”

“Haha.”

Therier let out a clear laugh and sat on the edge of Lilith’s bed.

As she played with Lilith’s hair with her elegant fingers, she spoke.

“Even if winning is impossible, I do know of someone who can negotiate.”

At those words, Lilith lifted her head slightly.

“Negotiate? Who would dare negotiate with my mom?”

Therier simply smiled and stared at Lilith.

As Lilith waited for an answer, realization slowly dawned on her.

“…Me?”

Therier nodded as if to say, “Correct.”

“That’s right, my future master. You alone have the right to negotiate with her.”

* * *

Sunlight poured into the Empress’s bedroom. Liliana curled up contentedly and snuggled into Helio’s embrace.

“Are you awake?”

His voice was so sweet that Liliana, feeling playful, shook her head and acted coy.

She had finished an urgent task yesterday, so it was fine to laze around a bit today.

If she could just drift off to sleep while wrapped in the scent of the man she loved, this would be paradise.

As she felt his hand stroking her hair, Liliana let out a deep breath.

Just before she slipped back into slumber—

A bright, cheerful laughter rang out in the distance, as refreshing as an autumn sky.

‘Lilith…’

Liliana smiled happily.

Just from the sound of the laughter, she knew without a doubt that it belonged to her beloved daughter.

What could have made her so excited this early in the morning?

‘And in the Empress’s palace, no less… Huh?’

She had been about to drift back to sleep, thinking nothing of it, when she suddenly sat up straight.

In doing so, she nearly bumped her head against Helio’s chin, but he had quickly moved his head away just in time.

“What’s wrong?”

“Lilith is in the Empress’s palace? This early in the morning?”

At Liliana’s question, Helio made a troubled expression.

Lilith was not an early riser, so for her to be playing in the Empress’s palace at this hour was certainly suspicious.

“…Don’t scold her.”

Helio barely managed to plead, but Liliana had already thrown off the blanket and gotten out of bed.

Where in that small, delicate body did such unwavering determination come from? Even Helio, who shared the same bed with her, did not know.

Liliana pulled back the sheer curtains that the sunlight filtered through and looked outside.

She saw Lilith running around the garden—with several dogs as big as she was.

Since Lilith was closer to nature than to humans, the animals would never harm her.

So there was no real danger, and yet, for some reason, Liliana felt a sudden, dizzying sensation and turned her back to the window.

Helio, watching her reaction, carefully approached.

“Lilith has been playing in your garden since earlier.”

“Right below my bedroom window, of all places? How long has she been out there?”

“I think about an hour.”

Liliana furrowed her brows before letting out an incredulous laugh.

She wasn’t sure whether to find this amusing or frustrating.

“She’s probably trying to show me how healthy she is.”

“Hmm, that’s what I think too.”

“Who does our child take after to be so reckless? If I don’t pick up on her intentions, all her efforts will be for nothing.”

At that, Helio swallowed a chuckle.

He pressed a soft kiss to Liliana’s forehead.

“She takes after you.”

Liliana quietly accepted the kiss before letting out a deep sigh.

“Should I praise her for being wiser than simply throwing a tantrum?”

“That wouldn’t be a bad idea. But you’re not going to allow Lilith to make a contract with the spirits, are you?”

“…Of course not. She has to be at least eight years old.”

“Then praise alone won’t be the right answer.”

“You’re right.”

Liliana buried herself in Helio’s arms.

Raising a child—especially one loved by nature itself—was no easy task.

Resting her forehead against Helio’s broad chest, she fell into thought.

His strong arms wrapped around her waist, providing a warm, secure haven.

“Should I talk to Lilith?”

Helio gently suggested, only to get a pinch from Liliana.

“You’d give in the moment she clings to you. Forget it.”

“That’s only because she’s so much like you—it makes her impossible not to love. That’s not my fault at all.”

His playful response made Liliana lift her head and glare at him.

After seemingly coming to a decision, she slipped out of Helio’s embrace.

“I should talk to Lilith myself. After all, I was the one who asked the Spirit Kings to delay the contract.”

“You’ll handle it well.”

Helio offered his unwavering support, then suddenly voiced a question that had just come to mind.

“Why does Lilith want to attend the academy so badly in the first place? She already gets to study however she wants. Does she need friends her age?”

“Her age? If she enrolls now, the only students will be older than Carl.”

“Hmm, I don’t understand the reason. Could it be that she doesn’t want to be separated from her brother?”

Helio seemed to think that was the most plausible explanation.

However, Liliana thought differently.

It was related to Carl, but perhaps…

‘Maybe she still remembers, at least to some extent.’

Liliana’s face filled with worry.

The moment Lilith recalled her past life, Liliana had asked the Spirit Kings to erase those memories. Lilith had agreed, and Liliana believed that doing so would allow her to live a freer life.

But what if the Spirit Kings could only erase memories from this world?

What if Lilith’s foresight—the knowledge she carried before arriving here—still remained?

‘She’s probably trying to follow Carl because she’s worried about him.’

Liliana pressed a kiss to Helio’s cheek and then immediately pulled the bell rope.

“Minelli, prepare for a tea time with Lilith in the garden.”

If Lilith was putting in this much effort, Liliana couldn’t simply ignore her intentions.

To convince the smartest daughter in the world, she might have to lay all her cards on the table.

Steeling herself, Liliana began preparing to head to the garden.

* * *

Lilith walked with a nervous expression.

She had only been running around the garden for an hour in an attempt to stage a protest of sorts against Liliana.

She had expected she’d have to repeat it for several more days before Liliana caught on, and yet, as expected, Liliana was incredible—intimidating, even. And admirable.

Lilith forced herself to square her shoulders, which had tensed with anxiety, and followed the maid into the spacious garden.

This was the garden where flowers bloom year-round, the place where Liliana and Lilith often had their tea times.

As Lilith appeared beyond the fence, Liliana gently gestured for her to come closer.

Lilith quickened her pace and sat down right next to Liliana.

As the maid filled their teacups, Liliana took a graceful sip of tea.

All the while, Lilith’s mind was racing, trying to predict what Liliana was about to say.

Perhaps her thoughts were too obvious, because Liliana let out a small laugh and set her teacup down.

There wasn’t even the slightest clinking sound, as if she had placed down a feather.

Lilith, without realizing it, found herself watching intently.

“Lilith, you look as if I’ve already scolded you.”

“N-No, I don’t.”

“You do. Sorry to disappoint you, but I didn’t call you here to scold you.”

“Then…”

Lilith looked at her expectantly.

‘Could she have already recognized my efforts?’

Seeing the anticipation in those pink eyes, Liliana had to suppress a smile.

Now was not the time to simply dote on her child.

Locking eyes with this extraordinary daughter of hers, Liliana asked,

“Lilith, are you worried Carl will get hurt when he leaves the Imperial Palace?”

Lilith’s eyes widened, darting around in surprise.

“Um…”

“No matter what you say, I won’t think it’s strange.”

Liliana whispered gently.

Encouraged by those words, Lilith met her mother’s gaze again.

She swallowed hard, seeming to steel herself, and then slowly opened her mouth.

“Mom, was it you who changed the future?”

“…Oh my.”

Liliana’s expression turned troubled, as if she hadn’t expected Lilith to have figured that out.

“Is that what you’ve been wondering about?”

“So it really was you?”

Liliana reached out her arms, and Lilith naturally leaned into her embrace.

Liliana set her daughter on her lap and gazed at her quietly.

A child so precious she wouldn’t mind carrying her in her very eyes.

But also a child destined to face more hardships than anyone else in this world.

And yet, even amid all that, a child who couldn’t shake off the guilt she felt toward her mother.

“Lilith, you’re right. The future is already moving in an entirely different direction. The future you saw was just one possibility. And it’s already been altered.”

“…I think so too.”

“But you’re still worried, aren’t you? Because you’re a kind child.”

“If I don’t have Mommy and Carl, there’s no one left to dote on me. Daddy just plays around all the time.”

Lilith’s face flushed. She seemed embarrassed at being called kind.