Liliana wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, feeling an unexpected sting, when her gaze suddenly landed on Klein.

Klein was staring intently at Lilith as she delivered her speech with clear, steady words. His ruby-red eyes trembled endlessly, and his cheeks were flushed.

Anyone could see that this ten-year-old boy was in the throes of his first love.

‘So, he likes Lilith in this life as well.’

Liliana smiled softly.

The future had changed countless times, so there was no way of knowing whether Klein’s love would endure in this lifetime.

She only hoped that his love wouldn’t bring him too much pain.

‘But where is that boy, I wonder?’

That boy.

The male protagonist who had ended up with Lilith in the memories Liliana had “read” was also turning eight this year.

Liliana knew quite a lot about him.

His name was Ian, and when he first met Lilith, he was “a boy so covered in dust that his silver hair looked ashen.” His true identity was that of a runaway prince from an empire across the sea.

Ian had been the eldest son of the emperor who had ascended the throne a few years ago, but he was not the son of the empress.

The empress, wary of Ian’s intelligence, had attempted to have him assassinated. To survive, Ian had fled the imperial palace.

However, the empress’s pursuit never ceased. In the end, Ian stowed away on a merchant ship and arrived in the Carlo Empire.

Liliana had searched every corner of the Carlo Empire in an effort to find Ian before he suffered further hardships.

She knew his age and even his physical appearance, yet strangely, she had been unable to locate him.

Given that Lilith had once described Ian as “the most handsome boy she had ever seen, apart from her father,” he hardly seemed like someone who could blend in easily.

Then again, a boy who had crossed an entire continent to escape the grasp of a neighboring empire’s empress must have been extremely skilled at hiding.

Originally, Lilith was supposed to meet Ian at eight years old while taking a stroll through Richem after enrolling in the Imperial Academy.

‘But this time, Lilith didn’t go to Richem. Maybe the meeting between her and Ian won’t happen at all.’

By now, Liliana was used to the future changing.

There was no guarantee that Lilith would choose Ian again in this lifetime.

However, knowing how deeply Lilith and Ian had loved each other, Liliana wanted, at the very least, to make their reunion happen.

But it seemed that their fated meeting would not take place in this life.

‘Maybe this time, she’ll end up with Klein instead.’

Liliana shook her head slightly, reminding herself not to take too much interest in Lilith’s love life.

Yet it wasn’t long before she was once again reminded of how persistent fate could be.

As soon as the first part of the entrance ceremony ended, Lilith ran toward her family—with a boy clinging to her side.

A stunningly handsome, silver-haired boy.

“Mommy! Daddy! Brother!”

Lilith had been rushing toward them excitedly, but noticing the gazes of those around her, she caught the hem of her skirt and offered an elegant curtsy.

“Mother, Father, Brother, have you all been well?”

Her attempt at acting like an adult made Helio and Carl burst into laughter.

Liliana, too, found Lilith adorable, but her attention was drawn more to the boy standing beside her.

With a calm smile, Liliana pointed at the boy.

“Lilith, have you already made a friend before the ceremony even started?”

“Yes! His name is Ian! Ian, this is my family!”

Before Lilith could even finish speaking, Ian dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.

“It is an honor to be in the presence of such noble individuals.”

In the Carlo Empire, even commoners were not required to kneel and press their foreheads to the ground before the royal family. A deep bow while standing upright was considered sufficient.

Yet Ian pressed himself to the floor, as if he had been born into the lowest station and wished to present himself as completely unthreatening.

“You may rise.”

Only after Helio granted permission did Ian lift his head, allowing them to see his face properly.

Just as Lilith’s memories had described, he was an angelically beautiful boy.

His eyes were lowered in submission, yet he did not appear obedient. Instead, he gave off an enigmatic air—his every movement seemed carefully calculated for the future.

It was an intensity far too powerful to come from an eight-year-old child.

Helio, having noticed it as well, was staring intently at Ian.

However, when he spoke to Lilith, his voice remained as gentle as ever.

“Lilith, it seems you’ve already made a friend.”

One of the reasons Lilith had chosen Rhenia Academy was to make friends her own age without the constraints of formality.

So it wasn’t unusual that she had already befriended someone.

But for that friend to be Ian—

According to the “Lilith’s memories” that Liliana had read, Ian should have been wandering near Richem, struggling to survive. That was how he had caught the eye of Marquis Osto, who later adopted him and secured his admission to the Imperial Academy.

What change in the future had led him to enroll in Rhenia Academy instead?

The answer came soon enough.

“Ian really respects you, Mother,” Lilith said, her face flushed with excitement and pride.

“He heard that even commoners could attend this academy, so he traveled all the way to the capital on his own. Isn’t that amazing?”

Ah.

Liliana suddenly realized why the future had changed.

Every altered future had been a result of her actions.

Naturally, then, the reason Ian had come to Rhenia Academy instead of Richem was because of her.

Because Liliana had not allowed commoners to be left to wander the streets, because she had enacted policies that gave them access to better education—Ian had been able to seek out a better future for himself.

A wave of emotion surged through her.

It was the same feeling she always experienced when her efforts bore fruit.

With a slightly husky voice, Liliana spoke.

“That is truly admirable. The desire to learn is the greatest talent of all.”

“Mother, you think so too, right? See, Ian? I told you I wasn’t just saying it.”

Lilith naturally took Ian’s hand.

At that moment, his sharp golden eyes, which had been coiled like a poised viper, softened.

Ian seemed to be studying Lilith, but there was no wariness in his gaze. He was merely observing Lilith, who admired him with pure fascination.

Liliana couldn’t tell whether Ian’s feelings for Lilith were youthful love or simple admiration, but she easily accepted the situation.

‘My child is beautiful, intelligent, lovable, and lively—how could he not like her?’

After finishing his greeting, Ian spoke in a precise and articulate manner.

“I will take my leave now. Please enjoy your time with your family, Princess Lilith.”

With that, he stepped aside.

“Oh, come on! I told you to just call me Lilith.”

Liliana took Lilith’s hand and asked casually,

“You like Ian that much?”

“Yeah! He’s pretty!”

Well, appearance is important…

Liliana glanced at Helio. The way he raised an eyebrow as if to ask, What is it?—it was astonishing how a man that handsome could be the father of two children.

Once again, Liliana reaffirmed her thoughts.

‘Yes, looks are important.’

***

As the founder of Rhenia Academy, Liliana couldn’t simply enjoy her daughter’s entrance ceremony.

Leaving the two children in Helio’s care, she made her way to the academy’s reception room.

Inside, a man with a very familiar face was seated.

His healthy bronze skin and fiery red hair still suited him well.

Once, he had been an outcast—a distant relative of the Gabriel ducal family. But now, he stood as the rightful head of the Gabriel family.

It was Vail Gabriel.

Before Liliana could greet him, Vail rose from his seat and knelt on one knee, like a knight.

“Your servant, Vail Gabriel, greets Her Majesty the Empress.”

As a duke, he had no obligation to go to such lengths, yet he still acted as Liliana’s knight.

“It’s been a while, Duke Gabriel. Among all the knights alive today, I doubt anyone upholds the romance of knighthood as well as you do.”

Liliana spoke as if she found the thought amusing.

Vail gave a bitter smile but quickly schooled his expression.

“This must be a busy event, with the princess’s entrance ceremony taking place, yet you still made time to meet with me. I am grateful.”

“Duke Gabriel provides the greatest support for aspiring knights at Rhenia Academy every year. If I didn’t take this opportunity to thank you, that would be a great discourtesy on my part.”

Liliana offered a warm smile.

The second part of the entrance ceremony was dedicated to expressing gratitude to those who had contributed funds, talents, or time to Rhenia Academy.

Vail Gabriel was one of them, which was why she had arranged to meet him before the second half began.

Of course, the fact that the two had been longtime friends played a part as well.