One day, Amelia invited Phenelity and Viett to her room, saying she had something to show them. Viett was a bit disappointed. He had finally gotten some free time and wanted to spend it alone with his wife, playing records.

His wife, excited about the invitation from her new friend, didn’t even consider his feelings.

“I have something I’d like to give to Phenelity.”

Amelia greeted the two with a bright smile and handed over an elegant box.

“I gathered some sea-related items from my collection.”

The box was filled with fish-shaped dolls, buttons with sea landscapes, music boxes, and snow globes. Phenelity hugged the box with delight.

“Wow! Thank you!”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it!”

Viett left the two cheerful women and looked around at Amelia’s collections. He suddenly remembered how his brother had grumbled several times about his wife’s peculiar hobby.

His brother couldn’t understand why Amelia collected dolls like a child. Each time, Viett would sarcastically retort, ‘It’s a far more wholesome hobby compared to yours.’

“Th, this……”

As he quietly examined the collections, he stopped abruptly in front of a cabinet. A large glass cabinet was filled with miniatures. It was a miniature set replicating a knight order’s changing of the guard ceremony.

These are Riul Holy Knight Order colors. He thought as he observed the armor and knight order emblems on the miniature figures. The Riul Knights were the knights of Riul Cathedral, a source of pride for Westenian citizens.

A legendary knight order said to have existed in the distant medieval period and saved Westenia from crisis multiple times.

The Riul region, where the cathedral was located, held grand annual festivals related to the knight order’s legends, and all these items were tourist merchandise sold at those festivals.

“Is this the Holy Knight Order of Saint Riul Cathedral?”

Phenelity, who approached Viett, recognized the items at a glance.

“Yes. Most of my collection items are tourist merchandise from Riul Cathedral.”

Amelia came closer and nodded. She opened the cabinet and took out cotton dolls modeled after the cathedral’s nuns and priests.

“These are dolls made after famous saints from the Riul territory. The doll of Father Uliyev is rspecially most popular.”

“Probably because he’s handsome!”

“I suppose that must be it?”

Viett looked around at the collection items with puzzled eyes. Of course, Riul Cathedral was a historical heritage loved by all Westenian citizens. However, he thought Amelia’s behavior of collecting all related items was a bit excessive.

Just then, his wife voiced the question that was in his mind.

“Do you like Riul Cathedral?”

“I do. My mother was a devout believer, so I spent my childhood practically growing up in Riul Cathedral.”

Amelia said while staring blankly at the nun dolls in the cabinet. She seemed to still miss that place.

“When I look at these dolls…… it feels as if I’ve returned to those days.”

“Hmm…… But there’s no actual Riul Cathedral here.”

Phenelity said as she carefully examined the collection items. As she pointed out, there were many dolls and miniatures, but the Riul Cathedral itself, which Amelia missed the most, was not seen among the collection.

“Ri, Riul Cathedral is fa, famous for its complex and in, intricate structure…… It would be di, difficult to replicate easily.”

Phenelity pondered Viett’s response deeply. Then she suddenly raised her head and exclaimed loudly.

“I’ve got it. I finally figured it out!”

“What is it?”

“How to repay this gift!”

She shook the gift box Amelia had given her, then suddenly ran toward the door. Viett silently stepped aside and opened the door for her.

“Oh my, I wasn’t expecting anything in return……”

Amelia looked up at Viett, who remained alone with her, with confusion.

“What is she planning to do?”

Viett answered with a shrug. Amelia observed him with an intrigued expression and said:

“You don’t seem surprised at all?”

“……I, I’m used to my wife’s im, impulsive actions by now.”

He answered gruffly and left the room.

* * *

「<Pepe: Day 77XX since birth!>

※This regime propaganda novel contains smoking scenes and other content inappropriate for children.

※Names of characters other than the Little Lord and family are marked as XX.

I have a new mission. (Actually, it’s almost too personal to call it a mission!)

It’s making a ‘dollhouse modeled after Riul Cathedral’! I drew the cathedral’s design all night, fervently praying that this would become a farewell gift for her. Viett lay on his side in bed, looking at me sitting at the desk with displeasure.

— Aren’t you going to sleep? It’s already past midnight.

— You go to sleep first!

— ……

I felt his gaze staring at me as he propped his chin with one hand.

— What?

When I took my eyes off the design and looked at Viett, he quickly turned away and covered himself with the blanket. I instinctively sensed that he was thoroughly upset with me. (He’ll get upset again if I call it ‘upset,’ but there’s no more accurate expression!)

— I’m sorry, Viett……

— ……

— I’ll play with you after I finish!

I shouted toward the back of his head, then buried my nose back in the design. I thought I faintly heard him mutter with a sigh, “And when exactly will that be……

……

As soon as day broke, I ran to the studio and gathered materials. Fortunately, today was a day without official duties, so if His Majesty the King approved, I could stay cooped up in the studio all morning!

— You need to make a gift for Amelia?

When I immediately ran to His Majesty’s bedroom to ask for permission, he frowned as he looked at my haggard face.

— Did you even sleep?

— I stayed up all night!

— Why are you saying that so energetically like it’s something to be proud of?

He clicked his tongue and barely managed to get up, leaning on his cane. Surprised, I quickly ran to the chair to help support him.

— Let’s go.

— What? Where?

— To your studio, of course. Riul Cathedral. Your confidence in replicating such an intricate historical building is quite remarkable.

He said as he tottered toward the door.

— I need to see with my own eyes just how well you can make it.

— So, you’re giving me permission?

— If I don’t, you’ll just lock yourself in the studio all night anyway, won’t you?

His Majesty gave me a sidelong glance and left the bedroom. Since it was my first time leaving the bedroom with him, I helped support him with great tension.

— What a mess.

As soon as we arrived at the studio, His Majesty covered his nose and scolded me. Clean up the plaster powder promptly. Why aren’t you ventilating with perfectly good windows available? Leaving chisels scattered around like that is how you get injured.

I tried to consider his scolding as sweet music while I began working.

I spent the morning cutting wooden boards with a saw according to the Riul Cathedral design and painting them. His Majesty sat on a comfortable sofa brought by the chief chamberlain and watched me work.

— You must be the only crown princess who would hold such an unsightly object.

His Majesty made a disgusted face as he looked at the large saw I was holding. He examined the desk cluttered with designs, paints, wax, and matches, then pointed to a corner.

— What are those glass pieces?

— Materials to make stained glass!

— Stained glass….. You mean the work created by Latiel?

— Yes. Remember the huge window at the front of the altar in Riul Cathedral? I’m going to replicate the stained glass window there.

The most difficult part of the work would definitely be the stained glass. Being the work of the legendary artist Latiel, it had deep historical value, which made it all the more delicate.

The process of cutting glass pieces, painting them in various colors, and then joining them according to the image of the Holy Mother was expected to be quite challenging. At the same time, it was the part I was most looking forward to working on.

— Latiel’s stained glass is famous for having the most complex color combinations and delicate piece shapes.

— ……It’s just like putting together a puzzle.

His Majesty the King watched me diligently matching the stained glass pieces, then slowly rose from the sofa and approached the desk. Surprised, I quickly pulled up another chair behind him.

— Give me a few pieces.

He pulled a few painted glass pieces toward himself.

— It’s okay! You don’t have to help!

— I’m doing this for my own benefit. My physician said I need to move my hands more to prevent my condition from worsening.

He replied indifferently and helped with the puzzle using his wrinkled hands. Thanks to His Majesty’s assistance, I was able to finish the planned work faster than expected.

— I should receive something in return for helping today.

Before leaving the studio, His Majesty turned to look at me while leaning on his cane. I tilted my head, not understanding what he meant.

— By return, what do you……

— There’s still a lot of ivory left.

He muttered as he looked at the unfinished works in the corner of the studio—sculptures that had been stopped after just shaping the form.

— If you don’t mind, how about making a sculpture of Liliana sitting?

— Hmm……

I racked my brain while avoiding His Majesty’s gaze. If I accepted his proposal now, it would further reduce the time I could spend with Viett. (He must be eagerly waiting for me to finish the Riul Cathedral miniature!)

— I’m sorry. After completing this cathedral, I’d like to spend some time with Viett for a while.

His Majesty smiled slightly at my energetic response, then shook his head as he left the studio.

— First time I’ve lost to my son.

— I’m sorry. Instead, I’ll give you something else as a return gift.

— Never mind. Just take good care of Viett. That boy will be terrified when he sees your rabbit eyes.

As His Majesty the King advised, Viett, who visited the studio late in the evening, was surprised to see my bloodshot eyes and was shocked again to learn that His Majesty had helped with the work.

— Father did…?