“My lady, be careful. When we arrived at the border with Lady Rosana, the Diovaha Imperial Knights were waiting. And they sent all the knights back! There’s no guarantee they won’t do it again this time!”

“I know. How flustered everyone was when the knights returned.”

Emma said, making a fuss.

“There were even knights His Highness sent out of concern for the young lady…”

Only members of the Arcadi Ducal Family were attending. 

Though news of Rosana’s wedding had spread, no Astrot nobles wanted to attend Rosana’s wedding. They were reluctant to even visit Diovaha.

But the Duchess and Amy moved. To see Rosana. However, the Crown Prince, worried about Amy, subtly wanted to attend together. But if he moved, it would consume many resources. 

So unable to accompany her, he gave strict orders to skilled knights to protect her. Around the carriage were knights solemnly guarding it under the Crown Prince’s command.

Amy couldn’t shake her worry about whether Rosana, who’d sent back all the knights and servants to Astrot, was doing well alone in Diovaha. Though the wedding invitation had reassured her, thinking about it now, there were more than one or two strange things.

“The servants too. Is she really doing well…?”

“That’s what we’re going to check now. We’ll leave Astrot soon.”

The border soon came into view. Just like before, the Diovaha Imperial Knights stood there to greet them.

* * *

“Lady Rosana! They’re here! They’ve arrived!”

Yuna rushed over to inform Rosana of the Arcadi Ducal Family’s visit. Rosana answered calmly.

“Yes, they’ve finally come.”

Yuna and Celine quietly waited for Rosana to stand. They weren’t unaware that something lay beneath her attitude toward her family.

Rosana took several deep breaths. She’d been preparing since Jade told her he’d received a reply after she sent the wedding invitation. 

For this day, she’d rehearsed her image she didn’t even want to recall, striving to speak confidently and directly. Rosana smiled boldly and turned to Yuna and Celine.

“Let’s prepare.”

Once the order fell, Yuna and Celine moved busily. Just like Rosana wanted to show her current self, Yuna and Celine planned to display their skills to clearly show she was a proud and precious future empress.

“Which dress will you wear today?”

Celine asked. Rosana answered.

“Red. It’s the day I’m meeting Mother, after all.”

Following Rosana’s words, a red dress was brought. 

At some point, the red dress had become the outfit Rosana wore to summon courage. She planned to show herself acknowledging “Rosana.” 

She donned the red dress and adorned herself beautifully with splendid accessories. And finally, she wore the Mermaid Tears Jade had given Rosana around her neck.

“You’re beautiful, Lady Rosana.”

“Thank you. Shall we go?”

Rosana, finished with her preparations, stood up. And she moved to greet them. Thump— Her heart stirred. Whether it was tension, fear, or anticipation, the emotions were hard to discern. 

The dormant feelings slowly stretched.

She would know once she witnessed it with her own two eyes.

“Let’s go.”

Her steps were unhesitant.

Through the carriage window, Rosana observed the guest palace drawing closer. Around the palace, several Astrot Empire-style carriages were lined up. The Arcadi family crest was clearly engraved on those carriages.

Rosana descended from the carriage with Baron’s escort. She lifted her skirt and curtsied. She slightly raised her eyes and calmly met the Duchess’s gaze.

“Mother, have you been well? It’s been a while. Long time no see, Amy.”

Rosana greeted them calmly.

“Sister!”

Amy smiled brightly at Rosana’s face, which she was seeing after so long. 

Rosana warmly embraced Amy as she came into her arms. She lightly stroked her back too. She stared at Amy chattering about how glad she was that Rosana seemed well.

Though her younger sister was also an object of mixed feelings, the arrow of anger mustn’t go astray. Amy wasn’t Rosana’s enemy. She was consistent. Nothing had changed. The always smiling face, the affectionately murmuring tone.

“It’s been a while. I’m glad you look healthy.”

“Yes. You too, Mother.”

Rosana calmly looked over Amy and the Duchess. Enough not to give the feeling she was scrutinizing them. And Rosana’s lips curled up.

She knew now. The dresses the Duchess and Amy wore were expensive, no less than Rosana’s. 

Amy was the Crown Prince’s fiancée, and the Duchess was the person leading the ducal family. The Duchess simply preferred embroidery over jewels to emphasize elegance. 

Amy was the same. Though she didn’t hang jewels all over, it was a sufficiently luxurious dress.

‘To only realize this now.’

As always, the Duchess wore a benevolent smile. She looked Rosana over and showed a satisfied expression.

Seeing the red dress Rosana wore, the Duchess instinctively knew she hadn’t changed. And the necklace around her neck was a treasure of a kingdom. Her eyes flashed. 

Here too, she was unmistakably “Rosana.” She felt relieved thinking things were progressing smoothly as they should.

Then the Duchess noticed the smile Rosana was wearing. She’d been examining her outfit and missed her expression, which was actually important.

…Something was different.

‘That’s not Rosana’s smile.’

Only Rosana, who was watching directly, witnessed the Duchess’s subtle expression change. 

Rosana smiled even more brightly, knowing why she made that expression. It was the appearance of a daughter happy to meet her family after a long time.

Rosana had observed the Duchess for a long time. Acting wasn’t her exclusive specialty.

“Sister, are people treating you well?”

“Of course.”

She swallowed the words “much more than when I was at the ducal family.” 

Then she felt a piercing, sharp gaze. Seeing a familiar figure, she felt pleased. 

Emma, you came to this place too.

Those she most wanted to show her changed self to had gathered in one place. She laughed at the overwhelming emotion and excitement filling her chest.

It was a familiar atmosphere. Many ducal family servants had come. Since Amy and the Duchess, the ducal family’s precious treasures, were visiting a foreign country, the number of servants and knights was extraordinary.

Rosana praised Fel for safely guiding her family.

“Sir Fel, thank you for your hard work. I’m sorry to trouble you with this several times.”

“Not at all. It’s only natural for me to mobilize in preparation for any situation that might occur.”

Fel showed wariness knowingly or unknowingly. And he whispered secretly to Rosana.

“…Because there are many knights.”

Rosana looked over the ducal family’s knights. As Fel was wary, there were many. She’d expected security to be extraordinary since Amy and the Duchess were moving together. 

However,

“Mother, are they all ducal family knights?”

“Sister. Actually, His Highness said he was worried and attached knights to us. Of course I refused… but he was so insistent…”

Amy said, awkwardly scratching her cheek. Rosana nodded nonchalantly. From Astrot’s perspective, Amy was also someone who would become empress someday.

“But sister…”

Amy approached Rosana and said while watching Fel.

“Actually, that knight tried to send out the knights His Highness attached.”

Amy tried to speak quietly enough that Fel wouldn’t hear, but it reached Fel’s ears since he was right nearby.

“My lady. That’s…”

Rosana raised her hand to stop Fel’s mouth. Then Fel quietly stepped back. Rosana stared at Amy.

“Isn’t that natural?”

“…Huh?”

Amy’s eyes widened at Rosana’s reaction, different from what she’d expected.

“My guests are only you and Mother. I didn’t invite Imperial Knights. Ducal family knights are fine, but to bring along the Imperial Knights who guard Astrot’s palace…”

“S-sister?”

“We still need to be careful. Isn’t this… the result of acting thoughtlessly?”

“Rosana!”

The Duchess raised her voice in warning, while Rosana criticized the Crown Prince for assigning knights without considering the consequences. 

Understanding the tension, Amy glanced around uneasily, feeling troubled. She then tried to calm both the Duchess and Rosana.

“Wh-what are you saying? Astrot and Diovaha have good relations. That’s what the alliance was for.”

Amy carefully grabbed Rosana’s collar.

If the alliance had truly been the reason, Rosana wouldn’t have come in the first place, nor would she have left feeling practically pushed away. Above all, the imperial family should have shown her at least a hint of consideration. 

Explaining all this to Amy, who was oblivious to even the most basic circumstances, felt like a waste of words. 

To someone who always viewed the world through rose-colored glasses, there was no point. So, Rosana chose not to say more and instead ended the conversation with a bright smile.

“Let’s go inside. He paid special attention because my family was coming.”

The Duchess also didn’t want to let out unnecessary words, so she responded to Rosana’s words like nothing had happened.

“I worried because I couldn’t prepare much for you. I’m glad you’re doing so well.”

At the Duchess’s casually thrown words, her blue eyes rippled quietly.

“I see.”

She almost expressed her emotions. To not lie. She knew they were empty words containing not a speck of emotion. Rosana turned and walked into the palace.

Amy kept chattering even while being guided to her room.

“Sister, were you okay coming here? The road was very rough. The carriage jolted and everyone had a hard time.”

“Really?”

Rosana looked at Fel, who was silently following beside her. Noticing Rosana’s gaze, he smiled gently.

“I was fine.”

“Hmm? I see…”

“Since Mother and Amy are currently the only guests, you can use whichever room you like. If you’re not used to other people’s touch, you can use the servants you brought.”

Rosana said, opening the prepared room door. Amy went inside the room and looked around.

“Wow, it’s wonderful.”

It wasn’t difficult for Rosana, who knew Amy and the Duchess’s tastes well. 

She’d always watched them because she wanted to resemble them, to become like them. But someone immediately poured cold water.

“Even if it was a kingdom, it’s an empire now. This much is natural. Amy, you’ll become an empress of an empire too, so restrain yourself from showing emotions.”

“Yes, Mother.”