* * *

 And the very next day, the Noble Council meeting was held.

Many nobles sat tightly around the round table due to the sudden summons.

Liam, as emperor, looked down at the round table from the highest seat. The nobles’ eyes looking up at that seat seemed to drip with honey. It was a rare sight.

The reason was the tiny girl held in the arms of the emperor, whom others feared even making eye contact with.

“Now, choose.”

At the emperor’s voice, questions clouded the nobles’ eyes as they watched the princess. They seemed confused, not only about the princess’s unexpected appearance at the Noble Council meeting but also about what they were suddenly being asked to choose. The emperor added an explanation.

“I plan to create a new family for the child who saved the Empire’s jewel.”

At those words, the hall became noisy.

Someone asked.

“Are you saying we should adopt ‘that’ child?”

When the princess was kidnapped, it had become widely known that a child from the exterminated House Felicity had helped the princess. The intention behind giving a new family to the Felicity child was puzzling.

Then, the emperor spoke again.

“The princess will choose directly.”

“……Is, this true?”

“Her Highness will?”

The impact of the words ‘the princess will choose directly’ was tremendous. Sparks ignited in the eyes of the nobles who had been quietly observing the situation until just moments ago.

This was understandable because the child was the princess’s benefactor. Though there were doubts because the child happened to be from the exterminated House Felicity, if this adoption was clearly meant to provide backing for the child, this was like adding wings to one’s back.

When the princess looked around the council chamber with an innocent face, the nobles began raising their voices over each other.

“I will! I will adopt her!”

“Please send her to our house, we will serve with absolute loyalty!”

“I have three sons! It would be nice to have a daughter!”

As Erina blankly watched the nobles eagerly introducing themselves, she briefly wrinkled her nose. Though she knew they were trying to look good to her, hearing them desperately shouting their desire for Reibella made her somewhat uncomfortable.

But she continued observing carefully without averting her gaze. Who would be good, where should she be sent to make everyone satisfied.

‘Not the baron.’

His territory was only a full day’s journey from the capital.

‘The count’s territory takes just four days to reach. The marquis is less than half a day.’

That family’s territory was on flat land making travel to and from the capital easy, and that one, and that one too…….

None of the conditions were satisfactory. Just as Erina unconsciously let out a sigh, she noticed one person whom she had been deliberately ignoring due to their poor relationship with Liam.

Someone quietly observing the situation, barely noticeable among the nobles struggling to seize the opportunity.

‘If it’s that person……’

It was Duke Vicheravali. Duke Vicheravali’s territory, Louvindisi, was located furthest from the capital. It took a full month just to travel there, and crossing the treacherous mountains made even round trips difficult.

So that place perfectly matched the conditions she wanted.

‘But there’s Royan.’

For a moment, she recalled the face of the boy who had smiled brightly at her. A boy who seemed lonely growing up as an only child like her. Thinking of Reibella becoming family with him made her feel uneasy.

‘Royan said he wanted a sibling.’

‘When I was very young, I once begged mother for a sibling.’

She seemed to hear the boy’s voice saying those words. If Reibella went to Vicheravali, she might receive plenty of love from Royan.

‘Then……’

The hesitating princess’s gaze shifted slightly to the side. Near Duke Vicheravali, a middle-aged man with a protruding belly was smiling with an oily face.

‘Baron Tigri.’

His territory was also as far as Louvindisi. He too wasn’t a bad choice.

Just as Erina decided and raised her finger to point at Baron Tigri, he was suddenly pushed aside. By chance, Duke Vicheravali ended up standing in the spot where Erina’s finger was pointing.

Slightly flustered, Erina tried to move her finger back toward Baron Tigri, but before she could, Duke Vicheravali spoke.

“Since Her Highness wishes it, I will take her.”

Then the emperor, who had been quietly observing the situation, asked,

“Princess. Is it correct that you pointed to Duke Vicheravali?”

No, that’s not it.

Erina tried to quickly say no, but the moment she felt all eyes on her, her words got stuck.

Reibella was a child who had risked her life to save her. Everyone present would know this fact. Sending such a benefactor to a man who clearly wouldn’t properly act as family wasn’t befitting of a ‘princess.’

But she didn’t want to send her to Vicheravali either…….

As she hesitated, silence fell over the hall. They seemed to be waiting for what the princess would say.

The girl didn’t want to go against their expectations, against ‘kind Erina.’

Finally, Erina answered with an awkward smile.

“……Yes!”

And with her answer, the emperor declared.

“Then it is decided that Duke Vicheravali will adopt that child.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The silver-haired man bowed his head with his response.

Looking at him, Erina thought.

Yes, this was what she had intended to do.

This choice was the best.

For herself, for Royan, and for that child. 

 * * *

 “……What?”

No, what was this about?

“I’ve been adopted?”

Suddenly being adopted without a single word. Something must be wrong.

“Are you sure you didn’t hear wrong?”

It was a natural question from Reibella.

How could she suddenly be adopted when it hadn’t been long since her family was exterminated for treason? And what’s more…

“You’re saying I’ve been adopted by House Vicheravali?”

When Reibella expressed her doubt, Raniel answered.

“I heard it directly on my way here. It’s certain.”

“That’s impossible.”

Vicheravali was currently in sharp conflict with the emperor over issues of participating in the war and the Postarimo matter. Just yesterday, it was said the emperor had drawn his sword in front of Duke Vicheravali, making their relationship nearly at the point of catastrophe.

Since Vicheravali had been a central figure in the emperor’s faction until recently, standing on the emperor’s side in opposition to Felicity, even the nobles watching the situation were quite surprised and unable to grasp the situation.

In such circumstances, they suddenly decide to send a Felicity child who had barely regained status as the princess’s closest attendant as an adopted daughter?

Though she had barely managed to push away any involvement with Vicheravali in the past because she didn’t want to be entangled with them, now her efforts were going to waste.

‘Did I do something wrong?’

She had really lived diligently since returning to the palace. She had handled the princess’s strange tantrums well. Picked flowers twenty times. She could proudly say she had truly tried her best for the princess!

“Isn’t this good news for you?”

Raniel spoke to Reibella, who stood dumbfounded with an expression like she had lost her country.

“Though serving Her Highness is certainly a noble duty, you still need a family. You’re at an age that needs care.”

If that was the purpose, they should have sent her to a different house.

Anyone could see that Vicheravali wasn’t a house that would provide ‘care.’ Duke Vicheravali was such a poor father that he didn’t even know his own son was being abused by his uncle because he was too busy.

“So hurry and pack your things. I hear they’re coming to get you from House Vicheravali today.”

“You really want me to go?”

Just when life at the palace was becoming bearable, she had to start anew again.

As she stood there with a shocked face, Raniel approached, grabbed both of Reibella’s shoulders, and spun her around to face the door. Then pat, she tapped her back. Her feet, which had been frozen still, took one step closer to the door.

When Reibella turned back with a still bewildered face, Raniel said,

“Be happy.”

“……Thank you.”

Reibella forced a smile, bowed, and left the room.

As she came out the door, a large bouquet of flowers greeted her.

“Congratulations, Reibella.”

It was Daisy, Julia, and Emma who had served alongside her while attending the princess. They seemed to have come as soon as they heard the news. Though the situation was incomprehensible, she still needed to greet them.

“……Thank you all so much for being good to me. Thanks to you ladies, I was able to live comfortably and happily.”

Reibella bowed deeply to the maids surrounding her like a wall.

Then Julia said primly,

“You should be honest. It was hard at first.”

“I also misunderstood and doubted you at first. I’m sorry for being mean.”

“Not knowing how devoted you were to Her Highness, I only thought badly of you because you were from Felicity.”

“Right. You forgave us because you’re innocent.”

Reibella shook her head at their frank confessions.

“No. That was natural. It’s all in the past, and you all ended up being good to me. Teaching me the work thoroughly.”

Though everyone had certainly been harsh when she was first thrown into the palace, it gradually improved. Recently, everyone she met welcomed Reibella and treated her kindly, so palace life wasn’t as difficult as before.

“Thank you so much.”

“You’re too kind. Take care. Stay healthy.”

Emma gently stroked Reibella’s head. Somehow, her touch seemed tinged with regret.

As Reibella nodded with a regretful expression, feeling sad along with them, someone suddenly came running hurriedly and stood before her.

And urgently shouted.

“Reibella, His Majesty is calling for you.”

It was a summons from the person she least wanted to meet in this world.