111. When the Kindness of Others Suddenly Feels Burdensome
After hearing Joy’s words, Edward nodded. This was normal. But Edward couldn’t understand how Joy had recognized Larael.

“Joy, the Emperor and I don’t want to be disturbed right now. Go back for now, and we’ll talk about your matter later.”

“Your Highness, please reconsider. I’m tired of following Kali around. My job is to be by your side.”

“Yes, please go back for now.”

When Larael spoke seriously, Joy stood up reluctantly with a dejected expression.

“I don’t like him at all.”

Edward said as he watched Joy leave.

“He’s a good child. Righteous.”

Hearing Larael praise him made Edward even more displeased. But he didn’t want Larael to notice his jealousy toward such a young boy. As for why the magical tool had no effect on Joy, Edward decided to ask the Tower Master about it later.

“Soon a teleport portal will be installed in Hedway County. Let’s visit the Hedway estate together then.”

“Yes.”

“And I’ve decided to contract with the Magic Tower. We’ll supply them with a certain amount of magic stones in exchange for magical tools. If you need any magical tools, please inform my aide.”

“Yes. I’ll think about it. The country must be bustling with preparations for the Founding Festival now.”

Edward nodded. The two had their last cup of tea together and returned to the palace before dark.

***

“Your Highness, do you know about the Founding Festival?”

Anais, the head maid, asked Larael, who was sprawled on the sofa, perhaps tired from walking all day with Edward the day before.

“Since I’ve only lived in the county, I’ve never attended the Founding Festival, but I’ve heard so much about it that I know the general idea.”

Larael gave the answer she had prepared for whenever someone asked about the Founding Festival. As if this was the response she had expected, Anais’s eyes sparkled as she began explaining the Founding Festival in detail.

Larael nodded and listened attentively. Although she had already heard this from Beatrice and knew about it, seeing Anais so excited to explain, she couldn’t bring herself to say she already knew.

After explaining all the Founding Festival events, Anais began listing the things Larael needed to prepare. She was a capable maid. Although Anais appeared to be asking for Larael’s opinion, she had already made plans and was seeking Larael’s approval.

“Proceed as Anais has prepared, and just give me progress reports.”

After Anais responded enthusiastically and left the bedroom satisfied, Sasha and Joanna approached Larael with expectant faces.

“I hope the Founding Festival starts soon. Thanks to you, Your Highness, we’ll be spending our first Founding Festival in the capital!”

“It’s nothing special.”

Larael said dismissively. At this, Sasha and Joanna laughed brightly, saying she sounded like someone who had experienced the Founding Festival before.

“I’m feeling sleepy and want to take a nap, but Count Winters is coming. If I don’t wake up before the time I promised, please wake me up so I’m not late.”

At Larael’s words, her maids lowered the curtains to darken the bedroom. Larael was so tired that she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

“Your Highness, it’s time to wake up.”

Sasha carefully woke Larael. Larael barely opened her sleepy eyes at Sasha’s words.

“Is Dean already here?”

“He hasn’t arrived yet.”

Larael stretched and got out of bed.

She sat at her dressing table and watched as her maids styled her hair.

“Are you still sleepy?”

“Yes.”

Larael was only able to fully wake up by the time her hair was done.

Count Winters arrived at Abella Palace right on time. Larael went down to the reception room to meet him.

“I greet Your Highness the Empress Consort.”

Count Winters greeted Larael with a bright face. It was the first time they had met since Baron Layton’s trial ended.

“I’m glad it was resolved smoothly.”

Dean said as he sat on the sofa.

“Yes, it’s fortunate.”

“I regret what happened with Kali. I should have been more careful in judging people… It’s my fault.”

Larael shook her head.

“You know it’s not your fault, and I know it too, Dean.”

Dean had said the same thing to Larael not long ago. Larael had called him before and asked him to investigate the maid Kali had with her. When she told him the truth after he asked for the reason, Dean couldn’t even meet her eyes, feeling guilty as if it were his responsibility.

Since she had sent all the maids away, Larael personally poured the prepared tea into the cups. Dean watched her with wide eyes.

“To drink tea poured by Your Highness herself—it’s an honor for my family.”

Larael chuckled at Dean’s words.

“You must be curious why I called you today?”

Larael dropped a sugar cube into her teacup and looked up at Dean. Dean had been watching her but quickly lowered his gaze when she looked up.

Dean bit his lip hard. The realization that she had called him for a reason filled him with disappointment, making him feel powerless.

“……”

Larael quietly observed him without a response, then stirred her tea with a spoon.

“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager will soon request information about Sir Berser from the Four Seasons.”

“Isn’t Sir Berser Your Highness’s knight?”

Dean frowned slightly as he recalled the face of her knight. Larael nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Since she wouldn’t want to inform Duke Anderman, the Empress Dowager’s only resource would be Four Seasons, the empire’s largest information broker. There was no place in the empire with as wide an information network and guaranteed confidentiality as Four Seasons.

“What is this about?”

“How much does the Four Seasons know about the Empress Dowager’s life before entering the palace?”

“Despite the desperate efforts of both the previous and current Duke Anderman, the rumor that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager eloped with someone was famous. In fact, the Four Seasons didn’t exist at the time, so we don’t know much detail about Her Majesty.”

“I thought so. Those involved are likely no longer in this world… Sir Berser is the hidden son of the Empress Dowager. The result of that elopement.”

Dean froze in shock. If anyone but Larael had said this, he would never have believed it.

“And I told the Empress Dowager this fact. In truth, I was keeping Sir Berser as leverage to pressure the Empress Dowager. If Berser knew, he would feel betrayed by me.”

Larael lowered her gaze and smiled bitterly.

“…But why did you tell Her Majesty already?”

“I don’t know myself.”

“How far should we investigate?”

Larael handed Dean a paper listing what she knew about Berser and his father.

“This is all I know. The fact that the Empress Dowager is requesting this from Four Seasons secretly, without going through the Anderman family, means she has no intention of harming them, so please convey this as is. If this information helps the Empress Dowager trust Four Seasons, that would be ideal.”

“Yes…”

Silence fell between Dean and Larael. Dean’s mind went blank, and he forgot everything he had planned to say to Larael. He had intended to bring it up along with his apology about Kali, but he had forgotten while being distracted by Larael personally pouring his tea. Dean opened his mouth to say what he had intended.

“I met Kali recently, and she said she told Your Highness she would take leave and travel to neighboring countries. Is that correct?”

Instead of answering, Larael raised her eyebrows and nodded.

“So… since it’s partly my fault, I would like to temporarily serve as Your Highness’s aide.”

“You, Count?”

“I did briefly serve as Your Highness’s aide before…”

“I understand your intentions, but there’s not much to do until the Founding Festival, and you don’t need to feel unnecessary responsibility.”

Larael suddenly felt burdened by his kindness and sense of responsibility.

“Ah… is that so?”

When Dean met Larael’s guarded gaze, his desire to ask further questions faded. It seemed that if he pushed any further, Larael would back away.

“Please call me whenever you need me.”

But he had to leave the possibility open. Dean pretended to be calm as he picked up his teacup and savored the cooling tea that Larael had personally poured for him.