Chapter 57

“I should head back. Tell the Crown Prince I’ll visit again next time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Interim Empress.”

“…By the way.”

Narcissa stopped in her tracks as she was turning away.

“That woman in the back, I don’t think I’ve seen her before.”

The Interim Empress, Narcissa, had such a keen eye that she knew not only everyone working in the palace but even the servants of nobles. She might not know their names, but she always knew which household they belonged to.

But Lia’s face was unfamiliar to Narcissa.

“She is the nanny of the Blumhart young lady.”

The attendant answered nervously.

“Hm, is that so? A nanny….”

Narcissa passed the attendant and approached Lia.

‘Why is she coming toward me?’

Lia quietly swallowed.

Now, after facing the Prince and even the Interim Empress, her hands were slick with sweat.

Narcissa, with Lia’s head slightly bowed, lifted Lia’s chin with her index finger.

Lia lowered her eyelids, avoiding the high lady’s gaze.

“Are you really the nanny of the Blumhart young lady?”

“…Yes, Your Majesty the Interim Empress.”

Lia managed to answer in a trembling voice.

Her heart pounded at the thought she had just lied to the highest lady in the Empire.

“I simply asked because I don’t like unfamiliar faces coming and going in the palace, so don’t be too nervous.”

“…Yes.”

With a faint smile, Narcissa withdrew her finger and turned away with graceful poise.

“Let’s return.”

Her ladies-in-waiting and attendants followed behind her.

Lia, her hands damp with sweat, clenched her fists and watched them walk away.

‘Maybe I shouldn’t have come along.’

But if she hadn’t come to the palace, she wouldn’t have met that woman.

The mage she’d known before the regression wasn’t a mage, but the Interim Empress’s lady-in-waiting.

She couldn’t understand why the Interim Empress’s lady-in-waiting had disguised herself and approached her.

“Miss Lia, are you all right?”

When Narcissa was out of sight, Samuel asked.

“…Yes.”

Lia, drained from her encounter with the Interim Empress, swayed slightly.

“It’s almost unheard of to meet Her Majesty the Interim Empress in the Crown Prince’s palace. You must be surprised. It would be best to rest in the lounge for a while.”

Samuel supported her and followed the attendant.

Arriving at the lounge, Lia collapsed onto the sofa.

“Please rest comfortably.”

The attendant served Lia and Samuel warm tea and refreshments to help them relax, then left.

“Miss Lia, I’ll be in the room next door, so please rest here.”

Samuel was considerate, seeing how troubled she looked.

“Thank you.”

She nodded slightly.

After Samuel left, Lia recalled her memories from before the regression.

‘…Could it be that the thing the mage—no, the lady-in-waiting—gave me back then was related to my death?’

* * *

“Blessings of the Goddess Hecate. I, Rafaella of Blumhart, greets you, His Highness the Crown Prince, the little sun in the sky.”

Rafaella held her pink dress and gave a small curtsy.

“My goodness, who would have thought such a lovely child could be born from a block of wood like you.”

The Crown Prince Matthias, with fiery red hair and deep green eyes, approached Rafaella, laughing heartily.

“It’s good to meet you, Rafaella.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“You’re still young, but you speak so well.”

Rafaella blinked, feeling that this prince was different from the one she saw last time.

If the prince she met before was like a beautiful swan, the Crown Prince was like an eagle commanding the sky.

“You’re even cuter than I expected. Johann, when you were young, you were just pretty, not cute at all.”

Matthias said, not taking his eyes off Rafaella.

“She’s feeling pressured, Your Highness.”

“Ahem, was I staring too much? Sorry, Rafaella.”

“It’s all right, Your Highness.”

Rafaella answered, watching with wonder as Johann spoke so freely with the Crown Prince.

“By the way, how many years apart are you and Lucia?”

Matthias asked as he sat on the sofa.

“Two years apart.”

“Next time, I should have you meet Lucia. She could use a friend her age.”

He stroked Rafaella’s hair.

“A friend?”

“Yes, a friend. I’m sure you’ll like Lucia when you meet her.”

Matthias whispered to the child and gestured to an attendant.

The attendant brought over a trolley filled with desserts.

These cakes and cookies were in a different style from those served at the mansion.

“Wow!”

Rafaella forgot she was in front of the Crown Prince and exclaimed.

Both Matthias and Johann smiled gently at the sight.

“I prepared these for you, so eat as much as you like.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and if you want more, just say so.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Rafaella bowed and picked up a fork.

“Haha. Johann, you’re the one staring holes into Rafaella now.”

“…Me?”

Johann, still looking at Rafaella, asked.

“Yes. You can’t take your eyes off her, can you?”

“…Ahem.”

Only then did Johann realize how he’d been twisting his body to keep looking at his daughter, and he straightened up.

“At first, you talked all stiff about what children mean to nobles, but… hahaha.”

Matthias laughed heartily.

“I’m glad you seem happier than I expected. I was worried you’d be wooden even to your daughter.”

“No need to worry, I’m not.”

“Good, then I won’t worry anymore.”

Matthias lightly tapped Johann’s head, even though Johann was taller.

It was a friendly gesture, more like treating a younger brother than a favored vassal.

“Oh, and as a congratulations for having a daughter, I’d like to make a proposal.”

Matthias smiled meaningfully.

“What sort of proposal?”

“Since you’re my daughter Lucia’s godfather, how about I become your daughter Rafaella’s godfather?”

“…Excuse me?”

There was a big difference between a duke being the imperial princess’s godfather and the Crown Prince being a duke’s daughter’s godfather.

But Matthias spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Are you really saying you’ll be Rafaella’s godfather?”

“Of course. Who else is as qualified as me to be Rafaella’s godfather?”

Hearing her name, Rafaella looked up at them.

“Rafaella, I’d like to be your godfather. What do you think?”

“Godfather?”

Rafaella tilted her head.

“Yes, someone who cares for you as much as your parents, whether good things or bad things happen.”

“…Um, I’d like that! Your Highness, you seem like a really good person.”

Rafaella’s cheeks flushed peach-pink.

“Rafaella likes it too. Then all that’s left is the official procedures.”

A godfather and godmother would act as guardians if the parents were absent for any reason, so documents had to be submitted to the temple and approval received.

“Rafaella doesn’t know yet what enormous influence a godfather has. This is all happening so quickly….”

Feeling things were moving too fast, Johann tried to stop Matthias.

“Johann, don’t overthink it. This isn’t for political reasons, it’s something I want to do for you.”

Matthias lightly patted Johann’s shoulder.

“…Thank you, Your Highness.”

With no grounds left to refuse, Johann answered after a brief silence.

“If you’re thankful, why not call me ‘hyung (older brother)’ like when you were little?”

Matthias teased.

“I never called you ‘hyung’ even when I was young,Your Highness.”

Johann replied seriously.

“No fun. You should try it just once.”

“No, thank you.”

Johann shook his head.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Rafaella bowed to the Crown Prince, following Johann’s lead.

“She really is nothing like you, Johann. Did she take after her mother?”

Matthias gently tapped Rafaella’s cheek.

“Everyone says Raffy takes after me.”

“But Johann, you weren’t this lovable at her age. Well… anyway.”

Matthias paused.

“…She looks just like you, Johann, but her heart is like her mother’s.”

He continued, smiling at Rafaella.

“Really? I love Mom more than anyone in the world.”

Rafaella’s cheeks turned rosy.

“Do you? Then I’ve given you the highest compliment.”

“Yes! That’s why I came here with Mom today.”

Rafaella leaned in and whispered to the Crown Prince.

“What? Is that true, Johann?”

Matthias asked in surprise.

“Yes. She’s in the lounge with Samuel.”

“Why didn’t she come in with you?”

“Your Highness, you nvited Rafaella.”

“Still, if she came this far, she should have come in too. Rafaella says she loves her mom best. I’m curious as well.”

“Do you know how complicated it is to meet you unless you’re a high noble, Your Highness?”

Johann replied as if Matthias should know better.

“Hm, that’s true.”

As the Emperor’s heir, the Crown Prince couldn’t be exposed to as much risk, so the procedures for an audience were strict.

Only the five founding ducal houses and direct imperial family could easily meet him; ordinary nobles couldn’t.

One had to make an appointment, prove identity with a mana stone at the palace gate, undergo a body search and be disarmed.

A commoner had to pass even more complicated steps.

“It’s not easy to meet people in this position.”

Matthias sighed softly.

Just then, an attendant standing at a distance approached the Crown Prince.

“Your Highness, soon His Majesty the Emperor will…”

“Is it that time already?”

Matthias furrowed his brow.

“Then we’ll take our leave.”

Johann stood up.

The Emperor, whose self-esteem was low, hated it if anyone was even a minute late for an appointment. They had to leave quickly.

So the Crown Prince could prepare to meet the Emperor.

“Right, it’s a shame, but it can’t be helped. Rafaella, see you next time.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Rafaella stood, taking Johann’s hand, and answered.

Johann and Rafaella, having bid farewell to Matthias, left the drawing room.

“Shall we go see Mom now?”

“Yes!”

At Johann’s question, Rafaella smiled brightly.