My magic, which Mother cherished dearly, had been powerful enough to overwhelm my mentor, who was regarded as the greatest mage since the founding of the kingdom.

Because of this, I had the privilege of requesting an audience with His Majesty at any time. Once I made up my mind, I sent word to the royal palace.

However, it was not a messenger with a reply who knocked on my door late in the day; it was Leopold.

Earlier in the afternoon, he had sent a flustered message, apologizing for not being able to join me for dinner, making his unexpected visit all the more surprising.

I looked up at him with a puzzled expression, my face reflecting my confusion. He truly seemed exhausted, fatigue etched across his features. A touch of magic to his cheek would have made him feel much better. But since I was the one planning to leave, I couldn’t afford to act affectionately.

“Fortunately, you’re still awake.”

Leopold’s lips curled into a smile. That smile felt so dreamlike that I turned my head away, speechless. Then, below my gaze, a letter bearing the imperial seal appeared. Startled once more, I met his eyes again.

“You requested an audience with His Majesty.”

“…News travels fast.”

“He isn’t one to keep things to himself. You’re to enter the palace tomorrow afternoon.”

“Alright. Thanks for letting me know.”

I snatched the letter from his hand and turned my gaze to the ceiling. Surely, he would understand that I wanted him to leave. He was perceptive enough.

“Can you tell me what this is about?”

Contrary to my expectations, Leopold remained standing, posing a curious question.

I was beginning to believe that the man before me might be entirely different from the one I had known in the past. Wasn’t Leopold Lawrence the only person who had never shown any curiosity about what I did?

“It’s nothing significant. You’ll hear about it from His Majesty later.”

“If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine.”

Although he had once coldly dismissed me without a second thought, his gentle response, reminiscent of a meek lamb, stirred a sense of sorrow within me. Was it my fault for not fully suppressing my emotions, or was it his fault for knowing nothing at all? Meaningless questions swirled in my mind.

At that moment, I realized I should get him out of this room as soon as possible.

“I need to borrow your hand for a moment.”

“My hand?”

Startled by the sudden request, I asked again, but without giving me a chance to respond, he gently lifted my left hand as if escorting me.

Soon, a white platinum ring with a round amethyst, the exact color of my eyes, was slowly slipped onto my index finger.

“I thought it might suit you.”

Unable to find words, I simply stared at my finger. Understanding my unspoken question, he spoke calmly.

“I’ve always wanted to give you a gift. Please accept it as a favor.”

Before I could protest, he placed a brief kiss on the back of my hand.

“Goodnight, Hazel.”

With a voice that seemed to melt away the stiffness in my heart, he left a warm farewell and quietly exited the room, leaving me completely frozen.

How long did I stand there like that?

When I finally felt the ache in my legs, I collapsed onto the bed, stretching my arms out into the air. Light filtered through my fingers, casting shadows. In that darkness, the ring shone so purely white that it seemed almost sacred. The mysterious purple glimmering at its center felt even more unreal than the fact that I had returned to the past.

‘Peter, do you think my husband lost his wedding ring?’

‘He always keeps it with him, so don’t worry, Madam.’

Since exchanging rings at our wedding, I had never seen the ring on his hand. Unable to bring myself to ask him directly, I casually mentioned it to Peter, but his response seemed rehearsed.

I feared that discovering the truth might cause my already wounded heart to wither completely, so I resolved to at least keep my own ring safe.

But now, on the hand that had touched mine… there was the wedding ring, clear as day. Unlike me, who had removed my ring the moment I regained my senses here.

As he slipped another ring onto my otherwise bare hand, I wondered what he was thinking. Was he hurt, even a little, like I had been in the past? Or did he remain indifferent, true to his nature?

He didn’t say anything while looking at my clean hand, which made the latter seem more likely.

After pondering Leopold’s thoughts for a moment, I stood up and went to the vanity. I opened the drawer and placed the ring deep inside.

I didn’t want to guess your feelings anymore.

***

The tense audience went much more smoothly than I had anticipated.

When I expressed my desire to help the people of Fojetta, who were suffering from pirate attacks, His Majesty gladly provided me with a status token. It was a unique bracelet-like item, a metal band about two fingers wide, with the imperial seal repeatedly engraved on it. It was said that all nobles in the empire, especially heads of families and merchants in major cities, shared specific patterns engraved on their status tokens. For example, when purchasing food, drinks, or goods, showing the token would charge the amount to the imperial treasury.

“Feel free to spend freely. Just don’t hold back your abilities.”

I was briefly elated by the warm encouragement and strong support I received, but soon I felt tense again, facing a dinner with Mother.

The Duchess, my steadfast guardian and a prominent lady of the Lawrence family, was incredibly kind and loving. To be precise, it was her appreciation for my talents rather than my existence that mattered, but it made little difference to me. After all, she was the one who saved both Jayden and me when we were on the verge of death.

Looking back, the events of that time could only be described as miraculous.

It was late autumn, after the harvest, and I was returning from the forest without finding any food in the pouring rain. I knew Jayden was waiting alone in the damp cave, but hunger and cold were too harsh for a child in rags. Eventually, I collapsed under a large tree, as if it were my grave.

What still puzzled me was how Mother found a small, dirty child in that dark, eerie forest—especially when she couldn’t move her legs at all. It wasn’t hunting season, and it was a place untouched by human feet, with rain pouring down like a storm.

I once asked her directly, but the only answer I received was that divine grace had reached me.

What I remembered was the light touch of hands lifting me effortlessly, but there were countless knights in the ducal family, which didn’t help solve my curiosity.

Anyway, when I opened my eyes much later, I honestly thought I was in heaven. I was surrounded by things I had never experienced before, like clean blankets, soft pajamas, and a fluffy bed.

What felt most heavenly was the gentle voice of a mother I had always dreamed of.

“Dear, are you feeling a bit better?”

“…Jayden is… waiting for me…”

Unable to speak properly due to a terrible fever, a gentle hand stroked my hair, reassuring me.

“We brought that child too. Don’t worry, just rest a bit more.”

Even at a young age, I thought this was quite a happy ending and closed my eyes. When I realized after the fever broke that it wasn’t the end but the beginning of a better life, I cried with overwhelming gratitude.

The Duchess stayed by my side like a real mother until I fully recovered. I was just amazed and grateful, wondering how she planned to care for two orphans with her disabled legs.

As time passed and I realized my magic wasn’t the same as before, things changed a bit.

Mother completely lost interest in me, but it wasn’t too disappointing. Saving me and caring for me without fail for over ten years was already more than enough grace.

I wondered how empty she must have felt when I died before repaying her. In this life, I would surely heal her legs completely.

“I’ve been waiting.”

As I entered the dining room, I was greeted by the elegant smile I had always longed to emulate.

That gentle smile often eased my longing for a mother figure. At times, I even felt fortunate to have been born an orphan.

Such was the depth of Lady Lawrence’s affection for me.

“I didn’t know you’d be here first.”

Seeing Mother again after such a long time caused my throat to tighten slightly. Thanks to Leopold, I had learned patience; otherwise, I might have burst into tears.

“I have plenty of time, you know. There’s a new mistress in the ducal family now.”

“How could I possibly become the mistress when I know nothing?”

If anyone had overheard, they might have scolded me for being too modest or insincere.

“You can learn what you don’t know. Hazel, you’re intelligent, so you’ll pick it up quickly.”

She smiled softly and invited me to dine.

As always, we exchanged news from the social scene like an ordinary mother and daughter, and our conversation soon turned to the affairs of the ducal family.

“…So, Peter will inform you of a few matters soon. Make sure to learn well.”

Sensing the mood, I cautiously spoke up.

“Actually, Mother, I have a favor to ask because of that.”

Instead of responding, her eyes widened in surprise. It was a reasonable reaction, considering she always took care of me before I had a chance to feel inadequate.

“Let’s hear it.”

After composing myself, I spoke earnestly.

“I was hoping you could continue as the mistress of the ducal family.”

“What do you mean?”

“I want to find a way to completely heal your legs more seriously.”

Though my conscience pricked a bit, it was the best excuse I had to leave the ducal residence without awkwardness. It was also sincere.

“No matter how talented I am, I don’t have as much experience in healing as my mentor. If I care for more injured people, I might discover a cure faster. Besides, the ducal family still needs you, Mother.”

“…That makes sense.”

Her gentle smile shifted to a serious expression.