Huh? Cedrion’s opinion?

The moment I looked up at him with wide eyes at the sudden question—

“My opinion right now is…”

Cedrion didn’t finish the sentence. Instead, he lowered his head and naturally pressed his lips to mine.

Breaths we were now familiar with, fingertips, and skin melded together.

When I slid my hand inside Cedrion’s robe and pushed it aside, he swiftly lifted me into his arms and began hastening toward the bedroom.

“You said you were scared of having a child.”

“Maybe I’m just not strong enough to resist your temptations.”

“But I didn’t even do anything.”

“Your very existence is temptation.”

Knowing full well that he would still be cautious, I liked that answer and wrapped my arms tightly around his neck.

***

The next morning.

Angie, whom we met at breakfast, shot us a sly look upon seeing Cedrion and me come out a bit late.

“Well, well. It looks like the parents were in the mood for romance on this little getaway?”

The child, who looked like a porcelain doll, was being so cheeky that I glared at her, my face heating up.

“If Your Majesty hadn’t accompanied us, that mood would likely still be ongoing.”

“Cedrion!”

“Hmm, well… I wonder if I’ll be getting a sibling soon?”

…A sibling?

“Angie. So you’re okay with having a younger sibling now?”

“A sibling? Why wouldn’t I be? It’s not like a sibling would harm me.”

“Well, I mean…”

You were so sensitive about it until now.

Caught off guard by Angie’s nonchalant reply, I found myself at a loss for words.

If Cedrion had delayed having a child out of concern for my health, then in my case, my only hesitation had been Angie’s jealousy.

Though she wasn’t my biological daughter, we shared a deeper bond than that.

That’s why I hadn’t tried very hard to persuade Cedrion…

‘Angie’s reaction is… better than expected?’

Cedrion must have been thinking the same thing because our eyes met.

If that’s the case…

I kept my eyes fixed on the poached egg I was cutting and asked as casually as I could manage.

“Angie.”

“Yeah?”

“What kind of person was Lady Angelica’s husband?”

Pfft! Angie, who had been leisurely sipping orange juice, sputtered in surprise.

“W-Why would you suddenly ask that…?”

“No reason. I just figured our Angie might get married one day, too.”

“Why? Are you trying to scout someone to learn palace duties in advance for when Mom takes maternity leave to have more kids and throws everything off balance?”

Screeeech. My knife slipped on the plate, producing a piercing sound.

How did she know?

I stared at her in alarm. Angie smiled triumphantly, as if to say, You didn’t think I wouldn’t know that much, did you?

‘She even knows I want to have several children…’

After a brief silence passed—

Cedrion was the one to break it.

“She’s the founding god of the Lure–Arcadia Dynasty. You can’t treat her royal engagement lightly.”

“Right. Since your betrothal is such a serious matter, it’s only natural to prepare in advance. The head lady-in-waiting and head chamberlain say it from time to time too.”

Hmm… Angie narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“They say there are many who hope to attend your banquets often and even seek audiences for non-political reasons. Because they want to present their children to you.”

“…Now that you mention it, the Count of Feltiner from Edelburg has two sons around your age.”

“Oh my. Then those young lords might show up today all dressed to impress? To win over Her Majesty? Wouldn’t they be the first noble children she’s met?”

I smirked, cheeks slightly raised.

“Hmm…”

Angie, who had been quietly listening, set down her utensils and crossed her arms.

Then, from the little girl with neatly braided twin pigtails came an unexpectedly bold statement.

“I’m not doing a political marriage.”

“W-What?”

Both Cedrion and I widened our eyes and stared at the child seated at the head of the table.

“What do you mean you won’t do a political marriage? You’ll still marry—do you mean for love?”

“…Do you really think the ministers would allow that? They’d kick up a fuss, insisting the heir must marry at least into a marquisate.”

“They say you’ve already been receiving proposals from foreign countries. The chamberlain’s been rejecting them, saying you’re still too young.”

“It’s all because of the succession, isn’t it?”

“That’s part of it.”

Cedrion answered verbally, while I nodded to express agreement.

“I’ll appoint a crown prince. So the bloodline doesn’t matter.”

“What?”

This time, Cedrion raised an eyebrow instead of replying and gestured for an explanation.

“You were planning to have two kids anyway, to link Norhart and Lure. So just have one more and make her my heir.”

“You… right now…!”

Maybe it was Angie’s overly casual tone, but Cedrion—already overly sensitive about my health—furrowed his brow. Yet Angie continued, unconcerned.

“Isn’t it perfect? Norhart carries Arcadia’s first bloodline, and Mom is my mother. Who’s going to object?”

“No, setting everything else aside—three children, just like that, at your whim…”

“It’ll work.”

Angie looked straight at me and declared it.

Her golden eyes, now slightly darker than when she was a baby, radiated an undeniable force.

It was one of those moments when you could truly feel that Angie was a celestial being.

Noticing that I had frozen slightly, Angie quickly relaxed her expression and gave a bright smile. Her voice that followed sounded teasing.

“I tried a political marriage once before. I don’t want to go through it again. Losing your first love just to mix bloodlines—once is more than enough.”

Angie shrugged and took a dainty sip from her glass of goat’s milk, acting nonchalant.

Had something monumental just slipped by?

‘Was that a love scandal from my ancestor?’

Cedrion seemed equally taken aback. He wore the look of someone trying to recall which family the first Marchioness of Lure’s consort had belonged to.

“So, you mean that this time, you want to marry someone you actually like, instead of for political reasons?”

“Regardless of status or class—bam! Love at first sight! Don’t you think you’ve only really lived if you’ve had at least one passionate romance?”

The young girl, who looked about ten, spoke cynically, a white mustache of goat’s milk staining her upper lip.

It was a bombshell on multiple levels.

From her unexpected views on marriage to the shocking declaration that she wanted to make our future child her successor.

Cedrion, sitting across from me, seemed to share the same stunned feelings. His face was as expressionless as ever, but the subtle trembling of his golden eyes betrayed his surprise.

***

“Thanks to the new public health center, we haven’t had a single death from influenza this winter. I’d say the mortality rate this year might be almost half of what it was under the previous reign.”

Lunchtime at the Edelburg Lord’s manor.

Visibly nervous, Count Feltiner gave his report to Angie, who was seated at the head of the table.

Young though she may be, a monarch is still a monarch.

Until now, most of the Norhart vassals had only had the chance to pay respects during the New Year celebrations or Angie’s birthday banquet. With the royal capital Belvo so far away, rare was the opportunity to receive their sovereign this up close.

“I don’t know if Your Majesty happened to hear during your incognito visits, but among the common folk, your grace is the subject of much praise. They’ve even started composing songs…”

Clang!

“Oh dear, my apologies.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Thanks to you, no. Thank you, Count.”

The manor’s butler moved with seamless grace, picking up the knife I had dropped and replacing it with a fresh one.

Whew, that was smooth.

‘Angie would have recoiled at the mention of that oracle baby song…’

I quietly savored the satisfaction of having just saved Count Feltiner from an accidental blunder.

The official purpose of this tour was to inspect the operation of the public health centers established throughout the country since last year.

It was the first major initiative Angie had launched after ascending the throne—so this visit made perfect sense.

“Derrick, why don’t you tell Her Majesty about your correspondence with Sir Neil from the health post?”

Count Feltiner smoothly drew his eldest son, seated near the foot of the table, into the conversation.

“It’s an honor. I’ve always felt regret seeing our staff suffer unnecessarily from mild illnesses, just because we had no access to physicians…”

The boy, about twelve, with hair like pale wheat, began reciting what was clearly a pre-prepared account.

As his speech dragged on, I glanced toward Angie to check her reaction.

‘…Yeah, she looks completely unimpressed.’

Count Feltiner had clearly hoped that the Queen would take notice of his son. But unfortunately for him, it had only been a few hours since she’d proclaimed her desire for a fated romance.

Neither the elder boy, Derrick, nor the younger sibling beside him seemed to spark anything close to fate in Angie’s eyes.

Similar scenarios repeated over the following day.

In keeping with the southern Norhart tour schedule, we visited another nearby estate for lunch and dinner, where local lords once again paraded out their sons in hopes of catching the young Queen’s attention.

Every single one failed to pique her interest.

‘The lords probably feel satisfied just getting on her radar this trip…’

But it’s not about being seen—it’s about winning her heart.

Within just two days, the primary focus of my attention during this tour had completely shifted.

After enjoying dinner at the Padmion estate, we stepped outside toward the manor’s grand entrance to return to our villa.

“Thank you. It’s been a pleasure.”

“The honor is ours to host Your Majesty, even if modestly, here in such a remote region. Grand Duke, Your Grace, we are grateful for your gracious visit as well.”

“Yes. Let’s meet again at Norhart Castle next time.”

“It’s been a pleasure seeing you again.”

After exchanging final pleasantries with the Padmion family, we followed the attendants across the shadowed courtyard to the waiting carriage.

As the door opened and Cedrion extended his hand to escort Angie inside, she suddenly stopped in her tracks and stared wide-eyed at one of the lined-up servants.

“…Albert?”