The coachman lowered his voice as he spoke carefully.

“We’ve arrived, Your Majesty.”

A plain, unadorned, modest black carriage came to a halt on the quiet road in Erdéi County.

At the coachman’s signal, Liton, the deputy commander of the Imperial Knights, was the first to step down. Dressed in civilian clothes, he brushed his black hair back, the loose strands of which lifted in the chilly breeze. Although it was cold, the weather was unexpectedly mild for winter.

Taking the deputy commander’s hand, Ailie stepped down next; her white robe was as bright as freshly fallen snow. Her maid, Breni, followed close behind.

After leaving them with the message that he would return in three weeks, the coachman drove off.

“Erdéi! It’s been so long!”

Breni bounced on her feet, her round brown eyes sparkling with excitement.

She was thrilled, so obviously delighted that Ailie let out a small, amused laugh.

“Yes. It’s the first time since I married.”

Two years now—no, if she included the life before her return, nearly three years had passed since her last visit.

The reason she had finally come back after such a long time was Benate’s suggestion.

“I’ll be away from the Imperial City for a while for the international conference. Why don’t you take some time to rest in Erdéi as well?”
“In Erdéi?”
“Yes. You can recuperate while you’re there.”

Ailie was startled by his sudden appearance and unexpected proposal at first, but she accepted without objection.

It wasn’t a bad suggestion, although she did find it faintly amusing that he was pretending his concern was solely for her health once again.

In any case, Benate was going to travel with the commander of the Imperial Knights and several others, which meant he wouldn’t have the opportunity to summon Donata. It was exactly as it had been before her return.

Ailie herself had long wished to step away from the Imperial City, where the emperor’s presence was still felt in every corner, if only for a short while. That alone made the offer more than welcome.

Of course, the Ailie of old would never have accepted such a proposal.

‘I always tried to be a wise, compassionate empress. So I suppressed every desire.’

She no longer needed to do that.

Now, all she needed to do was outlive Benate and Donata and thwart their every move.

Determined to do so, Ailie decided that her first holiday in two years would be as quiet and inconspicuous as possible. She would visit Erdei County without drawing attention to herself. This rare break was an opportunity for her to escape her royal duties, even in her hometown.

Instead of a lavish imperial carriage, she requested one so plain that it was almost shabby. She prepared a large white robe to conceal her face completely and set out with the fewest possible attendants.

However, despite specifying that she would bring only a single knight for security, she had not expected the deputy commander to accompany her.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. He said he wouldn’t permit it unless I was the one escorting you.”

He was the one who suggested she go, and yet he wouldn’t allow it unless the deputy commander joined her. She wanted to argue, but it felt too tiresome, so Ailie simply accepted the excessive escort.

“Sir Liton, once we arrive, you don’t have to pay much attention to security. I’ll be with my family all week nothing dangerous will happen.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll keep my distance whenever you’re with them.”

At least he listened. Ailie nodded in satisfaction.

Besides, anyone would feel reassured in the presence of her family. With three older brothers—broad-shouldered and skilled in swordsmanship—no reckless intruder would dare approach.

Because she had been a candidate for Crown Princess since she was young, she had always been busy, leaving her with only a few memories of playing with them. Even so, she had grown up surrounded by their unwavering, one-sided affection—enough to envy no one.

‘I sent a letter ahead. They’re probably all gathered at the estate by now.’

As Ailie thought of the faces she could only vaguely recall, she headed towards the Count’s manor. Although she had been possessed from the outside, she had lived there for seven years. Every street she passed stirred up small, warm memories, lifting her mood.

In contrast to Breni, who looked around with wide eyes as though she were on a picnic, Ailie remained remarkably composed.

“Breni, try not to draw attention.”

“But My La— I mean, young lady. It’s been so long. Aren’t you excited?”

Ailie shot her a playful, pointed look at the quick correction, then let out a soft laugh.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the deputy commander trying not to smile.

“Of course. I’m happy.”

Before her return, on the night of the New Year banquet, Ailie had planned to flee the Imperial City and come to Erdei. Even if the rest of the world accused her of being a mad empress, she believed her family wouldn’t. And even if they didn’t believe her…

‘I just wanted to see them one last time.’

It felt strange. After longing for Erdei so desperately, Ailie had come here simply because Benate had suggested it.

Ailie tried to shake off the memory of those pale blue eyes.

***

“Welcome back, Your Majesty.”

When they arrived at the gates of the manor, the steward, Damon, came out to greet her. She had asked him to welcome her quietly, so he must have come alone.

His neatly combed white hair and lined face appeared exactly as she remembered them, looking familiar and comforting. She couldn’t help but smile back, then lifted a finger to her lips.

“It’s good to see you, Damon. I want to feel like I’ve come home, so could you call me ‘young lady’?”

The steward blinked his gray eyes in surprise, then let out a warm laugh.

“Yes, young lady.”

“Thank you.”

“No, this feels more natural to me as well. It’s been a while for you too, Lady Breni?”

“Yes!”

Breni responded quickly when he spoke to her. Having lived with Ailie when she was staying with the Erdeis, she knew the steward well. Damon looked at Breni, who was smiling from ear to ear, as though she were his own daughter. Then he shifted his gaze to Deputy Commander Liton.

“It must have been a long journey. Thank you for escorting her.”

“It’s nothing. His Majesty entrusted this task to me personally.”

Liton answered matter-of-factly.

At the mention of the Emperor, the steward’s gaze naturally shifted to Ailie, and his expression softened.

“It seems His Majesty takes good care of you, young lady.”

The words fell out so casually.

Worried that her expression might have stiffened for an instant, Ailie curved her eyes into a bright smile.

“That’s right.”

“When I saw you two years ago, you looked much too thin, so this old man couldn’t help worrying. It appears I worried for nothing?”

“Yes, of course.”

Damon blinked as though surprised, then smiled kindly again.

Had he noticed the lie?

Her voice had trembled—just slightly. Ailie cleared her throat quietly.

‘There’s no need to deceive Damon too.’

The thought came naturally.

Had Damon ever been anything but on her side from the moment she arrived at the Erdei household at the age of twelve until the day she left?

The steward was as reliable as her own family. Unlike the people of the Imperial City — or even Breni — he had stayed by her side longer than her father had. He had devoted his entire life to serving the Erdei family, never once breaking their trust.

And because he was such a person… perhaps—

“Please share it with someone, Your Majesty.”
“Even if it’s not me, show your wounds to someone you trust.”

Sirion’s low whisper resurfaced in her mind. He had said that emotional wounds would fester if left alone and that she needed to speak about them.

Ailie tightened her trembling, delicate hands.

She didn’t have to say anything right away. After she had reunited with her family and rested her mind and body, she could make time to speak. At least while she was in Erdei, she had room to breathe.

‘And Sir Liton mustn’t hear any of it.’

If possible, not even Breni. Just one person was enough. As long as it was someone she trusted, she wanted someone—anyone—to listen.

A small courage began to bloom inside her. She felt she could do it. She was ready to live a life entirely different from the one before her return.

“Ah, pardon me. I shouldn’t keep you standing after such a long journey, young lady.”

“It’s all right, Damon. I was so happy to see you I didn’t notice the time.”

“It warms my heart to hear that, young lady. But now you should greet your family.”

Ailie nodded softly.

As she followed Damon into the manor, her gaze was drawn to the familiar decorations and furnishings, each of which evoked a memory.

Portraits of her family hung on the walls. In one, twelve-year-old Ailie could be seen holding a thick book and smiling awkwardly, while her family looked at their youngest daughter with warm affection.

“Ari?”

Someone called her then.

She turned toward the gentle voice she remembered so well and found her mother standing there, pale pink eyes brimming with tears.

“Ari, Ari, you truly came! How long has it been!”

“Mother…”

“I wasn’t sure even after receiving your letter. Our precious empress, coming all the way to Erdei—I didn’t want to expect it and then feel disappointed.”

Ailie carefully patted her mother on the back and embraced her.

Until she discovered Benate’s affair, she had spent her first two years in the Imperial City simply trying to adapt. Everything was unfamiliar, and no matter how much she learnt, there was always more to master.

She had missed Erdei, but could never find the time to visit.

And just when she finally had a moment to breathe, everything collapsed.

She ran to the Dowager Empress to reveal the Emperor’s infidelity, and after that, her life spiralled out of control.

When had it happened?

There had been a time when she had asked Benate for permission to visit Erdei.

He had looked down at her with those cold, icy eyes and said—

“Trying to run away?”

It was true—she had wanted to run. But she had forced herself to endure. One day he’ll grant me a divorce. One day I’ll finally be free of this pain. And yet what she received was not a vacation, but a watcher.

Ailie turned uneasy eyes toward Liton.

Could it be…?

‘Did he assign the deputy commander to me for surveillance?’

A chill crept up the arm that had been gently patting her mother’s back.

“I’m so happy you’re here… Ari, aren’t you hungry? The chef is preparing all the dishes you loved as a child.”

“…Thank you.”

“And that’s not all. Your brothers went into town to pick up the gifts they said they had to bring you. They’ll be back soon.”

“They even prepared gifts? I came empty-handed…”

“What are you saying, Ari? Your being here is the greatest gift our family could receive.”

Ailie slowly blinked her wide eyes. The affection in her mother’s voice was so powerful that it filled the entire manor.

How long had it been since she had experienced love like this?

Ailie hugged her mother tightly, her arms trembling with emotion. From the corner of her vision, she saw Damon and Breni smiling as though they were characters in a painting.

“Ari, so you do act spoiled sometimes.”

“I must have changed a lot.”

“Yes, yes. But if we stay here too long, your father will be upset, won’t he?”

“Ah!”

Ailie let out a soft gasp, as if she had truly forgotten. Her mother chuckled.

“You should go greet him.”

“He’s in the study? And— Ricciardo is with him?”

Ailie, who had been about to hurry off, suddenly stopped right where she stood.

Her pale pink eyes filled with surprise and rising excitement.

“Ric? Ric is here?”