During Everitt’s childhood, the event from about 30 years ago likely had the greatest influence on his spending considerable time at the imperial palace. It was when the current Emperor, who was then the Crown Prince, was caught kissing his younger half-sister.

No one knew whether they were lovers or if they had been intimate, as both kept their lips tightly sealed.

The princess was married off to the Windswell Grand Duchy just days after the incident, almost as if being sold.

Some said the siblings had shared an unforgivable love; others claimed it was the Crown Prince’s one-sided affection. Some even suggested it was merely playful mischief. No one knew the truth.

But even if they had been in love, it was certain that their love wasn’t eternal.

After marrying Grand Duke Liam Myers, the princess never set foot in the Empire again until her death. She didn’t even meet her brother when he personally visited the Grand Duchy before ascending to the throne.

That princess, Eloise, was Everitt’s mother.

Everitt first set foot in the Empire during winter when he was nine years old. Eloise remained in the Grand Duchy while he visited the Empire with his father, Liam.

When Everitt appeared at the imperial palace, the dirty rumors about the Emperor and Eloise that had been circulating quietly until then came to an end. This was because Everitt’s appearance was an exact blend of Liam and Eloise.

His pitch-black hair like the night sky and burning red eyes were exactly the same color as Liam’s, who stood right beside him. No one at the palace who saw this doubted that Everitt was Liam’s son.

And even at that young age, his beautiful face that captivated viewers was exactly like Eloise’s girlhood appearance. So much so that the Emperor could barely speak when he faced Everitt.

“You are… ahem. Eloise’s… son. I can tell just by looking. How can you resemble her so much?”

“Everitt Myers greets Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Florantia Empire.”

Everitt placed his hand on his chest and knelt on one knee as he greeted. The boy’s Imperial language, greeting manner, etiquette, and behavior were each perfect as if they were shining.

“Though still young, you clearly have the makings of excellence. Grand Duke, you must feel reassured.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Liam gave a faint bitter smile.

The Emperor asked Everitt several questions about Eloise, and the boy, who knew nothing, answered obediently. Liam just stood by, listening to their conversation.

The Emperor’s questions weren’t particularly noteworthy. They were closer to asking after a long-separated sister’s well-being.

After that, the Emperor never brought up his sister in front of Everitt again.

Liam left Everitt in the Empire with attendants and returned to Windswell. Before leaving, he stroked Everitt’s head and said affectionately:

“I’ll come to get you when winter passes. Stay as a playmate for the princes, learn the Empire’s laws, and build relationships. It will all benefit you later.”

“…Yes, Father.”

Everitt wanted to beg to be taken back with him but held it in. He knew why he was being left with the Emperor, his maternal uncle.

Everitt had a brother five years older than him. That brother had died at exactly Everitt’s current age.

His brother had gone hunting in the winter mountains with Liam and was unfortunately killed by a monster. Since then, every winter, Liam would scour the snowy mountains in northern Windswell for a massive monster hunt, claiming he would take revenge for his son’s life.

And Eloise was anxious about losing Everitt to that hunt as well. Eventually, at Eloise’s insistence, Everitt was entrusted to her family home. The Empire was far from things like monsters. Though Eloise herself never set foot in her family home, she seemed to think it would be the safest place for Everitt.

‘I need to become strong.’

Everitt thought that was the only way. His wish was to become strong as quickly as possible to reassure his mother and help his father avenge his brother.

So even while staying at the imperial palace all winter, he spent more time heading to the training grounds with a wooden sword than mingling with his cousins. He would seek out not only high-ranking knights but also lower knights and their servants, and occasionally even mercenary groups staying outside the main palace, to learn how to handle weapons and fight. As the Emperor’s precious guest and nephew, there were few places he couldn’t go.

Then one day.

‘Today they said they’d let me swing a real sword.’

As he was heading to the training grounds with excitement, something pink and fluttering caught his eye. Turning with a “huh,” he saw a small girl looking around before stealthily hiding between the garden shrubs.

Everitt knew this child. She was the youngest of his cousins.

‘That’s Natalie. But what is she doing now?’

It wasn’t something a princess would typically do. Everitt followed the five-year-old little lady who, despite wearing an expensive dress with layers of delicate lace covering her calves, didn’t mind crawling between the shrubs.

Natalie was heading toward a tree in the corner of the garden. More precisely, toward the top of that tree. She looked up at the tree and boldly rolled up her sleeves.

Following Natalie’s gaze upward, Everitt saw a small bird’s nest in the tree.

A princess? Climbing a tree?

Everitt’s mouth opened slightly. If she wanted to see the bird’s nest, she could just order someone to bring a ladder. Judging by how his other older cousins behaved, it wouldn’t be strange if she simply ordered the nest to be brought down, branch and all.

Meanwhile, Natalie had stuck herself to the tree.

‘Ah, that doesn’t look like it’s going to work. Should I help her, or should I pretend not to see?’

While he was deliberating, it was too late. The tip of her pretty shoe failed to properly step on the branch and slipped, causing her to fall to the ground. Natalie landed squarely on her bottom.

“Ow, ow, ow…”

Tears immediately welled up in her sky-blue eyes that turned up at the corners like a cat’s.

Oh no, she’s going to cry. Everitt didn’t know how to deal with a small girl on the verge of tears. But just then, their eyes met.

“….”

“….”

Natalie stood up quickly from where she was, glared at him, and boldly asked:

“Did you see?”

“No.”

Everitt answered promptly with an expressionless face. Natalie nodded, and only then did she dust off the dirt and leaves stuck to her bottom. She pouted at the torn lace on her skirt hem, but only briefly. Natalie opened her mouth toward Everitt again.

“Now you’re my accomplice.”

“Why me?”

“Because you saw but said you didn’t.”

She grinned with eyes still brimming with tears. Then she pointed at the tree she had just fallen from.

“Now help me climb up.”

“Pfft.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. After a good chuckle, Everitt became Natalie’s footstool. From that day on, they became friends, like siblings.

Until he turned fourteen, Everitt visited the Empire every winter. And when he turned fifteen, he earned the right to join Liam on the monster hunt in the northern mountains.

That year’s hunt was a great success. Liam avenged his dead eldest son by exterminating the monsters with his second son.

If it had ended just like that, it would have been perfect, but reality wasn’t so kind. Liam’s wounds from the hunt worsened, and he passed away before spring arrived.

Unfortunately, Eloise was pregnant with their third child. While this meant the Grand Duke and Duchess had a good relationship, she was already of advanced maternal age. She knew it was dangerous but insisted on giving birth. It was her last child with her husband. However, luck wasn’t on her side; the baby was stillborn, and Eloise noticeably weakened afterward.

According to northern law, until Everitt, the only heir, came of age, Grand Duchess Eloise had to rule the Windswell Grand Duchy in his stead. She endured through her love for her husband and children, only closing her eyes after Everitt reached adulthood.

Eloise spent her final year in bed.

Just before passing away, she called Everitt and quietly confided in him. About her sudden marriage at too young an age, and about the husband she fell in love with at first sight.