The Emperor took away Lucian’s work to give him free time. When body and time are at ease, idle thoughts naturally follow.

‘He’ll understand faster if he thinks and worries alone.’

Being smart like himself, he would eventually acknowledge his feelings.

He only hoped that moment wouldn’t come too late. Then a happy ending would arrive.

The Emperor waved his hand.

“You may go now. Take more aides if you need them.”

“No need. This is enough. Then I’ll take my leave.”

Lucian bowed stiffly and left the room.

The Emperor smiled quietly at his somewhat awkward movements. Only after Lucian’s footsteps faded away did hearty laughter fill the office.

The Emperor leaned back and laughed heartily. Then, brushing away the long hair that had fallen over his face, he muttered.

“My daughter is more perceptive than me. She takes exactly after Ariel.”

The Emperor smiled contentedly as he recalled last night’s events.

After leaving Adelia’s room, he went straight to Ariana to apologize and had many conversations.

Among all the conversations they couldn’t have before, the most mentioned person wasn’t Lucian or Lawrence, but Adelia.

Sitting together on the soft bed and chatting quietly, the father and daughter naturally brought up Adelia.

“Without Sister, I wouldn’t have been able to reconcile with Dad, right?”

“We would have eventually. It would have taken longer. I wouldn’t have known my mistakes, nor how to ask for forgiveness.”

“As expected…… it’s Sister. Now I can’t imagine the imperial palace without her. I wish Sister wouldn’t leave the palace.”

Ariana snuggled into the Emperor’s embrace and clasped her hands tightly.

It was an action that showed her resolute determination to hold onto Adelia and not let go.

The Emperor found it adorable and gently tapped her small hands.

“I agree. No one would adapt to the imperial palace as well as that child. With her abilities and the boldness to advise the Emperor, she would be perfect to help lead the empire alongside Lucian later.”

“Dad, you don’t want Sister to leave either?”

Ariana turned her head to look at the Emperor.

Though she took exactly after the Emperor, her red eyes that were full of vitality unlike his were lovely.

The Emperor nodded slowly.

“Yes. I realized it through this incident. That child shines even among the imperial family. Though not as much as my daughter, just that fact makes her a talent worth coveting.”

“Hehe…… See, Sister Adelia is absolutely necessary for the imperial palace! If Dad speaks well, wouldn’t Sister stay?”

At the Emperor’s words, Ariana spun around and jumped into his embrace. She wrapped her arms around his neck and completely leaned against his solid body. Ariana rubbed her face against him like a content cat, acting cute.

Just imagining Adelia staying in the imperial palace made her feel like flying with happiness.

To Ariana now, Adelia was more than just a good sister. Unlike the other family members who walked on eggshells around her, she remained calm and firm, all while loving her deeply.

If this wasn’t family, what was it?

Adelia was family. Family she never wanted to be separated from.

The Emperor supported Ariana with one hand while stroking her head with the other.

“That’s not my job but Lucian’s. If I were to bind such a talented child by my will, that would be tyranny.”

The Emperor had no intention of binding Adelia. More precisely, he wanted to but had learned something from Ariana’s case.

That people cannot be controlled.

If Adelia were to stay in the imperial palace, it had to be voluntary. And for that to happen, she and Lucian needed to either revise the contract agreement or become a real couple and nullify the contract.

He could help in the process, but ultimately, the final decision was up to the two of them.

The Emperor’s expression darkened slightly.

Negotiating with Adelia seemed more promising than leaving it to Lucian. But conversely, Ariana smiled widely as if she had found the answer.

“Hehe then Sister might stay in the imperial palace!”

Ariana’s innocent voice rang in his ears. The Emperor blinked with a bewildered expression at the sudden positive statement.

Ariana smiled like warm spring sunshine as she faced the Emperor.

“What do you mean?”

“Dad, didn’t you know? Brother already has feelings for Sister!”

“Lucian does?”

Though the Emperor asked hopefully, Ariana shook her head.

“No. Anyone can see Brother is kind to Sister. And if he looks at someone he’s not interested in with those eyes, then our Brother is a very sinful man. I’m sure of it!”

Ariana earnestly argued for the positivity of Lucian and Adelia’s relationship. As someone who had observed Ariana and Lucian closely, she had strong conviction.

At least her brother had feelings for Adelia. Whether it was admiration for a capable talent or attraction to the opposite s*x, she wasn’t sure, but having positive feelings was a good sign.

As Ariana explained with an eager face, the Emperor pulled his lips into a smirk.

“Yes yes, if our daughter says so, it must be true.”

“Dad has to absolutely connect Sister and Brother. For now, we have two years left, so won’t they grow closer during that time?”

“But according to the contract, she’s supposed to leave the imperial palace when Ariana gets her title, so we can’t be certain about two years.”

“If Sister tries to leave the imperial palace quickly, Dad, please delay it. But…… I hope we don’t make Sister sad.”

“I’ll try that much.”

That night, the two promised to become Cupids of love to connect Ariana and Lucian. With Lawrence also sharing their intention, they had plenty of strong allies.

Of course, Adelia starting her revenge the very next day was unexpected.

“Still, seeing that reaction, it’s not impossible.”

Ariana said she wasn’t sure if Lucian felt romantic attraction toward Adelia.

But as someone who had experienced the same emotions, the Emperor was certain when he saw Lucian’s behavior.

That spring had come for his son too.

* * *

After leaving the Emperor’s office, Lucian walked silently through the corridor.

His mind was complicated. He couldn’t gather his thoughts with the sudden rush of events.

This was a fair part of the contract. Adelia was already doing enough as the Crown Princess, and as a merchant guild master had given many conveniences to the imperial palace, so now it was his turn to help with Adelia’s revenge.

Although it happened sooner than expected, it wasn’t entirely surprising.

But why? He didn’t feel good about it.

“Damn……”

A curse escaped his lips.

An incomprehensible emotion wrapped around his entire body. He didn’t even know the name of this feeling where one corner of his heart became empty and felt like it was crumbling down.

It was frustrating not knowing his own mood, the emotions he was feeling, or why he was wandering aimlessly around the imperial palace.

‘I should be feeling good, so why.’

When Adelia gained her title and finished her revenge, they would divorce.

With Adelia’s abilities, the Vita family would rise higher than now, and that would mean having an influential and capable head of family become part of the Emperor’s faction. Also, having the master of the Eileen Merchant Guild as a loyal subject was something he welcomed as the future Emperor.

It would also silence those who were pressuring him about marriage when he contracted with Adelia.

Though he had gained much thanks to Adelia, still, actually moving directly for Adelia’s plans was troublesome work.

So he should want to quickly handle the work received from the Emperor, and should feel good about the upcoming divorce.

‘Is it because it’s more convenient to have the guild master nearby? Am I worried someone might recruit the white mage? Or that she might join the noble faction after becoming a count? That she might wield power and control the nobles? That she might become someone who threatens imperial authority?’

He thought of countless reasons but knew none of them were true.

The more he searched for reasons, the more he felt like sinking into a deep mire.

“We see His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Lucian snapped back to his senses at the familiar voice.

“Shall I announce Your Highness’s arrival to the Imperial Princess?”

It was someone who had gone from being the Empress’s lady-in-waiting to the Imperial Princess’s nanny, one of the few people who weren’t afraid of him.

Lucian silently raised his head. The familiar door before him was a place he had frequented countless times since the days when Ariana couldn’t speak.

“Ah……”

Lucian covered his mouth with one hand along with a small exclamation.

The reason he had unconsciously come here was clear.

“She is having tea time with Her Highness the Crown Princess inside.”

Because the two were always together at this time.

“Tell them.”

When Lucian nodded and spoke, the Imperial Princess’s nanny smiled brightly and went inside. And shortly after, the door opened again.

“Please enter, Your Highness.”

As the door opened wide, he saw the two of them enjoying a cozy tea time by the window.

Adelia and Ariana were enjoying a conversation while eating a tart topped with plenty of peaches, feeling the gentle summer breeze.

Only after the door opened did Ariana hop down from her seat and approach him.

“Brother, what brings you here at this hour?”

Ariana looked up at Lucian as she spoke in front of him.