Chapter 110: I’ll Stay With You, Forever

Sunlight filtered gently through the curtains, spreading softly across the smooth marble floor. A breeze slipped in through the open window.

In the garden, though all the snow had melted, the greenery hadn’t fully returned—yet young sprouts were pushing up through the soil, whispering quietly that spring had come.

A vase of violets sat beautifully on the windowsill.

The Emperor’s funeral had ended in winter. As the long-frozen season passed, the morning of the coronation finally dawned.

“It’s already coronation day… I still can’t believe it.”

Edelweiss sat on the stool in front of the mirror, watching as Anna styled her.

Standing behind her, Anna smiled faintly and gently braided Edelweiss’s hair before carefully setting the tiara in place.

The tiara was adorned with Mediart pearls, crystals, and pale green emeralds, all intricately crafted.

The densely placed jewels shimmered like dewdrops, casting a soft light each time she moved.

“I think it’d be best to wear the necklace you received at the wedding. It suits the tiara perfectly.”

“Waaah…”

Just then, a faint cry sounded from the cradle.

Anna’s hands paused as she was securing the tiara.

“Oh my, it seems Her Highness Gloria is awake. I’ll bring her over.”

Setting down the comb, Anna walked over to the cradle with soft steps.

Soon, Gloria—just awake from sleep—was snuggled into Anna’s arms, fussing quietly.

Her soft, silvery hair was slightly tousled, but the moment she locked eyes with Edelweiss, her tears quickly stopped.

“Lara.”

With a bright giggle, Gloria reached out her arms. Edelweiss carefully took her into her embrace.

Gloria flailed her arms, pointing at the tiara on Edelweiss’s head.

It must be the age where she can now distinguish objects—Gloria had recently started reaching out for shiny things.

Just the other day, she had torn off every brooch pinned to Damian’s chest and held them tightly in her hand.

Seeing that, Damian called Gloria a crow.

No matter how you look at it, calling his daughter a crow? Even when Edelweiss showed a hint of complaint, he didn’t care.

He said it wasn’t just because she liked shiny things—it was because she chirped like one too.

‘He called Shasha a colt. So now Gloria’s a crow? What happens when Gloria starts understanding words?’ Edelweiss thought as she placed a light kiss on Gloria’s cheek.

Strangely, Gloria would only reach for what was on Edelweiss but never take it.

She only snatched Damian’s things, which made Edelweiss smile in amusement.

“Your Majesty the Empress, the Grand Duke of Stern is here.”

At the voice coming from outside, Edelweiss’s lips immediately turned downward.

“Your Majesty… shall I tell him to leave?” Anna asked carefully, watching Edelweiss’s reaction.

Though she truly didn’t want to see him, it was best not to stir unnecessary rumors on the day of the coronation.

It would be even worse to hear talk that the Empress turned her birth father away without even seeing his face.

“Let him in.”

At Edelweiss’s gesture, the door opened and the Duke of Stern quietly stepped in.

His gait was cautious, as if pressing down on the floor with each step.

“…To the noble moon that lights the night of Rejenoel, I greet Your Majesty the Empress.”

Even after greeting her, he could not raise his head, and his gaze moved sluggishly.

Edelweiss gave no invitation to sit, no order for tea.

She had no desire to treat him as a guest, nor to face him for long.

He had not been allowed to attend Gloria’s baptism, so the last time he had seen her… was that day at the Blossomweaver Marquisate, when he came with Tessen to beg just once to see Gloria.

It felt like a long time ago now. Of course, it wasn’t the least bit welcome.

Edelweiss wrapped her arms protectively around Gloria’s neck to keep him from seeing her.

“…Before returning to the territory, I came to pay my respects.”

She had prepared to retort, telling him to just go quietly.

But now, she found she didn’t want to spend any emotion on him at all.

The endless desire for affection… the blame, the anger, the tears…

It had all been a waste.

“…I see.”

She spoke without blinking.

“How… how can I earn your forgiveness?”

The Duke of Stern’s fingertips began to tremble. His tone carried desperation.

Edelweiss adjusted Gloria in her arms and opened her mouth.

“I’ve decided not to hate you anymore.”

Her voice came out calmly.

His eyebrows moved faintly—he hadn’t expected that answer.

“It’s just… I realized you’re not worth feeling anything for.

I don’t want to ask for forgiveness. I don’t want to rebuild a relationship. I don’t want any of it.”

A sigh spread across the Duke’s face.

“Even if I did, it wouldn’t change the loneliness of my childhood.

Asking why you didn’t love me only ends up hurting me the most.

Because I keep having to dig up a past I don’t want to remember.”

“…”

“I no longer want anything from you.”

“Edelweiss—”

“Do you know something?

When I was told I didn’t have much time left to live…

Even though Damian had gone missing, and I was worried that Gloria would be left alone…

…Strangely, I didn’t think of you.

I didn’t feel the urge to ask anything of you.”

At that moment, confusion washed over the Duke’s eyes.

A very brief ripple passed through his gaze.

“Maybe it’s because I don’t have a single memory of ever being truly protected by you.”

“…It’s not that I didn’t love you. Just once, really… just once more, like before… call me Father.”

Silence fell.

The heavy air made the stillness even colder.

Even now, as he clung to regret, Edelweiss wondered—

Is this how I must have looked to him, all this time?

Had I really kept giving him chances until now?

“Duke Stern.”

It was a word she had discarded long ago—so long, she had forgotten how to say it.

“Don’t ever return to the capital again.”

The Duke of Stern’s eyes widened. Silently, he took a long breath.

“This is an imperial order from the Empress. You are to live the rest of your life on your estate. I will never teach Gloria that I was once a Stern—that I was your daughter.”

“……”

“Make sure she never sees you. She must never learn that she has a different maternal grandfather.”

The Duke said nothing. With trembling steps, he slowly turned away. A hunched shadow trailed across his back.

When the door closed, silence filled the room once more.

Gloria, who had been quiet all along, reached out with her tiny hand and touched Edelweiss’s cheek. The gesture felt like comfort offered to the child Edelweiss once was.

At last, she had cast him aside.

She had finally let go of her father.

Relief flooded in—and this time, she didn’t cry.

***

After the coronation, brilliant fireworks sliced through the sky. In the vast square below, the citizens of the Empire erupted in cheers.

“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!”

Amid the grand celebration, Edelweiss and Damian stood on a balcony adorned in golden embellishments.

Even as his people shouted his name, Damian remained unmoved. Had Gloria not been born, perhaps he would have handed the throne to a collateral royal.

In a voice only he could hear, Edelweiss whispered,

“Smile. Maybe wave a little, too.”

He turned to look at her. After a moment’s hesitation, Damian slowly raised his hand and waved.

Watching him reluctantly follow her suggestion brought a smile to her lips. And little by little, Damian’s lips curled upward as well.

“What kind of Rejenoel do you want to build?” she asked.

“…I’m not sure. I’ll be happy enough if there’s no rebellion.”

Edelweiss softly wrapped her hand around the back of his.

“Then build a foundation Gloria can lead from.”

“……”

“Follow in the footsteps of the great emperor before you. Leave behind a legacy worthy of history—so Gloria can walk that path someday.”

Through strands of silver hair swaying in the breeze, her emerald eyes glowed with quiet sincerity.

“…Will you stay by my side?”

Damian laced his fingers through hers, gripping them as if he never wanted to let go.

“I’ll be here beside you, with Gloria—forever.”

She had never intended to run in the first place.