It wasn’t just to resemble her mother, Amelia. Leonel had everything taken away by Aaron. Status, power, love. Even the way people looked at them—Aaron as good, Leonel as evil.

Leonel wanted to be Aaron. What must that have felt like? Wanting to become someone who took everything from you. No matter how hard one tries to understand, it would be difficult to feel the emotions Leonel felt at the time. It’s dreadful to think that Leonel felt such a sense of defeat that he couldn’t even bear resentment, but wanted to become that person.

“…Your Highness, the Third Prince.”

“Please call me Aaron, Grand Duchess.”

When did he see me? I don’t know why he’s acting cute, asking to be called by his name. Besides, Aaron’s personality wasn’t like this originally. Now was the time when Aaron’s position was unstable, and he had to be cautious. In fact, Aaron couldn’t even lift his head properly in front of His Majesty earlier.

But what’s with this child who is approaching her now?

“I don’t think that’s possible, Your Highness.”

Before she could speak, Leonel’s cold response came first. Even though it hadn’t happened yet, it seemed like their relationship wasn’t good. Is it something that will happen soon? Or is it because of the original character settings? They walked opposite paths in every aspect.

It was a setting where they could only dislike each other. Of course, she didn’t like Aaron, who hadn’t done anything yet, either. Thinking of Leonel with such feelings, she couldn’t possibly feel friendly towards a child resembling her. Instead, the resemblance was so strong that it felt repulsive.

“Mom, I’m tired.”

“Oh? Are you tired? Are you not feeling well?”

Amelia was startled by Leonel’s claim of being tired. He was a child who wouldn’t speak of weakness if he wasn’t truly struggling. She checked his complexion and body here and there in surprise, but it seemed there wasn’t a big issue.

“I just… want to go home.”

“Okay, let’s go back.”

She tightly grasped the small hand reaching for hers. Maybe she had mistaken his tense expression for being stiff. It was absurd to think such a lovely child could be just like Raphael. As she tried to leave the room, holding Leonel’s hand, she felt a piercing gaze.

The eyes that looked just like hers were more creepy than welcoming. It was unbelievable how similar they could be, even to a stranger.

“Mom?”

“Ah, Leonel.”

However, that was only for a moment, as Leonel called her.

***

As soon as she opened the door, she was caught by Raphael and taken back to the Grand Ducal house. Perhaps because Leonel was there, he didn’t speak. The fear that he might continue talking seemed unfounded, as Raphael didn’t open his mouth except for a brief struggle with Leonel trying to sit on her lap.

It wasn’t only uncomfortable when he sat next to her. It was also nerve-wracking when he sat across from her. The golden eyes staring at her silently made her feel dissected.

“How was the party today, Leonel?”

“I liked it.”

“Didn’t you say you were tired?”

She couldn’t help but smile at Leonel, who took up the seat next to her and kept acting cute.

“I liked going with mom.”

Unlike the someone in front of her, he only spoke pretty words whenever he opened his mouth, and she couldn’t help but find him adorable.

“Let’s go again during the Founding Festival celebration.”

“That won’t happen. There won’t be a next time.”

Her brows furrowed at the cold tone that broke the pleasant mood. If he wasn’t confident in speaking kindly, it would be better if he didn’t speak at all.

“I’ll go.”

“I want to go with you too.”

Leonel’s supportive behavior next to her boosted her confidence. Raphael just twisted his face without saying more. Perhaps this is why they say a son over a husband.

She had to go, even if he objected. If they were to separate now, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that the Emperor would pursue her to the end. If she wasn’t the Grand Duchess, the Emperor would have killed her today.

“……”

He kept his mouth shut all the way back, but his expression changed when they were alone. It seemed he was holding back because of Leonel.

“Let’s talk.”

“I need to sleep soon and go to another party tomorrow.”

Originally, he wouldn’t talk when they were alone in the room. As evening came, he became like another person who wouldn’t even look at her. But what change of heart made him talk today? Does he think there’s no need to hide anything anymore?

“Whatever you say, I’ll attend.”

She had to find out why the Emperor reacted that way towards her. This was something she couldn’t even ask the Master about. No matter how much the Master knew secrets about the imperial family…, she felt this was something even he wouldn’t know.

“If you dislike attending noisy parties…”

“You know that’s not it.”

She got angry at him, acting nonchalantly as if he had forgotten that his true colors had been completely exposed. Did he think she was a fool?

“Is it because you don’t want to dance?”

I wish you would treat me as an invisible person as usual. Raphael ignored her whenever he entered the room in the evening, as if she didn’t exist.

“Amelia.”

“Don’t worry; I won’t be dancing with just anyone.”

She wanted to do so, but provoking Raphael further here wouldn’t do any good.

“Is that really the reason?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you worried because His Majesty the Emperor threatened me?”

The Emperor couldn’t harm her right now. So why does Raphael continue to dislike her going to the palace? There must be another reason.

“……”

Amelia turned her back and covered herself with the blanket at Raphael’s silence in response to her question. That man always shut his mouth tight when faced with an inconvenient question.

Just a little longer, and these situations would no longer happen.

“…What are you doing?”

“I’m choosing your jewelry.”

If it hadn’t been for Raphael barging into her room while she was getting ready, she would have thought she was just interfering with her or leaving her alone, after saying those words yesterday.

“Didn’t you say you weren’t going?”

“As if I’d let you go alone.”

Raphael’s touch on her still-unstyled hair made her body jerk in surprise. It wasn’t as if he was a different person by day and night, only during the bright day in the presence of others had they engaged in such skinship.

“Yesterday, everyone was so intimidated by your necklace that they couldn’t even look at it.”

That was true. She had heard several times the sound of people gasping upon seeing her necklace.

“There’s no need for you to pick one out for me.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Because of Your Grace, my preparations are getting delayed. If this is your strategy to keep me from going……”

As if to say that wasn’t his intention, he immediately released his hand, and Amelia turned her head. She must not get swept away by Raphael’s mood.

“Could you hurry and get ready?”

“Yes, yes, Your Highness.”

Despite her clear words, Raphael still hadn’t left the room, which made her feel like sighing. Ann and Jane seemed to notice something odd as they caught sight of him comfortably seated and crossing his legs. It was indeed strange.

If he continued to stay here, she would inevitably be late. Was he intending to be cowardly like this?

“Your Grace, you should get ready too.”

“I want to watch you prepare.”

This wasn’t just stubbornness; there must be another reason. Raphael knew that the Emperor wouldn’t harm her during the duration of the Founding Festival. The Emperor wasn’t a fool to that extent. He’s a person who doesn’t trust anyone because his reign is important to him. Such a person wouldn’t cause trouble during the 700th Founding Festival.

In fact, even when he’s filled with anger, the Emperor never said or did anything that could be criticized.

“Could everyone please leave?”

“Huh?”

“I think I need to have a word with His Grace.”

Ann and Jane were surprised but left the room as if they had been waiting for it. Contrary to her expectations that Raphael would start talking right away, he remained silent.

“Now tell me the real reason.”

“What are you talking about?”

Amelia stood up, frustrated by his attitude of trying to evade till the end. It seemed this man thought she knew nothing.

“Is there another reason I shouldn’t go to the imperial palace?”

Perhaps it has something to do with Aaron, who looked exactly like her.