After she lost consciousness, Rune apparently took the Emperor’s army with him.

As Ciela listened to the story of what had happened to Lilia and in her absence, she ate the soup.

“And your family was looking for you.”

Ciela put down her spoon and wiped her lips with her handkerchief.

Perhaps in her haste, there was a loud noise when she put the spoon down.

“My family?”

She knew she would hear this news one day. If she had just given Ken the doll, it might have been difficult, but since there was a ring inside the doll, it wouldn’t have been hard for him to find the owner.

But to think that her family had found her after more than a week of unconsciousness.

The sudden news, with no time to prepare, made her tense.

“Yes. Your family already visited you. And they asked me to tell you as soon as you wake up.”

Ciela watched Calix in silence as he recounted the events that had taken place while she was unconscious. 

His expression didn’t seem bad. 

Even though she didn’t know what kind of people the family Ken had found were, they didn’t seem to be bad.

News of her awakening spread quickly throughout the capital, reaching the farthest corners within half a day.

The young ladies close to Ciela visited the Duke’s residence for a brief meeting. Although they would have liked to stay longer, they understood that Ciela needed to rest.

Before leaving, they gave her various herbs and tonics and promised to continue their conversation another time.

‘Daisy seems worried.’

After the visit, she fought back tears and her eyes were already swollen.

The surprising news of her visit was that Princess Hayley had inquired about her well-being. When Daisy heard this and decided to go to Duke Icarus’ residence, the princess’s maid came to her with a health tonic.

Patrick arrived quite late in the evening with another fairy.

Ciela narrowed her eyes when she heard the story of the two fairies boasting of their enormous appetite.

“Patrick could have broken the curse in the first place.” 

“Since the power of a fallen being and that of a fairy are opposites, it would have been possible if they had used all their strength. But when I first met you, what was so special about a human that I would go to such lengths?” 

“And when Calix was brainwashed?” 

“Do you have any idea how difficult it is to break mental magic? In a situation where I had to face a fallen relative, I didn’t have the luxury of wasting my powers on something like that. Even now, I don’t have enough magic to wake you, which is why I brought another fairy.” 

As she watched him continue to explain why it hadn’t been possible, she glanced at the butler standing behind him.

” You know I could just take the food away like that, right?” 

“H-hey, hey.” 

“I understand, but to be honest, I still find it rather upsetting.” 

“Ahem… But taking food back after offering it is a bit…” 

Patrick trailed off, looking at her cautiously.

The longing for the untouched food was evident in her eyes, but when she remembered the serious trouble that could have ensued if she had simply gone through with her original plan, she stopped herself and pressed her lips tightly together. 

Ciela rested her chin on her hand and curled her lips into a broad grin. 

“Don’t you want to enjoy human food freely from now on?” 

“Well… yes.” 

“Then you will have to do me a small favour.”

Ciela held up a finger and smiled mischievously.

“So, is it a deal?”

With a look Patrick reached out and took her hand. 

The deal was sealed. 

The next morning Ciela felt much better than the day before. 

She had simply been in a deep sleep – there was nothing wrong with her body. With the utmost care and attention, there was no chance of her condition worsening. 

After changing into fresh clothes and tidying her hair, she could not take her eyes off the tightly closed door. 

She had been told that her real family would arrive before lunch.

Who could it be that would enter through the large drawing room doors?

Ciela had heard nothing from her family.

She had asked Calix, but he hadn’t given her a proper answer, just mumbled.

‘What kind of people are my family?’

She wondered if her family had found her.

There were moments when she felt hopeful, but she hesitated, afraid of being hurt again. But now, with someone by her side, she was no longer afraid – no matter who walked through that door. 

Just then, a knock echoed through the room and the butler entered. 

With a polite demeanour, he announced the arrival of the expected guests. 

As the ‘guests’ entered, Ciela’s eyes widened in shock. 

“Empress…?” 

Grace, the Emperor, the Crown Prince and even her Uncle Ken… 

Calix had told her clearly that her family was coming. But when she saw the people entering, her mind went completely blank. 

As she calmly debated whether to greet them or ask what was going on, her gaze met the trembling eyes of the Empress. 

With redness beneath them, the Empress quickly approached Ciela and pulled her into a tight embrace. 

“Ciela…” 

Why had she not recognised her all this time? 

She was her own flesh and blood. 

All she had ever wanted was for her to survive – she had prayed desperately for that.

If that had happened, she had believed with certainty that she would find her and recognise her at a glance. 

But she hadn’t. 

Even after discovering that Ciela was not the Marquis and his wife’s biological daughter, she had denied the possibility, convinced herself that she couldn’t be her child. 

She had hoped that wherever her real daughter was, she was living happily, with someone good by her side. 

She had believed that there was no way she wouldn’t recognise her, certain that it was impossible to miss her when she was so close. 

“Why should I…”

Memories of everything Ciela had endured, everything she had only witnessed from the sidelines, flooded her mind. 

A pang of regret, so sharp it felt like her heart was being torn apart, consumed her. 

“Why… would I…” 

Trembling as if she might collapse at any moment, she still refused to let go of Ciela. 

Instead, as if determined never to lose her again, she hugged her even tighter.

“……”

Ciela looked back at Calix. He smiled faintly, bowed his head slightly and then left the room.

He had mentioned that her family would come, and now the Empress and the Imperial family had arrived.

Everything pointed to one thing. She simply couldn’t believe it.

***

In the end, the Empress cried until she collapsed from exhaustion. 

The others remained seated, facing each other awkwardly in the tense silence. 

Ciela lowered her eyes as she sipped her tea, sweetened with five cubes of sugar. 

With the attention of the family she had only recently considered strangers now focused on her, she felt the urge to disappear somewhere. 

‘This feels completely unreal.’

As the thought crossed her mind, she began to notice things she hadn’t noticed before. 

For example, the Emperor and Crown Prince had the same reddish-blonde hair as she did, and the Empress’s eyes were the same colour as hers. 

She also began to remember the words Lady Cassandra had once spoken to her.

“By the way, why are you here, uncle?” 

“Can’t you tell by the colour of my hair?” 

He playfully tousled his milk-brown hair and grinned. For some reason, his usually messy bangs were neatly tied back, revealing his mischievous eyes. 

“I guess I should start calling you ‘Big Brother’ now.” 

No, she definitely shouldn’t call him that. 

After a brief conversation with Ken, the uncomfortable tension between them eased and the atmosphere began to soften. 

“When I look at you, young lady, I think: ‘If I were a woman, I’d probably look like you.”

“Is that so, Your Highness?”

“Shouldn’t you be calling me something else by now?”

“I’m not used to it yet.”

“You’ll get used to it in time, young lady. No, Ciela.”

“Very well… Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

After finishing her tea, Ciela wiped her lips with a handkerchief.

The loving and caring gazes of the family Ciela had just met were unfamiliar to her. Unsure how to accept their warmth, she looked around awkwardly, unsure how to react – until her eyes met the Emperor’s. 

“Have you heard from Duke Icarus about Marquis Arcel and Arcel’s daughter?” 

“Yes, Your Majesty, I have.” 

Marquis Arcel had been taken to the underground prison, while Lilia was confined to the tower. 

Before Patrick left for the fairy realm, he had pointed out the source of an **”unpleasant smell”**, leading the pursuers to capture Theodoro and his followers. However, as she had been told, the punishment was not carried out immediately – it was postponed until those affected regained consciousness.

“…Your Majesty.”

There was bitterness in her soft voice.

“…Father.”

“Ahem. Yes. Now that you’re awake, there’s no need to delay any longer.”

“I actually have something I wanted to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s something, Father.”

” All right. Feel free to say it.”

At the mention of the word ‘father’, Ciela’s voice brightened. She absentmindedly picked up her teacup, only to realise it was empty before setting it down again. 

“I know it will be difficult for the Marquis Arcel and Lilia to escape the death penalty.” 

“Yes. They will be publicly executed.” 

They had dared to support the rebel forces that had attacked the Imperial Family. They had also cruelly treated a member of the Imperial bloodline – there was no way they could escape the ultimate punishment. 

The Emperor’s gaze hardened, his eyes gleaming coldly. 

“Then why are you asking about their punishment?”

asked the Emperor, a hint of concern in his tone. 

Since she had considered them family, whether they liked it or not, he was afraid they would beg for mercy. 

“It is a just punishment that will serve as an example to all.”

As she expressed her agreement with the sentence, the Emperor visibly relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief. 

It had been an unnecessary worry. A gentle smile formed on his lips as he exhaled. 

“Your Majesty, you once said you would grant me one wish, correct?” 

“Yes.” 

Ciela locked eyes with the Emperor, her gaze unwavering. 

“I would like to make that wish now.”