“Are you all right, Aunt?”

“I’m sorry. I truly have no energy left. I wish to return to the estate and rest.”

“…I will summon a servant.”

At Edward’s pull of the bell rope, a servant waiting outside knocked on the door.

“You called, my lord?”

“Escort my aunt to my estate. She seems exhausted, so be sure to inform the buttler accordingly.”

“Yes, my lord, as you wish.”

The servant swiftly supported Lady Selina and helped her out of the room. Yelodia watched them with a concerned gaze before turning to Edward.

“Will she be okay?”

“Do not worry too much. She’s just a bit overwhelmed. It seems her heart was startled by the rare opportunity to meet His Majesty, the Emperor.”

“Ah, of course. That must have been quite nerve-wracking. I’ll send her some herbal tea to help calm her nerves.”

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness, my lady.”

Edward extended his hand to her.

“Shall we? There’s food prepared in the inner room.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Yelodia cautiously took his hand.

Although he wore gloves, the warmth of Edward’s hand was palpable.

Her heart seemed to beat a little faster, similar to when she watched the inspection ceremony.

Edward gently led her to the adjacent room.

“Wow.”

The table was adorned with lit candles and a variety of dishes. It was clear they had been prepared for the Emperor.

Edward pulled out a chair for Yelodia and then struck a match to light the oil stove under a small kettle.

The water in the kettle soon boiled. With practiced ease, Edward added tea leaves to the pot and carefully poured the hot water over them.

Yelodia watched, entranced.

Edward discarded the first brew and poured water over the tea leaves again. His calm focus and poised demeanor made him look as refined as an artist.

“You seem very skilled. Do you often prepare tea yourself?”

“Yes. During my time aboard the warship, I would brew tea myself. Assigning such a trivial task to my lieutenant felt more cumbersome. Besides, his tea was never quite to my liking.”

“Pfft…!”

Yelodia stifled a laugh with both hands. Edward’s expression softened as he noticed her flushed cheeks and her amused gaze.

Resting her chin on her hand, Yelodia spoke.

“I’d like to learn how to make tea too.”

“It’s not as difficult as you might think. Watching the tea steep can be quite soothing.”

“I never knew tea preparation could have that effect.”

Edward gently set a teacup before her.

“Would you like to try it?”

“Thank you.”

Yelodia carefully lifted the cup and took a sip. Her eyes widened as she pressed her lips together.

“…!”

With a soft gulp, her neck and cheeks flushed. The tea was too hot for her.

Edward looked concerned.

“It seems you’re not accustomed to drinking hot tea.”

He quickly poured her a glass of cool water, which Yelodia eagerly sipped.

“Are you all right?”

“Hu… Ah… I didn’t realize it would be this hot.”

Her face still red, Yelodia replied.

Edward, looking unusually flustered, watched as she fidgeted and tried to explain herself.

“I’m sorry. My maid usually serves me tea that’s cooled to just the right temperature.”

“Say no more and keep sipping the water. Is your tongue burned?”

“I’m fine. It’s really nothing.”

As she set down the water glass, Edward exhaled in relief.

Yelodia felt embarrassed for ruining the moment’s tranquility.

“I’ll be sure to let it cool next time before serving you.”

“You don’t have to trouble yourself, but… yes, I’d appreciate that.”

At her hesitant nod, a faint smile touched Edward’s lips.

He then began plating food from the shelf, presenting her with dishes that could easily be eaten by hand.

“You must be hungry. Please, help yourself.”

“Thank you. You should eat too, Baron.”

Yelodia tasted the cracker topped with egg, tomato, and olives.

The crisp cracker crumbled in her mouth, followed by the smooth egg and tangy tomato, delighting her palate.

A smile graced Yelodia’s lips.

“It’s delightful.”

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

Edward took a bite of a sandwich filled with mashed potatoes and white fish. Having worked up an appetite from overseeing the military parade, he focused intently on finishing his plate.

Observing Edward frequently reach for certain items, Yelodia asked,

“You seem to enjoy fish.”

“Yes.”

When Yelodia gazed at him intently, Edward paused in thought before replying,

“I grew up far from the sea. Seafood was scarce, so I often looked forward to my aunt’s fish dishes.”

“Lady Selina must be a skilled cook.”

Edward glanced at Yelodia, sipped his tea, and replied,

“If you don’t mind, I’d rather hear about you today than talk about myself.”

Yelodia hesitated, then fixed her gaze on the candle on the table. After a moment of silence, she spoke.

“Well, most of my childhood memories involve lying in bed. So, there’s not much to tell.”

“I heard you were often ill as a child.”

“Yes, that’s true. I had an incurable disease with no known cause or treatment. No one, not even I, believed I’d live past thirteen. His Majesty the Emperor saved me, almost miraculously.”

“His Majesty?”

Edward’s curious expression prompted Yelodia to dab her lips with a napkin and sip her now lukewarm tea. For some reason, her tongue felt slightly numb.

“It’s quite a famous story in Freia. I’m surprised you haven’t heard it yet.”

Edward raised an eyebrow, urging her to continue. Yelodia resumed, speaking softly.

“You know my mother was Princess Anais, right? She passed away from the same illness when I was five.”

“…”

“After losing his sister so suddenly, His Majesty seemed determined to save me, his niece. He gathered renowned alchemists, physicians, and priests from across the empire to treat me.”

Yelodia recounted her past with a calm demeanor.

Born with the same disease as her mother, she rarely left her bedroom as a child. Exposure to cold air left her coughing and feverish, making even her few memories of her mother scarce.

“You must have felt lonely, unable to see your mother often.”

“My father and brothers were always by my side, so I didn’t really feel lonely.”

“But you still missed her, didn’t you?”

Yelodia lowered her head in silence. Her eyelids grew hot, and her chest tightened.

She had refrained from expressing her longing, fearing it would burden her already frail mother.

She had regretted not being able to cling to her mother or seek her comfort more than being confined indoors.

“Yes,” Yelodia finally admitted. Her vision blurred as she took a deep breath to steady herself.

“I missed her terribly.”

It was a sentiment she had never shared with her father or brothers.

Her mother had grown weaker after giving birth to her, and five-year-old Yelodia had felt guilt whenever she thought of her.

She had resolved not to trouble her ailing mother further.

“I wish I’d been more insistent,” Yelodia murmured. “I should have begged to sleep in her arms, embroider with her, and make ribbons together, even if just once.”

Even now, she longed for her mother daily.

“I’m sorry, Baron. You’ve lost both your parents… Don’t you miss your mother?”

“My mother passed away shortly after I was born, so I have no memories of her. My aunt, however, cared for me as if I were her own.”

For Edward, Lady Selina was his mother figure.

In Edward’s memories, Lady Selina was always stern yet kind, showering him with genuine love. Thanks to her, his childhood was a happy one.

At that moment, a burst of sound and light filled the room. Fireworks launched from the naval ship lit up the sky.

The vibrant colors reflected on their faces, painting them in hues of the exploding lights.

Yelodia gazed out the window in awe. It was her first time witnessing fireworks so closely.

With a lighthearted tone, Edward suggested,

“Would you like a closer look? If you stand by the window, you can see the sky more clearly.”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Yelodia stood without hesitation and approached the window.

Entranced, she leaned forward, placing her hands on the windowsill.

The hem of her voluminous dress swayed, briefly revealing her white lambskin shoes before they disappeared beneath the fabric once more.

Her eyes sparkled like stars as she looked up at the sky.

“It’s truly beautiful,” she whispered.

“Indeed,” Edward replied, watching her intently.

Though she could have sensed his gaze, Yelodia remained captivated by the sky, her eyes never blinking.

Another burst, another cascade of lights. It felt as though she could reach out and touch them.

As she extended her hand toward the sky, Yelodia suddenly lost her balance, her upper body tipping dangerously out the window.

“Oh…!”