As Elia suppressed her overwhelming emotions and looked at Cecilia, smiles spread across the sisters’ faces.

The sisters, meeting after a long time, were so cheerful that it improved the mood of everyone watching.

Elia looked at Cecilia’s honey-thick golden hair, which was more vivid than her own faint platinum blonde, and newly realized her presence.

“Are you doing well? How is life in the imperial palace?”

“My. You’ve really grown up. When did you learn to speak like that?”

Cecilia smiled like a bright flower. Elia had always loved her kind and calm sister since childhood.

“Everyone at the mansion prays for your happiness, Sister. I always…… want you to be happy too.”

The sisters sat side by side on the sofa, holding hands tightly. Each moment that she hadn’t known was special before now moved Elia’s heart.

“Are you…… trying to make your sister cry?”

Seeing her sister who had become so mature, Cecilia’s eyes glistened with tears as she forced a smile and stroked Elia’s hair.

“Lily, are the refreshments still far off?”

As Cecilia was now the mistress of the empress’s quarters, naturally the head lady-in-waiting had changed. Lily was also a maid who had served Cecilia from the duke’s residence, so she wasn’t someone unfamiliar.

“Elia, I prepared a gift for you since yesterday when I heard you were coming. You like sweet things, don’t you? Just in time, His Majesty has provided so many things for the empress’s quarters…… There are precious confections presented from the eastern lands that I’ve saved for you.”

She seemed very glad to see her sister after her unfamiliar palace life, but one corner of Elia’s smile was bitter. It was quite striking to learn that Rockfort had been an affectionate husband to Cecilia.

“I shall bring the refreshments.”

Lily and the maids brought refreshments that were visibly luxurious. It hurt Elia’s unworthy heart a little because it was so different from the empress’s quarters she remembered, but she couldn’t show it.

“Thank you, Sister. For always being good to me……”

“Elia, are you not feeling well? Or are you sad that we don’t meet often because I’m married?”

Elia quickly shook her head. In everyone’s eyes, Elia was still eighteen. So she had to smile brightly.

“I’m a proper lady now too. Above all, since you’ve become empress, I must behave so as not to bring shame.”

“How admirable. Perhaps you’ve found someone you like?”

“No!”

Men and marriage were now disgusting to her. Elia planned to protect Cecilia safely until the emperor returned, then leave to find her own life.

“I just want Sister to be well.”

“Then it’s already fulfilled. Though I haven’t seen his face, His Majesty is truly a considerate person. He always asks after me and takes care of me even from the battlefield. The empress’s quarters are also a beautiful place, too grand for me.”

Everything Cecilia said was right. It was all the destiny she rightfully deserved.

“Oh. Elia, did Mother not ask you to deliver anything?”

She had stolen that place when it wasn’t hers to take, so she was bound to be unhappy. Elia gazed affectionately at her kind and pitiful sister.

“She did.”

Kind and gentle sister. This time, you don’t have to die miserably.

“But she said this medicine must be kept secret.”

Elia carefully handed over the small medicine bottle she had switched beforehand. Cecilia then secretly slipped the bottle into her sleeve.

“Yes, thank you. How are you feeling? I heard there’s a flu going around outside the palace these days.”

Even after ascending to the noble position of empress, Cecilia hadn’t lost her identity as a caring sister.

“I’m fine.”

“I’m the one who got married, but you’ve become more mature. Not even touching the sweets.”

The palace etiquette and the scenery of the empress’s quarters were still painful to face.

“Um, Sister……”

“What’s wrong? You don’t look well. I’m sorry, you must be tired coming all the way here in the morning because of me.”

No, Elia was the one who should be sorry. Elia held Cecilia’s hand tightly.

“Sister, I’m fine. Please always be careful in the imperial palace and stay healthy.”

At those words, Cecilia looked surprised.

“Ah, I see…… You’re worried because of the medicine Mother gave? Did Mother ask you to tell me that?”

“Yes. She specifically told me to make sure you take care of your health.”

In this life, she hoped her mother wouldn’t become a criminal either. Though she hated her mother for deceiving and using her, there was no need to repeat the same sin now.

“Thank you always, Elia.”

Cecilia’s smile was beautiful.

“I apologize, but the young lady must return now. The palace gates will close soon.”

When the head lady-in-waiting Lily came to inform them, disappointment shadowed Cecilia’s face.

“Already?”

“The imperial palace rules are strict…… Instead, perhaps the young lady could visit again.”

“Yes, I will. We must respect the imperial palace rules.”

As Elia rose to her feet, Cecilia stood up as well.

“Since you came all this way, I’ll escort you to the front of the empress’s quarters.”

“You’ve become empress, how could you do such a thing? I can go by myself.”

“What does my position have to do with seeing my little sister off?”

That was truly like Cecilia. When Elia nodded, Cecilia affectionately took her hand and accompanied her to the front of the empress’s quarters where the carriage waited.

“You’ll come again soon, right? It’s boring staying only in the empress’s quarters.”

“Yes. I’ll come often.”

Anyway, her mother would continue sending Elia on secret errands until her wishes were fulfilled. That way, she could naturally keep checking on Cecilia’s safety.

“Promise me.”

“Yes, Sister. Then…… I’ll be going now. Take care of your health.”

“Travel safely.”

Elia felt relieved, as if she had finally atoned for her sins, as she received Cecilia’s farewell. Seeing her sister waving her hand toward her, unchanged despite having ascended to the noble position of empress, made Elia’s heart swell with emotion.

Perhaps because of that, that night, Elia fell into a deep sleep for the first time since traveling back in time. She didn’t even have nightmares.

“It’s going to be alright……”

Elia murmured, watching the dawn breaking in the distance. Now Cecilia wouldn’t die, and everything would return to its rightful place.

“I just need to hold on a little longer.”

Elia recalled her clear memories. The emperor had originally said the war would take several years, but in reality, he achieved a great victory in a major battle and returned earlier than expected, not taking more than a year.

“Yes, just a little longer……”

That meant Elia only needed to endure for a few more months.

But that path wouldn’t be easy. Elia, as her daughter, knew best how persistently her mother Lorelaine had led the duke’s residence.

“This time, Mother’s wishes won’t come true.”

Originally, eighteen-year-old Elia was an innocent young lady who knew nothing. The previous Elia would never have dared to defy or deceive her mother.

“Never.”

But now, knowing the truth, Elia’s blue eyes gazed forward with determination. Not even her mother could break this resolve.

Until His Majesty the Emperor safely returned, her mother wouldn’t be able to lay a finger on Sister Cecilia. Elia would make sure of it.

* * *

Hannah, while styling Elia’s hair in front of the mirror, kept making sounds of admiration.

“You truly look like a proper young lady now. There’s probably no one more beautiful than you in this empire.”

Her fair cheeks with a healthy flush and jewel-like, piercingly blue eyes enhanced her innate elegant beauty.

“Stop it, Hannah.”

Good looks don’t guarantee happiness. But Hannah, thinking Elia was just being modest, continued to smile.

“Miss Cecilia got married at twenty. You’ll soon meet your destined match and get married too. Who will that lucky man be?”

“I hate that. I don’t want……”

When Elia’s expression hardened, Hannah closed her mouth and focused on twisting up her hair and inserting jeweled ornaments.

“I don’t want that.”

“What? Even twisting up this beautiful platinum blonde hair isn’t enough, and you don’t want decorations either?”

“I asked you to make it as simple as possible.”

Originally, Elia enjoyed letting her platinum blonde hair flow like waves and adorning her head with sparkling decorations. When she went out in the sunlight, her hair would shimmer like the Milky Way.

“My sister has just become empress, and if I frequently visit the palace looking extravagant, it would tarnish the House’s honor.”

“My goodness……”

Hannah couldn’t help but admire such unexpectedly profound words.

“But being too plain wouldn’t suit your status either.”

The duchess’s voice came from behind her. Hannah quickly put down the ornaments, paid her respects, and stepped aside.

“If you care about your sister’s and our family’s dignity, you should maintain your elegance.”

Lorelaine personally placed an elaborate silver ornament studded with diamonds in Elia’s hair.

“Hannah, go check if everything is ready.”

“Yes, Madam.”

An awkward atmosphere settled between the two once they were alone, but Elia deliberately remained calm as she gathered her gloves. Today was another day to visit the empress’s quarters at her mother’s unspoken command.

“Elia. Did Cecilia say anything?”

“……No. She said she’s praying for His Majesty’s safe return.”

At those words, Lorelaine’s eyebrows rose slightly. If past events had unfolded as before, Cecilia should already be dead.

However, thanks to Elia switching the medicine in between, she was still safe and well. The duchess showed signs of anxiety at this strange situation.

“What about what I asked you to deliver? Are you delivering it properly?”

“Of course. Sister also asked me to thank you. You’ve asked me this several times already.”

“Did I? I’ve been distracted lately.”

It was a ridiculous statement coming from Lorelaine, who single-handedly led the Theon ducal residence.