Juliana let out a small laugh at the villagers and bowed her head to Jordan, who was standing awkwardly.

“I’m sorry for putting you in an uncomfortable position because of Lesia. It must have been difficult bringing a child along. I’ll definitely treat you when we return.”

Jordan, who had been staring blankly at Lesia, finally waved his hands dismissively.

“No, not at all. Thanks to Lesia, the journey wasn’t lonely and was actually enjoyable. It’s my fault for not checking the cart thoroughly, so please don’t scold Lesia. I’m begging you.”

When Jordan bowed his head in return, Juliana looked surprised. The villagers shared her reaction. Although Jordan had lived in Flora Village for five years, he hadn’t easily grown close to the villagers. 

He had built walls around himself and kept his distance from them. The villagers, knowing whatever reason brought him to Flora Village, hadn’t completely opened their hearts to him either.

Despite receiving hostile glances over the misunderstanding about bringing Lesia without permission, Jordan showed no signs of being offended and instead demonstrated concern for Lesia. This made the villagers see him in a new light. Then Lesia drove the point home.

“Uncle Jordan, you were in such a hurry that you couldn’t eat properly, gave me almost all the remaining food, and even slept outside.”

“…!”

Surprised by these words, Juliana and the others looked at Jordan again. Now that they looked closer, his appearance was indeed quite shabby for someone who had merely traveled. It was clear that, just as Lesia said, he hadn’t eaten or slept properly.

“My goodness… I’m truly sorry, Jordan.”

Starting with Juliana, people gathered around him.

“You really went through a lot.”

“You’ve worked so hard.”

“I see you differently now.”

“You must be hungry. Would you like to eat first? Or would you prefer to bathe first? Just tell us what you need.”

“No, I…”

Jordan, not knowing how to react to the villagers’ newfound warmth, nervously touched his neck. His gaze naturally turned toward Lesia. She grinned back at him.

* * *

“Lesia, you must never act on your own like this again. Do you understand?”

After dinner, Juliana came up to the room and admonished Lesia once more with a stern face. Although Juliana usually treated Lesia like a friend, when she was strict, she was stricter than anyone.

Lesia lowered her eyebrows and replied with a sincere voice.

“Yes, I’m really sorry, Mom. I won’t do it again.”

Seeing Lesia’s dejected appearance, Juliana uncrossed her arms, let out a deep sigh, and opened her arms. Lesia naturally fell into her embrace.

“You’re the most precious thing in the world to me, Lesia. That’s why I was so angry. Do you understand how I feel?”

“Yes, of course. I like you the most in the world too, Mom.”

“Just like?”

“I love you!”

When Lesia enthusiastically exclaimed, a smile formed on Juliana’s face. After bathing, Lesia lay down next to Juliana. The inn was so shabby that the bed was hard and uncomfortable, but simply being outside Flora Village made Lesia too excited to sleep.

“…Mom.”

“Yes?”

After hesitating, Lesia called out, and Juliana answered with a half-sleepy voice.

“Um, what would you like me to become?”

“Suddenly?”

Juliana chuckled at Lesia’s unexpected question. But soon she made a contemplative sound and fell into thought. Lesia was secretly nervous, fidgeting with her hands. What answer would her mother give?

A flower shop owner like Mom? Since Mom and I both like bread, maybe she wants me to become a bakery owner like Uncle Chalson. Or maybe she wants me to become a wonderful mother like herself. However, the answer that came back completely defied Lesia’s expectations.

“I don’t want you to become anything.”

“Huh?”

Momentarily unable to understand Juliana’s words, Lesia made a confused sound. Then Juliana turned to face Lesia. The silver-blue moonlight illuminated Juliana’s face, which Lesia stared at blankly.

Juliana and Lesia looked remarkably different. Both Juliana and Lesia were beautiful, but in different ways. Their hair color, eye color, and even facial features were different. Lesia suddenly became curious about Juliana’s life. 

Unlike Lesia, who was born and raised in Flora Village with only one family member, Juliana must have grown up elsewhere and had other family.

Thinking about it, Lesia realized she had never once heard her mother’s story. Where she was born, what family she had, what kind of life she had lived. 

Until now, Lesia hadn’t been particularly curious about these things. Not asking about the past was an implicit rule in Flora Village, and Lesia didn’t care about such things as long as Juliana was by her side.

But today, after seeing countless people and encountering free-spirited individuals, she became curious about Juliana’s life. 

What kind of life had her mother lived? 

Perhaps her mother, who might have lived freely before, found the closed-off Flora Village stifling. When Lesia grew up, wouldn’t it be nice to travel together and try living in different villages?

But those plans and feelings…

“Mom, wouldn’t it be nice if when I grow up, I get a respectable job, earn lots of money, and we travel together and eat delicious food…?”

“No. I wouldn’t like that.”

Lesia’s hopes crumbled at Juliana’s firm expression and words.

“Lesia, don’t grow up and don’t change. Don’t leave Flora Village, and don’t leave my side.”

“…”

“I really want you to grant Mom’s wish.”

“…Is that your wish?”

It felt like her excited heart had stopped. When Lesia managed to ask with difficulty, Juliana looked at her for a long time before quietly answering.

“Yes. It’s my wish. You’ll grant Mom’s wish, won’t you? Because you’re Mom’s daughter.”

Why? It wasn’t a difficult request at all. In fact, Lesia also wanted to live with her mother until she died. But why did it feel like this?

‘Why does it feel so strange?’

This wasn’t what Lesia had hoped for. What Lesia wanted was a little more…

“Lesia?”

When Lesia didn’t answer, Juliana called her name urgently. Only then did Lesia look at Juliana with wide eyes, like someone who had just come to her senses. Then, looking into her brown eyes, she nodded.

“Yes, I understand.”

“We need to make our promise official.”

When Juliana held out her pinky, Lesia hooked her own pinky with it. Juliana’s pinky intertwined with Lesia’s like tying a knot, and Juliana gently shook her hand while whispering.

“No matter what happens, I will protect you, Lesia.”

Hearing the sincerity in Juliana’s voice, Lesia tightly closed her eyes.

“Yes. And I will protect you, Mom.”

With those words, the strange feeling and the brief dream of freedom flew away. It would be a lie to say there was no sense of regret, but it was okay. For Lesia, nothing was more precious than her mother.

And so, their first night in Will Castle passed.

* * *

The next day, Jordan really did give Lesia a beautiful dress. With a slightly reddened face, he said:

“Thank you, Lesia. Thanks to you, I was able to become much closer with the villagers. You lied for my sake, didn’t you?”

Since Juliana was helping the villagers prepare for their entry into the castle, only Jordan and Lesia were in the room. The dress Jordan gave her had a red velvet fabric with a black ribbon at the waist, which was exactly to Lesia’s liking. Hugging the dress tightly, Lesia grinned.

“I’m young so I don’t get scolded much, but you’re an adult so you get scolded a lot. Besides, it wasn’t a complete lie. You really did go hungry and sleep outside.”

“…”

Jordan looked at Lesia with a complicated expression. Then he suddenly turned his head and wiped his eyes roughly with his sleeve. Seeing this, Lesia asked with wide eyes:

“Uncle, are you crying?”

“N-no, I’m not!”

“It looks like you’re crying. Your eyes are red.”

“Sob… I’m truly sorry, Lesia. I’ll apologize forever. And I’ll definitely repay your kindness!”

To be honest, Jordan didn’t have a particularly good appearance. Rather, he had a rough look. He had a long scar on his left cheek, and his features were somewhat gaunt. The scene of such a person crying and vowing to repay a small girl was quite ironic. Of course, neither Lesia nor Jordan cared about that.

Shortly after Jordan left, Juliana arrived. After a quick shower, Juliana brushed Lesia’s hair and helped her change clothes. While doing so, she explained the schedule.

“After we complete the entry procedures in the morning, we should be able to enter in the afternoon. Once we enter, we’ll probably go straight to the banquet hall.”

“The banquet! Wow.”

Lesia had a dreamy expression on her face at the thought of the banquet that was finally within reach. Seeing this, Juliana smiled. Although she had initially opposed Lesia attending the banquet, no parent could help but be happy seeing their child so joyful.

After preparations were complete, Lesia held Juliana’s hand and went downstairs. After calculating the lodging costs, Uncle Gayton, the temporary representative, explained the schedule once more. 

They would join Uncle Chalson and Grandma Lulu, who had already entered the Grand Duke’s residence, then go to the designated place and wait for the banquet to begin.

Even after the banquet started, they were advised not to stray too far from their seats to prevent anyone from being missed. If anyone did get separated, they agreed to meet back at this lodging. Of course, none of this applied to Lesia. She planned to stay with Juliana the entire time.

After the schedule explanation was complete, the people of Flora Village left the lodging to enter the castle.