Chapter 11
“They Say Our Princess Is at the Imperial Palace Right Now”
Samuel, who had personally transcribed the message delivered through the communication device and thus knew exactly what had happened, spoke with unmistakable pride.
“Your Highness! I, your capable aide, have already arranged preparations for departure in advance. If we return to the Grand Duke’s castle right away—”
“Hah. What nonsense.”
The Grand Duke spoke as if utterly dumbfounded, brushing back his rain-soaked blond hair as he lifted his head.
“They say our princess is at the imperial palace right now.”
At the completely out-of-place word that slipped from his mouth, everyone flinched. Only the Grand Duke, unfazed, turned to look at the vice-captain beside him.
“Morton, I’ll head straight to the capital. You return to the castle, gather the troops, and then depart.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Uh… Your Highness?”
Samuel panicked as he watched Morton bow without question and lead the remaining knights away. A strong sense of foreboding crept over him, and just as he hurriedly tried to mount his horse to follow the knight order—
Grab.
Samuel’s nape was seized. When he turned his head, a chilling black mask was right in front of his face.
“Where do you think you’re going? You’re coming to the capital with me.”
“Pardon? Why would I—”
“You’re my capable aide. Isn’t it only natural that you stay by my side and assist me?”
At that moment, Samuel clearly foresaw the suffering that awaited him.
“Aaaah! Your Highness, please spare my life!”
If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve sent someone else!
Meanwhile, after repeatedly urging the Empress Dowager not to overexert herself, Charlotte stepped out into the corridor.
Just then, Serina appeared from the opposite direction, approaching quickly and bowing deeply.
“Your Majesty.”
“Serina? Have you already escorted Sir Hayworth back to her room?”
“Well, actually… Her Highness said she wanted to take a walk, so I guided her to the rear garden.”
Serina explained that Anette had seemed too unsettled after the Empress Dowager collapsed, and she couldn’t bring herself to send her straight back to her room. She apologized for taking her to the rear garden without permission.
“Oh dear, you were trying not to ruin Her Highness’s first impression and ended up causing confusion instead.”
Rather than scolding Serina, Charlotte praised her and hurried toward the rear garden to clear up any misunderstanding.
“Hey! Why aren’t you answering? I’m asking who you are!”
Anette, who had already met everyone in her future family except the man she was meant to marry, was feeling an odd sense of regret—until she suddenly snapped back to attention.
No matter how much he spoke like an old man, the Crown Prince was still a child with little patience, and he was pressing her for an answer.
“Uh, well… that is…”
What should I say?
That I’m going to be your aunt?
Anette simply couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Much as she hated to admit it, her appearance really did make her look like someone the Crown Prince’s age—enough that even the Emperor could misunderstand.
He wouldn’t believe her anyway, and it might even shock him.
Deciding that her true identity should be left to the Emperor and Empress, Anette revealed only part of the truth.
“Your Highness, I am a foreigner who came at the Empire’s invitation. I’ll be staying at the imperial palace for a short while.”
“A foreigner? I thought so…”
That hair color isn’t common.
Mikhail nodded, then asked sharply,
“Then how did you come to enter this place?”
“Pardon? Well, that is…”
Should I say I wandered in by mistake while sightseeing the palace?
Anette, who avoided lying whenever possible and had little experience with it, hesitated—
“Don’t tell me!”
Mikhail’s eyes suddenly widened as he shouted,
“You fell for me and followed me here, didn’t you?!”
“…Excuse me?”
She asked back in disbelief, but Mikhail took that as confirmation, clutching his forehead.
“Just as Audrey said!”
“I think there’s been some kind of misunderstanding—”
“It’s no use. My heart already belongs to Audrey.”
Who on earth is Audrey?!
Anette hurried to clear up the misunderstanding, but it seemed the young Crown Prince was no longer listening.
He shook his head and let out a long sigh.
The way his bangs fluttered with his breath was oddly convincing, and Anette found herself staring blankly—
“Mikhail?”
“Y-Your Majesty!”
Charlotte, who had just entered the rear garden, widened her eyes at the sight of her son standing with Anette.
“Why on earth are you here? I thought you had lessons at this hour.”
Her surprise was brief. As the Empress became a stern mother, Mikhail’s delighted face stiffened instantly.
“Well, um, that is…”
“You weren’t skipping your lessons and lazing around here, were you?”
The sharp accuracy of her words made Mikhail lower his head deeply, and Anette felt a faint sense of guilt.
She felt as though this situation had happened because she’d said she wanted to take a walk.
Without considering that the Empress would have heard about Mikhail skipping lessons by this evening anyway, Anette shrank back as if she, too, were being scolded—
“Your Majesty! This young lady is not at fault!”
The moment Charlotte’s gaze landed on Anette, Mikhail shouted.
Seeing the dejected Crown Prince still step forward to defend her moved Anette a little.
“It’s all because I was too—”
He was about to launch into that bizarre explanation again, and Anette hastily cut in.
“Your Majesty, this happened because I asked to take a walk. I’m very sorry. I also apologize to His Highness. Had I known he was here, I never would have entered.”
“Oh my… This isn’t something you need to apologize for.”
The only one at fault here was her son, who had skipped his lesson in secret, so Charlotte shot Mikhail a sharp glare.
But—
“So she didn’t follow me…?”
Realizing his mistake far too late, Mikhail’s eyes shook as if an earthquake had struck.
He was so shocked that he failed to notice both the Empress’s terrifying stare and the way she addressed Anette.
“Oh dear, he must be embarrassed.”
Seeing the tips of Mikhail’s ears turn bright red, Anette swallowed a small laugh.
Now that the ridiculous misunderstanding had been cleared up, the boy seemed rather adorable.
Especially when she thought of Raon, who was four years older than Mikhail.
Born as the late-in-life child of the King of Hayworth, Raon picked fights with Anette every time he saw her, demanding more patience than fighting monsters ever did.
“Compared to that brat, he’s practically an angel.”
…Though for a Crown Prince, he does have a severe case of prince syndrome.
“He’s at the age where he wants to play. Please don’t scold him too harshly, Your Majesty.”
Momentarily forgetting her own situation, Anette spoke gently, her heart softening toward the young boy.
Mikhail, who was about to protest at being treated like a child when they weren’t even that different in height, hesitated and looked back and forth between his mother and Anette.
His mother usually treated other nobles with courtesy and respect, but toward this foreign girl, she seemed unusually warm.
“And she even allows her to stroll in the rear garden, which only the imperial family may enter…”
Unable to contain his curiosity, Mikhail opened his mouth without thinking.
“Mother, who is this young lady—”
“Oh my, Mikhail. You must mind your manners. She’s someone who will soon become part of our family.”
A thunderbolt of a statement struck Mikhail squarely on the head.
〈He looks quite shocked…〉
〈It’s better for him to be a little shocked than to be rude to you. I’ll explain everything properly later—he’ll understand.〉
Anette asked worriedly as she watched Mikhail stagger out of the rear garden, but Charlotte replied lightly.
Not long ago, she’d told Mikhail the happy news that his uncle, Cardin, would soon be getting married. So his thoughts were probably in complete chaos right now…
There was no need to explain things in detail to her still-young son, and more than that, Charlotte felt it wouldn’t be so bad if that little troublemaker behaved himself while Anette stayed at the palace.
After realizing just how wild Mikhail’s imagination could be, Anette felt a flicker of unease—but it vanished the moment Charlotte brought up the Empress Dowager.
〈So, you see, the Empress Dowager absolutely does not dislike you. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.〉
〈But…〉
〈If she truly disliked you, would she have asked to have tea together again? Oh—and she said she’s sending you a surprise gift tomorrow!〉
At Charlotte’s encouragement, Anette—still uncertain—eventually nodded.
Still, it was too early to relax. She resolved to behave properly before the Empress Dowager all night long, and while pondering what the “surprise gift” might be, she finally fell asleep.
And at last—
Morning came.
