Chapter 20: “She Was Really Adorable…”
Samuel, who had been watching all of this unfold with a familiar air, wore a slightly displeased expression but tried to speak casually.
“By the way, by now, the princess must be having tea with Her Majesty the Empress.”
At that, Kardin, who had been hiding his face in his hands, lifted his head sharply and corrected him firmly.
“No, she’s probably going for a walk.”
“A walk?”
“Yes. When we left, I told Her Majesty I would be visiting the temple.”
The Empress, who had spent the night adjusting Anette’s dress, would have woken up late for tea and received the note he left.
She might have been a little upset that he had dropped such a bomb without her permission, given her stance that there was no need to reveal that he wasn’t her biological child.
‘Still, she’ll see it through in the end.’
After all, it was certain that she would visit the imperial garden—restricted only to royalty—to explain some of the royal secrets.
“I hope the princess enjoys her walk,” Kardin thought.
As expected, Anette followed the Empress’s suggestion and headed to the garden that Serina had shown her yesterday.
Truthfully, even stepping foot there yesterday had left her uneasy.
But today felt different.
‘I’m officially part of the Alkan royal family now…’
It wasn’t just because she assumed her engagement had been confirmed by now.
More fundamentally, the anxiety that had followed her like a shadow disappeared like magic after meeting Kardin.
It made sense—he had firmly declared he had no intention of breaking off the engagement and, from the start, had wanted Anette Hayworth herself as his bride.
‘Of course, I still don’t know why he wants me…’
That was something she could discover over time.
Kardin had plenty he wanted to tell her anyway.
While Anette felt more at ease, the Empress and Charlotte were deep in thought.
They couldn’t understand why the Empress had suggested a walk at this moment.
Given that Anette’s presence still needed to remain secret, the only option was the royal-only garden. There was no way the walk could be purely casual.
The garden’s official name was the “Secret Garden.”
The entire area was surrounded by magical wards, protected by powerful restoration spells and soundproofing to ensure no words escaped—keeping the royal family’s secrets safe for generations.
These weren’t merely secrets about clandestine meetings, plots, or scheming.
More precisely, they concerned the powers the royal family was born with—divine authority.
Called blessings from the gods, such powers inevitably carried darkness.
The hidden history of the royal family, unknown to the public, was filled with violent obsession and bloodshed surrounding these powers. The Secret Garden had preserved those dark truths.
Charlotte, freshly engaged, felt bewildered that the Empress might reveal these royal secrets to Anette so soon.
Not that she minded—she just worried that Anette, already facing so many immediate problems, might become even more overwhelmed.
Charlotte herself, having grown up as an imperial citizen believing royal powers were blessings for Alkan, had been shocked when she first learned the truth after officially becoming Crown Princess.
And the revelation that Kardin, whom Lucius despised, wasn’t actually his younger brother…
‘Ah.’
Only then did Charlotte realize the secret the Empress intended to share might concern Kardin himself.
Of course, it still might be too soon for Anette…
“How have we decided on her accommodations?”
At that, the Empress asked Anette in a casual tone.
Charlotte immediately understood the hidden meaning behind the question.
Normally, after the engagement had been notarized, Anette would have remained in the palace until the wedding, receiving formal training in royal etiquette.
But with the public ceremony still undecided, and formal lessons impossible for now, it was likely that Kardin would have her stay at the Grand Duchy until she recovered.
The Empress, who had gone to the trouble of making Anette numerous beautiful dresses and feeding her plenty of delicious food, must have been anxious that Kardin, who had rushed to the capital despite straining himself, might immediately take Anette away.
Meanwhile, Anette was thinking about how inconvenient it must be for palace staff whenever she moved.
Although she had relieved the burden on her heart by becoming part of the royal family, she still didn’t assume her presence wasn’t causing any trouble. She said,
“We decided to postpone the wedding until my body fully recovers, so I’ll stay at the Grand Duchy for now to monitor my condition.”
She added that Martin, the royal mage who had taken her blood, would accompany them.
“When… exactly?”
“People are already on their way from the Grand Duchy to the capital, so probably within a few days…”
“A few days?”
The Empress’s brows shot up sharply.
Anette, confused, rolled her eyes and added, “It could be longer.”
The Empress’s expression hardened as she exhaled a sigh.
Charlotte, watching quietly, smiled softly.
“The Grand Duke must have so much to prepare. Rushing won’t do. I should give him a warning.”
Kardin, eager to finalize the engagement and welcome Anette as Grand Duchess, had surely prepared the Grand Ducal residence to perfection.
But the bridal chamber couldn’t be used yet, so it would need redecoration. Clothes and items suitable for child-Anette would also have to be prepared.
“And Anette is already overwhelmed. Moving straight into a strange place with unfamiliar people wouldn’t be comfortable for her.”
“Eh?”
Anette’s eyes widened at Charlotte’s words.
By this logic, she had stayed in the palace only two days. The people and surroundings were still unfamiliar…
“Actually… that’s true,” she admitted after a brief hesitation.
From the start, she had liked the Emperor and Empress, who had accepted her as family.
Her determination to marry was strengthened by the warm treatment she received in the palace.
Still, she was a little afraid. The Grand Duke seemed kind to her, but she wasn’t sure about the others in the Grand Ducal household.
After all, the Grand Ducal residence was where she would live for the rest of her life. She knew she had to go eventually, but…
“I thought it might be inconvenient if I stayed in the palace too long,” she added weakly, as if hoping someone would take her side.
“Not at all. It’s not inconvenient. In fact, thanks to you, the quiet palace has become lively again,” Charlotte said, glancing quickly at the Empress.
The Empress’s expression brightened, perhaps noticing that Anette didn’t want to leave immediately.
The stage was set; with one more word from the Empress, Anette would likely agree. But the Empress only cleared her throat.
Charlotte regretted how unaccustomed the Empress was to expressing herself openly.
The Empress, eldest daughter of the Duke of Aegis, had been selected as Crown Princess early, managing imperial affairs in place of an incapable husband while raising two sons flawlessly.
She possessed decisiveness that simplified complex problems and an almost unbelievable capacity for empathy.
Charlotte respected and admired her, though she admitted that even the Empress had grown somewhat awkward in interpersonal relations from her long years in the palace.
“You feel the same way as I do, Your Majesty?”
The Empress, not oblivious, glanced at Charlotte and then at Anette. She knew this was the right moment to encourage Anette to stay in the palace.
But could she express it honestly?
Swallowing her dry throat, she looked at Anette, who stared up at her with an adorably expectant face, and spoke.
“The palace may look splendid, but without banquets or special events, it can feel lonely… especially for an old woman like me, with little to occupy myself.”
Anette’s expression twisted slightly, finding it odd to call her an “old woman.”
Seeing this, the Empress felt unsure if she had explained herself enough.
Charlotte, offering an encouraging look, gave her courage.
“Maybe it’s because of my age, but I find it particularly dull lately. If I had a cute child by my side, to dress up and feed and play with… I’d really enjoy life… ahem!”
Oh dear, that was too honest.
The Empress cleared her throat nervously, while Anette thought of the palace’s only child and the Empress’s precious grandson, Crown Prince Mikhail.
She never imagined that the “cute child” the Empress mentioned referred to her.
“Speaking of which, I met His Highness the Crown Prince yesterday. He was really adorable…”
He did have a slight case of “prince syndrome” and a peculiar way of speaking.
“If you permit, perhaps we could invite His Highness to tea.”
Anette suggested this, hoping the Empress would be pleased to spend time with Mikhail. She also intended to properly introduce herself to the Crown Prince, since yesterday’s brief encounter had left an uncomfortable feeling.
While Anette pondered inviting Mikhail, the Empress remained momentarily bewildered by the sudden mention of her grandson.
“Sir Roitz…?”
Charlotte, suspiciously watching someone loiter at the garden entrance, finally recognized the figure and widened her eyes.
