Chapter 34
“I’ve Only Named It So Far”
“…Pardon?”
“I said I want to go home with the princess as soon as possible.”
Seeing Anette’s bewildered expression, Kardin let out a small chuckle and whispered casually,
“If you go to the Grand Castle, you’ll be able to live much more comfortably than in the imperial palace. You can read books freely and learn whatever you want.”
“….”
“Of course, if the princess prefers to stay in the palace, there’s nothing I can do…”
As if saying he would respect whatever she wanted, since he had already told her to do as she pleased, he lowered his gaze.
After some thought, Anette replied,
“I’ll go.”
“Really? I’m glad.”
Kardin immediately lifted his head and smiled. His voice was so sweet it felt like it could tickle at her fingertips.
If not for the mask, she would have easily noticed how openly he was coaxing her, but Anette failed to catch on and simply nodded.
“Ah!”
Then she suddenly remembered something that had been bothering her.
“The Dowager Empress said she was feeling lonely…”
If she left so soon, wouldn’t the Dowager Empress feel disappointed?
Seeing Anette’s expression, which clearly showed she would change her mind immediately if the Dowager Empress showed even the slightest reluctance or tried to stop her, Kardin frowned and muttered,
“With a son, a daughter-in-law, and even a grandchild visiting every day, how could she possibly feel lonely…”
“…?”
“You don’t need to worry. My mother will probably send you off happily.”
Anette narrowed her eyes suspiciously at what sounded like a rather curt tone.
But Kardin only laughed casually and urged her to leave, saying she should rest until dinner after being worn out by the children.
She had no idea that the moment he dropped her off at her room, Kardin would immediately rush to the Dowager Empress’s palace.
In a time long past, back when the Dowager Empress had still been the Empress, a maid who had served her faithfully since then quietly placed down a teacup and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Only one teacup had been placed in front of the Dowager Empress. The seat opposite her—the Grand Duke’s side—was completely empty.
It was a change that came after the Dowager Empress had once lost her temper, declaring that since the Grand Duke never touched tea or refreshments no matter how carefully they were prepared, they shouldn’t be served at all to avoid wasting them.
However, despite such blatant disregard, Kardin himself seemed completely unconcerned.
Though the Dowager Empress had long since given up, seeing the black mask still irritated her, and she glared at Kardin.
“How was it?”
Kardin asked in an unusually excited voice.
It was obvious what he was asking, so the Dowager Empress replied immediately,
“A waste.”
“Surely…”
“A waste—for you, of course.”
Seeing Kardin’s eyes narrow behind the mask, the Dowager Empress responded in disbelief.
For a moment, Kardin had wondered if she might be making a typical mother-in-law remark like “my son is the best,” but he soon burst into laughter.
“You liked her that much?”
“Since when did I say that?”
“Ahaha. Even if you don’t say it, it shows.”
Clicking her tongue at Kardin’s shamelessness, the Dowager Empress said,
“With all the rumors going around, I thought you had strange tastes. The royal princess in those rumors is described as a monstrous swordswoman who tears monsters apart with one hand, yet your eyes were rolled over, claiming she’s the most innocent and lovable woman in the world. Naturally, I assumed your taste was questionable.”
“However, contrary to the rumors, she’s very… ordinary. I heard she hadn’t received proper education, but her etiquette was impeccable and rooted in the basics. Especially her eyes…”
“They’re lovely, right?”
“Don’t start acting like a doting fool already.”
Though she reprimanded her son for cutting in, the Dowager Empress quietly muttered in agreement,
“Ignorant fools. Why does eye color matter so much? They were simply clear and kind-looking.”
Hearing this, Kardin grinned and said, “I knew it.”
The Dowager Empress shot him a glance as if he were foolish, then continued,
“Now I understand why you described her as innocent. With all she’s been through, one would expect her eyes to be filled with resignation or sharpness. Perhaps it’s because her body has become a child…”
“She’s like that even as an adult.”
Once again, Kardin interjected.
At this, the Dowager Empress finally shook her head in exasperation.
She had been about to boast about how adorable Anette had been during their first meeting, but Kardin beat her to it.
“By the way, Mother, you do know that rumors are just rumors.”
His tone carried a hint of disappointment, as if she doubted his taste.
Kardin paused and fell silent.
The Dowager Empress’s expression had stiffened.
“Mother. You don’t… resent the princess, do you? This was all my decision.”
Kardin asked cautiously, out of character.
The reason was obvious. Although everything had been Kardin’s unilateral decision, Anette had been the main reason behind it, and he worried she might be disliked because of that.
How anxious and precious she must be.
Though he found it excessive, the Dowager Empress let out a sigh.
“Do I even have the right to resent her? If anything, we owe her a debt that could never be repaid even with mountains of gold.”
She was simply saddened that her precious son had been the subject of unsettling rumors for years.
As she lifted her teacup to soothe her aching heart—
“Oh, by the way, I’ll be departing for the Grand Duchy tomorrow.”
Clink.
The Dowager Empress’s hand slipped, and she nearly dropped the cup before setting it properly onto the saucer.
“What did you say?”
“Of course, I’ll be going with the princess. And don’t try to stop us with a reluctant expression.”
“Ha!”
“And please don’t look so disappointed either. It’ll make our princess feel burdened.”
At that moment, the Dowager Empress grabbed her neck, her blood pressure rising as she muttered,
“You ungrateful brat…”
Barely calming herself, she said,
“Do you really think I won’t try to stop you with tears if you act like that?”
“Mother, tears?”
Kardin let out a hollow laugh.
The Dowager Empress—noble to her core, carrying herself with even more dignity than born royalty after marriage? The same woman who, during hardships involving her husband and eldest son, or when her troublesome second son disappeared and returned in rags, had shouted instead of shedding tears?
Kardin’s expression clearly said she would never do such a thing.
The Dowager Empress snorted.
“Hmph. There’s nothing I can’t do if I put my mind to it. I’m someone who follows through.”
Kardin sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“So you really plan to stop us?”
“Yes. I’ve already thought about what to feed her and what clothes to dress her in every single day.”
“I’ll take care of her meals, and you can send clothes to the Grand Castle. I’ll dress her there.”
“Ha! And how am I supposed to see her with my own eyes?”
“I’ll send you portraits from time to time.”
“Is that even something to say—”
The Dowager Empress stopped mid-sentence.
She suddenly recalled what the Empress had said the previous day.
“If she leaves like this, wouldn’t it be inconvenient with no proper room arranged for the royal princess?”
No one had expected that Anette would appear in the form of a child, and Kardin had rushed over upon hearing the news, likely without proper preparations.
Especially when it came to clothing and food, those could be quickly arranged—but setting up a room was a different matter.
‘That boy is desperate to give his princess only the best…’
Thinking she had found an opportunity to keep Anette around, the Dowager Empress smiled and lifted her head in satisfaction.
But Kardin, who should have been flustered, was instead leaning back calmly with his arms crossed.
Seeing his confident demeanor, the Dowager Empress frowned.
“Don’t tell me you…”
“Her room at the Grand Castle has already been prepared, so you don’t need to worry, Mother.”
“…What? How?”
Kardin shrugged.
“Since we’re about to get married, it’s natural to think ahead for children. We’ve prepared rooms for all stages of growth—from infancy to adulthood—regardless of whether they’re sons or daughters.”
At his proud declaration, the Dowager Empress was shocked.
“You… you…!”
“Ah, and our daughter will one day live in a meaningful space. She’ll inherit the room her mother used.”
Imagining a daughter who didn’t even exist yet, Kardin smiled fondly.
The Dowager Empress grabbed her neck again.
“I thought you only lacked manners, but you’ve lost your mind as well.”
Realizing that the issue wasn’t Kardin’s taste but Kardin himself, she asked in disbelief,
“You’ve prepared rooms for children who aren’t even born yet? Don’t tell me you’ve prepared rooms for grandchildren too?”
Kardin chuckled as if that were absurd and replied calmly,
“I’ve only named them so far.”
“Get out.”
The Dowager Empress waved him away with a look of utter disgust.
She no longer wished to continue the conversation with this madman.
‘How did the princess of Hayworth end up with someone like him…’
Thinking of Anette’s gentle smile, the Dowager Empress felt both guilt and pity as a mother dealing with such a son.
“By the way, Mother, don’t you want to see your granddaughter?”
At that moment, a devilish whisper reached her ears.
“A daughter who looks just like the princess and me.”
“….”
“She’ll laugh and call you ‘Grandmother’ as she runs into your arms. From the moment she’s born, she’ll be wearing the clothes you designed.”
