However, he couldnât reach a hand out to the cookie on the table.
He could only collect the crumbs.
How dare he, how could he.
How could Fjord Barat hope for Lilica Nara Takar?
Even if it was just the crumbs of sympathy borne out of her generosity, it was enough for him.
âNo, thatâs not right.â
He snorted and corrected himself stiffly.
âI thought that that was enough.â
If that was really enough, he wouldnât have said that he wanted to be her conversational partner.
He still said that, despite knowing that itâs something he shouldnât say.
Then, when a letter came asking Fjordâs opinion of being Lilicaâs conversational partner, he jumped with joy.
On the contrary, his mother became upset immediately.
How dare you, you lowborn, mixed breed.
Unpleasant words like those poured out without pause. Even so, Fjord took a step forward and said.
Isnât being close to the enemy a good thing?
At that moment, his mother exploded.
Always, all the time, âIâm engraving it onto your body for your sake.â But in reality, it was just an outlet for his mother to release her feelings.
As the Duke of Barat, sheâd usually suppress all her emotions, so the aftermath would be considerable once she explodes.
After her anger was released, Fjord swallowed back a groan and agonised.
âWhat should he say to the princess?â
Since he was willing to be her conversational partner, it would definitely hurt her feelings if he refused.
No matter what, he had to let her know that it wasnât out of his own will.
What if she was too disappointed and upset?
That was the only thing he agonised over the entire time he spent lying on the bed.
He did everything possible to pull himself together.
He had to deliver his message as soon as possible.
He remembered that the road to the palace garden was rather tough.
He kept practising his lines the entire time he waited.
âI donât remember anything after that.â
He must have met the princess afterwards. They must have met, but the memories after that were muddled.
Did she call his name Or was it just an illusion?
He didnât know.
He must have collapsed, but he didnât know when or how he collapsed.
His memories only became clear after he opened his eyes in bed.
The sound of a voice coaxing him back to sleep while fanning him was quite distinct.
âI should be reprimanded for that.â
Fjord Barat fell unconscious in a defenceless state and slept at a place unknown to him.
Although it should never happen again, the feeling of, âIt doesnât matter no matter what happened,â also coexisted within him.
â Fjord isnât not a work.
When the princessâs words suddenly came to mind, Fjord laughed.
How could she only ever say sweet things?
It was practically unimaginable.
But today marks the end of the crumbles of leniency.
Even if heâd forgiven her once, would the crown prince forgive her a second time?
And would this, perhaps, make the princessâŚ
Goosebumps rose on his spine at the thought of Lilica, who was bleeding from her mouth earlier.
If Lilica ended up like that because of him, he wouldnât be able to stand himself.
If not, Atil was more precious in Lilicaâs eyes.
No matter how he thought about it, it only produced negative thoughts.
At that moment, the door opened and Lilica came in.
Fjord sprang up from his seat.
When Lilica mimed writing something with her hands, Brynn quickly brought a slab of stone.
And the remaining cloth that was used as bandages yesterday were skillfully cut and handed over to Lilica.
Lilica wrote on the stone with a slate pencil and showed it to Lauv.
[His Highness apologised for being too harsh. I heard that he had two men attack Lauv?]
Lauv sighed and said.
âItâs my fault for being lured by the sound of people. Escorts should be by their lordâs side at that moment.â
[You can be careful from next time onwards.]
It took a long while to talk, but no one cared about that. Lauv balled his hands into fists and said.
âSomething like this wonât happen again.â
As he said that, he looked like he was forcing a smile.
Whenever he did that, Lilica had a strange, conflicted feeling.
Whenever Lauv acted sociably, like Tan or any other Wolfe.
But she shouldnât talk about that now.
âMm.â
Lilica nodded in response. Brynn asked.
âHas His Highness returned?â
âMm.â
âNormally, it would be time for a mealâŚâ
Lilica made a delighted expression.
Truthfully, she had been hungry for a while now.
It was easy for her to skip one or two meals in the past, but her body, which was accustomed to eating daily, protested the lack of breakfast intensely.
âMm!â
Brynn laughed at Lilicaâs answer and said.
âIâm sorry, but you canât eat until the blood stops.â
â!!â
Lilicaâs eyes widened, before her shoulders drooped.
âTrueâŚâ
It didnât seem like she could eat anything in this state.
When she pointed towards Fjord, Brynn said, âAh.â
âYoung Duke Barat must be very hungry, too. Iâll prepare a meal for you.â
Fjord tried to say âNoâ, and âItâs alrightâ.
But if that happens, it seemed like he would be kicked out because his business here has ended.
While he hesitated, Lilica wrote on the stone plate and showed it to Fjord.
[Eat before going.]
Fjord answered quietly.
âYes, it would be my pleasure.â
Brynn asked.
âIâm sorry to say this, but will His Highness be alright?â
âUng.â
Lilica, who answered, quickly showed everyone the words she wrote on the stone plate.
[Itâs because my mother is the most beautiful in the world!!]
ââŚâŚ?â
Despite the question mark appearing on everyoneâs heads at the same time, Lilica had a relieved expression, like she had finished her explanation.
âObjectively speaking, my mother is also the most beautiful woman in the world. Yes.â
Although they were quite curious about what it meant, it was hard to hold a conversation through a slab of stone, and it was important to prepare the meals quickly.
Brynn said.
âIf youâre eating here with Young Duke Barat, you should have the meal here. Iâll have it readied.â
[Sorry]
âNot at all.â
They wondered what she was writing on the slab of stone with a tearful face , but it turned out to be an apology.
Brynn laughed, shook her head, and left the cabin after a short curtsey.
Soon after, Brynn brought breakfast over like sheâd cast a spell.
Brann followed behind her and unloaded the items he had.
He held back a bitter smile at the sight of Fjord and greeted him lightly.
Fjord also gave his greetings.
Brann examined Lilicaâs condition closely and said.
âIâm sorry, my princess.â
Lilica shook her head. She then pointed at Fjord and her eyebrows drooped.
Brann held back his laughter.
âI brought Fjord, so itâs my fault.â
He didnât know that those words could be expressed so adeptly.
âEven so. Please stop by the Black Dragon Chamber later. Iâll have some ice cream waiting for you.â
âMm!â
Lilica replied with a smile. When Brann took his leave, Brynn quickly prepared breakfast.
It was a rather simple meal.
Toast, butter and jam, as well as warm soup.
As Fjord sat facing Lilica, he awkwardly began to eat as the only one holding tableware.
Lilica wrote something on the stone and showed it to him.
[Are you feeling better now?]
âYes, Iâm fine.â
Lilica erased and began writing again.
Fjord waited for Lilica while eating and not at the same time.
[You canât be my conversational partner, right?]
ââŚâŚYes.â
He tried to speak nonchalantly, but even he could tell that his voice had become crestfallen.
Lilica tilted her head and wrote the words again.
[Then letâs just be friends.]
Fjordâs eyes widened.
He looked again at the writing on the stone plate, but there was no sign of the words disappearing.
Her handwriting wasnât a flowing style, like sheâd received training.
As her strokes didnât match, it gave a crooked impression.
He looked at those letters several times like he was engraving them in his memory, and Lilica turned the stone plate and wrote underneath it again.
[You donât want to?]
It felt like his feelings would boil over if he answered instantly, so Fjord waited a beat before answering with an elegant smile.
âIâd like that.â
Without being too clingy, without seeming too eager.
Lilica smiled.
[Me too]
* * *
âI canât believe that your teeth have fallen out. Oh, your teeth look so cute, too.â
Ludia looked at the small baby teeth that her daughter had lost eagerly.
âI didnât expect that her teeth would fall out.â
She remembered her childhood.
However, sheâd completely forgotten about it until her daughterâs teeth fell out.
âIf you throw the teeth onto the roof, a blue bird will bring it away and youâll grow out pretty teeth.â
Ludia listened to her chattering daughterâs voice and asked.
âIs that so? Where should we throw it?â
âYou know the place that I first went to? The place where I first met Mother at.â
âAh, the Dawn Palace.â
Yes! I think a blue bird will definitely come if itâs thrown there.â
âAlright, letâs do that then.â
Lilica leaned forward with joy at Ludiaâs words.
âIs Mother also coming along?â
âOf course, of course Iâll go with you.â
Her daughter smiled excitedly when Ludia hugged her. It was cute because the gap due to her fallen front teeth could be seen.
Ludia has been busy lately.
Inquiring about merchants, getting a feel of the aristocratic factionâs forces, and prying into what those Barats were up to.
Altheos clicked his tongue, asking, âArenât you busier than I am?â
âOf course I am, Iâll have to work diligently in order to support Lilica from now on.â
When a young woman is raising a child by herself, there are much more threats than youâd imagined.
In the past, she used that as an opportunity and got involved, but now she canât do that.
She also didnât want to do so.
How easy was it for men to mistreat someone thatâs called a widow?
Altheos will never be able to understand that.
The corners of Ludiaâs lips curled upwards crookedly.
âThatâs why I need power in order to protect Lilica.â
Wealth and status were the greatest powers.
In order to protect her and her child from the jackals and wolves that were plotting to harm them, first and foremost, she needed those two things.
As such, she had no choice but to desperately work day and night.
But ironically, this was why her time with Lilica was reduced.
âLily.â
Ludia held her daughterâs hand tightly and said.
âItâs all thanks to Lily that Mom can work hard as a mother. Mom can only go out and work hard because Lily is protecting the nest like this.â
Lilica held her hands tightly and said.
âI can also work hard because I have Mother.â
âYes, but thatâs why Iâm sorry that I canât spend a long time with Lily. I want you to know that Iâm always sorry.â
Ludia carefully tucked her daughterâs hair behind her ear and whispered.
At her motherâs words, Lilica shook her head and hugged her motherâs waist tightly.
A nice fragrance could be detected from the embrace.
âNo, itâs okay. I know that youâre working hard because of me. Donât be so hard on yourself. Even if you donât do this, Lily still loves Mother.â
âMm, thank you. Lily.â
Ludia could only pull herself together because Lilica loved her.
She thought that affection with her child was her wishful thinking, but sheâs glad that she realised it went both ways.
Would she have come to this realisation if Lily hadnât died, if she wasnât brought to the stake?
No, she would never have come to this realisation.
She was that stupid of a human being.
Ludia smiled bitterly.
She held her daughter in her embrace, patted her and savoured her warmth.
Lilica gave off the scent of spring and candy.
Now that her teeth have fallen out, sheâll gradually become ten, thirteen, and soon sheâll become an adult.
This time, with these two eyes.
Ludia tightened her embrace. .
She must see Lilica grow past that age.
Her daughter, who hadnât stopped at sixteen.
Ludia let out a long exhale and quickly loosened her embrace.
She didnât want to be swayed due to over-sentimentality.
Right now, wasnât Lilica alive and looking up at her like this?
âIn that case, Lily, shall we go right now?â
âReally?â
âOf course.â
âArenât you busy?â
âItâs alright.â
Ludia laughed and patted Lilica.
It was the first time she was going out with her mother in a while, so Lilica was quite excited.
The weather was rather sunny.
The sight of the new empress and the princess crossing the garden hand-in-hand with their maids in tow attracted everyoneâs attention.
Lilica shrugged her shoulders when the whispers of everyone around seemed to be praising her motherâs beauty.
âDid you see that? My mom is very pretty, right?â
When she looked up pridefully, a pair of cornflower blue eyes twinkled while facing her.
âWhatâs wrong?â
âItâs because Mother is the prettiest in the world.â
âOh, you too. Lilica, too, is the prettiest in the world.â
Although it was said with a smile, it doesnât seem like she was as pretty as her mother.
The Dawn Palace was as beautiful as the first time she saw it.
The pearl and pink coloured marble building glistened brightly underneath the sunlight.
Lilica looked at the high roof and handed her teeth over, saying, âSir Lauv.â
Lauv threw it onto the tall buildingâs roof without much effort.
âThen, shall we have a cup of tea here before going? Lilica can have some light tea, apparently itâs not good for children to drink tea.â
With a frown, Ludia informed her of a new fact that sheâd recently learned of.
âReally?â said Lilica with a tilted head.
âYes, so itâll be better if the tea was made a little lighter.â
When she looked at Brynn, Brynn nodded and said.
âThe teas that princess drinks are already made light.â
âReally? Thatâs a relief.â
The head lady-in-waiting standing aside continued to ask.
âYour Majesty, itâs hot today, so Iâm thinking of preparing lemon sherbet. What do you think? Since the princessâs tooth has fallen, something cold will help reduce swelling.â
âOh, then letâs have that.â
After Ludia said that, lemon sherbet in a beautiful glass bowl was served a moment later.
A refreshing sour and sweet taste spread throughout her mouth with each scoopful she placed in her mouth.
âIs it yummy?â
Lilica nodded at Ludiaâs question.
It was a dessert that goes well with summer days.
Lilica continued to move her small spoon as she said.
âCome to think of it, Mother, Fjord told me that he couldnât be my conversational partner.â
âOh, I see.â
Ludia knew this would happen. That didnât mean she had to say that aloud.
Why would he say something that would hurt her daughter?
âAre you alright? You must be very disappointed.â
âWell, thatâs why I said itâs okay if he isnât my conversational partner, and that we can just be friends.â
âWith Fjord Barat?â
âYes.â
After saying that, Lilica couldnât help but check her motherâs face.
Her last question contained negative energy.
Without her realisation, her shoulders shrunk habitually.