Chapter 7 – Mom’s Circumstances
Gisele’s eyes went wide.
<So you’re His Majesty’s companion’s daughter?>
“His Majesty’s companion” must mean her mother, Yulita.
“If you mean my mom’s name, yeah, she’s Yulita. But she’s NOT His Majesty’s companion yet!”
<…Anyway, then you’re His Majesty’s daughter.>
Well… biologically, that was true. Gisele rested her chin on her hand and nodded.
<Then tell His Majesty that I’m fine for now.>
“What do you mean?”
Gisele tilted her head. Now that she looked closer, the boy seemed trapped — like he was being kept somewhere.
Was he treated this way because he was the emperor’s illegitimate son?
<Tell him that I’m still doing fine… that I’m being controlled properly…>
“Okay.”
Gisele was bursting with curiosity, but she decided to end the conversation.
She swiped left, just like he told her. It worked like a magical smartphone. The boy disappeared, and many different videos appeared — all nobles who wanted to contact Mertz.
Gisele found his face among them and tapped it.
“When is it gonna connect…?”
There was a bit of a wait. She started thinking about what the boy meant by “controlled,” and where her mom was planning to go.
But soon, the screen lit up.
<Yulita?>
Mertz’s ridiculously handsome face appeared. He was wearing his emperor’s uniform, his golden hair neatly slicked back this time.
<Yulita? If you called, say something.>
Gisele leaned into the orb.
“It’s me. Not Mom.”
Seeing his face, she immediately realized how similar he was to that boy earlier. Even father and son shouldn’t look THAT similar. She and her mom looked alike, but not to that level.
<Gisele? What happened? Why are you calling instead of Yulita?>
The moment he realized it wasn’t Yulita, he looked openly disappointed. The light in his silver eyes faded.
Gisele snorted.
“I’m calling because I have HUGE news. About Mom!”
Her heart pounded. If she told him, how would he react? Would he get angry and harm Theo?
When it came to Yulita, Mertz basically lost his mind. It wouldn’t be surprising if he tried to kill the man involved.
“…I think you need to try seducing Mom again.”
He frowned deeply.
<What do you mean…?>
“Mom’s trying to get remarried. And to stop that, you need to seduce her again. She’s marrying ONLY because she wants to forget you.”
<Yulita is… getting married…?>
His face froze in shock — then twisted with anger.
<…To who?>
Yep. Definitely ready to murder the fiancé.
Gisele spoke quickly:
“That doesn’t matter! The point is Mom STILL likes you, and she wants to forget you by marrying someone else!
So you need to win her back!”
Hearing that Yulita still liked him, Mertz’s expression softened slightly.
<So I’m still in her heart?>
“Yes. Just crash the wedding and flip her heart back. I don’t want a dad who’s only ten years older than me anyway.”
<Is that man handsome enough to seduce Yulita?>
Mertz ground his teeth.
This man’s priorities were unbelievable.
Gisele almost burst into laughter.
“No. He’s not handsome. If he were better-looking than you, I would’ve welcomed him as my new dad!”
That strangely comforted him. His shoulders relaxed.
<Fine. I’ll go and seduce her again soon.>
“Okay! Oh — and some black-haired boy who looks like you said he’s ‘well-controlled’ and to pass the message.”
The moment she said that, Mertz’s eyes went cold.
<…What?>
Gisele jumped slightly.
<You met Henrik?>
“It was an accident! I tapped the wrong thing and it connected.”
<…I see.>
Mertz lowered his eyes, nodded once…
…and abruptly hung up.
“What a rude guy…”
When the orb dimmed, Gisele hid it again.
“So the boy’s name is Henrik…”
She thought of him — alone in a fancy but gloomy room, only his silver eyes glowing.
“Must be bad for a kid’s mind…”
It bothered her, but it wasn’t something she could fix.
When she went outside, Yulita had returned from visiting Theo’s family.
“Gisele, want some snacks?”
Yulita held a jar of candied apples made by Theo’s mother, Mrs. Laura.
Gisele likes sweets, but not right now.
“…You met his mother?”
“Yes.”
“She’ll be sad. Knowing her son is being used.”
Yulita flinched at her daughter’s words.
“…I wish I could love Theo.”
“Wishing to love someone is NOT the same as loving them. The one you love is—”
“Stop, Gisele. Please stop.”
Yulita shook her head painfully.
“For Will… losing the unconscious flame he guarded to a spirit is like… dying.”
Her breathing grew ragged. She held her chest.
“It’s true I loved him. But…”
Gisele waited.
“He… he once gave me death. I don’t love him anymore.”
“You THINK you shouldn’t love him. But when I look at you, it’s obvious!”
Gisele went back to her room.
Normally, Yulita would come after her to comfort her — but she didn’t.
Gisele buried her face in her pillow and fell asleep.
Later that night
Tears rolled down Yulita’s cheeks. They dripped onto the map she was drawing.
“No… I can’t cry…”
But she cried anyway.
No matter how hard she tried to erase Mertz, he wouldn’t disappear from her heart.
He only dug deeper.
She wiped her face and kept drawing.
She needed this map — for the one place where a healing flame might exist.
“…It might not even exist…”
She had once given up on life completely.
So the idea of chasing this legendary flame felt pointless.
But for Gisele… maybe she had to try.
Even if there were good people who could raise Gisele, a child needs her mother.
“…Here.”
She pointed at the region on the map.
The mountain range of eternal snow.
A place from ancient texts — said to hold a flame that could cure any illness, even emotional wounds.
“…But it’s impossible.”
The mountain range was filled with terrifying monsters.
Almost no one made it to the top.
Going there with her current health was like suicide.
And the flames might not even be real.
What do I do…? Should I gamble my life for Gisele? Or spend the time I have left making memories with her…?’
She quietly pushed Gisele’s door open.
Her daughter was sound asleep, breathing softly, kicking her blanket.
Yulita walked in.
“You’ll catch a cold…”
She covered her with the blanket and stroked her forehead.
“Gisele… I’m sorry. I… I can’t live.”
She whispered excuses to herself.
“The healing flame might not exist. And that place is…”
She couldn’t continue.
Watching her daughter’s peaceful face made her heart ache.
She kissed Gisele’s cheek and left the room.
Thinking of her daughter made it impossible to truly hate Mertz.
“…Mertz…”
Her strength gave out and she sank to the floor.
All the emotions she had pushed down burst out.
“I wish I could just… fully hate you…”
Or maybe forget everything and go back to him like before.
Mertz had tricked her — stolen his own unconscious flame and sold it for power.
To Will, it had felt like losing a child.
And yet, he had planted something precious inside her.
“If you came back…
If we could go back to that time…”
If they could return to the beginning —
Two teenagers meet by chance.
“Then… maybe…”
Yulita cried on the floor for a long, long time.
Meanwhile…
Gisele wasn’t fully asleep.
She heard everything — even her mother’s sobs.
‘Mom…’
She knew the mountain range well — a terrifying place in legends, full of monsters.
‘Is there really something there that can heal Mom…?’
But more importantly, her mother looked exhausted and heartbroken.
Like she carried an invisible weight on her small shoulders.
Gisele wanted to get up and hug her.
Even if her mom used people, she was still her precious mother.
Soon, she heard her mother return to her room.
Gisele’s eyes snapped open.
One thing was clear:
Her mom still loved Mertz.
Gisele quietly got up, locked her door, and pulled out the orb again.
“This should work…”
She tapped it.
Videos popped up.
She found Mertz again.
“Sir.”
