CHAPTER 112…………………………..
As soon as we entered the palace, we defeated Yupiteria.
I wasn’t sure what would happen to our disguised family, but for now, since the Princess’s quarters were ready, we decided to rest there together.
“Mom, is that grandmother going to be okay?”
“Hmm, she’ll be fine.”
She was a naturally sturdy person.
Ayla, who had trauma just from the idea of grandmothers, seemed finally able to relax, and soon after, she fell into a deep sleep.
Aslan, probably exhausted from the journey, was laid down next to Ayla and immediately started snoring.
Lloyd had removed his mask and slumped onto the sofa, but his complexion looked very bad.
“Archduke, are you all right?”
“…Yes… I’m alive…”
His answer felt heavy with silence.
Yupiteria, who had passed down her face and personality to him, was fundamentally a high-handed person.
Facing her “I’ll kill you” gaze head-on, it was no wonder that even with mental preparation, he looked utterly worn out.
“You’ve worked hard. Rest.”
“You should rest as well, Your Majesty.”
“I feel like I need to go when the Emperor calls. You’re strong; you’ll get up quickly.”
And, just as I had expected, Yupiteria soon woke and called for me.
When I returned to the main palace, Yupiteria, clearly still shaken, leaned weakly against the bed and looked at me over her shoulder.
“You’ve come.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Her face looked even more haggard than before, and her voice was hoarse.
No wonder she had been laughing so heartily earlier.
‘I feel a bit sorry.’
I had thought she would greet me grandly if I returned—but I hadn’t expected it to be like this.
Although she was a devoted mother, Yupiteria cherished Minerva and me because we were perfect heirs.
The only regret she had was that there was no heir alongside Mars.
Gabriel had been pregnant before I was confined, so she must have been anxious.
In the end, it was fortunate that I now had two heirs, but it seemed best not to upset her.
I approached her, gently holding her hands, which were starting to wrinkle, and lowered my eyebrows.
“Your Majesty, I’m sorry for all the worries. This unworthy daughter is being disrespectful the moment she returns.”
Yupiteria, who already cherished me, teared up and hugged me tightly.
“Oh, my Minerva. What do you mean unworthy? You’ve endured so much alone there. How frightening it must have been when you realized you were pregnant.”
‘It wasn’t frightening.’
I didn’t give birth myself.
I carried the child in my heart and raised them with my purse, but still.
I silently responded in my mind with a smile.
Perhaps feeling sorry for me, Yupiteria nodded with a sympathetic expression.
“I see… so that’s why. Now I understand everything.”
“Understand what?”
“The Archduke once came to me and said you were tutoring the Archduchess. He wanted to move you and your mother to the Archduke’s territory.”
“The Archduke?”
So it was Lloyd, not Yupiteria, who first suggested that I go to the Archduke’s territory…
No wonder it seemed strange that I went there just because of Yupiteria’s pressure.
‘So that man hid his identity and called me to his own territory?’
Well, I was grateful for being comfortably taken care of in a safe place, but he was really clumsy.
Seeing him at work, he didn’t seem incompetent, so why was he so inept in this?
As I accepted this quietly, Yupiteria also seemed to accept it.
“I thought you two were in cahoots and that the Archduke was helping you. But in reality, it was a touching family reunion. Oh, if I had known you two had that kind of relationship with the Archduke, I would have at least hinted to keep him near you.”
Well… a misunderstanding is one’s prerogative.
It was convenient since the story made sense on its own.
When I silently nodded, Yupiteria patted my shoulder.
“Right, I held onto you too tightly while you were exhausted. You must be tired from the long journey. Come inside. I’ve prepared the palace for you. I didn’t know about the children, so I haven’t prepared anything for them, which is a shame.”
“It’s okay, Your Majesty. I can prepare for them myself. I’m grateful enough for the care you’ve already taken.”
“Yes, yes. The treasury is well-stocked, so spend as you like. Oh, by the way, I was planning to renew the discussion of your marriage with the Archduke, so it’s good it worked out this way. We’ll hold the ceremony soon.”
She really must have been waiting for my return.
If I hadn’t returned, she probably wouldn’t have slept peacefully.
Yupiteria hugged me tightly once again.
“Welcome back, my Minerva. My proud princess.”
My Minerva. My proud princess.
How long had it been since I last heard that?
It was the Emperor’s usual way of calling me and Minerva.
Unlike ordinary parents saying “our so-and-so” or “our daughter,” this was different.
Unlike calling Mars, this was full of love, pride, and satisfaction.
But I didn’t have time to sympathize with Mars now.
I had returned to eliminate Mars with the Emperor’s favor.
The Princess’s quarters were very close to the main palace.
Most of today’s tasks were already done, so I headed there diligently, partly to formally discuss future matters with my family and partly to rest.
Everyone we passed bowed deeply when they saw me.
Following behind me, Luisa and Jane seemed to walk proudly, perhaps feeling rewarded for their past hardships.
Maybe they were the ones who most hoped I’d return.
I felt guilty thinking that they had benefited from me, Minerva, in some way, and couldn’t even speak when I first enjoyed leisure at the Fran mansion.
Stepping out of the main palace made me even more tense.
From here, it was likely I would encounter Mars and Gabriel.
News of my return had spread, so they might even be waiting.
Sure enough, not long after leaving the main palace, a low, hoarse voice grabbed my ankle.
“Minerva.”
“Mars.”
My twin brother, with the same platinum hair carelessly tossed and dull green eyes glaring fiercely.
Just from his voice, I might not have recognized him.
Had he been drinking excessively these past few days?
His voice wasn’t usually this unpleasant.
We exchanged hostile glares, our identical faces reflecting the same intensity.
He ground his teeth as if he hated me to death, just like five years ago, but his dark eyes made him seem even more worn down.
I let out a small mocking laugh.
“So you stayed up waiting to welcome your sister, huh, Mars?”
His whole body trembled violently—not from fear, but because he was about to attack me.
“You… you! How dare you—”
A strong smell of alcohol hit me as he lunged.
I easily dodged, and he collapsed to the ground, groaning, unable to get up.
“Ugh… ugh…”
It was a true spectacle.
Why had his mental state worsened so much?
He wasn’t so sensitive before.
A man so careful of Yupiteria now lunging at me in such a crowded place—even if he was drunk early in the morning—was strange.
‘Alcoholism?’
Chapped lips, sunken cheeks, trembling fingers, and the smell of alcohol revealed severe alcohol dependence, likely longstanding.
Why was he like this when he should have been at ease with me gone?
I, still considering him my brother, moved closer to help him up.
“Mars, is that how you greet your sister after so long?”
“…!”
Suddenly, someone appeared behind me, gliding past and speaking softly in a melodic tone, scolding Mars.
The familiar voice came with no footstep sounds.
Her long, luxurious black hair was perfectly displayed, ignoring Mars as she greeted me warmly.
“It’s been a while, Princess Minerva. Please forgive Mars’s misconduct right after your return.”
“…Princess Gabriel.”
Gabriel, her delicate eyes curved like a crescent moon, smiled at me like a blossoming flower.
