~Chapter 68~
Ruby, still happy from Grand Duke Lux’s praise, immediately went to Maria’s room.
“Lady Ruby, you’re here,” the nanny greeted her warmly.
“I’ll watch Maria for a while. Please take a break,” Ruby said as she sat in the chair beside Maria’s crib.
“Is that all right?”
The nanny looked tired—she had been caring for Maria even through the long carriage ride.
“Of course. Please rest comfortably.”
After giving the nanny her break, Ruby looked at Maria, who was sleeping deeply.
The nanny quietly closed the door on her way out.
“Our little Maria, you’re sleeping so well. How sweet you are,” Ruby whispered with affection.
“…You should be loved much more than this. I’m sorry.”
Ruby felt guilty that her younger siblings still couldn’t fully accept Maria as their baby sister.
She had tried to persuade them, but deep in their hearts, Calix and Sasha still held resentment toward Maria.
Thankfully, they didn’t treat her badly—but Maria was smart enough to notice that her older siblings did not welcome her warmly.
At an age when she should be surrounded by love, she had lost her parents and was being raised by a nanny she barely knew. The thought pained Ruby.
“And there’s something else I’m sorry for,” Ruby murmured.
She watched Maria’s small chest rise and fall steadily.
Maria wouldn’t hear her… but Ruby still wanted to confess.
She needed to say this—even if she was saying it only because Maria was asleep.
“I’m sorry for borrowing your idea without permission… your future business idea. I used it a little early.”
Ruby had handled Cordonia’s problems with such confidence because she already knew the idea would succeed.
And that certainty came from Maria.
In the novel Our Family Must Regret, ten-year-old Maria creates an “arts district” and launches a festival to save her impoverished town.
Everyone is moved by her brilliance at such a young age.
Ruby had taken that core idea.
The details were her own, but the foundation—the original concept—belonged to Maria.
So Ruby felt guilty.
“I might borrow your wisdom again in the future.”
Maria turned over in her sleep, and Ruby gently repositioned her on her back.
“But everything I do is to protect my siblings—and you. Only if I survive and prove myself here can you continue living safely in this mansion. So… please forgive me.”
Ruby slipped her index finger into Maria’s tiny hand.
Maria squeezed her finger tightly, not letting go.
Ruby decided to interpret that as forgiveness.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure that, when you grow up and become the heroine, you’ll be happy. You won’t have to suffer the hardships described in the novel. You’ll achieve everything you want. I’ll make it happen.”
Ruby watched Maria sleep peacefully for a long time.
She wanted to confess everything, but Maria could never know that this world was originally a novel.
Nor that she was its heroine.
So Ruby could only speak while Maria slept.
After finishing her one-sided apology, Ruby let the rested nanny take over and quietly left the room.
***
When the Cordonia festival ended, Ruby went to the Frizia Palace.
“That’s good news. So Grand Duke Lux praised you,” Ivan said, nodding after hearing everything.
“Yes, and it’s all thanks to your help, Your Highness. I couldn’t have succeeded without you.”
Ivan raised his teacup to hide the smile pulling at his lips.
“It wasn’t that big of a deal.”
“I’m glad to have a friend like you. If you ever need my help, please tell me anytime.”
“…Mm.”
It was something she said often—ever since they became playmates.
But lately, whenever Ruby called him a “friend,” Ivan felt a strange prickling in his throat, like a thorn stuck there.
Even drinking tea didn’t remove it.
“I want a friend too,” Sasha suddenly whimpered beside them.
“Why? You have Prince Theo,” Ruby said.
But Sasha pointed to Calix and Theo across the room with a grumpy face.
“They won’t let me join them because they’re always doing sword training.”
Theo had been obsessed with getting stronger and was training seriously with Calix every day.
Ruby couldn’t interrupt their practice just to tell Theo to play with her.
Ruby gave Sasha an apologetic look.
“All right. I’ll find a child who can be your friend.”
“I want to train my friend too.”
“That might be difficult. Most children don’t start training at your age.”
“Hing…”
Sasha drooped sadly—but continued reaching for biscuits in the center of the table.
“I’ll take responsibility and find Sasha a friend,” Ivan declared suddenly.
Sasha lit up immediately.
“Your Highness, are you sure?” Ruby asked, worried.
“It’s for Sasha. How could it be difficult?”
“Wow! Prince Ivan is the best!”
Ivan was clearly growing attached to Sasha like she was his real little sister.
Seeing him smile gently at Sasha made Ruby feel strangely proud.
“Thank you for helping, Your Highness.”
“Sasha is practically my sister too. No need for thanks.”
Encouraged, Sasha began eating her biscuits even more enthusiastically.
Ruby wiped the chocolate around her mouth with a napkin.
“Does Prince Theo have any friends besides Sasha and Calix?” Ruby asked suddenly.
Ivan’s face stiffened.
“Hm. I don’t really know.”
Ruby felt disappointed.
She thought she had helped improve their relationship, but despite that, the boys hadn’t grown any closer.
Was it because adults around them whispered things and stirred up division?
Even if they were rivals, she still wanted them to get along… was that too much to hope for?
Ruby looked at Ivan sadly.
Ivan immediately understood the meaning behind her gaze.
“Don’t meddle. We’ll sort out our relationship ourselves.”
“But at least you can say ‘we’ now,” Ruby said brightly.
Ivan’s face burned red.
“It’s just words. It doesn’t mean I’m grouping myself together with Theo.”
“Of course,” Ruby replied—but her warm smile didn’t disappear.
“Prince Theo and I… we’re like water and fire. We can never mix.”
Ivan glanced into his teacup, seeing his own troubled reflection.
What did he want his relationship with Theo to be?
No matter how much he thought, he couldn’t find an answer.
People around him constantly warned him about Theo.
And even if he did open his heart, in the end they would be rivals for the crown prince’s seat.
Thinking of the future made him uneasy—Theo’s sword training, Theo’s studies… everything.
“I don’t think water and fire need to mix,” Ruby said.
“But they can complement each other.”
“What does that mean?”
“When fire is too strong, water puts it out. And when water needs to be warm, fire heats it.”
“That seems unrelated,” Ivan muttered.
“And if they stay balanced, they become part of nature. But if one gets too strong, it becomes a disaster.”
Ivan still didn’t fully understand. Ruby’s words felt vague and confusing.
“If you think only about who becomes crown prince, you’ll never find an answer,” Ruby continued.
She pinpointed exactly what he was worried about.
“But you don’t have to rule the country alone. If you two worked together, you might make the Baldur Empire even better than before.”
Together.
Ivan had never considered that possibility.
“Don’t let others’ words sway you. Prince Ivan is Prince Ivan. Who you open your heart to, who you care about, and what you think—those are your choices.”
Ruby looked directly into Ivan’s eyes.
His red eyes trembled.
His chest felt as if something was burning from the inside.
His vision blurred, unable to focus on Ruby’s face.
Ivan reached out and grabbed Ruby’s shoulder to steady himself.
Only then did his gaze clear, and he could see her again.
“You said you’d help me whenever I needed it, right?”
“Of course. I meant it.”
“Then… if I grow up and end up working for the Baldur Empire… no matter what position I take… will you stay by my side?”
