CHAPTER 33……………………………………………
Chester looked at the fully bloomed roses in the garden with indifferent eyes as he continued,
“They’re still kids, and already talking about an engagement…”
“Why not? Royals get engaged early.”
At his friend’s cold remark, William offered a casual excuse.
“To be honest, His Majesty is worried that Jace might abandon the throne and run off to the Magic Tower like my brother did. Sons tend to take after their fathers.”
“If you’re saying you’ll tie my precious niece to the Crown Prince’s heir just for the throne, I’m against it.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. It’s not just for that reason. It’s a good match overall.”
“You’re the one who always says marriage should be decided carefully. Yet you reject every proposal that comes your way.”
“Don’t nitpick.”
William pouted slightly and spread apricot jam on a scone as he muttered,
“I’m not like Jace. I can’t exactly break off engagements twice.”
As he popped the scone neatly into his mouth, Chester let out a quiet laugh.
He was reminded of the woman who had broken off her engagement with the Crown Prince—and the man she later married.
Maeve Dalton Valerio, the Emperor’s goddaughter, had been politically engaged to William since before she could even walk. But having grown up together from such a young age, they never saw each other romantically.
They were more like siblings than lovers.
Then, when Maeve met Lucien at the academy and fell in love, William willingly broke off the engagement for her sake.
People assumed their relationship would become awkward after the broken engagement.
But in reality, it wasn’t like that at all.
“Maeve is like my sister. How could I marry my own sister?”
William had meant those words sincerely—and ever since, the two had remained just as close.
“Being careful is fine, but don’t overdo it. At this rate, His Majesty might force you to marry some noble lady you’ve never even met.”
“No way.”
William shrugged at Chester’s warning, then suddenly narrowed his eyes.
“Wait, you almost distracted me. So what’s the name of that mysterious tutor?”
“You don’t need to know.”
Chester answered shortly, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
William blinked in surprise.
“Wait… did you just smile? Not a smirk—a real smile?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. If you’re just going to talk nonsense, I’ll be leaving.”
Chester quickly composed his expression and stood up, ending the conversation.
Left alone, William muttered to himself, still dazed.
“Don’t tell me… he smiled because he was thinking about that tutor? No way… that can’t be it…”
His hollow murmuring echoed through the garden.
“…Phew.”
Urenia let out a breath as she gently released Lilian’s hand.
Following Rex’s instructions, she stopped when the necklace began to glow—so she no longer fainted like before.
She felt a bit tired, but a good rest solved it.
In fact, after sleeping, she often felt even more energized than usual.
“Shall we stop here for today?”
“…Yes.”
Lilian replied in a tiny whisper.
Perhaps because she had spent so long alone in her room, she was extremely shy.
For the first few days, she couldn’t even properly meet Urenia’s eyes.
“Lady Lilian, how are you feeling today?”
“…Good.”
The girl lowered her head as she answered softly.
Her ears turned slightly red as she responded.
Watching her warmly, Urenia said,
“Don’t forget your promise to your teacher. You have to eat well to recover faster.”
“…Yes.”
Lilian fidgeted with her hands as she replied.
Nadia had mentioned that Lilian hadn’t been eating properly lately—she had lived on soup for so long that she now found eating bothersome.
“Everything you eat will help you get better. If you eat properly, I’ll reward you with strawberry cake.”
“Strawberry cake?”
At that, Lilian lifted her head.
Her face lit up with anticipation.
“Cake…”
“Yes. So will you keep your promise?”
“Yes.”
Urenia smiled and gently patted her head before leaving the room.
Lilian’s condition was steadily improving, and the heavy atmosphere in the household was gradually lifting.
‘It’s already this late.’
Stretching, Urenia headed toward Kylus’s room.
According to the schedule, she was supposed to teach him imperial history in ten minutes.
“Kylus, it’s me. How was your sword lesson today?”
As she entered, the boy at the desk hurriedly moved, clearly hiding something.
“T-Teacher!”
“What were you doing?”
“Nothing! I wasn’t doing anything!”
Kylus quickly shut the drawer and swallowed nervously.
Watching him, Urenia smiled faintly.
She already knew what was inside.
Letters.
Letters he had written to his mother, Maeve.
She had discovered them by accident while placing teaching materials inside.
It wasn’t just one letter—he had written one every day, including ones brought from the ducal estate.
Perhaps he wanted to give her the best one.
Urenia decided to keep his secret.
It was something precious to him.
“I see, you weren’t doing anything. By the way… when is the marchioness’s birthday again? Has it already passed?”
“The 12th. It hasn’t.”
“So there’s less than a week left?”
Sitting beside him, she spoke meaningfully.
Kylus stiffened, looking at her suspiciously.
“Why?”
“Just curious.”
Urenia smiled without elaborating.
Watching her, Kylus pouted slightly.
His cheeks flushed faintly as he mumbled under his breath.
Later, as Urenia was taking a walk in the back garden—
“Meooow.”
A cat’s cry drifted on the wind.
She looked around cautiously and followed the sound.
Soon—
“I told you, I didn’t tell anyone!”
She found herself explaining desperately to Rex, who was questioning whether she had revealed his secret.
Apparently, the imperial palace’s head chef had been acting suspicious lately.
As she defended herself, Urenia tilted her head.
“Wait… how did you even meet the head chef? Did you sneak into the imperial kitchen?”
—“Of course. That’s where the finest and most expensive ingredients in the empire are gathered.”
“You didn’t steal food, did you?”
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
But the cat remained shameless.
—“Steal? Do you know how much I’ve contributed to the imperial family? My labor is incredibly valuable.”
“Then why not go as the great Magic Tower master instead of a cat and ask properly?”
—“Are you serious? How did you even graduate top of your class? Think about it—what if I get caught by the Emperor—!”
“Teacher?”
The bushes rustled.
At the same time, a low, deep voice called out.
The chattering cat instantly froze.
“What are you doing here alone?”
Chester stepped out from behind the bushes and approached Urenia.
Because they had been talking tucked into a corner near the wall, Rex couldn’t escape.
‘W-what do I do?’
Urenia’s pink eyes darted anxiously from side to side.
