~Chapter 57~
“I guess I’ll head back. Tell the crown prince I’ll visit again later.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“…But wait.”
Narcissa stopped walking and turned slightly.
“That woman over there—I don’t recognize her face.”
The empress had sharp eyes.
She could recognize not only everyone working in the palace, but even the lower-ranked servants of noble families.
She might not know names, but she could tell who belonged to which house.
And Leah? She was a stranger.
“She’s Lady Blumhardt’s nanny,” the attendant answered nervously.
“Nanny, huh…”
Narcissa stepped past the attendant and walked toward Leah.
‘Why is she coming over here?’ Leah swallowed hard.
Meeting the prince was nerve-wracking enough, and now the empress? Her hands were sweaty.
Narcissa lifted Leah’s chin with her finger.
Leah kept her eyes down, trying not to make eye contact.
“Are you really Lady Blumhardt’s nanny?”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Leah barely got the words out, her voice trembling.
She was terrified of lying to the highest-ranking woman in the empire.
“I just don’t like seeing unfamiliar faces in the palace, that’s all. No need to be so tense.”
“…Yes.”
Narcissa smiled slightly, withdrew her finger, and turned around with elegance.
“Let’s go.”
Her maids and attendants followed behind.
Leah watched them walk away, hands clenched, palms damp with sweat.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have come…’
But if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have met her.
The so-called mage she remembered from her past life… wasn’t actually a mage.
She was a lady-in-waiting to the empress.
Why did a lady-in-waiting pretend to be a mage and approach her back then?
She couldn’t understand it.
“Miss Leah, are you alright?” Samuel asked once Narcissa was out of sight.
“…Yes.”
Leah was so drained from the encounter that she almost stumbled.
“It’s rare for Her Majesty to visit the Crown Prince’s quarters. You must’ve been shocked. Please rest in the lounge for a bit.”
Samuel supported her as they followed the attendant.
When they reached the lounge, Ria practically collapsed onto the sofa.
“Please rest well.”
The attendant brought tea and snacks to help her relax, then left.
“Miss Leah, I’ll be next door. Take your time and rest here,” Samuel said, noticing how serious she looked.
“Thank you.”
She gave him a small nod.
Once he left, Leah sat quietly, lost in her thoughts.
‘…Could that so-called mage—the lady-in-waiting—have had something to do with my death?’
—
Meanwhile…
“May the goddess Hecate bless you. I, Raphaella of House Blumhardt, greet the Crown Prince, the little sun of the heavens.”
Raphaella gave a polite curtsy in her pink dress.
“My goodness. I can’t believe someone like you ended up with such an adorable daughter.”
The Crown Prince, Matthias, with fiery red hair and deep green eyes, laughed heartily as he walked over.
“Nice to meet you, Raphaella.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
“You speak so well for someone your age.”
Compared to the prince she met last time, Matthias felt very different.
If the other prince was like a graceful swan, Matthias was like a commanding eagle.
“You’re even cuter than I expected. Johan, you were just pretty as a kid. Not cute at all.”
Matthias said, eyes still on Raphaella.
“You’re making her uncomfortable, Your Highness,” Johan said.
“Ahem. Am I staring too much? Sorry, Raphaella.”
“It’s okay, Your Highness.”
Raphaella answered, surprised at how comfortably her father spoke to the crown prince.
“How old are you compared to my daughter, Lucia?” Matthias asked, sitting down on the sofa.
“There’s a two-year age difference.”
“I’ll have to introduce you to her sometime. She could use a friend.”
He patted Raphaella’s head.
“A friend?”
“Yep. I think you’d get along great.”
He gestured to a servant, who wheeled in a cart full of desserts—fancy cakes and cookies, different from what she usually had at home.
“Wow!”
Raphaella forgot her manners and gasped.
Both Matthias and Johann smiled softly.
“These are for you. Eat as much as you like.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Ask for more if you want.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
She bowed and picked up her fork.
“Haha, Johann, now you’re the one staring too much.”
“…Me?” Johann asked, eyes still fixed on his daughter.
“Yeah, you haven’t looked away once. You’re totally smitten.”
“…Ahem.”
Johann adjusted his posture, realizing he’d been leaning forward just to watch her.
“You used to act all cold and noble about having kids. Look at you now.”
Matthias laughed.
“I’m glad you’re getting along. I was worried you’d treat her like a stranger.”
“I’m not, so don’t worry.”
“Good. Then how about this—since you’re the godfather of my daughter Lucia, I’ll be the godfather of your daughter Raphaella.”
“…What?”
Being the crown prince’s goddaughter was a huge deal—it wasn’t the same as a duke being a godfather to a royal.
And yet Matthias said it so casually.
“You’re serious? You’ll really be her godfather?”
“Of course. Who else is more qualified than me?”
Raphaella looked up, having caught on to their conversation.
“Raphaella, how would you feel if I became your godfather?”
“My godfather?” She tilted her head.
“Yes. Someone who’ll always care for you, in good times and bad—just like your parents.”
“…Hmm. I like that! You seem really nice, Your Highness.”
Her cheeks turned rosy.
“Great! Then we just need to make it official.”
To make it official, they’d have to submit documents to the temple and get approval. Godparents were legal guardians if the parents ever couldn’t be there.
“She’s too young to understand how big of a deal this is…” Johann said hesitantly.
“Don’t overthink it. I’m doing this just because I want to. No politics involved.”
Matthias gently patted Johann’s shoulder.
“…Thank you, Your Highness.”
Johann couldn’t say no anymore and nodded after a brief pause.
“If you’re that thankful, maybe call me ‘big brother’ like when we were kids?”
“I never called you that, even as a kid.”
“You’re no fun. You should try it at least once.”
“No thanks.”
Johann shook his head.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Raphaella said, bowing with her father.
“She’s really different from you. Must’ve taken after her mom?”
Matthias tapped Raphaella’s cheek playfully.
“Everyone says I look like my dad.”
“Maybe on the outside. But inside, I think you’re more like your mom.”
He smiled at her.
“Really? I love my mom more than anyone in the world!”
Her cheeks turned red.
“Then I gave you the best compliment ever.”
“Yes! That’s why I came here with my mom today!”
She leaned in and whispered.
“What? Really, Johann?”
“Yes. She’s in the lounge with Samuel.”
“Why didn’t she come in, then?”
“You invited Raphaella, not her.”
“She still should’ve come in. Raphaella clearly loves her mom the most. I’m curious, too.”
“You do know how strict palace rules are for non-high-ranking nobles, right?”
Johann gave him a look.
“…Yeah, that’s true.”
Only direct heirs of the five great duchies and royals could easily meet the crown prince.
Everyone else had to go through complicated procedures—background checks, ID verification with magic stones, body searches, disarmament, and so on.
For commoners? It was even harder.
“Man, it’s tough just to meet people around here.”
Matthias sighed.
Just then, an attendant who had been waiting nearby approached him.
“Your Highness, the Emperor will see you soon…”
“Already? Time flies.”
Matthias frowned slightly.
“Then we’ll take our leave now.”
Johann stood up.
The emperor hated even being one minute late.
They had to go quickly to give Matthias time to prepare.
“Too bad, but alright. Raphaella, let’s meet again soon.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Raphaella took Johann’s hand and stood. They bowed and left the room.
“Shall we go see Mom now?”
“Yes!”
Raphaella beamed.
