~Chapter 9~
It was noon. I was finally enjoying a bit of freedom when Countess Letel came to see me.
She pushed in a three-tier trolley, left it near the entrance, then walked over to me and lowered her body slightly.
“I heard something serious happened after I left yesterday. I only found out later and was so shocked. Lady Lin, are you feeling a little better now?”
She placed both hands on the bed and looked at me carefully. Her eyes were warm and gentle.
Even though she was clearly assigned by Mikhail to watch over me, she was truly kind—like an aunt or an older sister.
“Thanks to you, I’m better. But… aren’t you surprised by how I look?”
She smiled and shook her head.
“I already noticed you were changing your appearance on purpose. I even secretly checked what kind of cream and potions you were using.”
“Oh… I see.”
“But I didn’t report it to His Majesty. I had a feeling why you were going through all that effort. It was because of Lord Joshua, wasn’t it?”
Her words made me feel strange. I hadn’t done it to be recognized, but somehow… I felt a little proud.
“Yes. But I don’t need to do that anymore, so I’m going to stop.”
“You made the right choice. You’re much more beautiful like this, Lady Lin.”
“Thank you, Countess.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Ah, right.”
She turned slightly and pointed to the trolley.
“I brought you some food. You must be very hungry, right?”
She quickly brought it over and stopped beside the bed. Then she placed a tray on my lap with a pleased expression.
“His Majesty personally sent this.”
…But unlike her expression, the food on the tray was tragic.
What is this?
I had expected something better since it came from the emperor.
There was only a bowl of soup that looked like meat had swum through it and left… and two small pieces of white bread.
Not even bird food.
Meanwhile, Countess Letel kept talking happily, completely unaware of my expression.
“His Majesty was very worried about you, Lady Lin. Please eat well and recover quickly, alright?”
Eat well? With what?
I glanced at the tray and replied flatly.
“Yes. I should eat a lot and regain my strength. Thank you for bringing it.”
“Please eat before it gets cold.”
She placed a spoon and a wet cloth on the tray and smiled.
“His Majesty said you can no longer go out, so he asked me to make sure you eat properly. How thoughtful he is.”
She held her cheek and sighed softly, looking dreamy—like a girl in love.
I looked down at the food again.
What am I supposed to do with this?
“It may look simple, but it’s full of things that are good for your body. Sap-yak tree fruit extract, Redinar root…”
Ah… now I understood why the soup looked like this.
It wasn’t that meat had been there.
It was all herbs. Herbs. Herbs.
Where is the meat?! If not meat, at least add milk!
How am I supposed to eat this?
Just imagining the taste made me sigh. It probably tasted like bitter herbal medicine… maybe even worse.
This is exactly why I told the head attendant I would handle my own meals.
I prefer eating well—plenty of food. And not just me, all the royal family of Vivache were like that.
In Vivache, soup bowls were three times this size, and bread was as big as both hands spread out. Steaks came in at least two pieces, and vegetables piled high.
But people in Krelas preferred eating small portions.
When I first came here, I was shocked by the food.
How do they even function on this?
I tried to adapt, but after three days, I gave up. I was always hungry, dizzy, and hearing ringing in my ears.
So I refused their meals and asked for my food allowance instead, using my illness as an excuse.
Surprisingly, they agreed easily. I guessed it was because of the Shadows watching me.
To them, I was probably easier to deal with than chewing gum.
I used my free time to go out and buy food. With that money, I could buy ten times more than what the palace gave me.
Breakfast and lunch were simple—bread, ham, and drinks. Dinner, I would rent a room at an inn and eat properly.
That’s how I managed to survive.
And now… this again.
Well, I had no choice.
I quickly started eating. But instead of feeling full, I became even hungrier.
Even after tearing the bread and eating it, it wasn’t enough.
I looked at Countess Letel with a pitiful expression.
Maybe there was more?
“Oh my, you finished already? Was it delicious? The imperial chef made it himself.”
She seemed proud of that, but what mattered to me was the amount.
I’m hungry.
Before I could even finish thinking—
Grrrr…
My stomach growled loudly.
She blinked in surprise, then smiled gently.
“It seems it wasn’t enough. You haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon, right? Wait a moment. I brought more.”
She cleared the tray and took something out from the second tier.
A plate of colorful desserts, two mugs, and a teacup.
The plate was filled with small pastries—tarts, financiers, macarons, madeleines, éclairs, canelés…
“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I brought a bit of everything. There’s tea, chocolate, and milk too.”
I immediately gave her a thumbs-up.
“Countess, you’re the best.”
She tilted her head.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’re the best. In my hometown, this gesture means someone is excellent.”
“Oh, I see.”
She awkwardly copied the gesture and smiled shyly.
“Thank you, Lady Lin.”
I smiled and reached for a beautiful almond financier—
Knock knock.
“I’ll check.”
As she walked away, I quickly took a bite.
Crispy outside, soft inside, rich butter and almond flavor filling my mouth—
Heaven.
I hurried to take another bite—
Then—
“Lady Lin, you need to come out.”
Her voice was urgent.
“What is it?”
Before she could answer—
A small figure rushed in through the open door, climbed onto a chair—
And jumped.
Crash!
Then—
Thud.
Something small landed on me and wrapped around my neck.
“Huh…?”
I blinked.
The desserts were scattered all over the floor—completely destroyed.
Broken dishes. Spilled drinks.
What just happened?
I slowly looked at the mess.
Then I felt the small, heavy body clinging to me.
“Joshua?”
The child let go and looked at me.
Curly black hair, dark eyes like obsidian, pale skin—
It was Mikhail’s son, who looked exactly like Eunsu.
“Mama.”
I stared at him.
My reflection showed in his eyes—pale skin, faded silver hair… completely different from before.
And yet—
He still called me Mama?
My eyes widened.
He buried his face into my chest and rubbed against me.
“Mama… why didn’t you come see Joshua? Joshua missed you…”
I tilted my head.
…He can’t tell my appearance changed?
Or… shouldn’t he be with Eunsu now?
Don’t tell me—
She hasn’t even gone to see her own child?
Judging by him… that seemed true.
What kind of mother doesn’t go to her child after returning?
If it were me, I would run to see my child first.
“Mama?”
His voice pulled me back.
He looked at me with hopeful eyes.
But I am not his real mother.
And I will be leaving soon.
And Mikhail…
“Next time you come to dinner, come as you are now. I will also send suitable clothes.”
What did that mean?
It meant—
Stop pretending to be Eunsu.
Don’t confuse people anymore.
His real mother is here now.
And I… was just a temporary replacement.
It hurts… but it’s better to let go.
I gently pulled Joshua away and handed him to Countess Letel.
“Countess, please take this child to Her Majesty the Empress.”
