Chapter 33
That black hair really stands out wherever she goes…
Because her hair color was so distinctly different from everyone else’s, Silas recognized Philina at a glance. Through the carriage window, he continued to observe her actions.
She hasn’t changed. Where did she throw her manners away… A duchess crouching down like that…
When Philina squatted down to meet the child at eye level, Silas watched her with an expression that said, Of course she would.
“That’s enough. Let’s depart.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Since nothing particularly noteworthy seemed likely to happen, he instructed Dennis to leave the area and straightened his posture as he sat properly in his seat.
“Wait.”
Noticing Lucas staring in Philina’s direction from some distance away, Silas stopped the carriage from departing.
Ha… no way… Lucas?
Unable to suppress the corner of his lips lifting, Silas alternated his gaze between Lucas and Philina.
“Dennis. Philina married Duke Callis Rubellia, didn’t she?”
Though the question seemed abrupt, Dennis immediately sensed there was meaning behind it from the way Silas was smiling.
“Yes, Your Highness. It’s rumored they’re quite close.”
“I see… Look into it in detail. If things go well, this could be a perfect opportunity to drive a wedge between that smug Callis and Lucas.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll investigate thoroughly.”
Catching on to Silas’s intent, sharp-witted Dennis shared a sly smile with him.
Callis… So he didn’t take on a hostage… he gained a trophy instead? Well, it doesn’t matter.
After confirming that Philina had entered the café and Lucas had left the area, Silas ordered the carriage to move.
If a ducal house already on bad terms with the imperial family completely turns its back this time, that would be ideal.
If the rift between Callis and Lucas widened, the situation would tilt significantly in their favor. And if Callis—estranged from Lucas—were to come over to the Nebula Empire, that would be even better.
Seeing what might be a perfect chance for Callis—one of the greatest obstacles to his plans—to betray the Abel Empire’s imperial family, Silas began contemplating how best to exploit this opportunity.
Philina… how interesting… Ian, Chester, Callis, Lucas… I’m afraid many unfortunate things lie ahead for you.
Thinking about how the powerful figures surrounding Philina would shape her life, Silas headed toward the imperial palace.
+++
By the time we finished looking around the shopping district and returned to the imperial palace, the sun had already set and the cold was beginning to settle in.
Margaret and I didn’t even change clothes—we stood at the carriage depot inside the palace, watching foreign envoys from other empires arrive.
“Chester, oppa!”
At last, my long-awaited legal older brother arrived at the palace and stepped down from his carriage. Margaret and I had been waiting there for nearly thirty minutes, and the moment we saw him, we ran straight into his arms.
“Philina!”
The instant he recognized me, Chester ran toward me and pulled me into a tight hug.
He looked utterly exhausted from the long carriage journey. Even his radiant blond hair appeared slightly dull. Yet his eyes—when they rested on me—were still endlessly gentle. With the same affectionate gaze as always, he looked down at me in his arms.
Having spent more than twenty days in a carriage, he smelled faintly of winter wastelands—the same barren scent I remembered from my own journey.
I couldn’t even manage to say that I’d missed him. Tears kept pouring down, and my nose was running so badly that I had to clutch my handkerchief tightly.
“Philina. Don’t cry. Your pretty face will turn ugly.”
Using the same words he’d always used to comfort me when I cried for my birth parents at fifteen, Chester pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped my tears.
“Mother said I’m pretty even when I cry…”
Remembering the duchess—our mother—always saying that, I ended up crying like a child in his arms.
“Yes, yes. Philina is the prettiest in the world.”
As I sobbed, Chester patted my back with one hand and stroked my hair with the other. Perhaps seeing me like a younger sibling, Margaret stepped closer and rubbed my back as well.
Margaret must be having a harder time than I was…
I had at least reunited with my brother, but none of her family could come here. Feeling guilty for being comforted by her, I forced myself to calm down.
“It seems my wife became overwhelmed upon seeing her brother.”
At some point—how he knew or when he arrived—I wasn’t sure, but Callis approached and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, drawing me into his chest.
“My lady. Your brother has traveled a long distance and must be exhausted. He needs to unpack and rest. How about meeting again at dinner later?”
When I looked at Chester, I had to agree. He looked terribly tired.
“It’s fine, Philina. I’m not tired at all.”
He said that, but the dark circles beneath his eyes told a different story.
Chester wasn’t even a swordsman, yet he could stay up for nights pouring over accounting ledgers without ever developing dark circles. Now they extended almost down to his cheeks. He must have forced his schedule to come here.
“No, oppa. Get some rest and come see me later. Today will be hectic with unpacking anyway. Let everyone work comfortably, and let’s have dinner together.”
“All right… I’ll wait a bit—ah! Then I’ll give you this first. There’s one for Margaret too.”
Before leaving, Chester handed both Margaret and me boxes nearly as large as our upper bodies. Fortunately, Callis’s attendants were there to carry them for us.
Once back in my room, I opened the boxes before even changing clothes.
Margaret’s box contained gifts and letters from her family.
“Margaret, take your time reading them in your room. We’ll eat dinner together, so come to my room later.”
I wanted to give her space to release her emotions alone. She wouldn’t show them in front of me.
With her eldest-daughter complex, Margaret hated crying before me, as if I were a youngest sibling she had to protect.
Even though Callis must have been busy, he stayed instead of going to work and helped me unpack my gifts.
“Ahem… I think I’ll step out for some fresh air.”
After opening the box and seeing what was inside, Callis’s face turned red, and he stepped outside briefly.
Inside the box were not only letters from family and friends, but also beautiful—and rather provocative—dresses, lingerie, and nightwear.
In my past life, I’d spent ten years confined to a hospital, so I loved pretty clothes. That fondness extended to lingerie and sleepwear, and knowing how conservative the Abel Empire was, Mother had carefully packed these for me.
“It’s okay to cry, Philina.”
Callis returned, pulled me into his arms, and gently stroked my back.
Looking at the clothes and letters my mother must have chosen one by one herself, I clung to him and cried for a long time.
+++
Dinner with Chester was shared by me, Margaret, and Callis.
Thankfully, Callis didn’t mind Margaret sitting at the same table, and we enjoyed our meal reminiscing about memories from the Luna Empire.
After dinner, Margaret and Callis excused themselves so Chester and I could talk alone. We continued our conversation over tea.
“Originally… Father was supposed to come… but I wanted to see you so badly that I volunteered. His Highness Ian wouldn’t allow both of us to come, so there was no choice.”
Even after traveling so far, Chester cautiously brought up Father’s absence, worried I might feel hurt.
“I honestly didn’t expect anyone to come. I thought His Highness Ian wouldn’t send anyone at all. I’m so happy I get to see you.”
I truly meant it. Since Chester had once tried to run away with me, I assumed Ian would refuse out of anger alone.
“How is Olivia unni? When’s the wedding? I wish I could attend…”
I asked about his fiancée. They’d originally planned to marry this autumn, but after I was dragged here, their wedding seemed to have been postponed.
“Next spring… Olivia misses you a lot too. It would be wonderful if you could attend… but don’t push yourself.”
“I’ll… try to make it…”
Would I be able to? Unless I divorced and gained freedom, it would be difficult for the only duchess of the Abel Empire—the so-called symbol of peace and a political hostage—to cross the border alone.
We were each other’s only legal siblings, yet we couldn’t even freely attend one another’s weddings. The reality hurt.
“If you want, I’ll bring you back to the Luna Empire someday… no matter what it takes… I promise, Philina.”
Still feeling guilty for my adoption into the ducal house and everything that followed, Chester held my hand.
“Don’t worry about me. Callis treats me well, and everyone else does too.”
I smiled brightly to ease his concern. Come to think of it, that wasn’t entirely untrue.
Oppa. I can do it myself. I’ll find my freedom with my own hands and return—to our beloved home, to the people I miss.
If Lucas managed to pass the divorce law amendment, I would be free. And then I would return to the Luna Empire’s ducal residence, to the people who loved me.
Holding Chester’s hand, I smiled bravely—hoping my smile would erase his guilt, and that my own unease would fade with it.
+++
The following afternoon, immediately after lunch, Philina went to the imperial palace kitchen before heading to see Oliver.
She received the bags of bread and assorted cookies she had requested the day before and asked the escort knights to carry them. She also asked Margaret to buy ointments, cold medicine, digestive aids, and other emergency medicines, and told her to meet her at the fountain.
“Noona!”
From afar, Oliver came walking quickly, wearing the same clothes as the day before.
Since that day, Oliver never ran here again. No one would protect him like that again. Even at his young age, he knew how exceptional—and lucky—that moment had been.
“Oliver.”
Philina ruffled his hair and smiled warmly at him, already aware that he liked this kind of affection.
Clearly enjoying her touch, Oliver smiled cutely, his eyes curving into crescents like a baby kitten.
You little devil! How can anyone smile this adorably?!
Philina had only seen such crescent-shaped eyes in paintings. Seeing them in real life, she gently hugged Oliver.
“Oliver, let’s go inside!”
Once Margaret returned with the medicine, Philina handed that bag to one of the escort knights as well and led Oliver and the others into a dessert shop.
The shop owner initially looked displeased at seeing Oliver, but upon noticing the rest of the group’s appearance, quickly put on a wide smile and took their order.
“I packed something separately for your sibling, so you can eat all of this here.”
Placing the desserts in front of the hesitant Oliver, Philina pressed a fork into his hand.
“I brought medicine. These are from my neighborhood. My neighborhood is way—over there, really far away.”
Oliver carefully took the precious medicine from his pocket and placed it on the table.
