Chapter 110……………………………………….
The journey to the imperial palace went very smoothly.
A magnificent carriage was drawn by six white horses, and they were even escorted on all sides by the Emperor’s knights.
It was nothing short of an honorable return.
During the journey, I took the opportunity to teach the children the basics of royal etiquette.
Since there wasn’t much time, I only taught them the minimum, and while Aila learned very quickly, Aslan was a problem.
The proud, haughty former cat who spoke casually to everyone struggled terribly with using honorifics.
As the days passed and the palace drew nearer, there were many nights when we stayed awake late because we couldn’t sleep.
Tonight was one of those nights.
We would arrive at the palace tomorrow.
Tonight, we slept outdoors, but the children were so tired that they slept soundly in the uncomfortable carriage.
After tucking the blankets around them carefully, I stepped out of the carriage.
Theodora and the knights, who had been sitting around the carriage as guards, sensed my presence and stood up.
“Your Highness.”
“Don’t get up. I’m just getting some fresh air for a bit.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Perhaps because I had done this more than once, Theodora simply accepted it without protest.
I wasn’t going far—just sitting by the fire for a little while.
The night air was chilly, so I held my hands close to the campfire and looked up at the night sky, which was densely studded with stars.
As I zoned out staring at it, someone approached from behind and draped a coat over my shoulders.
“The air is cold, Your Highness.”
“Ah, thank you, Duke.”
I wasn’t particularly surprised.
I was startled the first few times, but on sleepless nights, Lloyd would always come out to accompany and assist me, so I had grown used to it.
I had told Theodora and the knights to prioritize the children, so Lloyd insisted on following me, arguing that it was dangerous at night.
And yet I could handle a bear with just a sword.
“This will help you sleep better.”
The milk Lloyd handed me, presumably warmed by the other campfire, was pleasantly warm—perfect for warming my hands.
“Don’t you usually serve alcohol?”
“Your Highness…”
Lloyd hesitated, clearly wanting to say something but holding back.
Oh right. Now that I think about it, I probably got him drunk and threw a fit at that drinking session.
I couldn’t blame him for holding back—anyone would, after putting up with that kind of behavior.
I avoided his gaze and sipped the milk.
Hearing Lloyd’s low laugh beside me made me even more embarrassed.
We sat on the grass, looking up at the night sky, and talked.
“Duke, you can’t sleep either?”
“Yes, I feel a little restless.”
Thinking about going to Hwangdo seemed to disturb him as well; his face was heavy with unease even without the mask.
“By the way, you’re not wearing your mask now? Is that okay?”
Lloyd usually removed his mask inside the carriage for comfort, but once he stepped outside, he always insisted on keeping it on.
He no longer wore a wig, but the mask remained something he couldn’t give up.
But tonight, for some reason, he had removed it.
Lloyd awkwardly fiddled with his hair, trying to cover his face, but seemed to give up, letting his hands fall as he spoke bitterly.
“The mask is a useful tool to hide one’s expression, but there’s a difference between wearing it because you want to and wearing it because you must.”
It wasn’t that Lloyd enjoyed wearing the mask.
He wore it because he had to—it was a survival tool.
“But no matter how prepared I am, I still can’t take it off in front of Sir Theodora.”
“Ah, I understand.”
Ever since Theodora received the hint that Duke Eckhart was Id Mente and that we had children, she had been ready to kill Lloyd at the slightest provocation.
I chuckled quietly to myself.
Laughing, my hair fell over my face, and without thinking, I brushed it aside.
Lloyd looked at my ear and cautiously spoke.
“By the way, you haven’t been wearing that earring lately.”
“Oh.”
Now that I think about it, I hadn’t talked about the earrings yet.
Ever since leaving the Duchy, I had completely forgotten about the cat’s-eye.
Partly because I had satisfied my curiosity on my own, and partly because Lloyd hadn’t brought it up again as we had planned.
So I naturally assumed we’d continue the conversation in the Thousand-Year Forest.
“Did it… not suit your taste?”
“…Don’t you remember?”
“What do you mean?”
Lloyd fidgeted, worried he might upset me even slightly.
Could he really not remember?
It’s impossible to forget that intense light.
‘No way… again!’
Aslan’s magic distorts people’s memories—making the magical seem natural.
It seemed that this power had affected Lloyd this time.
But why didn’t it work on me?
‘…Anyway, he made the effort to forget, so there’s no need to tell him.’
Aslan’s ability must be kept secret for the future, just in case.
I smiled gently and shook my head.
“No, it’s nothing.”
Lloyd visibly pouted.
“Your Highness didn’t like that gem either?”
“Excuse me?”
“As I mentioned before, my mother judged that the gem wouldn’t sell. If you share that opinion, perhaps it’s best to abandon the venture now…”
“Are you insane?!”
Abandon the project? Why would I throw away a fortune!
Lloyd said this was our first business venture aimed at nobles.
Moreover, it was a gem discarded by Priscilla, whose business sense was excellent, though her character was unknown. That must have made him nervous.
There’s been so much work for the cat’s-eye mine! Pulling out now would have been a total waste.
Commercialization was just around the corner.
I planned to use the cat’s-eye as bait to captivate high society instantly. Abandoning it now would put me in serious trouble.
Though I tried to hide my discomfort, I reassured Lloyd.
“I’ve been saving it for when we return to the palace. Promotion is critical; we can’t risk the product being damaged or lost. The cat’s-eye will succeed. Let’s proceed with the work.”
“That’s a relief…”
Lloyd’s smile shone brilliantly.
Even though his face was annoyingly handsome, seeing him look pitiful made me uneasy.
I’ll have to pay extra attention to prevent Aslan from meddling with the cat’s-eye.
I already had enough to handle; now one more difficult task was added.
“More importantly, let’s think carefully about how to introduce our children so Your Majesty is least shocked.”
“Ah…”
Lloyd fell silent.
Which parent wouldn’t be shocked if their daughter suddenly returned after five years with a husband and two children?
Even if I had pushed Lloyd as Minerva’s match, the royal family experiencing a premarital pregnancy would be shocking.
“However we explain it, I think they’ll be shocked.”
“Exactly.”
At least as long as they don’t faint.
We both laughed simultaneously.
If we didn’t laugh now, our restless hearts would consume us.
More than a week had passed since the envoy was sent to Minerva.
It was about time for her to arrive, but with no news yet, Yupiteria grew anxious.
‘Could it be that Mars…’
Had that wretch dared to scheme against Minerva again despite the warning?
If Mars hadn’t interfered, Minerva would have already seen Lloyd and his descendants and become the Crown Princess!
The more she thought, the more resentful Yupiteria felt toward Mars.
When he did that to Minerva, he should have been dealt with. Lucky to survive only because he married well.
If he tried anything against Minerva again, she would make sure he paid.
That pitiful wretch clinging to life by hiding under Gabriel’s skirt!
But then, what about succession?
She couldn’t allow Mars to become Emperor.
‘If only Minerva had a child…’
Yupiteria sighed deeply and walked toward the terrace.
She had only gone out to take a breath, but in the distance, the magnificent carriage approaching the imperial palace caught her eye.
A carriage drawn by six white horses.
Surrounded by the Emperor’s knights!
The long-awaited news reached Yupiteria’s ears.
“Her Highness Princess Minerva has arrived at the imperial palace.”
