Chapter 45
“Ma’am, the young master and the young lady seem to be over there.”
“…Alright.”
Just as they arrived at the garden, another servant—tipped off by the butler—came over with refreshments.
On a small wooden tray were a variety of beautifully arranged treats, specially prepared to match Helene’s preferences: light and subtly sweet, not overly sugary.
Helene took the tray herself from the servant. She calculated that it would be better to deliver it personally.
‘Stop thinking about her. Focus on work right now.’
She planned to hand over the treats, chat with the children for about ten minutes, order some warm tea, and return to the drawing room.
During the rest of their break, the children would enjoy tea and snacks, while she would greet the viscount who was waiting in the drawing room.
It was a tight schedule, but manageable.
She was just about to hurry over and greet the children when—
“Wow! Then in summer, this blue flower turns red?”
“Well, our faces turn red when it gets hot, right? It’s the same idea.”
“But Oppa’s face is always red!”
“Then your brother must be a flower.”
“Wooooow!”
With the familiar voices of the children came a voice she absolutely didn’t want to hear.
“Ma’am?”
“Wait…”
She stopped the startled butler from approaching.
Beyond the withered winter hedges, the children were gathered around a woman wearing a white coat—the one Helene herself had gifted them—sitting around a flower bed.
Hair the color of deep navy, stark against the grey skies of the western lands. Eyes that always seemed to see through everything—eyes Helene hated to her core.
Wilhelmina was there.
She had spread her coat on the ground for the children to sit on, pointing at the flowers and continuing her explanation, just like a teacher.
“The fruit from that white tea tree? I heard if you eat the seed, you get a stomachache. Is that true?”
“Yep, it can grow roots in your belly. If you eat it by mistake, you’ll need to drink a ton of water and throw it up.”
“I-I drank white tea yesterday…”
“Jeonil, make sure you check the toilet when you go. If the seed doesn’t come out, you’re in big trouble.”
“Waaah!”
“…Teacher, that was a lie, right?”
“That wasn’t a lie—it was a joke.”
Minerva burst into laughter, holding her stomach. Jeonil, realizing he’d been tricked, flailed his arms and yelled at her to stop teasing—then laughed along.
They laughed together. A pure, bright, childlike smile Helene had never seen on her children’s faces before.
“Ah, that was fun! Teacher, when are you coming again? I want to see the flower beds past the lake too!”
“Well, I’m not sure. I’m very busy, so I don’t really get to come here.”
“Then I’ll ask my mom! Please teach us again, okay?”
Jeonil tugged at Wilhelmina’s collar. They had taught the children not to pull on adults’ clothing since they might fall, but—
Wilhelmina gently removed his hand and held it.
“No. Do you know how busy your mother is? I’ll come back when winter is over, so wait until then.”
“Why not in winter?”
“Because I don’t like the cold.”
“That’s a joke, right?”
“Unfortunately…”
Wilhelmina shook her head with a serious face, and Minerva burst into laughter again.
It all felt unreal. The unbelievable sight didn’t shock Helene—it left her hollow.
She recalled Anna’s beaming steps, the unfilled re-assignment request no one had made, and the letter from a northern marquis praising Wilhelmina’s help.
And finally, the sorrowful gaze of the late emperor—her father—right before he died.
‘My dear child… you are not worthy. What suits you is…’
It felt like even the last role left to her had been stolen.
A role she never desired but had to fulfill simply because she was born a princess—was now turning its back on her.
Clench—she gripped the tray tightly.
“But Mother is always too busy.”
Jeonil spoke with a tearful voice.
“Right. It’d be fun if Mom could play with us too. All Teacher Zepha does is bring quizzes.”
Minerva, sitting rudely, swung her legs.
“Ahh…”
A month ago, Minerva had clenched her fists and asked Helene to come to the garden.
And now, she said—
“I wish you were our mom, Teacher.”
Clatter—!
The tray full of sweets fell to the ground, and those terribly hateful navy-blue eyes turned and found Helene.
When Minerva said that thoughtless thing, it was already too late to fix things.
Helene, who had been staring blankly at them from behind the dry trees, dropped the tray and turned around.
Then she slowly walked away from the garden.
“Hel—!”
Wilhelmina tried to chase after her, but the butler blocked her. The same young butler who had first guided her to Helene.
“Please step back.”
“Wait, let me explain—”
“This is for the lady’s sake. I’m begging you.”
“….”
Faced with the butler’s polite yet firm request, Wilhelmina shut her mouth.
Wounds caused by misunderstandings only fester with time.
Talking it out immediately would be the best—but standing before the butler, she couldn’t bring herself to move.
Those eyes—full of loyalty, pity, and hatred—made her realize no excuse would be accepted.
She remained still until he left to follow Helene.
Nata approached her carefully.
“Milady…”
“…It’s fine. Let’s go back.”
It felt like an irreparable incident had occurred.
Her head throbbed, unsure of how to fix this.
First, she had to calm the children and return to the annex.
Jeonil didn’t fully understand what had happened, so he was okay—but Minerva was clenching her hands nervously.
If she were a student Wilhelmina could regularly care for, she could give a stern lesson.
But after this time, who knew when they’d meet again?
So what Minerva needed right now wasn’t scolding—but reassurance.
“It’s alright, Minerva. Don’t worry too much.”
“B-but just now, Mother…”
“Minerva, you’ve argued with your brother before, right?”
Minerva nodded her small head.
“Then you can make up with your mother too. You’re family. If you speak from the heart, she’ll understand.”
“From the heart…”
“Just tell her it was a lie and that you really love her. That’s all. You can do that, right?”
Even with Wilhelmina’s reassurance, Minerva still looked uncertain. Her blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
Wilhelmina continued, meeting her gaze.
“Your mother loves you. She won’t hate you over one mistake. I promise.”
Whether a child could trust the words of someone they’d only just met was unclear—but this was all Wilhelmina could say.
Fortunately, Minerva seemed to understand. She nodded, then grabbed Jeonil’s hand.
“Huh? Why?”
“…It’s class time. Let’s go.”
Then she picked up Wilhelmina’s coat from the ground with her small hands, dusted it off, and handed it back.
She walked away with Jeonil.
Wilhelmina put on the coat and quietly watched their retreating figures.
Nata murmured softly.
“She’s a mature young lady.”
“She is…”
Of course, Minerva likely hadn’t meant what she said.
But the fact such a clever child made that kind of slip showed how strained things were between Helene and the children.
Helene didn’t seem like someone who’d neglected her parenting. In fact, for a noble in these times, she was probably quite exemplary.
‘It’s a world where it’s hard to feel familial love.’
A world where sacrificing children for the family’s glory was justified. What more could one expect?
“…Let’s go back. We’ve got a mountain of work.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
But right now, there was no room to think about anything else.
Once the year-end banquet was over, she’d have to arrange a meeting with Helene no matter what.
Just before leaving, she glanced back at the flower bed where the children had been playing so loudly.
Now, not a single trace of warmth remained.
The day before the year-end banquet, the weather turned.
It started with heavy rain, which turned into sleet, freezing the roads, and eventually—into a snowstorm.
The western nobles had already arrived at the estate, so that wasn’t a problem.
The issue was the Emperor.
The Emperor was supposed to arrive last, but because of the snow, his arrival would be delayed.
