SUPER SIDE STORY 05…………………………………………………………….
During dinner, Ivelina spoke.
“Rosel, Ru. Do you remember what Mom said before we came to the capital—that it would be nice if you made some friends?”
Roselia and Ruamin nodded at the same time.
Ivelina smiled gently and continued.
“A social club will be held in four days. If you go there, you’ll be able to make many friends.”
Roselia looked a bit indifferent.
Still, since she had promised, she nodded.
Ruamin, on the other hand, looked worried.
Arsen asked him,
“Ru, is something bothering you?”
“Do you think… I’ll be able to make friends?”
Ruamin was filled with worry.
He wasn’t as lively or confident as Roselia, and he wasn’t good at talking.
Even if Roselia went with him, she couldn’t speak for him forever.
At that moment, Roselia declared proudly,
“Don’t worry! I’ll protect you!”
Her blue eyes looked straight at Ruamin, shining brightly.
It was the look of someone determined to keep her word no matter what.
Perhaps that look reassured him, because the worry slowly faded from Ruamin’s face.
Ivelina smiled softly and added,
“Ru, you don’t have to worry too much. There won’t be any children who dislike you.”
“Really…?”
“Of course. Our Ru is such a kind and good child.”
Her gentle voice made Ruamin’s expression brighten even more.
Ivelina hoped Roselia and Ruamin would make as many friends as possible.
She had spent her childhood in loneliness and knew how difficult it was to be alone.
That was why she had promised herself her children would never grow up the same way.
At this moment, however, she had no idea what was about to happen.
The next day, Roselia and Ruamin kept urging Ivelina and Arsen.
“Mom, let’s go quickly. Please?”
“Alright, alright.”
Since Jonas had confidently said yesterday that the swing would be ready today, Roselia and Ruamin’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
As they rode the carriage to the imperial palace, Ivelina said,
“Rosel, Ru. What did I say you should do when you meet His Majesty?”
“You should say, ‘We greet the Sun of the Empire!’”
“That’s right. Good job. Your uncle is family, but he is still His Majesty the Emperor. So you mustn’t say anything rude.”
Roselia and Ruamin answered together that they understood.
After traveling for a while, the carriage finally stopped in front of the imperial palace.
Roselia and Ruamin bounced excitedly in their seats.
The door opened, and Arsen helped the children down one by one.
Since they had told him when they would arrive, Jonas had come out to greet them.
When the children spotted him, they suddenly stopped.
Noticing the different reaction compared to yesterday, Jonas—who had been smiling broadly—tilted his head in confusion.
Roselia and Ruamin cleared their throats and said,
“We greet the Sun of the Empire.”
“We greet the Sun of the Empire.”
They looked completely different from yesterday.
Their voices were carefully made to sound more mature, and their posture was proper.
Still, seeing such tiny children greeting him like that was incredibly cute.
Jonas barely suppressed the smile tugging at his lips, coughed lightly, and said,
“Very well. You may raise your heads.”
The moment he finished speaking, Roselia and Ruamin lifted their heads and rushed toward him.
They clung to his legs and asked,
“Uncle, where’s the swing?”
“Uncle, where’s the swing?”
Ivelina squeezed her eyes shut.
She should have also taught them not to touch His Majesty’s person so casually.
Meanwhile, Jonas was thoroughly enjoying the situation.
The children dangling from his legs were so cute he almost wanted to bite their cheeks.
If he poked their chubby cheeks, they looked soft enough to smell sweet.
Jonas forced his hands to stay still and said,
“Ahem. It’s over there.”
“Take us there!”
“Hurry!”
Even the usually timid Ruamin bounced excitedly while urging him.
Pretending not to notice, Jonas slowly held out both hands toward them.
Roselia and Ruamin stared blankly at his hands before each grabbing one of his fingers.
Their hands were so small that each child could only wrap around a single finger.
Jonas was careful not to apply too much strength, worried they might break if he squeezed too tightly.
He led them toward the back garden.
There stood a huge swing.
It was big enough for several grown men to sit on.
Roselia and Ruamin immediately let go of his hands and ran toward it.
“This is the biggest swing we’ve ever seen!”
“Bigger than the one at your house?”
“Yes!”
Roselia nodded enthusiastically with a huge grin.
Jonas smiled proudly.
All the effort of calling craftsmen and pushing them all night had been worth it.
Roselia and Ruamin climbed onto the swing and called out,
“Dad, push the swing!”
“Alright.”
Arsen strode over and gently pushed it from behind.
The children burst into cheerful laughter.
Watching them from behind, Ivelina spoke to Jonas.
“Your Majesty, thank you for taking care of the children.”
“They’re my nieces and nephews, of course. Besides… since they’re my first ones, I feel like I want to do everything for them.”
Jonas coughed awkwardly and looked away.
Ivelina covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
“They’ll probably want to visit the palace often while we’re staying in the capital…”
“They’re welcome anytime, so don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
Jonas watched the children playing happily with a pleased expression.
Seeing such rabbit-like children made him a little envious of Arsen.
Perhaps noticing his gaze, Ivelina carefully spoke.
“Your Majesty, are you not seeing anyone?”
“Well… no. My mother keeps urging me to marry quickly, but there’s no noble lady who particularly catches my eye.”
“……”
“Though I suppose a love marriage is just a dream anyway.”
Jonas smiled bitterly.
Ivelina hesitated before speaking.
“I’m sure you’ll meet a good match.”
“I hope so.”
In the garden, the only sounds were the cool breeze and Roselia and Ruamin’s laughter.
Four days later, the day arrived for Roselia and Ruamin to attend the social club.
They wore matching outfits that had recently been tailored as a set, making them look adorable.
Dressed similarly with identical faces, anyone could tell they were twins.
“Rosel, Ru. Be careful and come back safely.”
“Yes!”
“Yes.”
They answered together.
The social club was held at the Marquis Rendal’s estate, not far from here.
After the children got into the carriage, Ivelina and Arsen stood there until it disappeared from view.
Looking at the departing carriage, Ivelina said,
“They’ll be alright, right?”
“They will. So don’t worry too much.”
“Then why do I feel uneasy?”
Her expression looked slightly troubled.
Still, she brushed it off as her imagination.
“Shall we have some tea until the children return?”
“That sounds good.”
They planned to relax and listen to the children’s stories when they returned.
But before even a few hours had passed, Noah rushed into the drawing room.
He entered without knocking, startling Ivelina.
Arsen was about to say something, but seeing Noah’s unusual expression, he narrowed his eyes.
Ivelina stood up anxiously.
“Noah, what’s wrong?”
“There’s been trouble.”
At those words, Ivelina’s face turned pale.
She didn’t even need to hear the rest to know it involved the children.
“A violent incident occurred at the social club at Marquis Rendal’s estate.”
“What…? Violence?”
“Yes. But…”
Noah glanced nervously at Ivelina and Arsen.
Arsen frowned and asked,
“What is it?”
“The perpetrator… is Lady Roselia.”
Ivelina’s eyes widened to their limit.
“The perpetrator… Rosel?”
“Yes. I believe you should go to Marquis Rendal’s estate immediately.”
Ivelina and Arsen hurriedly prepared and headed there.
She was extremely confused.
Roselia was the perpetrator?
A child who had never even used violence was suddenly the attacker?
Still, Ivelina didn’t assume Roselia was completely innocent.
‘Something must have happened for her to be called the perpetrator.’
Ivelina bit her lip tightly and clenched her fists.
Arsen, sitting beside her, took her hand.
“It will be resolved.”
“…You think so?”
“Of course. Let’s hear Rosel’s side first.”
“…Yes.”
Her heart, which had been pounding with anxiety, slowly began to calm.
The carriage stopped, and Ivelina and Arsen hurried out, following the butler who had been waiting to guide them inside.
Everyone had gathered in the drawing room.
Roselia stood there fuming, while Ruamin’s eyes were red.
Ivelina rushed inside.
“Rosel! Ru!”
Roselia and Ruamin’s eyes widened.
Soon tears welled up and began falling.
“Mom….”
“Waaah….”
The two children burst into tears and ran into Ivelina’s arms.
She patted their backs gently to calm them.
“It’s alright. There, there. Mom’s here.”
After comforting them, their crying gradually stopped.
Once they had calmed down, Ivelina finally sat in an empty chair.
Across from her sat the Marquis and Marchioness of Rendal with stiff expressions.
Beside them sat their son, Literdo, with a smug look.
Ivelina spoke calmly.
“First, I apologize for causing a disturbance at the social club.”
As she bowed her head, the Marquis and Marchioness of Rendal cleared their throats.
She raised her head and asked,
“What exactly happened at the social club that led to a violent incident?”
“My son says that the Grand Duke’s daughter of Rokpelt struck him for no reason.”
“What?”
Ivelina’s eyes widened.
At that moment, Roselia suddenly jumped to her feet and shouted.
