Chapter 88
Kraang.
The carriage tilted diagonally as the back wheels were lifted.
The body of the Empress, who had been in the front diagonal, floated in the air.
Alfred threw himself forward and caught Empress Kenneth as she fell to the floor.
Thud.
She hit the ground on her back. It was quite a heavy impact.
‘Ugh.’
It hurt, but he didn’t show it. He had failed to properly attend to his mother, letting her fall ungracefully to the floor.
Still, his heart felt a little lighter. It had been a long time since their faces had touched like this.
He wanted to sweep up the disheveled hair that had fallen onto his face, like the Grand Duchess had smoothed the Grand Duke’s hair earlier.
It was then.
“Will you just lie there foolishly?”
Sharp. His mother’s gaze. Her tone. It was colder than a winter snowstorm.
Alfred’s hand, which had moved to lift her hair, faltered in the air.
“My apologies.”
He quietly folded his fingers, which had been fully extended to tidy Empress Kenneth’s hair. The Empress pressed her hands to the floor and rose to her feet.
“When we return, the coachman must be dismissed immediately. He doesn’t understand the manners due to the crown prince and cannot even drive a carriage properly.”
How had such a person been allowed on an imperial outing?
Kenneth was annoyed, thinking it was all because of the recent rebellion incident.
She brushed off her skirt and fixed her hair.
Huff…
She exhaled deeply and elegantly opened the carriage door.
“Your Majesty.”
Gaeshitian hurried forward, and the footman ran up. The guards surrounded the carriage.
Receiving their escort, Kenneth stepped down and surveyed the front of the carriage.
“What is this?”
“My apologies. The child suddenly jumped into the carriage.”
At Kenneth’s reprimand, the coachman bowed deeply, struggling to respond.
A mere child. It could have been resolved with a simple push. Such a fuss.
Kenneth swallowed her next words and glared coolly at the boy crouching on the ground.
Alfred, who had followed her down, quickly sensed the subtle shift in her tone that no one else would have noticed.
The boy, hunched in front of the carriage with his head down and arms around his head, might be today’s victim.
The child was shabby and weak.
Like a page who took the punishment in his place whenever he erred, bleeding and dragged out.
“Bring him out.”
“Yes!”
The guards pulled the small boy from in front of the carriage like a piece of luggage and presented him before the Empress.
“You almost got us killed because of you.”
“Ma’am!”
“How dare you address anyone as ‘ma’am’? This is Her Majesty the Empress and His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince!”
A lady-in-waiting standing beside her scolded sharply.
“Hmph.”
The child, fearing that his outburst might anger the Empress, quickly covered his mouth with his hands.
“Move aside.”
Alfred clenched his fists. Could the boy even imagine the weight of that command?
Then.
“Your Majesty, Empress of the Sun and Merciful as the Moon! Please help me find my sister!”
Daringly, the boy grabbed the hem of the Empress’s dress with his dirt-stained hands and threw himself down before her.
Dangerous. That child!
Alfred bit his lower lip so hard it almost drew blood.
It was then.
“We humbly greet Her Majesty the Empress and His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, light of the Empire.”
Kenneth turned at the familiar voice.
Before her, the Grand Duke, Grand Duchess, and Grand Prince approached and bowed in unison.
Seeing the three elaborately dressed figures, the Empress’s eyes lifted slightly.
The Imperial Palace had been in upheaval earlier due to the rebellion and other incidents.
The Grand Duke had visited earlier, and the chief physician and healer of the Schlesien Palace had been dispatched to Owen’s residence. Surely Sinclair also knew of her father’s situation.
And yet they appeared so extravagantly dressed?
All this trouble, caused by whom?
If Theodore had been killed earlier, there would have been no room for this ridiculous suspicion!
Daring, shameless, lowly demon kind.
Kenneth did not try to hide her glare as she stared at Sinclair standing beside Gerald and Theodore.
Yet, her gaze did not rest on him.
“Is His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince all right?”
Alfred was startled.
It was the first time someone had noticed his feelings today…
His father accused him of rebellion, and his mother had pushed away the hand he reached out to her with.
Alfred widened his eyes, awkwardly curling his lips into a strained smile and nodded that he was fine, not even feeling the tremor in his legs.
“You were greatly startled, weren’t you?”
The Grand Duchess’s eyes and mouth, full of concern, tried to brush away the tears hidden within.
“I’m fine.”
His throat was tight, but he managed to answer calmly.
“Seeing Theodore, I’m not worried at all, Your Majesty.”
Alfred was surprised by the young Theodore’s voice. The boy had popped his small face out, pressing his lips into a tight line.
Theodore was used to such awkward expressions. Likely, the Crown Prince was holding back tears, just as he had before.
Gulp!
Alfred quickly drew a breath to stop his heart from collapsing.
Then Sinclair approached and patted his head.
A fragrant scent wafted from her skirt. Unknowingly, he wanted to bury himself in that skirt.
But Theodore slid in and hugged her leg tightly.
Alfred naturally stepped back. Theodore, triumphant, glared at him and produced something wrapped in paper from his pocket.
Huh? What’s that?
The Crown Prince looked at Sinclair in surprise.
“It’s a lollipop made by the Grand Prince. Our Theodore is kind. Shall we give it to His Imperial Highness?”
“Yes.”
Theodore obediently nodded, and Sinclair patted his head.
The boy extended his arm, waving the lollipop in the air, as if urging her to take it.
This only increased the distance from his aunt.
“Try it, Your Majesty. Its sweetness will calm your startled heart.”
“Thank you, Grand Prince.”
Alfred, feeling disappointed, tried to take the lollipop from Theodore.
But Kenneth snatched it sharply.
“The Crown Prince does not eat things he does not want. You know this, Grand Duchess.”
“Haa… Indeed. It’s not bad to be suspicious when one is close, Your Majesty.”
What?
Sinclair did not appear frightened by his actions. She even flashed a sharp, almost sinister smile!
Kenneth was taken aback.
Had this madwoman sent him to kill Theodore, daring now to harm the Crown Prince herself?
Snap.
Her hand felt empty. Sinclair had taken the lollipop from her hand.
“But my son is only a pure five-year-old and might get hurt, Your Majesty.”
“…?”
“Theo, what shall we do? Her Majesty seems very worried. May I eat it myself?”
“Yes. If my stepmother eats it, I’m even happier.”
‘Daring to mock us?’
Kenneth was furious. Her empty palm felt shameful as she clenched her fist at her waist, biting the inside of her lip sharply, concealing her frustration.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince felt a tiny, tiny bit of resentment toward his mother.
It was understandable to remain vigilant after the Emperor incident, but she was his aunt, after all.
He wanted to take the lollipop back from Sinclair, but he knew better.
That would defy his mother.
“What happened here?”
Gerald intervened, as if to resolve the awkward situation.
“The child apparently dared to jump into the carriage.”
At the Empress’s words, Gerald and the Grand Duke’s household finally turned their attention to the boy.
Sinclair, seeing the boy kneeling on the floor, shaking his thin shoulders, felt as if someone had grabbed her heart and squeezed it tight.
Why?
Was it because the dusty, gray-haired boy in tattered clothes reminded her of her own childhood, when Kenneth had beaten her?
Sinclair approached the boy.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Kenneth was incredulous. She hadn’t even asked after herself yet.
And yet she cared for that boy first?
A smirk lifted one corner of her mouth in disbelief.
Alfred didn’t miss his mother’s expression.
That smile was dangerous.
And who was more sensitive to her mother’s expressions than her own aunt?
How could she continue to pretend ignorance?
The aunt, who had trembled like a mouse before a cat?
Sinclair knelt and patted the boy’s rounded back, helping him to stand. She examined him front and back, speaking gently.
“Fortunately, it doesn’t look like you are seriously hurt.”
“I’m fine. Please help me find my sister, ma’am!”
The boy grabbed the Grand Duchess’s hand firmly. Sinclair didn’t pull her hand away.
The child’s desperation filled her eyes with tears that streamed down her darkened face.
“You were looking for your sister?”
“Heheh!”
The boy nodded violently, letting out a wail. His shoulders shook, and the scattered tears formed streams, falling heavily to the floor.
The Grand Duchess took a towel from her pocket and wiped the boy’s tear- and snot-streaked face.
“Sophia, bring some water here, please.”
“Yes.”
A maid dashed to the back of the carriage.
‘Water?’
The precious, cool, sweet water they had given before?
Would they give it to such a shabby, pitiful child?
Alfred saw the boy sobbing noisily.
But then he saw his mother’s clenched fists trembling beside her.
‘This is bad.’
His mother hated crying more than anyone, especially from those beneath her.
Surely, his aunt knew this. Yet now, she stood beside his mother, ignoring the displeasure, brushing off the boy’s clothes, and trying to listen to his story.
‘What am I to do?’
Alfred’s heart raced, plummeting.
He had to… calm down.
