Chapter 66
After finishing their meal, Camilla lightly tapped Rudella on the shoulder.
“Look at me.”
Rudella obediently followed her.
“How’s Laila?”
Their common topic was always Laila.
“…She doesn’t show her feelings on the surface. She seemed fine, though.”
“So, we can’t know what’s going on inside?”
Rudella slightly nodded.
Both of them let out a deep sigh at the same time.
This was the only time their minds truly connected.
“You’ll side with Crown Prince Eints, and I’ll stick with Prince Fidelo. Let’s both do well.”
“Yeah.”
The two clasped hands.
Once again, the enemy had become an ally.
“Prince Fidelo.”
“Mother. Were you looking for me?”
Empress Caitlin observed Fidelo, who was now looking more like a young man than a boy.
Her eyes, curved gracefully like they were painted with a brush, carried a hint of amusement.
The early afternoon sunlight poured over them.
Through the gently swaying curtains came the scent of winter.
It was just the beginning of the frost season.
“So, my son, how was your meal with Father? I’m only asking now.”
They had been too busy with their separate schedules to ask earlier.
Caitlin scrutinized Fidelo’s expression carefully.
His expression tightened slightly.
“Did something happen?”
Sending Fidelo alone before the Emperor was frightening for Caitlin as a mother.
She knew better than anyone that the Emperor could change his stance at any moment if things went against him.
She was anxiously hoping that the railway project would succeed.
Who exactly is Bora Han?
Thanks to that woman, who had quickly acquired the lands in the East ahead of others, progress had stalled.
It had been a headache lately.
The good news was that Fidelo had finally been given a task.
This was the perfect opportunity to prove Fidelo’s abilities.
“It’s nothing.”
Fidelo’s thoughts were with Laila.
As Eints had said, Laila would stand on Eints’ side.
Endia aside…
People had been thrilled when Laila had saved the Empress previously.
The empire’s little hero had accomplished another great feat.
The Emperor, at least outwardly, was attentive to the sentiment of his people, so he had no problem leaving Laila to Eints.
“It’s nothing?”
Caitlin knew her son’s feelings better than anyone.
“It’s because of Miss Laila, isn’t it?”
“Mother…”
Fidelo’s face twisted.
He bit his lips as if about to burst into tears.
His expression was that of someone navigating the thorny path of young love’s pain.
Caitlin embraced her son.
Just like a flower bud suffering before blooming, Fidelo was enduring the same kind of pain.
She wanted to give him everything he wished for.
He was deeply attached to this child, who had been so difficult to protect.
Caitlin stroked Fidelo’s cheek.
“Prince Fidelo… don’t be too upset. Miss Laila will come to understand your feelings someday.”
Fidelo shook his head.
The tears he had been holding back finally fell.
“She doesn’t like me, Mother.”
“That’s impossible. Why would Miss Laila dislike my handsome son?”
“She doesn’t smile at me.”
Fidelo muttered in a voice full of moisture.
He had sneaked into the Magic Tower several times just to see Laila smile.
Using the excuse of picking up Endia, that is.
But even if she laughed nicely, the moment she saw Fidelo, her smile would fade.
It was heartbreaking.
“I want Laila’s smile, Mother…”
“Don’t cry, my son. This mother will make sure you can have anything.”
Fidelo burst into sorrowful tears.
No matter how much he tried to act strong and arrogant, he was still just a 14-year-old boy.
His heart ached.
As if he were about to die.
During the break, I planned to read more about the Magic Swords.
How could I not even know the names of the three Magic Swords? Why weren’t they even recorded?
Aldis Haweyd had warned me.
“If you don’t rest properly, I’ll tell Robelia everything. About Laila’s current condition.”
It was frustrating, but I had no choice but to comply. So, I had been staying quietly at the mansion lately.
Even entering the Magic Tower was prohibited.
I turned the pages of the book somewhat irritably.
“Not here either…”
“Magic sword… magic sword…”
Kara, who was searching books with me, shook her head.
“There’s only a single line that mentions it.”
“I’ve gone through almost every history book. Should I even search the Imperial archives?”
“Didn’t you save the Empress before and get permission to enter the Imperial archives?”
Ah, that.
Yes, that was true.
I had carefully chosen every line of dialogue to make that happen.
Even though my body was a wreck from time magic, I couldn’t miss that opportunity.
It was a remarkable coincidence that the Empress was out doing volunteer work that day.
“Empress, I’ve come to save you. Rest assured.”
Those words had brought Empress Yulia to tears. Understandably so—it must have been terrifying.
At the time, I had considered the advantages of doing that for the Empress.
I may smile foolishly around Baldwin, but I’m not careless!
Winning the Empress’s favor had earned me that special opportunity.
“Hmm. Maybe I should visit the Imperial archives this time.”
She didn’t forbid me from going out.
The real reason I hadn’t gone yet was that my body truly hadn’t been well.
But after Ragnis visited, I was feeling slightly better.
“Great! Let’s go to the Imperial archives. Kara, you’ve never been, right?”
“Eh, you’ll take me too?”
“Of course. Who else would help me but you, Kara?”
“Oh my, thanks to you, Miss, I get to see all sorts of things!”
“Alright then, Kara.”
I smiled warmly at her.
“What should I tell my mother?”
“Tell her Miss Laila has rested well, slept plenty, and is perfectly fine?”
“Right. That’s the truth.”
Mother had been suspicious because I hadn’t been visiting the Magic Tower.
Even though I said I was dedicating myself to heir training, she didn’t believe me!
“Kara, go! Quickly get permission to go out.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Tell her I just woke up from a nap.”
Kara smiled faintly and went out.
Good. Let’s see what I can find in the Empress’s library.
“Phew…”
Robelia swallowed a headache pill.
What on earth had gotten her so focused?
She usually responded well to national crises… but…
“Why is she so desperate?”
Thinking of her only daughter made her heart heavy.
She had known about Laila’s hidden precocious side, but it had never been so pronounced as lately.
Since her 11th birthday, Laila had never stayed still for even a moment.
“What could be the problem?”
Robelia lowered her gaze.
She often felt responsible for any issues that arose with her child.
Surely there had to be a reason, but Laila claimed she was fine.
Robelia pressed her head down in frustration.
She had tried to soothe her, and even Adolf had tried coaxing her, but Laila’s clam-like mouth wouldn’t open.
Yet Baldwin didn’t seem to know anything either.
He only observed Laila carefully.
Why did it feel like the kids kept accumulating secrets?
“Was I not enough?”
Lost in such self-blame, Robelia sighed deeply when Kara came to see her.
“Kara. What is it? You’ve been struggling with Laila lately, haven’t you?”
“No, my lady.”
“Is Laila doing okay lately?”
“Yes, my lady. She took a long nap again today.”
“She hasn’t been going to the Magic Tower for a while… do you know why?”
Kara shook her head.
“She just said she wanted a short rest. She also wants to catch up on her studies.”
“I hope that’s the truth.”
Robelia clicked her tongue.
Relying on a maid over child matters felt a little embarrassing…
Anyway, that was the situation.
“I see. So, what do you want to say?”
“Well…”
Kara hesitated for a moment, then smiled.
“Well?”
“Miss Laila wants to go out.”
“Go out?”
Robelia’s eyes widened.
She had sensed Laila’s recent oddness.
It might have been different if Baldwin went with her… but since he left, Laila had been acting strange again.
This was something only a parent could feel.
“Where to?”
“She wants to read books in the Imperial archives, where she was previously granted access by the Empress.”
“Hmm…”
The archives.
Would that really be okay?
