It was an hour ago that Atreille fell asleep on the carriage of the Archduke Dicarsignac’s family.
He’d gone to the Dicarsignac mansion to meet Dolorosa and heard that Cian and Dolorosa were preparing to go out.
While lying on top of the carriage, waiting to meet them when they came out, he’d unintentionally fallen asleep.
Looking around, he saw Cian, who didn’t seem surprised, and Rachel, Graham, and Dolorosa, who looked startled.
Atreille scratched his head with his hand.
“Hehe. I fell asleep.”
“Did you sleep well?”
At the straightforward greeting, Atreille grinned.
If it’d been Sigar, he would’ve scolded him so harshly that his cheeks would be on fire, but Cian handled it calmly. Atreille liked his uncle’s calmness and generosity.
“Hello, Uncle! Hello, Countess Rachel! And hello to Dooly and Gray!”
“It’s been a while, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Rachel, Graham, and Dolorosa each bent their knees and bowed in greeting.
Seeing the small Dolorosa bowing politely, Atreille’s heart grew heavy.
‘Dooly… My little sister.’
In his ten years of life, Atreille had never dreamed of having a sibling.
Even though he was young, he understood everything.
His father, Sigar, and mother, Beatrix, did not have a good relationship, and they never shared a bedroom after Atreille was born.
In a way, it was fortunate that a sibling wasn’t born, as it might’ve divided the Imperial family and the Noble Council if it’d been a younger brother.
He also knew that his capable uncle, Cian, was once a candidate for Emperor. He was well aware of how bitter Sigar felt about that.
Despite knowing this, he’d still wished he had a younger sibling. The palace was too large, lonely, and boring to spend time alone studying.
Knowing it was an impossible desire, he had to be content with considering his uncle, Cian, like an older brother.
But then.
‘I have… a sibling too.’
Dolorosa couldn’t look Atreille in the eye like she used to, as if she was ashamed that her origin had been revealed. She was very upset.
He’d always found Dolorosa cute, but now, he felt more affectionate than before.
‘She’s my younger sister, so I have to protect her. I’ll treat her well.’
He put his hand in his pocket and tightly grasped the box he’d brought.
Atreille jumped off the carriage and stood in front of Dolorosa. He rubbed under his nose with his finger, feeling awkward.
“Uh, well. Have you been doing well? Baby Princess Dooly.”
Dolorosa blinked as she tightly held Graham’s hand beside her.
“I’m not a baby. And I’m not Dooly, I’m Dolorosa.”
“Hey, between us, let’s just call each other casually.”
“Between us… We have nothing to do with each other.”
There’s nothing between them! They’re siblings! Older brother and younger sister! The cutest little sister in the world and the coolest older brother in the world!
He held back his urge to shout. He had to hold back because Dolorosa might find it troublesome if he did.
He would’ve shouted if only Cian and Dolorosa were here, but Rachel and Graham were present too.
“That, that’s disappointing! Don’t say strange things and just take this! I picked it up on my way here!”
“Huh?”
He pulled out the small box he’d put in his pocket and handed it to Dolorosa abruptly. It was the diamond necklace he’d asked Cian to get for Rachel.
Cian, standing beside, looked flustered.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince. That’s…”
“Uncle, hush! Shh!”
Atreille raised his index finger and motioned for Cian to be quiet.
Cian, who was quick-witted, noticed Atreille’s feelings and laughed.
* * *
Cian, Atreille, and Graham went to practice swordsmanship, and Rachel and Dolorosa ordered dresses in the parlor as usual.
Though they had been working on the dress orders for weeks, today was different. Dolorosa chose unfitting decorations or failed to recognize what she’d just selected.
Carol, sensing the mood, spoke less.
It was a pity.
‘It seemed like she’d made peace with His Highness, but that doesn’t mean the shock has completely gone away. I understand. She’s still seven years old. It’ll take some more time to get back to normal.’
Clatter—
When Dolorosa placed the decoration on the fabric, Carol spoke in a cheerful voice.
“Thank you for your order. There are a total of eight fall season dresses that the princess ordered. The dresses and invoice will be sent to the mansion as soon as they are completed.”
“…Okay. Thank you for your hard work, Carol.”
Carol and the wardrobe staff politely bowed and quickly disappeared. They knew better than anyone else that nothing good would come from staying in this kind of atmosphere for a long time.
Dolorosa was in a daze the entire time she was waiting for Cian.
Rachel felt more heartache seeing Dolorosa respond with a smile whenever she spoke.
‘…I want to help her. It may be presumptuous, though.’
Rachel, who had been quietly staying by her side, got down from the chair. She knelt and lowered herself to meet Dolorosa’s eyes.
“Princess.”
“…Ah, yes. Countess Rachel.”
“If it’s not rude, may I give the princess a hug?”
“…Suddenly?”
“Yes, suddenly. For no reason. I’m not sure if I’m overstepping, but if you allow me, I’d like to hug you.”
“Uh…”
Dolorosa’s golden eyes blinked slowly.
Blink, blink. Each time her eyes closed and opened, tears welled up at the corners.
The seven-year-old child’s heart, which had been trying to act strong, gradually softened.
As tears fell and wet her pale cheeks, Rachel stretched out her arms without waiting any longer.
The small Dolorosa was dragged helplessly like a paper doll and placed in Rachel’s embrace. The front of her dress quickly became damp, and the child’s body began to tremble.
“Countess, Countess Rachel. Um…”
“Take your time, princess.”
“You… you’ve heard everything too, right? You know everything, right?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
The rumors had already spread throughout the social circles. Not only Rachel but most nobles knew Dolorosa’s secret.
Dolorosa’s body trembled.
“What… what should I do now? People have suddenly become so kind that it’s scary. I guess it’s because I’m the daughter of His Majesty the Emperor. But I’m just my dad’s daughter. Hng.”
“That’s right. No matter what anyone says, the Princess is the only daughter of His Highness the Archduke. It’s written that way in imperial law.”
“I feel so sorry for dad. Dad always says it’s okay, that he only needs me. I want to be okay like dad too, but I feel like I keep crying.”
“It’s okay to cry.”
“No. No. If I cry, Dad will be upset… Hng.”
Dolorosa’s shoulders shook as she wept.
How scared she must’ve been at the sudden change in people’s attitudes and situations. It was a pity that such a small child had to go through something that would have been difficult for even adults to endure.
It was also sad to see her mature enough to hold back her tears, fearing it would upset her father.
“If you can’t cry in front of His Highness, come see me any time. Please cry your heart out and then go back and smile prettily like you always do. I will become your bamboo forest.”
“Hng. Sniff. Thank you. Even though it has nothing to do with you, Countess Rachel…”
“I’m hugging you because I want to. It’s an honor to hold such a beautiful princess in my arms.”
“I’m sorry to Graham too. He doesn’t like it when I hug the Countess.”
“Graham will understand. Although he is young, he is smart and understanding.”
In the end, Dolorosa burst into loud sobs.
“Thank you. For hugging me and treating me as kindly as before even after knowing everything…”
Rachel gently patted Dolorosa’s back as she wept in her arms.
‘…Later, I might become an inconvenient mother-in-law, but not yet. I’ll be like a friendly aunt to Princess Dolorosa until then, until the two children are connected.’
“Come visit anytime. Even though the dress making is over, even if there’s no reason, come whenever you feel like it, whether you’re bored, happy, or sad. I’ll be waiting.”
It was a pure invitation with no ulterior motive of hoping that Graham and Dolorosa would connect.
Rachel genuinely wanted to invite Dolorosa over, talk to her, and spend time with her, regardless of the children’s future.
Dolorosa lifted her head and met Rachel’s eyes.
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. I’d be disappointed if you didn’t come.”
“Okay! I’ll come often so you won’t be disappointed, Countess Rachel!”
As expected of the original female protagonist.
Even her tear-streaked, swollen face looked adorable.
After sword practice and dress orders were completed, the five gathered in the drawing room of the Fram mansion.
Cian, Atreille, and Graham were surprised to find Dolorosa’s face swollen from crying.
Dolorosa explained that she’d cried because she was sad the dress orders were finished. Though no one believed her, no one pressed her further, not wanting to trouble the child.
Everyone cherished Dolorosa.
Now, Cian and Atreille were waiting for Graham and Dolorosa, who had suddenly disappeared.
Atreille was sitting on the armrest of a chair, chatting with Cian.
“Wow, so you and Dooly hang out here every time you come? Without me?”
“No. I’ve never been invited to the drawing room after sword training either. Dolly gave me permission to play with her today.”
“Really? Why’s that? Did she get tired of playing alone?”
“Who knows. She didn’t even tell me what they were doing here. She said she would let me know soon, so I’ll just wait and see.”
Rachel, who knew the reason, smiled, and just then the door opened.
“They’re here! You little brats, where the heck have you been… huh?”
The golden eyes of Atreille and Cian widened in surprise.
