IBYSRHML | Chapter 62

Episode 62

The old woman whom Edgar called his grand aunt entered the kitchen with a frown on her face.

The deep wrinkles on her brow were intimidating.

“What on earth are you wearing now?”

She walked up to Edgar and brushed off the flour with her gloved hand.

“Seeing you doing work meant for maids, I can guess what Their Majesties must be thinking.”

“It’s been a while, grand aunt.”

“Enough with the greetings. And you…”

The old woman looked at me, who was holding tightly onto Edgar.

Her eyes were fierce like a tiger’s, so I quickly greeted her.

“Ah, hello! I’m Lilliana Berchio!”

“I can tell you’re from Trovancha just by your black hair. Most of them have curly black hair. I’m Edgar’s grand aunt.”

“U-um… nice to meet you, Grand aunt!”

“Call me Duchess Aykroyd.”

“Y-yes ma’am…”

I rolled my eyes and rummaged through my memory.

I felt like I’d heard of the Duchess of Aykroyd before, but the memory wouldn’t come back.

Where did I hear it…

“Edgar. Let’s go.”

“Huh? Where?”

“We must go meet His Majesty. Just as I wrote in the letter, I intend to tell him I’m taking you with me.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Being stubborn in that state won’t help.”

“Please don’t say it like that.”

Ah! I remembered.

The letter I saw in Edgar’s wardrobe last time was sent by the Duchess of Aykroyd.

She had told Edgar to pack, but he did nothing, so I thought it had been canceled and forgot about it.

“Edgar. Are you moving out?”

“I’m not going!”

When I asked urgently, Edgar’s face turned pale.

I grabbed Edgar’s hand tightly.

“Edgar says he’s not going.”

“It’s none of your business. Go wash your face and change your clothes.”

When the duchess signaled, the maids lifted me up.

As I struggled, Edgar spoke weakly.

“I think it’s best to do as Grand aunt says. Go wash and change.”

“Edgar?”

“I’ll go meet my brother and see you later at dinner.”

Leaving me stunned, Edgar exited the kitchen with the duchess.

For some reason, I felt an uneasy dread rising, as if my friend was going far away.

‘If only I had the legendary wizard’s staff…’

Then I’d wish for that scary grandma to just go home by herself.

Alice and Marius were discussing the event scheduled two days later.

“If we throw a flashy birthday party, it might serve as a warning to others too.”

“Politics are for the adults to handle. Birthdays should be spent with family.”

“Come to think of it, I wonder what kind of gift Lilliana would want. Edgar’s still undecided.”

Lilliana’s birthday was in two days.

Including them, Regina and Leopold were all tiptoeing around trying to pick the perfect birthday gift for her.

“Leopold bought the acorn-shaped moonstone she said she wanted last time.”

“Regina succeeded in getting the limited edition teddy bear pajamas by asking Viscountess Ruman.”

“So we’re the only ones who haven’t decided.”

“Well, not exactly.”

Alice responded proudly.

“I got a dress and hairpin set that’s the latest trend in Trovancha.”

Marius’s jaw dropped in betrayal.

He shut his eyes tightly in frustration.

Only two days left till her birthday, and he still had no idea what gift to get.

Just then, an unexpected guest arrived.

It was none other than the Duchess of Aykroyd.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“It’s been two years? It’s been a while.”

Following the duchess, Edgar entered nervously, fidgeting with his wrinkled clothes.

“Edgar, what happened to your outfit…?”

“Your Majesty. Though the young duke is of House Baltrahein, he’s also a member of the imperial bloodline. To treat him this way is unacceptable.”

“I went into the kitchen because I wanted to.”

“You wouldn’t say that if you saw yourself in the mirror, Edgar.”

Just as Marius was about to speak, the duchess interrupted sternly.

“I understand you’re busy with affairs of state, but you should’ve paid more attention. That goes for Her Majesty the Empress as well.”

The duchess had long forgotten her original reason for visiting the palace.

She had intended to pressure Regina by presenting the signatures of society’s ladies to the Empress.

But seeing Edgar covered in flour and eggs filled her with rage.

For someone over seventy, cooking wasn’t a playful experience for children—it was a lowly task meant for servants.

“I will be taking Edgar with me.”

“That’s the first thing you say upon arriving?”

“I don’t mean to criticize Your Majesty, but I’ve had doubts about Edgar’s upbringing for some time. Even last year, when I visited House Baltrahein, he didn’t have a single friend.”

A seven-year-old child saying he preferred being alone and acting defensive was a clear sign of improper growth.

“My reason for returning to the Empire was to take Edgar with me.”

“…Let’s all calm down and talk this through.”

“Duchess, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding. Please, let’s sit down—”

“If Leopold is to marry a proper woman, taking Edgar with me is the wisest decision.”

The moment the heated duchess finished speaking, Alice’s expression turned cold.

While not enough to frighten Edgar, her serious tone carried enough weight to silence the duchess.

“Watch your words. That’s not something to say in front of Edgar.”

She spotted Edgar, who had frozen behind the duchess, holding his breath.

“Marius, speak with the duchess.”

Alice passed the duchess and walked over to Edgar.

Holding his hand, she led him out of the room.

Once they found a parlor, she closed the door and kneeled on the floor to meet Edgar at eye level.

“…I was trying to make a cake with Lilliana. But then Grand aunt suddenly showed up… I’m sorry. It’s because of me…”

“A cake? I bet it was fun making it. What flavor?”

“We messed it up…”

“That’s okay. Everyone messes up the first time.”

“…I’m just a burden to Brother Leo, right?”

Edgar pursed his lips in a glum expression.

Seeing his discouraged face broke Alice’s heart, so she gently stroked his cheek.

“You’re not a burden. You’re a joy.”

“That can’t be true.”

“Marius says even when he doesn’t want to work, he gets energy just from having you around.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. He even asks me every day if Edgar would get mad if he called him ‘petit tiger’ like he does with Lilliana.”

“Really?”

“He wants to get closer to you, so he worries about it every day. And as for Mr. Leopold…”

Edgar’s hopeful gaze tugged at Alice’s heart.

“He said he wants to teach you swordsmanship when you turn fourteen. He thinks it’ll help you bond.”

“Really?”

“I never lie.”

Alice spread her arms wide and hugged Edgar tightly.

While adults might find such hugs stifling, children often feel comforted by them.

Just as she expected, Edgar felt the warmth and affection in that firm embrace.

‘Maybe this is what it feels like to have a mother.’

Thinking the same thing as his best friend Lilliana once had, Edgar quietly sorted through his sorrow in her arms.

Marius persuaded the Duchess of Aykroyd to let Edgar stay at the palace for a few days.

Upon hearing the news, Leopold hurried to visit her chambers first.

“You’re taking Edgar? That wasn’t discussed.”

“No matter how high your station, raising a child is a different matter. Parenting isn’t statecraft.”

“Marius and I can raise him well.”

“And the woman you plan to marry—does she want that too?”

“Grand aunt!”

Even as Leopold raised his voice, the duchess didn’t flinch.

She simply stared out at the sunset with a cold expression.

“His Majesty who already has a family, you who must start one, and Edgar who needs a stable caregiver—this is best for everyone.”

“You don’t even know the Empress or Regina.”

“I don’t want to see him caught in between adults, constantly having to read the room.”

“That has never happened.”

“The Empress is a foreigner. Have you never considered that Edgar might be confused growing up under her?”

“You’re making unfounded assumptions. Please stop and return to the Empire to rest peacefully.”

The duchess clenched her wrinkled hand into a fist.

“I’m worried sick about both you and Edgar! You want to raise him? Then marry a proper woman I approve of!”

“No. The only person I’ll marry is Miss Regina. And let me warn you—you’d be wise to back down.”

Leopold’s warning held no falsehood.

He was a polite man who strove to be sincere.

That’s what made his warning so weighty.

“Are you threatening legal action?”

“That would be the start. I don’t wish to roll around in the mud with you, nor do I want to crush you with power.”

The duchess swallowed hard at Leopold’s force.

Unlike Marius’s sharpness or Alice’s volatile energy, Leopold carried a gravity that was hard to resist.

It was the unique weight born from the muddy path he walked with Marius and his naturally upright character.

“…I hope your time resting in the Empire helps you understand Edgar, Her Majesty, and Miss Regina better. Please enjoy your stay.”

After closing the door, Leopold leaned his forehead against the hallway wall.

He fumbled through his coat and pulled out a small box.

Inside was an old diamond ring.

It was the same ring his grandfather had used to propose to his grandmother, and his father to his mother.

Now, it was meant for his own proposal.

‘I’ll have to make another reservation at the restaurant some other day.’

With a sense of regret, he headed off to find Marius.