Aiden had come to the royal palace after some time and was meeting with Fedrerick. They were discussing several matters and Aiden was about to leave when,
“Leaving already?”
Fedrerick caught hold of Aiden and said.
“Is there anything else you wish to speak of, Your Majesty?”
Aiden asked politely, although he couldn’t completely hide his annoyance.
“There’s a lot to say.”
The issue is that there’s no time. Fedrerick muttered in a tired voice.
He had become the emperor a few years ago. Fedrerick and Claire’s first year as emperor and empress was spent frantically adapting, and now, even though they can finally catch their breath, they were still busy with a hectic schedule.
There was absolutely no leisure for personal time, so short conversations like this with Aiden were one of the few pleasures.
“Don’t go yet. Stay a little longer. Let me take this chance to rest too.”
Fedrerick instructed someone to bring the tea as he moved to another seat.
“The children must be doing well. I wonder how much they’ve grown. I miss them.”
Fedrerick had been very fond of Leo and Maylin ever since they were born. As the children’s stories came up, the corners of Aiden’s mouth began to twitch involuntarily.
Just thinking about his children immediately improved his mood, and he almost smiled.
“I miss them too. They must be running around with so much energy right now.”
Aiden felt a wave of longing as he recalled seeing Leo and Maylin that morning.
“It was a good decision to come here.”
Claire approached the two with a happy expression, having heard that Aiden had come.
“Your Majesty, the Empress, it’s been so long.”
“Indeed, it has. Next time, bring Erin and the children along too. It would be even better with them.”
Lately, there hadn’t been many banquets at the imperial palace, resulting in less frequent gatherings.
“If I get the chance, I will surely bring them.”
“Do make sure you do. Please.”
Claire eagerly emphasized this point, and the conversation continued a bit longer until Aiden stood up to leave.
“Like before, but now it’s even more so, you know how it is, he’s always in a hurry to get back home.”
Fedrerick expressed his feelings, a mix of reluctance and envy, as Claire, watching this scene, laughed and then set down her teacup to speak.
“I should be going now. I’ve already escaped from being held up here longer. If I wait any more, tomorrow I might end up with even more paperwork to go through.”
Claire joked lightly as she got up from her seat.
“Claire.”
Fedrerick gazed at Claire pensively and called her name softly.
“We’ve really worked hard all this time, haven’t we?”
“Indeed. Both His Majesty and I have worked hard.”
Claire answered with pride.
“So, wouldn’t it be okay to goof off for a day?”
“Hmm?”
Claire asked in wonder, but Fedrerick merely smiled meaningfully. He seemed to have already made up his mind about something.
***
In the Lienster family’s garden, the children were playing tirelessly. Leo and Maylin, as well as the children brought by Julia, had joined in, making it noisier than usual.
Julia, starting from a year ago, had been inviting children from the orphanage where she grew up who were soon to become independent, to stay at the count’s estate.
Some of these children had younger siblings, and she brought them along to live together and assist with their transition to independence.
Among these, some children were about the same age as Leo and Maylin and hit it off with them right from the start.
Now, Leo and Maylin eagerly anticipated the arrival of their friends. As soon as their friends arrived, they were too busy playing frenetically to notice anything else.
“The children seem to really enjoy it,” Erin remarked fondly, watching them.
“The children say they want to meet Maylin and Leo every day.”
“Come over often. If you’re busy, just send the children. Or I can pick them up too.”
Recently, Julia had started to learn a little about managing the earl’s affairs and had been busy. Today, she had managed to visit after quite a while.
“I might end up using the kids as an excuse to come here every day.”
“That would be nice. You’re sincere, so come over anytime.”
“It makes me think of old times. We used to meet up so often back then.”
The salon was still well-maintained, but it had become difficult to gather everyone together for meetings. Julia reminisced with a smile and then her eyes sparkled as if she remembered something.
“By the way, I saw Lady Angelina at a banquet recently. She was with Brody.”
“Really? It’s been a while since I saw them too. But Julia, you see them more often, don’t you?”
Erin hadn’t been attending except for important banquets recently and hadn’t seen the two in quite some time. She thought it might be nice to visit ‘Café Angela’ with the children sometime soon.
“I haven’t seen them for a while either, just at the banquet this time. It seems they’ve been attending banquets quite often lately.”
Indeed, since the children learning baking from Brody were at the age of preparing for independence, it wasn’t necessary for Julia to accompany them.
Still, it was surprising to come across them at a banquet rather than at ‘Café Angela’.
“It’s curious. Neither of them are particularly fond of banquets…”
***
Even now, as Erin and Julia were recalling them, Angelina and Brody were attending a banquet hosted by a certain Duke’s family. The Duchess had had a relationship with Angelina for a long time.
While Angelina exchanged greetings with the Duchess, Brody, who had come as her partner, was also busy greeting others. Over the past few years, there was no one unfamiliar with his association with Angelina.
Brody was mingling with the crowd, albeit awkwardly, yet he was doing it rightly. He has been putting in consistent effort not to seem like a burden by Angelina’s side.
It was only when a pause in the endless greetings came that Brody could sit down on a sofa near the wall, prepared for resting.
Quietly, Angelina approached him amidst the noisy banquet hall. It seemed as if the space around the two of them alone had become tranquil.
“Brody. It’s uncomfortable for you, isn’t it?”
Brody had insisted on attending today’s banquet, even though Angelina said it wasn’t necessary. In fact, it was the same for most banquets they had recently attended.
Whenever Angelina was about to decline an invitation, Brody would step in and agree to go.
Most of the nobles attending the banquet did not dare to act rudely to Brody out of respect for the Princess, but they were neither friendly to him since he was a commoner.
“Ha ha. I’m gradually getting accustomed to it.”
Brody forced a bright smile. But it was unlikely that Brody was attending this event because he truly enjoyed such occasions.
“You don’t have to force yourself to come.”
“You’ve endured a lot because of me and came back. I want to be at least a little bit like the people who belong here,” Brody said firmly. While he had done nothing but wait in his original place, she had endured and taken reckless steps to return.
So this time, Brody wanted to make an effort for her.
‘It’s not going as well as I thought, though.’
Despite the time they had spent together, the social world still felt unfamiliar and challenging. At least his dancing skills were not bad, which was a relief.
If he kept attending like this, someday it would probably be okay.
Angelina, too, was aware of her lover’s sincerity. She didn’t need words; his actions said it all. Angelina opened her mouth with a smile.
“Thank you. I’m happy.”
Angelina looked around the banquet hall. For her, it had always been a natural space, something she had been accustomed to from the moment she was born.
But if asked whether she liked this place…
‘Well…’
No particular emotions stirred. There was a time in her youth when she had enjoyed being the center of attention at parties, but now it was just a familiar place.
During the time I could not come to this place, I did not even miss it. The only person she longed for during that time was the one next to her, Brody.
The reason she had attended balls and official events with Brody was to let everyone know.
But now, there was no one who could deny their relationship anymore. She didn’t hate the balls, but the time she wanted to spend with Brody now was…
“Brody.”
Angelina looked at Brody and said,
“I don’t want to do this with you.”
It wasn’t that she wanted to attend the balls that she had always taken for granted all her life. If Brody disliked them, they could stop going. What she wanted more was…
“I enjoy making bread with the children of Julia more.”
TL/N: He means the children from the orphanage Julia brought.
Angelina wanted to be part of his everyday life. She did not want to force Brody to fit into her status and routine.
“Let’s make this ball our last.”
“But…”
“If you still feel concerned, how about we only attend the balls hosted by the Lienster family?”
Because that place was not awkward and uncomfortable, but a place where Angelina and Brody could enjoy together.
“Fine. I feel comfortable there too.”
Just then, music began to play. People started heading towards the stage one by one. Angelina rose from her seat, lifting the corner of her mouth in a half-smile.
“Then, how about one dance before we leave?”
Angelina extended her hand to Brody, asking him to dance.
***
Erin and Julia were still engaging in simple conversation, watching the children play. But as Erin observed the children, her head began to tilt to the side. At first, it seemed they were playing tag, but it gradually turned into a game beyond recognition.
Maylin made a bizarre face, lifted one arm and leg, and began to jest. Then, the children burst into laughter, mimicking Maylin’s actions or running away.
“What are they playing at now?” Erin wondered, perplexed by Maylin’s odd behavior.
“Ha-ha, I know what it is.” Julia, after carefully observing the children’s movements, burst into laughter.
“When I was at the Earl’s estate, the children were playing like that and I asked them. They said it was a game invented by Leo and Maylin.”
“Really?” It was a game Erin hadn’t seen before, and her curiosity grew.
“Not long ago, there was a thunderstorm, remember? They told me they play by pretending to be monsters in sync with the moment the lightning strikes.”
“During a thunderstorm?” Erin asked, surprised, seeking confirmation from Julia.
“Yeah, they said Maylin is especially good at imitating a monster. Leo was a bit scared at first, but then Maylin started joking around and they all played together,” Julia explained.
“After hearing that story, the children said they wished the thunder and lightning would come quickly every night. It wasn’t long ago that they were scared and crying under the blankets.”
Julia shared the tale she had heard from the children.
“That’s interesting.”
Erin recalled the recent day when, during thunder and lightning, Leo and Maylin had come to her, scared and clutching their pillows tightly. It must’ve been the same day Julia was talking about.
Hmm, so that’s what happened.
Erin’s gaze at Leo and Maylin narrowed with understanding.
“They’re so cute.”
Of course, her eyes were full of affection looking at the two children. Instead of thunder and lightning, the children were playing monster games with their shadows getting bigger.
