“Where is Countess Kin?”
Hilane, having stepped outside, massaged her tense shoulders.
It wasn’t a bad idea to send an invitation to Duke Belzette as Glazé had suggested.
If the Duke attended Chevelyn’s baptism, she could ask him again then.
“I have a feeling I shouldn’t let this pass by.”
How did he know ‘Esh’?
“Waahhhh!”
Chevelyn’s loud crying was heard from a distance.
“Chevelyn?”
Hilane ran towards the sound coming from the garden.
“Princess, are you uncomfortable? Her Highness the Crown Princess will be out soon. Yes, yes. Is it because the sun is too hot? Shall we go inside?”
Countess Kin was seen comforting the crying Chevelyn.
“Your Highness! You’ve arrived.”
“Chevelyn. Come to mommy.”
“Uh, uh!”
Startled enough to hiccup, Chevelyn buried her head in Hilane’s arms.
Countess Kin was used to taking care of young children, as she had many grandchildren.
Judging by how she was comforting Chevelyn, it didn’t seem like she had caused any harm.
Hilane had visited the Agnas Palace garden a few times and wasn’t meeting Countess Kin for the first time.
“Chevelyn isn’t usually this shy, so why now…?”
It made it all the more strange and incomprehensible.
“I have failed to properly take care of the princess. I apologize.”
Countess Kin couldn’t raise her head.
“Don’t blame yourself. She must have been very startled to wake up and find me gone.”
Hilane spoke while patting Chevelyn’s back to help her calm down.
“Your Highness. I have instructed the luggage from the carriage to be moved to the Largon Palace.”
“Largon Palace? Why there? My quarters should be in the west at the Floren Palace.”
Largon Palace was traditionally where the crown prince lived. Although Chevelyn, as a princess, had the right to stay there, no one would interpret it as a simple gesture.
“Could it be that Her Highness the Crown Princess decided this?”
“Since the restoration work at the Floren Palace is delayed, Her Highness has temporarily allowed it.”
As Hilane seriously questioned her, Countess Kin explained what had happened.
Largon Palace was near Agnas Palace, making it likely that their movements would be reported to Glazé.
“Does she mean to provide both protection and surveillance?”
Hilane could understand this.
Having Chevelyn live in the royal palace wouldn’t benefit Glazé.
Nevertheless, the idea of constant surveillance wasn’t entirely pleasant.
“Better than being in danger, I suppose.”
“Your Highness. Largon Palace is connected to this garden.”
“So, it’s like a shortcut.”
“Yes. Let me guide you.”
Following Countess Kin, the exterior similar to Agnas Palace came into view.
“Well then, I’ll be going now, Your Highness.”
“Take care.”
Once Countess Kin left, Chevelyn spoke.
“Mom. Cherry wants to get down now.”
“Do you?”
Hilane and Chevelyn then toured the Largon Palace alone.
Largon Palace was magnificent, a grand and splendidly built palace.
The maids they passed bowed respectfully.
The intricately carved decorations throughout the palace were beautiful.
Even the Floren Palace, where she stayed before marriage, couldn’t compare to Largon Palace.
“Mom, look at this flower!”
“Sweetie, be careful. Don’t run, walk slowly.”
“Wow, there’s a fountain here too! Mom, come quickly!”
Hilane followed the excitedly jumping Chevelyn.
“Chevelyn, did you cry because you woke up and mommy wasn’t there?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
Turning around, Chevelyn furrowed her brows.
“Hmm?”
“It’s just… I can speak in front of mommy, but… because it wasn’t mommy, I couldn’t speak, and that made me upset.”
Chevelyn stomped her feet and looked at the ground.
‘She couldn’t speak because it wasn’t me…? Is she struggling to adjust to the new environment?’
Holding Chevelyn’s hand, who was pouting her lips in frustration, Hilane thought it was most important to help her child adapt to the unfamiliar surroundings.
“Chevelyn, shall we go inside now?”
“Okay!”
* * *
Time passed, and the day of Chevelyn’s baptism arrived.
“Everything is well arranged. Good work.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Hilane, who had arrived at the temple early in the morning, was touring the prayer room with the Minister of the Imperial Household.
“Your Highness, well….”
“Yes?”
The minister suddenly spoke hesitantly.
“We sent an invitation to the Marquess of Rata for the paternity test, but he hasn’t arrived yet.”
“……”
“Shall we send someone to the Marquess’ residence?”
Even though they were divorced, it was common for the father to attend the child’s baptism.
Hearing Chevelyn’s nightly murmurs of longing for her father and seeing her oddly lacking confidence made Hilane feel sorry.
Most of all, she didn’t want to instill the idea that the divorce was because of the child. So she had deliberately invited Revan.
It was unsettling to hear that he hadn’t come.
Despite them being completely strangers now.
“No, the baptism will proceed as planned. There won’t be any issues because the father didn’t come.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
Feigning indifference, Hilane couldn’t help but feel a slight tremble in her fingers, which she hid behind her back.
As the door opened and closed, the minister left, and a priest entered as if he had been waiting.
“What’s that?”
“Duke Belzette couldn’t make it due to circumstances and sent a gift instead.”
The priest handed her a blue velvet box.
Upon opening it slightly, she saw a gemstone with patterns resembling sunlight filtering through the sea.
Duke Belzette’s gift was a bracelet made of larimar.
Larimar. A healing stone symbolizing peace and love. It was an incredibly rare gemstone, difficult to come across even once in a lifetime.
‘What is that man thinking?’
The more he avoided her, the more her curiosity grew.
Despite declining the invitation on the day of the event, he sent such a precious gift.
The cool scent she had noticed before lingered at her nose, suggesting he had personally selected and wrapped it.
‘He’s truly a mysterious person. No, even before that, how does he know my childhood name?’
“Your Highness, the guests you invited are arriving.”
Hilane, who had been staring intently at the bracelet, snapped the velvet box shut at the priest’s cough.
“Check the invitations thoroughly and guide them here.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
It was finally time to start Chevelyn’s baptism.
***
“Is it true that she divorced the Marquess of Rata because he had a falling out?”
“No matter what, how could he not come to the princess’s baptism? She’s his only child.”
The gathering crowd buzzed with conversation. Hilane was worried that Chevelyn might hear them.
“Please be seated, everyone.”
Fortunately, the high priest quieted the crowd with a sign of the cross.
“A life born under Freya’s blessing grows and receives baptism.”
“…”
“May Freya’s grace bless all the paths you walk.”
As the high priest recited the prayer, Chevelyn knelt with her hands clasped together.
Her half-up hair adorned with flower decorations looked adorable.
She looked like a fairy from a storybook dipped in cherry blossom water.
The custom-made white robe with frills was charming as well.
The high priest made the sign of the cross and dropped Chevelyn’s prepared blood into the holy water.
Plop.
The holy water with Chevelyn’s blood glowed with a golden light.
“As the first servant of Freya, I confirm that you are indeed of the noble Pezetain lineage.”
Only the royal family could possess golden eyes, making it more of a formality, but the official recognition made people view Chevelyn differently.
Flash-
The high priest imbued Chevelyn’s palm with divine power.
“…”
Everyone held their breath, waiting for Freya to respond and bestow the baptismal name.
With a shimmering light, the baptismal name appeared on Chevelyn’s palm.
The high priest, unusually emotional, announced: “…Freya has bestowed the name of Saint Esther.”
The quiet atmosphere erupted with chatter again.
“Esther?”
Hilane was surprised by the unexpected baptismal name and took a deep breath.
A baptismal name meant emulating the deeds of that saint.
Esther was the name of the Imperial Founder.
The thought of increased noble visits to Largon Palace was overwhelming.
“Thus, the baptism ceremony concludes. May Freya’s blessing be with Esther’s life.”
“Mom!”
As the ceremony ended, Chevelyn ran towards Hilane.
While holding Chevelyn’s hand and heading back to the waiting room, several nobles had already approached to offer congratulations, as expected.
“Your Highness! Congratulations.”
“My son burst into tears as soon as he received divine power, but the princess is different, as expected of royalty.”
“Princess, could you show me the name of Esther I once?”
Count Seyran, bending his knees slightly, spoke to Chevelyn, who then hid behind Hilane’s leg.
“The princess seems very shy.”
Count Seyran scratched his reddened neck awkwardly.
“Count Seyran, Viscount Rio. Thank you for coming to the princess’s baptism.”
Hilane smiled and shook his hand.
“It’s the princess’s baptism, of course we should attend. Thank you for inviting us, Your Highness.”
“Your words are reassuring. The princess seems tired, so I’ll excuse myself first.”
“Yes, Your Highness. The princess must be exhausted from the baptism ceremony.”
“Thank you for understanding. Sweetie, let’s go.”
Hilane, excusing herself from the nobles, led Chevelyn into the waiting room.
Sitting Chevelyn on one of the sofas, she looked straight into her eyes.
“Chevelyn.”
“Yes.”
“My sweetie, you did really well today. I’m proud of you.”
“…Did I do well?”
Hilane kissed Chevelyn’s forehead briefly.
“Mom, dad isn’t coming, is he?”
“…”
“Then I want to leave. There are too many people here, and it’s scary.”
Clinging to Hilane’s dress, Chevelyn unusually insisted.
“Scary? Chevelyn, how did you manage earlier then?”
“Mom was watching me.”
“…”
Touched by Chevelyn’s response, Hilane hugged her child’s small body tightly.
♡♡♡
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