* * *
Late that night at the Windsor mansion, Allice cried sorrowfully.
“Sob, weep, sob.”
“Allice, this is Mom. Can I come in?”
“No! Go away!”
Thump! Allice threw a teddy bear in frustration. It was a side of her that she never showed to others but was a familiar display of tantrums to Sandra.
Poor thing. Sandra paced anxiously outside Allice’s room. When she was at a loss as to what to do,
“Madam Sandra.”
A woman approached cautiously. It was Allice’s maid, Miona.
“Let me try to comfort Allice.”
“W-Will you, Miona?”
“Yes, so please rest now.”
“Alright. I’ll leave her to you, Miona. If it’s you, Allice will feel comfortable enough to open up.”
Miona had been Allice’s close friend for years. A few years ago, Allice had taken her in as a maid after her family fell into ruin.
Thank goodness there’s Miona. Hopefully, she could comfort Allice, who saw her almost like her older sister.
My poor daughter crying so terribly.
It was understandable after the events of the day. Countess Remella had made a cutting remark, didn’t she?
“Oh my, this is my first time seeing such a modest engagement ceremony.”
Sandra couldn’t argue with that. Because it was true.
How dare that woman mock my daughter?
Who is Allice? She’s none other than the daughter of Sandra Windsor herself!
Who do you think I am?
Sandra is the biological daughter of the current naval commander, Marlon Rolland. The Rolland ducal family, known for producing exceptional naval officers, had seen many of its men perish at sea—for the empire and for the Sun God, Ramun.
Yes! My son is also an outstanding naval officer, the captain of the Macriro ship!
Her beloved son, Rumie Windsor, had only just departed on a mission. He had rushed out upon hearing that barbarian tribes had invaded the imperial waters, to fight against those vile devil-worshippers! And yet, the daughter of such a proud military family was treated like this?
Danae Windsor, how dare you ruin Allice’s engagement ceremony like that?
Sandra wanted to tear that girl apart, but…
…What should I do?
Suddenly, she was overcome with worry. Carl had told her to endure for a year, but she couldn’t.
Dana will definitely tell Carl everything. And then Carl would be disappointed…
After hesitating, Sandra decided to confess to Carl herself.
“What? You grabbed Danae’s hair?”
“Y-Yes. Because Allice was so heartbroken…”
“What am I supposed to do, Sandra? After all the effort I put into smoothing things over with her—what am I supposed to do if she’s upset again?”
Sandra felt a wave of indignation and sorrow at her husband’s rebuke.
“Do you even care about Allice as her father?! Do you know how humiliated she was today, sob sob!”
Sandra slumped to the floor, weeping bitterly. Carl, unable to do much else, approached her with a sigh to console her.
“Stop crying, Sandra. I won’t blame you anymore.”
“Why does our Allice have to suffer such humiliation! What is Allice lacking!”
Even her good-for-nothing younger brother, Huan Rolland, had been earning praise from the nobles lately. Not because of any merit but solely because of his monopoly over the rare Moonlight Flowers trade. If that incompetent man could gain favor through the Moonlight Flowers business, why couldn’t Allice!
Wait! Wait, wait, just a minute.
That’s it. Huan used to be a subject of ridicule… but lately, his reputation among the nobles has improved.
If so, what if Allice takes that position? The humiliation from her engagement ceremony would be forgotten instantly!
“Honey!” Sandra grabbed Carl’s hand eagerly. “Give the Moonlight Flowers business to Allice!”
“Sandra? What nonsense are you talking about?”
“The trade business that brings the Moonlight Flowers from the Southern Continent! Leave that to Allice!”
Carl’s face turned pale, realizing his wife wasn’t joking. “Sandra. That’s absurd.”
“Why is it absurd? Don’t tell me you don’t trust Allice?”
“No, of course it’s not like that, but this business is very important.”
“Who doesn’t know that?”
“This isn’t just any ordinary business. The Moonlight Flower is a business that even the Holy See is putting a lot of effort into.” Carl explained with a serious look. The Moonlight Flower is a propaganda tool for the Protestant. It’s not just a flower. It’s propaganda to reduce the aversion to the moon god.”
“I know that!”
In this era, the religion was divided into two factions. The Protestant that embraces the moon god. And the Catholic that rejects the moon god. The Moonlight Flower, symbolizing the Moon God, was a centerpiece of their ideological conflict.
“If my brother, Huan, is doing well with it, then let Allice help too, right?”
Carl awkwardly laughed at his wife’s words. Well, Huan, that brat honestly doesn’t do much. The actual work was handled by the staff, and Huan merely signed the documents. It was just a nepotistic favor to keep his useless brother-in-law employed.
“Carl! Allice is your daughter! Can’t you do at least this much for her?!”
As Sandra clung to him desperately, Carl hesitated for a moment. Initially, he thought it was an utterly unreasonable request, but— Come to think of it, it’s not a bad idea.
His wife had a point. To become empress, Allice would need a notable accomplishment or two. Besides, the actual work would still be done by the current staff… It’s just a matter of putting her name on it.
Carl smiled contentedly and nodded. “Alright. Let’s do that.”
* * *
“Sister Dana. Take this.”
A platinum blond-haired boy resembling a fairy, Noah Windsor, blushed as he handed her a flower crown.
“I made it myself.”
“You did?”
“Yes. I thought it would suit Sister well.”
Unbelievable. This picky noble young master personally made a crown flower for her with his own hands. Dana was so surprised that she couldn’t say anything, and Noah’s ears turned bright red.
“Do you dislike the crown flower? Well, I guess something this cheap doesn’t fit Sister at all. Sister would look better in a tiara made of jewels…”
The boy’s rambling was so endearing that Dana couldn’t help but laugh brightly.
“Wow. Sister. You look like an angel.”
Allice, who had been watching from the side, muttered. Her eyes were filled with admiration.
“Sister is lucky. I wish a flower crown suited me as well as it does you.”
“Huh?”
“I mean, I don’t have anyone to make one for me…”
Just as Dana was about to reply, ‘I’ll make one for you, Allice!’ another voice interrupted.
“Danae.”
A tall, platinum-haired man appeared.
“What’s with the flower crown?”
“Why? Does it not suit me?”
“No.” The man—Viego Windsor, looked at Dana and calmly replied. “It’s pretty.”
At that moment, flash. Dana opened her eyes.
“…”
What she saw was the high ceiling. Birds chirped outside the window.
It was a dream.
These were memories from when she got along well with everyone. Why had she dreamed of that now? Dana thought she knew the reason.
Is there still hesitation in me?
A few days ago, Dana made a deal with the emperor. That she would ruin the value of the Moonlight Flower. That would ultimately mean attacking the Windsor family. Maybe that’s why her remaining conscience recalls those memories.
The Windsor family… Dana sat in a daze, lost in thought.
For the past six years, Dana genuinely loved the Windsor family. The family is led by Viego Windsor.
Viego Windsor, and Noah Windsor.
Their relationship hadn’t always been like this. There was a time when they had been truly close.
And it was my fault that things fell apart.
Thank you!