Episode 23

In the summer, it was customary for Melbrid and Lothania to play in Lake Beryl and attend the summer festival together.

Seeing Lothania unable to fully express her joy, I asked Melbrid,

“Young Master Melbrid, you didn’t sneak out, did you?”

“No, Your Majesty the Empress. I have my brother’s permission.”

As soon as Melbrid answered, I heard a grinding sound from behind.

It was clearly the sound of something being ground, but when I turned around, only Vitrain’s serene face greeted me.

Thinking I must have misheard, I turned back to Melbrid and asked,

“Did Duke Zernia really allow you to attend the summer festival alone?”

Though the snake often defied common sense, letting a twelve-year-old go alone seemed too much. Melbrid, with a cherubic smile, brightly said,

“He said it was too dangerous for me to go alone, so he suggested I join Your Majesty’s vacation party.”

Ah. So he sent the child alone but not really alone.

Clearly, he assumed I wouldn’t ignore a little boy wanting to enjoy the festival with friends.

Did Vitrain plan to keep other beasts away, only for Melbrid to be thrown in as a wrench?

Reading Lian’s sly intentions, I chuckled to myself. Again, I heard the grinding sound from behind.

This time, I knew I had heard it right and had an idea of who it was.

Turning to Vitrain, I said,

“Your teeth will wear out at this rate, Duke Vitrain.”

Vitrain, who had been glaring at Melbrid while grinding his teeth, replied with feigned ignorance.

“My teeth are strong, Your Majesty.”

“That’s a relief.”

I turned back to Vitrain with a sweet smile.

My sudden smile made Vitrain narrow his eyes.

“Your Majesty, don’t tell me you are…”

“Doesn’t the Crown Princess need human friends too?”

I cut off Vitrain’s words with a question that was more a statement.

The sharp-eyed eagle sighed deeply, understanding my implicit message.

“If I’d known this, I would have brought my niece along.”

“She is welcome anytime. I’ll formally invite her when we return to the palace.”

I continued with a cheerful smile, making Vitrain laugh in resignation.

“I can’t win against Your Majesty.”

“I accept your surrender. Now, Lottie, shall we go have our meal?”

I flashed Vitrain a final smile and wrapped my arm around Lothania’s shoulders.

Lothania and Melbrid both looked at me with anxious faces, their eyes filled with similar expressions.

“Young Master Melbrid, join us.”

Melbrid’s face lit up with a radiant smile as he bowed his head.

“Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress!”

“Thank Duke Kidmillan. I’ve decided to overlook your brother’s unfair play.”

“Thank you, Duke Kidmillan.”

Though Lian and Vitrain were usually at each other’s throats like mortal enemies, Melbrid’s smile was warm even toward his brother’s enemy.

Vitrain shook his head slightly but still ruffled Melbrid’s hair gently.

Seeing that Melbrid was now part of our group, Lothania, who had been watching cautiously, took my arm and spoke up.

“Mother, let’s hurry and eat. We’ve wasted enough time with a fool interrupting us.”

Lothania’s feigned disdainful words were adorable, and Melbrid, who approached her with a grin despite being called a fool, was equally charming.

Dealing with the beasts, seeing the children’s endearing actions warmed my heart.

We all sat together—Lothania, Vitrain, Melbrid, and I—and enjoyed a pleasant lunch.

Even though Lothania had initially been standoffish, she soon began to play and laugh with Melbrid.

On the way from Alpow to Lingrove, Lothania and Melbrid decided to ride in a separate carriage together. They giggled and ran off to their carriage, finding everything immensely entertaining.

Vitrain, opening the carriage door for me, smiled contentedly for the first time since Melbrid’s arrival.

Despite being alone with Vitrain in the carriage, nothing unusual happened.

Vitrain engaged me in various conversations to keep me from getting bored, but my full stomach, the warm air, and the steady motion of the carriage soon made me drowsy.

I fought off sleep by blinking hard, and Vitrain, who was fanning himself, asked,

“Shall I lend you my lap?”

“And what would I use your lap for?”

“To rest your head and sleep.”

At first, I thought it was a strange joke, but his expression suggested otherwise.

“Are you serious about me resting my head on your lap and sleeping?”

To my surprise, Vitrain nodded with a calm face.

“You look tired.”

“Even so, isn’t that a bit much?”

“It’s not the first time you’ve fallen asleep in my presence.”

He was right. On the day we first met, I had fallen asleep soundly.

But saying it like that sounded strange. Someone who didn’t know the situation might misunderstand.

I wondered if he was doing it on purpose, but his sincere eyes made it seem like he was genuinely concerned.

Unlike the dog, whose emotions were plain on his face, the snake and the eagle were harder to read.

I turned away from Vitrain and declined his offer, whether it was a joke, a ploy, or genuine concern.

“I’ll pass.”

Then Vitrain, having put down the fan, stood up.

I was about to scold him for approaching me without warning, even though I had clearly said I didn’t need a lap pillow. However, he placed a cushion beside me instead.

After stacking the cushions neatly next to me, Vitrain returned to his seat and picked up the fan again.

“Lean against it and sleep. We still have three more hours to go.”

He then gently waved the fan, creating a soothing breeze.

I was about to reprimand him for what he was doing but found myself at a loss for words. I cleared my throat and muttered,

“I told you I’m not going to sleep…”

Despite my words, my body leaned towards the cushions. Hugging one of the cushions and leaning my weight against them was incredibly comfortable.

The pleasant breeze from the fan and Vitrain’s deep, soothing voice speaking like a lullaby soon had me answering a few of his questions before I drifted off to sleep.

* * *

I woke up with a start as the carriage shook violently.

Sitting up abruptly, I saw that Vitrain was still in the same position, gently fanning me as before I had fallen asleep.

Clearing my throat, I placed the cushion I had been holding aside. The carriage had stopped, and the commotion outside indicated we had arrived at the summer palace.

“We must have arrived, hmm.”

Trying to act nonchalant, I found my voice hoarse from sleep.

Clearing my throat again, I pretended to open the carriage window and look outside. Vitrain chuckled softly, covering his mouth with the fan.

I felt too embarrassed to look him in the eye. I had boasted I wouldn’t sleep, yet I had done just that. At least I had turned away the last time; today, he had seen me sleeping right in front of him.

Feeling my mouth dry, I realized I must have slept with my mouth open, adding to my embarrassment and making me want to jump into the lake immediately.

“Did you sleep well?”

Vitrain asked, still covering his mouth with the fan. His blue eyes were filled with amusement.

Since there was no undoing what had happened, I decided to play it cool and pretended not to know what he was talking about.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Vitrain, surprised by my response, burst into hearty laughter.

Bending at the waist, Vitrain laughed heartily, and I wondered who ever said eagles didn’t laugh.

Just as I was about to chide him to laugh moderately, a guard outside knocked on the carriage door.

“Your Majesty the Empress, we have arrived at the summer palace.”

Grateful for the timing, I took the guard’s hand and stepped out of the carriage.

Before me stood a beautiful palace adorned with blue bricks and tiles. The building had a rounded roof and all the doors and windows were arched, giving it an exotic feel.

From the front of the carriage to the entrance of the summer palace, the palace staff and guards were lined up, bowing their heads.

As a familiar-faced man at the front of the line approached with a welcoming expression, Vitrain, who had just stepped out of the carriage behind me, snapped open his fan in front of my face.

He stood behind me, extending one arm forward to shield my face with the fan, making it look as if he was embracing me from behind.

I had no idea what he was doing.

“Duke Vitrain, if you want to block the sunlight, it should be on the other side.”

The sun was setting in the right sky, yet the fan was covering my left side, so I questioned him.

Vitrain leaned in close to my ear and whispered very quietly,

“There are cushion marks on your face.”

Oh, for heaven’s sake… How hard had I been sleeping?

I hid my face behind the fan he held up and squeezed my eyes shut. No wonder he had been laughing so much.