“Mom and dad… H…How?”
“Your grandfathers sent people. We almost got kidnapped.”
Irina said with a smile. Seeing that smile, Asha realized that if they hadn’t wanted to come, no one could have forced them. In the unexpected reunion, the three of them fumbled with gestures for a moment. Soon, Asha’s eyes turned red.
“How…”
Yuriev and Irina were not the type to return just because someone sent for them. If they were, they wouldn’t have left twenty years ago. Yuriev stroked Asha’s head and caressed her cheek.
“What did everyone say? They were quite entertaining. They said the emperor has decided to retire. Hahaha. An emperor retiring? With such words, we had no choice but to come.”
Yuriev laughed heartily, truly finding it amusing. Asha’s face turned red with embarrassment, and her tears were gone.
“I told my grandfather that…”
“Yes, yes! Where could you find a clearer expression than that? So I quickly flew to see our princess!”
Asha squirmed as Yuriev hugged her tightly and rubbed his cheek against hers. Irina laughed and separated them.
“Asha is wearing such a beautiful dress, don’t ruin it.”
“Such dresses will surely be given to Asha by her grandfather all the time.”
“Oh, right! Grandfather…”
Asha hurriedly looked around.
“Did you meet him? Did you greet him?”
“Your grandfather sent us here.”
Yuriev said, seating her back in the chair. Meanwhile, Irina picked up Asha’s shoes, knelt on one knee before her, and looked up at her.
“Once, you could fit in the palm of my hand. You’ve grown so much, my daughter.”
Asha felt ticklish but endured as Irina put on her shoes and tied the ribbons.
“It seems everyone outside is waiting for our princess.”
Yuriev extended his hand to Asha. Asha smiled brightly and took his hand.
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
When Asha appeared with a delicate-looking blond man, the people in the ballroom were initially confused and didn’t recognize him.
“That’s not Karnov Neustetter, is it?”
“I heard His Majesty the Emperor would be accompanying the royal heir for this coming-of-age ceremony?”
“That’s not His Majesty either. Who is that…”
It was unclear who first remembered the face of the youngest prince who had left the palace 20 years ago, but once someone uttered his name, it quickly spread throughout the ballroom.
“Prince Yuriev…?”
“Prince Yuriev has returned!”
“How is it possible…”
“My goodness. So that’s what Prince Yuriev looks like? I’ve never seen his face before.”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
“Why are you scolding me?”
All the nobles first looked for the emperor but couldn’t find him, so they turned their eyes to Alexei. At this moment, when rumors were circulating that the emperor was considering abdication, Prince Yuriev, who had once been the most powerful heir, returned to the palace after 20 years.
However, Alexei, sitting in a slightly elevated position, was smiling as if he was genuinely happy. Prince Yuriev, holding his daughter’s hand, walked to the center of the hall, seemingly unconcerned with everything around him.
The orchestras were frozen by the sudden appearance, but as the harp began to play a lively melody, the other musicians hurriedly started playing.
Although it would have been the first time in 20 years to dance in such a large hall, the movement of Prince Yuriev was smooth without being disturbed. Princess Anastasia, who faced him, smiled brightly like a ten-year-old child enjoying a game of make-believe.
When the lively dance tune ended, Anastasia took her mother’s hand.
Irina Nellin, who had never been called a princess consort and had left the capital upon marriage, joined her daughter in another dance. The melody became even more lively, making the onlookers tap their toes.
“Now that I see, the Grand Duchess of Pesheranskaya resembles her mother a lot.”
“She’s Sir Nellin’s only child, isn’t she? Hmm, have they fully returned to the capital? Should we start calling her Princess Consort now?”
“What if she came back to be called empress?”
“What? Are you crazy? Even though His Highness Crown Prince Alexei is unmarried, he wouldn’t marry his aunt…”
“Are you out of your mind? That’s not what I meant!”
“I’m not the one talking nonsense.”
“Is that head decoration for dancing?”
“Everyone’s pretending not to be listening while doing it anyway.”
While the nobles whispered among themselves, Anastasia and Irina’s dance came to an end. Slowly, from the back of the hall, Mikhail appeared. Everyone held their breath. The orchestra’s music gradually softened and eventually stopped altogether. It was a moment when everyone looked at the emperor with tense eyes.
“Grandfa… Grandfather!”
A cheerful voice shattered the frozen atmosphere. Anastasia, standing in the middle of the hall, quickly ran, holding her dress. Everyone made way for her. Mikhail hesitated for a moment before opening his arms, and Asha threw herself into his embrace.
“Grandfather! You called Mom and Dad here, didn’t you? Mom and Dad…”
Asha turned to point at Irina and Yuriev, who were still standing in the hall. The two bowed to the emperor. The emperor looked at them with an indescribable expression for a moment before turning his eyes to Asha.
“So, did you enjoy the first dance of your coming-of-age ceremony?”
“Yes!”
Asha’s face overflowed with excitement, joy, happiness, and longing. She never imagined she would meet her parents at this event.
“Then you should dance with me next.”
Mikhail said, extending his hand. Asha smiled brightly and took his hand. At the same time, the orchestra’s harp began the dance tune again. The movements were slower and more elegant than when she danced with Yuriev.
“…Are you happy?”
Asha nodded quickly to Mikhail’s question.
“I really didn’t expect my mom and dad to come.”
“I said I would abdicate to Alexei. Why wouldn’t they come back?”
However, the fact that he invited Irina and Yuriev was undoubtedly for Asha’s sake.
“Are you really going to abdicate?”
“It’s time for me to rest.”
Even while dancing, Asha observed the emperor’s emotions. As they drew close again while dancing, she whispered.
“Then why not say it now?”
“Right here and now? Should I tell Alexei I’m abdicating from today?”
Asha nodded eagerly. Mikhail chuckled softly.
“Today, you are the star. I don’t want to overshadow that.”
“But it wouldn’t ruin it…”
“But tomorrow isn’t your coming-of-age day, so it should be fine.”
Asha’s eyes widened, and then she smiled.
“Then let’s go see the shop together tomorrow.”
“You mean that small tent-like store?”
“Alright. Let’s go see it.”
“Mom and dad should come too.”
Mikhail hesitated for a moment, not having anticipated “all together.” Asha urged him.
“We’ll go together, Right?”
“…Alright, alright. If that’s what you want, how can I refuse?”
Mikhail’s face had a trace of a smile, even as he spoke as if he had no choice.
━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━
The turbulent coming-of-age ceremony, marked by the appearance of Prince Yuriev, was, if anything, more lively than usual due to the confusion and surprise.
The young people turning twenty this year danced with not only their partners but also their attending parents. The orchestra’s repertoire ran out due to the unexpectedly long event, so they either repeated previous pieces or joyfully played famous opera arias.
Maxim, who returned from dancing with a reluctant Dimitri, wiped his sweat and glanced at Yuriev.
“I never thought you’d come. How have you been?”
“I didn’t expect to come back either. I’ve been well, thanks to my daughter.”
“Since Lady Irina is here too, you should visit our house. My wife would be delighted.”
Irina was currently being bothered by some members of the knighthood attending the ball. Yuriev narrowed his eyes and smiled at Maxim.
If he wanted to spend time with Asha and visit other relatives, he would need to stay in the capital for at least a few weeks.
“You could just ask how long I’ll be in the capital instead of trying to figure it out.”
“Ahem. It’s just that you make people uncomfortable. You have a knack for making people uneasy.”
“Do I?”
“Yeah. You made an incompetent person feel intimidated for no reason.”
Maxim grumbled. Valery, who had clashed with Yuriev throughout his youth for desiring more than he could handle, was avoiding eye contact from the other side of the room.
“I wasn’t too hard on you, was I, Brother Maxim?”
“That’s because I’m a good person.”
Yuriev chuckled softly. Maxim clicked his tongue.
“The power of time is astonishing. You’ve changed, and so has Father.”
The emperor, sitting in an elevated position, had an old and wrinkled face, but the wrinkles were etched with laughter, forming soft curves.
Although the conversation with his grandson was inaudible, it was clearly not harsh. Maxim used the term “power of time” instead of attributing the current scene to his niece, but in fact, they both knew how the current landscape was formed.
“Alexei has grown a lot. Or should I say, he’s all grown up…”
“Father isn’t thinking of abdication for nothing.”
“He’s not just thinking about it. It’s happening tomorrow. The coronation will take some time, but at least the announcement.”
“…?”
Maxim blinked at Yuriev. Yuriev looked at him with a face that asked why he was surprised.
“Isn’t it obvious? With such a clear schedule, that’s why I came back.”
“Why am I hearing this for the first time?”
“Perhaps father didn’t tell you?”
Yuriev replied indifferently, but then he turned his gaze back to the ballroom and smiled warmly. Anastasia was dancing with her friends. Dressed finely, Karnov held her hand and moved gracefully, occasionally whispering when they were close and looking at her longingly when they were apart.
“Hmm…”
“What now? Who are you after this time?”
Maxim asked apprehensively. Yuriev shrugged.
“You’re speaking oddly, brother. I was just thinking how fortunate it is that my daughter has good friends. Now, I should go see Brother Valery.”
“Oh, dear…”
“I haven’t seen him in a long time, and he didn’t even greet me.”
“That’s because you used to ignore Valery’s greetings before…”
Yuriev pretended not to hear Maxim’s words and walked around the ballroom.
