Until The Real One Shows Up​

“Yes…”

It was difficult to tell a child who said he was okay that he didn’t seem okay.

Anastasia decided to wait and see for now. Perhaps she was mistaken.

“But why aren’t you eating, Empress?”

Did he notice that he was eating everything by himself?

Louis belatedly asked her. Anastasia smiled and replied,

“Just watching you eat makes me feel full.”

“Oh, there’s no such thing.”

“It’s true. Seeing you eat so well is so delightful that I want to give you everything.”

“…”

“You must have had a hard time studying diligently, right? You’re still young, but you’re so special.”

Louis’ expression faltered significantly when he heard this. 

No one had ever given him such a compliment before.

Olivia never cared about how hard Louis studied; she only praised him when he got a perfect score. However, that praise was insignificant compared to how much she scolded him when he failed to achieve perfection.

“Baby, if you want to become an emperor, a perfect score is the bare minimum. How could you get two wrong?”

“The language is so difficult… I’m sorry. I tried so hard…”

“What does that matter? The results aren’t perfect. Effort means nothing if the results are garbage.”

Recalling what had happened on Schweig Island, Louis asked,

“You’re only complimenting me because I got a perfect score, right?”

“What?” 

“If it weren’t a perfect score… there wouldn’t have been any compliments or dessert.”

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

Anastasia responded in a slightly embarrassed voice.

“Compliments and desserts are gifts for Louis who studied hard. I can’t deny it’s even better because you got a perfect score, but that’s not the point.”

“…then what’s important?”

“What’s important is how hard Louis worked to get that perfect score. That’s what really matters in studying.”

“…”

As expected, Her Majesty was different. She said the exact opposite of what Olivia did.

As Louis’ expression became serious, Anastasia worried about what she had said.

“Well, Louis…? Did I say something wrong?”

“…No, it’s not that.”

Louis quickly shook his head.

“It’s just, I feel a little weird.”

“Well, is that so? Why do you feel weird…?”

Anastasia met the puzzled gaze of the child and reached for the chocolate placed in front of her.

“When you feel weird, eating something sweet might make you feel better.”

“I still feel fine.”

“Yes…?”

But why did his expression appear so serious…?

Anastasia suspected Louis was being untruthful, yet his current demeanor suggested otherwise. Louis did seem genuinely content.

‘If I feel fine… I can’t.’

Feeling fine posed a problem.

At present, and on all occasions spent with Anastasia lately, the sentiment was consistent. He couldn’t shake off the fear that Olivia would be greatly upset if she discovered he felt this way. 

‘Snap out of it, Louis. Her Majesty is your parents’ enemy!’ 

He sensed that his usual discipline had weakened due to their frequent playtime together. 

Louis wrestled with his conflicted thoughts and took a bite of the cookie in his hand.

~~~~

Olivia’s anger persisted even after Anastasia departed.

“That leech of a woman! Does she have nothing else to do? I don’t understand why she keeps coming back!”

As Anastasia spent time with Louis, Olivia’s heart grew increasingly uneasy, especially when she forbade her from entering his room.

“My baby, what did that wicked woman lure you into today?”

Olivia had always questioned Louis like this after Anastasia’s visits, and at some point, Louis began to feel irritated by the need to report every detail.

“Just… We played with toys. Had tea…”

Gradually, Louis started reporting their activities in a stiff manner.

But today, he added a lie.

‘I had dessert… But it should be kept a secret.’

If she had known, Olivia wouldn’t have left it alone.

Unaware of the lie, she continued to vent her frustrations.

“It’s outrageous. I worry about the future of the Empire with such an incompetent woman as the Empress. Why would the goddess select such a foolish woman to be the Empress… What’s this?”

While ranting about Anastasia, Olivia was tidying through Louis’ desk when she stumbled upon something, causing her to furrow her brows. Louis’ face paled at the sight.

“That is…!”

In a large leather pen pouch, Olivia found chocolates.

“If you’re having a hard time studying, eat one at a time, Louis.”

Louis looked at the chocolate leftovers with a hint of regret, knowing it was a gift from Anastasia. Quickly, he concealed it in a pouch. 

Olivia immediately turned on her heels and fixed her gaze on Louis.

“Baby, what’s this?”

“It’s… I’m not sure.”

Louis fibbed unwittingly. Olivia’s anger flared.

“That conniving witch sneaked this into my baby’s stuff! How dare she! Trying to poison you!”

Olivia’s imagination ran wild.

“I’ll dispose of it right away. There might be poison in it. No, I should have the palace doctor examine it for toxicity. Yes, she’s surely trying to poison you. That’s why she’s been frequenting this place! And when you’re gone, she’ll try to pin it all on me! Wretched creature!”

“Oh, no. I actually told Her Majesty…!”

Louis hastily covered his mouth as soon as he realized his mistake, but it was already too late.

Olivia, who had been seething with anger, abruptly halted as if a switch had been flipped, her gaze fixing on Louis with an eerie coldness.

At that moment, an inexplicable fear gripped Louis, rendering him motionless and rigid on the spot.

“My baby…”

Olivia advanced slowly toward Louis. She seemed like a ghost clad in a white dress, prompting Louis to beg for forgiveness in a panic.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

“How could you do this to me?”

Before he knew it, Olivia stood before him, gripping his shoulder and looming over him with a terrifying countenance.

“Baby, how could you deceive me like this? How?!”

“I’m sorry, Aunt. Please forgive me…”

“…Is this a mistake?”

Ignoring Louis’s tears, Olivia pressed on, tightening her grip on the child’s shoulder.

“My baby wouldn’t betray me, would he? It must have been a mistake. Right?”

Louis nodded desperately, whimpering.

“It’s just that the chocolate looked so delicious… I’m sorry, I beg your forgiveness…”

“…Okay, good.”

Olivia then gave Louis’s shoulder a pat and chuckled coldly.

“My baby, I’ll forgive you this time. But there won’t be a second chance. I’m sorry that you were given something by someone who despises you. I’m sure she intended to harm you.”

With a blank expression, Olivia wiped the tear stains from Louis’s cheeks.

“My baby, promise me you won’t do this again, okay?”

Louis nodded hastily, and Olivia’s expression softened.

“Now, go study, my dear. You’ll need to stay up all night to catch up on your homework, won’t you? This is all because you’ve been wasting time playing with her instead of studying.”

“…”

“Hurry up and go.”

Louis bit his lip and made his way to the desk, struggling with each step.

~~~~

“…Louis, are you sure you’re getting enough sleep?”

A few days later, when Anastasia visited the palace, she examined Louis’s face with a concerned expression. What was once subtle was now becoming more pronounced. His tiredness was evident, apparent to anyone who looked.

“You seem exhausted. Are you feeling unwell?”

Just as Anastasia was about to reach out and check Louis’s forehead in concern…

Slap!

Louis swiftly struck Anastasia’s hand, startling her with his unexpected hostile reaction.

“Louis…”

“…Don’t touch me, Your Majesty.”

Louis’s tone was unusually sharp as he spoke.

“I’m fine.”

“…”

“It’s fine.”

However, his words were far from convincing.

Just as Anastasia was about to suggest calling for the court doctor…

“Please leave for the day. I need to rest.”

Louis’s refusal was adamant, and Anastasia understood that no toy could sway the child’s resolve at this moment.

“Alright, Louis. It seems you need rest more than play today.”

“…”

“Get some good rest. I’ll take my leave.”

Anastasia struggled to maintain a smile as she turned towards the door and left.

‘…Oh, I almost forgot. I brought the chocolate I received as a gift.’

The realization struck her a moment too late. As Anastasia was turning to leave, she remembered the chocolate.

“Louis, I actually brought you some chocolate…”

“…”

“…Louis?”

A quick glance at the child told her all was not well; his eyes lacked their usual brightness.

With a fearful expression, Anastasia took a tentative step toward Louis.

“Louis, it’s okay…”

Thud!

In that instant, Louis, swaying unsteadily, fell forward.