Until The Real One Shows Up​

“I’ll follow the Empress’ will.”

“Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

With a shocked expression, Olivia clung to Louis, exclaiming, “What do you mean by this… Your Highness? Surely you misspoke just now, didn’t you?”

“…”

“No, it can’t be! Your Highness, how could you treat me this way? Are you really planning to betray me?” she cried, but Louis stayed silent. 

“You’re choosing to abandon me, aren’t you? You’re going to leave me for the Empress!”

“Guards!”

Unable to stand it any longer, Anastasia summoned the guards. They quickly entered Louis’ room.

“Did you call, Your Majesty?”

“Escort Lady Fontaine out immediately.”

“Let me go! How dare you lay a hand on me!”

Naturally, Olivia resisted with all her strength. Anastasia had hoped to avoid such a scene, at least in front of Louis.

‘But even if it costs her life, Lady Fontaine will never leave this room willingly.’

She was remarkably resilient.

“Your Highness, don’t do this to me! Your Highness, Your Highness!”

As her screams echoed while the guards dragged her away, Anastasia rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

‘I didn’t expect to expose a recovering child to such a scene…’

Anger stirred within her once more. Though Anastasia tried to keep it hidden, she lowered her hand from her forehead and turned to look at Louis, who appeared somewhat blank.

‘…What should I say?’

A bit uncertain, Anastasia softened her expression and took a seat beside him. 

“How long have you been awake?”

“…”

Louis shook his head rather than answering, signaling that he wasn’t inclined to respond. Seeing this, Anastasia didn’t press further—his answer wasn’t all that important.

“How are you feeling? Are you alright?”

This time, he nodded. Relieved, Anastasia smiled and instructed Selene, “Fetch the court doctor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Selene left the room, leaving Anastasia and Louis alone together. 

Not sure what to say next, Anastasia asked him gently, “Would you rather be alone? Should I step out?”

This time, he shook his head. Glad to be allowed to stay, Anastasia pondered what else she could say.

“…”

But the worry didn’t last long. Suddenly, driven by an uncontrollable urge, Anastasia wrapped Louis tightly in her arms.

Louis felt himself freeze in embarrassment, but Anastasia only held him closer.

“…I’m sorry.”

Her words, choked with tears, drained the tension from his body. Without realizing it, Anastasia began to cry, her voice trembling as she repeated herself.

“I’m sorry, Louis… I should have noticed… I’m so sorry.”

Pausing, Anastasia looked at him with a pained expression. Louis, puzzled, asked, “Why…is Her Majesty apologizing?”

He didn’t understand. His collapse wasn’t her fault; if anything, it was his own. Despite knowing he’d pushed himself too far, he couldn’t bring himself to confess the truth.

“I lied. I… I wasn’t really okay.”

Since Her Majesty’s visits had reduced his study time and made him stay up late, he hadn’t dared ask her to stop coming. He was afraid.

If he told her, he feared she might never visit again—no more unfamiliar toys, games he’d never known, or enchanting stories. Her presence was like a splash of color in his otherwise monotonous life of study upon study. 

He knew that without Anastasia, his world would lose this newfound color. Not wanting to let it go, he hid the truth and pretended everything was fine.

“Don’t cry. It’s my fault.”

“No… It’s not Louis’ fault,” Anastasia replied, her voice thick with emotion, and then, she began to cry even harder. The sight made Louis panic.

“I… I was a terrible friend. I was just so excited to play with you, Louis… I didn’t realize how hard it was on you… It’s all my fault. I’m so sorry.”

“No, it’s not…” Louis murmured as he pulled back, looking at her tear-streaked face.

She cried with her eyes tightly shut, almost like a child. 

“I thought adults didn’t cry… but I guess that’s not true.”

“Who told you that? Was it Olivia?”

Curse that Olivia, Anastasia thought to herself as she kept sniffling.

Louis watched her for a moment, then reached out gently. 

“Ah…!” Anastasia looked at him, startled by the warmth of his small hand on her cheek.

With a serious expression, Louis began wiping away her tears.

“Don’t cry.”

“…”

“If you cry, Goddess Rosenia won’t give you a birthday present.” 

Hearing that, Anastasia couldn’t help but smile, but Louis frowned. 

“Don’t even smile. You’ll get hurt if you cry and laugh at the same time.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Just stay still.”

Following Louis’ instructions, Anastasia looked at him without crying or smiling as he continued carefully wiping her tears. She watched him for a moment and then asked, “Are you sure you don’t mind coming to the Empress’ Palace with me?”

“Yes,” Louis replied softly. “Since I don’t have a nanny anymore, Your Majesty will be my nanny.”

“Ah….”

“Did you already change your mind?”

“Oh, no! Of course not!” she quickly assured him, then quietly added, “I’m so glad you woke up safely, Louis.”

“…”

“I was really worried.”

After a moment of silence, Louis asked, “Did you take care of me?”

“Well… how should I put it…” Anastasia answered awkwardly. “I stayed by your side the whole time.”

“Why?”

“Because you were sick, Louis.”

“There are plenty of people who could’ve done that.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Nursing is a lot of work. Why didn’t you ask one of your servants?”

“It didn’t feel like work at all,” Anastasia replied firmly, as if the thought hadn’t even crossed her mind.

“I just wanted to be the first one to see you wake up, Louis.”

“…”

“I thought I’d feel at ease if I saw you as soon as possible.” 

Her words sounded so genuine that Louis found himself at a loss. That look she had… it was almost motherly. He’d noticed it on her face a few times before, but today, it was more pronounced.

‘Why is she being so kind to me?’ 

He couldn’t make sense of it. Why did she look at him that way? Why was she so worried about him? After all, he’d thought she disliked him.

‘Or maybe…’

Watching her struggle to hold back her emotions, Louis felt his thoughts swirl with doubt. 

‘Could it be that she doesn’t hate me?’

Anastasia’s behavior had been entirely different from Olivia’s warnings—she neither despised him, nor tried to harm him, nor asked anything of him. She simply cared for him, as if he really were her cherished nephew.

This wasn’t a new suspicion; it had been lingering in his mind for some time.

“Louis, look at this. Isn’t it funny?”

Watching her laugh like a child over a silly, awkward doll, he’d once wondered with an expressionless face, ‘Does Her Majesty actually enjoy being with me?’

Her every action seemed too natural, too sincere to be an act.

‘Maybe… maybe she even likes me a little.’

But if that were true, it would mean Olivia had been lying to him all along.

‘Who am I supposed to trust?’

He was confused, but his own feelings confused him even more.

From that moment on, Anastasia became undeniably dearer to him. In truth, it was strange that he hadn’t forced her away, even though he’d prepared himself to study alone late into the night. They’d somehow become friends by chance, but if he’d truly wanted to push her away, he could have. Olivia had trained him well to be ruthless when necessary.

Olivia believed that Anastasia kept visiting the Imperial Palace despite his repeated rejections, but that wasn’t the case. He’d never completely turned her away. Even if he had, he knew Anastasia would probably keep coming back, and he understood this—even if he pretended not to.

The truth was, he enjoyed observing Anastasia more than the games they played together. There was something about the Empress, who always spoke kindly to him, who smiled when she looked at him, and whose gaze was warm and caring. He liked it.

He tried to ignore these feelings, but he couldn’t avoid the truth.

“I’ll take care of Louis until a new nanny is found. What do you think?”

At those words, he felt a desire to follow her—and he saw it as a chance. Perhaps Olivia was the one deceiving him.

“I…”

Maybe everything he’d believed until now was a lie.

He wanted to find out who was telling him the truth.

“I’ll follow the Empress’ will.”

Who really loves him?