Until The Real One Shows Up​

“Your Grace, it’s urgent.”

It had been only three hours since Wilhelm returned from his meeting with Alexander.

“The Emperor and Empress have passed away.”

Wilhelm dropped the brush he was holding the moment he heard the words. In front of him lay a painting he had been working on since Ishstabil.

“…What do you mean?”

“While they were traveling by carriage, the horse suddenly went wild…” The servant’s voice trailed off, clearly uneasy about continuing.

“The Emperor died instantly, and the Empress…”

“…”

“Prince Louis was safe, fortunately—he was in a separate carriage.”

Wilhelm stood in stunned silence, disbelief clouding his face.

“No… that can’t be.”

Suddenly, he sprang to his feet. “Prepare a carriage immediately. I’m going to the Imperial Palace.”

“Your Grace, you should wait at the mansion for now—”

“I can’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes.” Wilhelm’s hands trembled as he hurriedly grabbed his coat. “They couldn’t have died like this. It’s impossible.”

Ignoring the servants’ protests, Wilhelm rushed to the Imperial Palace. Word had evidently spread; a crowd of nobles had already gathered in front of the Central Palace. They quickly cleared a path, allowing him to pass with a look of shock and confusion on his face.

Outside Alexander’s room, Wilhelm came upon Duke Barantes, his expression solemn.

“Prince Wilhelm, you’re here…”

“My brother?” Wilhelm’s voice trembled. “Where’s my brother?”

Duke Barantes stayed silent, which only heightened Wilhelm’s anxiety. 

“Where is he? Was my servant speaking nonsense? Answer me, Duke Barantes!” Wilhelm demanded harshly.

The duke lowered his head, his expression even darker, and said nothing. Sensing something deeply wrong, Wilhelm pushed past him and entered the room.

“Older Brother!”

“Wilhelm?” Alexander looked at him, puzzled and seemingly unharmed. Without a second thought, Wilhelm rushed forward and hugged him.

“Brother, you’re alive!” Wilhelm spoke in a relieved voice, almost babbling. “My servant was wrong… He said you had died, that—”

“What are you talking about, Wilhelm?”

Alexander’s voice turned icily cold. Just then, Wilhelm felt something warm and wet on his hand. Alarmed, he pulled it back to find it stained red with blood.

His heart stopped as he looked up at Alexander’s face. It was terribly disfigured, bloodied, and staring at him with a look of indescribable resentment.

“You killed me.”

~~~~

“Ahhh!” Wilhelm jolted upright with a final, panicked gasp. His eyes were bloodshot, and he struggled to catch his breath. He knew he’d awoken from a nightmare, yet he felt as though he was still trapped in its haunting grip.

“Your Majesty,” a startled voice came from his side, snapping him back to the present. Wilhelm turned his head, still panting, to see Anastasia gazing at him with concern.

“Empress?” he murmured, his expression clouded.

“Are you all right?” she asked, her face etched with worry. “I came by to discuss something, but it seems you were in the middle of a nightmare…”

Wilhelm looked at her in silence, his chest still heaving. A vague memory surfaced: her face looked just like this when she found him after he’d collapsed from the love potion. She had been there for him twice now. Strangely, he didn’t feel ashamed, only a deep sense of relief—a peculiar comfort.

“Shall I call the doctor?”

“No,” he said firmly, shaking his head. “It’s nothing. Just… a dream.”

Anastasia remained silent for a moment, her expression unreadable. “Then I’ll take my leave. It doesn’t seem like a good time to talk.”

“…”

“I’ll be back tomorrow.”

He didn’t respond, and she began to rise from her seat. Just as she was about to go, he reached out and grabbed her wrist.

“Ah!” Anastasia gasped, startled by his grip. Wilhelm’s gaze was still cast downward.

“Your Majesty…”

“Don’t go,” he whispered, his voice hoarse and drained of strength. Anastasia looked at him, eyes wide with surprise. His gaze remained fixed downward.

“I don’t want to be alone,” he murmured.

“…”

“Right now, I just… need someone.” 

Only then did Anastasia notice his hand trembling as it held hers. Her resolve started to waver. 

“Please…” he said softly, his voice carrying a childlike vulnerability that tugged at her conscience. 

It was just empathy, she told herself. Compassion for a person in need. 

So… wouldn’t it be alright to stay by his side, just this once?

Embracing the weakening of her own heart, Anastasia sat beside him. Feeling her presence, the tension left his grip, and his hand relaxed. 

She looked at him and gently said, “It must have been a frightening dream.”

“Yes,” Wilhelm replied, managing a faint smile that looked on the verge of breaking. “It was… terrifying.”

“You must be really worn out lately,” Anastasia replied, trying to make light of it. “I often have dreams like that when I’m tired.”

“Is that so?” 

“Yes, so you don’t have to read too much into it.”

A quiet silence settled between them. Wilhelm seemed lost in thought, and Anastasia didn’t interrupt his reflections. 

After some time, he finally spoke again. “I hear you’ve become close to Louis.”

Anastasia turned her gaze toward Wilhelm, meeting his eyes.

“If he keeps staying at the Empress’ Palace, that must mean Louis is fond of you as well.” 

“Ah…” Anastasia nodded, quickly forcing a smile. 

“Yes. Since he hasn’t mentioned Lady Fontaine, it seems their connection wasn’t as strong as I’d thought.”

“I see.” Wilhelm nodded, then asked, “How has he been lately?”

“He still studies, but now he has more time to play and relax. He’s quite talented at drawing—I was really surprised when I saw his work.”

Anastasia added without thinking, “He actually reminds me of you, Your Majesty.”

“…Really?”

“Actually, I’d say his talent surpasses yours, Your Majesty. Even at only six, his skills are remarkable.”

“In that case, I’d like to see it for myself.”

“You should visit the Empress’ Palace,” Anastasia suggested subtly. “Louis said he’d paint my portrait. Your Majesty, please come by.”

Wilhelm didn’t respond immediately, and Anastasia waited quietly for him to speak.

“…Louis,” Wilhelm began, then cautiously asked after a moment, “would he even want to see me?”

“…”

“I’m not sure how he feels about me.”

Anastasia hesitated before replying, “It’s still hard for him, Your Majesty.” 

She phrased it delicately, but Wilhelm understood her real meaning.

“I see.” He gave a bitter laugh. “That’s understandable.”

Anastasia felt uneasy at his resigned response.

She wanted to reassure him. Their relationship was still new and distant, but with time and effort, it could change. Yet, no words seemed to be comforting enough for him at that moment. Instead, Anastasia gently changed the subject.

“You should try to get more rest. You look worn out.”

“You…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll stay here until you fall asleep.”

Anastasia smiled softly, and Wilhelm gazed at her before slowly closing his eyes.

‘How strange.’

With Anastasia by his side, his anxieties faded, replaced by a calm sense of relief. He found it surprising to feel this next to the Empress, more than anyone else. And it shocked him that he’d even asked her to stay. These feelings were unfamiliar to him.

Yet, he didn’t mind it.

In fact, it felt nice.

The dreadful sensation of being dragged down by a huge, lurking shadow—maybe he could shake it off somehow.

~~~~

Anastasia returned to the Imperial Palace only after making sure Wilhelm had fallen fast sleep.

“Did you speak with His Majesty?”

As she returned, Mrs. Rochester inquired, “Did he approve of Countess Fiegel as Louis’s nanny?”

Yes, that was why Anastasia had gone to see him in the first place.

She had been planning to make improvements to the Imperial Palace, starting with the choice of Louis’s nanny. After carefully considering candidates, she chose Countess Fiegel, known for her kind nature. But she couldn’t appoint her without his agreement, so she had planned to explain her decision and seek his approval…

‘I didn’t expect that to happen.’

She wasn’t surprised, as she’d seen it before her regression, but it saddened her. It was painful to see him suffer for something he hadn’t done.

“No, he was busy,” Anastasia said with a faint smile, hiding the truth. “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

However, at dawn the next day, an unexpected incident occurred.