TBRFC 11

“Is the Empress Consort openly disregarding the Crown Prince now?”

Watching the procession leaving the estate, Sharon Abner stroked her chin.

“Does that mean she has completely taken control of the Emperor?” Wendell added his opinion.

Sharon Abner nodded.

“Indeed. It likely means she no longer needs to watch anyone’s face. For the Crown Prince, that also means his standing has diminished.”

Prince Tian’s status was, by law, higher than that of Empress Consort Karin.

But publicly, their relationship appeared completely reversed.

Empress Karin openly scolded the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince, in turn, seemed intimidated by her.

It had been the same even when they left the reception room earlier.

Karin was surrounded by more than ten maids and attendants who served her.

In contrast, Tian had not a single attendant beside him—truly not one.

“If things continue like this, the Crown Prince will have a harder time. With the Empress Consort acting that way, no one else will treat him properly either.”

“Do you intend to intervene, my lady?” Wendell asked, frowning.

“Out of personal feeling? I do owe a debt to the former Empress, and I do feel pity for the young Crown Prince.”

“Then—”

“But sentiment is sentiment. It is not a justification.”

Sharon drew the curtain shut decisively.

Then she returned to the sofa in the reception room and sat down.

“Money, power, or something beyond that. Without a clear form of gain, it is better not to act, Wendell.”

Wendell nodded.

“…The Crown Prince is unfortunate.”

“There is no helping it. Pity and incompetence are separate matters.”

With a small gesture, Sharon Abner signaled the servants to remove the teacups and tea set that Empress Karin had used.

“The Crown Prince is too soft. He doesn’t even fully understand what is happening to him, nor does he have the courage or drive to fix the problem.”

“….”

“Even if I stepped in, it would be difficult to change things with that kind of disposition. If he has no will, what can anyone else do?”

Wendell nodded silently.

“In that sense, something is quite interesting.”

He then paused and looked at Sharon.

She was lost in thought.

“What is it?” he asked.

“That child. Annelia.”

Wendell nodded.

“She is quite intelligent for her age.”

“Intelligent, yes. Almost strangely so.”

Sharon tilted her gaze slightly.

“And she resembles someone.”

Wendell slowly processed her words.

“…Resembles? What do you mean?”

Sharon Abner did not answer. Instead, she looked out the window.

The faint smile that had lingered on her lips had already disappeared.

“Ah?”

After seeing the Crown Prince off, I was about to leave the room when I stepped back.

Two people were standing in front of the door.

“Good morning, Lady Annelia!”

“Good morning, little lady…!”

Both were dressed as servants.

Their hands were full of miscellaneous items.

The smaller one, with round eyes, hurriedly placed her basket down first.

“I’m Miel, from now on I’ll be serving Lady Annelia! It’s our first time meeting while you’re awake, right?”

I stared blankly at her, and Miel continued.

“I actually saw you last night. When you were asleep.”

My eyes slowly widened.

So she was the one who had kept the room warm all night.

The other attendant stepped forward to introduce herself.

“I-I’m Soya. I’ll be taking care of you together with Miel this time…”

Unlike Miel, Soya had a calm impression—slender build, freckles on the bridge of her nose.

I bowed politely to the two very different women.

“Hello, big sisters.”

Miel’s mouth fell open.

Soya muttered, slightly red-faced, “So cute…”

I cautiously asked,

“Um… what brings you here?”

Then I took a small step back, suddenly anxious.

“Am I not allowed to go outside…?”

“Huh?”

“D-Did Lord Sharon Abner say I shouldn’t wander around alone and must always go with Wendell…?”

Now that I thought about it, that was true.

I had only arrived here yesterday.

It wouldn’t make sense for me to freely roam the estate.

While I was thinking, the two exchanged glances and quickly shook their heads.

“N-no, that’s not it!”

“We just brought things you might need, and we were also planning to take you to the dining hall…”

“Things I need?”

A cool breeze drifted through the corridor.

Soya pulled out a small child-sized indoor coat from the basket and placed it over my shoulders.

Her movements were so practiced I was startled, but I soon looked into the baskets.

They were filled with toys and clothes.

And not just a few.

Two baskets of toys, three baskets of clothes.

I closed my mouth in shock.

Miel said brightly, “We should’ve come earlier, but we didn’t know you were awake. We’ve been busy since dawn, actually. We couldn’t leave such a cute guest in a gloomy annex, so everyone helped clean up…”

“M-Miel, th-this isn’t the time for that explanation…”

Miel shut her mouth awkwardly.

“Ah, right! Sorry!”

Then she quickly lifted me into her arms.

“You must be hungry, right? Let’s go eat right away. Soya, please take the luggage inside.”

Soya lifted all five baskets effortlessly and went into the room.

Miel looked down at me with a smile.

“By the way, Lady Annelia, why did you think you’re not allowed to leave your room?”

I hesitated.

Because… people would be uncomfortable if I wandered around.

At least that was how it had been in the Longton estate.

Just as I was thinking that, Miel’s gentle voice reached my ears.

“You can do whatever you want here, Lady Annelia. As long as it’s not dangerous.”

I blinked at her.

“What the master meant by telling you to be accompanied is simply that you shouldn’t get lost or get hurt.”

She softly patted my shoulder.

The coat Soya had placed on me made everything feel warm and soft.

When Soya returned after setting down the baskets, Miel brightened the mood again.

“Alright, shall we go eat?”

For some reason, I felt strange as I blinked.

Miel carried me and walked toward the dining hall.

My first meal in the east wing was uncomfortable.

My stomach felt oddly unsettled, and I couldn’t properly eat.

“Miel…!”

And the stares from the kitchen staff peeking out toward me made things worse.

“Meunière! She seems to like the meunière—put it closer!”

“Meunière?”

“Or maybe lamb mushroom soup!”

The head chef was a large middle-aged man wearing an enormous chef’s hat, frantically gesturing toward me.

“Yes, that one! Bring the plate closer!”

Soya obediently followed his instructions.

“L-Lady Annelia, please try this. It’s veal, very tender—you can swallow it after just two bites.”

“Y-yes…”

I awkwardly reached my fork toward the veal dish.

But I slowly pulled it back again.

“…She’s not eating that either?!”

“Are you sure you cooked this properly?!”

“What do you mean? You smelled it too—it was practically the best dish of my life!”

Voices erupted from the kitchen.

I stared down at the extravagant dishes with a heavy feeling.

It was my first meal in this estate.

I wanted to appear like a child who wasn’t picky, to avoid causing trouble…

But I couldn’t eat properly at all.

“My stomach feels nauseous…”

The discomfort twisting inside me made it hard to swallow anything.

“Lady Annelia, a-are you sick…?”

Soya looked worriedly at my face.

Miel, pacing anxiously, whispered to Soya.

“Should we call the butler just in case?”

“Y-yes, that might be best.”

I quickly turned toward them.

“W-wait, I’m really not sick—!”

But Miel had already left the dining hall.