TSHL 23

Chapter 23

You’ve lived as the perfect duchess all this time. Even if you only took that position to protect us, you truly devoted yourself to it.”
“I’ve always been the type to do something properly once I’ve started. Sometimes… maybe a bit too much.”
…Looking back now, I don’t even know why I got so obsessed.
All I had to do was live as the duchess on the surface, just as Diana intended.

Even after seven years, Ken’s situation still weighed on me.
I believe his running away was caused by my excessive devotion in the beginning.

“And I really did like your family, you know. I thought we could all live happily together.”
Ironically enough, I meant that at the time.
I never once desired Diana’s place—but I did want to stay close to the family she’d left behind.
To share in their sorrow, to remember her together… I just wanted that kind of bond.
That impatience was my mistake. I blame my naïve self for it.

“It’s not too late, Mother,” Nick said.
“We can still live happily again. We can cherish each other and move forward. I’ll make up for everything I couldn’t do for you before.”

“No,” I said, rising to my feet. “I want to go back to being your aunt, Nick Whidrian.”

I stood up because it seemed he wouldn’t stop trying to persuade me.

“If you came here just to see your aunt, I’ll always welcome you. But if you came to find your mother… I’m sorry, but I can’t greet you as such. Go back now. Your father will worry.”

I deliberately spoke coldly, then turned toward the counter.
That was when Nick slowly rose from his seat and spoke again.

“I’ll make you change your mind, Mother. For seven years, you’ve already been another mother to me. A child can’t just abandon their parent.”

“……”

“I’m not going back. It’s fine if you don’t welcome me. I’ll find a way… to convince you. And then, I’ll return to the duchy with you.”

“……”

“I’ll just get some fresh air.”

He said that—and then bolted out of the shop.

“……”

I could only sigh, watching his retreating figure disappear down the street.

Nick really didn’t go back.
After his walk, he tied on an apron and started helping out at my shop from that very day.

At first, it made me uneasy having him there—I was worried the Duke might come looking for me.
But as time passed, the Duke never appeared.
If Nick had managed to find me, it would’ve been easy enough for him to do the same.

So maybe… he was willing to grant the divorce quietly.
Once divorced, we’d be strangers—no reason for him to visit or care.

That’s why I didn’t drive Nick away when he insisted on helping.
He seemed attached to me, and I didn’t want to push him away too harshly.

Sometimes, I even gave him tasks.
Being a young man, he was useful when something heavy needed moving.

But I still had no intention of going back—and Nick needed to understand that.

“Mother.”

One day, while I was working, Nick’s voice came from behind me. I turned around.
He stood there, his brown hair—so much like Diana’s—framed by a dark brown apron.

“I tried making tarts just the way you taught me. Would you like to try one?”

“…All right. Let’s see.”

I had once shown him the process, thinking it might be useful if he wanted to help sell tarts to customers.
Nick had memorized every movement, every explanation—and had tried it on his own.

He proudly presented a plate of tarts. I picked the best-looking one and took a bite.
The creamy, tangy sweetness of the cheese filling spread through my mouth—a simple but delightful flavor.

“…You’ve done very well. Once it cools a bit more, this would be good enough to sell.”

It hadn’t cooled completely yet, but for a first attempt, it was impressive.
I could tell he’d carefully applied everything I’d taught him.

When I praised him, he looked overjoyed, asking, “Really?”
I smiled.

“Now you’ll be able to make tarts on your own, even back home.”

“……”

His bright smile faded. He let out a soft sigh.

“Mother… you still haven’t changed your mind about not coming home, have you?”

“I love you, Nick. But that decision won’t change.”

“Mother, just once more—”

Before he could finish persuading me again—

Creak.

The door opened, and someone familiar stepped inside.

“Arwin?”

It had been a long time since I’d seen him. Arwin walked into the shop.

Nick stood behind the counter, watching his mother speak with the unfamiliar man.
“It’s been so long, Arwin…” he heard her bright voice say.

He was startled—he’d never seen her smile so warmly at anyone before.
Because he wanted to make her proud, Nick had volunteered to mind the counter.
Meanwhile, his mother sat with the man, chatting over coffee.

Who is he?

Nick’s eyes were full of curiosity.
Many customers came and went, but her attitude toward this one felt… different. Special.

As he observed them, a strange sense of familiarity washed over him.
He felt he’d seen that man somewhere before.

The man’s appearance stood out—dazzling silver hair, striking features, and clear blue eyes.
None of those were common in the Empire.

He seemed noble, even regal—but this was Lorencia, a place where young nobles rarely lived.

Then, suddenly, the memory clicked.

“…Ah.”

He’d seen a face like that before—in a portrait.

The third prince’s portrait.
The prince who had gone missing when Nick was still a child.

Nick had never met him in person, as the prince had vanished soon after his debutante ball.
He’d only seen him once—in that portrait seeking his whereabouts.

And this man looked remarkably similar.

Could he really be… the Third Prince?

Nick wanted desperately to find out, but his mother was still deep in conversation with the man.
He couldn’t interrupt.

Then the door opened again. A group of regular ladies entered the gallery café.

“Welcome.”

Nick took their orders, while his mother stood and approached the counter, smiling warmly.

“Nick, thank you for minding the counter. I’ll take over—go sit for a bit.”

“…Yes.”

She went behind the counter to prepare coffee, and Nick stepped out into the gallery hall among the tables and paintings.

That was when he noticed another man staring straight at him.

A stranger—his hood pulled up.

Nick could feel those sharp eyes fixed on him.

After a tense silence, the man rose and walked out.

Nick hesitated, then ran after him.

“Wait—please, just a moment!”

Nick burst through the gallery doors.
The hooded man was already walking away down the street.

At Nick’s call, the man stopped and turned.
Even beneath the hood, Nick could feel the weight of his gaze.

“Ahem.”

Nick cleared his throat and hurried up to him.

He had just remembered what he wanted to ask.

“I have something to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Ah—well, actually, it’s more like I want to ask something…”

He trailed off.

He’d meant to ask about the man’s identity, but it felt too blunt to say it aloud.
And maybe he was mistaken—after all, what were the chances of the Third Prince appearing here, of all places?

As he hesitated, the man gave a small, amused smile.

“Why?” he said lightly.
“Do I look like the Third Prince to you?”