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Chapter 45
Emperor Otto frowned.
“You’re mistaken about something. Who would blame me for neglecting an illegitimate child?”
“I would.”
“What?”
“That’s too much, Your Majesty. That child is your own. How could you have turned a blind eye until it got to such a state?”
I couldn’t help but criticize Otto as I discussed this matter.
Madam Noivan could be blamed, but the first real offender was him.
But I figured I should step back before Joachim started frothing at the mouth.
I let out a short sigh and changed the topic.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of Princess Marie from now on.”
“Why are you going so far?”
“She’s my sister. You’ll allow it, won’t you?”
I stared straight at Emperor Otto. He flinched, twitched his lips, and eventually sighed.
“Let the princess do as she pleases. Madam Noivan will be punished as well.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ve changed recently.”
Just as I was about to turn and leave, a voice from behind stopped me.
“Marrying a prince who was supposed to be executed, and now bringing home an illegitimate child you never cared about in life…”
“……”
“It feels like my daughter has become someone completely different.”
“Maybe a little kinder?”
I turned my head, smiled casually, and replied.
“I told you—I’ve changed a bit. I prefer a simple countryside to extravagant ceremonies, and a tiara studded with jewels feels a bit too much.”
“……”
“And my disinterest in the throne still stands, Your Majesty.”
“You… you’re doing this because of that…!”
Finally, the Emperor looked as if he understood.
He had finally realized that I was deliberately stepping back from the line of succession—finally! Not that it had anything to do with Marie, but I was almost moved to tears.
“Of course, it’s true my husband was too handsome, and Marie was indeed pitiful.”
With that, I left Solar Palace, leaving a fresh smile behind.
Thankfully, things had ended smoothly, contrary to Joachim’s worries.
As soon as I returned to René Palace, I gave an order.
“Move Princess Marie’s room. Right next to mine.”
Joachim, who was waiting to greet me, asked in surprise,
“Did His Majesty approve?”
“Yes.”
“…Even so, next door is a bit…”
He muttered as if it was too much. Friedrich nudged him playfully, signaling him to stop.
Joachim sealed his lips but couldn’t hide his envy.
“There’s plenty of sunlight there.”
When he muttered that casually, both of them immediately understood.
I wanted to make up for all the time Marie had spent deprived of sunlight.
No matter how long I stayed at René Palace, I wanted to give her as much as possible.
Marie, hearing the news, moved rooms obediently, still a little dazed, and gradually began to recover.
“Oh, look at your wrist. Now, say ‘ah.’”
“I can eat by myself…”
“You’re the patient, so I’m helping. Say ‘ah.’”
With nothing else to do, I spent quite a bit of time in Marie’s room. Perhaps because of that, her recovery accelerated.
And even…
“Marie, what’s the matter?”
She came to find me first! I was delighted, but worry followed immediately.
“Are you sick? Did something happen?”
“N-no. It’s just…”
Marie hesitated.
“I… I wanted to see Your Highness.”
“Oh my, I was just going to take a nap. Do you want to join me?”
I realized a nap might not be the most pleasant memory for Marie and almost regretted offering.
Unexpectedly, Marie nodded with a red face. I smiled and opened my arms.
“Come here.”
She ran and buried herself fully in my arms.
Unlike Friedrich, whose head barely reached my chest, I could completely wrap Marie in my embrace.
I patted her and gauged her size.
“You’ve gained a little weight since last week.”
“Is it… unsightly? I’ll eat less from now on.”
“What nonsense? You need to gain more. Are you eating properly?”
Meeting my gaze, Marie’s eyes flickered, then she nodded.
I patted her head in approval and went to bed with her.
“How’s your room? Plenty of sunlight?”
“Yes, it’s wonderful.”
Marie shyly added,
“Thank you.”
Oh, she’s adorable. I smiled and kissed her cheek lightly.
“When you’re fully recovered, I’ll assign a teacher to you. You need to learn to read, court etiquette, law… there’s a mountain of things to learn.”
I had to prepare her so she could survive on her own, even if I wasn’t around.
“No need to be scared. Lessons will start once you’re fully healed.”
“I’ll do my best. So I’m not ashamed in front of Your Highness…”
Marie hesitated, then spoke carefully.
“I want to be your sister.”
“Oh my, you’re already not ashamed,” I said, startled.
“I’m going to teach you so that even if I’m not around, you can live well on your own.”
Marie’s eyes paused at that. I quickly tried to correct myself.
“…Um.”
Marie spoke before I could.
“Could I just be your maid instead?”
“Maid?”
“Elza said being a maid is a prestigious position only for nobility.”
Indeed, unlike ordinary servants, a maid was highly respected. Even marriage prospects were better.
René’s maids endured extreme hardships, so few lasted long…
“Then could I do it too? Of course, I’m not ready to serve Her Highness properly yet…”
“It’s not impossible, but I’d rather you just rest and do nothing at René Palace.”
“I just want to do something for Your Highness.”
Marie smiled cautiously, sincerely.
I watched her sparkling smile, then lightly stroked her cheek.
“You may not become a formal maid, but you can serve by my side.”
“That’s what I want to do.”
“Good. But I don’t keep feeble maids. You must recover quickly, understand?”
Marie nodded vigorously. I paused briefly, then decided to let her do as she wished.
Having a goal might help her recovery.
“Anything else you need? Don’t be shy, tell me.”
“…Well, then.”
Marie spoke cautiously.
“I want something.”
Joachim Rommel hadn’t been in a good mood lately.
Being relegated from slave prince to the princess’s steward… well, in the end, he got to serve by Her Highness’s side as second in command, so he didn’t mind.
“…But I feel like I’ve been pushed into third place recently.”
He watched Marie with René as they painted a portrait together, looking envious.
Apparently, Princess Marie had asked René to hang her portrait in her room.
“Why my portrait?”
“So I can see you even when I can’t see Your Highness…”
Hearing this, Joachim groaned.
Damn, I should’ve said that first.
“She’s so cute and clever, isn’t she? Luckily, she’s started letting her guard down a little with me.”
René’s stories about Marie increased noticeably.
Joachim felt relieved it wasn’t about Friedrich.
“I suggested we paint together, and she loved it.”
In the end, he even managed to get such a favor from Her Highness.
If Princess Marie had been born a boy, she would’ve been a fierce rival… maybe it’s for the best.
Joachim considered asking Marie for some guidance and began to imitate.
“Then give me one too. Your Highness’s portrait.”
“For what?”
“So I can see you whenever I want, too.”
“Goodness. Fine.”
He was briefly happy at the simple permission.
When the words he expected didn’t come, he looked at René. She frowned in disbelief and scolded him:
“…You haven’t forgotten that day was for painting my wedding portrait, have you?”
True. Even admitting his greed, remembering the silent, victorious smile of the slave prince beside him still made him angry.
