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Chapter 53
“Enter.”
The moment the Crown Prince’s permission came from inside, the children flung the door open and ran in.
“Hyung!”
“Your Highness!”
“I told you not to run.”
Watching them dash in like unbridled colts, Daphne hurried in after them.
They had come to visit a patient—what if they only ended up exhausting him more? She couldn’t help worrying.
Inside the room, Helio greeted them, looking paler than she had expected.
He had said visitors were fine, but just two or three days ago he hadn’t even regained consciousness.
Seeing him like that, Daphne briefly regretted bringing the children. But the thought faded a little when she saw how happy Michael looked.
Michael ran ahead first, pressing himself right up against the bed as he stared at Helio.
Through the open collar of his shirt, tightly wrapped bandages were visible.
Helio lifted his uninjured arm and gently ruffled Michael’s hair.
“You behaved well, didn’t you? You didn’t trouble the Duke and Duchess?”
“Of course! Who do you think I’m the little brother of?”
Michael answered proudly.
And truly, taking care of him hadn’t been difficult at all. Like Jaquet, Michael was a child who was very mindful of others.
A faint smile appeared on Helio’s face at his reply.
In that smile, Daphne could clearly feel how much he cherished Michael.
Standing beside Michael in the same position, Jaquet pressed close to the bed and looked at the bandages.
“Does it hurt a lot?”
For a moment Helio grinned, then he grabbed his arm with exaggerated drama and scrunched up his face.
“Of course. It huuurtsss a lot. So you must be careful, young lady.”
At his words, Jaquet’s face scrunched up too.
“I don’t like pain…”
Seeing her grow serious and trail off, Helio burst into laughter.
“You’ll never get hurt. Your father is incredibly skilled.”
That much was true.
If Jaquet were ever about to get hurt, Theophanes would step in to handle it.
And Daphne was here too.
Watching Helio say something unusually accurate, Daphne nodded.
Helio gently patted Jaquet’s head as well, but soon his brow furrowed as pain seemed to throb from his shoulder.
Even if he was recovering quickly, a patient was still a patient.
Daphne stepped forward.
“Children, now that you’ve seen His Highness is well, we should go. If we stay too long, we’ll only interfere with his recovery.”
The children looked up at Helio with gloomy expressions.
“I’m fine—”
Seeing their faces, Helio hurriedly tried to stop Daphne, but it was useless.
“No. You need to recover quickly. It’s Your Highness who will suffer if you’re away from the capital too long.”
There wasn’t a single flaw in her reasoning, so Helio couldn’t argue.
She was right. The longer he stayed away from the capital, the more disadvantageous it would be for him as Crown Prince.
Though he had been recognized as Crown Prince, there were still two other imperial family members.
Watching his brother fall silent, Michael turned and looked up at Daphne.
“My lady… can’t we stay just a little longer?”
With moist eyes, he pleaded. Daphne’s heart weakened.
She felt as though she were a villain separating brothers.
“That’s right, Mom…”
When Jaquet joined in, Daphne clutched her chest and staggered dramatically.
No one could refuse the adorable sight of two puppy-like children.
In the end, Daphne raised a white flag.
“Then we’ll stay only until a vase is brought for the flowers.”
“Yay—”
Having secured even a little more time, Michael’s face brightened.
“Hyung, Jaquet and I picked these—!”
As Michael chattered while handing the bouquet to Helio, Daphne turned and stepped out.
Outside, a maid was waiting.
“Bring a vase. As slowly as possible.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The maid left to fetch one.
When Daphne reentered, she saw Michael beaming brilliantly.
For such a small child to already have such a perfectly formed face.
No wonder my daughter fell for him…
Michael had looked better thanks to Jaquet, but compared to now, it was nothing.
“My lady.”
“Yes?”
Lost in her thoughts while standing a step behind the children, Daphne lifted her head at Helio’s voice.
“Is something the matter? Do you need anything?”
Helio hesitated.
“I… would like to write a letter.”
“A letter?”
It wasn’t a difficult request.
“Given the circumstances, I may need to stay longer. I should write to my adjutant.”
“I’ll have it prepared.”
That was only proper. Even if other nobles didn’t need to know, the adjutant managing affairs in the capital certainly did.
“So he can plan how to cover for my absence.”
“And.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for taking care of our Michael. I worried because he’s more sensitive to others than he seems. But seeing his expression now, he looks comfortable. I can tell you’ve treated him well.”
“Please thank my daughter more than me. She paid a great deal of attention to Michael.”
“Is that so?”
At that, Helio’s expression turned subtle, as though he were pondering something.
At first Daphne wondered what he was thinking, but instinctively, she understood.
Her expression slowly hardened.
“Your Highness, not yet.”
“Ah, I—”
“If Jaquet wishes it, that’s different. But I have no intention of shackling her from now.”
Faced with Daphne’s firmness, Helio seemed ashamed of his thoughts. He stammered, then lowered his head.
“My apologies.”
“I understand your position. But please don’t drag my daughter into imperial power struggles already.”
Daphne spoke without hesitation.
Even if Jaquet once liked the original male lead, things were different now. Maybe that wouldn’t be the case anymore.
And marriage as a shackle already?
“It seems I do nothing but apologize to you. Very well.”
So much for thinking he was a decent man.
Daphne let out a small sigh to smooth the crease between her brows.
The children began to grow uneasy at the sudden heavy atmosphere.
Before it could worsen, a knock sounded at the door.
“I’ve brought the vase.”
“Enter.”
Though she was the lady of this household, the highest-ranking person here was Crown Prince Helio. Etiquette dictated that he should grant permission.
But wanting to shift the mood, Daphne answered instead, and Helio let it pass.
The maid entered, took the bouquet from Helio, arranged it neatly, and placed it in the vase.
Seeing that, Michael stared at it sadly.
It seemed he understood that meant it was time to leave.
“Michael, come again tomorrow.”
At Helio’s words, Michael’s face brightened.
“Okay!”
Watching the heartwarming scene, Daphne let out a small sigh.
She felt guilty for having raised her voice at a patient.
“Please rest and focus on your recovery. If not now, when will you get the chance to rest?”
Helio made a strange expression.
“Just switch your mind off and rest. That’s what patients are supposed to do.”
Seeing Daphne lecture him as though he were a child, Helio burst into laughter and nodded.
“Children, let’s go.”
“Yesss—”
Holding one child’s hand in each of hers—a sight that naturally brought a smile—Daphne grinned.
“Thank you, my lady. For taking care of Michael.”
“It’s only natural. Children are meant to be cared for, looked after, and loved.”
With a slightly haughty tone, Daphne led the children out.
Helio paused for a moment as he watched her go, then broke into laughter.
This time, he wasn’t smiling at the heartwarming image of the children holding hands.
He was smiling at Daphne.
