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Chapter 29
“What’s going on?”
“Well, um…”
The maid hesitated, clearly aware of my presence as an outsider, before finally answering.
“His Highness the Crown Prince can’t find the crayon of the color he wants, and he’s been crying nonstop. We tried bringing him other yellow crayons, but he insists they’re not the right one.”
“I see…”
The Empress’s expression dimmed faintly.
“Duchess, I feel sorry to leave you like this after inviting you here, but it seems I must go to the Crown Prince.”
“That’s all right with me.”
If news had reached this far, it meant the attendants at the Crown Prince’s palace had utterly failed to calm him down.
“Or perhaps you’d like to come with me to see him?”
“With you?”
“Yes. Considering that the Crown Prince even allowed you to use his pet name, it seems he’s quite fond of you.”
I blinked at the sudden suggestion, then nodded.
By the time we reached the Crown Prince’s palace, the sound of a child crying grew louder.
Frederick was flailing his arms and legs on a chair, sobbing loudly.
“My yewwow oneee!”
“We brought another yellow crayon, please, Your Highness, stop crying.”
“That’s not my yewwow!”
The nanny tried everything to soothe him, but the Crown Prince refused to budge.
The other maids began searching every corner of the room, desperate to find the yellow crayon he wanted.
“That’s not my yewwow oneee!”
When the nanny saw the Empress, she bowed deeply.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
I stood back as the Empress addressed him.
“M-Mother…”
“This is no way for a Crown Prince to behave. How many times have I told you to carry yourself with dignity?”
“…But…”
The Empress frowned.
Frederick hiccuped as he glanced nervously at her face.
“Stop crying, Crown Prince.”
Her chilly scolding made Frederick rub at his eyes, but soon his shoulders started shaking again.
“Uwaaah!”
He burst into tears once more.
“Crown Prince…”
The Empress started to reach out to him but hesitated and pulled her hand back.
There was something—some emotion—flickering behind her stern expression.
I hesitated, then took a small step forward.
“Your Highness Frederick, it’s an honor to see you again.”
“Hic… Duchess…?”
He looked around.
“Where’s big brother?”
Ah, he’s looking for Fey again as soon as he sees me.
How endearing.
I hoped he’d continue growing up to be devoted to his favorite person.
“He didn’t come with me today.”
He pouted, so I quickly made a suggestion.
“Would you like to visit the ducal estate sometime to see Fey?”
“Can I go to the ducal house?”
“Of course! Though you’ll have to tell us ahead of time.”
“’Kay!”
As soon as I redirected his attention, Frederick stopped crying.
I mouthed to the nanny to hand me the yellow crayon she was holding.
Holding it in one hand, I exaggeratedly examined it, making sure Frederick was watching.
“Frederick, do you know something?”
“What is it?”
“I just realized… this yellow crayon looks exactly like Fey’s eye color.”
Frederick’s round eyes widened even further.
His gaze locked onto the crayon in my hand.
That should take care of the “missing yellow crayon” problem.
A fine little fanboy, indeed.
Feeling a strange sense of camaraderie, I affectionately ruffled his hair and stood up. Immediately, I felt the intense gazes of everyone around us.
They looked at me like I’d just performed a miracle. It sent chills down my back.
…I just talked to him. That’s all.
Feeling uncomfortably admired, I returned to the Empress’s quarters.
The maids there quickly served a new tea.
This one was as sweet in taste as it was fragrant—it made me want to share a cup with Fey. I’d have to ask later what kind of tea it was.
“I heard from Lady Mimael, but seeing it myself confirms it—you truly handle the Crown Prince well.”
“I only talked to him.”
The Empress’s eyes curved softly in amusement.
“You’re the only person who has ever calmed the Crown Prince down with just conversation.”
I smiled faintly and looked down at my teacup.
On the pinkish surface of the tea, I could see reflected images of the maids and nanny trying to soothe the Crown Prince earlier.
They were adults, but still subordinates who served the young royal—no wonder they struggled to handle his stubbornness.
The Empress, on the other hand, had been strict.
I recalled her stern voice commanding Frederick to act like a proper Crown Prince as I lifted the teacup to my lips.
“He may be my own child, but even I find him difficult to manage. Sometimes I miss the days when he was just a baby who did nothing but cry.”
I’d heard the phrase “the terrible threes,” but now I understood it truly transcended cultures.
“…He is destined to rule the Empire one day, and yet I worry—when will he ever become the perfect sovereign?”
That’s when it hit me again—she truly was the Empress of this great empire.
Proud of her realm, yet anxious that her son might not grow into the ruler it needed.
She really was a good Empress.
“His Highness will grow up well.”
In Silent Night, Frederick was the perfect Crown Prince—respected and adored by all, exactly what his mother envisioned.
“You really believe that?”
“Yes. From an adult’s perspective, he may seem frustrating, but an adult’s expectations can’t align with a child’s pace. He’s still learning about the world.”
You can’t force a child to match an adult’s standards.
“For now, we just have to believe he’ll grow steadily in his own time.”
Until he learns and matures through experience.
“You seem to truly believe in the Crown Prince—something even I sometimes fail to do.”
I worried that I might have overstepped, but thankfully, a gentle smile formed on her lips.
Seeing no displeasure, I breathed an inward sigh of relief.
“Different perspectives… hmm.”
The Empress seemed lost in thought. I quietly lifted my teacup again.
Lucas set down his quill mid-document.
By now, Helen should have dropped by at least once—smiling brightly, suggesting they do something with Fey.
But she hadn’t appeared at all.
Since she’d forgotten to tell him she was going somewhere, he knew nothing of her whereabouts.
Still, unaware of that, Lucas glared at the door.
As time passed, his eyes remained fixed on the documents, but all his senses were focused sharply toward the hallway.
Then—footsteps. Approaching.
There she is.
A faint smile touched his lips, but it vanished as quickly as it came.
“My Lord, pardon the intrusion.”
When Gregor entered, Lucas’s gaze narrowed.
“Why are you here?”
Gregor blinked, looking utterly bewildered—as if he’d just been hit with an axe.
“Uh… should I leave and come back later?”
“…No. Don’t do anything unnecessary.”
“Yessir.”
Gregor instantly realized—his lord was in a very bad mood.
“Here are the documents that need your review.”
“Leave them there.”
Gregor nodded and turned to go, but the Duke’s voice stopped him.
“Gregor.”
What is Helen doing right now…?
“…Never mind. You’ve done well.”
Swallowing back the question, Lucas dismissed him. Alone again in his study, he lifted his quill.
She’ll come soon enough.
If something had happened, someone would have told him.
He didn’t yet know that everyone assumed Helen had already informed him herself—so no one said a word.
It was time to return.
“Thank you for having me today, Your Majesty.”
The Empress, though she didn’t need to, personally came to see me off.
“I also enjoyed our time together. Thanks to you, I had a moment to reflect on Frederick.”
“His Highness will surely grow up splendidly.”
Spoken like a reader who’d read Silent Night multiple times and could guarantee it.
“Thank you. I suppose I must believe that too.”
She truly was a good mother and a fine Empress.
My lips twitched with a small smile.
“Let’s have moments like this again sometime.”
“I’ll be looking forward to your next invitation.”
I lifted my skirts in a final curtsy and was just about to step into the carriage—
When the Empress spoke once more.
“Oh, by the way—if I’m not mistaken, your son’s birthday is coming up soon, isn’t it? Has he mentioned anything he’d like as a gift?”
