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Chapter 6
“Hello, Duke.”
Heinox’s face, as he sat in his office reading documents, was shining again today.
‘Isn’t it uncomfortable to dress like that at home?’
He looked as if he were heading to a banquet.
‘It’s not flashy, but…’
There was a strangely refined atmosphere about him.
Dark navy pants, a vest with small gold buttons, and underneath, a white shirt. On top of that, a deep green emerald pinned neatly.
It wasn’t a large or overly flashy gem, but its value was surely astronomical.
The Tanjerrik Ducal House had that kind of wealth, and Heinox was a noble to his very bones.
‘Meanwhile, his daughter just got out of bed and her cheeks are about to sag… must be nice.’
As I grumbled inwardly, Heinox pointed to the sofa with his eyes.
“Sit there.”
“O-kay.”
He knew how hard it was for me to climb onto that sofa last time, yet he told me to sit again. Clearly, he had no consideration at all.
“I heard today is your first lesson.”
“Huff, huff. That’s right.”
“How was it?”
Without wasting words, Heinox got straight to the point.
After barely climbing onto the sofa using all my strength, I caught my breath and answered.
“It was good.”
“What was?”
“The numbers were good, what I learned was good, and the teacher too…”
“That’s unusual. Not many children like Dikal.”
Well, that made sense. Dikal was big and looked like a bear, so he could be scary. But I wasn’t really a child.
“That’s something only kids say.”
“Kids? Aren’t you one?”
Heinox asked as if it was ridiculous.
‘Ah right. I’m four.’
“I-I’m different from them…”
“How are you different?”
At his sudden question, I racked my brain.
‘What should I say to get back to my room?’
The longer I stayed silent, the more his eyes narrowed. In panic, I blurted out anything.
“I-I’m a Tanjerrik!”
‘Of all things to say…’
I had confidently said something so obvious.
He’s definitely going to look dumbfounded—
“I see. That’s right.”
‘Huh?’
Surprisingly, there was a smile on Heinox’s lips.
“You are the legitimate daughter of the Tanjerrik family. You’re on a completely different level from those insignificant others.”
He nodded as if satisfied.
“You know your position well.”
‘I can’t tell if he’s mocking me or not…’
“What did you learn? Since you know nothing, there must be a lot to teach.”
‘That guy!’
This time it was clearly sarcasm. I almost got angry, but I calmed myself, thinking of my comfortable future.
“Today, I learned numbers.”
“Numbers? You spent the whole day on that?”
“Yes.”
‘Why? Got a problem?’
Despite his suspicious gaze, I answered confidently.
“I see… is that so?”
He looked at me intently with an unreadable expression.
“You understood it, I assume.”
‘Of course.’
“Yes.”
“How far? Two digits?”
“No, up to five digits.”
“Hmm? They usually don’t teach beyond two digits since it’s not widely used.”
“That’s right.”
“Then why?”
“I was curious about other things too.”
“Do you have a talent for studying? The son of Marquis Harfel runs away every day because he hates successor training.”
“I don’t exactly like it either.”
Of course, I was enthusiastic because I wanted to make up for what I couldn’t learn before, but saying it was fun would be a lie.
‘But I can’t say that.’
If I was going to stay in this house, I needed to leave a positive impression on Heinox.
To do that, it was better to show enthusiasm for the lessons I had requested.
“So you don’t like it, but you still want to learn?”
“Yes.”
His eyes narrowed again.
An extremely uncomfortable feeling.
Considering the original story, this whole situation didn’t make sense.
‘Something’s suspicious.’
Recently, Heinox had started showing interest in me, which was unlike him. That’s probably why he asked me to report after lessons.
‘It’s not like he suddenly developed affection for his daughter…’
Either way, it was beneficial for me to keep his attention. The problem was that I couldn’t tell whether it was goodwill or hostility.
‘Especially with how he keeps speaking sarcastically.’
While I was thinking, Heinox’s lips slowly curled upward.
‘He smiled?’
Oh no. That expression—
“Interesting.”
I was definitely marked.
My old boss used to make that exact smile before making my life miserable.
“C-can I go now…?”
I asked carefully. Heinox slowly nodded.
“Yes. Come again tomorrow after your lesson.”
“Okaaay…”
I jumped off the sofa and hurried out of the room.
Click—
After the door closed, Heinox briefly thought of Roxina, who had just been sitting there.
He stood up and walked to the large desk, picking up a brown frame placed on top.
Inside was a woman with yellow hair like warm spring sunlight and lively green eyes, smiling softly.
“Priscilla…”
He gently stroked the photo.
“It’s been a while.”
Four years.
It had been four years since they last met.
Although more than two weeks had passed since he returned from the battlefield, he couldn’t bring himself to face her.
“I was afraid I might smell like blood…”
He had spent four long years on the battlefield, at the very front lines, leading countless imperial soldiers.
He tried to forget the pain of losing Priscilla by cutting down enemies, but it wasn’t easy. The stench of blood only reminded him of the day he lost her.
“I couldn’t face you like that. I’m sorry.”
He lowered his head and rested his forehead against the photo.
“I missed you.”
Truly.
At the northern capital stood the Philitium Imperial Palace.
In one of its smallest sections, the Apella Palace, the Second Prince, Roister Philitium, followed a maid toward the Empress’s palace.
The Empress’s palace was at least three times larger than his own. Its grand exterior and the many servants moving about hinted at its scale.
Inside, a wide garden appeared. In the center, surrounded by roses and tulips, sat a woman at a white table, looking toward him.
Roister approached and bowed.
“I greet Your Majesty, the Moon of the Empire.”
“Oh, the Second Prince has arrived.”
Empress Angelana Philitium carefully observed his posture.
Since she did not tell him to relax, Roister maintained his position.
Only after a long moment did she speak.
“Hm… It seems you still do not know how to greet properly.”
She frowned slightly, as if genuinely concerned.
“You are the face of the Empire. You must be more perfect than anyone. If the barbarians of the north see the Second Prince of Luent Empire using such poor etiquette, I fear they may look down on us.”
“…I will make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Angelana smirked at his trembling voice.
“Will you?”
“I will try to—”
“How?”
“I will practice more.”
“Prince, this isn’t something that can be solved by simply increasing practice time.”
She widened her eyes as if she had just thought of something.
“Ah.”
Then, as if granting a noble lesson, she said:
“Every gesture, every step, even how you breathe—those small things show a person’s dignity.”
She elegantly lifted her teacup and smiled lightly.
“I must have expected too much from a prince born of a concubine.”
Roister could not respond to her insult.
Because it was true.
His mother, Naomi, was once a wandering shaman.
“…I will try.”
In the end, he could only say what he always said.
When he returned to Apella Palace, he saw Naomi waiting outside with only a thin shawl.
“Why are you out here?”
As she tried to answer, she coughed, making him hurry over.
“You’re weak—what if you catch a cold?”
“I’m fine.”
She smiled gently at her worried son.
“Did your conversation with Her Majesty go well?”
“…Yes.”
Roister handed her a wooden box.
“She said it’s tea good for fatigue. She told you to drink it after lunch every day.”
Naomi smiled brightly as she accepted it.
“How kind of her. I wish I had something to give her in return…”
She looked around.
“I have nothing…”
She muttered, tears welling slightly.
Roister remembered what Angelana had said before he left.
But seeing Naomi’s sincere gratitude, he stayed silent.
“Hello, teacher!”
Dikal noticed Roxina’s unusually bright expression and asked,
“Did something good happen?”
“Ah! Is it that obvious?”
I was genuinely excited.
Lately, as I’d been going out of my room more, I had gotten hooked on secretly eating desserts with Anne. And now, the head chef Puichi said he’d make a special apple pie instead of the usual cookies.
Dikal simply nodded.
“The chef…?”
“Puichi!”
Dikal nodded in understanding.
“Puichi Nux’s desserts are famous for being as beautiful as they are delicious. What pie will he make today?”
“Apple pie!”
Puichi was a renowned chef across the empire, especially famous for desserts.
‘I’ve only read about it, and now I get to eat it myself!’
I couldn’t hide my excitement and kept smiling.
Watching me, Dikal awkwardly said,
“Then… let’s begin the lesson.”
“Yes!”
