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Chapter 25
“Thanks to your cheering, Prince, the dandelion found the strength to cross the lake.”
Fleur felt proud and happy just to receive praise for something so small.
“Oh! Right, Uncle! I saw something strange earlier, but I don’t know what it was.”
“What did it look like?”
Fleur paused, unsure how to explain, and looked at Maricel for support with his eyes.
Maricel encouraged him with her gaze: “You can do it, Prince.”
“There was a hole in the ground. About this big.”
Fleur stretched his arms about the width of his shoulders.
“Hmmm… it’s probably a rabbit burrow…”
“A rabbit?”
The boy’s eyes sparkled with the hope of seeing a real rabbit.
Morgan smiled at Fleur’s shining eyes and stood up.
“Shall we go see it together?”
“Yes!”
Fleur answered with pure excitement, his shoulders bouncing with joy.
The burrow was not far, just a short walk away.
Morgan told the accompanying guards to stay back and instructed Maricel and Fleur to watch closely near the burrow.
But even after waiting, no rabbit appeared.
“Rabbits are timid creatures, so they won’t come out easily.”
“Oh! Maybe there are some carrots in our packed lunch. I’ll go check!”
Before waiting for a reply, Maricel dashed off.
A short while later, she returned, panting, holding a few carrot pieces.
“Haah, haah… at least this—”
She gasped as she handed the carrots to Morgan.
Morgan suggested placing the carrots near the rabbit burrow and observing from a distance.
Fleur nodded and carefully crouched down ten steps away from the burrow.
The tall grass provided some cover as they lay low.
“You might have to wait a long time, and even then, the rabbits might not appear. Can you stay still that long?”
Fleur nodded seriously, as if he had been given a crucial mission.
Morgan lowered himself into a crouch, and Fleur mirrored him.
Maricel, though uncomfortable, joined in.
Some time passed.
After the surroundings grew quiet, a fawn-colored rabbit cautiously peeked out, sniffing and turning its head.
Fleur covered his mouth with both hands to suppress any sound and watched the rabbit with wide eyes.
Eventually, one rabbit relaxed its guard and began nibbling on the carrot pieces. Then, another rabbit appeared—a dark brown one this time.
Fleur didn’t take his eyes off either rabbit as they finished the carrots and returned to the burrow.
Finally, Fleur exhaled in relief, barely able to contain his excitement.
“Uncle, Maricel! The rabbits—they ate the carrots! They were so cute!”
“Me too. Not quite as cute as our Prince, but really adorable.”
“I’ll never, ever forget today. I’ll remember it forever.”
“Was it that good?”
“Yes, Uncle! Because you and Maricel helped me, I got to see the rabbits. It was amazing!”
Maricel and Morgan smiled gently, brushing off dirt and dried grass from their clothes.
“Shall we go eat the packed lunch now?”
Fleur, overjoyed, grabbed both Maricel’s and Morgan’s hands.
He felt as happy as if he were on a picnic with his parents, and he silently prayed that this happiness would last forever.
Back at their spot by the lake, they washed their hands and laid out their food, enjoying nature and eating slowly.
After a while, Fleur’s eyelids began to droop.
It was nap time, and the weather was perfect—just right for a short rest.
Maricel quickly prepared a place for him to sleep.
“Prince, lie down here.”
But Fleur rubbed his eyes and begged Maricel instead of lying down.
“Maricel, can I sleep on your lap?”
“Hmmm, our Prince is being spoiled just because we went out?”
“Not allowed…?”
“Of course it’s allowed. Just for today. Come here.”
Maricel opened her arms.
She sat Fleur on her lap, supported his back with her arms, and pulled him close to her chest.
Fleur buried his face in her chest and, unable to resist the weight of his eyelids, slowly drifted off to sleep.
Maricel gently patted his back, and Morgan, watching the child’s even breathing, felt a deep, unexplainable emotion stir in his chest.
He realized with certainty: he could never let this woman go.
Not long after, Fleur fell into a deep sleep, his head gently dropping to the side.
Morgan spoke up.
“Shall we lay him down now?”
“Yes. That should be fine. Your Highness, could you help?”
“Of course. How should I help?”
“Carefully lay the Prince here. He’s fast asleep and won’t wake.”
Following Maricel’s instructions, Morgan placed Fleur in the prepared spot and covered him with a blanket.
“Seems the Prince is in a very good mood today.”
“That’s all thanks to your effort.”
Maricel widened her eyes in surprise at his response.
‘Why is he saying that? I thought he’d say it was because of him…’
She began to feel anxious.
“No, it’s because Your Highness took time out of your busy schedule for the Prince.”
Morgan softly spoke while continuing to stare at her, smiling.
“……?”
Maricel felt embarrassed under his intense gaze, looked away, and then asked, trying to understand.
“Your Highness… why are you looking at me like that? Is there a problem…?”
“……”
Morgan said nothing, only holding her gaze.
Maricel felt trapped, unsure whether to meet his eyes or avoid them.
She mustered courage.
“Your Highness… do you have something to say…?”
Morgan, his eyes dreamy as if intoxicated, slowly spoke.
“Uh… yes.”
“Wh-what… do you mean…?”
“…I want you—”
His words were slow and unclear, as if he couldn’t fully express what was in his mind.
“Huh?”
He continued to stare into Maricel’s violet eyes.
“I want you to be the Prince’s mother.”
“Whaaat?”
Maricel thought she misheard, closed her eyes tightly, opened them, and asked again.
“You want me to become the Prince’s mother…?”
And yet, his answer remained the same.
It was shocking.
She covered her mouth in disbelief, unable to speak for a long moment.
Amid the silence, Morgan didn’t let go of her gaze.
His eyes were filled with expectation. Refusal wasn’t an option.
Maricel felt overwhelmed by the pressure.
She had no idea why this unbelievable request had come.
She tried to steady her mind and think quickly.
What does this mean? Become the Prince’s mother?
Is being a governess not enough? Is this a hint to try harder?
No, who says something like that? That can’t be it.
Maybe he thinks I’m competent with the child, don’t get in his way, and so I’m suitable as the Grand Duchess?
This was like a marriage proposal, disguised as a shift from governess to stepmother.
Do people use proposals like this?
Am I just supposed to accept it?
What about my feelings? My future?
Could it be… he likes me—no, no, that’s impossible.
He’s caring now, but in the future, he has Gabriella, the woman he loves more than anything.
Then what is this?
If Gabriella appears, am I the abandoned one?
I don’t want to be abandoned. No!
Thoughts swirled wildly, faster than she could process.
She had never imagined such a scenario.
She needed clarity, so she asked directly.
“Your Highness, what do you mean? You want me to become the Prince’s mother? Is that because I’m insufficient as a governess?”
“No. I mean exactly that.”
“Your Highness? To become the Prince’s mother, that would mean marrying you. You do realize what you’re saying, right?”
Maricel asked sharply, thinking he had lost his mind. Morgan, however, looked at her as if it were obvious.
“Yes.”
It was maddening. Marriage?
After tiptoeing around so carefully, now he wanted to throw her straight into the main story?
Impossible. Unthinkable.
“Your Highness… I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“?!”
Morgan’s expression crumbled as if struck by a blow.
“Why…?”
“……”
Maricel hesitated, unsure how to respond. Should she speak bluntly or indirectly? She didn’t know his intentions.
“I will work harder to fill the role of mother for the Prince.”
Morgan’s expression darkened.
“Why? Any unmarried woman in the Empire would want to marry me. Even divorced women would come if I asked. So why you?”
Morgan couldn’t understand her answer.
Even without feelings, this was the Grand Duchess’s position.
He had asked her to become the Grand Duchess—there was no reason to refuse.
Yet she steadfastly rejected him.
“Your Highness, I…”
