TVDML 13

Chapter 13

But when I put aside my emotions and looked at it objectively through the lens of this novel…

The importance of the female lead, Camilla, and the male lead, Baldwin, was incomparable.

Seeing me hesitate, Baldwin pouted.

It was what people called the “Puss in Boots” look…

The phrase “a beauty even when crying” must have been made with Baldwin in mind.

So I quickly gave an answer based on my own position.

“Didi is the most important.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Didi, I’ll always be on your side.”

Because he’s the male lead I chose.

I don’t invest in failing stocks.

“I will too.”

“Huh?”

“I will too, Lala. I’ll always be on your side.”

Hearing Baldwin’s sincere words, I smiled softly.

Well… it’s easy to say that.

He’s still young.

But once the real love line with Camilla begins, all that kindness and affection will undoubtedly shift to her.

Still, no matter how that turned out, I wanted to keep a good relationship with Baldwin.

I was already too attached to him.

I held Baldwin’s hand tightly.

“I’ll always be by your side, Lala.”

Liar.

“Okay, it’s a promise.”

“We’ll be together forever.”

Cute and sweet Baldwin.

My male lead.

Even if you can’t keep that promise, it’s okay.

I hugged Baldwin tightly.

And then—

“They came.”

While I was talking with Baldwin, the fairy who had climbed over the wall like a stray cat must have dropped off the small box and left again.

Cake!

Just as I expected!

“Didi, hurry! We can’t let anyone else take it!”

At this hour, when even the sun hasn’t risen, no one else would come out to look for it.

Even knowing that, I whispered excitedly.

As I pulled Baldwin along, he asked with a slightly serious face.

“You like chocolate cake that much?”

“It’s my favorite among all cakes.”

Even in my past life, I used to secretly buy chocolate cake for my birthday.

Celebrating my birthday alone, with no one else to celebrate with me.

I would slowly savor the overly sweet chocolate cake until my mouth ached, and time would pass by in a flash.

So this cake wasn’t just something sweet to lift my mood — it was a link to my past.

And compared to that past, I liked who I was now — someone happy.

There was no need to tell Baldwin all that.

Creak—

Hm?

I thought I heard something…?

I asked Baldwin, but he shook his head.

Then he grabbed my hand and gently pulled it down as he asked,

“Do you like cake more than me?”

No, nooo!

That was a question with a predetermined answer from the start!

How is he getting cuter and more charming by the day?

At this rate, destroying an empire wouldn’t even be hard.

His face could create a plot out of nothing.

I shook my head quickly.

“Our Didi is the best!!”

Maybe because we were spending more time together, Baldwin was growing more affectionate by the day.

Anyway, I succeeded in eating the chocolate cake and drink as a late-night snack.

When Mom saw me and Baldwin with chocolate smeared all over our mouths, she looked utterly dumbfounded.

Well, if we’d tried to hide it, the leftovers would spoil, and there’s a limit to how much my stomach could handle.

I grinned.

“Lyla!”

“Hmm?”

I tilted my head as if I knew nothing.

With a full stomach, sleep started to creep in.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t slept at all waiting for the cake.

Nodding off with half-lidded eyes, I saw Mom sigh heavily and signal to Dad.

He must have just come out of the bedroom upon realizing we weren’t there. He was still in his pajamas.

Dad scooped up both me and Baldwin at once.

“Whew. I was going to let this slide, but no. I have to say something. Just because the kids ask for something, does that mean you should always give in? Eating sweets like this — how are they supposed to eat real meals?”

“Honey…”

“Honestly, have you never raised a kid? I’m heading out, so you go tell the maids to wash the kids and put them to bed. No wonder they said they were going to bed early yesterday. I bet they didn’t sleep at all.”

I saw Mom throw on a shawl the maid had brought and rush off toward the first floor.

N-nooo…

I reached out, but my young body couldn’t take it anymore, and I drifted off to sleep.

*

Rovelia had never once felt burdened or troubled raising Baldwin.

He was the only child of her dearest friend, entrusted to her care. The Rorobante family had more than enough wealth to support one more child.

And besides — as the saying goes, the base of the lamp is the darkest.

She was confident she could keep the child hidden, away from the emperor’s eyes.

But this was going too far!

Sure, she could understand that the Winchester retainers felt a sense of responsibility and reverence toward the child.

But still — doing everything the kids asked for?

Rovelia headed toward the place where the ones Laila called “the fairies who grant wishes” might be.

Standing in front of the wall, she tapped it gently with her fist.

“You’re out there, right? If you are, knock on the wall. If you refuse my request, I won’t accept anything more from you!”

Her firm warning caused a stir beyond the wall.

After all, they’d always pretended not to know about each other’s existence until now.

Judging by the voice, it was the Duchess of Rorobante.

The very one responsible for raising Baldwin!

They had no real excuse to refuse Rovelia’s request.

The two guards on duty that night exchanged panicked glances and tapped the wall in response.

“Good. Now listen carefully. From now on, don’t ever grant the kids’ wishes without my permission. Understood?”

“B-but…”

“Quiet, you!”

Rovelia frowned.

“If you don’t follow my instructions, I won’t accept anything from you — not a single bit of help.”

She calmly reiterated her threat.

“Meat, fruits, wheat — those are good for children. But sweets? What if they lose their appetite for real food? What if their teeth rot? What if they get a stomachache?”

Everything she said was right, and the shoulders of the two guards beyond the wall drooped.

They knew the guards on duty last night had brought cake.

And how happy Baldwin had been to get what he wanted…

Only to be scolded now.

“If you understand, knock on the wall again.”

Tap tap—

They responded.

Rovelia let out a deep breath.

It was early enough that almost no one would be watching her.

Since Baldwin’s arrival, they had carefully rehired and retrained all the staff.

Still, just in case, access to this part of the garden had been restricted.

“The child is doing fine. He’s growing well.”

She offered the hidden guards a small comfort, knowing they must be curious about the situation inside.

“Soon, he’ll be heading to the academy. He’ll begin training to become a knight.”

That was essentially opening a path for them to stay in contact with the child.

This was as far as Rovelia could go.

She hadn’t told them that Baldwin was dressed as a girl.

After all, the only knight Rorobante had sponsored for enrollment was Baldwin.

Feeling an inexplicable chill, Rovelia pulled her robe tighter.

She turned away from the wall.

Come to think of it, the day Baldwin would leave for the academy was approaching fast.

The grass in the garden, dusted here and there with frost, crunched beneath her feet.

For the past nine years, it had felt like walking on thin ice.

She hadn’t let Baldwin or Laila step outside even once.

She felt sorry for them — but that was the best she could do.

To them, Rorobante was the whole world.

“Will they be okay?”

She wasn’t sure.

This was her first time raising children. She couldn’t say for sure if her guidance had been right.

She just hoped—

“I just want them to be happy.”

She could only pray that their childhood in Rorobante would remain a happy memory.

Baldwin and Laila.

By virtue of being descendants of Winchester and Rorobante, they were fated to be swept up in the Empire’s storm.

Not long ago, Empress Yulia had reopened the palace gates.

The empire was in turmoil over the Crown Prince’s investiture.

Yulia wouldn’t give up.

Rovelia’s friend, whom she knew all too well, would never stop until she had avenged Winchester.

Her chest tightened.

“Rovelia.”

“The children…?”

The warm voice brought her back to her senses.

She had wandered into the mansion in a daze and found herself embraced by a warm chest.

“You’re freezing. What were you thinking about so deeply? You nearly stumbled.”

Leaning into her kind husband’s chest, Rovelia rested her head.

Her worries were his worries too.

“Baldwin will be going to the Academy soon.”

“…Already?”

“And Laila, too, will have to choose her path.”