“He only teaches you that?”
“Oh! When I’m a little older, my Dad said he’ll take me to the morgue to observe anatomy dissections!”
Elena’s lips began to twitch.
“Well, I think I should give some advice about your education to Collen.”
Then she made a bewildered expression.
“Yes, now I understand. It’s a copy of Collen’s childhood. A copy.”
Then Elena chuckled.
“It’s really surprising. How could it be…?”
I realized it. Did I speak too honestly?
‘Have I become too accustomed to the duchy?’
Elena patted my head.
“Actually, when you first sat on my lap, you were so adorable that I almost died. Seriously, it’s such a relief that you don’t resemble Collen in appearance. The people of the Southern Gathering would agree too.”
Elena spoke kindly.
“It’s nice to meet you again. I am Collen’s aunt, and you are my granddaughter. You can call me Elena.”
“Yes, Elena. I’m glad to meet you… And I want to have short hair when I grow up. I’m sorry for sitting on your lap even though I’m so big. It must have been heavy.”
As Elena listened to me, she burst into laughter and pulled me into a hug.
“You’re so small and cute. How could you be heavy? And I really like you, even though my husband left early and I couldn’t have a child…”
In the end, the conversation with Elena remained a gentle atmosphere throughout.
“If Collen allows it, I would love to invite you to the South for a month or two, teach you about Southern culture, and show you around. You have the potential to become an excellent administrator. It’s impressive for someone so young.”
But it didn’t seem like Collen would allow it. He was worried about me being separated from him after the Red Flower incident.
‘It’s a pity. I wanted to learn more about the South.’
Elena said as the conversation was coming to an end.
“It’s difficult to convince the members of the Southern Gathering. The issue between the South and the royal family is complicated.”
“Do I have to marry someone from the South?”
I started to hesitate about marriage. I swallowed those words.
“Well, I hope so. But that’s my political standpoint, and I can’t impose strategies on a young child like you. Collen wouldn’t want it either. So I’ll try to convince them to accept you unconditionally.”
Ah, it was truly unexpected. I blinked in surprise. I didn’t expect the permission to come so easily.
“Is it possible?”
“I have to make it possible. However, you’ll have to play tug-of-war a bit.”
I nodded my head.
“Thank you, Lady Elena.”
I stood up from my seat and spoke politely. Elena’s expression softened even more.
“Collen is the ruler of the South, so everything he wants should be granted. However… I think you have a way of captivating the nobles.”
Elena said with a smile.
“It’s late now. You should go to your room.”
“Yes,” I nodded.
Elena personally escorted me to the bedroom assigned to me. As I walked down the corridor, I asked a question.
“Um, I want to know more about the South. Like its history… or how people live. Since this is Dad’s real home, I’m curious too.”
“His real home… It’s nice to hear you say that. You’re such a good child.”
It seemed that the people of the South really liked the nobles, no matter what they said or did. Elena seemed genuinely pleased as she said that, smiling brightly.
“You have admirable thoughts. Yes. Tomorrow, I’ll assign a suitable guide for you. They will explain the history and attractions of the South. If Collen agrees, there should be no complaints.”
I nodded my head.
“And…”
Elena hesitated with her words.
“Why?”
“Be careful around Prince Cedric. The royal family members are always full of tricks.”
“I will.”
The relationship between the royal family and the nobles seemed to be subtle. I nodded my head.
Sometimes, you just have to nod along to an adult’s advice.
When I returned to my room, the freckled maid, Marie, greeted me.
“Welcome back, princess. The bath and sleeping arrangements are ready.”
After washing up and getting dressed in my nightgown, I crawled into bed with my teddy bear, snug under the covers.
“Now I’ll sleep. Thank you for your help, Marie.”
“Yes, good night. Oh, would you like me to leave the lights on?”
“Why?”
“The nights in this castle are long and scary…”
“What’s scary about it? Oh, ghosts?”
I don’t believe in such superstitions.
“I’m not afraid of ghosts. I have a teddy bear, too.”
A teddy bear is perfect for warding off nightmares. Marie praised me for being brave. Then the lights went out.
‘Tomorrow, will I get to see the South?’
My eyes kept closing.
It’s rich, but somehow gloomy here.
Is it the same in the countryside? I slowly closed my eyes.
‘Cedric must be sleeping somewhere in this castle.’
He probably didn’t mention leaving tonight.
“He only teaches you that?”
“Oh! When I’m a little older, my Dad said he’ll take me to the morgue to observe anatomy dissections!”
Elena’s lips began to twitch.
“Well, I think I should give some advice about your education to Collen.”
Then she made a bewildered expression.
“Yes, now I understand. It’s a copy of Collen’s childhood. A copy.”
Then Elena chuckled.
“It’s really surprising. How could it be…?”
I realized it. Did I speak too honestly?
‘Have I become too accustomed to the duchy?’
Elena patted my head.
“Actually, when you first sat on my lap, you were so adorable that I almost died. Seriously, it’s such a relief that you don’t resemble Collen in appearance. The people of the Southern Gathering would agree too.”
Elena spoke kindly.
“It’s nice to meet you again. I am Collen’s aunt, and you are my granddaughter. You can call me Elena.”
“Yes, Elena. I’m glad to meet you… And I want to have short hair when I grow up. I’m sorry for sitting on your lap even though I’m so big. It must have been heavy.”
As Elena listened to me, she burst into laughter and pulled me into a hug.
“You’re so small and cute. How could you be heavy? And I really like you, even though my husband left early and I couldn’t have a child…”
In the end, the conversation with Elena remained a gentle atmosphere throughout.
“If Collen allows it, I would love to invite you to the South for a month or two, teach you about Southern culture, and show you around. You have the potential to become an excellent administrator. It’s impressive for someone so young.”
But it didn’t seem like Collen would allow it. He was worried about me being separated from him after the Red Flower incident.
‘It’s a pity. I wanted to learn more about the South.’
Elena said as the conversation was coming to an end.
“It’s difficult to convince the members of the Southern Gathering. The issue between the South and the royal family is complicated.”
“Do I have to marry someone from the South?”
I started to hesitate about marriage. I swallowed those words.
“Well, I hope so. But that’s my political standpoint, and I can’t impose strategies on a young child like you. Collen wouldn’t want it either. So I’ll try to convince them to accept you unconditionally.”
Ah, it was truly unexpected. I blinked in surprise. I didn’t expect the permission to come so easily.
“Is it possible?”
“I have to make it possible. However, you’ll have to play tug-of-war a bit.”
I nodded my head.
“Thank you, Lady Elena.”
I stood up from my seat and spoke politely. Elena’s expression softened even more.
“Collen is the ruler of the South, so everything he wants should be granted. However… I think you have a way of captivating the nobles.”
Elena said with a smile.
“It’s late now. You should go to your room.”
“Yes,” I nodded.
Elena personally escorted me to the bedroom assigned to me. As I walked down the corridor, I asked a question.
“Um, I want to know more about the South. Like its history… or how people live. Since this is Dad’s real home, I’m curious too.”
“His real home… It’s nice to hear you say that. You’re such a good child.”
It seemed that the people of the South really liked the nobles, no matter what they said or did. Elena seemed genuinely pleased as she said that, smiling brightly.
“You have admirable thoughts. Yes. Tomorrow, I’ll assign a suitable guide for you. They will explain the history and attractions of the South. If Collen agrees, there should be no complaints.”
I nodded my head.
“And…”
Elena hesitated with her words.
“Why?”
“Be careful around Prince Cedric. The royal family members are always full of tricks.”
“I will.”
The relationship between the royal family and the nobles seemed to be subtle. I nodded my head.
Sometimes, you just have to nod along to an adult’s advice.
When I returned to my room, the freckled maid, Marie, greeted me.
“Welcome back, princess. The bath and sleeping arrangements are ready.”
After washing up and getting dressed in my nightgown, I crawled into bed with my teddy bear, snug under the covers.
“Now I’ll sleep. Thank you for your help, Marie.”
“Yes, good night. Oh, would you like me to leave the lights on?”
“Why?”
“The nights in this castle are long and scary…”
“What’s scary about it? Oh, ghosts?”
I don’t believe in such superstitions.
“I’m not afraid of ghosts. I have a teddy bear, too.”
A teddy bear is perfect for warding off nightmares. Marie praised me for being brave. Then the lights went out.
‘Tomorrow, will I get to see the South?’
My eyes kept closing.
It’s rich, but somehow gloomy here.
Is it the same in the countryside? I slowly closed my eyes.
‘Cedric must be sleeping somewhere in this castle.’
He probably didn’t mention leaving tonight.
