#7
“Why? Don’t want to?”
“Uh, ah… No.”
I grabbed the Count’s hand without thinking. It felt strange, as it was the first time I had held someone else’s hand, not a maid’s.
I glanced up at Count Orleans. He was walking slowly, matching my pace, while holding Ruslan in his arms.
“Are your legs hurting?”
I shook my head without answering. I could hear Ruslan chattering happily to his father, which had been a rare sight.
The Count responded to Ruslan’s chatter, but he also kept paying attention to me.
It was a kind of attention I had never received from my parents, and it felt burdensome, so I chose to remain quiet.
The path was long but well-kept.
“Your mother used to walk with us here too…”
Ruslan mumbled, glancing at his father. It seemed he hesitated to bring up the Emperor, likely because there had been many fights during the divorce.
The Count noticed this and gently patted Ruslan’s head, pretending not to notice.
“Are you happy I’m here?”
“Mm.”
“You’ll have me by your side from now on.”
Ruslan’s eyes sparkled at the Count’s words.
“So, does that mean we’re all going to live together? Mom, brother, and me?”
“For now.”
Ruslan’s eyes gleamed as he smiled brightly.
Seeing that, I couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.
There are people who love you, not because they have to, but because they want to.
‘Don’t think like that.’
Receiving love from a family I already know I can’t have, even with knowledge of the future, was impossible.
Changing someone’s heart, especially someone from a family that doesn’t have affection for you, would only bring terrible results.
At that moment, the Count tightened his grip on my hand.
“Melisa, watch your step. There are a lot of small stones here, so be careful.”
“Huh? Ah, okay.”
Being suddenly called by my name felt strange again.
‘I see. No one has ever called me by my name.’
For some reason, I felt a bit better. I looked up and faced forward.
The air smelled of spring flowers, and a cool breeze blew. Golden sunlight filtered through the trees, scattering on the path.
The weather was perfect, and this felt like a good start to changing the original story.
With that thought, I walked on ahead.
“Goodness, what’s all this?”
The Emperor looked shocked, his eyes wide, at the sudden family gathering.
What surprised him the most was that Ruslan, who usually stayed inside, was outside.
The well-trained maids, seeing Ruslan, were surprised but didn’t show it.
I glanced at the Emperor and bowed.
“Good morning, Your Majesty.”
“Yes. It’s a very pleasant morning.”
She reached out and patted my hair. Ruslan, who had been quietly watching, climbed down from his father’s arms and bowed to the Emperor.
“Good morning, Mother.”
‘How sweet.’
I couldn’t help but smile at his cute behavior. But then, I turned my attention to Ruslan’s sharp, glaring eyes.
“Yes, yes.”
Hestia patted Ruslan’s head, then held both of their hands.
“Come on, let’s go have breakfast.”
She exchanged a glance with Martin and smiled slightly. The four of us headed toward the dining room where breakfast was prepared.
On the small round table, there was plenty of food that Ruslan liked. As soon as we sat down, Ruslan eagerly picked up a fork.
“Can I really eat all of this?”
“Of course. It’s all prepared for you, Ruslan. By the way, Melisa, what do you like? I asked the palace chef, and they said you don’t mind much.”
“Oh, I… I’m fine with anything.”
“Maybe you should try a little bit of everything. You’re just a kid, so how much could you have eaten?”
Martin nodded, agreeing with Hestia.
“Yes, Ruslan is very picky, so anything else should be fine for you.”
I started to feel a bit overwhelmed by the attention suddenly focused on me. Of course, I was necessary for Ruslan, but being treated so well made me uncomfortable.
Despite the warm atmosphere, I still felt uneasy. It was so kind that it felt almost suffocating.
Finally, I finished my meal and got up.
Martin said he had things to discuss with the Empress, so Ruslan and I decided to return separately.
“It’s dangerous, so take the carriage back, both of you.”
Ruslan shook his head.
“I want to walk.”
“Really?”
Was it because of what I said this morning? I was surprised by his sudden confidence.
‘It might be tough, though, since he hasn’t been out in a while.’
It wasn’t far, but for a weak 10-year-old, walking wasn’t easy.
So, Martin would probably carry him, but they’d have guards with them, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
“Be careful, alright? Don’t push yourself.”
With Hestia and Martin’s encouragement, Ruslan and I walked back the way we came.
It was a little warmer than this morning, but it was still a nice day for walking, and I matched my pace to Ruslan’s.
“I’m tired.”
Ruslan pouted as he complained while walking. I signaled a servant behind us.
“I don’t want to be carried anymore.”
“Even though you’re tired?”
“Let’s rest for a bit.”
“Alright then.”
It wasn’t hard to find a bench nearby. I sat down, and Ruslan sat beside me.
“You said you could make me better, right?”
“Who said that?”
“Mother did.”
“It’s going to be hard to fully cure you, but I can make sure you won’t feel pain anymore.”
Ruslan looked up at me with big eyes.
“Will I really not feel pain anymore?”
I nodded, thinking back to his terrible pain from the original story and my past life.
At least, I didn’t want this young child to suffer anymore.
“But you have to listen to me…”
“Your Highness, Your Highness!”
Suddenly, Betty came running toward us, looking pale. When she saw me talking kindly with Ruslan, her face briefly stiffened before returning to its usual expression.
“I’ve come to take you back, Your Highness.”
She acted like I was invisible.
“It’s tiring, so I’ll carry you.”
Betty reached out to pick up Ruslan, but he shook his head, stepping away from her.
“I want to walk on my own.”
“Really?”
“I promised Mother! I’m going to walk, greet people, and even take walks like this from now on.”
Betty’s face darkened as she looked at Ruslan, concerned.
“But the doctor said you need to rest. How far is it to the Rose Palace where the Count is staying?”
“The doctor said it’s fine to walk that distance for exercise.”
I couldn’t hold back anymore and jumped into the conversation.
Betty glared at me and made eye contact with Nana behind me.
“Lower your eyes.”
At Nana’s words, Betty quietly lowered her head.
But as I was shorter than her, I saw the anger and jealousy in her expression.
‘Is she really obsessed with Ruslan?’
The trust between Ruslan and Betty was so strong that I couldn’t interfere. If I said anything, it could ruin the fragile bond I was trying to build with him.
‘I’ll have to tell the Empress and the Count.’
Luckily, they trusted me.
“Let’s go now!”
Ruslan, now more confident, urged me, walking faster.
“Your Highness, don’t run, and be careful.”
“Okay, I will!”
Waving at Betty, Ruslan quickly walked down the hall.
It seemed that the treatment I had been giving him was working well.
In my past life, he had been getting weaker every day, and after a year of marriage, he couldn’t even leave his bed.
It was hard to imagine that now, as he looked so healthy.
The Rose Palace, where the Count was staying, was only about a 10-minute walk for a child.
The maids had already contacted me, and at the end of the path leading to the Rose Palace, the Count was waiting.
“Father!”
Ruslan, with his short legs, ran toward the Count and jumped into his arms.
“Ruslan, don’t run, you’ll fall.”
The Count scolded Ruslan but smiled warmly, clearly happy.
I had only ever seen him angry or serious, so seeing him smile made him look even more handsome.
‘No wonder the Empress fell for him at first sight.’
The Count patted Ruslan’s head and lifted him up.
They looked like a perfect father-son duo.
I couldn’t help but envy them, considering my own family had betrayed me so much that I now hated blood relations.
“Shall we go?”
“Yeah!”
Excited, Ruslan grabbed the Count’s hair and shouted. His bright, childlike smile made me smile too.
“Here.”
Suddenly, a large hand reached out in front of me.
“The way to the Imperial Palace is more complicated than you think. Hold my hand so you don’t get lost.”
The Count’s words made me open my mouth in surprise.
