Could it be because of jealousy towards the Duke?
The wholesome man who was startled even by ordinary pajamas?
To make a “You’re mine!” declaration in front of everyone just out of jealousy, really…
“No? It’s fine.”
How did he know I like this kind of thing?
Cynthia, who had a taste for forceful + direct + possessive men, put on a confident expression.
In the end, only after Masera kissed Cynthia’s cheek one more time did the Duke leave the official residence.
Meanwhile, Cynthia, who had been subjected to a series of kiss attacks, quickly ran into the building.
She was embarrassed to let anyone see her reddened face and hear her pounding heart.
‘They say you can’t hide love and sneezes.’
It had long since become a precious existence.
There were so many precious people she didn’t want to lose. Not just Masera, but the people at the official residence and Eugene…
“Eugene? When did he get here?”
Eugene, who was pretending not to be worried at all with a nonchalant expression, was looking at Cynthia.
“Big sis, I heard you collapsed after getting hit by a tennis ball. Uncle Carlton told me.”
“Ah… yes. I was hit by a fastball.”
Captain Carlton, is he the master of distortion and exaggeration? Cynthia just went along with it for now.
“Eugene, what did you play with Mabel?”
Mabel, the granddaughter of the Grand Duke’s family, seemed to like Eugene quite a bit and had invited him to the mansion where she was staying.
As it happened, due to the unsettling atmosphere at the official residence because of the poisoning incident, Eugene had been sent to the mansion where Mabel was for about two days.
“I made cookies with Granny Pritvatche and Mabel, and played hide-and-seek with Grand Princess Charlotte. Maybe because we all have black hair, it felt like family.”
“But playing with me is still the most fun, right?”
Cynthia held Eugene’s hand as they walked down the corridor, making a mischievous expression.
But suddenly Eugene stopped walking.
“Big sis.”
“Yes?”
Eugene, who had been hesitating slightly, looked at her with a determined expression.
“I’m going to start attending school now.”
“Oh, which school do you want to go to? Rosewood Private School? Or Espel Public School? If you want to become Prime Minister later, you should go to the best place.”
As Cynthia was imagining Eugene making friends and enjoying school life, Eugene gave a lonely smile.
“I’m going to the Royal School of Medea. By myself.”
Cynthia’s smiling lips pressed into a straight line.
“You’re saying you’re going to study abroad alone?”
“Don’t worry. The Grand Ducal Princess and Granny Pritvatche said I could stay with them at the Grand Duchy.”
Despite speaking as if it was no big deal, Eugene’s green eyes were sunken with loneliness.
“Here, I have to live explaining that my parents weren’t bad people. But at a school where friends with the same black hair as me attend, I don’t need to do that.”
Recalling the events of the banquet, Cynthia closed her eyes tightly, clenching her fists.
The children here will see Eugene’s hair color and ask, “Are your parents from Medea?” and he will repeatedly experience being suspected as a child of war criminals, just like before.
Because Eugene never talks about his parents.
Cynthia lowered herself to meet Eugene’s eyes.
“Didn’t you want to stay with Uncle Masera and the people at the official residence? Won’t you be lonely?”
After pausing briefly to catch her breath, she asked further.
“Will you be ok an your own, without us?”
Will you be okay without me?
It was something she had always wanted to ask before leaving someday.
Eugene carefully hugged Cynthia and buried his face in her embrace.
“Even though Mom and Dad are no longer in this world, I always love them. Mom said that even if we never meet again, her love remains, and that love gathered becomes the world I live in.”
A child’s love was something that would never change.
“Big sis, you’re my world too. So it’s okay even if we’re far apart and can’t see each other. They say the protagonists of warm and happy stories are those who have experienced sadness.”
As if conveying comfort, the child’s soft black hair brushed against her cheek as it swayed.
Cynthia hugged Eugene’s head and murmured as if lamenting.
“When did you grow up so fast? It’s so sad.”
Eugene, who had seemed like just a little child, had grown into a mature boy in a short time.
Children grow up so quickly.
* * *
After Grand Princess Charlotte visited to discuss Eugene and left, Masera came to see Cynthia not long after.
“What do you think about sending Eugene to Medea? I will follow the opinion of my superior wife.”
I nodded at Masera’s question.
“I… would like to do that.”
According to the Grand Princess, grandparents who recently passed on their title and now live for the joy of raising their great-granddaughter, along with Madam Pritvatche, will take care of Eugene together.
[“And… since young Eugene could be in danger, I’d like to take him as soon as possible. Madam Pritvatche and Mabel are returning to Medea tomorrow.”]
Suddenly parting was difficult in many ways.
But as the Grand Ducal Princess worried, this attempted poisoning incident was no different from a signal flare that a bloodbath would soon occur.
Masera silently observed her expression before speaking.
“I’ve taken the afternoon off from work. How about the three of us spend time together?”
Masera, who had spent the most time with Eugene, had a calm face despite the impending farewell.
Cynthia smiled brightly while inwardly blaming herself.
“You don’t have to make time just for me.”
Eugene, who had put more effort into his outfit than usual, followed the two while pretending to be cool.
“Come on, let’s hold hands.”
Eugene obediently held both of their hands and put on a dignified expression. His pursed lips betrayed his attempt to act nonchalant.
The streets of the capital, on the eve of the Holy Commemoration Day, were decorated as brightly as Christmas Eve.
Jingle-
A white reindeer with a bell around its neck could be seen pulling a large sleigh loaded with gift boxes. People dressed as angels rode on top, handing out gifts to children.
Cynthia took Eugene, who was expecting a gift, and approached.
“Child, what good deed have you done?”
When a woman in a beautiful snow fairy costume asked Eugene, he shook his head with a bitter face.
“I didn’t do anything good. Instead, I gave my big sis a frog to surprise her.”
“I’m that big sis, and I can overlook that much as cute, right?”
Cynthia gave the woman a desperate look, but Eugene was honest.
“I hit a friend before. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Oh.”
The woman hesitated with a troubled face before holding out a gift.
“Then I’ll give you a ‘repentant child gift.’ I hope you learn forgiveness and opportunity with this.”
“…Thank you.”
Eugene, who ended up receiving a gift, blushed.
[“Eugene! You came to play too!”]
Just then, Mabel, who must have done many good deeds judging by her armful of gifts, appeared and waved.
[“Can I dance with Eugene?”]
Looking in the direction Mabel was pointing, children were dancing to the military band’s music around the fountain in the square.
The outgoing Mabel borrowed Eugene, and Masera and Cynthia sat on the steps watching the two children dance. The sound of children’s laughter was pleasant to hear.
Cynthia folded her parasol and placed it on her knees, wearing a contemplative expression.
“It’s been a while since it’s been this peaceful.”
Masera looked down at her, shading the sunlight with one hand.
He wanted to offer words of comfort, but didn’t know how to say them.
Meanwhile, Cynthia began talking about what she had heard from the Grand Princess.
“I heard that remnants of the fallen empire have formed criminal organizations, and they’re so cunning that it’s not easy to eradicate them.”
“That’s correct.”
“What do they want?”
“The first generation, who were former imperial intelligence agents, have all died, and the second generation’s only goal is money, but…”
After pausing briefly, he continued calmly.
“It seems their goal is to destroy everything except one, and then obtain the royal legacy and the last royal family member.”
But for wanting to leave the last princess, wasn’t Helene already on the path to ruin?
Cynthia suddenly recalled the Grand Princess’s words.
[“From now on, they will try to attack the Princess, a strong succession candidate, and those around her.”]
This included the people Cynthia held dear.
She looked at Masera and clenched her fists tightly.
* * *
After spending a peaceful time and returning to the official residence in the evening, Dahlia urgently reported to them.
“I heard Anita has disappeared.”
The maid Anita, whom Cynthia had saved and was protecting at the official residence, had suddenly disappeared.
‘She wouldn’t have gone back to the child’s father, and surely it’s not like what happened to Anna…’
No. Don’t think bad thoughts.
Cynthia shook her head to shake off the ominous thoughts.
She felt worried and at the same time sensed the storm that was about to hit.
