Episode 10
After the long and talkative mealtime ended, three designers came to visit the residence of Grand Duke Crayton.
They had come to make clothes for my mother and me.
Considering that the clothes we had been wearing until now were far too shabby to wear here, it was only natural.
The three designers were people whose names I had heard a few times before.
All three held at least the title of baron, and one of them was someone I had actually met once before.
After measuring the body proportions of my mother and me, the designers asked if we had any preferred designs or colors.
Since I didn’t have any particular opinion, I just sat there blankly. Instead, my mother suggested several designs on my behalf.
Only after carefully writing down everything my mother said were the designers able to leave the mansion.
“Now then…”
After the designers left, my mother turned to look at me.
For some reason, her eyes looked sad, so I quietly held her hand. Feeling my action, she soon squeezed my hand tightly with her larger one.
Only then did it truly sink in.
My mother had survived.
Ever since I returned, I had constantly worried whether what I was doing was right, and whether my actions could really save her.
And only now did it truly feel real that the past had changed and my mother was alive.
…If I had gone back to an even earlier time than this, would I have been able to save Father too?
The empty question left a small ripple in my heart.
But I felt that would have been impossible as well.
I had been far too young when Father died.
It was such a distant memory that I barely had any recollection of him.
Even if I had returned to that time, I probably wouldn’t have been able to save him.
Besides, if it hadn’t been for Father, the monster that attacked the village wouldn’t have been defeated.
“Mirabel.”
My mother called my name in a low voice.
“Yes? What is it?”
I widened my eyes and looked at her. She gazed down at me quietly before giving a gentle smile.
“Mother is going to the Imperial Palace to meet His Majesty the Emperor. Would our daughter come with me? I already told your uncle that it would be fine, but… to be honest, I’m a little scared. If you come with me, I think I’ll feel less afraid. Will you come with me? If you don’t want to, you can refuse.”
She made the suggestion carefully.
Someday my mother would have had to meet the Emperor and resolve their past, but it seemed the timing had come sooner because of me, which made me feel a little sorry.
I quietly held her hand and nodded.
“Yes. If being with me makes you less afraid, then I’ll go anywhere with you.”
If my presence could ease her fear, I could go with her a hundred or even a thousand times.
“Thank you, my daughter.”
Mother smiled softly after hearing my answer.
“Our Bell, there were so many things Mother couldn’t do for you until now. But from now on, I’ll do anything for you.”
Once it was decided that I would accompany Mother to the Imperial Palace, preparations moved quickly.
I changed into a child’s dress the designers had just brought, and the maids fixed my hair and straightened my clothes.
When I finally stood in front of a mirror and looked at myself, the shabby appearance I once had was gone. Instead, I looked like a young girl from a noble family who had grown up pampered and never known hardship.
I admired my surprisingly transformed appearance, twisting my body this way and that as I looked at myself in the mirror.
There was a time when I had admired this kind of appearance.
But during my childhood it had been a luxury, and after becoming a mercenary I realized dresses didn’t suit someone like me, so I had given up on wearing such expensive clothing.
Yet now that the maids had dressed me up, it didn’t seem to look that bad on me after all.
“You look adorable, young lady!”
One of the maids who helped with my hair blurted out a flattering compliment.
Even though I knew it was flattery, I still smiled.
“Thank you.”
“Oh my, young lady, you don’t have to speak so formally to me. Not just me—you don’t have to speak formally to any of the servants in this house.”
Right, of course.
At the moment, I was here as the granddaughter of the Grand Duke of Crayton.
Normally, nobles didn’t use honorific speech toward household servants.
Realizing that a bit late, I nodded.
“Okay. Got it.”
“Then please go out now. The young lady is waiting for you.”
Following the maid’s guidance, I left the dressing room, and just as she said, my mother was waiting for me.
“Wow!”
Seeing her appearance, I let out a small gasp.
My mother looked as beautiful as a goddess in a painting.
Her long brown hair flowed down her back, and her yellow dress was accented with green ribbons. Combined with her usual gentle demeanor, she looked like the goddess of compassion, Seliness.
“What is it? It feels a little awkward wearing a dress again after so long… Does it look strange?”
“No! You look so beautiful!”
When I exclaimed while giving her a thumbs-up, Mother smiled softly and held out her hand to me.
“Then let’s go, Bell.”
Holding Mother’s hand, we left the mansion, where a splendid carriage was waiting outside.
It was a four-horse carriage bearing the crest of the House of Crayton as a flag. Compared to the carriage I had ridden in with the Grand Duke before, this one was far larger and more magnificent.
I felt a little intimidated by it, but Mother approached it as if she were used to such things.
After she climbed in first, she held out her hand to help me up.
Taking her hand, I climbed into the carriage and sat down. Soon, the carriage began to move slowly.
Despite being pulled by four horses, there was no shaking or discomfort during the ride.
Instead, the soft suspension made it easy to forget that we were even inside a carriage.
During the trip, Mother remained silent.
Not wanting to make her uneasy by speaking unnecessarily, I opened the window and looked outside.
The scenery of the capital slowly passed by.
Eventually, we arrived at the Imperial Palace.
Many people were already waiting for us there.
At the very front stood a knight who looked about the same age as Mother.
“Lady Cornelia.”
The knight placed his hand over his chest and bowed politely to Mother, gazing at her with distant eyes.
Mother smiled faintly and extended her right hand to him.
“It’s been a long time, Tenerban.”
As if it were natural, the knight took her hand and lightly kissed the back of it.
“I heard from His Majesty that you had returned… Have you been well?”
“Thanks to your concern. It seems you’ve become the commander of the knights in the meantime.”
“Yes. I now lead the Imperial Guard.”
“Congratulations.”
“You flatter me. Please come inside. His Majesty is waiting.”
The knight called Tenerban glanced briefly at me.
However, he asked nothing and began guiding us into the palace.
The Imperial Palace had an entirely different atmosphere from the Crayton mansion.
White walls accented with gold decorations, and beautiful paintings covering the ceilings and walls.
Everything drew the eye.
While holding Mother’s hand and walking forward, I quietly looked around the interior.
Only as a child could I look around so openly—if I had been an adult, I would have been too concerned with maintaining proper decorum.
“His Majesty the Emperor is inside this reception room.”
Tenerban said this when we reached a door.
“Announce us.”
“Yes.”
At his command, a servant gently knocked on the door.
“Your Majesty, Cornelia Crayton has arrived.”
“Let them enter.”
At the voice from inside, both the servant and Tenerban stepped aside so we could enter.
Just as I thought we were about to go in, Mother slightly tightened her grip on my hand.
When I looked up at her, it was clear she was nervous.
Quietly, I used my other hand to cover hers.
Only then did she smile at me.
“Let’s go in.”
“Okay.”
Looking a bit more relaxed, Mother stepped forward first, and I followed her into the reception room.
Inside, there was a man standing with his back to us, looking out the window.
The backlighting made it difficult to see his face clearly.
Only after entering did Mother release my hand and curtsy politely.
“I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”
I belatedly followed her example and bowed.
“I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”
Only after my voice echoed through the room did the man turn around.
But the backlight still obscured his appearance.
Fortunately, he soon began walking slowly toward us.
Once he stepped out of the light, I could finally see his face clearly.
He had jet-black hair like ebony and striking ruby-red eyes.
This man must be James Bajet Castro, the ruler of the Empire and the Emperor.
“You’re very late.”
The first words the Emperor spoke were not a greeting.
“I’ve been standing in Barnetza’s garden all this time. Then, and even now.”
His words carried a trace of resentment, and Mother lowered her head briefly before raising it again.
“I’m sorry. But that was my answer.”
“Couldn’t you have come to see me at least once before leaving?”
“…No. If I had gone to Barnetza’s garden, I would never have been able to meet Gail again. I do not regret my choice. However, I do feel deeply sorry toward Your Majesty, who must have waited all this time.”
Words whose meaning I couldn’t fully understand were exchanged.
The Emperor stared at Mother silently for a long time.
Many emotions seemed to swirl in his eyes.
Longing, joy, resentment—all tangled together.
The Emperor opened his mouth again but suddenly noticed me and closed it.
Only then did a trace of resignation appear in his eyes.
“Is that child the daughter of Sir Houston and you?”
“Yes, she is. Her name is Mirabel.”
I bowed again politely, but the Emperor did not respond.
After a long moment, he let out a deep sigh.
“For now, it would be better to send the child outside. This is not a conversation suitable for a child to hear.”
“…You’re right.”
Mother nodded obediently and crouched down to meet my eyes.
In the meantime, the Emperor rang a bell to call someone.
“Mirabel, could you rest somewhere else for a moment? I’ll finish talking and come out soon.”
“Okay. I’ll wait.”
“Thank you, Bell.”
Mother brushed my side hair behind my ear and then stood up.
Just then, a maid appeared and bowed politely to us.
“Take the child somewhere else. It won’t take long, so stay nearby.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Young lady, please come this way.”
The maid began guiding me away.
I glanced back briefly to see Mother and the Emperor sitting down on a sofa before leaving the reception room.
“Ah!”
The moment I stepped out and turned my head, a sudden cry came from the side.
Looking closely, I saw a boy about six or seven years old sitting on the floor with a scowl.
“You made me fall!”
The boy shouted at me angrily.
Now that I looked, his hair and eye color looked very similar to the Emperor’s.
Could this boy be…?
Before I could dwell on the question for long, the maid beside me hurriedly helped the boy up and spoke.
“Are you all right, Your Highness the Crown Prince?”
