Episode 14
Even though she was only eleven, Roxana knew calling Maximilian’s mother “Lady Lowell” would not go over well with Victoria.
Even though imperial law and court etiquette might technically call her Lady Lowell, Victoria Lowell was, with the court’s silent approval, being treated like the Crown Prince’s consort.
The nobles were surprised by Duchess Kailani’s boldness.
All eyes turned to Victoria.
Victoria smoothed her expression like nothing had happened, but she couldn’t fully hide how upset she felt.
Her hands gripped the folds of her dress tightly, as if trying to hide the small tremble.
Roxana, who usually seemed timid at court events, had shown more backbone than they expected.
“Duchess Kailani, this is a matter for the court to handle. Please, step back,” Victoria said.
She tried to frame the incident between Maximilian and Prince Theodore as a private family matter.
She also subtly reminded everyone of the proper title, implying she belonged to the court and Roxana was an outsider who should mind her place.
Victoria probably wanted to protest being called “Lady Lowell,” but she couldn’t say that out loud.
Bringing it up would make her look ridiculous. In the Lion Empire’s court hierarchy, Victoria held huge power, right after the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
The former Empress had died, and the Empress’s seat was empty, and Isabel, the Crown Prince’s official wife, was no match for Victoria. So Victoria effectively controlled palace affairs.
People watched her with a chilling silence, like dipping into ice water.
They wondered why the Duchess of Kailani would openly confront Victoria in front of everyone.
Maybe she was jealous of some past relationship between the current Duke of Kailani and Victoria. That’s what some of them guessed.
But Roxana only wanted to clear the name of poor Prince Theodore. She wasn’t scheming.
“This might be a court matter, true, but since it happened in front of so many people, it can’t just be a private matter anymore,” Roxana said, casually looking around.
No one could miss the point: if Victoria wanted this handled privately, then it should have stayed inside palace circles. Bringing it up before a gathering of nobles was wrong from the start.
Roxana didn’t stop there.
“A royal should always act with dignity,” she added, quoting Victoria’s own earlier words about dignity toward Prince Theodore.
Basically, she was saying: you demanded dignity for royals—so show responsibility and apologize properly.
If Victoria and her son tried to sweep this under the rug without an apology, the honor and dignity of the royal family would be trampled by their actions.
If the matter dragged on, neither side would come out ahead.
Victoria’s eyes went cold. Maximilian, looking at his mother, glared fiercely at Theodore.
And with the Great Hall ball about to begin and more guests gathering, they needed to end this quickly.
“Prince Theodore, forgive my rudeness. Now, Maximilian, apologize at once,” Victoria said.
“I’m sorry, Uncle Theodore,” Maximilian replied, bowing his head. The look of sulking shame softened everyone’s gaze.
But Roxana, standing close, didn’t miss the sly, malicious glare Maximilian flashed.
She gave the other noble boys nearby a stern look.
“Your Highness, I’m sorry for the rudeness,” one of the boys said.
“Please forgive us.”
“We’re sorry.”
The three boys who had been watching quickly chimed in.
Theodore breathed a small, inward sigh. He’d wanted to lash back at them for all the injustices he’d suffered, but reality was different. If he refused their apology, it would likely make things worse for him. More than that, the Duchess of Kailani—who had stood up for him—would get into trouble.
“I accept your apology,” Theodore said.
When the situation reversed in his favor and ended nicely, Theodore swallowed the rush of emotion and kept himself composed.
Victoria hurriedly left with Maximilian, using the ball as an excuse. People dispersed like the tide going out; within moments, the crowd was gone. Only palace servants tidying the garden were left around Roxana and Theodore.
Theodore fiddled with his hands and looked up at Roxana with clear, innocent eyes.
“Prince Theodore, forgive me for the late introduction. I’m Roxana Kailani,” she said formally to the young prince.
“I’m Theodore Marquis. Duchess Kailani, thank you so much for your help today,” he replied, bowing his head in gratitude.
Moved by his thanks, Roxana knelt before him. She met the young prince’s round, lilac-colored eyes.
Seeing the gentle look on his face tightened something in Roxana’s chest. The little boy seemed so pitiful.
He wore the title of prince, but he had lost his mother at a very young age and had an emperor father who paid him no mind.
Roxana gently took his thin, bony hands in hers. His fingers were so slender they made her heart ache.
“Prince Theodore, I didn’t do much. I only said what I saw. I can’t take away all your pain,” she said.
Her words — her heart.
Inside Theodore, the hard, icy shard that had been lodged in his chest cracked. It melted away until there was nothing left. Tears welled in his amethyst eyes.
He’d never felt warmth like this from anyone except his late mother. The hands holding his felt so warm.
Watching Theodore’s tears spill, Roxana took a handkerchief and lovingly wiped them away.
“I…” Theodore choked, unable to say more.
Roxana remembered the lonely child she’d seen: the palace, grand and glittering, but full of danger and cold power struggles where this boy had been neglected.
He’d looked lonely from the first moment she saw him — a child in need of adult care.
He reminded her of herself when she was young. She’d lost her parents and then the former Duchess Eleanor, who had cared for her — she’d always been lonely. Even now, she still felt that way.
She knew her kindness might harm Theodore in the long run, but she couldn’t walk away.
Sometimes, a small kindness or warmth gives someone reason to keep living.
“Prince Theodore, have you ever looked at the stars?” she asked.
He nodded softly.
“Have you ever seen a star you thought was ugly or plain?”
“No. Stars are pretty, like jewels.”
Speaking without thinking, Theodore relaxed a little and spoke more naturally.
“That’s right. Some shine more than others, but there’s no ugly star. Just as the sky is a sky over us, the world below might be the sky for the stars.
So we, the people on the ground, are like stars. You’re a star, and so am I.”
Roxana paused and looked at him. His amethyst eyes sparkled like tiny stars.
“You are the brightest little star I’ve ever seen,” she said.
“Really?” Theodore asked, understanding a little what she meant. He had always felt plain and never special at all.
“Yes. When you endured this bravely today, I felt a light coming from you. I’m glad I saw it.
If others hadn’t noticed, I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet such a wonderful little star up close.”
Roxana shook his hand playfully.
“I’m not a baby…” Theodore muttered, slightly offended, but a smile couldn’t hide on his lips.
“Oh, sorry. Then… should I call you a bigger little star?” she teased.
“…Okay,” he answered reluctantly.
“Then I want to give a gift that suits the big little star. Will you accept it?”
Hearing Duchess Kailani say she wanted to give him something, the curious boy couldn’t hold back.
“What is it?”
Roxana took off the necklace she wore and placed it around Theodore’s neck herself.
He picked up the gem on the pendant and examined it. Inside a small oval silver frame was a raised pattern of a single leaf, and nestled in it was a star-shaped gem. It shone a pale green and was delicate and pretty. Looking closely, he could see an even smaller star inside the first one.
It was fascinating.
Theodore glanced up at the spot on Roxana’s neck where another necklace hung.
Roxana always wore two necklaces to parties. One was a dazzling Kailani family piece, and the other was the spirit necklace she’d inherited from her mother.
She didn’t want to take the spirit necklace off, so she wore both.
The spirit necklace looked simple but had a soft, refined glow that matched any jewelry.
Now, that spirit necklace hung at Prince Theodore’s throat.
Seeing the worried look on the boy’s face made Roxana feel even warmer inside. She felt glad she’d gotten used to wearing two necklaces and that she’d given the spirit necklace to him.
“It suits you,” she said.
“Thank you,” Theodore replied.
He was confused at first, but he couldn’t hide his joy at receiving a gift for the first time.
