Chapter 17
Before I could say anything, Yudis quickly pulled me behind her, as if hiding a flaw, and softly spoke to the man.
“Izana has been rude to the Count. She should be resting because she’s unwell, but she’s quite stubborn. That’s why things like this keep happening.”
The man, still staring at me as if he had more to say, calmly replied.
“Well, she didn’t seem particularly sick to me.”
“She gets fevers on and off. Anyway, I’ll send the child back upstairs. Wouldn’t it be best for you to go meet Young Lord Yubel now?”
Wait a minute! I haven’t met Joseph yet!
Yudis grabbed my arm, but I quickly looked toward the front entrance.
Thankfully, right at that moment, Bern Rohia and Joseph were returning from greeting guests and entering the mansion.
But judging by the way the duke’s face twisted at the sight of me, he probably thought I caused another scene again.
The two of them started walking toward me.
“Hmm, I believe the knight commander already delivered His Majesty’s message a few days ago. If the third princess is unwell, His Majesty said he would be willing to care for her himself.”
“No, that won’t be necessary. Izana is my child, and I wish to take care of her myself.”
“Yes, and when I told His Majesty that, he said, ‘Then I’ll assign a royal physician to the girl, and the princess consort should focus on raising Young Lord Yubel.’”
“We’ve already assigned a personal physician for Izana here in the duchy. I don’t want to cause unnecessary worry for His Majesty. Count Hester, would you please relay that to him?”
Yudis’s voice was beginning to sound nervous, even to the ear.
I took advantage of their conversation to slightly open my eyes and carefully look at Joseph’s wrist as he walked calmly toward us.
‘It’s not there… It’s not!’
I sighed in relief inside.
Raglia’s usual form is a silver bracelet with a red gem.
Since obtaining Raglia, Joseph had never taken it off except when using it.
So the fact that his wrist was bare now meant he hadn’t gotten Raglia yet.
‘I have to get to Raglia first tonight.’
Raglia, the only way to defeat Winter Orshus, could not fall into anyone else’s hands.
I then lowered my head deeply toward Yudis and the man, who were still caught up in their argument.
“Mother, I’m sorry. I was just looking for something I lost. I’ll go back to my room now.”
Now that I had done what I needed, I planned to return to my room quietly.
If I upset Yudis any further, she might increase the surveillance on me—and then I wouldn’t be able to sneak out tonight.
Seeing me obediently bow my head, Yudis looked at me with a slightly flushed face, then nodded.
“…Go rest, then. Don’t make this mother worry by getting sick again.”
Her gentle tone gave me chills, but I quietly turned around.
“Wait.”
Just then, the man raised his hand and stopped Yudis. His face had gone blank again as he spoke.
“Princess Consort, I noticed earlier that the young lady seemed very hungry. His Majesty sent some medicine and food for her. Perhaps she should eat first.”
“But—”
“If she seems healthy, I’ll be able to better persuade His Majesty, don’t you think?”
Yudis’s face turned pale.
Count Linton Hester… he was the emperor’s mouth and ears.
If not, Princess Consort, you may lose everything.
The fact that he showed interest in Izana meant the emperor did too.
Yudis’s heart sank at the thought of an elderly woman’s warning voice echoing in her ears.
She had to convince Count Hester. She had to make him believe Izana didn’t need special care and could safely stay in the Rohia estate without causing problems.
But there was one thing Yudis didn’t know…
So… she really does seem sharp, just like the old lady said.
The man with the red beard standing before her—Count Linton Hester—was actually the Emperor of the Western Empire, Silis Lioniya, in disguise.
***
“Is it good?”
Yes, it’s delicious.
“It feels like I’ll get a stomachache.”
“You just said the opposite of what you meant.”
Oh—oops. This is my first time being possessed by someone, so I’m a little nervous…
I was slowly picking at a luxurious feast laid out in front of me.
Next to me stood the emperor, disguised as Count Linton Hester, and across the table sat Yudis, who had just returned.
It was a tea party. Around us, other nobles were chatting in small groups with snacks on their plates.
Bern Rohia was standing off to the side, glancing our way with a nervous expression.
Yudis had driven him away, wanting to keep everything involving me under her control.
That’s why Bern couldn’t approach the man sitting at the head table—who everyone thought was Count Hester, but was actually the emperor.
Count Linton Hester was one of the top five most powerful officials in the Western Empire.
While the Rohia duchy was also an influential noble family, their strength lay more in honor than political power. Even the duke and duchess had to be cautious with someone like Hester.
Yudis, unable to stop the Count directly, was now watching me with eyes that could burn holes.
“It’s not polite to act like that in front of the Count, Izana. I’ve always taught you to be respectful. Now, apologize.”
“I’m sorry, Count. I misspoke…”
The emperor didn’t react much to my formal bow of apology.
He picked up a small olive from his plate and popped it into his mouth as he said,
“You’re not eating much. Are you really unwell?”
“She’s fine.”
“I’m not sick!”
Yudis and I shouted at the same time. We looked at each other, surprised.
Didn’t the emperor just say he had offered to care for me at the palace if I was sick?
Yudis said she refused.
She probably did it to avoid suspicion about me not being a child born out of wedlock—or to avoid unnecessary attention.
But going to the palace wasn’t an option for me either.
Too many eyes, too much surveillance. I wouldn’t be able to move freely.
As long as no one discovered I was a [Materia], I was just an unwanted illegitimate child.
The emperor probably wanted to take me away not to protect me, but to remove me from Yubel’s side—a potential cause for discord.
So both Yudis and I, though for different reasons, stared tensely at the emperor.
He tilted his head toward her.
“Weren’t you the one who said the young lady had been ill for a long time?”
“She’s much better now.”
“You also said earlier she had a fever and shouldn’t be out of her room.”
Yudis’s face started to turn red.
So many lies had built up that even she was getting confused.
After a brief pause, she straightened her back and said,
“…I only said that out of concern. Parents tend to worry too much. Even a small bruise hurts our hearts, so we exaggerate sometimes.”
“I see.”
To ease the emperor’s concerns, I dramatically stuffed several bread rolls into my mouth.
Then I shoved in some pomegranate seeds too, filling my cheeks to the brim, and looked up.
My cheeks puffed up with every chew, but now wasn’t the time to care about manners.
I just need to look cheerful and healthy right now.
Besides, I don’t even know the noble etiquette anyway.
I smiled wide at the emperor with my cheeks puffed out. Smiling is a universal sign of good manners, right?
The emperor froze mid-movement as he reached for another olive, staring at me.
Then he murmured,
“Do all children look this funny?”
What the…!
“You’ve got a free-spirited look.”
My cheerful expression instantly soured.
Yudis, sweating nervously, quickly said,
“…Izana has been ill for a while and hasn’t learned proper etiquette yet. Please understand—”
“She looks familiar.”
“Pardon?”
“She reminds me of Princess Azelia, the one in the portrait hanging in the lobby.”
The emperor didn’t say it with any hidden meaning.
It was a casual comment, just a passing thought.
But in contrast, Yudis’s face turned pale as if she might faint.
