MFTR 11

 Samuel, who had personally written down the message from the communicator and knew exactly what was going on, spoke proudly.

“Your Grace! As your capable assistant, I’ve already made preparations for our return. If we head back to the Grand Duchy now—”

“Hah, what nonsense is that?”

The Grand Duke swept his rain-soaked blond hair back with an exasperated look.

“Our princess is at the Imperial Palace right now.”

The unusual word “princess” coming out of his mouth made everyone flinch, but only the Grand Duke calmly turned to the vice-captain standing beside him.

“Morton, I’ll head to the capital immediately. You go back to the castle, organize a group, and follow me.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Y-Your Grace?”

Seeing Morton bow silently and leave with the knights without question, Samuel panicked. Just as he hurried to mount his horse, feeling an ominous premonition—

Grab.

His nape was seized. Turning his head, Samuel found a chilling black mask inches from his face.

“Where do you think you’re going? You’re coming to the capital with me.”

“Huh? But why me—?”

“You’re my capable assistant. Of course, you should be by my side.”

In that moment, Samuel knew.

He was doomed.

“Aaaaagh! Your Grace, have mercy!”

If I had known this would happen, I would’ve sent someone else!

Meanwhile, Charlotte stepped into the hallway after repeatedly reminding the Empress Dowager not to overexert herself.

That’s when she saw Serina approaching quickly from the opposite side and bowing deeply.

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Serina? You’ve already escorted Lord Hayworth to his room?”

“Actually, Princess Annette said she wanted a walk, so I guided her to the rear garden.”

Serina explained that Annette seemed troubled after the Empress Dowager collapsed, and she couldn’t bear to send her straight to her room. She apologized for taking her to the garden without permission.

“Oh dear, in trying to avoid making a bad first impression, we’ve created an unexpected misunderstanding.”

Rather than scolding her, Charlotte praised Serina and quickly headed to the garden to clear things up.

“Hey! Why aren’t you answering? I asked who you are!”

Annette, who had met every family member except her future husband, was feeling a strange sense of disappointment when she was jolted back to reality.

Despite his elderly-sounding speech, the young crown prince was as impatient as a true child.

“Um, well… that is…”

What should I say?

That I’m your future aunt-in-law?

She just couldn’t say it.

Even if she didn’t want to admit it, her appearance was that of a child around the crown prince’s age—enough to confuse even the Emperor.

No one would believe her, and it might just shock him.

Deciding to leave the explanation to the Emperor and Empress, Annette revealed just a fragment of the truth.

“Your Highness, I’m a foreign guest invited by the Empire. I’ll be staying at the palace for a while.”

“A foreigner? That explains…”

I thought your hair color was unusual.

Mikhail nodded but questioned sharply.

“Then what are you doing here?”

“Ah, well…”

Should she say she got lost while looking around the palace?

Annette, who had never told a lie, hesitated.

“Don’t tell me!”

Suddenly widening his eyes, Mikhail exclaimed,

“You fell for me and followed me here, didn’t you?!”

“…Huh?”

Too stunned to respond, Mikhail took her silence as confirmation and said,

“I knew it! Audrey was right!”

He clutched his forehead.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept your feelings.”

“No, I think you’ve misunderstood something—”

“It’s no use. My heart already belongs to Audrey.”

Who on earth is Audrey?!

Annette hurried to clear the misunderstanding, but it was clear the young crown prince was no longer listening.

He sighed dramatically, his breath fluffing his bangs in the process, and Annette stared blankly at the unexpectedly comical sight.

“Mikhail?”

“M-Mother!”

Charlotte had just entered the garden and widened her eyes when she saw her son with Annette.

“What are you doing here? Isn’t this supposed to be your study hour?”

Surprise faded quickly as the Empress adopted her stern motherly tone. Mikhail, who had brightened at seeing her, immediately froze.

“Well, you see…”

“Don’t tell me you skipped your lessons to laze around here?”

Her words hit the mark, and Mikhail hung his head in shame. Annette felt a twinge of guilt.

This situation might not have happened if she hadn’t wanted to go for a walk.

She never even considered that the news of the crown prince skipping class would’ve reached the Empress that evening anyway. She nervously looked around as if being scolded too.

“Mother! This young lady has done nothing wrong!”

The moment Charlotte’s gaze landed on Annette, Mikhail shouted defensively.

Annette was moved to see the timid boy standing up to defend her.

“It’s all because I—”

But just as he was about to launch into that ridiculous story again, Annette panicked.

Watching him squirm shyly, a stark contrast to his earlier confidence, she quickly spoke.

“Your Majesty, I think I caused trouble by wanting a walk. I apologize. I didn’t know His Highness was here.”

“No, this isn’t your fault at all.”

Only her son, who secretly skipped class, was in the wrong, and Charlotte shot Mikhail a sharp glare.

However—

She wasn’t following me…?

Realizing his mistaken assumption, Mikhail’s eyes trembled like an earthquake.

He was so shocked that he didn’t even notice his mother’s piercing stare or the way she referred to Annette.

He’s embarrassed…

Seeing his reddening ears, Annette stifled a chuckle.

Now that the misunderstanding was cleared, the boy seemed rather cute.

She thought of Laon, her younger brother by four years, who, as the Hayworth king’s youngest, constantly picked fights with her and demanded more patience than fighting magical beasts.

Compared to that brat, this prince is an angel.

…Though he did have a severe case of “prince syndrome.”

“He’s at the age where he just wants to have fun. Please don’t be too hard on him, Your Majesty.”

Feeling maternal toward the young boy, Annette spoke gently, forgetting her current state for a moment.

Seeing Annette treat him like a child despite their similar height, Mikhail was about to protest but paused, looking between his mother and Annette.

His mother usually spoke respectfully to other nobles, but somehow she seemed especially warm toward this foreign girl.

And she even allowed her to walk in the royal garden, which is normally restricted to royalty…

Unable to contain his curiosity, Mikhail opened his mouth.

“Mother, who exactly is this young lady—?”

“Oh, Mikhail. You must be polite. She’ll soon be part of our family.”

The words fell like a bolt from the blue.

〈His Highness seems quite shocked…〉

〈Better that than him being rude. He’ll understand once we explain properly later.〉

Annette worriedly commented as she watched Mikhail stumble away from the garden in shock, but Charlotte brushed it off.

Not long ago, she’d told her son the joyful news that his uncle, Cardin, would be getting married soon. So it was natural for his mind to be in turmoil now.

There weren’t any proper words to explain everything to such a young boy anyway—and more than anything, Charlotte hoped the mischievous child would behave a little better while Annette stayed at the palace.

Though Annette was somewhat anxious about how deeply Mikhail had misunderstood earlier, her thoughts quickly shifted as Charlotte mentioned the Empress Dowager.

〈The Empress Dowager doesn’t dislike you. It’s quite the opposite.〉

〈But still…〉

〈If she truly disliked you, would she have invited you for another tea time? Oh, and she said she’s sending you a surprise gift tomorrow!〉

Encouraged by Charlotte’s assurance, Annette, who was still uncertain, finally nodded.

But it was too early to relax.

That night, she resolved to present herself as properly as possible in front of the Empress Dowager.

And while pondering what that surprise gift could be, she finally drifted off to sleep.

The next day had finally arrived.