Chapter 58
“Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp.”
Tiny birds, no bigger than a baby’s hand, flitted busily from branch to branch, opening the morning with their fluttering wings.
The reeds on the plains shook off the dawn dew with the wind, waiting for the warmth of the sun.
Beneath the surface of the Therion River,
a carp as thick as a forearm thrashed inside a cast net, struggling desperately to escape. Little minnows, no bigger than thumbnails, that had wandered in to play hide-and-seek scattered away in fright.
For some, it was the start of a quiet and beautiful morning.
For others, it was the start of another day with simple hopes.
And for some, it was a battlefield of life and death.
Beside that grand display of nature, a funeral procession was passing—the funeral of Mori. Mori’s three brothers carried her coffin with grief etched on their faces.
Behind them, the flag bearing the golden eagle crest, chosen long ago by the late emperor, fluttered as if to say the Schlesien Castle had been, was, and always would be unchanged.
Squeak, squeak, snore.
Theodore was sleeping soundly, letting out tiny snores. I quietly stroked his face with my dry hand.
Thank goodness.
His breathing was steady, his temperature had returned to normal. But ever since waking, he had done nothing but sleep—already three days had passed.
He only drank water, then fell asleep again. Yesterday, I had started feeding him thin porridge made from ground grain, little by little.
For such a small body to withstand such deadly poison—he was remarkable.
Starting today, I should feed him some soup with bits in it.
I wished desperately for his sunken cheeks to plump back up as I rose from my seat.
But then, Theodore gently grabbed my hand.
“Theo!”
I quickly leaned in close to his face. His eyes fluttered open, just slightly.
Every morning, the first thing he did was squint his eyes open to check if I was still by his side.
“Our little champion woke up?”
I pressed my cheek against his small bird-like face and hugged his tiny body as if it might break.
“You’re squishing me,” he mumbled.
Like a sardine caught in a net, Theodore wriggled and twisted to free himself. Embarrassed, I pulled back quickly and stroked his head.
“All you do is sleep. Aren’t you hungry?”
“I am hun-gree.”
And right then—
Grrrrumble.
Theodore looked down at his hollow belly in shock, then glanced up at me with wide eyes.
“See? Your tummy is begging for food.”
I pressed my wrists together, opened and closed my fingers like a beak, and made chomping noises with my mouth:
“Nom-nom-nom-nom!”
Pretending to gobble up his little belly, I lunged playfully. Startled, Theodore wrapped his arms tightly around his stomach and cried out:
“Nanny, nanny! Where is nanny?”
He looked around, searching for Mori.
“Why the nanny?”
“To bring food. You can stay here, stepmother.”
Hearing him look for his nanny just so he could still be with me left me momentarily dazed.
What should I say?
Assassination. Poisoning. Conspiracies.
I never wanted him to know this cruel world.
I took his hand. “Theodore, listen carefully—”
But at that moment—
“Your nanny Mori, sadly, has died of food poisoning.”
It was Gerald.
When did he come in?
Without hesitation, Gerald sat right beside me, sliding his arm around my waist.
What on earth—why is this man so bold with skinship?
I smacked his rough hand with a loud slap, but his thick palm didn’t budge an inch.
“Where have you even been?”
He didn’t answer, only pressed closer. My heart pounded in my chest.
During interrogation, it had come out that Mori, resentful after her authority over the food and household system was stripped away, had poisoned Theodore’s meals. And she hadn’t even been Gerald’s lover.
“You mean she wasn’t your woman?”
I asked, eyes wide. Gerald frowned deeply. And unbelievably—he had never even dated before. A lifelong bachelor.
When I burst out laughing, he flushed and cleared his throat awkwardly.
What? Is this man… actually pure-hearted?
To think that I was his first love and his wife—my own heart thudded wildly at the thought.
I scolded it to calm down, but the heat flooding my cheeks was beyond my control. I turned my head quickly.
“…Oh.”
Theodore let out a deep sigh.
Seeing his sorrowful face broke my heart. I stroked his head gently.
“I should have given nanny you as a present,” he murmured.
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Then she would’ve been cared for and survived. Sigh…”
Ah… his warm words made my chest tighten.
“Sometimes I’ll miss nanny,” Theodore whispered, voice trembling. Tears welled in his eyes and streamed down his cheeks. I hugged him tightly.
Inside my arms, his small shoulders shook. I patted his back softly.
When I first heard Mori had been killed, I was shocked. Executed immediately, without trial.
Gerald had even asked me what crime to charge her with.
But… she had once been someone Theodore trusted. If it spread that she’d tried to murder him, it would do him no good.
So we agreed to say she died of food poisoning—anything to lessen the blow for Theodore.
And then, something soft and firm touched my cheek. Startled, I turned—and found Gerald’s cheek pressed against mine.
Ugh, seriously—this man. Is he really new to love?
Like a white eagle spreading its massive wings, he wrapped both me and Theodore in his thick arms, resting his face on my shoulder.
Theodore, wide-eyed, looked up at him through teary lashes.
“Theo. Thanks to your kind heart, your nanny will rest peacefully.”
“Yes… right? Mother and father will welcome her too.”
As his lips quivered and his chin shook like a peach pit, he fought back sobs in front of his father.
Then Gerald spoke softly.
“Theo.”
The boy looked up, lips pressed tight.
“It’s okay to cry.”
Gerald’s large hand stroked his head, and Theodore’s red, jelly-like eyes finally overflowed. He shook with sobs.
“Nanny, you fool… I survived, and you, you foolish nanny!”
He mourned more deeply than anyone for the woman who had tried to kill him.
* * *
Inside the imperial palace, Bedrian Hall.
“Kyaaah!”
That scream was not from my mouth, but from my heart—it had been shrieking nonstop since earlier. My heart thudded like a drum, my hands trembled, but I forced myself to walk gracefully.
Behind me trailed attendants and maids, footmen and knights.
With one hand I held Theodore’s small hand, with the other I rested my arm lightly on Gerald’s firm forearm.
Step by elegant step, I walked down the palace corridor.
Behind us, our family’s maids, dressed in matching uniforms like soldiers, carried the “gift for Theodore” I had prepared—assorted snacks and sparkling water.
Hehehe, Alfred—your aunt is here!
Sweet cider, colorful meringues, macarons, even cream puffs you’d never see in this world—all for you.
As soon as Theodore regained his strength, Gerald had insisted we visit the palace.
“It’s tradition,” he said. “Once wed, we must greet the highest elder of the realm.”
Well, in my own world too, after weddings and honeymoons, couples paid respects to their elders. It made sense.
But… if I remembered correctly, Gerald had never set foot near the palace in the novel.
Still—if he said we should go, then of course, we would.
Whoever had placed me in this world—whether God or some desperate soul from the future—they must want me blessed.
And that pillar… it had to be the one.
Yes, the roses carved into its crown confirmed it.
The twelve pillars of Bedrian Palace were carved with the visages of the Twelve Gods, remnants of the old faith.
And legend said: if one confessed love at the pillar of Amorta, the goddess of love, that love would last forever.
It was there Alfred had once pledged his sweet devotion to Cordelia.
I couldn’t stop sneaking glances at it, giggling.
“Wife?”
“….”
“Wife!”
“Y-yes?”
Startled, I looked at Gerald.
“Why are you blushing and stealing glances at that pillar?”
“They say if you confess your love there, it will last forever.”
“Ah… the goddess Amorta?”
I nodded.
“Stop!” Gerald barked suddenly.
“…?”
The servants and knights trailing us all halted.
Gerald scooped Theodore up in one arm and dragged me toward the pillar.
“Gerald? Gerald?!”
He strode ahead, and I wondered what on earth he was doing.
Maybe he wanted me to see it up close. How thoughtful.
“Theo, watch carefully,” he said.
Perhaps he was going to explain—like a museum guide. Both Theodore and I waited expectantly.
But instead, Gerald placed my hand on the pillar, covering it with his own.
“…!”
“Goddess Amorta, bless Gerald von Zeyer and Sinclair von Zeyer, husband and wife, with eternal love.”
Smack.
His lips brushed my cheek in a swift kiss. My jaw dropped as I stared at him.
My heart pounded like a war drum, panic rising. My cheeks burned as if seared. I wanted to hide.
But he only gazed at me tenderly, lips curved in a smile.
Behind him, the maids, attendants, and knights all gawked, mouths open.
So this embarrassment was mine alone to bear.
“Me too! Me too!” Theodore piped up.
He placed his tiny hands against the pillar and urged me to put mine there too.
“Oh… well, all right.”
If we do it as a family, maybe it won’t be so awkward…
I was about to place my hand when Gerald cut in slyly.
“The gods permit only one partner to each soul.”
And with that, he whisked Theodore away in his arms.
“Waaah! No fair! No fair!”
Seriously? He made the child cry in the palace?
He could have just let him pretend. Why not? Poor boy’s feelings—why doesn’t he understand?
I hurried after Gerald’s long strides, torn between indignation and shyness.
After all, this was my first time in the palace. A country bumpkin’s grand debut.
And soon, not only would I meet my beloved Alfred, but also the Empress Kenness—the woman who would surely despise me.
