Chapter 93
“Isn’t it strange?”
“What is?”
“Don’t sisters usually resemble each other a lot? But Lady Jan and Her Majesty the Empress look nothing alike.”
“Well, that’s because…”
Kenneth glanced down at Mew-Mew, who was sitting primly on the floor.
“Even when they come from the same womb, one kitten can be spotted, another yellow, another striped. Each is different, isn’t it? It’s the will of Orlésion.”
Kenneth smiled gently and looked quietly at Sinclair.
“Sinclair happens to be the one with the most dazzling beauty in our family. That’s why we hid her away and raised her preciously.”
“I see. In fact, I was starting to think the Grand Duchess must look different from the rest of you… just to meet me.”
Everyone turned to Gerald in confusion.
Then Gerald, shameless as ever, smiled and continued,
“Because she was destined to be my woman.”
Then he took Sinclair’s hand and brought it to his lips, brushing a kiss over her fingers.
Theodore puffed his cheeks like a pufferfish.
“No, that’s not it! Stepmother is this beautiful because she was meant to meet me, not the Empress.”
He took her other hand and pressed it against his cheek.
Hup—
Kenneth pursed his lips to hide the grimace threatening to form and only managed a stiff nod.
Sinclair bit her lower lip out of embarrassment.
Honestly, there were no words for how utterly shameless these men were.
Still, as expected, Kenneth was a master of social grace.
“The Grand Duke and the Young Duke are so fond and affectionate toward my sister—thank you. Our poor father, who’s been unwell, must recover quickly so he can see this sight for himself.”
“Of course. I’ve already told him to do his best to recover before the Demon Realm Subjugation Tournament. It would be disappointing if neither His Majesty the Emperor nor the Marquis could attend. It’s been years since I last participated, after all.”
“I’ll trust in you, then. I leave it in your capable hands, Your Grace.”
Kenneth offered the polite words and turned his head toward the window.
Whew. Did they notice my trembling?
He discreetly wiped his damp palms with a handkerchief.
Gerald was said to be a man of great intellect. Though two years younger, he had fought beside Emperor Julius on battlefields since the age of ten, slaying monsters.
A man born with the mission to cross the river and expand the Empire’s borders by conquering the Demon Realm.
Had it not been for Jean’s rebellion, he might have already succeeded in that conquest.
“Kiieeek!”
A sharp metallic screech rang out from somewhere. Kenneth looked toward the darkening sky.
In the distance, flocks of birds were flapping their wings hastily, flying home.
Do birds usually make such a ruckus when returning home?
He tilted his head as he watched the flocks scatter like ink splatters across the blood-red dusk.
“What’s that sound?”
Before he noticed, Theodore had poked his small head out beside him to look outside too.
The Empress subtly leaned away to avoid physical contact with the young duke.
A cursed child was ominous, after all.
Then her eyes met Gerald’s—his gaze was cool and sharp as he watched the scene.
“Well,” she said flatly, “perhaps the birds are simply tired.”
Gerald’s eyes shifted from the Empress to Sinclair.
“Sin, when we arrive, I’ll meet briefly with the commander before joining you.”
Will you be all right?
The worry conveyed silently through his eyes made Kenneth falter. Such tender affection between husband and wife was almost unheard of among noble couples.
“Don’t worry! I’ll protect Stepmother,” Theodore said brightly.
Before anyone noticed, he had slid over to Sinclair’s side like the receding tide.
Alone with her…
Perhaps this could be an opportunity.
In the distance, the Marquis of Roland’s castle was coming into view.
The Marquis of Heather’s estate, though located within the capital, was quite grand.
When the gatekeeper heaved open the heavy iron doors, a long avenue lined with metasequoias appeared.
A well-maintained path, about as wide as a two-lane road, stretched forward.
Clip-clop, clop, clop.
The sound of horses’ hooves echoed rhythmically.
Along the center of the path, lamps flickered like a guiding line through the falling dusk.
After the Schlessen estate failed to conquer the Demon Realm, Marquis Roland Heather had thrown himself into the mining business.
Before then, he had collaborated with Schlessen to forge weapons from demon stones mined beyond the border—but after the Empire banned such practices, he carved out a new niche.
In the novel, he was described as the man who developed new siege weapons like catapults.
Currently, he profited modestly by exporting his creations to small kingdoms on the Peternia continent—but later, during the great war against demons, his arms business would shine even brighter.
The kingdoms that had traded with him would cross over to fight beside the Empire.
Sinclair marveled as she recalled the grandeur described in the book.
So this was the very place where foreign tribes pitched tents and prepared for war…
The air was fragrant with the scent of grass.
The idea that this peaceful place would one day be drenched in blood—it was unbearable.
If only Theodore’s curse could be lifted, perhaps this land would stay just as peaceful as it was now.
As they passed through the thick woods, the landscape opened into a vast garden blooming with flowers. The scent of blossoms transitioning from May to June hung thick in the twilight air.
How romantic…!
Sinclair, filled with quiet excitement, patted Theodore’s head and gave Alfred a small, warm smile.
Finally, the castle loomed before them.
In front of it, a magnificent fountain sprayed water that sparkled even more brilliantly than the palace’s own. The driveway was designed to let carriages enter and exit in a smooth circle around it.
But—
All the members of the study group were standing in a line before the castle, waiting.
An extraordinary welcome, fit for the Empress and Crown Prince.
Sinclair’s heart pounded hard.
Theodore was entering this kind of event, hand in hand with her.
Quickly, she straightened Theodore’s hair and smoothed his uniform collar.
Then she glanced at Gerald.
There wasn’t really anything to fix—except…
Her cheeks flushed.
There, right on the pristine front of his white uniform, was one of her pale violet hairs.
She plucked it off discreetly and turned away—only to meet the Crown Prince’s gaze. Sinclair scrunched her nose playfully and smiled.
At last, the carriage door opened.
The golden light of the setting sun mingled with the torchlight before the castle, casting shimmering diagonal rays.
“His Highness, the Crown Prince, has arrived!”
The servant’s voice rang out like a prelude, soon joined by the soft melody of string instruments.
Now, the Crown Prince would rise and step down first, followed by the Empress.
Soon—Theodore’s first entrance into high society! Not even described in the original book.
When Sinclair held out her palm, Theodore placed his small, pale hand in hers. Sinclair clasped it firmly.
This stepmother will protect you, no matter what.
Across from her, Alfred watched Sinclair fuss over the preparations and felt a sting of nostalgia.
Yes—his aunt used to do that. She used to fuss over him endlessly.
It hurt that her care now belonged to someone else.
“Crown Prince?”
Prompted by Kenneth’s soft voice, Alfred looked up at his mother.
It was time for the show to begin.
As the dignified and noble Crown Prince, it was time to fulfill his duty.
Alfred rose and stepped toward the carriage door.
Then—
Rustle, rustle!
Someone tugged lightly on his sleeve. He turned to see Sinclair, still seated, smoothing the wrinkles on his uniform.
She did it so naturally, smiling up at him like it was nothing.
The Crown Prince inclined his head slightly, then turned away.
Outside the carriage, nobles and their sons and daughters were already bowing in greeting.
Surely, they all knew what had happened in the palace. The palace was full of eyes and ears, after all.
Alfred drew in a quiet breath and spoke in a clear voice.
“I introduce a new member of the study group—Theodore von Zeyer, my younger brother!”
“…!”
At the Crown Prince’s declaration, the nobles looked up in surprise. Even the Empress, who was about to step down next, froze and stared at her son’s back.
It was the first time he had made a decision without asking her.
Sinclair cheered inwardly.
With the Crown Prince’s endorsement, Theodore’s path ahead would be paved with flowers, not curses.
Thanks to the “protagonist buff,” the other children would surely follow the prince’s lead.
Theodore blinked, looking back and forth between Sinclair and Gerald. Both gave him an encouraging nod.
Sinclair gently patted his head.
“Theo, shall we go make some friends?”
At her words, Theodore nodded and moved to stand beside Alfred.
Theodore’s head reached just about Alfred’s shoulder.
Hmm, I really should feed him more, Sinclair thought worriedly, clasping her hands as she watched her son walk ahead.
Ah, my brave little boy—standing so tall and proud.
For the first time, she saw nothing else around her—only Theodore.
His shy little steps,
the fine black curls fluttering in the spring breeze,
the tiny sole of his shoe visible as he bowed politely with one knee bent.
There wasn’t a single thing about him that wasn’t adorable.
Goodness… I thought I was a fan of Alfred, but I’ve become Theodore’s biggest admirer.
Sinclair was startled by her own feelings.
So this was what it meant to be helplessly devoted to one’s child.
Thank you, Crown Prince. Please continue looking after our boy.
Her heart felt warm—different from the way it had on her wedding day.
From the fountain, cool droplets filled with spring’s pollen floated over and landed softly on the boys’ heads and shoulders.
As they descended the stairs, noblemen, ladies, and their children greeted them politely.
Even their well-bred dogs barked enthusiastically, showing off the latest fashionable pets of the capital.
Mew-Mew, trained well, did not bark.
But then, one hunting dog at the front—one that looked like a Doberman—
“Grrrrr… grrrrr…”
Let out a low growl.
“?”
Woof!
It happened in an instant. The Doberman-like dog lunged, baring its teeth—straight at the Empress.
“Kyahhhh!”
In a blink, the entrance descended into chaos.
