Although I gave my opinion, it wasn’t my role to interrogate Dorothea.

Sergei and Crown Prince Raphael decided to take on that role themselves.

Their argument was that since it’s clearly illegal to privately own items from the Magic Era, someone qualified should step up to question her.

Lord Joseph also joined in.

As the party whose life was at stake, he would probably want to ask questions directly too.

In some ways, Lord Joseph, as a returner and Magic Emperor, had even more information than Sergei.

‘Come to think of it, it feels really strange to call Lord Joseph the Emperor.’

Let’s put aside the useless thought that I didn’t want to become an Empress.

Anyway, an interrogation team of those three people was formed.

Of course, even so, Lord Joseph was not allowed to directly confront or speak with Dorothea.

No matter how much worse than an enemy their relationship might be, she’s still his birth mother, so how could they let a son by blood act harshly himself?

By the way, Kardiel said he wanted to join the interrogation too, but received stern glares from me and Sergei.

Lord Joseph also persuaded the child that that was absolutely not allowed.

‘Of course not, how could a child who’s not even of age yet!’

It’s not that I’m dismissing Kardiel. It’s because even small stimuli can have an impact before one’s emotions are fully developed.

I am the guardian, and Kardiel is still just a baby bird that needs to be safe in my embrace.

In any case, the interrogation began immediately.

However, it didn’t end quickly in a day as I had expected.

I’m not sure if Dorothea was quite stubborn, or if she still had hope of returning to the underworld.

‘We can’t just let go of someone who has learned about Lord Joseph…’

And so, several days passed.

During that time, I spent time with the children while recovering from travel fatigue.

It was truly a leisurely moment after a long time.

I read books with the children, ate snacks, and enjoyed walks.

The Daiern Castle and surrounding scenery, covered in white snow like a bride’s veil, was a dazzling spectacle that could enrich one’s sensibility just by looking at it.

“Mother! I discovered recently that if you climb to the top of the southern tower, there’s an extremely old piano!”

“Mom, did you know there’s a secret garden behind the castle? Let’s go see it together later! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you to come?”

What excited me the most was that finally, the children could freely roam this vast castle and spend comfortable time.

“Alright, let’s go see everything one by one. There’s always tomorrow, isn’t there?”

The children no longer had to be mindful of anyone’s gaze.

During breaks, they were busy exploring every nook and cranny of unknown rooms, including this tower and that corridor, without hesitation.

‘Even though they’ve been wandering for a month already, is it still so fascinating?’

Well, I can’t really say anything either.

‘Suddenly feeling attached to a place I’ve lived in for 10 years.’

Every spot my eyes landed on became newly lovable.

Even the worn surfaces of walls and faded doorknobs sparkled with their own luster.

Just because the atmosphere had changed a little.

‘If I’m like this, how must the children feel?’

Riding this momentum, I decided to replace all the indoor decorations including the castle’s furniture, curtains, and carpets.

The intention was to completely eliminate anything that might make the children recall memories of that husband who was like a nightmare to them.

Especially in the garden, I plan to plant lots of flowers and trees that he hated.

“New mother, I have something to tell you. If it’s alright, could you spare some time for tea?”

It was around the end of our walk time. Kardiel came to request a private meeting with me.

“Of course, that’s fine!”

Normally, I would have been careful not to show too much emotion.

But there was no need for that with my children.

I smiled brightly and clasped my hands together, delighted like a young girl.

After all, Kardiel had been avoiding private conversations with me for the past few days.

Even while participating in group activities like meals or walks.

‘I think it’s because I only shared Lord Joseph’s secret with Sergei.’

But I couldn’t forcibly approach him to tell him to open up.

Relationships ultimately have their own ways. And Kardiel is someone who needs time.

All I could do was wait for Kardiel to approach me first, while taking care of the child even more than before.

And today was that day. Of course, I gladly accepted Kardiel’s request.

There was a variable where Euphemina clung to my waist in the middle, saying she wanted to come along.

Fortunately, thanks to the perceptive Chersion persuading Euphemina and taking her away, the time with Kardiel was not interrupted.

“I chose the tea. I hope it suits your taste.”

Since it might be a place for secret conversations, all the servants who would serve tea had to be sent out.

The same went for Loretta. So I decided to brew the tea myself.

Fortunately, I was objectively quite skilled at brewing tea. Even my grandfather praised me a lot.

“…Yes.”

However, Kardiel’s response was lukewarm. It seemed like a reflexive answer without much thought.

I wish he had put a bit more soul into it.

Well, it didn’t matter much. We weren’t gathered for a tea tasting session after all.

I sat across from Kardiel. This was the reception room of my chambers, where the snowy landscape of Daiern Castle unfolded through the huge bay window beside the table.

The reception room had windows facing south, which dropped straight down a cliff.

Thanks to that, I loved that we could enjoy the view of the pure silk-like snowfield that no one had stepped on, without any obstructions.

“So, you said you had something to tell me, shall we listen slowly?”

I gently coaxed words out of Kardiel.

But once I set the stage, Kardiel couldn’t easily open his mouth.

Surely, given his personality, he must have organized what to say in his head dozens of times over the past few days.

‘Is it that difficult to say?’

The child I thought would immediately complain about feeling hurt, however, just rolled his eyes and moved his lips several times without speaking.

It was after another 30 minutes or so that Kardiel finally opened his mouth.

“…Does it perhaps hurt your feelings that I call you ‘new mother’?”

“Hm?”

But the words that came out were on a topic so different from my expectations. Now, of all times?

‘What on earth is he trying to say?’

I even forgot to swallow the tea I was holding in my mouth for a moment.

After blinking my eyes a few times like a fool, I finally swallowed the tasteless tea down my throat and put down the teacup.

“That’s sudden, Kar. Did something happen?”

“It’s true that at first, I made that distinction to differentiate between you and the mother who gave birth to me… and because I had no intention of acknowledging you as my mother.”

“…”

I was about to ask something more, but from that moment on, I decided to keep my mouth shut.

I judged that it wouldn’t be too late to speak after listening to the child’s words to the end.

Then Kardiel slowly began to lay out the words he had prepared in front of me, as if confessing.

“And making that distinction is still the same now. Also, in the future, I intend to continue distinguishing between the two of you. Because no matter what, I cannot think of you, new mother, the same as my birth mother who gave birth to me.”

“Hmm…”

I see.

‘No, I suppose so.’

With a benevolent smile, I quietly gazed at Kardiel.

His ice-cold yet clear and pure blue eyes seemed to sink towards the snowfield below the cliff.

I…

“…”

To be honest, yes, I wasn’t not hurt.

Because for the past 10 years, I truly regarded Kardiel, Euphemina, and Chersion as my own children.

I used my time, my emotions, my sincerity…

And everything else I had solely for the children.

If it was my meager sense of justice that couldn’t stand by and watch abused children, then the desire to make those children happy was my true heart.

…But ridiculously, I also hoped for something in return.

I thought it would be nice if the children truly regarded me as their mother too.

I wanted them to cherish me, rely on me, trust me, and not doubt me.

But isn’t this much natural?

Human relationships are ultimately no different from transactions that can only be established when giving and receiving are fair.

Once that balance tilts to one side, it becomes a one-sided sacrifice from then on.

That is an unfair deal.

I, a merchant to the bone, unconsciously calculated like that and placed the children on my scale.

Probably.

Therefore, I might not be able to become a good mother.

Because originally, parents are beings who should love their children unconditionally.

Beings who should sacrifice naturally, even if the scale tilts endlessly.

I took a moment to steady my breath while biting my lip.

Kardiel was right.

The reason why the child still refers to me as ‘new mother’ rather than ‘mother’ and makes a distinction was none other than this.

This child is exceptionally intelligent. His insight surpasses that of most adults.

So it wouldn’t be particularly strange if he had already noticed the dirty inner thoughts I had sealed away in the corner of my heart.