It took exactly one day for the children to prepare for their departure to the imperial capital.

While the earlier than expected schedule was satisfying, on the other hand, I felt somewhat sad about having to send the children away so soon.

“Please take good care of Euphemina, Your Imperial Highness.”

“Do not worry, Your Excellency the Regent. Especially since Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess is very fond of the young lady, she will take good care of her even after I enter the academy.”

Well, that’s how it should be.

Still, I had some concerns. I handed Prince Raphael a thick letter I had written all night long.

“As Your Highness knows, Lady Euphemina is a bit different from other children. I have written down various requests to ensure she doesn’t cause trouble while staying at the imperial palace, so please deliver this to Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess.”

“I will do so. But I believe she would take the best care of her even without such a letter.”

Somehow it was a meaningful statement, but it also felt quite reassuring.

Perhaps it was because Euphemina naturally accepted the prince’s escort and boarded the carriage.

“Sergei… I hope you complete your thesis well until the day you return to the Tower of Honor. Please take good care of the children while I’m gone.”

“Of course I will. Thanks to Landgritz’s legacy, I think I’ll be able to complete the thesis easily.”

By the way, the books and items I brought from Landgritz were scheduled to be transported to the imperial capital along with the children this time.

Emperor Godfrey isn’t letting the children stay at the imperial palace for no reason. It’s all because I brought such great results.

Ah, of course, Joseph had read all the books once. So there’s no need to feel sorry.

“Our youngest. You have to study hard with Teacher Ernestine when you get there, okay?”

“Mm, yes…”

Chersion, holding Kong Sam, answered brightly but his voice lacked energy.

Knowing the reason, I covered my mouth to hide a smile and bent down. Then I whispered so no one else could hear.

“Lord Joseph said that during the next total lunar eclipse, our Chelsy might be able to become a mage!”

“…!”

Suddenly the child’s eyes widened with anticipation.

“Re-really? Can I become like Lord Joseph too?”

“Well. I heard you need to eat well, stay healthy, take Kong Sam for walks every day, and study hard too? If you’re so downcast, you’ll fail in the health category, won’t you?”

“Hehe, no, I’m healthy! Right, Kong Sam?”

Chelsy, who instantly became cheerful, boarded the carriage with shining eyes.

It’s not just because he’s my son, but he’s really such a lovable child, isn’t he? Feeling proud, I smiled and then turned to Kardiel…

“Mother!”

Chersion approached me again just as I was about to straighten up.

As I was about to scold him for running like that, the child whispered a secret in my ear, just as I had done.

“I also like that Lord Joseph is my new father.”

“Huh?”

“Shh! It’s a secret from big brother and big sister. Big sister is really scary.”

With a quick peck on my cheek, Chersion swiftly climbed into the carriage… but before that, he approached Joseph who was standing next to me.

Seemingly surprised that the child would come to greet him as well, Joseph blinked in slight confusion before bowing.

“Are you coming to greet me as well?”

“Lord Joseph, please take good care of our mother.”

Chersion’s amber eyes sparkled brightly as he bowed politely.

“Don’t worry, young master.”

“Hehe, from now on, please just call me ‘Chelsy’.”

“If that’s what you wish. Alright, Chelsy.”

Chersion giggled and finally climbed back into the carriage.

Seeing the child disappear into the carriage while waving his hand vigorously, a smile naturally spread across my face.

“New mother.”

Lastly, it was time to see Kardiel off.

“Was that play we saw based on a real event?”

“…”

“Did Lord Joseph perhaps turn back time once more?”

Kardiel’s blue eyes narrowed sharply. Oh my, he’s become even sharper after aging just one year.

A helpless sigh escaped me.

I had no intention of deceiving him anyway.

Especially since Kardiel is to become the Duke of Daiern, he has the right to know everything that happened in Daiern.

“I’ve written the details here.”

I handed Kardiel a letter with my back turned to the carriage.

“Joseph doesn’t remember this either. It was offered as the price for chronomancy.”

“…”

“I tried to write as much as I could remember, but I don’t have such an amazing memory. Some things might be omitted or distorted.”

That means I left out the extremely cruel parts.

Anyway, Kardiel received the letter with a strange expression and secretly tucked it into his chest.

“Have a good time at the academy.”

“…Yes.”

“I’m sorry I can’t see you off properly.”

“Aren’t you seeing me off right now?”

“That’s different.”

Regretfully, I repeatedly grasped and released Kardiel’s hand.

“I’ll write letters.”

Then Kardiel firmly grasped my hand first.

“In the letters… I’ll try to write ‘mother’.”

“Oh?”

The tips of the child’s ears turned red as he bowed his head deeply.

“Then when we meet again, I think I’ll be able to distinguish you from my birth mother in my heart… even if I call you ‘mother’.”

“…”

The title doesn’t matter.

It really doesn’t matter… but those words made my heart melt with pride.

Each of the three children who grew up in abnormal environments had their own wounds.

They were nasty wounds that would ache just from someone touching them, or make them writhe in pain just from looking at them.

For Kardiel, the word ‘mother’ was like that.

As the eldest child crushed under the weight of responsibility, the only thing the child could lean on was probably an existence called ‘mother’.

But for Kardiel, ‘mother’ was rather a burden.

It was another weight the child had to bear. That’s why he was so reluctant to use that word.

Because some memories become imprinted even in the briefest moment.

I…

I was happy that Kardiel was willing to try calling me ‘mother’.

Because it meant that the child was now ready to face his own wounds.

“Thank you.”

“…New mother.”

“Thank you for growing up so well, my son.”

Rain fell on the hand Kardiel was holding. Joseph quickly wiped my eyes with a handkerchief.

“I love you, my proud son.”

Looking at me shedding tears so pitifully, Kardiel let out a deep sigh as if he couldn’t help it.

“…No matter what you say, I still can’t approve of your marriage to Lord Joseph.”

Suddenly my tears dried up.

‘Right, that’s a different matter.’

But still. Do you have to say such things at a time like this? For the first time, I felt sulky about Kardiel’s cold personality.

“At least wait until I graduate.”

However, the words that followed were enough to instantly turn my mind blank.

“What…?”

“Surely you’re not planning to hold the wedding without the eldest son present?”

“They’re really gone.”

“Indeed, they have left.”

After seeing the children off for a long time, a strange silence fell around us.

After bidding farewell to the children, I continued to stand in that spot until the carriage was out of sight. I did so even after all the servants had gone inside.

The only one still by my side now was Joseph alone.

“Do not worry. I cast thirty-four types of protective magic on that carriage. They’ll be safe even if the entire imperial army chases after them until they reach the imperial palace.”

“…That’s not why I’m like this.”

“Is that so?”

“I don’t believe you.”

“The children are always your top priority.”

Joseph’s voice was somewhat subdued. Sensing an opportunity, I quickly hugged his arm.

“Joseph, you’re jealous right now.”

“Haha… No matter how you put it, a father being jealous of his children is quite unseemly.”

For someone saying that, he’s avoiding my gaze. Something was definitely off.

“Look at me, Joseph.”

I turned the arm I was hugging to make him face me.

“Of course the children are my top priority, but… look. Like now, eventually the children will leave my embrace and become independent.”

And…

“When that time comes, you’ll be the only one left by my side.”

Only then did his red eyes, which had been looking off into the distance, fully gaze at me.

“I’ll do the same.”

That I would be with Joseph always, forever.

“I’ll make sure you never feel a headache for the rest of your life.”

It took a long time, but I’m now certain of my feelings. And at the same time, I made a resolution.

That I love this person.

That I will love only this person for the rest of my life.

“So will you kiss me?”

“Lieselotte…”

His lips uttering my name absentmindedly looked especially beautiful. I released my hands holding his arms and wrapped them around his waist.

“We’re outside, you know.”

“We’re going to get married anyway, aren’t we?”

And even if anyone sees, it would only be the servants cleaning by the windows.

Still, I had to make sure. I added a condition.

“…Of course, that would be two years from now. You heard what Kardiel just said, right?”

“Ahaha.”

With a pleasant laugh, this time Joseph firmly supported my waist.

“But what should we do? Right now, I don’t think I can end with just a kiss…”

Hmm.

That is indeed troublesome. Reluctantly pushing Joseph away slightly, I grabbed his arm instead.

“Then how about we continue what we were about to do before, in my room?”