“Anyway, it’s really a shame. If you, Lieselotte, had accepted that marriage proposal, His Majesty the Emperor would have been very pleased. Above all, he would have immediately solved the succession problem of Daiern that he was so worried about.”

“That’s…”

…It was a possible story.

That is, if His Majesty the Emperor had the will to do so.

It’s true that the imperial family usually doesn’t interfere in the affairs of ordinary noble families.

But they don’t ignore the problems of the family to which a person who will become a member of the imperial family belongs.

It’s also a matter of the imperial family’s face.

‘In other words, if I had really accepted the imperial grandson’s proposal…’

It would have been the safest and surest way to protect the children and Daiern.

“What do you think, Lieselotte?”

As if reading my expression, Adeline asked seriously.

“What do you mean?”

“About marrying Raphael even now.”

“…”

“Of course, I know you rejected him once. But it’s okay. Rather, I think it’s even better for creating a romance. Besides, I don’t know what circumstances you had, but didn’t you consider Raphael’s proposal for quite a long time?”

“Hmm.”

“What do you think? If needed, I’ll give you a little more time.”

Instead of answering quickly, I chose my words slowly.

Well, it’s a reasonable proposal. Certainly, it’s an offer that would perfectly fulfill my purpose.

But it was also a topic that didn’t need deep consideration at this point.

First of all, unlike Adeline’s thinking, Prince Raphael sees me as a teacher, not as a woman.

‘Above all, if I marry someone else, Lord Joseph really has no options.’

There’s still one thing I can’t forget.

It was something I heard when talking to Lord Joseph about Sergei’s proposal.

For him.

For Lord Joseph, I am the only alternative.

Then I, too, should not consider other alternatives.

“…No, Your Highness.”

So my answer had been firmly decided from the beginning.

I just had a little hesitation about whether I could reveal it here and now.

“I appreciate your words, but there’s no need for that.”

The decision was made quickly.

“Actually, I already have someone I’m discussing marriage with.”

“What?”

Naturally, Adeline showed a reaction as if she had received a great shock.

“What did you say you have, Lieselotte?”

“I have someone I’m discussing marriage with. It’s a good person, enough that Your Highness the Crown Princess doesn’t need to worry. He doesn’t covet the Daiern Duchy title or wealth, and above all, the children desperately want him as their new father.”

I looked at Euphemina, asking for confirmation with a “Right?”.

Only then did a pure flower-like smile bloom on the face of the child who had been wearing a cold, stiff expression until just now.

“Oh, my… I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”

Adeline, however, still had a face that was hard to believe.

She put down the teacup and saucer she was holding on the table and asked as if dumbfounded.

“Is there really such a person? Someone who doesn’t need the duke title or wealth, and will also be a good new father to the children?”

I’m not sure about being a good new father, but it’s undeniable that Lord Joseph treats the children quite well.

I affirmed without hesitation.

“That’s right.”

“Ah, I see! Could it be the man chosen by Landgritz Baron? You know, an ordinary person of no particular note like that Leopold Hose or whatever. Such a person wouldn’t dare to covet the title and wealth.”

“Unfortunately, that’s not it either, Your Highness.”

“Is that so? Well, I guess not.”

For reference, Leopold Hose was arrested on the spot and is currently imprisoned in a jail managed by the imperial city guard.

The trial hasn’t been held yet, but the death penalty is almost certain.

“Then he must be an old man. If he already has a lot, he wouldn’t need to covet what you have. Ah, Lieselotte. Haven’t I always told you that men should be young first? In that sense, Raphael would be perfect. That child is in his first marriage, has no entanglements with women, and has lived so purely until now…”

“Surprisingly, Your Highness. The person I’m discussing marriage with is like that too. He’s younger than me and also in his first marriage.”

“There was such a person, who on earth? Ah, I see!”

She clapped her hands together and her deduction started once again. However, unfortunately, this time was also a miss.

“Sage Sergei! Right, if it’s him, it fits perfectly! Am I right?”

Her face was full of confidence, but I shook my head this time too.

And I decided to take the initiative before Adeline could make more of a fuss.

“It’s Count Alperon, Your Highness the Crown Princess.”

“What, who did you say?”

“Count Joseph Obreim Alperon. That foreign nobleman you know, Count Alperon.”

“…!”

Adeline’s pupils dilated in an instant.

“Count Alperon? You mean… the lord of the Alperon land?”

“Lord…”

That title was very unfamiliar.

But thinking about it, it’s not wrong.

Joseph, who inherited the legacy of the Emperor of the Magic Era, is undoubtedly a person worthy of being called the master of Alperon.

If this were the Magic Era, he would be called ‘Your Majesty’ as the Magic Emperor.

‘Thinking like this, it is quite a grand status.’

It was especially surprising that Adeline referred to Joseph not as Count Alperon but as ‘the lord of Alperon’.

That ultimately means that even the imperial family recognizes Joseph as the king of an independent country.

Although it seems that it has only been privately made known to the imperial family members without any official announcement yet.

‘No wonder. That’s why the Emperor was so eager to invite Lord Joseph to the dinner.’

Now that I think about it, I realized that even the privilege of us staying in the detached palace might have been possible because of Lord Joseph.

“Anyway, is that true? The news that you’re going to marry Count Alperon.”

At first, she covered her mouth saying, “Oh my, oh my,” in surprise, but now she asked me several times if it was certain.

“The engagement announcement hasn’t been made yet, but it looks like it will happen soon. We haven’t decided when to have the wedding yet.”

“Goodness. Lieselotte, this time you’re really getting involved with a manly man!”

But a friend is a friend.

Adeline, who seemed to be sizing up Lord Joseph for a moment, soon had a face that sincerely congratulated my decision.

That was quite fortunate for me.

If Adeline understood, the matter of marriage talks between Prince Raphael and me would be definitively settled.

But there was a slight problem with that judgment.

The place where her gaze, full of smiles, was directed was Euphemina, whom she had seated next to her like a treasure.

Even without words, I could tell who Adeline’s next target had become.

‘That won’t be easy.’

She was a friend who had been trying to take difficult paths from long ago. But this time, it’s hard to cheer her on.

Because I plan to love Euphemina for as long as possible.

Somehow, it felt like I had been doing psychological counseling all day.

Still, I wasn’t too tired.

I had succeeded in normalizing Lord Joseph, confirmed that Kardiel had recovered, and Euphemina had regained her vitality.

But there were still places that needed my touch. After finishing the walk that had become longer than expected thanks to Adeline, I took Euphemina to her room and then turned my attention.

There was still time before the dinner banquet.

With the thought that everyone would eat together today, I moved my steps towards Chersion’s room.

However, my steps couldn’t help but be heavier than usual.

At least with Lord Joseph, there was room for resolution through conversation.

At least with Euphemina, I could make plans to persuade her with empathy and comfort.

But not with Chersion. It was different from the two previous situations.

Yes, it was last night when I properly received a report on Chersion’s condition.

The child, who had collapsed and received treatment for a while after the fire, showed symptoms of panic attacks after properly regaining consciousness.

It wasn’t difficult to guess the reason. It was due to hyperthymesia syndrome.

The child’s cruelly vivid experiential memory couldn’t escape from the terror of the moment when the fire broke out.

He repeatedly said he was scared while closing his eyes and covering his ears.

Weeping over Teacher Rozier’s death and agonizing over Sergei’s injury…

I, who rushed to Chersion late at night, had to despair that there was nothing I could do.

Except for holding the child, who was small even compared to his peers, in my arms and comforting him by patting his back.

‘I’ll probably have to keep an eye on Chersion for a while.’

To be honest, even if I did that, there was no guarantee that Chersion would get better.

Unlike me, who can bury painful memories as time passes, Chersion’s memory disorder doesn’t allow forgetting.

‘Still, I have to try somehow. Chelsie will be able to overcome this.’

It was when I went to the front of Chersion’s room, somehow gathering that hope I had squeezed out.