The emperor said nothing and alternately looked at Nigel and the locket.

His gaze fell on Nigel’s black hair, sharp-edged eyes, and purple irises.

“…Chamberlain.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At the small murmur, a stern-faced man in formal attire appeared.

“Guide the children to the guest room. And prepare that room as well.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

Even as he spoke to the chamberlain, the emperor’s gaze persistently focused on Nigel.

“It seems this is not a conversation to be had here.”

As the emperor’s smile lost its composure and filled with urgency, Allen and Noah quietly observed the situation.

“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s generosity. However, before that, if you could ensure the safety of my family and fellow townspeople, I will comply with your words.”

As Nigel pushed further to completely take the upper hand, Allen and Noah’s eyes wavered helplessly like those standing at the edge of a cliff.

“Of course, of course. I’ll grant as many such promises as needed.”

The emperor smiled softly and reached out to Nigel’s hair. His hand, moving carefully as if handling something precious, slowly touched Nigel.

On top of Nigel’s hair, the gentle warmth remained still, unable to move, only feeling Nigel’s warmth.

“Then, would you please follow my guidance.”

Nigel nodded lightly and called for Jack and Ruth.

“Nigel, why? Do we have to leave the imperial palace now?”

– I was in the middle of enjoying a game of hide-and-seek with the young human!

The two children glanced repeatedly at the garden.

“No, His Majesty said to stay overnight. He’s offering us guest rooms.”

Jack and Ruth’s faces brightened instantly, and they followed behind Nigel.

Allen and Noah, dumbfounded, stood at the rear and followed behind the emperor.

Beautiful and comfortable rooms were assigned one by one, and now only Nigel remained.

“Ah, is Ruth going with Nigel? That’s not fair!”

Even as Ruth dozed off on Nigel’s shoulder, she smiled victoriously at Jack.

“A lady needs her own space to rest. Remember that.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Forgetting his sullenness from earlier, Jack perked up and answered energetically at the emperor’s words.

“Well then, shall we go?”

The emperor glanced at Noah and then took Nigel with him.

Where the emperor’s footsteps stopped was a palace slightly smaller in scale than the emperor’s palace, but with a more delicate and elegant appearance.

“It’s a beautiful place, isn’t it?”

The emperor stroked the smooth marble column and looked at Nigel.

“This place is…”

The emperor gave no answer and smiled with a hint of bitterness.

“Come, let’s go. Unfortunately, I don’t have much time to spare for you.”

From his actions of swallowing his emotions, Nigel guessed the correct answer.

Everything in the palace was designed for an adult woman, not an adult man. Even the doorknobs and wall paintings were lower than those in the emperor’s palace.

The chamberlain they had seen earlier was guarding a door.

“The room you’ll be staying in is right next to this one.”

“But why are we coming here first…”

“You’ll understand as soon as you enter.”

The emperor personally opened the wooden door.

Nigel entered the room and before he could survey it, something obscured his vision.

The first thing he saw was beautiful platinum blonde hair swaying close to his eyes. Next, he felt the warmth of a person enveloping his entire body.

Nigel blinked at the sudden embrace.

“My, I wanted to hug you like this from the start, but it was difficult maintaining decorum in front of others.”

Emperor Ruber Arenius, the only one who could use the name of the vast and wealthy Arenius Empire as his surname and the most noble person, burst into an unaffected laugh.

“Your Majesty, what is this…”

Nigel’s surprised hands flailed helplessly in the air.

“You were brave in front of your friends, but you lose your strength when we’re alone.”

The emperor gently held Nigel’s hand and smiled softly.

“Well, even I came to my sister’s palace, the quietest place in the imperial palace, to avoid people’s eyes, so I can’t say much.”

The emperor placed a round object in Nigel’s hand. A familiar weight, it was the locket.

“You remembered.”

The emperor’s eyes facing Nigel were moist.

“I couldn’t forget.”

Nigel answered quietly, not avoiding the emperor’s gaze.

“Yes… Now I understand why Callein, who doesn’t usually get excited in front of me, made such a fuss. He knew about you.”

Nigel nodded and spoke.

“I had a chance to see you by chance during the Flores Festival.”

“That rascal, he should have told me, his father, no matter what.”

“I asked His Highness the Crown Prince to keep it a secret. His Highness, feeling guilty about the passive investigation due to the right of succession to the throne, simply kept my secret. Please don’t scold him too much.”

The emperor’s eyes deepened, then he chuckled.

“You’ve met him once and you’re already defending Callein?”

“It’s not affection at all. I have no desire for the throne, so please be merciful and ensure the safety of my family and townspeople, and I will live as quietly as a dead mouse.”

Nigel, who spoke dryly, quickly added.

“Moreover, I have no interest in the position of Duchess Beselion, so Lady Meriel’s…”

“Stop.”

Nigel’s mouth was immediately blocked by the emperor’s words.

“I should have said this first, I’m sorry for being hasty.”

“…”

“The reason I brought you to my sister’s palace, where no one’s eyes or ears can reach, was not to threaten or reprimand you for having the right of succession to the throne.”

His eyes held a clear emotion.

“It was to share the joy of meeting a niece whose fate I didn’t even know, whether alive or dead. Thank you for coming back.”

Longing, it was the same eyes as when he revealed Nigel’s identity to Callein.

It was the moment when Nigel’s plan to gain the emperor’s help using the condition of renouncing the right of succession to the throne completely collapsed.

With tension leaving her entire body, Nigel’s legs gave out and she sank to the floor.

“Oh my.”

As Nigel grasped the hand the emperor offered and stood up, she finally took in the room.

There wasn’t a single piece of furniture carved by a craftsman or a beautiful painting by a master in the room. Just about twenty boxes with different wrapping paper were neatly arranged on a table laid out horizontally.

As Nigel blinked, trying to grasp the meaning, there was a knock at the door.

“Your Majesty, you can no longer delay.”

The chamberlain’s firm voice was heard from behind the door.

“The emperor is all good, but this is the problem. You won’t need my explanation. That child must have done it all.”

With these incomprehensible words, the emperor hugged Nigel while looking straight at her.

The time was short, but the warmth was intensely conveyed.

“Well then, let’s meet at dinner time. My niece.”

The emperor who finished speaking left the room. The sound of footsteps, weighty but somewhat urgent, gradually faded away outside the door.

Eventually, Nigel was left completely alone in the room.

Nigel hesitated, then opened the light pink box on the far left. Inside was a small teddy bear, just the right size for a child to hug and sleep with.

Upon closer inspection, threads were sticking out here and there on the bear’s body, so it wasn’t in very good shape, but the fur was very soft.

How is this related to me?

As Nigel tilted her head and examined the box, she noticed a small note.

[Handmade teddy bear. I’m sorry for being a mother lacking in skill.]

Nigel, who instantly read the elegant handwriting, bit her lip and opened the next box.

Inside were cute palm-sized woolen socks and soft leather shoes.

Similarly, there was a note at the bottom of the box.

[Has my knitting improved a bit? It’s a 1st birthday present. Mom is always waiting for you, so come quickly, baby.]

Realizing the meaning of the boxes, Nigel squeezed her eyes shut to hold back the tears welling up and opened the boxes one by one.

The 12 boxes up until Nigel turned 11, when Abelin was still alive, were filled with toys that children of that age would like. Clearly, they were filled with things Meriel had liked and that caught the eye.

Nigel eventually opened all the boxes from the 13th onwards.

Fine silk to make pretty clothes to match the changing fashions after she left. Beautiful accessories left to wear at her debutante ball.

In the boxes of different weights and shapes, at the bottom, Abelin’s unchanging love for Nigel was always present.

Nigel received 18 late-arriving gifts, 1 early-arriving gift, and 19 notes full of love.

Unable to fathom the deep emotions with which Abelin had prepared these notes and gifts, or with which the emperor had maintained this room, Nigel could not hold back her tears and let them flow.