Is this post-vacation blues?

It was something I had never experienced before, so I needed some motivation.

“Let’s go on vacation again next year.”

“Next year?”

“Yes. Let’s take a vacation once a year. How about going to the warm south this time, not the north?”

“South.”

Of course, Kravi, where my mother is, was definitely excluded. I didn’t want to meet her even in the next vacation.
“I went to the sea, ate tropical fruits, and just rolled around in bed. In fact, this vacation was almost like working.”

Of course, there were many rest days, but I also spent a considerable amount of time gathering people who had turned into demons and organizing the village.

Moreover, I found a way to restore them to their original state.

“Come to think of it, it feels like I’ve been working all the time.”

It became regrettable that I couldn’t play more.

Next time, let’s promise to really enjoy ourselves, I said, holding his hand slightly.

“So, work hard again.”

When our eyes met, Nathaniel grinned broadly. I also smiled and kissed him.

When we entered the imperial prince’s palace, it still felt like coming home.

While unpacking and resting, the Emperor came looking for Nathaniel.

As soon as Nathaniel came, he grumbled, expecting to be put to work.

“You’ve really become more like a person now.”

Once again, I felt how much he had changed.

He used to act childish, be jealous, or throw tantrums.

It was surprising to see him anxious or having something he liked.

It was enjoyable to see his thought process expanding as his emotions diversified.

Then, a maid’s voice announced someone’s arrival.

“Lady Bee, Her Highness Princess Anais and His Highness Prince Henry have come.”

“Hurry, let them in.”

Even though I hadn’t seen them for a while, their visit was heartwarming.

“Lady Bee!”

Henry ran towards me with a big smile, and I playfully hugged him around the waist.

I greeted him while patting his curly blond hair.

“Have you been well all this time?”

“Yes!”

He answered energetically and then looked around, searching for someone.

“Are you looking for His Highness, the Crown Prince?”

“Yes… Where are my brother and Kilian?”

“His Highness has gone to meet the Emperor. As for Kilian, he hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Ugh…”

Seeing his deeply disappointed expression made me feel guilty. I sat Henry down on a chair and asked.

“Did you not want to see me, Your Highness?”

It was a playful question, but the child was startled, raising both hands.

“I really, really wanted to see you, Lady Bee!”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his cute appearance.

I asked the maid to bring souvenirs and handed them out.

“Now, these are gifts I brought for you.”

I gave Anais a small box and Henry a larger one.

“Princess, you don’t have to accept such things.”

“Accept it. It was Nathaniel who bought it, not me.”

Although we chose together.

Anais looked surprised to find something for her inside the box. It was a ring with a blue gem.

The design itself looked simple, but the gem was luxurious, and especially with the unique decoration of the Hera region, it exuded an exotic and delicate feeling.
“Nathaniel seems to have cast some kind of magic; you’ll probably have to ask him about that.”

“Thank you… I’ll treasure it.”

Seeing Anais, whose eyes were even teary, I felt sorry.

For a princess, a ring like this wouldn’t be a particularly remarkable gift.

But to like it so much…

“Why does the Empress discriminate against her daughter like this?”

Come to think of it, the reason the Emperor placed Milia on the throne of the Empress was probably not just due to the meager love he had in the past.

Being the only one among countless women to have a child might also be one of the reasons she became the Empress.

But to treat her daughter, who made her the Empress, like this, it was truly an unknowable thing.

“Wow!”

Henry, who was unwrapping the gift box next to me, shouted in excitement.

In the child’s hands was a small black baby dragon doll about the size of a puppy.

“Your Highness, how do you like it?”

“Yes, yes! It looks exactly like the dragon I know!”

“Oh, really?”

In fact, I bought it while walking, as it looked too much like Nathaniel.

The doll, made of good silk, might have been a bit simple for a prince to have.

Still, I wanted to give it as a gift because it faithfully reproduced Nathaniel’s appearance when he was a baby dragon.

“Henry, you should greet Lady Bee.”

At Anais’s affectionate words, Henry suddenly stood up and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Lady Bee!”

“Take good care of it.”

“Yes!”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his cute and clumsy appearance.

Now, the fact that we had returned home hit me vividly.

Nathaniel slowly headed to the Emperor’s office at the father’s summons.

As soon as he arrived, sending someone to call seemed to be an urgent matter…

“It seems somewhat ominous.”

The Emperor rarely called me so urgently.

Perhaps that’s why my steps strangely slowed down.

When I finally arrived in front of the Emperor’s office, the chamberlain announced Nathaniel’s arrival.

“Your Majesty, His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince, has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

The door to the Emperor’s office opened as per the Emperor’s order. Nathaniel went inside with an expressionless face.

“Come in.”

Smiling widely to greet him, the Emperor’s welcoming gesture made Nathaniel pause for a moment.

When he made such an expression, something ominous tended to happen.

But soon, he erased his emotions and sat down on the opposite side of the Emperor.

“So, did you enjoy your vacation?”

“Yes, well, it was enjoyable.”

Indeed, Nathaniel answered somewhat truthfully since it was true.

However, the Emperor quickly read the expression of his son.

A mysterious smile lingered around his mouth, and his eyes seemed softer than before.

It was undoubtedly certain that he returned from the trip having become even closer with Jaina.

“I’m glad it was enjoyable.”

The Emperor saw his future in such Nathaniel.

Already, a smile emerged at the thought of traveling slowly across the country with his family and having a delightful time.
“I have something to tell you, that’s why I called you so urgently.”

“Please tell me.”

“Now, I’m considering handing over the throne to you.”