“Actually, I came with the kids. Even though I said I wouldn’t take them, they both insisted on coming, saying they might want to see themselves…”
With a hearty laugh, two heads popped out next to Caritos.

“We’re here!”

“We greet the Empress Mama.”

And another head was added. Shasha, who had briefly stepped outside, also came in, asking us to move for a moment.

“Unni! Haven and Merkin are here!”

Shasha seemed quite happy that her friends had come, jumping up and down in that spot.

“Are you so happy that your friends are here?”

“Yeah yeah! The pig hasn’t woken up yet, but my friends are good! And Haven gave me this?”

Shasha was holding a small bouquet in her arms.

Shasha smiled brightly and brought the flowers to her nose.

“Hmm, Merkin is here too.”

“Is that so? Hehe, thank you both.”

Even though it could be attributed to herself, Haven mentioned Merkin. She was still a good child who didn’t know how to lie.

But there was also a difference from before. It was a facial expression that seemed to say, ‘Did I say too much?’ Sam’s face showed when she smiled at Merkin.

It looked cute again, so I smiled and looked at the kids. Even when Sethelus and Caritos first brought the kids, I couldn’t have imagined it would be like this.

‘Life is always full of uncertainties.’

At first, I just promised to become the Empress for my younger sister Shasha.

Then, after meeting Ridel, learning that Ridel was a child with many wounds, I decided to protect Ridel.

So, day by day, those commitments piled up to become today.

As I watched the children happily, I stroked my throat.

“Do you see the clothes over there?”

The heads of the children all turned simultaneously.

“Merkin, Haven. Make sure to wear this on Ridel’s birthday party.”

Shasha, who had already seen the clothes, raised her shoulders. Haven made an elegant sound and quickly closed her mouth, while Merkin, with a worried expression, only had a small smile that seemed to hide his emotions.

“Did you prepare this for us? Really?”

“Yes. I prepared it for you four. Because you’re all friends.”

“Thank you!”

“Can I… Is it okay for me to receive something like this too? I’m… I’m nothing special.”

Unlike Haven, who ran towards the clothes in excitement, Merkin looked alternately at the clothes and me with a rather worried expression.

“Why would you be nothing special?”

“My status hasn’t changed… just letting me be here with you as a friend is enough to be grateful… but, can I dare…”

“You’re our friend.”

“But…”

Haven came from a good family, and Shasha was my younger sister, the Empress. Even without that, she was a noble’s daughter. Ridel, being a Crown Prince, goes without saying. Merkin couldn’t say the same. He came from an orphanage.

It was clear what Merkin was worrying about.

“Ridel will be disappointed if only you don’t accept these clothes.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Merkin look at Ridel, who still couldn’t get up.
“Status doesn’t matter at all. So, will you accept my gift?”

Merkin bowed his head slightly. It seemed like a greeting, but the child’s shoulders twitched slightly.

At that moment, Haven tapped Merkin’s shoulder.

“Are you foolish?”

“…What?”

“It’s not just for Prince Crown, it’s the same for us. I don’t care about your background. So, don’t think like that. If we were going to discriminate based on your origin or status, we wouldn’t have played with you.”

“Ah…”

“I’m different from the Empress. I don’t discriminate against people for such reasons.”

Caritos, who had been looking proudly at the children with a similar expression to mine, turned pale.

“Heaven, that’s…”

“I know. Now the Empress doesn’t do that. But it was like that in the past. Those things happened. Anyway, don’t worry, Merkin. You’re my friend.”

“Uh… Empress Mama, thank you for preparing something like this for us.”

“I should be the one thanking you all. Take care of everyone. Still, since Ridel is a Crown Prince, I made his outfit a bit more splendid. I hope you understand?”

“Yes!”

“Of course.”

The children answered simultaneously.

“Now that we’ve received the gifts, we’ll be on our way.”

“I’ll send the clothes separately.”

“If you send Merkin’s clothes along with Haven’s, it’ll be fine. After preparing them at the temple on the day of the party, we’ll go together.”

As if trying not to feel the absence of Sethelus, Caritos stroked Merkin’s head.

“Alright. Cherti, send the children’s clothes to the temple.”

“Understood, Empress Mama.”

As soon as I gave orders to Cherti, who had come in with the children, Caritos stroked the shoulders of the two children.

“Well, then, we’ll go. Kids, say your goodbyes.”

“Empress Mama, we’ll be on our way.”

“See you at the party. Thank you for the clothes.”

The children greeted one by one.

“Your Excellency, see you next time. Have a safe trip!”

“Yeah!”

“Shasha, see you next time, little one.”

After the farewells, Caritos, taking the children with him, left the room. The room, which had been bustling until a moment ago, became quiet again. Shasha, holding a bunch of flowers, approached Ridelo.

“The kids want to see you soon, so get up quickly. Pig.”

Lying next to Ridelo with a full bouquet of flowers, Shasha spoke as usual.

“Your birthday party is coming soon.”

“I’ll get up. Let’s believe that. We’ve finished preparing, after all.”

“Yeah!”

But the anxiety persisted. The anxiety that if Ridelo couldn’t get up by his birthday, what would happen.

Unable to hide that anxiety in front of Shasha, I lay down next to the two children, smiling happily and closing my eyes.

Ridelo didn’t open his eyes until the day before the party.