It was a cozy dinner with her daughter after a long time.

At least that’s how Liwena Gwen Icastel, the Duchess of Icastel, felt. Hadn’t she been unfriendly and awkward about giving her company?

Even when spoken to, she only gave stiff replies. I thought it was an uncomfortable relationship, but to think she would come first and suggest having dinner together. Moreover, the dress Cecilia was wearing was one of Liwena’s favorites.

No matter how much she pleaded to wear it, Cecilia pretended not to hear, but has there been a change of heart?

‘My guess must be right.’

Liwena had also seen the article about rebels being arrested in Rosen and transported to the capital. But she pretended not to know and put down her knife and fork.

As soon as the meal was finished, dessert was served. On top of the small, sweet cake were adorable decorations. A clean tea to clear the palate was also served.

“I have something to discuss with Mother for a moment. Everyone, please leave.”

Cecilia, who had been staring blankly at the dessert plate in front of her, spoke to the butler. At the butler’s signal, all the employees inside filed out.

Liwena gently admonished Cecilia while gracefully lifting her teacup.

“That way of speaking, can’t you change it? The royal ball will be held soon, are you going to speak like that in front of the noble children?”

“…Mother.”

“I want you to live a smooth life. I hope you meet a decent man from a good family and live happily.”

After finishing her words, Liwena lifted her teacup with an elegant gesture. It was a posture befitting a kind and warm mother and a wise duchess.

Cecilia glared at her mother with an unfriendly gaze. It was quite different from how others viewed Liwena.

At least to Cecilia, she was never a good mother. If it hadn’t been for her father’s insistence, she probably wouldn’t have come here.

If they brought her here, they should have taken appropriate responsibility. But Liwena just brought Cecilia to the mansion, provided good clothes and meals, but gave no other attention.

The peace filling the dining table now stemmed from silence. Neither Cecilia nor Liwena spoke a word except when eating.

But Cecilia had a bomb that could shatter this tranquility. She opened her mouth toward her mother, maintaining the most docile posture possible.

“I came because I have something to tell you.”

“Later. After we finish our tea.”

That ‘later’ again. It was one of Liwena’s habits.

An instinctive defense mechanism that comes out when she wants to avoid or divert attention elsewhere. Cecilia kept fidgeting with the hem of her skirt, seemingly anxious.

“Do you know that Father has been arrested?”

“…Where do you have a father?”

“Does pretending not to know make you feel at ease?”

“Cecilia. What do you want to ask? I can’t do anything.”

At the nonchalant tone as if it were nothing, Cecilia made a disgusted expression. Even brushing off cookie crumbs fallen on her dress would be more fussy than what she just said.

“Is that… all?”

She was so dumbfounded that her words didn’t connect properly. Regardless, Liwena sipped her tea silently.

“Cecilia. Sometimes, facing reality is the answer. There’s no way to save Duke Le Rosen and the people of Rosen who were brought in now. It seems His Majesty the Emperor is enraged and intends to make an example of them.”

“Doesn’t it bother you at all? Didn’t you once love Father and marry him, and give birth to me?”

“Cecilia.”

Liwena called her name in a stern voice, as if chewing and swallowing. At the same time, she didn’t forget to look around and read the room.

“Lower your voice. In this mansion, only your late father and the butler know that fact.”

“…I see. That secret should be revealed ‘later’ too, right?”

A sigh of exasperation along with sarcastic words burst from Cecilia’s mouth. Judging by Liwena’s attitude, it didn’t seem like she would help easily.

This is what Mother brought upon herself. Cecilia exhaled a short breath and then reached for the teacup on the table.

“What if I have evidence of corruption in the Academy, including grade manipulation?”

Clank. The sound of the teacup being set down was clearly heard. Glancing at her mother while pretending to drink tea, Cecilia saw that Liwena had turned pale and was trembling.

“This includes Paul’s grade manipulation case. It seems you wanted to get him into the Imperial Guard. Just looking at the number of nobles who cooperated…”

“How did you…”

“The method isn’t important, is it, Mother?”

Cecilia slowly lowered her posture and rested her chin on her clasped hands. It was the composure of someone holding the safety pin of a bomb.

Originally, Cecilia should have been the top student in this midterm exam. But the position of class representative, which was supposed to be based on grades, went to Paul.

The reason was that he was of pure imperial blood, from the Icastel family, so he should be given important responsibilities later.

Even if Cecilia took the top spot and made a name for herself, the limit she could reach was clear.

At best, she’d just do some work and then meet a man and get married – such complacent thinking blinded the Academy and the Icastel family.

It wasn’t just Paul. There were also noble-born students who manipulated grades and leaked exam questions in advance, overtaking the few commoner students.

“Do the elders of the family know about this?”

“You’re determined to ruin your brother’s life. How could you as an older sister…”

“Who is my brother?”

Even counting all the times Paul had ignored and bullied her would take several laps around the mansion. The contemptuous gaze he gave her every time they met at the Academy, as if looking at a flying pest. She didn’t want to pity someone like that as a brother.

“The materials I obtained have already been sent to the press.”

Liwena stood up abruptly, causing the teacup placed at the edge of the table to fall. With a loud noise, the teacup shattered into pieces.

Cecilia smiled gently at the butler who came running at the sound.

“Our graceful mother just dropped her teacup. Would you clean it up?”

“No, the butler can leave now. The heat has long since dissipated.”

Employees rushed in, bringing new cups and cleaning the floor. All the while, Liwena stared blankly at what they were doing, like someone whose soul had left their body.

At last, peace returned. After all the employees left, only the Icastel mother and daughter remained in the quiet space.

“Are you threatening me now, Cecilia?”

“Threats are for swindlers. As a merchant’s child, I learned to negotiate first. Mother, have you forgotten who my father is?”

“I, I brought you into this mansion, and yet…”

“I never said I wanted to come. Didn’t you bring me here on your own because your conscience was bothering you?”

You ran away leaving a young child behind, and later bringing her back and just putting nice clothes and food in front of her, what good does that do? Do you think that will let you sleep with your legs stretched out comfortably at night?

“I am not an object to ease your guilt, Mother.”

Liwena spread her hands and buried her face in them. A deep sigh was heard. Was it worry about what would happen next, or anger at her daughter making threats disguised as negotiation?

“…Tell me what you want.”

Finally, Liwena raised both hands. Cecilia had gained the upper hand, but her expression didn’t look particularly good.

The evidence she had barely managed to gather was good.

Friends and seniors who shared Cecilia’s intentions, and some Academy officials and professors who helped them at the risk of being fired. The facts they desperately wanted to reveal to the outside world and their urgency filled the envelope.

Those who heard Cecilia’s circumstances said without hesitation that they should save the people of Rosen.

‘Handing those people over to Tamiel, we don’t want that either.’

From this moment on, that evidence will become kindling. Letting go of everything without regret made her bones ache and her heart sore.

But it was a matter of the future and lives of several people. Cecilia clenched her cold fingertips and spoke emphatically, word by word.

“Please move the elders of the Icastel family. I request that you prevent my father and the people of Rosen from facing Tamiel.”

Cecilia knew that complete release was unrealistic. At least if they weren’t handed over to Tamiel, they could think about what to do next.

The family elders had the power to speak forcefully to the Emperor. The Icastel family had actively participated whenever the Empire went to war.

In fact, it was closer to investment than sponsorship, but they received definite compensation in the form of land and other spoils of war from the Emperor.

Persuading the Emperor shouldn’t be difficult if they invoked the Icastel family motto of always living for the country and their justification.

“Make sure to tell the elders as well. That I have the evidence. If they want to protect the honor of the Icastel family, they must persuade His Majesty the Emperor.”

The eyes staring straight at Liwena resembled Paulo. Cecilia looked at her mother who had left her behind for honor and a comfortable life.

“What will you do, Mother?”

The tablecloth crumpled noisily under Liwena’s hand. The answer was already decided.

**

As time passed, the raging fever gradually subsided. But it was still too early to feel relieved. Lebel’s body still hadn’t let go of the heat.

Outside the window, it was already filled with a dim darkness. What time could it be? There wasn’t even time to look at the clock. Ilarid’s hands had long since lost their warmth from touching cold water many times.

Perhaps thanks to that dedication, Lebel’s breathing, which had been heated up by the high fever, had also calmed down a lot.

His bangs were very wet due to the wet towel that had been changed many times. Worried that it might be uncomfortable if left like this, Ilarid carefully brushed his bangs to the side.

“This is…”

Where the bangs had covered was a diagonal scar. Rather than a sharp cut, it looked more like a mark left when someone had struck the head with a blunt object. She gently stroked the white mark with her finger.

Why does this scar feel familiar?

The reason she had constantly thought she had met Lebel somewhere before. The memory that had been screaming in a corner of her mind finally broke its shell and crawled out.

One of the hazy covered past events was about to reveal itself.

Lebel’s body twitched. As his eyelids tried to open, Ilarid urgently called his name.

“Lebel, are you conscious?”

There was no answer. Lebel mumbled in an unintelligible language. Did he want to say something?

Suddenly, Lebel reached out and pulled Ilarid close. A faint voice was heard. Was it possible that he wasn’t regaining consciousness but seeing things in his feverish state?

Lebel slowly raised his body as if possessed by something. Then he looked at Ilarid and opened his mouth.

“…Young miss.”

His gray-blue eyes were moist as if wet with water. It wasn’t just because of his wet bangs. Tears that had pooled between his eyelashes dripped down.

As soon as she heard the words “young miss,” Ilarid’s body stiffened. Soon, Lebel’s large hand cupped her nape.

The hand that had been flowing along her slender neckline soon stopped. In the hazy focus, he saw the figure of the young miss he had longed for so desperately.

This is surely a dream. So it’s okay to call out freely. Lebel called her name, barely holding onto his returned consciousness.

“Ilarid, young miss.”

Ilarid’s eyes grew wider and wider as she heard Lebel’s voice.

Who is this person? One who grabs her arm and clings, meets her eyes, sheds tears, and now utters that title that everyone has forgotten.

There was no one left who remembered the title “young miss” now. Hadn’t everyone died that night?

“To… meet you…”

He was crying and smiling. Soon his tear-filled eyes closed again. Someone called his name, but Lebel surrendered his body to the unconsciousness that was overtaking him.