That incident occurred when Ilarid was still the Crown Princess.

The Empire was engaged in fierce battles in the eastern region of the Western Continent. Factories producing steel, weapons, and ammunition were operating non-stop, enjoying an untimely boom.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess decided to visit the factories as a form of encouragement. The Empress Dowager strongly argued that their presence could support the Empire’s military power.

Reporters also headed to the factory scheduled for inspection by the royal couple. It was enough to simply encourage the workers and create a scene suitable for an article. Wasn’t that how it had always been done?

Up to the point of meeting the factory manager and patting workers’ shoulders for encouragement according to schedule, everything was the same as usual.

Ilarid, who had been quietly standing next to the Crown Prince, stealthily headed towards the inner part of the factory. Everyone was so focused on Cledius’s words and actions that no one stopped her.

Inside the factory, the heat was palpable just from looking. The enormous noise made her body tremble. Who was in there, and what kind of work were they doing?

Ilarid had held a gun before, but for her, it was merely a weapon for hunting. She only knew how and where they were made from what her brother had told her. It was her first time seeing it in person. Her heart was pounding as she entered the inner part of the factory.

Someone firmly grasped the hem of Ilarid’s skirt. Suddenly feeling a small force, she startled and looked down.

“Do you work here too…?”

Could such a young child work in a factory? The child, covered in soot, couldn’t have been more than ten years old. The child nodded. Ilarid lowered her waist to match the child’s eye level.

“It’s a gift.”

A small flower was suddenly thrust before her eyes. How did the child find a flower in such a barren and hot place? It must have been a wildflower growing in some corner of the factory. Ilarid responded with a gentle smile and accepted the flower.

But the child’s feet visible beneath the skirt were alarming. Bare feet that could be covered even by Ilarid’s hand. Small feet full of black soot and wounds.

She pinned the flower she was holding to her brooch and then took off her gloves. Then, with her bare hands, she wrapped the child’s feet that were wiggling on the dirt floor.

“Without shoes… How did you get hurt? While working?”

“Yes.”

“Are there many children like you inside the factory?”

“Yes. Everyone has to work. They say if we don’t, our younger siblings will starve…”

The child trailed off awkwardly. Between the hidden words, there must be circumstances too painful to reveal.

At that time, Ilarid’s hands were still warm, and the child’s cold feet quickly filled with warmth. She raised her gaze while still crouched and stared at the child. A genuine smile gently curved at the corners of her lips.

“Thank you so much for the gift.”

The child, who had been fidgeting until then, smiled back upon seeing Ilarid’s bright expression. It was a moment of complete and warm exchange that even the noise flowing from the factory couldn’t block.

And there was a reporter watching this scene.

It was an uncommon sight. How often does royalty easily bend their knees to meet someone’s gaze? Their waists and knees were usually as stiff as if made of steel.

The reporter let out a faint sigh and carefully observed each of Ilarid’s actions. At the same time, he moved his pen across his notebook.

The next day, Ilarid’s small gesture was headline news in the newspapers.

The Crown Princess meeting eyes with a child and wrapping their bare feet with her bare hands. The wildflower pinned to her brooch. It resonated quite strongly with people.

Young Alice’s eyes shone as she looked at the newspaper article. She carefully cut out the article and illustration with scissors and meticulously scrapbooked them. If only it wouldn’t get crumpled, if only it could maintain this same appearance and move forward.

“That scrapbook is still in the mansion’s library. Since I was young, I’ve always kept things I liked that way. Though lately, I’ve been too busy to do so…”

Habits ingrained in the body naturally emerge in daily life. Was it because of the time before becoming Crown Princess, when she lived comfortably with Lynette and the maids at the mansion?

It was thanks to her mother. The bitter tea water lingered on her tongue and settled in her memories. Ilarid’s small actions were as good as created by Keira Rowen Melpiram.

And those small actions caused quite a stir.

At that time, Keira, who had entered parliament on the recommendation of Count Melpiram, raised her voice about the labor conditions children faced in factories. She publicized the reality of pushing children into labor sites and called for protective legislation.

‘Even grown adults collapse from exhaustion doing this work, yet children not even ten years old are doing it. Before the metal poisoning subsides and blisters heal, they endure harsh curses and beatings from supervisors. Should children be thrown into labor sites because they’re small enough to easily work inside machines, because they need to earn money?’

Some factory owners expressed dissatisfaction. It was because children could be worked ruthlessly at cheap wages.

Even though slavery had disappeared, people still wanted another form of slaves. They hoped they would submit to money and keep their mouths shut.

However, Keira Rowen Melpiram’s statement spread like wildfire across the Western Continent, beyond the Empire. People’s attention turned to the Empress Dowager at the time, who would make the final decision. The Empress Dowager reluctantly declared that she would create new related legislation.

‘Children should be protected and loved. It’s time for adults to step up.’

An interview with the Countess Melpiram was published in the newspaper. Alice, who was in the school dormitory, read that article together with her friends.

“You don’t know how much everyone cried after reading that newspaper article. At school, everyone gathered, made picket signs, and went out into the streets. We wrote lots of slogans asking to protect the children.”

Of course, when they came back, they had to endure severe scolding from the matron and other school officials. The sharp caning was just a bonus.

The teachers said that if their faces were sold in newspapers or magazines, they wouldn’t be able to marry into good families, that such things were shameful for young ladies.

Ten lashes of the cane as punishment. But could ten lashes be unbearable? If the result of joining hands and going out for what we believed was right was ten lashes of the cane, it was quite bearable. There was a time when we thought and acted like that.

Ilarid let out a slow breath she had been holding. How long had it been since she heard stories about her mother through someone else’s mouth? A mother she could no longer meet.

The vague feeling of missing her gradually spread from within. The canvas of memories was always dark, requiring closed eyes. Longing drawn in darkness. Beautiful memories, white and bright.

“Your Majesty the Empress?”

Ah. Ilarid opened her eyes with a start. What the memories had led her to by the hand was a bright reality.

“I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment. It’s been a while since I heard stories about my mother…”

Although no one believed it, officially, Keira Rowen Melpiram was a criminal who had attempted treason. For the sole reason of being a traitor, all the books she wrote and everything she said became unwritten rules.

“I don’t know how others remember my mother. In my memories, she often went on trips, and always came back quickly.”

So I couldn’t know exactly what kind of people those who called themselves ‘Keira Rowen Melpiram’s legacy’ were. For what reason did they come to Ilarid’s side using the word ‘legacy’? Perhaps Alice was also a homework left by Keira.

How many years had it been since she had engaged in long chats with girls her age? Now that they had found common ground, their chatting continued, losing track of time.

“Miss Alice. I have a suggestion for you.”

Although it sounded like something that had just occurred to her, it was actually something she had in mind even before writing Alice’s invitation.

“Would you consider entering the Empress’s Palace?”

“What?”

Surprised by the sudden proposal, a loud exclamation involuntarily escaped. Alice hastily covered her mouth and looked around nervously.

“My wrist isn’t what it used to be. There’s so much to write, and it’s troublesome…”

“I’ve nagged so much about reducing the transcribing, but you never seem to listen.”

Lynette grumbled from the side, but Ilarid pretended not to hear and continued speaking.

“I need a separate maid to ghostwrite for me. It would be even better if she could read books with me. Looking at you, Miss Alice, you seem perfect for the job.”

“But I haven’t even debuted in society yet, and more importantly, I’m not sure if my father would allow…”

“Your opinion is the most important, Miss Alice.”

“I…”

Of course, she wanted to do it. To be able to work with someone she admired in her heart. What could be more joyous? But whether her father would allow it was another matter.

Always unable to express, only my own opinion. Something Alice hadn’t properly attempted for years. The words she wanted to say and the things she wanted to do, fiercely burning at the pit of her stomach, began to boil up bit by bit.

Having made up her mind, she looked straight at Ilarid and said,

“I want to work for Your Majesty the Empress. That’s what I want to do.”

“I understand. I’ll persuade Count Diobe.”

Because he’ll have no choice but to allow it. Ilarid didn’t stop smiling all afternoon.

“How could there be any hesitation! It’s an honor for our family, Your Majesty the Empress!”

Count Diobe bowed deeply without giving any room for refusal. It was possible because he had other ulterior motives.

‘I can find out the Empress’s personal schedule through Alice! Now I feel the worth of raising her!’

Undisguised joy passed over his bowed face. If it weren’t in the Empress’s Palace, he would have openly rejoiced.

“My daughter is lacking, but thank you for looking after her. I cannot fathom the ocean-like grace of Your Majesty the Empress. Thank you, thank you! I will hurry to prepare for her entry into the palace.”

Alice looked at her father with a dumbfounded expression. Hey, father. Couldn’t you at least pretend to hesitate for a moment instead of agreeing so readily? Or show some courtesy by refusing once?

But Count Diobe couldn’t hide his beaming face until the moment he left the palace. Alice kept rolling the rising suspicion in her head.

‘It feels like I’m caught between two forces.’

The Empress and the Crown Princess. A respected figure and a younger sister. Judging from her father’s words and actions, he would surely have her monitor the activities in the Empress’s Palace. Count Diobe’s ultimate goal must be to make Selina the Empress.

As the carriage rattled along, Count Diobe spoke incessantly.

“Alice, listen carefully to what I say from now on. When you enter the Empress’s Palace, observe Her Majesty the Empress closely. Starting with her personal schedule, how her usual movements are, et cetera… Are you listening to me?”

“…Yes.”

I really don’t want to help. Seeing my father’s current state makes me want to help even less. Just try opening your mouth, I’d rather sew it shut. Alice pretended to be carsick and looked out the window.

A maid in the Empress’s Palace. To be able to work alongside someone she had always only admired from afar. She should first say goodbye to the employees at the mansion, telling them she’ll be away for a while. Will they be sad? We’ve grown quite close.

And Cecilia.

‘I wonder how she’s doing.’

Since parting ways at the newspaper office like that, there was no way to know what had happened to Cecilia. From the moment she received the original evidence, she had essentially picked up the weight of the heart that had given up to save her father.

Could she have met her if she had gone to the Icastel mansion unannounced and revealed herself as a friend? She thought about lingering around the military academy but gave up. She was afraid of causing trouble by making unnecessary moves.

Now that she’s become a palace maid, it will be even harder to meet. But there’s a problem that needs to be solved before that.

‘This might be the perfect opportunity.’

It would be rather reassuring to go to the Empress’s Palace with the evidence. If I show this to Her Majesty the Empress, wouldn’t there be another chance to make it public?

Alice didn’t want to miss this hard-earned opportunity. Until everything was revealed, she would pretend to be calm, as if clutching tightly at her skirt hem.