Upon arriving in Edegrund, Deos immediately came to Sigrasal Castle.

When a woman who closely resembled her son entered the reception room, Ophelia saw traces of the first betrothed in her. Fine brown hair. Light green eyes. The warmth like spring sunlight was inherited from the Rakmata family.

“Deos.”

“Your Highness.”

“Thank you for coming all the way here.”

And Ophelia reached out her hand to offer her a seat. As she sat down at her invitation, Deos bowed her head.

“Not at all. I should be thanking you for sending news after such a long time.”

The face of the woman saying those words was gentle. Even knowing that it wasn’t a false appearance, Ophelia instinctively examined Deos’s expression.

If it were her, she wouldn’t have wanted to see the family of the one who caused the death of a son she loved and cherished so much, so it was a natural concern.

However, Ophelia soon intentionally pushed away that worry. It was deceptive to have such concerns while thinking she couldn’t help being hated.

And above all, if she truly cared for Deos, the first priority was not to take up too much of her time.

Ophelia held out the small box she had been holding all along to the woman.

“I have something to return to you.”

Deos received the box she offered and opened it. Ophelia watched as the woman’s eyes wavered, trying to interpret the meaning of the ring inside.

“Haslen gave it to me.”

The ring in the box was what that kind boy had given her instead of condemning her on the day her lie with Mahanas was exposed.

Ophelia remembered the promise she had received along with the ring set with a blue gem.

“Someday, I’ll put a much finer ring on your finger. Under the golden osmanthus tree.”

Those words were the most romantic proposal one could hear from a boy of that age.

But the proposal was not kept, and now she was thinking of another man more than her deceased betrothed.

Knowing this was selfish and disgusting, Ophelia now feared disappointing Idren the most. Unlike what she couldn’t do for Haslen, it was the reason she was trying to let him go.

Ophelia explained to the woman looking at her.

“It was given as a token of marriage promise, so I can’t keep it anymore.”

Although it wasn’t officially recorded, that ring was no different from a wedding gift.

She had no right to keep the gift of an unfulfilled marriage. That’s why Ophelia had returned it to Deos in her previous life as well.

At that time, she had cowardly sent it enclosed in a letter.

Understanding what she was saying, Deos took the ring and put it in her bosom. After a moment of silence, the woman spoke.

“…He seems to be a good person who cherishes you, Your Highness.”

The omitted subject must have been her husband, Idren. Ophelia nodded in agreement with those words. As Deos said, Idren cherished her. In the whole world, there would be no one else who fretted over her words as much as he did.

Deos, who had been staring at her, asked.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand the meaning of the non-specific question. Deos was asking if she had feelings for Idren.

Deos was a good person, so she must be asking out of concern for her. The men in her life so far hadn’t been that good.

And he was also known as the groom chosen by that Mahanas.

But in reality, it wasn’t Mahanas who chose Idren, but Idren who chose her. Ophelia answered.

“I’m fine.”

Idren was too good for her. Just as Haslen had been.

No, perhaps in a different way from Haslen, he was an overflowing man.

When he held her hand or embraced her, Ophelia couldn’t bring herself to push him away. Even knowing that such ambiguous actions were nothing but poison to them. Even thinking that being lonely was better than ruining everything she touched, she found herself acting contradictorily.

It was then that Deos frowned.

“Your hand is shaking. Did I ask something inappropriate?”

Only then did Ophelia realize that her hand was shaking. Why? She said, a little flustered.

“No, it’s not that, it’s just… strange.”

It wasn’t a lie. There was no reason for her hand to shake. It was true that she felt uneasy whenever she thought of Idren… but there was no reason to react this much.

Ophelia clenched her hand to subdue the tremor. Fortunately, her shaking hand returned to normal not long after. Their conversation resumed as well.

“Now that I look at you, you’ve lost a lot of weight. Has something happened?”

Come to think of it, she had become much less presentable than before. Ophelia recalled that the image of her that Deos remembered was from the time when she was best taken care of. Mahanas had made sure she maintained an appearance pleasing to others.

After losing Haslen, grooming her appearance was no longer important, but she couldn’t meet Deos then. She had left for Tesendot after losing her son.

It was true that she had lived without lack after marriage, but that didn’t mean she had groomed her appearance.

Ophelia sighed. In any case, it was true that she had changed a lot from before, so she felt she should give Deos a reason he could understand.

“There was a war recently. My husband was also away.”

“It seems you’ve been through a lot of emotional distress.”

“We won the war, so things should get better now.”

Even if not for her, the situation would improve.

Ophelia didn’t want anything more than that.

There was something else she needed to say. As she couldn’t take up more of Deos’s time, Ophelia spoke up.

“Actually, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

“Please speak freely.”

“Thank you. Before I start, let me say this… If you’re uncomfortable, you can refuse anytime. It’s okay to get angry.”

“How could I do that to you, Your Highness? Please don’t worry too much.”

It was a very kind thing for a mother to say to a living woman after sacrificing her betrothed.

Ophelia carefully opened her mouth to the person who hadn’t lost their character even in the face of misfortune.

“If it’s alright with you, I’d like to entrust Reden to you.”

And she explained the current situation to Deos. Telling her that a riot had broken out in Reden and Mahanas had died, and that the duty to support the Reden people who had lost their leader overnight had fallen to her, seemed inappropriate to ask of Deos even as she spoke it herself.

Fortunately, Deos listened to her words to the end. Ophelia felt grateful to the woman who patiently listened while fixing her light green eyes, exactly like her son’s, on her.

“I can provide any amount of money needed. I have my own private assets. However, I’ve never done politics or relief work before, so I need someone I can trust and entrust this to.”

But all the people of Aglante were strangers to her. The only ones she had somewhat acquainted herself with were all introduced by Idren, and she shouldn’t carelessly assign them.

“I’m really sorry to ask you for such a thing. If you’re uncomfortable, by all means…”

“I’m fine with it. Rather, as you said, it means you’ve become the King of Reden, Your Highness. Congratulations on your accession.”

Ophelia hesitated at the words she had never dared to imagine hearing, especially from Deos’s mouth. While she was frozen in embarrassment, Deos said.

“I’d like to give you an accession gift… But I’m afraid I don’t have as much wealth as I used to, so I might not be able to get something worthy of Your Highness.”

“No, you don’t have to give me anything…”

“So instead, I’d be glad if you could give me some work to do.”

And the woman raised her lips, which had aged gracefully.

Only then did Ophelia blink, realizing what Deos was saying. Although it was what she had hoped for, it was hard to believe it was granted so easily.

Stuttering as she didn’t know what to say after the silence, she spoke.

“Is it… really okay?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Feel free to refuse if you’re uncomfortable. I… I wouldn’t mind if you hated me…”

“How could I dare to hate Your Highness, oh my. Should I call you Your Majesty…”

However, Deos’s words couldn’t continue to the end. Ophelia hurriedly covered her face, which was becoming wet. She didn’t know why tears were coming out now. She squeezed her trembling vocal cords to make an excuse.

“I, I’m feeling a bit strange right now, just a moment…”

It was then that Deos rose from her seat.

“Excuse me.”

The woman who approached sat down beside her. Deos, who embraced her in arms that smelled like her son, asked in a gentle voice.

“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

“No, I… What do I… You’re the one who…”

“It’s alright. Even though I’ve aged and lost a lot, I can still lend you my embrace at least once.”

And the woman slowly stroked her back. Even knowing this was unconscionable, Ophelia couldn’t push Deos away.

It was after sobbing for a long time that Ophelia recalled her sense of shame.

Only then did Deos speak to her as she hurriedly composed herself.

“If there’s anything else I can help with in the future, please feel free to tell me.”

“…I don’t know how to repay this kindness.”

“Kindness? I’m the one who should be grateful for not being treated as just an old woman.”

And Deos rose from her seat.

“As much as I’d like to stay by your side longer, there’s someone waiting, so I think I should take my leave now.”

Before she could ask what that meant, the woman bowed to her.

“I’ll be waiting for the day you contact me again. Please take care.”