“Trapped in her own mental world, she finally faced reality. What about Claude?”

Balthazar pondered over how to handle Claude, who inherited Patricia’s blood.

It was usual for him to cut off any loose ends, as the normal course of action for him was to end the life of a potential successor.

However, every time he saw Adrian smiling at him, he couldn’t help but reconsider the execution of Claude.

“Claude has been moved to a strict monastery where he cannot come out until his death.”

“……”

“Now, he seems to be suffering from the fact that the empire is in turmoil because of him and the painful truth that Patricia is dead. But soon, if we use drugs to erase his memories, he will feel relieved.”

“As soon as Lexion’s wizards complete the drug, make sure it is used immediately.”

Balthazar didn’t reconsider his decision to spare the young Claude. Showing mercy to a young Claude would have been unimaginable in his younger years.
Suddenly, Cassius became a bit curious about what the Agnas Empire, which he would lead, would look like. At least, it didn’t seem like there would be any chilliness.

“I will handle it as per your instructions. But…”

Cassius looked at Balthazar’s desk. More precisely, at the pen and empty sheets of paper that Balthazar had been holding for tens of minutes.

“His Highness, the Crown Prince, mentioned that you were supposed to write a reply to the letter you received from the Crown Princess several days ago.”

“…It’s noisy.”

“At this rate, it’s not worth buying boxes of different types of stationery from the capital.”

Balthazar awkwardly started moving the pen.

However, after writing a few characters, the pen stopped again.

‘I don’t know what to write or how to write it.’

After recovering his memories, Balthazar read most of the letters Edith had sent him and noticed an important fact.

The end of every letter she sent, expressing her longing, always concluded with the content that she would await a reply.

So, he wanted to write a reply. As much as the time Balthazar spent moving the pen, he wanted to put down his feelings toward her.

‘But I never thought I’d be so bad at writing.’

When he thought about sincerely conveying his feelings to the woman he loved, the sentences didn’t flow. Balthazar wanted to mess up his neatly combed hair.

In the end, he momentarily forgot who he was writing the letter for and found a name that felt comfortable when pronounced.

“Edith?”

“Madam, no. His Highness, the Crown Princess, is in a state of tension unexpectedly.”

“Tension?”

“Not everyone has the courage like His Highness. Even the attendants at the palace may not be accustomed yet. It’s likely that the maids of the palace are unfamiliar.”

Balthazar, who thought that Edith, subtly strong-willed, was tense due to formal procedures, found himself smiling.

“If our Madam is tense, I should alleviate it.”

Confirming that there was still quite some time left until the coronation ceremony, he stood up from his seat.

“Cassius, organize these pieces of paper for a while, and when it’s time, come to call me.”

Balthazar had already memorized which corridor and stairs to take to reach Edith’s room most quickly from his office.

After knocking and opening the door, Vivian, who was inside, bowed respectfully.

“Edith.”

“I haven’t even changed into the dress yet, but why do you look so pale?”

“How early should one start preparing to not be late for the coronation ceremony?”

“You should prepare for about five hours… Well, starting two hours from now should be just right.”

If you prepare for five hours straight, even a seasoned general would probably turn pale. Balthazar thought so as he approached the sofa where Edith was sitting.

There, Edith, wearing a white dress, sat reviewing the etiquette book as if memorizing it.

From her well-brushed golden hair, a fresh and warm scent emanated, and the tiara placed on her head harmonized fantastically with her blue eyes.
“Even though I heard you’re not ready yet, you look beautiful.”

“Balter…”

Rather than the slope of being the Crown Princess, she seemed restless as if facing an imminent exam that would make her head explode.

Balter was well aware that relieving her tension was his role.

“Edith, can we take a short ride?”

“Huh?”

Edith looked at Balter with wide eyes.

It seemed odd that a person who would become the Crown Prince in just a few hours would come to invite her for a brief horse ride, especially when there were more suitable activities for him at this time. Yet, at the same time, nothing seemed more fitting for him.

Moreover, with the regained memories, Balter’s understanding of Edith had significantly increased.

“The attention of courtiers and nobles is still focused on the distant location of the coronation ceremony, not the nearby Prince’s Palace.”

“…”

“If you quickly ride around the nearby Prince’s Palace garden, it won’t take much time.”

“Then…”

With a smirking assurance that there was no problem at all, Edith stood up from her seat.

As Balter said, there was still time, and going into the temple now might lead to mistakes due to nervousness.

Balter smiled gently and took her hand, leading her. Edith held the hem of the white dress she was temporarily wearing with one hand, following him. Unconsciously, the dress fluttered in a graceful line.

As always, it didn’t take much time for Balter to bring a dignified and clean horse.

With his help, Edith got on the horse. As he mounted and the firm grip touched her back like a rock, surprisingly, the tension vanished.

As he pulled the reins, a cool breeze passed over her stiff body. Each time she smelled her own scent mixed with the horse’s breath, Balter urged the horse more forcefully.

“Balter…!”

The brief pause in her breath from surprise lasted only a moment. Her body had already adjusted to his rough and fast riding style as if it were familiar.

Whether it was because of speed and pleasure or because of Balter, who tightly embraced her back, making her chest feel like it might burst, in her youth and even now, the reason was unknown.

Only one thing was certain.

“It’s good.”

As the Prince’s Palace approached again, and he was about to slow down, Edith murmured unintentionally.

Whether she was crying or stiff from tension, Balter, who approached sneakily, guiding her and leading her outside, was good.

It was understandable why she couldn’t forget the memories with him for a long time.

As the Prince’s Palace approached, Balter got off the horse first, holding the reins and walking. Then, he picked a white clover, fiddled with it for a while, and made a small ring, putting it on her hand.

“When I left Lowell Mansion, the image I used to imagine was exactly like this, Edith.”

“…”

“Bringing you to the capital, dressing you in beautiful clothes, riding horses occasionally, just like in our childhood.”

Balter lightly kissed Edith’s back of the hand.

“I was a bit late, but from now on, I’ll make sure you have a face like today every day.”
Edith could tell that she was smiling brightly as she looked at him. At the same time, she realized that the vague happiness she had been yearning for and imagining while writing letters was now exactly like this moment.

“Whoa―!”

A strong wind blew, and from Balter’s office window, Cassius’s scream echoed. Dozens of letters he seemed to have missed flew in all directions with the wind.

Balter, looking puzzled, stared at the chaotic sky and then chuckled as if it didn’t matter.

Once again, his lips touched the back of her hand.

“I love you, Edith.”

“I love you too, Balter.”

Edith replied with a bright smile.

In front of her, the responses she had been waiting for a very long time were spread out.

The end

(To be continued in the epilogue)