Adeline had a gentle and beautiful smile, no different from when Lucas was young.

“Lucas, I believe in how strong your will is and how resilient you are. Having a son like you is my pride.”

“I’m… proud of you too, Mother.”

For a woman who had lived as nobility her whole life, her son’s rebellious phase must not have been easy. Yet Adeline had never raised her voice at Lucas and didn’t show tears at the farewell ceremony.

“I was able to spend 6 years on my journey safely, probably thanks to you persuading Father well.”

With a smile, Adeline just smiled.

“His Majesty didn’t urge you because he disapproved of you. He had his own concerns.”

“I know.”

The Tern Empire had a particularly unique custom. Even for a mere kingdom or nobility, the position is inherited by the son only when the leader dies, but in the imperial family, most of the time the emperor abdicates to enthrone his son while still alive and steps back.

“That’s why I had no choice but to stay away from the imperial palace.”

Adeline nodded with a dark expression at Lucas’s meaningful words.

“The closer I am, the weaker the emperor’s power will become.”

The successive abdications of the Tern imperial family were due to a deep secret in their bloodline. And that secret was passed down only by word of mouth among the direct imperial family.

“That’s not true. It’s not your fault either.”

“No. I was afraid. If the emperor’s power weakened, I didn’t have the confidence to take responsibility for it.”

The young man who returned after growing up unrecognizably was still as honest and affectionate as before.

“But after meeting Lady Serena again, all my thoughts changed. I realized that I had to return rightfully in order to rightfully welcome the lady.”

“I can see what the lady means to you. And I am always on your side.”

Lucas smiled gently.

“Mother’s support is always encouraging, but I still can’t replace Father.”

In the Tern imperial family, only one star could shine at a time. It was a blessing and a curse, and it was a fate that Lucas had to accept from the moment he was born.

“His Majesty is in good health. So there’s no need to worry in advance. You just need to fulfill your duties as the crown prince after the royal wedding.”

Lucas nodded again.

“Oh, I’ve prepared the quarters for the crown princess to stay in, so look around later when you have time. I gave the ring to your chief lady-in-waiting earlier, so check it out.”

“Yes.”

Lucas, who had no interest in his own quarters, answered energetically. Perhaps he was finally realizing that Serena would become his.

“Then, I’ll see you at the dinner banquet later.”

Lucas stood up, gave a simple bow to his mother, and strode out the door. Then, from behind the curtain, the emperor emerged with a cough.

“Why are you suddenly hiding? I was surprised.”

“You seemed quite composed for that.”

Richard retorted shamelessly and sat down next to her. He had originally come to the empress’s quarters to watch Luana’s nap time, not expecting Lucas to suddenly arrive.

“I know what that boy is worried about. So it would be more awkward if I showed myself.”

Their love for their son was the same, but their ways of expressing it were different.

“Your Majesty is in good health, what is there to worry about?”

“Adeline.”

Richard took her delicate hand.

“You know too.”

In the Tern imperial family, the reigning emperor never died. Not once in that long history. Whether on the battlefield or in the palace, it was the same.

However, no one questioned this fact. They just believed that luck followed the Tern imperial family.

“There can only be one sun.”

In the past, when an emperor tried to refuse fate, he rapidly lost power and even consciousness, forcing an abdication. After a few such examples, the Tern imperial family kept an implicit rule.

“When the son comes of age, the power inherent in this bloodline naturally passes on… it shouldn’t be resisted.”

As Adeline couldn’t hide her sorrowful gaze, Richard stroked the back of her hand with a smile.

“I received it from the previous emperor as well, so it’s right to give it to Lucas.”

In the distant past, when there were no letters or records, it is said that the ancestor of Tern picked up a star in the desert.

Whether this was a metaphor or a legend is unclear, but that power was strong enough to establish the Tern Empire in the chaotic continent.

“But there’s still plenty of time.”

“Of course, we must see our Luana grow up.”

With the unexpected birth of a daughter late in life, the couple was able to enjoy unprecedented joy. The warmth of the child was different from the joy that the fully grown Lucas could give.

“Fortunately, Lucas seems to have similar intentions, so the succession will be a matter for much later.”

Even Adeline didn’t know exactly what that succession entailed. It was something the emperor passed on to the next emperor, to the extent that even Lucas wouldn’t know the contents until the time came.

“I just hope the Astel duke’s lady is capable of handling everything.”

“She will be. After all, she’s the crown princess Your Majesty chose. And Lucas says it has to be her.”

Richard’s brief opposition to the marriage was because he thought a previously derailed relationship was inauspicious.

But upon calm reflection, there was no vessel as strong as the Astel lady he had his eye on, and there was no way to break Lucas’s stubbornness.

“The royal wedding is not far off. It reminds me of the day you became my crown princess.”

“Oh my, such an old story…”

Even as she said this, Adeline wore a lovely smile. Although it was an engagement and marriage decided by adults, Adeline had lived a happy life with Richard as her husband.

“It’s as vivid as yesterday to me.”

“It’s not that much. But… I hope Lady Astel will have the royal wedding with as joyful a heart as I did.”

The position of crown princess was currently the most important issue in this empire. It also meant bringing in a new person to share the secrets of the Tern imperial family.

“We should hope for a happy marriage.”

But right now, Adeline was simply a mother hoping for her son’s marriage to be happy, without any other thoughts.

“Since it’s the lady he so desires, it will be.”

Richard’s feelings were no different in that regard.

Lucas arrived at the quarters where the crown princess would stay and thoroughly inspected everything from the garden to the bedroom decorations, giving a few instructions.

He also ordered one of the pair of cherry trees, a feature of the crown prince’s quarters’ garden, to be transplanted. This was something he had been thinking about for a very long time.

“Your Highness.”

Just as he was finishing overseeing everything, Cedric came looking for Lucas.

“The ceremonial attire you’ll wear for the royal wedding is complete.”

“I should try it on to see if there are any issues.”

“Yes.”

Although he usually didn’t care about such things as ceremonial attire, the fact that it was for the royal wedding to welcome Serena naturally quickened his steps.

“Hmm… it’s all good, but a bit far.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean my quarters and the quarters where the crown princess will stay.”

“That can’t be. It just took about 3 minutes at a brisk pace.”

At Cedric’s precise answer, Lucas shook his head.

“I don’t mean the physical distance, it’s just that we’re newlyweds…”

“I apologize, but distance is physical.”

“…Never mind.”

It was a moment when he sincerely wondered if this simplest man in the world could ever fall in love and start a family.

“We greet Your Highness.”

As Lucas entered his quarters, the chief attendant and chief lady-in-waiting bowed in unison.

“The ceremonial attire?”

“It’s prepared in the reception room in front of the inner chamber.”

Striding up the stairs, Cedric, the chief attendant, and the chief lady-in-waiting followed behind Lucas. The entire quarters were filled with excitement and joy as the master who had been away for 6 years had returned.

“Let’s see.”

Lucas entered the reception room and looked at the ceremonial attire hanging on the clothes rack. While he wore white attire for the engagement ceremony, for the wedding he was to wear a dignified black uniform with elaborate shoulder badges and tassels.

“I’ll assist you.”

As Lucas casually tossed off the top he was wearing, the chief attendant carefully handed over the ceremonial attire, and the chief lady-in-waiting adjusted the fit of the clothes.

“You look truly splendid.”

Despite Matilda’s praise, Lucas showed little reaction as he looked in the mirror. It wasn’t just the color or design of the ceremonial attire that had changed.

How long had he strived to wear this outfit that fit his broad shoulders and tall stature? The mirror clearly showed evidence that those efforts had not been in vain.

“I wonder if Serena, I mean, the duke’s lady has received her attire as well?”

“Since it was sent from the empress’s quarters today, she should have received it by now.”

As with any long-standing family, the Tern imperial family had a tradition of passing down wedding dresses through generations. Fortunately, there were records from the engagement ceremony, so it was sent after being altered to the exact measurements.

“The ring?”

“Ah, it was sent from the empress’s quarters today. Just a moment…”

Matilda opened a locked drawer and handed a small box to Lucas. Click, as he opened the box, a diamond ring that shone with presence even as a single piece appeared.

This too was one of the Tern imperial family’s legacies, and his mother Adeline had also received one of the imperial family’s legacies as her wedding ring.

“The craftsmanship is complete. We had the measurements from the engagement ceremony, so the work was quick. Is it to your liking, Your Highness?”

“It’s not like I’m wearing it, so what does it matter.”

Contrary to his indifferent answer, Lucas carefully lifted the ring and held it up to the sunlight coming through the window.

“The very faint blue tint seems like it would suit the lady’s eyes well.”

Choosing a diamond with a blue tint from among the many imperial jewels was probably Adeline’s thoughtful consideration. Looking at the ethereal ring, Lucas quietly imagined the day this ring would be placed on Serena’s finger.