While Serena was suffering from a high fever and recovering, Lucas drove himself even harder.

His body couldn’t bear it, and he could only fall asleep when he was on the verge of fainting from exhaustion. He couldn’t stand the restlessness if he wasn’t doing something.

“Your Highness, you mustn’t overdo it. Isn’t there another council meeting in a few days?”

Recently, Lucas looked even more haggard than he did on the battlefield. Even Cedric was so genuinely worried that he tried to dissuade him several times.

“I have finished preparing the analysis report on the Astel territory…”

“Is that the problem now?”

His low voice had no energy at all.

“We cannot postpone Your Highness’s role due to the Crown Princess’s illness.”

“I have never neglected my roles and duties.”

“But you are overworking yourself too much. Do you not know that Your Highness’s health is of utmost importance to this empire?”

They were all valid points, but human hearts weren’t that simple. The royal physician said that Serena had passed the critical stage and was resting, but the memory of their last heated argument kept coming to mind, making him reluctant to look at Astel’s affairs.

“Clearly, when I saw the Crown Princess on the first day of the month, she was perfectly fine. However… she turned away coldly without even listening to the end of what I had to say.”

At first, he was angry at Serena’s attitude. So even when he heard the news of her illness, he thought it was an excuse.

“I was proud of her for leading Astel to prosperity. I thought informing the entire council of that fact and saving more people would be an opportunity to showcase her abilities.”

Above all, he thought Serena would be pleased if he said he would apply Astel’s growth, which she took pride in, to the empire’s frontier to save the people.

Wouldn’t she be evaluated not as a woman, but as a ruler who once led Astel, just as she wished?

“But my thinking was short-sighted.”

The prosperity of Astel was achieved by Serena. However, if Lucas took only that method and immediately laid out his ambitions in the council, would Serena, who stayed only in the Crown Princess’s quarters, be truly happy?

Lucas’s arrogance was in easily believing that his heart and Serena’s were the same.

“At the very least, we should have discussed it together.”

“Regret is unbecoming of Your Highness.”

Cedric replied bluntly.

“Moreover, it is also the most unproductive thing that Your Highness hates.”

Phew, Lucas sighed as he turned his back on the frustrated Cedric. Just then, the head attendant approached Lucas with a smile and bowed.

“Your Highness, I have news that the Crown Princess has fully recovered and returned to her daily life.”

“Really? Are you certain she has completely recovered?”

“Yes. She has also had sufficient rest and will resume her daily activities starting today.”

Lucas visibly heaved a sigh of relief. After suffering from a high fever, there were often aftereffects, but the fact that she had returned to her daily life meant he still had a chance.

“Additionally, the Crown Princess said she would like to invite Your Highness to dinner tonight if you are amenable.”

This time, Lucas’s eyes widened in surprise.

He didn’t expect her to seek him out so soon after just returning to her daily life today. Especially since their last meeting had left a wound in her heart.

“It’s still morning, so you can take your time to respond. Today’s schedule is…”

“Having dinner with the Crown Princess takes priority, no matter what.”

Seeing Lucas’s decisive manner, the head attendant also smiled. His longing for his wife, befitting a man who had just recently tied the marital knot, was heartwarming to anyone who saw it.

“But you said it’s still morning?”

The closer the goal, the more impatient one becomes. And Lucas’s day today was going to be as long as the past five days.

Serena sat in the reception room, basking in the winter sunlight, lost in thought for a while. She couldn’t step outside yet, just in case, as the royal physician had advised her not to be exposed to the outside air.

“How many more winters will there be?”

Her monologue echoed softly.

She still couldn’t fully understand the meaning of the being she had met in her unconscious state or its voice, but one thing was certain: she could now change this story according to her own will.

In other words, depending on how Serena lived her life from now on, the future where she withered away as an imperceptible empress could change.

“I don’t think I need to worry about being imperceptible.”

If she had been trapped in a predetermined story, she might have, but now that she had free will, she had no confidence in becoming a person with a faint presence. In the first place, it was difficult to hide her tall and dignified appearance, which stood out among any woman in this imperial palace.

“Your Highness, I apologize for disturbing your rest.”

She was staring blankly into the air when Anna approached and slightly bent her knees.

“It’s alright. What is it?”

“The head maid from the Crown Prince’s quarters has come.”

She had already invited Lucas to dinner tonight because he kept weighing on her mind. Perhaps there was other news.

“Let her in.”

“Yes.”

After a short while, Matilda, the head maid of the Crown Prince, quietly entered and bowed. The middle-aged lady looked very calm and gentle at a glance.

“Greetings to the Crown Princess. I am Matilda, the head maid serving the Crown Prince.”

“I see. For the lady to come in person, what is the matter?”

Even though they were called head maids, those who directly served the royal family were from the middle nobility or higher. Moreover, she had served Lucas since he was young, so it was necessary to show a certain level of respect.

“I am unworthy of such honor.”

When she was at the Marquis’s mansion, Lady Abigail had taught her that even young maids had to be well-mannered as a basic requirement, and only those with at least a middle-class status could work in the imperial palace.

She had also mentioned that the head maids and head attendants serving the upper quarters were particularly important people.

“The Crown Prince has been deeply concerned about the Crown Princess’s health. So, he sent me to see with my own eyes if you have truly recovered now.”

“How do I look to you, my lady?”

However, the upper quarters of the imperial family must maintain their authority while respecting them.

This was something Lady Abigail had never taught her, but Serena naturally displayed a kind yet dignified attitude. She had learned this from observing the Empress Adeline’s demeanor.

“Your vibrant energy is a delight to behold.”

“Then please convey that to His Highness.”

Matilda nodded. However, she showed no signs of leaving yet.

“Do you have something more to say to me?”

“I humbly ask… The Crown Prince inquired if it would be alright to have dinner at 5 o’clock.”

Normally, formal dinners started at 8 o’clock, and even in simple cases, 5 o’clock was too early. However, seeing Matilda’s earnest expression, it was evident that Lucas had been quite anxious.

“Let’s do that.”

As Serena smiled, Matilda, finally relieved, bowed again.

“Then, I shall take my leave.”

After Matilda left, Anna, who had been standing by the door listening to the conversation, approached with a puzzled expression.

“Having dinner at 5 o’clock… Isn’t that too early?”

“Yes. But he has waited for five days, so I’ll make an exception for today.”

“Then, I’ll go to the kitchen and tell them to hurry.”

Serena nodded, and Anna quickly left the reception room.

“Somehow… It feels a bit different.”

Until now, even when she heard that the Crown Prince cherished her so much, there was no significant emotional upheaval.

However, after encountering his eyes and hearing his voice calling her name between the high fever and unconsciousness, she felt Lucas’s presence sprouting like a new shoot in her heart.

When she was on the brink of death, the memory of his sincere eyes gazing at her and his voice calling her name lingered and wouldn’t leave. It was probably because it came to mind whenever she saw him.

“A winter sprout.”

She didn’t know what would grow yet, but it was a sprout that had just begun to grow, so she would find out by watching it.

Unlike the bare branches outside the window, the newly growing sprout made her heart flutter a little.

When the news reached that the Crown Princess had accepted the 5 o’clock dinner, Cedric was finally able to escape from the endless sparring sessions.

In recent days, he had swung his sword to the point of exhaustion, even more tiring than being on the battlefield, so it was a welcome respite.

“Then, I shall take my leave now.”

Finally, Lucas readily nodded. Even Cedric, who rarely showed emotion, smiled with relief.

“Ah, you don’t need to come back today.”

“Yes!”

Cedric, who answered more resoundingly than usual, hurriedly left the Crown Prince’s presence, lest he change his mind.

“I’ve worked up a sweat, so I’d like to wash up a bit.”

Lucas made a rather sudden remark and headed to the bathroom. Following behind him, Matilda silently smiled. Spring was finally approaching for Lucas as well.

“By the way, I’d like to bring something to the Crown Princess.”

It was the first crisis he had faced while serving the Crown Prince.

“What do women like to receive? No. Of course, the Crown Princess is different from ordinary women.”

Lucas stopped in his tracks and became deeply absorbed in thought, showing how pleased he was with Serena’s recovery, but Matilda had no advice to offer.

“What do you think, my lady?”

However, unable to find an answer, Lucas sought Matilda’s help. The Crown Princess she had seen a little while ago had a more dignified yet kind appearance than expected, but that alone made it difficult to cater to her taste.

“The person who knows the Crown Princess best right now is Your Highness, so only you will know the answer.”

The experienced head maid swiftly escaped the small crisis.

“Hmm…”

Throughout Lucas’s life, this was the first time he had given such a small gift. He simply liked Serena and wanted to give her something, a very simple feeling.

“Serena’s charm is indeed in her liveliness.”

Roses grown in a greenhouse didn’t suit her. But he couldn’t give her the sword he used either.

“It’s an unexpected challenge.”

Lucas furrowed his handsome brows.

It was just a trivial gift, but for him right now, it was the most difficult problem. Perhaps a sprout was also sprouting in his heart this winter.