“I know. That’s why I don’t call him. If I did, he would surely come back to deal with everything. Cediloy… He didn’t know at first why the child was so buried in work. Maybe he thought it was because of excessive enthusiasm. However, after about a year, he realized that it wasn’t the case.”

Valdeve chuckled softly. When Elmerat reached out to him, Valdeve, using both hands, gently held her hand, the hand of his king and wife. Then, he slowly kissed her from the fingertips to the knuckles, removing the ring and glove one by one.

“The Duke of Waltermund is now gradually emerging from the twelve-year-old child’s heart. Give him some time.”

A short sigh escaped Elmerat’s lips.

“I know. So, isn’t it because I’m not calling him that these tasks are piling up like this? Cediloy… at first, he didn’t understand why the child was so immersed in work. He thought it was because of excessive enthusiasm. However, after about a year, he realized that it wasn’t the case.”
“That was his way. A way of escaping.”

Valdeve exerted pressure firmly on Elmerat’s hand while molding it at his fingertips. As pressure was applied to the fingers and palm, which had stiffened from gripping the pen, Elmerat’s whole body relaxed.

Elmerat, who closed her eyes for a moment and was happily sighing, spoke.

“You’re right. Immersing himself in work was the only way for him to escape. Thinking about other things was painful for him, so I realized my mistake too late, not being able to face it enough. When he was fifteen, I unusually quickly granted Cediloy the position of Duke of Waltermund. From the age of seventeen, he learned politics and assisted me here. I was pleased, as if watching my own child, to see him absorbed in it… I didn’t realize that the hidden wounds were festering inside.”

Valdeve replied, “Your Majesty, you paid much attention to the Duke of Waltermund. While the Duke’s nature is virtuous, his judgment and political sense developed thanks to Your Majesty’s education.”

“In a way, I feel sorry for the children. Yours and mine. Especially Harman. He’s the same age as Cediloy. Looking back, it seems like he spent more time with Cediloy than with Harman. Fortunately, Harman didn’t go astray. Right?”

“Fortunately, Harman resembles me.”

At that moment, Elmerat’s pupils twinkled mischievously. For a moment, she looked like a fourteen-year-old girl who had returned, not a middle-aged woman exhausted from state affairs.

The girl whom Valdeve fell in love with at first sight, at that time, she already occasionally met nobles boldly in place of her often ailing father, leading discussions. She was a kind and generous girl, strong enough to not compromise without love. She was also mischievous.

“If he resembled me, would you say he would have gone astray, Your Majesty?”

Valdeve smirked nonchalantly.

“I didn’t say such a thing…”

“Lie.”

Elmerat burst into laughter. Valdeve, who was gently releasing her hand, also laughed out loud.

The lips of the two touched softly. The moment they separated, a voice from outside was heard.

“Your Majesty, Second Prince Alhyun is here.”

Elmerat’s eyebrows rose slightly.

“Good heavens, he wouldn’t be doing this on purpose, would he?”

Valdeve, suppressing his laughter, put gloves back on her hands and then put on the ring. Elmerat, after tidying up the crown that she had thrown away, re-tied the lace around her neck that she had loosened.

The door opened, and Harman came in. He blinked for a moment as if he didn’t expect his father to be present, then spoke.

“Did I disturb you both?”

King Elmerat answered.
“Yeah. The youngest sibling could have been born, and you just kicked that opportunity away.”

Valdeve’s face, standing beside, turned slightly red. While he gave a subtle hint to Elmerat, coughing to cover it up, Elmerat’s son, Harman, sighed with a mix of lamentation.

“That’s a truly regrettable situation. I received a good fragrance from Viscount Cloff, so I must present it to both of you. So, tonight, without fail…”

“Harman.”

Valdeve spoke with a solemn voice. Harman, with a face exactly like his father’s, swallowed his breath while laughing and looked at King Elmerat.

“Duke of Waltermund has arrived in the royal city. The carriage is passing through the pansy garden right now.”

The pansy garden was the nickname for the first garden that entered El Bleuenn Royal City. When it turns to iron, it becomes a nickname like a sea of pansies, more than ten colors blooming like flowers. If the carriage just passed through there, it would take a bit more time to reach the innermost palace.

“He came earlier than I expected. I thought it would take a while to make up his mind… He has also progressed quite a bit. Isn’t that right?”

“Well… If you compare to the old days, it seems so.”

Elmerat nodded with a little satisfaction.

“It’s a common occurrence when raising children.”

For a moment, another face flashed in Harman’s mind instead of Arianthe… but he felt no need to tell his mother about that fact.

While staying at the ducal estate, should he bother saying that Maiana, who takes care of the lady, seems to have some special feelings between her and Cediloy? Why would he say such a thing?

‘Let her handle it.’

Harman thought. Cediloy has long said that he has no intention of marrying until Arianthe grows up, but Harman knows that King Elmerat is secretly looking for a match that suits him.

But suddenly, if it is said that a servant, especially one who is closest to the lady, seems to be intimate… No, I won’t. Harman decided once again.

King Elmerat smiled with a calm attitude, not knowing what his son was thinking.

“When Cediloy comes, make sure to rest well until the evening. And I’ve invited several well-known nobles, so be sure to attend the evening party.”