“I also want to grant the Marquis’s request, but I cannot exclude the Duchess Belaste from the candidates.”

The Emperor interlaced his fingers and continued speaking with a troubled expression.

“However, we can look for someone else. There are many candidates to participate in the competition for Crown Princess. Yes. If the competition proceeds according to the Marquis’s wishes, shouldn’t I also gain something to be fair?”

“What do you desire?”

“The shares in the mining business will remain, but giving up the Duke title I promised before.”

It seems the Emperor was concerned about the promise to grant a Duke title in exchange for receiving a certain share of the mining business.

‘If I become a Duke, it would be possible to minimize the influence of Grand Duke Usith, the elder of Rowe…’

It was more important that Larien not become the Crown Princess.

“I understand.”

“Good. I’ll try to persuade Duke Belaste.”

The Emperor accepted Jade’s request with a satisfied look.

I took a sip of tea while looking around the reception room of the Boston Count’s residence.

‘I didn’t expect them to allow a visit request on the same day…’

I could see how much Count Boston cherished Larien.

Until now, I had deliberately avoided interacting with Count Boston.

I refused every time he occasionally invited me to visit.

It felt uncomfortable to receive affection from people who loved Larien.

That was Larien’s.

I thought it was an area I shouldn’t dare covet or intrude upon.

The last time I saw him was at my maternal grandfather’s funeral.

‘I couldn’t even be there for his final moments because I received the news too late.’

As loud footsteps approached from outside the reception room, Count Boston entered.

“Larien!”

“Un-Uncle?”

Due to Count Boston’s distant ancestor being a witch, his direct descendants hardly aged.

‘He looks similar to when I last saw him.’

Count Boston, with a face that maintained his youthful appearance, was breathing heavily.

“I pay my respects, Uncle.”

He stopped me as I was about to bow.

“Th-There’s no need for that.”

“Thank you for allowing my sudden visit request.”

Count Boston smiled warmly.

“Don’t think of it so formally. I’m your uncle, aren’t I?”

Count Boston’s eyes were particularly red.

‘It doesn’t seem like it’s because we’re meeting after a long time…’

As if he had been crying until just moments ago.

“Larien. Have you been well? Are you sick anywhere?”

It was obvious I was forcing a smile, which made me feel even more guilty.

“Diane, when you come… Ah. Never mind.”

Count Boston hastily mumbled his words.

Diane Boston.

Count Boston’s only daughter, who was very fond of me.

‘She used to linger nearby whenever I came…’

Today, Diane was nowhere to be seen.

It was also strange that Count Boston started to mention Diane but stopped.

“Is Diane out?”

“D-Diane is…”

Count Boston was reluctant to answer.

“More importantly, Larien. I’m so glad you came. I couldn’t believe it when I heard you made a visit request.”

It was certain that something had happened to Diane.

“I’ve been rude. I’m sorry I couldn’t visit often.”

“No, no. Just… Could you come by like this more often in the future?”

I found it difficult to readily agree to his request.

‘How can I ask someone who’s expecting me to come to help me run away?’

“Larien, do you remember?”

“Remember what?”

“When you were young, you loved dacquoise topped with fruit. You ate five in one sitting and got a stomachache.”

He reminisced about Larien from before I possessed her, when she was even younger. With a very happy smile.

“Because of that, this uncle got scolded terribly by your grandfather.”

“That’s right.”

I answered to avoid dampening Count Boston’s excited mood.

“Today, to avoid a stomachache, you should only eat four, okay? Come on, Larien. Try some quickly.”

Count Boston offered me dacquoise, urging me to eat.

“…Ugh.”

“Larien. You.”

As soon as I saw the dacquoise on the plate, my heart pounded and I felt nauseous.

“Don’t tell me-”

Count Boston’s jaw trembled violently. It seemed like even the excuse of feeling unwell wouldn’t work, so there was no use in hiding it further.

“Uncle. I… I’m pregnant. I came suddenly with this news, so you must be surprised.”

I resignedly placed my hand on my stomach.

“You’ve just come of age, and of all times, when your future is the brightest.”

Seeing his extreme shock, I regretted coming to see him. It felt like I had unnecessarily burdened him.

“Larien. What does your father say?”

“I… haven’t told him about the pregnancy. He told me to prepare for the royal marriage since I’ve been designated as a candidate for Crown Princess. If he finds out about the baby, he’ll surely try to get rid of it.”

“I didn’t like it when he remarried right after Rachel died, but he keeps doing things worthy of criticism.”

A dark energy filled his pink eyes that resembled Rachel’s.

“…Larien. Do you intend to have the baby?”

Count Boston, who had been listening quietly, parted his lips.

“Larien. I’m afraid you’ll leave like Rachel did. I can’t help you have the baby. You’re still too young.”

“…”

“I’m truly sorry, but I wish you would terminate the pregnancy.”

I couldn’t give up on the baby.

It was the first family I had in my life. Though it came unexpectedly, it was an existence I absolutely had to protect.

“I can’t terminate it. I’m sorry, Uncle.”

I never had a mother, so I never had the chance to call someone that.

At the very least, I wanted to give my baby the opportunity to call me ‘mom,’ so I knelt down.

“…Larien, what are you doing right now!”

“Unlike me, I want to give love.”

Count Boston’s eyes, startled, shook violently.

“I understand how you feel, Larien. But…”

“I’m curious about how lovely their smile will be when they run to hug me. Maybe, seeing that, I can comfort the part of me that couldn’t be spoiled.”

I pleaded more earnestly, trying to persuade him.

I developed a desire to do what I couldn’t experience myself.

I looked forward to the days of living with the baby. For some reason, I felt certain.

If I don’t give up on the baby, I’ll be at least happier than I am now.

“…Child. You really are Rachel’s daughter. Rachel was the same. She begged her father, who opposed it saying it was dangerous, that she would definitely give birth to you.”

Count Boston looked at me intently with reddened eyes.

“I’ll respect your wishes. I brought it up because I was worried about you. As I said earlier, you still have so much you can do.”

“…Thank you for your concern.”

A bitterness settled on his lips.

“As you grew up, you seemed to forget how to smile. By the time I realized that shadows had fallen on the face that used to climb onto my neck and ask to play tirelessly, it was already too late.”

I could feel the sincerity in his voice, tinged with moisture.

“You know, Larien. A month ago, Diane died. Her heart stopped for no reason. Not wanting to accept Diane’s death, I didn’t report it and kept it quiet.”

I saw Count Boston hastily wiping away tears as he calmly relayed the news of Diane’s death.

Larien, despite being in the same situation, was jealous of Diane who grew up loved unlike herself.

‘To think Diane died…’

However, I felt sad, empathizing with Larien’s emotions who both disliked and liked Diane.

“Therefore, ‘Diane Boston,’ who will inherit everything of Boston, is still alive.”

Count Boston took out a ship ticket issued in Diane’s name from his inner pocket.

“Lecah is warm all year round, like eternal spring. There’s no better place to raise a child.”

“Uncle, does that mean…”

“It’s a Boston-owned ship, so you can depart anytime without any special identity verification.”

Count Boston suggested that I escape disguised as Diane.

“Also, since there’s a merchant group operated by Boston in Lecah, you shouldn’t have much difficulty settling down.”

It was certainly a much safer method than secretly running away.

“There’s a proxy managing the merchant group in Lecah. I’ll contact them to come meet you when you arrive. Make sure to receive lessons from the proxy on how to take over the merchant group.”

“Does that mean you’re entrusting Boston to me?”

It meant becoming the heir to the merchant group, which accounts for a portion of Boston’s assets.

“As expected, you understand quickly. I intend to pass on everything of Boston to you.”

Count Boston’s resolve seemed firm.

“On the surface, you’ll live as Viscount Diane Boston, but please accept it.”

If I inherit Boston’s assets later, the environment for raising the child will also become abundant.

“Larien. Make sure to show this uncle what the face of a child raised with your love looks like.”

His consideration for me until the end made my nose tingle and my throat choke up.

“Larien.”

Count Boston’s kind expression turned cold.

“Who is the baby’s father?”

Thump, my calm heart sank.

“No. Let me ask again. Does the baby’s father know about this?”

“I’ve settled everything. I’ll raise the baby alone.”

“…You didn’t seek the baby’s father’s consent.”

Count Boston hit the nail on the head in one breath.