“The canopy is so thin, everything is visible. The chamberlain will help you, so go wash. We’ve skipped dinner, let’s eat first.”

When Benjamin left the room, the chamberlain led the maids in. Looking at their resolute expressions, hadn’t those people feared the Emperor? The maids bathed Charlotte and poured perfume.

“Your hair is lovely. Yesterday, you fell into such a deep sleep, His Majesty stared at you for a long time. It was such a beautiful sight. It seems a great joy will come to the royal family.”

Charlotte stroked her hair. The hair was darkened, holding a lot of moisture. Charlotte dried her hair with a towel and pinned it up.

She wore a dress with pink fabric and added lace, matching the shoes. Where did this come from…….

“It suits you very well. It’s the first time I’ve seen His Majesty so relaxed, there must have been a reason. Even as a child, he never revealed his true feelings…….”

The chamberlain was Benjamin’s wet nurse in childhood.

Though the palace had been infested with parasites, they were not all corrupt. Most remained silent, waiting for the chaos to end, but there were those who upheld faith and loyalty within the palace. The royal doctors and priests were like this.

“The entire royal court has sworn to the god of medicine. We stake our faith and loyalty, even if our lives are threatened, we will not misuse this medicine. Please do not doubt our faith.”

“We are priests. We cannot shame the god of healing.”

All who learned the art of healing wrote oaths in the temple, making this even more the case.

“The dressing is finished. I will escort you to the dining place.”

The maids led Charlotte to the Emperor’s palace backyard. Charlotte looked around, taking slow steps.

The vast garden was like a square. The whole place was filled with grass, and a single elm tree stood tall.

“The Duke of Windsor has arrived with his son. His Majesty has already arrived and is talking with the Duke.”

“People came from my maternal family?”

Charlotte quickened her steps. Far away, Leandro had taken a seat in the banquet hall. She looked from a distance, and Leandro turned his head and beckoned.

“Come here.”

“Why…….”

“Look at your uncle’s face.”

Aster looked at Charlotte and muttered as if relieved.

“You stay out too late. Not even thinking about the family waiting at home.”

“Your uncle is being overly protective lately.”

“Father. This is not me being excessive. Look at that girl. They must have put Charlotte to sleep like a hibernating bear in the palace.”

“Hibernation?”

“Look at those cheeks, round like the moon!”

Charlotte took her seat in the banquet hall, and the meal began.

“It seems we worried for nothing.”

“Did you not receive the courier?”

Aster answered this part.

“Ah, the courier arrived. Just think of our family as being special.”

Benjamin seemed to have anticipated this from the beginning, arranging seats in the backyard. He may have expected this since sending the courier last night.
The meal began, and the utensils quietly clinked together. In the royal palace, where stimulating spices were avoided, the banquet hall was adorned with plain dishes.

“It seems the time has come for us to send our child away. Now it’s difficult to keep her in our arms alone.”

Charlotte understood what was being talked about to some extent.

“Now is the time to embrace the palace with loyalty. It’s also good as a sign that the chaos has ended.”

Leandro carefully built up the steps. The steps that Charlotte would have to step on and climb in the future.

“We must hurry the marriage to ensure stability in the palace. We have already confirmed where Charlotte’s heart is headed. It’s time to satisfy our greed, we’ve seen who she shines more beside.”

It was disappointing and also apologetic. These mixed emotions accompanied whenever they looked at this child.

“At first, I told her to brace herself when I took her to the palace, but Charlotte seemed like a child who should have been here from the beginning.”

“I am…….”

“She has grown too old to be called a child. It’s time for me to change the way I address her, but I don’t know why I’m like this.”

Charlotte smiled and swallowed her words.

“It seems I was very worried.”

Benjamin Visennov and the others all left their seats.

“Human life is a series of coincidences connected moment by moment, and when coincidences gather, it becomes life.”

Leandro leaned back and stared down at the palace. The garden looked like a hill, and looking down, it gave a feeling of a wideopen view.

“Do you remember the story I told you yesterday?”

“I remember, Grandfather.”

If you want to run away, run away. If you run away, we will hide you.

If you want to go forward, don’t look back. We will push your back.

“Did you choose to run away? Or did you choose to go forward?”

“I chose to walk forward.”

Charlotte turned her head.

“If it’s tough, talk to me once.”

“Then?”

“I’ll be behind you. It’s better than going alone, isn’t it?”

Benjamin Visennov was leading the attendants from below.

“Windsor says the carriage is waiting below, is the conversation over?”

“Yes. Your Majesty. Thank you for respecting the conversation between my grandson and me.”

Charlotte watched the departing figures. She might have felt lonely in the past.

“Charlotte is very sensitive to the cold. Please pay special attention to the fireplace at night.”

Leandro left only those words and turned his back. As he was slowly moving away, he seemed to suddenly think of something and spoke.

“Don’t go too far alone. Your uncle feels lonely. Your uncle is not that kind of person either.”