Tatan cleared his throat.

“Before they went extinct, they used to live among people, but that’s all in the past.”

The creatures had gone extinct in ancient times.

In the old days, the ancient gods had sent dark sorcery and monsters underground, declaring sanctuaries in the imperial lands, specifying that corrupt beings should not invade these territories.

Then the creatures also went extinct.

Few remained in these lands now.

The stories of the ancient foundation and the ancient pact were now relegated to history. No one remembered them in detail.

“This meeting seems to have forged a meaningful relationship. I hope the creature also becomes a meaningful relationship to you.”

“Thank you.”

“I must go now.”

Tatan led his delegation away.

The New Year’s Festival was nearing its end.

“I’ll be alone for a moment.”

“…Alone?”

“Don’t follow.”

Charlotte quietly left the banquet hall.

“Why are you here alone?”

Charlotte stood by herself in a corridor when Katarina appeared from the shadows, dressed in the royal guard uniform.

“I think I’ve fulfilled my social obligations. Give me some space.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Keep a moderate distance. I’m not so insensitive to my safety that I would invite a delegation and forget my escort.”

Katarina retreated back into the shadows. Silence filled the air.

“Come out, you seem to be waiting to be alone.”

Charlotte whispered, standing in the corridor.

“Uh, did I disturb you?”

Her half-brother peeked his head out from the opposite corridor.

“There’s nothing I can offer you, even if you loiter around me.”

“No, no, Your Majesty! That’s not what I’m looking for!”

“So, you must have a different reason for circling around me like a lost puppy.”

Henrietta blinked.

“It’s harder not to know when you’re making it so obvious.”

“I, I’m sorry. I had no intention of being a nuisance.”

“Is your father with you?”

“My father is unwell and couldn’t attend today. Instead, I came with my mother.”

“Then go back. Your mother must be looking for you.”

Charlotte turned her back first. The presence behind her was small and insignificant. As she was about to leave, she felt a heaviness in her ankle.

“…But he’s sick.”

“Yes? Yes! My father is not well.”

“Why would he be particularly unwell at this time?”

“I don’t know. Even the physician doesn’t know. The symptoms worsen especially at night. He’s mostly lucid during the day, but at night he sweats and suffers, aimlessly wandering the house. Even the servants are scared.”

“Since when?”

“It’s been a few days. The atmosphere at home is tense.”

Charlotte felt Henrietta’s hand gripping the hem of her dress. The small hand clenched the red formal wear tightly.

She knew this broke palace etiquette, knew it was impolite.

‘But the child was simply not at ease.’

Charlotte overlaid her hand on the girl’s.
“Father is strange. I don’t know who to talk to. I, I don’t know what to do.”

“……Henry.”

Henrietta flinched at her nickname. It was a term of endearment her mother used to call her when she was young.

“What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know.”

“What should I do then?”

“I don’t know that either.”

“Then why did you come to me?”

Henrietta’s eyes welled up with tears.

“Ah, please forgive Father. It’s all my fault, so please forgive him. Then, Father will change too.”

“No.”

“……. ”

“The relationship I’ve already severed. That’s the end of it.”

Charlotte offered her final advice.

“Your father has already forgotten his manners and lost his system. He’s lost his dignity and his grace. He forgot the royal courtesy and the hierarchical order. There’s no solution there.”

“……You’re heartless.”

“It’s too late to talk about forgiveness. How many years do you think I’ve been by my mother’s sickbed?”

Charlotte had been by her mother’s sickbed for over ten years. And it was Charlotte who closed her mother’s eyes in death.

“I can hardly remember what Mother looked like alive. The old image is fading.”

“I, I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize. It’s all in the past now. It’s all just old stories.”

There’s no sin on your part. It’s the adults who are to blame.

Those who defiled that grave were the adults, and you just inherited their blood.

“Just hate me. It’ll make your heart feel better. I have nothing to offer you. I can only say I’m sorry.”

I can’t blame this child. The reality is suffocating.

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

“I’m not in a condition that would cause you concern.”

“Still……”

“Katarina, return this child to her guardian and come back.”

Katarina finally emerged from the shadows.

“I, I’ll go back alone. I’m sorry for being a bother. Please, forget about today.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“I, I won’t come back again. I shouldn’t have discussed such matters with you, Your Majesty. I was impatient and disrespectful.”

The young girl’s steps were shaky.

“Follow her. I’ll stay here.”

“Then I’ll just be here for a moment.”

Henrietta slowly moved away. Her presence left.

He looked out into the corridor.

In the distance, the night sky was dark.

“Where did you go off to?”

From below, a small white fluff of fur rubbed against his leg.

It scratched its chin with its little front paws, tilting its head innocently with a ‘meow.’

Outside was endlessly quiet and serene. Everything felt isolated, as if severed from the world.

Still, he enjoyed the tranquil atmosphere unique to the night.

I’m fine now. Probably.