“It’s been a while since we last met, and I got scared.”

Benjamin reached out his arm and wrapped it around her waist.

“What if there’s fear in the eyes looking at the fiancé?”

Charlotte only then discovered herself taking a step back.

“…It’s too close.”

“If you act like I’m some kind of villain, it’ll be disappointing.”

Benjamin let go of his outstretched arm.

“Your guardian is coming.”

Leandro was gasping for breath.

His long white hair was tangled by the wind. Even his neatly worn clothes were slightly disheveled.

It was the first time she saw her great-grandfather in such a disheveled state.

He was sweating despite the wind blowing.

His pale, frightened complexion only regained color upon finding Charlotte.

“Did you run here, Grandfather?”

Leandro barely managed to compose his staggering body.

“You suddenly disappeared, so I was startled.”

“There were too many people, so I got pushed. Were you worried?”

Considering how he hurriedly ran here, it might have been a deflating result. But seeing the relief spreading across Leandro’s face, Charlotte changed her mind. He was genuinely worried.

“Greetings to Your Majesty.”

Leandro turned his gaze and looked at Benjamin standing behind him.

“Were you undercover?”

“I intervened when family members were together.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m relieved to see you together.”

Leandro shook his head while looking down at the child.

“As I grow older, I only become more worrisome and foolish.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Your Majesty, why are you with Charlotte?”

“I came to find her late and you were together.”

Leandro clasped his hands behind his back and looked after his great-granddaughter. From afar, the child’s hair fluttered with her steps.

“Even though it’s been a while for the two of you, you remain the same.”

Aster also agreed with his father’s opinion.

“I was worried Charlotte might find Your Majesty unfamiliar, but that’s not the case. I forget that Your Majesty is uniquely lenient only with that child.”

There was a particularly similar aspect even in the past. When the two walked alone, it wasn’t awkward but rather dreamlike.

“Secretary, why are you here?”

“His Majesty chased me out, saying I was a disturbance. That sympathetic gaze is fine.”

Rosquella, who was chased away, also closely observed the back of his lord. The night was getting deeper, and the lanterns of the soul-consoling ceremony illuminated the ground.

“The soul-consoling ceremony is also ending.”

Rosquella brought up a topic.

“Aren’t the two of you getting married soon? It was a long separation, so we should watch over the two of you intimately sharing your past feelings.”

Not knowing that this conversation was taking place behind them,

Charlotte felt a sense of distance at the long-awaited reunion.

“Charlotte.”

Benjamin called out to Charlotte.

“Did you release a lantern?”

“…What lantern?”

“The soul-consoling lantern. The ones people release into the sky.”

Charlotte was walking along the riverbank with Benjamin. Vermilion lanterns adorned the sky.

“No, I didn’t have the chance.”

“Shall we release one?”

“You too?”

“I think it’ll be good if we release it together.”

Benjamin smiled, narrowing his eyes. The softened atmosphere resembled the one she knew from the past.

“Why do you keep flinching?”

“Pardon?”

“Look. You’re trembling.”

Benjamin touched Charlotte’s hair with his fingertips and lowered his eyes.

“I expected it to be different from the past, but if you act like you’ve seen something unpleasant…”

“It’s not like that.”

“I wouldn’t harm you. Why are you trembling?”

If he looks benevolent to my eyes right now, am I crazy? His aura was slightly sharp, but it wasn’t threatening to Charlotte.

He was gentle and docile. As if saying he won’t let you get hurt, gently caressing you.

And,

“That crazy bastard…”

A curse was heard from somewhere.

Rosquella covered his mouth with a huff. Smiling awkwardly, he avoided his gaze while whistling.

“Miss, would you like to buy a lantern?”

Charlotte lowered her gaze. A girl wearing a rose flower crown held out a lantern and her eyes sparkled.

“It’s three silver coins!”

Charlotte paid the price and accepted the lantern. Inside the vermilion-colored paper was a wick to be lit.

“I once saw this sky adorned with lanterns through a window. It was a dark and narrow room. If it guides the way for lost souls, please guide my way too. I’m also lost… May it lead my way with light as well.”

Charlotte looked down at the lantern blankly.

“I thought it was futile, but it led me to this path and eventually placed me here.”

It seems it wasn’t entirely futile after all.

“The belief that those lanterns guide the lost might actually be true.”

Lanterns were being released here and there. Charlotte applied force to her fingertips and released the lantern.

The lantern rose into the sky. It adorned the dark sky and gradually moved away.

Did someone mourn my death as well? Was there someone who tried to light the way like this by releasing lanterns?

“I’m not sure.”

The soul-consoling ceremony ended like that.

[This is the timeline separator]

Some time passed after the soul-consoling ceremony ended.

“Where is Charlotte?”

Leandro asked a servant to find Charlotte. Charlotte was in the backyard, spreading out a mat and reading a book.

“Are you busy right now?”

“No, I was resting.”

“I’m going to visit the imperial palace, would you like to come along?”

This was the first time visiting the imperial palace since Benjamin ascended the throne. Charlotte closed the book and nodded slightly.

“We’ll depart right after lunch, so get ready and come down.”

Charlotte put on a dress and went outside. The thick shawl over the light purple dress made her body feel heavy.

“Is this fine to go?”

“Yes. Even though the shawl is thick, Becky said to dress warmly and go out for now.”

“You have a capable maid. We should depart now. We’ll be late if we stay longer.”

Leandro patted Charlotte’s head and got on the carriage.

The road to the imperial palace was quiet. Upon arriving in front of the imperial palace, the guard only checked the carriage and immediately opened the gate.

No further confirmation was necessary. The Windsor ducal family had the power to pass through the imperial palace gates with just their family crest.

“This is my second time at the imperial palace.”

“The country has been a mess until now.”

Soon, someone knocked on the carriage door.

“From the Emperor’s Palace, you have to walk in, so we stopped the carriage.”

An awkward voice was heard from outside. Leandro got off the carriage, looked down at the imperial guard, and replied.

“I know that too, so don’t mind me.”

“We will keep the carriage for you.”

“Where is His Majesty?”

“He is in the office. Shall I call an attendant to escort you inside?”

“It’s a place I always come to, no need. Charlotte, get off. We have to walk from here.”

As Charlotte poked her head out, the imperial guard quickly held his breath.

Her reddish-brown hair flowed down, and elegance was embedded in every gesture.

“You’re staring too much.”

Leandro muttered as if displeased, and the guard hurriedly bowed his head.

“My apologies. Your Grace!”

Charlotte was escorted and stepped inside. The audience chamber of the Emperor’s Palace was located on the path leading to the lobby.

Inside the path, exquisite porcelain was placed, and the empire’s flag was hung in various places. The attendants also had an evident cautious demeanor.

“It’s been a long time since His Majesty ascended the throne. A position gained by force will be ruled by fear, but that is also precarious. Marriage stabilizes such an imperial palace, and an imperial heir is an essential duty for the imperial family.”

Leandro spoke while taking in the sight of the imperial palace. Charlotte was the young emperor’s fiancée, and if things had gone as planned, the wedding ceremony should have taken place long ago, considering the lengthy engagement period.

“Some may impose an excessive sense of responsibility on you, and some may have excessive expectations for you. However, remember this.”

Leandro looked down at Charlotte and spoke.

“Wherever you are, we are behind you.”

“…”

“Wherever you go, we are also walking there.”

The imperial palace is vast and expansive, but equally lonely.

“If you want to run away, then run away. If you come running out, we will hide you.”

Leandro looked at her with lowered, settled eyes.

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

“…Those are difficult words.”

“Right now, I intend to push your back. Don’t be afraid.”

Leandro clasped his hands behind his back and raised his head.

“Look ahead.”

The chief attendant approached, sweating profusely. He had rushed over after belatedly hearing the news of Leandro’s visit.

“Y-Your Grace, you’ve arrived? If you had called for us, we would have come out to greet you. My apologies.”

“It’s not like I’m coming here for the first or second time, why are you being so cautious?”

Charlotte only slightly lowered her head to show courtesy. Leandro asked, clasping his hands behind his back.

“Where is His Majesty?”

“He is in the office. Shall I escort you?”

“I entrust this child to you.”

“Ah, did the great-granddaughter walk together with you?”

“I’m going to see the Minister of the Interior, so guide this child to His Majesty.”

Charlotte also realized it then.

“Are you going alone?”

“I’m not alone since I’m sending you with the chief attendant. I plan to leave the palace as soon as I meet the Minister of the Interior. You can slowly return after finishing your conversation with His Majesty.”

Leandro smiled faintly. His gaze lingered on Charlotte for a moment. Their eyes met, and her great-grandfather caressed her head with his wrinkled hand.

“But don’t be too late. Your uncle seems to worry a lot.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“His Majesty is in the office.”

The chief attendant was a man of few words. It was partly due to his cautious nature, but also because of the heavy atmosphere in the imperial palace.

From the Minister of the Interior to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, key figures of the imperial family died. From the central elders of the imperial palace to important positions, everyone died and the vacancies were newly filled.

Even if the imperial palace is quiet now, the number of lives lost in the imperial palace alone was in the hundreds. The current imperial palace was like a building with all its walls torn down, leaving only the skeleton.

“Your Majesty, Young Lady Windsor has come to see you.”

As the chief attendant knocked on the office door, a voice was heard from inside.

“Come in.”

The office door opened, and a faint scent of cigarette smoke wafted from inside. Benjamin stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray on one side of the desk.