“He was someone who excessively empathized with fairy tales read by children, but the events that unfolded in the fairy tale were truly terrifying for him.

To reassure him, Aesha quickly continued to read the next part.

“After the flower died, the once beautiful world turned into desolation. The land became barren, water stagnated without flowing, fire burned the earth intensely and dried up the water, and the wind blew a dusty wind across the world. Now, in the land of Etzheim, no signs of any life could be seen. Everyone mourned the death of the flower and reflected on it with sorrow.”

Karaf covered his eyes with both hands and bowed his head as if he were the tragic hero.

“Pitying the situation, one day, the god of Etzheim gave them a single flower seed. It was a small seed left by the flower spirit, using all its strength before passing away. Unaware that the flower seed was stuck to his body, the spirit of the wind had been keeping it in his body.”

Karaf shrugged his shoulders.

“When the seed descended to the ground again, everyone tried their best to protect the flower this time. Finally, the spirit of the flower could return to them, and the Etzheim Empire could regain peace and happiness.”

Although the story had a happy ending, Karaf’s expression was not bright.

Lost in thought for a while, he quietly asked, “Do minority people grow up listening to such fairy tales from a young age?”

“The story is somewhat altered, but it’s a well-known fairy tale.”

“The situation in the fairy tale is just like my current situation…”

Karaf let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“If, in that fairy tale, the flower seed isn’t me, what would happen…?”

He seemed to recall the second flower while listening to the story.

Aesha, with a stern expression, said, “The spirit of the wind was keeping the seed, and the flower died before I reverted. The story afterward is the story we’re living now.”

Karaf’s eyes, which had been trembling with uncertainty, hardened again at her words.

Aesha thought of the minority spy who had come looking for her before.

Perhaps the minority people interpreted this story in a different direction.

Just now, believing that the second flower was the savior to save the world, and perhaps urging him to make Karaf bloom.

Especially at this time, the existence of the second flower appeared, making it plausible to believe so.

However, the crucial point was that they didn’t know the fact that Aesha had reverted.

Looking at the now calm Karaf, Aesha pulled herself together and took out another fairy tale book.”
However, as Karaf, who had been silently listening to the story, closed his eyes and smiled, he said, “…Listening to this, childhood memories suddenly come to mind. Back then, I also had severe insomnia, and the nanny used to read fairy tales to me.”

“A nanny?”

Aesha became curious about the fact that Karaf had a nanny.

“Yes. She was a grateful person who raised me instead of my mother.”

“Where is she now?”

“She passed away. To my mother.”

“…”

Aesha was shocked by the unexpected story and opened her mouth.

Karaf said with a bitter smile, “It’s not a pleasant story to hear. It seems she didn’t appeal to my mother. Maybe she didn’t like the sight of someone else taking care of me with sincerity. Or maybe all the people I loved ended up dying…”

Aesha, with widened eyes, suddenly remembered the time when she met the young Karaf.

‘No, that’s not it. Think about it. Surely there are people who like you.’

At these words, he had smiled faintly, thinking of someone.

Was that person the nanny?

Thinking that the nanny was probably the only person who loved him at the palace, Aesha felt her heart becoming heavy.

She gently placed a hand on his face.

When Karaf, slightly surprised, looked at her, Aesha, with a sad expression, said, “Please don’t say such sad things with that sad face.”

“…Fine. If the Empress doesn’t want to hear it, I’ll keep it to myself.”

“I don’t like that either. I hope you can honestly tell me your thoughts, feelings, everything from now on. That way, I can better understand Your Majesty.”

Karaf’s eyes widened for a moment as he looked into Aesha’s eyes.

The atmosphere turned slightly pink, and his face blushed slightly.

As if telling Aesha not to dream with that look, she poked the side with a determined expression.

“Then lie down quickly. If you can’t sleep, I’ll sing a lullaby for you.”

Unconsciously, Karaf lay quietly on the bed, placing both hands over his stomach.

Aesha comforted him with the blanket and began to sing a lullaby.

Feeling truly peaceful with the soft melody, Karaf closed his eyes.

When he couldn’t sleep because of fear in his childhood, the nanny used to sing him a lullaby.

Now, with no lyrics coming to mind, it might have been some meaningless hum, but back then, that sound had felt so warm.

Suddenly, the words the nanny had said when he returned with wounds crossed his mind.

‘Your Highness… Surely, Your Highness will become an Emperor beloved by everyone. Someone will appear to truly teach Your Highness about love.’