The place Jediel arrived after alternating between running and walking was the rear garden of the Empress’s Palace. Veronia was sitting at a table in the gazebo. Her face brightened as she caught sight of Jediel, who had already approached close by.

“Jediel, come here!”

“Your Majesty! Are you well today?”

Veronia furrowed her brow as she detected the rough breathing in Jediel’s voice as he bowed politely in greeting.

“Oh dear, Jediel! I thought I told you not to run inside the palace.”

“I know. But I couldn’t help it. I missed you so much, Mother!”

Jediel threw his arms around Veronia and whined. Finding this sight too adorable, Veronia smiled, forgetting the scolding she was about to give.

“Were you not just hungry?”

“Well…”

How could the child’s pouting and stammering be so lovable?

“…I was hungry, but I also missed you, Mother.”

“Alright, alright. Mother missed her Jediel too, enough to think she’d get scolded.”

Veronia lightly kissed the child’s forehead. Soon the table was filled with food, and the intimate meal between mother and son began.

Jediel had much to say. He mostly talked about the book he read last night and the lessons he had in the morning, and Veronia listened attentively to the child’s stories with a pleased smile.

“Today in world geography class, we learned about our neighboring country, the Duchy of Deven.”

“Oh? The Duchy of Deven… I think I learned about it when I was young too, but I can’t remember well now.”

Can you tell Mother a bit about it? When Veronia asked for help while lowering her eyes, the child’s face suddenly shone as brightly as the sun. As if he had been waiting for just this moment.

“The Duchy of Deven isn’t very large in area, but thanks to its mild climate, they say agriculture thrives there. So it’s called the breadbasket of the Berlingson Continent.”

“I see.”

“Our Aesnerdeum Empire also imports grain from the Duchy of Deven, especially…”

Veronia felt utter happiness watching Jediel recite what he had learned so diligently. She also thought how fortunate it was that the child took after Killian in being so bright.

As various stories were exchanged, the plates were soon emptied. Disappointment was evident on Jediel’s face as he put down his fork.

“You have physical training and swordsmanship lessons this afternoon, right?”

“…Yes, but…”

The child trailed off, watching Veronia’s reaction. Veronia, who had been wiping the child’s mouth with a napkin, stopped and asked.

“But what?”

“I want to stay with you longer today, Mother.”

At that moment, the corners of Veronia’s mouth curled up gently.

‘Yes. This is how a 5-year-old should be.’

Jediel had adapted very well to palace life. He was so exemplary that it was rather worrying.

Even she, an adult, would always stumble and fumble, becoming exhausted by nightfall. But 5-year-old little Jediel endured the new life so maturely without complaints.

So these moments when Jediel occasionally indulged like this were precious to Veronia.

“Mother was just thinking the same thing! We’re on the same wavelength! Then… shall we stay together longer?”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

When the child asked with wide round eyes, Veronia nodded her head emphatically.

“Then can I go to the infirmary with you this afternoon?”

“To the infirmary?”

“Yes. I’ll be your assistant.”

“Wow… I’m touched! Our Jediel wants to help Mother at the infirmary! Alright, let’s go!”

The excited Jediel bounced up and down.

“You know you can’t bounce like that in the infirmary, right? There are many patients there, and if we’re not careful, they could get hurt.”

“Yes, I know! I’ll be careful. Don’t worry, Mother!”

Jediel’s voice was so loud that it made Veronia’s ears ring.

The Imperial Infirmary, located right next to the palace, was a place for sick children and pregnant women where Veronia personally provided treatment every afternoon.

“Welcome, Your Majesty the Empress!”

“It is an honor to see you after so long, Your Highness the Prince.”

“Your Highness the Prince has grown so much! You look even more dashing!”

Everyone at the infirmary greeted Veronia and Jediel warmly.

Veronia took Jediel to a table near the entrance. Several gift pouches containing flower tea and dried fruits were neatly arranged there. They were all made from flowers and fruits grown in the Empress’s Palace garden.

“Your job today is to greet the patients and guardians as they leave after receiving treatment and give them one of these gift pouches each. Can you do that well?”

“Yes! I can do it well!”

Just as Jediel answered confidently, a young female patient and her grandmother were leaving the infirmary. Jediel, holding a gift pouch, scurried over to them.

“I wish you a speedy recovery!”

“Oh my, thank you.”

Gentle smiles formed on the faces of the young patient and grandmother who received the gift pouch. Veronia could rest assured seeing Jediel perform his duty very properly, unlike when he was bouncing around in the rear garden.

Veronia left Jediel with the attendants and headed to the treatment room. It was time to share the precious ability gifted by the Goddess with others.

“Welcome. Where does our little gentleman hurt?”

“He had an upset stomach a week ago, but it wouldn’t get better no matter what medicine he took. So we came all the way here.”

The child’s father answered on behalf of the child who was groaning in pain.

“Oh dear. You’ve suffered for a week. Come, lie down here.”

“Um… but…”

The child lying on the bed looked up at Veronia and hesitated.

“Yes, what is it?”

“Are you really the Empress? You don’t have a crown and you’re not wearing golden clothes.”

Veronia smiled gently at the innocent question. It was a question she often heard from children visiting the infirmary. They had come because they heard it was an infirmary where the Empress herself provided treatment, but there was no one who looked like an empress, so they were curious.

“Right now, I’m your little gentleman’s healer. But when I return to the palace after finishing treatment, then I become the empress. Sometimes I wear a crown and golden clothes too.”

“Ah, I see!”

The child nodded firmly, seemingly satisfied with the answer to his curiosity.

Veronia placed her hands on the sick child’s body. As she gently rubbed his stomach, a soft light soon emanated from her hands.

Veronia focused on the treatment, watching the face of the child, who had been groaning with a furrowed brow, gradually relax.

It had been 6 years since she left her past life behind and came to this new world.

Even though much time had passed, there were moments when everything still felt unfamiliar.

There were times when the thought suddenly crept in that everything surrounding her now was not for her, but for the original Veronia or the female lead of the original work, Evangelina.

But strangely, the moment of treating patients with divine power never felt unfamiliar. In a way, it was the most unbelievable, fantasy-like moment, but to Veronia, it felt like the most realistic moment.

‘It’s an ability given specially to me, the possessor, which the original Veronia in the original work didn’t have.’

So the time spent treating sick children and pregnant women always felt like a time when she could be entirely herself, and she always put her heart into it and did her best.

After treating five or six patients, an hour had already passed. Intending to take a break as well, Veronia went to where Jediel was. The entrance was bustling with people coming and going, but Jediel was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is Jediel?”

“Huh? He was definitely here just a moment ago, where did he go?”

The attendant’s face instantly turned pale with dismay. Veronia reassured the attendant with a smile.

“Then he probably hasn’t gone far. We’ll probably find him if we walk around slowly for exercise. Don’t worry too much.”

“I’ll search with you.”

“Then I’ll look around the front of the building, so please search the back of the building.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

Watching the attendant disappear with hurried steps, Veronia also began to move.

Although Veronia was certain that the clever child wouldn’t get lost or follow a stranger, she couldn’t help a tinge of worry creeping up.

‘Could he be talking with a young patient who came to the infirmary somewhere, or watching butterflies or ants?’

Pushing aside ominous predictions, she was walking around examining the surroundings of the building when she saw Jediel crouching down ahead.

‘Just as I thought.’

He seemed to be focused on something, unaware of the passing time. Veronia approached quietly, intending to surprise him, and whispered in his ear.

“Jediel, what are you doing here?”

“Eek, Mother! I mean, Your Majesty!”

Startled Jediel stood up abruptly with his eyes wide open. But the child’s eyes were brimming with tears. Thinking she had made Jediel cry, Veronia lowered her eyes and apologized.

“I’m sorry, Mother…”

“A mother cat came and left her kitten here before leaving.”

“Huh? Oh… I see, that’s what happened.”

Veronia then realized that what Jediel had been looking at was a black kitten.

“I learned from Uncle Onyx that we shouldn’t take kittens from the street carelessly. He said the mother will come back to find them.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So I waited… but no matter how long I wait, the mother cat doesn’t come back. What if she completely abandoned it?”

Big tears fell from Jediel’s eyes. Veronia’s heart also ached at the child’s tears.

Veronia carefully examined the kitten. The skinny cat seemed to lack even the strength to stand, barely keeping its eyes open while lying down.

“But the baby cat looks very sick.”

“Yes, it does. It seems to be barely breathing.”

“Hmm…”

Watching the cat blinking slowly, Veronia carefully opened her mouth.

“In Mother’s opinion, I don’t think the mother cat abandoned the baby cat.”

“She didn’t abandon it? Then if we keep waiting, will she come back?”

“No. I don’t think she’ll come back either.”

“…”

What do you mean? Then she did abandon it! Words he couldn’t bring himself to say out loud turned into tears that rolled down the child’s chubby cheeks.