‘I hope they didn’t wake up crying last night.’

It was their first time sleeping in separate rooms, and the environment had changed, so I was worried.

“Are the princes well?”

“Yes. Halren’s maid is with both of them.”

“I’ll go down too.”

I quickened my pace.

Hurry to the second floor, Emma and the children were already in the hallway.

The first to catch my eye was Louis, who ran towards me.

“Aileen!”

“Louis, Evan!”

As if greeting family, I picked up Louis in a big hug.

Evan, who had noticed me, came running too.

I put Louis down and kissed each of them on the forehead.

“Did our princes sleep well?”

“Yeah, yeah, we were surprised to find no one in the morning, but we’re okay now.”

He must have been surprised to find the spot next to him empty, as he usually sleeps with Evan.

Compared to that, Evan said with a calm face.

“I wasn’t affected at all.”

“You opened the door as soon as I knocked!”

“……That’s!”

Evan flinched. He must have wanted to go to Louis too.

They seemed to be fighting, but they were precious to each other.

The twins then looked up at me and asked.

“Did Aileen sleep well?”

“Of, of course!”

Though there was an incident in the middle of the night, and I fell asleep where I shouldn’t have, I slept well.

“Well, shall we go eat now?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m hungry!”

Louis shook my hand.

Eschtra, who had been standing silently, stepped forward.

“I will guide you.”

“Oh, it’s the strong sister from yesterday.”

“Just call me Eschtra.”

“Yeah! Eschtra, hello!”

Louis smiled and waved at Eschtra.

Soon, the same smile as yesterday appeared on Eschtra’s face.

‘……Do Mine people always smile like that?’

It didn’t seem so with Drak, and I found it hard to pinpoint the reason.

As I was confused, Evan mumbled.

“……Magician.”

Evan was holding my clothes tightly, his gaze fixed on Eschtra.

‘He must be very curious.’

Evan had been interested in magic even before he manifested.

Both twins would grow into powerful wizards, but Evan was naturally the one with delicate control.

‘I’ll have to find someone to teach him magic.’

It would be good for him to know the basics of magic, since he’ll manifest eventually.

While I was contemplating, Eschtra was leading the twins away.

I watched the children skip along before turning to the side. Emma was standing there.

“Emma? Are you alright?”
“……Yes. I was sorry about yesterday.”

Emma seemed to have lost weight overnight.

Still, seeing her forced smile, she seemed better than yesterday.

“No, it’s understandable.”

“……How can I face the Maen people? They are the people I will work with in the future, but I think I was too sensitive.”

“They’ll understand. Don’t worry too much.”

“I’m glad if that’s the case.”

She seemed very worried, thinking she had been rude to Dracu yesterday.

‘Emma, I actually fainted last night too.’

I confessed only to myself.

As I went down to the first floor, I saw the dining room.

The appearance of the dining room, which had looked like a scene from a horror movie last night, was…….

‘Still the same.’

Windows hidden by dark red curtains and bloodred carpets. The tables were black, and on top of them were crystal skulls.

As I was calmly accepting the truth, the servants flew the food in.

“We’ll serve the meal.”

‘Wait, the dining room looks like this, but the food is…….’

I got chills. I quickly scanned the food on the plate.

Softlooking white bread and salad. Mushroom soup and jam. Scrambled eggs and fries.

‘Fortunately.’

I could finally relax after seeing the ordinary food.

“The chef is from the Reihart Empire. You’ll probably like it.”

“Ah, thank you.”

‘That’s even better then.’

I picked up the utensils at Ashtra’s explanation.

The bread, soup, and salad were rough but tasted familiar. I could not have been happier about that.

It was when I was eating breakfast with the kids.

I lifted my head at the continuous murmuring.

‘Those people…….’

The source of the voices was the servants beyond the dining room.

‘Maen and Imperials are mixed.’

They seemed to be secretly watching us, but I could see them all.

Besides Dracu and Ashtra, there were quite a few Maen. Occasionally, some people looked like foreigners.

‘What’s going on?’

It’s full of suspicious points. But.

“……Look at the princes, how can they be so small?”

“The hand is just like my finger!”

“Small but spirited. Really…….”

“They’re so cute!”

The servants cheered whenever the twins moved.

Watching them, I couldn’t help but feel proud.

‘Our kids are kind of cute, huh.’

The Maen, who was twisted by the cuteness of the children. Their appearance was not fake.

‘Everyone likes them.’

Compared to the palace, which had treated the abandoned children like cold rice, this was completely different.

That point was bittersweet but also reassuring.

“Umm, Prince Louis. Would you like to try this too? It’s jam made from wild strawberries.”

“This is ham smoked by the chef himself; it’s really delicious.”

A few servants who had only been watching from afar slowly approached the children and began to speak.

“Wow, is this for me? Thank you!”

“Here’s something for Prince Evan too. Do you like sweet things?”

“……I’ll eat it well.”

Louis was excited, and Evan was shy.

With the children surrounded by people, it finally felt real that we had moved.

‘The environment is a bit off.’

The twins needed many kind adults.

I was a bit relieved in that regard.

Quite a few people were surrounding the children. But there were still people hiding behind the corners.

They were all Maen, pretending not to look at me.

‘……Why are they doing that?’

Is there something on my face?

I scratched my cheek awkwardly, but I could hear the mumbling from the other side too well.

“Is that…… the master’s lover?”

“Is that woman really the one?”

Doubt was evident in the Maen’s voices.

‘Don’t they believe it? But whispering like that is a bit too much.’

I turned my head sharply towards where the Maen were gathered.

“Eek!”

“We did something wrong!”
The miners who made eye contact with me ran away as if their legs were caught.

‘I didn’t do anything.’

I felt like I had turned into Medusa.

It was annoying, but I couldn’t run after them and ask.

I, who had been stirring the salad, thought of Kashar.

‘Kashar is not in sight.’

It was clear that I would feel sick if I had breakfast with him, but I was a little worried because he said he had gone to the training ground without eating.

I hesitated and asked Eshtara.

“Isn’t Kashar coming?”

“Ah, my lord rarely eats, so he doesn’t come down to the restaurant.”

“He usually eats alone then.”

“He doesn’t enjoy eating.”

Somehow, it was an unsettling answer.

‘It’s strange. He ate well when he was with me?’

Is there a problem?

I thought his mouth might be very sensitive, but then he wouldn’t have eaten the food I made.

‘The food doesn’t taste bad either.’

While I stopped my fork, the children were picking and eating this and that.

“Princes, is the food to your taste?”

“Yep.”

Louis puffed his cheeks and answered.

A moment later, Louis, who had swallowed his food, gestured to me.

“Huh? What is it?”

When I bowed my head, Louis spoke in my ear.

“I think everyone here is nice. And there’s lots of tasty stuff. But you know, I like Aileen best. What Aileen makes is the tastiest in the world.”

It was a truly heartattack confession.

‘I did well to move here.’

It was a moment when my mind changed as easily as flipping my palm.

“The little one knows how to work it too.”

The extended hand stroked Louis’ head.

“Aileen sweetheart!”

“You should call me brother.”

“Ugh!”

Kashar, who had pressed down on Louis’ head, stood next to me.

Hair wet as if he had just washed after exercising. Moisture was flowing inside the loosened shirt.

Gulp.

I swallowed dry saliva as a hand reached out to me.

“I like you better in my territory.”

Kashar was kissing my hair.