“Sorry. You look so young, so we made a mistake…”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry. Thank you for your hospitality.”

Duchess Pearl was not inclined to dress extravagantly; it was her personal preference.
Because she was someone who wouldn’t be suspected of authority over trivial matters, the Duchess, on the contrary, had a modest side in her attire and rituals.

Because she was the authority herself.

“I want to exchange greetings with my successor.”

“Oh, yes! Of course.”

As soon as she maintained the proper courtesy by turning her gaze to the Marquis and his wife, she immediately found Arthur.

“Arthur.”

Duchess Pearl smiled at him, opening her arms.

“Dear nephew.”

Arthur approached with a smile and lightly hugged her.

The Duchess embraced Arthur.

“You’ve finally regained your rights and honor. Your mother would be pleased from heaven.”

“…….,”

Arthur chuckled and embraced her tightly.

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to your care, Aunt.”

“How could that be my merit? It’s all your doing, and then, it’s thanks to the care of the Loas couple.”

People gathered around, looking warmly at the two.

Duchess Pearl tried to push Arthur into the Julius family.

But as she said, it was the Loas couple who had raised and cared for Arthur directly.

As a foster mother, the Duchess’s support was more material than emotional.

However, she occasionally protected Arthur in a way that implied her authority behind him.

It was her own way.

Arthur smiled warmly.

“Are the Loas couple and Lady Loas doing well?”

The Duchess held Arthur’s arm, stepped back, and cast her eyes away.

“You’re heartless. Try contacting them yourself. They’re your parents.”

Arthur just smiled without answering.

Though officially an adopted child of the Loas family, he had never called the two who became his parents.

His father was not a lord but the emperor, and that was due to the Duchess and the strict teachings of the Loas family.

She knew it could be harsh for young Arthur, but Duchess Pearl did not want Arthur, who was the emperor’s son, to submit to the emperor’s neglect and live hiding himself, satisfied as a member of the Loas family.

Although the Duchess became Arthur’s foster mother, she lived in the far north of her husband’s land, and Arthur, by the meaning of the empire, had to live in the empire.

The people of Loas were embarrassed, unable to ignore or openly respect Arthur, who was recognized by the emperor’s sister, Duchess Pearl, while not being accepted by the emperor.

Arthur grew up in loneliness, but thanks to that, he desired to be recognized as the emperor’s son as he wished, without relying on Duchess Pearl or the Loas family.

The people of Loas, who could not ignore him while being unable to openly respect him, were perplexed and struggled.

Arthur lived quietly, not wanting to cause trouble to Loas, who felt uncomfortable with him.

He grew up lonely, but thanks to that, he desired to be recognized as the emperor’s son as he wished, without relying on Duchess Pearl or the Loas family.

Without relying on Duchess Pearl or the Loas family.

The Duchess smiled at Arthur, looking at him, a matured man.
The Emperor did not recognize Arthur as his son, and the nobles who noticed the Emperor’s mood remained silent in agreement. However, Duchess Pearl alone did not ignore the possibility that Arthur might be the Emperor’s son.

To the world, Duchess Pearl was known to have become Arthur’s foster mother due to her friendship and sympathy with Arthur’s mother. Duchess Pearl did not deny it, but, in fact, she did not have a deep interaction with Arthur’s birth mother. What she believed in was solely her own judgment. Although she couldn’t express it openly, she had a special eye for recognizing Auras.

As Arthur grew up, proving his lineage, Duchess Pearl’s faith was rewarded.

“Congratulations on returning with great honor. You will soon become a duke. Congratulations on your marriage, albeit late.”

“Thank you.”

The Duchess smiled.

“Will you introduce your wife to me?”

The faces of the Marquis and his wife, who were trying to smile, stiffened with tension.

Ignoring the Marquis and his wife, Arthur moved his body backward.

Clack.

A woman in a dress walked forward from the back.

A gorgeous blonde beauty.

Christina Julius, known as the highest jewel in the social circle and the bride of the century, stepped forward and politely greeted Duchess Pearl, the Emperor’s sister.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duchess Pearl. I am Christina Julius.”

The Duchess smiled.

“Nice to meet you. You are…”

The Duchess, who was smiling and speaking, suddenly stopped.

Then, she frowned slightly, looked at her with a puzzled expression, and glanced at Arthur.

Staring at Christina as if seeing through her, Duchess Pearl looked at Arthur once and then back at Christina.

With an uncertain smile, she asked again.

“Are you… Arthur’s wife?”

An awkward silence passed over the usual introduction and greetings.

The atmosphere became strange.

But soon, Duchess Pearl regained her smile and welcomed Christina’s greeting.

“…I see. Nice to meet you.”

―――――

[Star Icon] Foster Mother: A female guardian. In the traditional guardianship system with religious roots, it is a person who promises to protect a child when left alone in the world. It is different from adoptive parents and is often entrusted to relatives or women with high social status. The child who becomes the foster child becomes the successor.