The emperor nodded at his son’s resolute answer and spoke again.

“Are you worried she might waver?”

“She is a gentle and delicate child. It’s impossible to suddenly cut off someone she has held in her heart since she was thirteen, not just for a year or two.”

“That’s right.”

Though it was a story from childhood, his lovely daughter was still as fragile as she was then, a child in his arms needing his care.

“Ari must not encounter the Duke for a while. She’s just barely decided to cut him off… She will surely waver.”

Just as the emperor knew Killian, the crown prince also knew what kind of man he was.

If Killian and Alicia were to be together… His sister would never be happy.

Adrian hoped that Alicia’s smile, beautiful as a flower, would not wither beside that cold and frightening man.

“The Duke will have to stay in the imperial palace, won’t he?”

“If what’s written in this letter is true, then yes.”

What was contained in the letter Killian sent before heading to the capital was a matter that could pose a direct threat to the empire.

If this was true and the evidence was certain, Killian, who had come to the imperial palace to report, would have to stay within the palace for a while, if only for security reasons.

That was precisely what the emperor and crown prince were worried about.

“Although the imperial palace is large, there’s no guarantee the two won’t run into each other.”

“That’s right.”

“…Your Majesty, if you permit, I would like to send Princess Alicia to Rasa Castle for recuperation.”

A request made to the emperor, not the father.

The emperor could immediately understand what Adrian was trying to say.

“You wish for the princess not to attend the spring banquet, I see.”

“Yes, just this once, if possible.”

The spring banquet was the largest event in the Eregron Empire, a feast to bless those sending off the old year and starting a new one.

Those who did not attend this banquet were classified as people remaining in the past year and could not participate in official events until the next year dawned, so all nobles of the empire had to attend, and this applied to the imperial family as well.

However, as with any rule, there was one exception, and that was illness.

Those who were ill could exceptionally not attend the banquet and could officially welcome the new year by receiving an imperial edict while lying in bed.

“Rasa Castle…”

Rasa Castle, set against the backdrop of low mountain ranges and flanked by a beautiful lake, was a resort castle gifted by the emperor for Alicia’s seventh birthday.

Located in a position reachable by carriage in four days from the capital, it was a castle that embodied the emperor’s desire not to send his daughter far away even if she fell ill.

The emperor recalled the image of his son, who had not spoken to his father for a whole week, upset that he had prepared a bigger gift than what he had prepared for Alicia when he gave Rasa Castle as a gift.

“…You seem to be thinking of something strange?”

“Reminiscing about the past is the privilege of the elderly, my son.”

“First, Father is far too young to be called elderly, and second, now is not the time to be reminiscing.”

“Ahem.”

Adrian, having diverted the attention of the emperor who was likely recalling memories unfavorable to himself, continued speaking.

“To return to the original topic… The first thing that comes to mind as an excuse for illness is a malady of the heart, but you wouldn’t want that, would you?”

“Of course not.”

The nobles do not yet know that Alicia has given up her feelings for Killian.

Even the emperor sometimes can’t believe that she has changed her mind – how could anyone easily believe such a thing, even if rumors were spread in advance?

If they hear that the princess has gone away for recuperation due to a malady of the heart, everyone will think of Killian.

“The princess must no longer be entangled with Duke Diaz.”

“Then we have no choice. Since we can’t use a real illness, I’ll ask Ari to feign one.”

“…Will she listen to you?”

“When has Ari’s feigning illness been a matter of just a day or two?”

“That ended when she was twelve. The tomboy became a refined lady overnight, worrying her father.”

The day Alicia changed was the same day she fell in love with Killian at first sight.

If only he hadn’t called him to the imperial palace then…

Then again, knowing Alicia, she would have fallen in love with Killian at first sight and thrown everything away for him at any time.

“I will persuade her. Ari will probably accept when she hears that Duke Diaz is coming.”

“It can’t be too serious an illness.”

“I’ll make sure Ari can return around the time Duke Diaz leaves the capital after spring ends.”

“Alright.”

Adrian, who had boldly declared to the emperor that he would persuade Alicia, immediately went to find her.

And as he confidently walked into Alicia’s room, he encountered an unexpected situation.

“No.”

“Ari?”

“Leave the capital and not attend the spring banquet! I am the princess of Eregron!”

Alicia quickly realized why her brother was telling her to leave the capital for Rasa Castle.

Partly because Adrian didn’t try to hide his true intentions, but also largely because her experience from before the regression had gifted her with quick perception.

“I’m not asking you to leave forever. Just stay long enough to gather your thoughts and then return.”

“I know! You’re telling me to run away to avoid Killian!”

“Ari!”

Alicia knew why the crown prince was making such a proposal, and why the emperor had turned a blind eye to it.

It was because of her own foolishness.

Her beloved father and brother knew all too well that she would waver again the moment she saw him, unable to properly control her own heart.

‘I know! I know, but still…!’

She had made up her mind to fulfill her duty as a princess.

She had vowed to endure any hardship to do so!

“I am, I am the princess of Eregron.”

“No one is denying that fact.”

“I can withstand even in front of Killian, no, Duke Diaz! Please believe me, I won’t waver at all! Really!”

“Ari, it’s not that I don’t believe you.”

Adrian embraced Alicia’s shoulders and patted her back, which was trembling slightly with excitement.

“Father and I just don’t want you to have to endure like that.”

These were the kind of affectionate people who were Alicia’s family.

Why hadn’t she recognized such precious affection before her regression?

She had turned a blind eye to such precious feelings because her heart was too thirsty for love.

Alicia bit her lower lip, feeling like she might burst into tears again.

If she shed tears here again, she would force her family to make choices for her sake, just like before.

“I’m not telling you to keep avoiding him. You just need a little more time.”

“…Time to sort out my feelings?”

“No matter how firm your resolve, a person’s heart cannot be cut off like slicing paper with a knife.”

“…”

“So just this once, listen to me.”

“…Not just once, I will always follow your wishes, brother.”

“Yes, my good sister will always do that.”

Alicia smiled as she left Adrian’s embrace and took his hand.

Since that day when she had shed inexplicable tears for a long time, his sister smiled not with her usual radiant smile, but with a smile so poignant it made a corner of one’s heart ache just to look at it.

Perhaps it was because of the wound from cutting out a piece of her heart.

But wounds are bound to disappear someday.

Adrian hoped that his sister’s wound would disappear without leaving a big scar, and playfully opened his mouth.

“Now let’s think about what fake illness you’ll have.”

“The first thing that comes to mind is a malady of the heart, but… Father wouldn’t want that, would he?”

“Ari, you really are my sister.”

“What?”

“Pfft, it’s nothing. As you said, Father wouldn’t want that.”

“Since I’ll be back before summer, it can’t be a serious illness.”

“…You really are Father’s daughter too.”

“Brother? What have you been saying all this time?”

“It’s nothing. Anyway, for that reason, we need an illness that’s not too severe but definitely requires leaving the imperial palace…”

Although Alicia noticed that Adrian was trying to change the subject, she decided to go along with his intention.

“Let’s think about it together, brother.”

It was only natural that the crown prince’s face brightened at her response.

And to cut to the conclusion, the result that the siblings came up with after putting their heads together that day was nullified by a single snort from Dalton, the chief imperial physician.

[You want an illness serious enough to leave the imperial palace and miss the spring banquet, but it can’t be too severe or too mild – do you think illnesses are like assembly toys that can be put together this way and that?]

It seemed that trying to choose a disease name to suit their taste had probably offended the imperial physician’s sensibilities.

The fortunate thing was that even for Dalton, who had worked as an imperial physician for a long time, Alicia was a sore spot.

To Dalton, who was growing old alone without marrying, Alicia, whom he had cared for since childhood, was like a granddaughter.

If Adrian heard this, he would probably shout that by that logic, he too was like Dalton’s grandson… but honestly, isn’t it natural that daughters are more adorable than sons, and granddaughters more than grandsons?

“If he hears that, Adrian might get even more angry.”

“Your Majesty, don’t you sometimes say that your son is repulsive?”

“Honestly, daughters are more lovable than sons.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

In any case, it didn’t take long for rumors to spread throughout the capital that Alicia had contracted a highly contagious disease, after settling on a disease name with Dalton’s help.

And in the meantime, Alicia, having finished preparations to leave the capital, boarded a carriage at dawn, seeing off by the emperor and the crown prince couple.

It all happened in just three days after hearing the news that Killian was heading to the capital.