‘Is this... could it be?’
Like a first love.
So I glanced up at Dad.
He was frowning with all his might.
‘Guess it’s not that.’
Then something came to mind.
‘Ah... I heard the princess once clung to Dad.’
I’d heard there was a princess who jumped from the second floor because of him.
Could that princess be this former princess?
I looked around to check.
Everyone else was laughing and joking, but here there was a clear will to pretend not to know.
‘So, this is the former princess.’
Still, that look of utter exasperation was a bit much.
I gently grabbed Dad’s sleeve and shook it slightly.
When I looked at him with worried eyes, he finally relaxed his expression.
Seeing that, the former princess looked surprised and stared at me.
“Ah.”
Then she covered her mouth with trembling eyes and hunched her shoulders.
‘I get why she’s on the verge of tears seeing Dad, but why at me?’
Just as I thought she might start crying, Queen Ocellia stepped forward.
She frowned deeply, showing no effort to hide her discomfort.
“If you feel uncomfortable, you don’t have to attend the luncheon.”
It was a warning: don’t cause trouble by coming.
“...No. I will attend.”
Though she said that, the former princess’s gaze never left Dad.
The luncheon began.
One by one, plates were placed on the table, and soon a lavish feast filled the table before us.
Balzac looked like he wanted to leave even before picking up his spoon.
“Every time guests come, there’s a luncheon, a dinner... Can’t we stop eating together? Are we really estranged relatives?”
Balzac grumbled in a low voice, and Joshua frowned.
“Behave yourself. The former princess is watching.”
“She’s only looking at Dad, not us.”
“...Anyway.”
That was really the case.
I poked at my salad with a fork and glanced at the former princess.
The aunts were whispering on both sides, but even the dog seemed uninterested.
She was just staring intently at Dad.
‘Such a desperate look.’
Even Dad, who stayed silent despite the heartfelt gaze, seemed admirable.
Rishimund asked Dad,
“When will you return to your domain?”
“Immediately.”
“I’ll prepare the blessing cast.”
Judging by Rishimund’s offer to prepare the blessing cast, it seemed the former princess’s gaze was burdensome even to him.
Dad nodded.
“Teleport as soon as we leave the dining room.”
He seemed ready to abandon the carriage and leave.
Rishimund looked puzzled.
“You’ll get caught by the barrier.”
“I’ll dismantle or break it.”
The three brothers smirked.
They seemed entertained by Dad’s irritation.
Balzac chuckled.
“Should we tell him to stop?”
“We’ve told him dozens of times.”
Rishimund lowered his voice.
“Have you thought about protesting to the royal palace?”
“We’ve exchanged complaints four times.”
Joshua lowered his gaze, pretending not to speak to Dad.
“Shouldn’t we firmly put them in their place so they don’t cling anymore?”
“Jumping from the bedroom—”
Dad covered both my ears and continued.
But I could read his lips.
“She jumped from the bedroom on the second floor.”
“Hmm, no dignity there.”
My brothers shook their heads.
The twins were popular, and Rishimund had heard some serious complaints, but the chaos caused by the former princess seemed awful.
Balzac shrugged.
“Just think of it as fate now and humor her by meeting... Just kidding, Father.”
He laughed but quickly changed the subject when he saw Dad’s fierce glare.
‘Better get out of here fast.’
Dad was so fed up.
‘Something bad will happen.’
But Dad’s wish was not granted.
Just as the luncheon ended and we were about to leave,
“You’re Erilot?”
The former princess spoke to me with a distant look.
It was natural our family was blocked from leaving the hallway.
I smiled awkwardly and said,
“Yes, Your Highness. It’s an honor to meet you. I am Erilot Astra.”
“I see. So you’re...”
The former princess, forgetting decorum, bent her knees and looked up at me.
Anyone would think she had found a lost daughter.
Queen Ocellia shut her eyes tight watching the former princess.
Well, if I was surprised, imagine how the rest of the royal family felt.
‘Even Prince Salvatore looked baffled.’
Queen Ocellia sighed deeply and spoke to the former princess.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes, sister.”
“Wasn’t the journey tiring?”
It sounded like a polite way to tell her to go rest in her room.
Everyone understood the meaning except the former princess, who shook her head with a wistful expression.
“No, I’m fine.”
‘She’s a formidable rival.’
Is she oblivious or just pretending not to notice?
Either way, Queen Ocellia seemed unable to handle that pure mind.
After biting her lip for a moment, Queen Ocellia forced herself to speak calmly.
“We must prepare for the Harvest Festival.”
“I’m fine.”
“I need to inform the Empress Dowager that you arrived safely.”
“That can wait until night.”
I just rolled my eyes and watched their verbal sparring.
Then Dad stepped forward.
“I must return to my domain now.”
“Already...?”
“Yes.”
“Must be a lot of work...”
“Yes.”
“Not even a moment to spare...?”
“Yes.”
Dad’s firm barrier made the former princess’s eyebrows lower in disappointment.
Slowly rising, she asked ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) the aunts nearby.
“Then, what is Miss Erilot’s schedule?”
The aunts glanced at each other. One, the wife of Uncle Balderic, replied.
“We haven’t heard anything else. It’s a resting period now... right, Erilot?”
I hesitated, not sure what to say.
The former princess immediately clapped her hands joyfully.
“Then will you be my companion?”
Even oblivious Balzac stared at her in disbelief.
Who acts like that?
She didn’t ask Dad but the aunts about my schedule for an obvious reason.
If it were Dad, he’d firmly say I’m busy.
So it seemed she wasn’t completely clueless.
‘The aunts said I have no plans, so she can’t refuse.’
Dad’s eyebrows twitched.
He looked about to explode.
Too many people were around to let him lose it.
The retainers, the second generation, even the royal court servants.
The former princess was the emperor’s full sister.
No way to disgrace the beloved sibling.
And this was a very important time for Dad.
I quickly answered,
“It would be an honor to be your companion!”
“Oh my, how delightful.”
Unlike the joyful former princess, Dad frowned.
“Eri─”
If Dad refused now, those stubborn uncles and aunts would seize the chance and pry in.
Claiming it’s rude to the royals and whatnot.
I couldn’t let that happen, so I quickly said,
“We’re going to the Empress Dowager’s tea salon in winter. I want to hear more palace stories before then!”
“....”
Dad knew how much I was looking forward to the tea salon, so he no longer opposed it.
The former princess was thrilled.
She shyly said to Dad,
“I’ll make sure she returns before it’s late.”
Dad glanced at me, eyes shining, then sighed softly.
“...Please.”
The former princess looked surprised to hear that.
Apparently, she’d never heard those words before.
Well, when I was three, Dad was a sharp-edged man.
He must have been even sharper when he met the former princess long before.
Yet now, he couldn’t say a word in front of his daughter — quite remarkable.
The former princess blushed.
She answered shyly, “...Yes.”
Of course, just because that happened doesn’t mean I was truly the former princess’s only companion.
Aunts, great-aunts, even three-year-old girls were all crowded around.
“I heard you really like horseback riding. I have a splendid thoroughbred you might like—”
“What kind of tea do you prefer?”
“My husband is at the royal palace...”
Everyone was desperate to win favor.
‘No choice.’
This is a very important time.
Count Talos, who was supposed to enter the central tower, disappeared.
‘So now there’s an open seat in the central tower.’
Everyone would be aiming for that spot.
‘The emperor decides entry into the central tower. But the former princess is the current emperor’s favored sister.’
So they think she can be the emperor’s gateway.
The emperor dislikes Queen Ocellia meddling in politics, so he wouldn’t ask her.
‘This is their chance!’ Opportunists swarmed.
I understand why Uncle Grimy was congratulated when appointed foreign ambassador.
‘They shove Uncle Grimy into a place like that so they can go for the central tower.’
All their actions ultimately aimed to gain the Duke Astra title.
When I thought of all this, Loreina, the eldest daughter of Uncle Balderic, smiled brightly.
“Your Highness, my father bought a boat for water play this time. The river views from the boat are wonderful.”
“I see.”
“If you like, how about a boat ride?”
Despite Loreina’s friendliness, the former princess looked indifferent.
Then, as if a good idea struck, she looked directly at me.
“Alright! How about Erilot?”
“Yes?”
“Do you like boat rides?”
“Ah... yes.”
I answered with a faint forced smile.
The former princess smiled brightly and turned to Loreina.
“I’ll lend the boat. It’ll be a lot of fun if you go with Erilot.”
Asking to borrow the boat basically meant Loreina wouldn’t be going.
Loreina’s expression twisted horribly for a moment.
‘Why is she looking at me like that? I didn’t say anything!’
The invitation to ride was from the other side, but she ignored the speaker and just wanted the boat.
Naturally, it was rude.
But Loreina soon hid her trembling lips.
Her fist shook under the table.
“If you want, of course.”
“That’s great, Erilot, isn’t it?”
‘I don’t want to!’
The social scene here is like a magic box.
Put in a cloth, and a dove comes out.
[They went out alone. → The former princess and Daymond’s daughter are that close? → Could the former princess be marrying Daymond!?]
—meaning rumors can blow up without context.
And above all,
‘Grandpa mustn’t hear this.’
The aunts, great-aunts, even the three-year-olds all used the former princess as a stepping stone to power.
‘Completely wrong thinking.’
No matter how well you get into the central tower by pleasing the royals,
Would Grandpa happily choose you as heir?
She’s not even the emperor, just his sister.
I clicked my tongue in frustration.
‘Anyway, no boat ride.’
With that thought, I lowered my eyebrows sharply.
The former princess did the same, but that was actually my specialty.
I said regretfully to her,
“Sorry, Your Highness.”
“...What?”
“I’m not feeling well.”
I put on a dry cough and an exaggerated performance.
The former princess said, “Oh my,” and reached out to me.
She gently stroked my cheek, looking deeply pained.
“A cold in this season? It’s because you have no caring mother... right?”
“No, it’s not like that—”
“Let me do this. I’ll often stop by the Astra domain and take care of you.”
“What?”
“You can consider me your mother.”
She laughed softly, and I almost froze.
‘What is this former princess saying?’
I always thought her mind was blank like a sketchbook, but I didn’t expect it to be this empty.
‘What on earth is she saying in front of everyone?’
Anyone listening might think she’s Dad’s lover.
The atmosphere got awkward.
The aunts whispered among themselves, and the three-year-olds stared wide-eyed at me.
Still, the former princess smiled without a care.
She handed me various desserts and spoke in a very sweet voice.
“I think you’re very cute, Erilot. Of course, partly because you’re his daughter—”
‘She’s saying that outright?’
I was too dumbfounded to respond, and the former princess looked at me with a tender gaze like she was looking at Dad.
“I felt it the moment I saw you.”
“....”
“If he had a child with me, it would be exactly a child like you.”
“....”
“You look just like him, but your personality resembles mine, Erilot.”
I realized,
‘Even with reincarnation and regression, I thought I’d be immune to mental damage...’
I was far from it.
I was still an immature child.
The world was vast, filled with crazy people, and countless maddening things.
The situation was so absurd my head throbbed.
“You can call me mother.”
Then the former princess covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
In the end, I was left with my mouth wide open.
‘Wow...’
No need to worry about Queen Ocellia.
The final boss was right here.