“As of today, Rowen declares independence from Oberon, and the Kingdom of Rowen is born!”
For a moment, silence flowed.
The people seemed to be at a loss for how to react to such a surprising fact.
However, one of the dogs, who was quick-witted, threw his hat toward the sky and shouted.
“Long live His Majesty the King!”
"Long live His Majesty Kaian!”
As they began to shout one by one, the girls and ladies who had been throwing flower pollen joined in, throwing their entire baskets.
“Long live the Kingdom of Rowen!”
“Long live the Kingdom of Rowen!”
They were a people with a long history, great attachment to the land, and strong pride in their territory. When the word ‘kingdom’ was added to the name Rowen, they were very excited and moved. They seemed to be proud that the name ‘Rowenna’ among the Rowen territory residents referred to the citizens of the Kingdom of Rowen.
Amidst the enthusiastic applause, Claudel looked at Kaian in bewilderment.
“How could you not have told me this in advance?”
He smiled brightly like the sun and lowered his head to kiss her as she looked at him in bewilderment.
Waaaaaaaah!
Amidst the endless cheers, amidst the pollen flying like snow.
Claudel received his kiss like a Margaret flower that could not escape the blazing sun.
***
After the festival in the square, a separate banquet was prepared for those close to her at Rowen Castle.
“How could that be?”
Julien’s birthday suddenly became a national holiday.
“It was decided so suddenly.”
“But you should have told me in advance.”
I was furious, but Kaian was relaxed and shameless.
“We spent a lot of money on the war and the independence of Valmonde. On top of that, since we were holding a big birthday party for Julien, all the lords who wanted to become independent with Rowen were gathered, so I thought today was the day.”
“Is it a good thing that my son’s birthday is the National Foundation Day?”
When I snapped at Kaian, Evan took his son-in-law’s side instead of his daughter’s.
“Hehehe. Isn’t it a good thing? From now on, no one will forget Julien’s birthday for a long time.”
“That’s what it was meant to be,”
Hannah said, trying to soothe the whining baby.
“How happy I am. I’m now going to be the Queen Mother’s maid.”
“Traitor. You’re going to the Continent of Sol.”
“I’m just going to be back for a little while, so what are you doing, Queen Mother?”
Rohan, who had been listening to their conversation, took the baby from Hannah’s arms. She happily brought two glasses, handed one to me, and clinked them together excitedly.
“For the beautiful Queen of Rowen!”
“Hannah. Stop drinking. You’ve already had five glasses.”
When Rohan snatched the glass from her hand, Hannah looked sad, then put her mouth to the glass in my hand and drank it down.
“You like it that much?”
“Of course!”
It seemed that I was the only one who couldn’t shake off the embarrassment I felt on the stage.
Seeing everyone else so happy.
“Haa.”
It was when I sighed.
“Since everyone is here, I have something I’d like to talk about.”
At Kaian’s words, everyone who had been sitting or standing on the sofas gathered around the table.
“The Kingdom of Rowen will create a new history under new laws.”
Evan, who was listening to him, whispered to Leonie.
“Isn’t that what you said in the square earlier?”
“Listen quietly.”
Kaian said to Evan, Leonie, Hannah, and Rohan.
“The Kingdom of Rowen will abolish discrimination based on social status.”
Hannah and Rohan’s eyes widened at the same time.
“That means...”
“I guess the Oberon law that forbids formal marriages between nobles and non-nobles is not necessary in Rowan.”
Hannah covered her face with both hands at Kaian’s words.
“Sigh.”
“Hannah. Are you okay?”
Even though half a year had passed since Hannah had given birth, everyone still referred to the child born between her and Rohan as “Hannah’s baby.”
Hannah and Rohan could not formally marry. They would have to give the child a name and register it under a family register for it to become a citizen of Oberon.
If they registered it under Rohan, the child would become a commoner.
However, if they registered it under Pebble, where Hannah was, it would become the child of an unwed mother without a father.
Furthermore, Hannah’s adoption into the Pebble family, a vassal of Vermont, was merely an administrative measure taken by the Duke of Vermont, who valued his prestige to stay by Claudel’s side when she became the Princess at the Castle of Valmonde.
Hannah, who had no contact with her adoptive parents in the Pebble family, was not in a position to suddenly give birth to a child with a commoner father and ask to be included in the family register.
Usually, after giving birth, the child is registered in the family and given a name to obtain an identification card.
The baby, who had not taken care of the basic things that everyone else did, was left without a name and was left to linger.
“Can Hannah and I really be a couple?”
When Rohan asked in disbelief, Kaian answered generously.
“I hope that the child you give birth to in the Kingdom of Rowen will be Julien’s close friend for a long time.”
Kaian's eyes turned to Baron Colon, who was sitting in a meaningful place but couldn't readily join the conversation.
"Just like the deep friendship between the butler and my father."
Baron Colon's eyes reddened at those words and he wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.
"Of course, this applies to you two as well."
Kaian said to Evan and Leonie.
"If that's why you're leaving for the Sol Continent."
"No. That's not it."
Leonie shook her head before Kaian could finish speaking.
"I'm just curious about how this person lived during the time we were apart."
"There are many things that will surprise you if you look."
Evan grumbled.
"To show each other what we saw and felt during the time we were apart."
When Leonie said this, Evan continued.
"When I return from the Sol Continent, I plan to go to the capital and sort out the salon's affairs together."
"Are you quitting the salon?"
This was also a new thing for Claudel, so when she asked, Leonie explained it to her.
“I’ve already been caught as a servant of Temnes, and the Kingdom of Oberon and the Kingdom of Rowen have become independent and become different countries. I can’t place much significance on it.”
“I see.”
I had mixed feelings.
Everyone was having happy and fulfilling days.
Why did I feel so sad and lonely?
“You have Kaian by your side, Claudel.”
Leonie looked at Kaian with eyes filled with infinite trust as if she were very relieved.
“Thanks to you, we have this opportunity to come and go.”
“Please ask for anything you need so that you can set sail comfortably.”
Regardless of my wishes, the handover of the people who would be by my side was already taking place.
“It’s really hard to be happy.”
I, who had assessed myself as being calm and not complaining much, was discovering a side of myself I didn’t know about.
***
Since that day, I tried to control my wavering mind.
One day, when the sunlight streaming through the window was nice, I was practicing walking with Julien in the nursery with Madame Repel and the nanny.
“Oh my. Oh, you’re doing well.”
Madame Repel, who was enthusiastically applauding, clapped her hands to get attention, and Julien, who was drooling wetly because of his teething, stared intently at her hands.
Then one step.
Another step.
Everyone cheered as he took a step, shaking his butt in a daze.
“You’re finally learning to walk.”
“You’re doing great.”
I was overjoyed.
Many babies learn to walk before their first birthday. I wondered if Julien hadn’t been walking properly yet because he had been born prematurely.
If that was true, then it was also my fault for not being able to hold the baby in my womb.
Then all of a sudden, he stood with his legs strong and held on, bouncing his butt and for the past few days, I felt like I was flying into the sky just because Julien had taken three steps.
I felt the reward of watching him grow like this.
My heart pounded with excitement.
That was when.
Knock knock.
The butler knocked on the door and came looking for me.
“His Majesty has summoned you.”
“For what?”
“He said he would like to take you out of the castle for a while.”
“I see.”
I left the baby behind and quickly got ready to go out.
When I went downstairs, I saw Kaian already waiting in the carriage.
He held out his hand to help me get on.
“Where are you going? Suddenly?”
“Well, you’ll know when you get there.”
He looked happy for some reason.
I, who had given up asking more questions, quietly looked out the window.
It was already the same season as when I first came to Rowan.
'I really thought I was going to die this time last year.'
If only I could get to my baby as soon as possible from the palace.
The carriage stopped at the marketplace while looking at the familiar greenery.
'What's going on here?'
'You'll know when you get there.'
I sulked internally.
'I don't need any surprises.'
Rather than surprising me, I wished he would just tell me everything without keeping any secrets.
These days, Kaian seemed to really enjoy seeing me surprised, so I was going to hold back today as well.
Even on the day, my son's birthday was National Foundation Day, I had laughed in front of the guests without a care.
'There's nothing more shocking than this.'
I was thinking that.
Kaian, who was escorting me, stopped walking.
'Wow.'
I let out an exclamation without realizing it.
It was the garden café where we had tea together when I first went out with Kaian.
'Was this place this pretty?'
I had been there with Irena after that.
Today, the large flower buds were blooming even more beautifully than before, and they were blooming here and there so much that it was hard to believe, like a fairy kingdom in a fairy tale.
"Shall we go in?"
"Yes."
I smiled and felt much better when I saw the tall Kaian awkwardly bending over and passing through the rose tunnel as before.
"Welcome, Your Majesty."
A maid wearing a white apron guided us to the same seat as before.
As I sat down, adjusting the hem of my dress, Kaian headed to my side.
No, that's what I thought.
In the scent of blooming flowers, Kaian knelt in front of me and proposed.
What he held out to me was a large blue diamond ring.
"Claudel. Be my Queen."
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