As Rogero kept his secret from them, Franz and Judith's curiosity grew day by day. Although he never said it out loud, Franz guessed that Rogero's insistence on not marrying was due to his position in Delacca.
The frequency of the empire's territorial expansion was gradually decreasing, but as long as no one in Delacca could surpass Rogero, it was his fate to be at the forefront of war at any time.
Despite his outstanding skills, Rogero always went into battle seriously considering the possibility of his own death. Since he had been thinking like that since he was a mere teenager, it was natural that he would have lost the thought of having his own family.
“Oh my, Uncle Rogero...”
Judith, who had been lost in thought, suddenly came to her senses at Erwin's words. The child had been talking about Rogero since the breakfast table yesterday. It seemed like he had been waiting for him for quite some time. When his mother did not respond right away despite his words, Erwin turned his head as if he found it strange. Judith patted the child's head.
“Yes, Mom listening. Go ahead.”
“Uncle Roger, he married that scary aunt, right?”
What does this mean? Judith stared at Erwin's innocent face in bewilderment.
“What do you mean, Erwin?”
“A while ago, Uncle Rogero told me in private. He said that a scary aunt was waiting for him at Uncle Rogero’s house, so he had to go.”
“Your scary aunt? Did he tell you that?”
“Oh my, have you ever seen a scary aunt?”
Judith shook her head. The story of being scared or something was something she had first heard from Erwin. Rogero had only said, “I have someone living with me now,” and had not said anything more. But Erwin was a child, so was he? Perhaps he had told him something more. Why did he say he was scared? What kind of person was she?
“Erwin, didn’t your uncle tell you anything else? What kind of person is your aunt?”
“When I asked him why he was scared, he said that if he did something wrong, my aunt would get angry. If they fought, he would lose.”
The answer was given, but in the end, the information did not increase. Judith watched Erwin finish folding the flowers to give to Yvianne while thinking about Rogero's 'roommate' who was getting more and more lost in the labyrinth.
Franz's birthday was in the winter, like Judith's. The winter morning sun is so sluggish and lingering that even the palace servants, who are always under strict rules and time management, sometimes oversleep. But today, the servants who serve five-year-old Erwin could not do that.
“Your Highness Erwin! You haven’t buttoned up your buttons yet!”
“The stockings are falling down too. Do you know how cold it is outside, Sir?”
The court ladies and maids who looked after the Prince were completely out of their minds because of Erwin, who woke up at dawn. Even while eating, Erwin's eyes would constantly look out the window, and he would try to go towards the window without even trying to get dressed, which was quite a struggle. Erwin, who rarely acted out of his own accord or was stubborn, was even more vulnerable to such situations.
“Uncle Rogero hasn’t come yet?”
Erwin said, leaning on the windowsill, tiptoeing, looking out into the empty driveway. Blanda, Erwin's nanny who had cared for him since he was a baby, picked him up in her arms.
“Your Highness, the Prince has probably not arrived yet. You must also finish preparing before the Prince arrives.”
Erwin hugged his nanny tightly and answered kindly, “Yes,” but soon raised his head again.
“Then when will my uncle come?”
“He’ll be here sometime in the morning. There won’t be much time left, so please wait a little longer.”
“Morning! I know. Before lunch, right?”
Blanda kissed Erwin as if she thought he was cute.
“You are smart. Yes, Your Highness. The Prince will definitely be here before lunch. So you should dress properly now, right?”
Thanks to Blanda's quiet activities, they were fortunate enough to finish preparing before the teacher who was to teach Erwin in the morning came. Erwin, who had trouble concentrating during class and worried the teacher, ran to the reception room as soon as lunchtime approached. The court ladies hurriedly walked in panic, fearing that the prince might fall.
“Ah, Your Highness Erwin!”
“Uncle Rogero! Are you here? Are you inside?”
“That, that’s right, but right now...”
"Uncle!"
Before the chamberlain could finish his sentence, Erwin opened the heavy door of the reception room with his small hands. If he were to get hurt by the weight of the door, it would be a big deal, so the chamberlain had no choice but to open the door in shock and let Erwin in.
"Uncle!"
“Who is this! Our baby Prince!”
The person sitting with his back turned was definitely Rogero. As soon as he saw Erwin, he jumped up, grinning from ear to ear. Then he quickly picked up the little child. Erwin laughed and hugged Rogero’s neck tightly.
“Uncle, I’ve been waiting since morning. I woke up really early. I woke up before the sun even rose.”
Erwin's round eyes sparkled as if asking for praise. Then, Rogero suddenly became serious and looked at Erwin with a serious expression.
“Oh no... Erwin, you woke up when there was no sun? This is a big problem.”
Erwin's eyes widened at Rogero's voice, which suddenly became serious. He looked over his shoulder at his mother and father's faces as if wondering what was going on, but Franz and Judith were too busy loving their son, who was being helplessly fooled by Rogero's pranks, to be of much help.
“Why... Why did something bad happen?”
“The winter sun is full of hope, so if there is a child who is more diligent than her, she will be jealous and take them all away.”
Erwin's already round eyes grew even wider. When Erwin glanced out the window at the rising sun and grabbed the collar of his jacket as if he was scared, Rogero pursed his lips and held back a laugh, whispering in his small ear.
“Don’t worry. There’s something that can help prevent the sun from capturing Erwin.”
“What is that?”
“Shall we watch it together?”
Erwin nodded quickly. When Rogero gestured to the servant who was waiting, he immediately brought the large box that was on the table to Rogero and Erwin.
“Now, shall we open it ourselves, our little Prince?”
“I’m not a baby anymore! The baby is Yvianne.”
“I see, I understand. Well then, little Prince, open it.”
Erwin untied the ribbon on the box, stomping his feet with excitement. The lid, with its beautiful embossed decorations on the edges, was too heavy for him to open alone, so Rogero had to help him. Franz and Judith turned their heads and smiled faintly at the same time as they saw their young son leaning forward as if he was about to fall into the box.
“That's right!”
The high-pitched voice of an excited child echoed through the living room. What emerged from the box was a model horse, wooden but surprisingly elaborate.
The mane and tail looked ready to flutter and sway at any moment, and the legs, with their muscles expressed in detail, looked as if they could move at any moment. The horse's back was wide enough for Erwin to ride, and there were three small wheels under its belly, allowing it to roll around on a step.
“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Look at this! I mean! There’s a sword and a shield too!”
Inside the box, there was a toy sword and shield made to fit Erwin's hand perfectly. They were also made of wood, but the grip part was covered with softly polished leather to prevent scratches. Rogero, who was watching Erwin with delighted eyes, said,
“When the Sun of the Spring comes to capture Erwin, you will take this sword and shield, ride a horse, and fight bravely. Can you do it?”
“I can do it! Uncle, I want to ride this! I want to go out and ride it!”
“Yes, then shall we go out for a ride?”
Rogero lifted the wooden horse with one hand. He put the sword around Erwin's waist and held the shield in his hand, and they left the reception room together, holding each other's empty hands.
As the two people left in an instant, Franz burst out laughing as if he found it ridiculous. The teacup of Roselle on the table had not even drained a sip or two. Rogero had really only just arrived, but after exchanging a few words of greetings, he had already left with Erwin.
“I’m worried because my son seems to like that punk, Rogero, more than me.”
Franz grumbled as he sipped his share of tea. Judith didn't take Franz's grumbling seriously, since it was something he always said whenever Rogero came over and whenever Erwin was about to lose his voice waiting for him. She just found it a little cute.
“He didn’t even say hello to his father.”
Judith laughed softly as if she was breathing.
“The sun that gives so much light is here too.”
“Are you going to give up your horse without giving it to him? You were supposed to be the first one to give Erwin a horse as a gift.”
Royal children began learning to ride real horses around the age of nine or ten, and it was customary for the first horse a child would be given as a gift by their father, the King.
Although Rotair was a country that had not experienced war for a long time, it still had a special sense of respect for the animal called a horse. And being able to handle a horse was proof that one was growing well as an adult. Franz was secretly looking forward to the day when he would give Erwin his first horse as a gift because it had such a significant meaning.
“Erwin is happy. Then it’s okay. Every gift His Highness brings becomes that child’s treasure.”
“All the gifts I received from that guy Rogero were nothing but nonsense.”
“Have you ever received a gift? When?”
“When I was studying abroad in the Empire, we happened to talk about my birthday and Rogero gave me a present. You probably wouldn’t even guess what it was.”
“Your Majesty, did you and His Highness exchange birthday presents? What did you receive?”
Franz glanced at Judith.
“Porn novel.”
“...”
Judith blinked a couple of times. Her ears seemed to burn slightly, and she narrowed her eyes and asked again.
“Did you have fun?”
“...You don’t believe me that I didn’t read it?”
Judith shrugged her shoulders, making a pointed gesture.
“There’s nothing I can do since you have a record.”
“No, that’s really a made-up story... I really haven’t read it!”
"Yes."
Franz looked truly wronged at Judith's expression, which seemed to be scolding him for reading such things when she had sent him to study, but what could he do? It was his own karma.
The frequency of the empire's territorial expansion was gradually decreasing, but as long as no one in Delacca could surpass Rogero, it was his fate to be at the forefront of war at any time.
Despite his outstanding skills, Rogero always went into battle seriously considering the possibility of his own death. Since he had been thinking like that since he was a mere teenager, it was natural that he would have lost the thought of having his own family.
“Oh my, Uncle Rogero...”
Judith, who had been lost in thought, suddenly came to her senses at Erwin's words. The child had been talking about Rogero since the breakfast table yesterday. It seemed like he had been waiting for him for quite some time. When his mother did not respond right away despite his words, Erwin turned his head as if he found it strange. Judith patted the child's head.
“Yes, Mom listening. Go ahead.”
“Uncle Roger, he married that scary aunt, right?”
What does this mean? Judith stared at Erwin's innocent face in bewilderment.
“What do you mean, Erwin?”
“A while ago, Uncle Rogero told me in private. He said that a scary aunt was waiting for him at Uncle Rogero’s house, so he had to go.”
“Your scary aunt? Did he tell you that?”
“Oh my, have you ever seen a scary aunt?”
Judith shook her head. The story of being scared or something was something she had first heard from Erwin. Rogero had only said, “I have someone living with me now,” and had not said anything more. But Erwin was a child, so was he? Perhaps he had told him something more. Why did he say he was scared? What kind of person was she?
“Erwin, didn’t your uncle tell you anything else? What kind of person is your aunt?”
“When I asked him why he was scared, he said that if he did something wrong, my aunt would get angry. If they fought, he would lose.”
The answer was given, but in the end, the information did not increase. Judith watched Erwin finish folding the flowers to give to Yvianne while thinking about Rogero's 'roommate' who was getting more and more lost in the labyrinth.
***
Franz's birthday was in the winter, like Judith's. The winter morning sun is so sluggish and lingering that even the palace servants, who are always under strict rules and time management, sometimes oversleep. But today, the servants who serve five-year-old Erwin could not do that.
“Your Highness Erwin! You haven’t buttoned up your buttons yet!”
“The stockings are falling down too. Do you know how cold it is outside, Sir?”
The court ladies and maids who looked after the Prince were completely out of their minds because of Erwin, who woke up at dawn. Even while eating, Erwin's eyes would constantly look out the window, and he would try to go towards the window without even trying to get dressed, which was quite a struggle. Erwin, who rarely acted out of his own accord or was stubborn, was even more vulnerable to such situations.
“Uncle Rogero hasn’t come yet?”
Erwin said, leaning on the windowsill, tiptoeing, looking out into the empty driveway. Blanda, Erwin's nanny who had cared for him since he was a baby, picked him up in her arms.
“Your Highness, the Prince has probably not arrived yet. You must also finish preparing before the Prince arrives.”
Erwin hugged his nanny tightly and answered kindly, “Yes,” but soon raised his head again.
“Then when will my uncle come?”
“He’ll be here sometime in the morning. There won’t be much time left, so please wait a little longer.”
“Morning! I know. Before lunch, right?”
Blanda kissed Erwin as if she thought he was cute.
“You are smart. Yes, Your Highness. The Prince will definitely be here before lunch. So you should dress properly now, right?”
Thanks to Blanda's quiet activities, they were fortunate enough to finish preparing before the teacher who was to teach Erwin in the morning came. Erwin, who had trouble concentrating during class and worried the teacher, ran to the reception room as soon as lunchtime approached. The court ladies hurriedly walked in panic, fearing that the prince might fall.
“Ah, Your Highness Erwin!”
“Uncle Rogero! Are you here? Are you inside?”
“That, that’s right, but right now...”
"Uncle!"
Before the chamberlain could finish his sentence, Erwin opened the heavy door of the reception room with his small hands. If he were to get hurt by the weight of the door, it would be a big deal, so the chamberlain had no choice but to open the door in shock and let Erwin in.
"Uncle!"
“Who is this! Our baby Prince!”
The person sitting with his back turned was definitely Rogero. As soon as he saw Erwin, he jumped up, grinning from ear to ear. Then he quickly picked up the little child. Erwin laughed and hugged Rogero’s neck tightly.
“Uncle, I’ve been waiting since morning. I woke up really early. I woke up before the sun even rose.”
Erwin's round eyes sparkled as if asking for praise. Then, Rogero suddenly became serious and looked at Erwin with a serious expression.
“Oh no... Erwin, you woke up when there was no sun? This is a big problem.”
Erwin's eyes widened at Rogero's voice, which suddenly became serious. He looked over his shoulder at his mother and father's faces as if wondering what was going on, but Franz and Judith were too busy loving their son, who was being helplessly fooled by Rogero's pranks, to be of much help.
“Why... Why did something bad happen?”
“The winter sun is full of hope, so if there is a child who is more diligent than her, she will be jealous and take them all away.”
Erwin's already round eyes grew even wider. When Erwin glanced out the window at the rising sun and grabbed the collar of his jacket as if he was scared, Rogero pursed his lips and held back a laugh, whispering in his small ear.
“Don’t worry. There’s something that can help prevent the sun from capturing Erwin.”
“What is that?”
“Shall we watch it together?”
Erwin nodded quickly. When Rogero gestured to the servant who was waiting, he immediately brought the large box that was on the table to Rogero and Erwin.
“Now, shall we open it ourselves, our little Prince?”
“I’m not a baby anymore! The baby is Yvianne.”
“I see, I understand. Well then, little Prince, open it.”
Erwin untied the ribbon on the box, stomping his feet with excitement. The lid, with its beautiful embossed decorations on the edges, was too heavy for him to open alone, so Rogero had to help him. Franz and Judith turned their heads and smiled faintly at the same time as they saw their young son leaning forward as if he was about to fall into the box.
“That's right!”
The high-pitched voice of an excited child echoed through the living room. What emerged from the box was a model horse, wooden but surprisingly elaborate.
The mane and tail looked ready to flutter and sway at any moment, and the legs, with their muscles expressed in detail, looked as if they could move at any moment. The horse's back was wide enough for Erwin to ride, and there were three small wheels under its belly, allowing it to roll around on a step.
“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Look at this! I mean! There’s a sword and a shield too!”
Inside the box, there was a toy sword and shield made to fit Erwin's hand perfectly. They were also made of wood, but the grip part was covered with softly polished leather to prevent scratches. Rogero, who was watching Erwin with delighted eyes, said,
“When the Sun of the Spring comes to capture Erwin, you will take this sword and shield, ride a horse, and fight bravely. Can you do it?”
“I can do it! Uncle, I want to ride this! I want to go out and ride it!”
“Yes, then shall we go out for a ride?”
Rogero lifted the wooden horse with one hand. He put the sword around Erwin's waist and held the shield in his hand, and they left the reception room together, holding each other's empty hands.
As the two people left in an instant, Franz burst out laughing as if he found it ridiculous. The teacup of Roselle on the table had not even drained a sip or two. Rogero had really only just arrived, but after exchanging a few words of greetings, he had already left with Erwin.
“I’m worried because my son seems to like that punk, Rogero, more than me.”
Franz grumbled as he sipped his share of tea. Judith didn't take Franz's grumbling seriously, since it was something he always said whenever Rogero came over and whenever Erwin was about to lose his voice waiting for him. She just found it a little cute.
“He didn’t even say hello to his father.”
Judith laughed softly as if she was breathing.
“The sun that gives so much light is here too.”
“Are you going to give up your horse without giving it to him? You were supposed to be the first one to give Erwin a horse as a gift.”
Royal children began learning to ride real horses around the age of nine or ten, and it was customary for the first horse a child would be given as a gift by their father, the King.
Although Rotair was a country that had not experienced war for a long time, it still had a special sense of respect for the animal called a horse. And being able to handle a horse was proof that one was growing well as an adult. Franz was secretly looking forward to the day when he would give Erwin his first horse as a gift because it had such a significant meaning.
“Erwin is happy. Then it’s okay. Every gift His Highness brings becomes that child’s treasure.”
“All the gifts I received from that guy Rogero were nothing but nonsense.”
“Have you ever received a gift? When?”
“When I was studying abroad in the Empire, we happened to talk about my birthday and Rogero gave me a present. You probably wouldn’t even guess what it was.”
“Your Majesty, did you and His Highness exchange birthday presents? What did you receive?”
Franz glanced at Judith.
“Porn novel.”
“...”
Judith blinked a couple of times. Her ears seemed to burn slightly, and she narrowed her eyes and asked again.
“Did you have fun?”
“...You don’t believe me that I didn’t read it?”
Judith shrugged her shoulders, making a pointed gesture.
“There’s nothing I can do since you have a record.”
“No, that’s really a made-up story... I really haven’t read it!”
"Yes."
Franz looked truly wronged at Judith's expression, which seemed to be scolding him for reading such things when she had sent him to study, but what could he do? It was his own karma.
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