When he thought of Aila, his chest felt suffocated, but he realized that behind that suffocating feeling, he had not been able to feel it, and that the excitement and pounding heart that his nanny had spoken about were also coexisting.
And even if there was some kind of deep, unknown reason for Aila, it was definitely strange that he was so affectionate.
For Hiram and Selene, the most important educational goal was to teach Winfred compassion and empathy.
Not as the Crown Prince of a country, but as a human being.
Because they wanted him to grow up to be someone who could empathize with the sorrow of others and feel their heartache.
As a result of that education, Winfred grew up to be a Crown Prince who loved his people and knew how to empathize with their pain.
So, anyone other than Aila would be worried and heartbroken if they saw the people of the empire with such a sad expression.
But this was too much. It was floating around in his head to the point where he couldn't think of anything else all day.
‘...If you think about it, it’s strange not to fall in love.’
Winfred's cheeks turned red as he recalled the moment he met Ayla.
How could he not fall in love with a mysterious girl who was so cool, pretty, and cute, and who even saved him from a life-threatening situation?
And Empress Selene, who was watching her son's changes, smiled brightly.
Instead of spending time with his parents, he got lost in his own world, and soon he forgot about his parents, and his face turned red. She couldn't help but smile because she thought it was cute.
How could emotions be so transparently displayed on the face? Looking at this, it seemed that not only was Hiram's appearance identical to his son's, but his personality as well.
Looking around, Hiram also had a big smile on his face. The only difference was that his smile was full of mischief, as if he were trying to tease his son.
When Selene glared at him with a fierce look in her eyes and warned him not to do so, Hiram's face turned noticeably sullen.
Selene shook her head, saying that it would be undesirable to keep provoking her son during his sensitive teenage years.
“Hmm, hmm. Winfred. I think we should go to the Duke of Weishaffen’s residence soon.”
When Hiram, who had been gloomy, coughed awkwardly and changed the subject, Winfred, who had been lost in thought, asked in a bewildered voice.
“...Huh? This is the Duke’s residence? Are you saying they're accepting guests now?”
“Yes. The Duchess has also entered a period of stability.”
The Duke of Weishaffen had not been receiving guests for some time. This was because the Duchess was pregnant. Since she was in her mid-thirties and had become pregnant late, she was very cautious about every move she made.
“You go and deliver the congratulatory gift on behalf of the royal family.”
Selene said with an elegant smile.
The Emperor was so busy that he had difficulty finding time, and the Empress was so ill that she had difficulty moving around.
It wasn't that Winfred wasn't busy, struggling with his education and work as the Crown Prince, but he nodded since he was the one who had the most freedom.
“Yes, that’s how it should be.”
Roderick was also his master, who had taught him swordsmanship since childhood, so it was only natural that he should go and congratulate him at least once.
Selene's arrangements were added to this, but Hiram and Roderick were completely oblivious to it.
It was a clever idea, born from the belief that a son would be better off with trustworthy Roderick rather than his playful father for relationship advice.
Winfred, who had no way of knowing his mother's sinister thoughts, opened his mouth with a bright smile.
“The Duke’s family finally has a successor.”
Thinking of the Duke and Duchess's love life, they couldn't understand why it was so late, but the Emperor and Empress were lost in thought as they looked at their son, who smiled brightly and said that it was something to celebrate anyway.
Winfred was so young that he didn't seem to remember, but he couldn't help but laugh when he thought of the Duke's lost only daughter.
“Why are you all like that?”
Even though it was something he should have been happy about, Winfred blinked with a bewildered expression at his parents' unpleasant expressions.
“...No. It’s something to celebrate. That’s right.”
Looking at his father, who was awkwardly laughing at his words, Winfred bit his lips tightly and fell into thought. After searching through his memories for a while, he remembered that Roderick and Ophelia had been searching for their lost daughter for a long time.
“Oh, that’s right. I remember you saying they had a Princess but lost her.”
“Yeah, Win. You were quite fond of that kid when you were little. Don’t you remember?”
“...Me?”
In response to his mother's question, Winfred made a face as if he had no recollection at all. It was strange that he remembered it, since it had happened when he was only three or four years old.
“You always said that when she grew up, she would be your bride.”
“Really?”
He wasn't the type of father who would worry about how to tease him every day, and if his mother said it, it was very likely to be true, but since he really didn't remember, it was hard to believe.
“Yes, that’s right. I’ve joked with Roderick a few times, ‘Let’s get married sometime.’ Every time, Roderick would get really angry.”
"Even if you are my close friend, His Highness the Prince, I cannot forgive you for coveting my daughter."
And even if there was some kind of deep, unknown reason for Aila, it was definitely strange that he was so affectionate.
For Hiram and Selene, the most important educational goal was to teach Winfred compassion and empathy.
Not as the Crown Prince of a country, but as a human being.
Because they wanted him to grow up to be someone who could empathize with the sorrow of others and feel their heartache.
As a result of that education, Winfred grew up to be a Crown Prince who loved his people and knew how to empathize with their pain.
So, anyone other than Aila would be worried and heartbroken if they saw the people of the empire with such a sad expression.
But this was too much. It was floating around in his head to the point where he couldn't think of anything else all day.
‘...If you think about it, it’s strange not to fall in love.’
Winfred's cheeks turned red as he recalled the moment he met Ayla.
How could he not fall in love with a mysterious girl who was so cool, pretty, and cute, and who even saved him from a life-threatening situation?
And Empress Selene, who was watching her son's changes, smiled brightly.
Instead of spending time with his parents, he got lost in his own world, and soon he forgot about his parents, and his face turned red. She couldn't help but smile because she thought it was cute.
How could emotions be so transparently displayed on the face? Looking at this, it seemed that not only was Hiram's appearance identical to his son's, but his personality as well.
Looking around, Hiram also had a big smile on his face. The only difference was that his smile was full of mischief, as if he were trying to tease his son.
When Selene glared at him with a fierce look in her eyes and warned him not to do so, Hiram's face turned noticeably sullen.
Selene shook her head, saying that it would be undesirable to keep provoking her son during his sensitive teenage years.
“Hmm, hmm. Winfred. I think we should go to the Duke of Weishaffen’s residence soon.”
When Hiram, who had been gloomy, coughed awkwardly and changed the subject, Winfred, who had been lost in thought, asked in a bewildered voice.
“...Huh? This is the Duke’s residence? Are you saying they're accepting guests now?”
“Yes. The Duchess has also entered a period of stability.”
The Duke of Weishaffen had not been receiving guests for some time. This was because the Duchess was pregnant. Since she was in her mid-thirties and had become pregnant late, she was very cautious about every move she made.
“You go and deliver the congratulatory gift on behalf of the royal family.”
Selene said with an elegant smile.
The Emperor was so busy that he had difficulty finding time, and the Empress was so ill that she had difficulty moving around.
It wasn't that Winfred wasn't busy, struggling with his education and work as the Crown Prince, but he nodded since he was the one who had the most freedom.
“Yes, that’s how it should be.”
Roderick was also his master, who had taught him swordsmanship since childhood, so it was only natural that he should go and congratulate him at least once.
Selene's arrangements were added to this, but Hiram and Roderick were completely oblivious to it.
It was a clever idea, born from the belief that a son would be better off with trustworthy Roderick rather than his playful father for relationship advice.
Winfred, who had no way of knowing his mother's sinister thoughts, opened his mouth with a bright smile.
“The Duke’s family finally has a successor.”
Thinking of the Duke and Duchess's love life, they couldn't understand why it was so late, but the Emperor and Empress were lost in thought as they looked at their son, who smiled brightly and said that it was something to celebrate anyway.
Winfred was so young that he didn't seem to remember, but he couldn't help but laugh when he thought of the Duke's lost only daughter.
“Why are you all like that?”
Even though it was something he should have been happy about, Winfred blinked with a bewildered expression at his parents' unpleasant expressions.
“...No. It’s something to celebrate. That’s right.”
Looking at his father, who was awkwardly laughing at his words, Winfred bit his lips tightly and fell into thought. After searching through his memories for a while, he remembered that Roderick and Ophelia had been searching for their lost daughter for a long time.
“Oh, that’s right. I remember you saying they had a Princess but lost her.”
“Yeah, Win. You were quite fond of that kid when you were little. Don’t you remember?”
“...Me?”
In response to his mother's question, Winfred made a face as if he had no recollection at all. It was strange that he remembered it, since it had happened when he was only three or four years old.
“You always said that when she grew up, she would be your bride.”
“Really?”
He wasn't the type of father who would worry about how to tease him every day, and if his mother said it, it was very likely to be true, but since he really didn't remember, it was hard to believe.
“Yes, that’s right. I’ve joked with Roderick a few times, ‘Let’s get married sometime.’ Every time, Roderick would get really angry.”
"Even if you are my close friend, His Highness the Prince, I cannot forgive you for coveting my daughter."
He was so flustered because he never expected that the serious Roderick would suddenly get angry.
When Winfred looked at the Princess and said, "I will take you as my bride," he laughed it off as a child's prank.
While his parents were laughing and reminiscing, Winfred was alone, deep in thought.
'I said so?'
Even though she was only three or four years old, he said he liked someone and wanted to make them his bride.
For some reason, he felt like he had sinned against Aila.
'My first love should be Aila.'
Because if they ever meet again, he wants to give you his whole heart, something he's never given to anyone else.
It may be that this thought is just going ahead of itself since Aila and he don't have any special relationship, but that's how Winfred felt. It's Aila's freedom to accept that feeling or not.
Because he wanted to give her a pure heart without any trace of guilt.
No, no matter what anyone says, his first love was definitely Aila. He could just pretend that the stories from his childhood that he couldn't even remember existed.
Winfred, who had only recently realized that he liked Ayla, clenched his fists with an unnecessarily serious expression, becoming more serious than necessary.
Ophelia was sitting in a comfortable rocking chair, looking out the window with an expression that left her uncertain.
Outside the window, white snow was piled up. It was a clean, quiet, yet somehow lonely landscape.
“...Ophelia.”
Her husband, Roderick, whispered her name in her ear. His hands around his wife's neck were extremely careful.
“Ah, Roderick.”
“What were you thinking about?”
At Roderick's question, Ophelia unconsciously put her hand on her lower abdomen. She couldn't believe that there was still life growing inside it.
“...Just that.”
It was a thought that she couldn't bring herself to say out loud. Could she, who couldn't protect her lost daughter, Aila, be worthy of being a mother again? That was what she was thinking.
Just thinking about Aila made her heart ache. She was so sorry that she couldn't protect that child.
Everyone consoled her. It wasn't her fault she lost Aila.
Who would have thought that while she was away for a moment on urgent business, the nanny would disappear with the child?
But Ophelia felt unbearably sorry. If only she could turn back time, she would never leave the child's side. Ten years passed by in such regret.
That person, who is like that, is becoming a mother again.
“Ophelia, are you sure you’re okay?”
Roderick asked in a trembling voice.
“...Yeah. I’m fine.”
Ophelia smiled and stroked her husband's cheek.
The life growing in her stomach was also her child.
She felt sorry for the child who was born first, so she couldn't give up on that younger sibling.
The child she couldn't protect was sad, so she couldn't make other children sad.
“...Has there been any news from Candice yet?”
Ophelia changed the subject, feeling as if she was about to cry for no reason. It was time for a reply from the friend who had written to her as soon as she found out she was pregnant.
“Ah. I was just about to bring it because you got a reply, Ophelia.”
Roderick took the envelope out of his bosom and handed it to Ophelia. The wax seal that sealed the letter depicted a bespectacled woman smiling with her teeth exposed.
It was said to be a self-portrait drawn by Candice Eposuer, Ophelia's old friend, who sent the letter.
Roderick smiled faintly, not showing his expression, as he thought of his wife's eccentric friend.
A normal person would have thought, 'That blunt face is a smiling face?', but his wife, Ophelia, could tell that Roderick was smiling as he thought of Candice.
“What did she say?”
“She said she’ll just finish up what she was doing and come right away. She said she’ll arrive in about two weeks.”
Candice lived on Tamora, a small island nation across the sea.
It was not too far from the southern coast of the Peles Empire, which was also Ophelia's hometown, but it was still quite a distance to run there in one go just after hearing the news of her friend's pregnancy.
At the mention of Candice's arrival, Rodrick's smile grew even wider. He was worried because he was old, but just knowing that she was there made him feel much more at ease.
“...Does Candice know why?”
Roderick asked cautiously.
When Winfred looked at the Princess and said, "I will take you as my bride," he laughed it off as a child's prank.
While his parents were laughing and reminiscing, Winfred was alone, deep in thought.
'I said so?'
Even though she was only three or four years old, he said he liked someone and wanted to make them his bride.
For some reason, he felt like he had sinned against Aila.
'My first love should be Aila.'
Because if they ever meet again, he wants to give you his whole heart, something he's never given to anyone else.
It may be that this thought is just going ahead of itself since Aila and he don't have any special relationship, but that's how Winfred felt. It's Aila's freedom to accept that feeling or not.
Because he wanted to give her a pure heart without any trace of guilt.
No, no matter what anyone says, his first love was definitely Aila. He could just pretend that the stories from his childhood that he couldn't even remember existed.
Winfred, who had only recently realized that he liked Ayla, clenched his fists with an unnecessarily serious expression, becoming more serious than necessary.
***
Ophelia was sitting in a comfortable rocking chair, looking out the window with an expression that left her uncertain.
Outside the window, white snow was piled up. It was a clean, quiet, yet somehow lonely landscape.
“...Ophelia.”
Her husband, Roderick, whispered her name in her ear. His hands around his wife's neck were extremely careful.
“Ah, Roderick.”
“What were you thinking about?”
At Roderick's question, Ophelia unconsciously put her hand on her lower abdomen. She couldn't believe that there was still life growing inside it.
“...Just that.”
It was a thought that she couldn't bring herself to say out loud. Could she, who couldn't protect her lost daughter, Aila, be worthy of being a mother again? That was what she was thinking.
Just thinking about Aila made her heart ache. She was so sorry that she couldn't protect that child.
Everyone consoled her. It wasn't her fault she lost Aila.
Who would have thought that while she was away for a moment on urgent business, the nanny would disappear with the child?
But Ophelia felt unbearably sorry. If only she could turn back time, she would never leave the child's side. Ten years passed by in such regret.
That person, who is like that, is becoming a mother again.
“Ophelia, are you sure you’re okay?”
Roderick asked in a trembling voice.
“...Yeah. I’m fine.”
Ophelia smiled and stroked her husband's cheek.
The life growing in her stomach was also her child.
She felt sorry for the child who was born first, so she couldn't give up on that younger sibling.
The child she couldn't protect was sad, so she couldn't make other children sad.
“...Has there been any news from Candice yet?”
Ophelia changed the subject, feeling as if she was about to cry for no reason. It was time for a reply from the friend who had written to her as soon as she found out she was pregnant.
“Ah. I was just about to bring it because you got a reply, Ophelia.”
Roderick took the envelope out of his bosom and handed it to Ophelia. The wax seal that sealed the letter depicted a bespectacled woman smiling with her teeth exposed.
It was said to be a self-portrait drawn by Candice Eposuer, Ophelia's old friend, who sent the letter.
Roderick smiled faintly, not showing his expression, as he thought of his wife's eccentric friend.
A normal person would have thought, 'That blunt face is a smiling face?', but his wife, Ophelia, could tell that Roderick was smiling as he thought of Candice.
“What did she say?”
“She said she’ll just finish up what she was doing and come right away. She said she’ll arrive in about two weeks.”
Candice lived on Tamora, a small island nation across the sea.
It was not too far from the southern coast of the Peles Empire, which was also Ophelia's hometown, but it was still quite a distance to run there in one go just after hearing the news of her friend's pregnancy.
At the mention of Candice's arrival, Rodrick's smile grew even wider. He was worried because he was old, but just knowing that she was there made him feel much more at ease.
“...Does Candice know why?”
Roderick asked cautiously.
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