Of course... at first, the relationship began because, despite being a man with a beautiful face, his eyes were uncharacteristically dark, and she saw potential in him.
However, ever since she successfully introduced him to high society and even helped him catch the Emperor's eye within a year.
Ideline just poured out words without calculation, as if her mind were paralyzed.
"I helped you with all my heart. I supported you to succeed in high society just as you wanted, and do you think you would have become anything like you are now if it weren't for me?"
"Are you feeling betrayed?"
Raphael asked her like a worried lover.
As always, so affectionately.
"I can tell you I love you as much as you want."
"Do you think I would actually be happy to hear that, even knowing it’s a lie?"
"I know why you crossed the line."
Raphael calmly asked her back with an angelic face.
"You should have just played the lover game and left when I got tired of it, but you were the one who made the excessive demands first."
Upon hearing those words, Ideline's entire body convulsed violently.
Her whole body grew so cold that it felt as though even her breath would escape through her parted lips.
She had known for a long time that Raphael was a man with no attachment to anything.
That isn't just common bravado or a bravado typical of that age group.
He was a man who would die if someone really tried to kill him.
The feeling of becoming a special presence to such a man, like a fleeting, lingering attachment, was so addictive that it seemed her mind had become dull.
"Are you thinking of going to Princess Safiya? So, you aren't satisfied with me? What, does she say she'll bring you the throne if you marry her?"
Ideline already knew that Raphael had recently been getting particularly close to Safiya.
However, even if he appeared in public with anyone, she had no right to get angry on the spot.
However, even she could not stop the rising jealousy and anger.
However, Raphael spoke as if he were sick of the words that had been carelessly spewed out.
"Everyone seems to think Safiya and I are lovers, but we're just friends."
"She may be your friend, but you are not to Princess Safiya!"
"Even so, were you in a position to say anything?"
Raphael gently drew a perfect line with an unreadable expression.
At this, Ideline's heart beat so fast that her vision became blurry.
She intended to divorce after placing Walter on the throne.
She thought that perhaps there was a future with Raphael behind it.
Eventually, Ideline could not control her anger and roughly slapped Raphael's cheek.
Match!
With a sharp popping sound, Raphael's head snapped back in an instant.
He could have easily blocked it.
“Why don’t you stop it?”
"If this will help you vent your anger, I want to take the hit."
Raphael's cheeks were already starting to flush. He wiped the blood oozing from his split lip with his thumb as if it were nothing.
"...My husband told me to pass this on."
Ideline caught her breath and pressed down hard on her stinging palm with her other hand.
She soon took a piece of paper out of her inner pocket and tossed it at Raphael.
"The person who gave us the insider said they found a loophole in the wedding venue, suggesting we get revenge at the wedding since the Marchioness de Rivandel messed with us."
"Is that information contained inside this?"
"Yeah. Give it to them."
Raphael held the wonderful paper she had in her hand.
Knowing that nothing would change even if she got any angrier, Ideline eventually turned away abruptly.
Still harboring inwardly the hope that he would hold her.
But no one caught her.
And beyond the closed door, inside the secret room where she had disappeared, Raphael unfolded the paper he was holding.
"..."
His gaze darted between the lines as he hurriedly read through.
A moment later, Raphael placed the paper on the ashtray next to him and lit it with a lighter he took from his pocket.
Staring at the paper burning and gradually fading away, he muttered unconsciously.
"It's... Raphael."
He ruffled his hair haphazardly as if trying to shake off his thoughts.
However, at the voice in his memory that would not fade, Raphael let out a low sigh and pressed his hands against his temples.
After that, he quietly closed his eyes.
***
One day, a few days after returning from the ball.
I was on my way to the Imperial Palace after receiving an invitation from Lucian.
'You said we're not the only ones coming today, but a few of Lucian's friends are coming too.'
There were also a few children who became close with Lucian at Linea's birthday party.
I understand that not only Linea but also Lucian have been exchanging letters with his friends since then.
Following the procedure, I was inspected several times for my identification and the interior of the carriage, and finally entered the inner palace.
Today's meeting place was not the Crown Prince's Palace, but one of the inner palaces.
Child passengers began to get off the carriages lined up one after another along the driveway, holding their guardians' hands, one by one.
"You've come a lot more than I thought."
"They say Lucian has a lot of friends now, too!"
"I know. Isn't Linea upset?"
After all, Eloy and Lucian were Linea's best friends.
Although Lucian still showed deep friendship toward Linea, I could feel like she had lost a friend.
As I watched Linea's reaction, the child shook her head.
"Really? Linea, you're so mature."
"I'm all grown up now!"
"Baby, you're only 11?"
Linea said with a slightly proud look on her face.
"They said that once you're over 10, you're fully grown. They say it's the stage where you need to prepare to become an adult."
“Who, who said that?”
"From the etiquette book!"
"Mom will have to take a look at that book later..."
Who told my baby to become a trainee adult as early as 11?
Of course, within this worldview, most noble children prepare to become adults as soon as they turn 10.
'When attending official gatherings or events, my words and actions are already being evaluated as a member of the family.'
You can tell just by looking at the fact that, fundamentally, the main duties of a noblewoman are housekeeping and socializing rather than childcare, and that raising the children is usually done by nannies or maids.
That parenting ends quickly.
Even so, it's not allowed at my house!
However, the reason I couldn't bring myself to argue back against the child was that Linea's expression was so proud!
Instead, I cautiously asked the child.
"Then Mom can't call Linea a baby anymore, either?"
"Hmm..."
Linea thought for a long time.
I could read all sorts of emotions flashing across the face of the child who was seriously clutching his head in agony.
'I want to grow up quickly, but I still like being called a baby.'
In the end, I couldn't hold back my laughter.
I looked into Linea and said.
"But even though Linea is an adult, you're still a baby to Mom."
"Even when I turn 20?"
"Of course!"
“Is it as big as mom?”
I nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Even though you're much bigger than Mom, you still look like a baby. Our Linea is my daughter, after all."
"That's right!"
Linea giggled and hugged me tightly.
I hugged the child tightly.
The child spoke to me from within my arms as if having made a big decision.
"Then I'll continue talking!"
"How sweet."
I can't keep her in my arms forever, but for now, I hope Linea lives only receiving love.
I called out to Linea while patting the child's back.
“Mommy baby!”
"Yes!"
I couldn't help but let out a laugh.
The carriages that had arrived ahead of us were heading out along the driveway, and soon it was our turn to get off.
"Let's have fun with Lucian today.
"But I'm still not very good at dancing..."
Linea said worriedly.
The reason the children were invited to the inner palace today was for a children's ball.
Cute enough, the children gathered among themselves to receive education on balls, which are one of the highlights of social events.
'But this place is ultimately a workplace for social life. The children are cute, but their true nature is anything but cute.'
Linea also knew that she was studying etiquette these days, so her behavior here was being evaluated by the other ladies.
"But what did Mom say? Dancing skills aren't important."
I casually tapped the tip of the child's nose to help Linea relax.
Looking into the child's round eyes, he spoke with conviction.
"You just need to not be nervous. Be natural, and it's okay to make mistakes. This place was set up so that you make mistakes and gradually get better."
“Can I make a mistake?”
Linea asked me back with innocent, calf-like eyes.
I nodded.
"Of course. Mom heard that other friends are starting to learn ballroom dancing too, so maybe Linea will be the best at it?"
"Thank god."
"You just have to do your best."
Each child has a different personality.
And Linea is the type of person who will over-prepare even if left alone.
'Just like me in my childhood.'
You worry and get anxious in advance, wanting to prepare perfectly for everything, but... there are more variables in life than you think.
For a child with high anxiety, it was actually better to give them the assurance that it is okay to make some mistakes.
So that you can face and manage your own anxiety.
"I have to get off now."
A signal was heard as a servant knocked on the carriage door.
And we entered the ballroom.
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