TMLOH 63

Chapter : 63

The Empress’s Palace.

In the Empress’s reception room, the afternoon sunlight streamed warmly, and the faint scent of black tea lingered, creating a serene atmosphere.

Griam, suddenly summoned, could not hide his tension.

“The Crown Prince is in class, Your Majesty.”

“So he couldn’t go to Halbern today, I see.”

“He has many matters to attend to.”

With the sudden preparation for the tea party, Pession’s schedule was tied up.

The Empress, the instigator of it all, smiled quietly.

“And… what brings you here?”

Azeny, the Empress, enjoying her rich black tea in relatively casual attire, asked abruptly.

“Griam.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“As the Crown Prince’s only chief aide, what do you think about this situation?”

Griam’s expression stiffened.

“May I humbly ask what Your Majesty means by that?”

“Pession…”

Her voice carried the weight of worry.

“…I wonder if it’s alright to leave things as they are.”

The Empress’s deep blue eyes darkened.

“Since you watch over him closely, Griam, I thought you might offer wise counsel.”

A brief silence. Complex thoughts rose and then subsided. Griam sighed.

“Your Majesty, didn’t you hope that Pession would become close with Lady Arellin?”

“Yes, I did.”

Whether it was compassion, favor, or lingering attachment… Azeny Empress thought of the child with soft, cute eyes like spring roses and gave a wry smile.

“However… it seems things are going somewhat differently than I anticipated.”

Griam broke into a cold sweat, his mouth drying.

“Though I could falsely report it as safe, I swear on my honor to speak honestly.”

He asserted,

“It’s too late.”

“Is that so?”

“Even if you try to stop it, His Highness the Crown Prince will not comply willingly.”

“I see.”

“Aren’t you surprised?”

Fearing an unspoken scolding, Griam frowned, but the Empress smiled.

“I expected as much.”

Ever since Pession had questioned “Why?” when told to only like to a certain extent, and insisted on staying by Arellin’s side rather than returning to the palace, she had a vague sense.

“It’s already too late.”

Perhaps Azeny had summoned Griam to confirm her suspicions.

“You know well, Griam, that Pession resembles Ed and me so much. Too much, in fact.”

His temperament: once he focused on something, he ran headlong without looking back, even if it’s just that one thing.

“How I wish he could just be healthy…”

A bond whose ending was already visible.

A relationship whose outcome was predetermined.

The Empress suddenly felt pity for her son.

“Is there anything else to instruct?”

“Nothing.”

If it couldn’t be stopped anyway, it was better not to intervene from the start.

So Azeny Empress decided to do nothing.

“I suddenly remember that day… when the Duke of Halbern appeared out of nowhere, claiming my daughter as his own, and abruptly took the blessing meant for my child.”

Then she was suddenly confined in the northern castle.

She recalled the pale, moonlit platinum hair, the captivating violet eyes, and his unbearably indifferent gaze.

“Griam, do you think the Duke of Halbern will attend this tea party?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“I think the same.”

Her violet eyes sank into thought.

“Truly pitiful…”

Griam wondered whether the Empress was referring to the Crown Prince or Lady Arellin as “pitiful.”

“Really pitiful.”

Yet, he never knew exactly whom she meant.

The twins, finally able to visit the Halbern mansion as they had wished, were ecstatic.

“I can’t believe I’m seeing the ‘Grander Dal Series’ here!”

“What’s that?”

“Super rare paintings that even our father collects!”

“There’s a legend that if you collect all thirteen pieces, you can see landscapes like the dreams left behind by Lord Grander.”

“Besides, each painting is so valuable, it’s worth collecting.”

Some had been auctioned—three pieces, all owned by Duke Sperom; four pieces were in the royal collection.

The conversations about eras, styles, ownerships, and coded messages left them dizzy.

“…Let’s just have a meeting.”

Despite the chaos, the meeting with the twins went smoothly.

“Are we preparing tea and desserts, Arellin?”

“No, too bothersome.”

“We’ll bring imported Grinesia flower tea from the Eastern Continent. Should we prepare some for Arellin too?”

Was it really necessary?

Perhaps sensing my expression, Noel responded quickly.

“Maybe we should at least prepare one.”

“We’ll prepare it for you!”

Well, if they offer, it’s rude to refuse.

“…Then please do.”

“Alright!”

Though swept up in the twins’ enthusiasm, I couldn’t reject their sincerity.

“What about decorations and flowers?”

“We’ll use marigolds, golden ones!”

“The Sperom emblem is a tilted scale with a golden heart. It’ll look nice, right?”

That was already decided.

“Lilies.”

The Halbern family flower had always been the white lily.

“The rest… just whatever.”

It should work out somehow.

“What about gifts?”

“Just something simple.”

“Hm.”

“Yeah.”

Ciel and Noel looked at me, resting their chins on their hands.

“What’s with that expression?”

It was a somewhat pitying gaze.

If it were anyone else, I might ignore it, but the twins? I couldn’t tolerate it.

“Arellin really is careless, isn’t she?”

“Really just ‘good enough’.”

“Can you not use my name properly just this once?”

“Ah, what would you have done without us!”

“You’d have been completely embarrassed!”

“Would’ve been mortified!”

“You wouldn’t have actually died from it.”

Even their ‘favor’ felt suspicious. In novels, they might have been friendly toward the heroine, but never this proactive.

“Why do you even like me?”

After Pession, this was the second time.

The twins looked puzzled at the question.

“Arellin is our ‘friend.’”

“Arellin is our ‘friend!’”

“You have many friends.”

“Not really.”

“Just the Crown Prince, Harun, and Arellin, right?”

Why so few? Considering their personalities, it made sense but was still curious.

To think I was treated on par with Pession and Harun—unbelievable.

They had been true friends since birth, inseparable.

“Arellin, do you doubt our feelings?”

“Are you twisting our sincerity?!”

The twins pretended to be angry.

“No, it’s not that.”

I was just a little unfamiliar and awkward.

“We like you, Arellin.”

“Yes, we like you.”

“But why?”

Did it have to do with their “Golden Eyes”? Was there some value in me?

The more I doubted, the more puzzled the twins looked.

“Does it really need a reason?”

“If we like you, do we need a reason?”

“It’s not that…”

Ciel’s golden eyes softened.

“Honestly, Arellin seems more calculating than us, Speroms.”

“We never calculate with friends, though.”

I instinctively closed my mouth, realizing they might be right.

“It’s just… strange receiving such favor.”

If it were malice, I would know how to respond. But genuine goodwill was still confusing. Perhaps that’s why I reacted with suspicion and defensiveness.

‘Pathetic.’

Even my mind seems as immature as my appearance.

“Ugh.”

Not knowing how to speak, I kept my mouth shut, while Ciel’s golden eyes sparkled beautifully.

“Arellin, your face is red!”

“Hahaha.”

“It’s not red!”

“Isn’t it? It’s red here!”

I tried not to fall for such childish provocation, focusing on self-restraint.

Knock. Knock.

The door opened, and a familiar face entered.

“Mehen!”