~Chapter 27~
At the coachman’s call, the palace guards approached and knocked on the carriage door.
Duke Lux stepped out first, and the children followed him one by one.
“We apologize for the delay, Duke Lux.”
The guards, upon confirming his face, opened the gates without hesitation.
As expected, Duke Lux didn’t even need to show a pass. His face alone was enough to gain entry to the royal palace.
Ruby once again realized how great his status was.
Even the children, who had been acting carefree until now, went silent. Seeing the towering walls of the palace, they clung to Ruby and walked nervously while looking around.
Led by the guards, they were guided to a particular building.
“Please wait here in the Rose Palace.”
Ruby noticed that the pillars of the building were decorated with golden floral carvings climbing upward — just like its name.
If the outside was splendid, the inside was even more overwhelming.
As soon as they entered, a soft aromatic fragrance filled their noses.
The lobby was octagonal, and at each side stood large statues. Ruby recognized them from her childhood readings — works by famous sculptors she had once admired in books. Here in the palace, of course, they were authentic.
On the ceiling was a massive painting of the goddess Aria, the Baldur Empire’s symbol, descending to the mortal world. It had to be the work of the empire’s greatest painter.
A palace attendant came forward and opened a large door in the center.
Inside was a long rectangular room, lined with sofas and tables — clearly a reception hall.
“Please take a seat here.”
Following the attendant’s guidance, Duke Lux and the children sat together on the left-hand sofa.
“Sis, the sofa’s shiny.”
Calix stroked the sofa’s armrest, which gleamed with golden inlay, reflecting the chandelier’s light.
“Big sis, it’s really soft!” Sasha poked at the cushion repeatedly.
“The palace uses the best furniture in the entire empire. That’s why,” Ruby explained, gently patting their heads.
Duke Lux, listening quietly, muttered,
“I’ll have the sofas at the ducal house replaced with ones just like these.”
“What? Oh, I didn’t mean you should change them. And… isn’t it forbidden to copy palace furnishings exactly?” Ruby asked, startled.
In the Baldur Empire, it was taboo to build anything of the same scale as the royal palace. Likewise, nobles were not supposed to use furniture identical to that of the palace.
“The emperor won’t be so petty over a mere sofa.”
Ruby was speechless. Who else in the empire could dare describe the emperor as petty?
Just then—
“His Majesty, the Emperor, arrives!”
The attendant’s booming announcement echoed as the heavy doors opened once more.
Duke Lux and Ruby immediately stood.
“Stand up quickly,” Ruby whispered to the confused children.
“It’s been a long time, Duke,” said the emperor.
The emperor’s appearance was surprisingly ordinary. Without his ornate robes and jewelry, he could easily be mistaken for a kind middle-aged man rather than the ruler of the empire.
“My apologies for not visiting more often, Your Majesty,” said Duke Lux as he shook the emperor’s hand. He didn’t bow deeply or act overly formal — so different from how he had drilled etiquette into the children.
Yet the emperor didn’t seem offended. He simply chuckled, then lowered his gaze — and met Ruby’s eyes.
Ruby quickly held her skirt and bowed gracefully.
“I greet the Sun of the Empire.”
The children copied her in unison.
“I greet the Sun of the Empire.”
“I gwee’ the Sun of the Empiwe,” lisped Sasha.
Thankfully, they managed to follow their lessons well enough. Mark’s strict training in palace etiquette had worked.
Ruby let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Maria, still a baby, was laid carefully on the sofa, unable to bow.
“Oh, so these are the children,” said the emperor, leaning slightly so his eyes were level with theirs.
“Welcome. I am Emperor Pello Baldur.”
Ruby had, of course, memorized his name beforehand. But she hadn’t expected him to greet them so warmly.
Suppressing her surprise, she responded calmly.
“My name is Ruby Brooklyn. These are my younger siblings, Calix Brooklyn, Sasha Brooklyn, and Maria Brooklyn.”
“Brooklyn?” The emperor raised an eyebrow.
Duke Lux explained, “That is their father’s family name.”
“I heard their parents had passed. Did you not give them the Lux name?”
In the Baldur Empire, children didn’t always have to take their father’s surname. If both parents died, sometimes they inherited their maternal family’s name.
“They are not yet worthy of the Lux name,” Duke Lux said flatly.
“Haha, just like you — sharp and uncompromising,” the emperor replied.
Ruby wasn’t hurt. She had already expected such an answer.
“Please, sit.”
The emperor took his place at the head seat. Only after that did Duke Lux and the children sit back down.
“They truly can’t hide their blood. They resemble you strongly,” the emperor said, looking at the children with genuine admiration.
Ruby and Sasha resembled their father, while Calix was the spitting image of their mother. Still, one could find traces of Duke Lux in all of them.
Then the emperor’s gaze moved to baby Maria in Ruby’s arms.
“That infant is not a true granddaughter, is she?”
The emperor seemed to know everything that had happened at Duke Lux’s residence.
“She is my granddaughter all the same,” Duke Lux replied.
Ruby’s eyes widened in shock. It was the first time she had ever heard him openly acknowledge Maria. Until now, only Ruby had insisted that Maria was her sister and part of their family.
“Impressive. To even accept a child with no blood relation as your granddaughter,” the emperor said with a chuckle.
“You flatter me,” Duke Lux answered smoothly.
Was it just a convenient statement for the emperor’s ears? Or did he truly mean it? His expression remained calm, impossible to read.
“I hear your grandchildren are quite talented,” the emperor continued, this time looking directly at Ruby.
“They are nothing special,” Duke Lux replied quickly, downplaying them.
Whether out of humility or genuine belief, Ruby couldn’t tell.
“Modesty, I see. Still, word of these children has already spread widely. Ruby, Calix, Sasha, correct?”
“Yes.”
The emperor studied them carefully.
“Yes, these children will do nicely.”
He stroked his chin in thought, then asked an attendant,
“Have they arrived?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. They are waiting outside the reception room.”
“Send them in.”
Ruby turned toward the door as it opened heavily.
Two children walked in — both boys, smaller than grown adults but older than toddlers.
They bowed to the emperor first.
“We greet the Sun of the Empire.”
“We greet the Sun of the Empire.”
“Good. Come forward,” said the emperor warmly.
The boys approached and stood beside Duke Lux and the children.
Both had black hair and green eyes, just like the emperor.
They weren’t identical, but both had the looks that would grow into strikingly handsome men.
One was about Ruby’s height, the other about Sasha’s.
They then greeted Duke Lux.
“Greetings, Duke. It has been a while.”
“Hello, Duke.”
Duke Lux rose and returned their greeting with respect.
Ruby and her siblings followed his example and bowed again.
The princes, however, said nothing at first.
The first prince simply stared at Ruby in a daze.
Puzzled, Ruby tilted her head slightly. Only when a servant nudged them did the princes snap out of it.
“You must return their greeting, Your Highnesses.”
The First Prince blinked, then spoke quickly.
“Nice to meet you. I am Ivan Baldur.”
“I’m Theo Baldur,” said the younger boy.
Ruby’s eyes flickered. She remembered their ages from her studies: Ivan, the First Prince, was ten — her age. Theo, the Second Prince, was five — a year older than Sasha.
But Ruby’s gaze didn’t linger on Ivan, who had been staring at her. Instead, she focused on Theo, who looked uncomfortable and kept glancing only at his older brother.
And there was a reason Ruby’s eyes burned as she stared at him.
This boy was none other than the future male lead of Our Family Must Regret.
