Time spent with Deidre passed gently and peacefully.
At the end of the year, Deidre celebrated her first birthday. By then she could toddle about unsteadily, stack wooden blocks, and roll a ball to play.
According to the physician who came for regular checkups, Deidre was perfectly healthy, and she had already begun calling Camilla “mama”
Camilla would hold Deidre in her arms and stand before Luke’s portrait, telling her, “This person is your father,” and so Deidre learned to say “dada” whenever she looked at the painting.
Camilla’s brother and his wife remained indifferent to Deidre as ever, but gifts arrived in abundance from Pamela. The servants of the estate were all utterly devoted to the little princess, and Deidre grew up surrounded by more than enough love.
Then, at the end of winter, truly welcome news finally arrived from Luke.
“So his lordship is returning?”
“Yes. He’s scheduled to come back at the beginning of spring.”
When Camilla said this, the maid holding Deidre gasped in delight.
Luke had carried out his demanding duties smoothly, and it was finally decided that he would return the following year. Though the full details were not yet known, his achievements seemed considerable, and it was said that even her brother the king would likely reward him.
(At last, I can let Luke meet Deidre.)
One year had passed since Deidre’s birth.
Deidre would finally meet her real father, not just the one in a painting. Luke, too, would meet the daughter he had known only through letters.
The titles or promotions honestly did not matter.
What made Camilla happiest was being able to reunite father and daughter.
“…My lady, there is actually one more letter.”
The one who spoke apologetically as Camilla shared her joy with the maid was the butler.
The letter he offered was of finer quality than Luke’s, and when Camilla saw the sender’s name, she nearly groaned aloud.
“This is… my brother.”
“It has been a year since the young lady was born. As her uncle, he likely feels he cannot do nothing. Even as a collateral line, she is still royal blood, and he may believe a first-birthday observance is his duty.”
The butler was probably right.
In short, the letter from her brother said, “I will celebrate my niece’s first birthday. Come to the castle.”
At best, it would amount to being seated at the edge of a formal banquet, but refusing would likely cause trouble later.
(And it may be better that this happens before Luke returns.)
Her brother seemed to dislike Luke, and if Luke was to be considered for advancement, it would be wiser to maintain a favorable impression. Attending the banquet and avoiding offense would likely serve them well in the long run.
(I’ll think of it as a minimum obligation and accept it.)
Perhaps sensing Camilla’s thoughts, Deidre looked up at her intently. Camilla casually tossed her brother’s letter onto the table and took her daughter from the maid.
“It’s all right, my sweet Deidre. Mother has to meet someone a little frightening, but it’s for the sake of seeing your father again, so I’ll do my best.”
She kissed Deidre’s soft cheek. Deidre responded with a delighted laugh.
For this child’s sake, Camilla would do anything.
Anything.
The following year, Camilla traveled to the royal castle with Deidre.
It had been more than two years since she last came here, yet she felt no nostalgia. Though she had been born and raised in this place, her happy memories of the castle were tied to time spent with her mother and with Pamela. Neither of them was here anymore.
Camilla’s true home was the monastery where she had lived as a priest, and the place she returned to now was the baronial estate.
Though she had become a baroness through marriage, Camilla was still the king’s sister. And Deidre, whom she carried in her arms, was the king’s niece and the late king’s granddaughter. For that reason, knights were dispatched from the castle to serve as their escort.
Most of the knights wore stiff expressions, clearly there on duty, but a few quietly approached Camilla to greet her and play with Deidre. They appeared to be Luke’s comrades, and they said how honored they were to meet the young lady. With them staying close as escorts, it put Camilla at ease.
As expected, Gerald chose to mark Deidre’s birthday by summoning them to a banquet. Though Camilla felt weary at the thought, she straightened her back and walked through the castle halls.
If she slouched or let her displeasure show, it would only bring shame upon Luke and Deidre. For her husband and daughter’s sake, Camilla wanted to be strong, as a wife and as a mother.
It had been a long time since she entered the dining hall reserved only for royalty. Even when her mother was alive, she was rarely brought here. The last time she had eaten in this room must have been nearly twenty years ago.
“So you’ve come, Baroness Beresford.”
Her brother looked just as malicious as ever. The queen beside him wore her usual unreadable smile, while the most cheerful of all was the crown prince, now four years old.
With blond hair and green eyes, he clearly brightened when he saw Camilla and Deidre. He leaned forward as if eager to speak or get a closer look, only to be gently restrained by the attendant beside him.
Gerald, who addressed Camilla by her title rather than her name, pointed carelessly to an empty seat.
“Sit there. And congratulations on your daughter’s first birthday.”
“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Camilla answered the curt words with a polite smile and set Deidre into a child’s chair. Then Gerald leaned forward, his interest suddenly piqued.
“…Hm? Your daughter has an unusual eye color.”
Deidre had lifted her face from Camilla’s chest, making her features clearly visible.
“Blue eyes? I see. She takes after our father.”
“It seems so.”
“Hmph. For your daughter, she looks quite promising. She seems bold, too. Perhaps someday I might arrange a match between her and the child of one of my close aides.”
“Thank you for your consideration. When Deidre is older, we will discuss it again.”
Camilla responded calmly, even as Gerald’s attention fixed on Deidre.
(I will never let Deidre become a political pawn.)
Royal daughters were used for political marriages. Pamela was the clearest example.
With only the crown prince as his child, her brother seemed ready to use his niece if the need arose. A royal order would be difficult to oppose, but Camilla intended to resist for as long as she could.
As expected, the banquet proceeded under an awkward air. Thankfully, food appropriate for Deidre had been prepared, and servants experienced with infants were on hand. The crown prince cheerfully said, “You’re my cousin, right?” and “Nice to meet you, Deidre,” which eased the tension somewhat.
(If His Highness grows up with this same kindness, perhaps he will treat Deidre with care as well.)
Camilla held little hope for her brother, and instead wished that the earnest crown prince would ascend the throne swiftly and become a true ally to Deidre.
Just as Gerald observed, Deidre did not cry or fuss despite being surrounded by unfamiliar adults. She quietly ate her meal, which only pleased Gerald more.
“If she were a boy, I’d have made her my son’s aide,” he said with a laugh, which Camilla found tiresome.
The queen smiled throughout but spoke not a word. While it was a relief she said nothing unnecessary, she also offered no words of celebration to Deidre. Though she was said to be the daughter of a high-ranking noble family, Camilla found her even more unsettling than her brother.
At last, the banquet came to an end.
The crown prince held Deidre’s hand and said, “Let’s play again sometime,” and Deidre smiled back, which at least made the evening worthwhile. Exhausted, Camilla gathered Deidre and left quickly.
Back at the estate, she entrusted Deidre to a maid and soaked herself thoroughly in warm water. In the cold season, the heat was deeply comforting. The remaining bathwater would be used by the servants afterward, making it a welcome thing for everyone.
(About ten more days until Luke returns.)
After checking the schedule, Camilla went upstairs. She first stopped by the nursery to check on Deidre, kissed her daughter’s cheek as she dozed contentedly, then headed toward her own room.
On the way, her gaze drifted to the couple’s bedchamber.
Since Camilla slept in the mistress bedroom, she had only used that bedroom on the night before Luke departed. It was empty now, but when Luke returned, that would be where he slept.
(…Will I be called into that room again?)
Camilla’s fingers tightened on the front of her nightclothes, and her cheeks grew faintly warm. That warmth was not due to the bath alone.
That night two years ago had been filled with firsts, leaving both her body and heart in turmoil. Now, after two years, her feelings were far more settled.
She wanted to be with Luke as husband and wife, as family. And if she were invited into that room again, she felt she would not be overcome by the resignation she had felt back then.
(If Luke feels the same way… I might be happy.)
Her face grew warmer still at the thought, and Camilla hurried to her room as if fleeing.
