“...You lost them?”

Wrinkles formed between Empress Tigria’s brows.

Her office was flooded with incoming and outgoing documents, and just as many palace staff came and went. Since the emperor was ill, the empress handled state affairs in his stead.

It was, for all intents and purposes, a regency.

“My apologies, Your Majesty,” the maid reporting to her bowed her head. The empress gave her permission to continue.

“The knights searched the restaurant storage you mentioned... but by the time they got there, it was already empty.”

“‘Already’, huh...”

The empress curled her lips slightly at the interesting choice of word.

“Did they find any trace?”

“They found some hair. Tawny.”

“They must’ve been in quite a rush.”

The empress let out a short laugh she’d been holding back.

After all, she had spent over a decade as the emperor’s wife.

She knew better than anyone the Subiteo Emperor’s gaudy, showy tastes.

He was not the kind of man to willingly hide himself in a filthy storage shed.

‘Unless he really has gone mad.’

A servant who had been recovering in a detached palace had regained consciousness just yesterday.

He had recalled, trembling in fear, that the emperor seemed utterly insane.

If he truly had lost his mind... what could’ve driven him to such a state?

‘Was it the consort’s doing?’

The image of the ever-cheerful Consort Usia floated through her mind.

‘How cunning.’

The empress still found it strange, in hindsight.

She had thought her simple, clumsy... but the woman was shrewder and more meticulous than anyone.

Had she known that truth earlier, she might’ve willingly helped her.

‘But not anymore.’

They had shared a common enemy, yes—but they no longer shared the same goals.

So now, there was only one thing the empress needed to do.

“...Anything else to report about the restaurant?”

The empress asked the maid.

“One of the restaurant staff was involved in a past embezzlement case concerning a support foundation.”

“Must’ve been blackmailed, then.”

“What should we do about him?”

“Leave him be.”

It was clear the man had been hiding his record and working at the restaurant, and likely had been coerced by Olor into providing access to the warehouse.

If that was the case, there was no point in threatening him further.

“But we should at least keep his mouth shut.”

“I’ll take care of it quietly.”

The empress looked approvingly at the maid who swiftly understood her intentions, though her expression soured slightly.

“Voreoti will definitely have something to say.”

It had been Duke Voreoti who tipped her off about the restaurant in the first place.

Even if he wouldn’t say it directly, she could already picture his grumbling expression—complaining that he handed everything to her on a silver platter, only for her to mess it up.

The empress resented having to owe him another favor.

“He should’ve told us earlier, then.”

The maid, surprisingly, blamed Voreoti.

The empress’s mood improved because of it.

“And Your Majesty...”

The maid shared another update.

“Marquis Meridio will be visiting the palace today.”

“Oh?”

The empress’s eyes brightened.

“It seems he’s coming to report on the progress of the dangerous region restoration project being conducted jointly by the Imperial Family and House Voreoti.”

“Quite the esteemed guest.”

“Is there anything I should be careful of?”

“You always perform well, so I’m not worried... but—”

Tapping her chin with her fingers, the empress smiled.

“Just remember what I said earlier. These are very special guests.”

“Then I’ll welcome them with my utmost care.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Empress Tigria gave a charming smile.

“And one more thing.”

Just as the maid turned to leave, the empress called her back and handed over a document she had just approved.

“Please deliver this to the attendant who’s probably waiting outside like a loyal puppy.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The maid placed the document neatly on a silver tray.

It was the schedule for the next noble council meeting.

“...Let’s finish this.”

***

Munch munch.

“Today—”

Munch munch.

“In the garden—”

Munch munch.

“I saw a leaf—”

“Swallow before you speak.”

Ferio had to chime in, wondering what in the world “a leaf-leaf” even meant.

At last, Leonia chewed the large bite of omelet in her mouth thoroughly and gulped «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» it down.

“One of the leaves was starting to turn red.”

Then she cheerfully spoke about the changing seasons.

“Summer’s finally leaving...!”

Varia, holding a fork with salad on it, was moved. As someone from the heat-sensitive South, she welcomed the approaching cool season.

“Mom, you didn’t step outside the estate even once this summer, did you?”

Leonia squinted at her.

“Very commendable!”

She praised her with a grin.

“That’s the true summer lifestyle of a rich noble!”

“You didn’t go out either, Leona.”

Ferio, cutting a sausage into bite-sized pieces, fed one to his daughter.

Leonia took it into her mouth without protest and began chewing enthusiastically.

“But thanks to that, I wasn’t bored. It was fun.”

This time, Varia placed half a cherry tomato into her daughter’s mouth. Again, Leonia chewed diligently.

Then her face twisted in an instant.

“...Sour!”

The salad dressing on the tomato was shockingly tart.

Her scrunched-up nose, mouth, and eyes all gathered in the center of her face like they were holding a tea party there.

“O-oh no!”

Startled, Varia hurriedly offered her a glass of water and apologized.

“I’m sorry, sweetie! Spit it out, quick!”

But Leonia stubbornly swallowed it down.

It was so sour, she could feel it drop into her stomach like a rock.

“How do you even eat this, Mom?! It’ll ruin your insides!”

Even after drinking a full glass of water, her stomach still ached and her mouth was watering.

“These days I just... crave sour things...”

Varia muttered awkwardly.

Leonia opened her mouth to protest further but gave up and let out a sigh instead.

Her neatly combed bangs trembled slightly.

“What did the physician say? You’re supposed to eat healthy things, remember?”

Leonia seized the moment to scold her mother.

Varia, unable to argue, looked properly scolded.

“Right, Dad? Don’t you think so too?”

Leonia then scooped some of Varia’s salad onto Ferio’s plate herself.

She didn’t want to suffer alone—this was her noble yet petty plan to share the pain with her father.

“...”

Ferio stared at the salad, pungent with sour dressing, for a long moment.

“...I’m thinking of going back to the North.”

He then handed the plate to a waiting maid behind him. The maid whisked it away before Leonia could protest.

“To the North? Really?!”

Leonia was too excited by the news to notice anything else.

“But is Mom okay with it?”

She turned to ask Varia.

“I’m glad we’re going to the North,” Varia said with a bright smile. She had heard from Ferio a few days ago and had been just as delighted.

Though she had spent only a short time there, the North had become like home—filled with joyful and precious memories.

“Well, in that case...”

Leonia rolled her eyes around.

“...I guess it’s better if we leave soon.”

She nodded and grinned, seemingly satisfied after sorting out her thoughts.

“Anyway, today we wrap everything up!”

“Indeed. Ah, Ferio—don’t forget, you should probably...”

“Get going.”

The three family members stood up after finishing their meal.

At the entrance, Lupe greeted the Voreoti family with a bow.

“Good morning to all three of you.”

“Uncle Lupe! We’re going to the North!”

Leonia ran up and grabbed Lupe’s hands, doing a cheerful little dance.

Her innocent joy brought an unbidden smile to Lupe’s lips.

A moment like this was rare—Leonia behaving like a child.

But today, it didn’t feel out of place at all.

“I can finally breathe easy now.”

“Everything ends with the noble council today, right?”

“Yes. It all ends today.”

The noble council scheduled for today—

Everything would be decided there.

‘The crown prince’s appointment, and the fate of House Olor.’

And lastly, putting those arrogant southern nobles who dared to try using Voreoti in their place.

“I wish I could go toooo.”

Leonia swayed her body side to side, dragging out her last syllable.

But Ferio only looked at her with an expression that clearly said “not a chance.”

“Stay home and behave.”

“So Dad gets to have all the fun, huh.”

Leonia pouted, lips sticking out like a duck’s beak.

“It’s dangerous. That’s why he’s worried.”

Varia gently comforted the sulking Leonia with a bittersweet smile.

In truth, Leonia knew Ferio’s heart better than anyone.

No matter how strong she became, he would always worry for and try to protect her.

That thought made her happy... but also just a little stifled.

“...Tell me everything when you get back.”

Eventually, Leonia gave in and saw him off properly.

“Hurry back! Or I’ll cause a scene!”

“My troublesome little brat.”

“Why, thank you!”

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

Ferio gently brushed her cheek, as if to say she should grow up already.

Leonia smiled brightly and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Varia then stepped forward to see Ferio off.

“Be careful.”

“I’ll be back soon.”

“You have to come back safe, okay?”

Her voice carried a deep, worried tenderness.

Her hands, fixing her husband’s collar, were almost solemn in their care.

“There’s no need to worry so much.”

Ferio, smiling faintly, took her hand and kissed it.

At the same time, his other hand gently touched her stomach.

It was such a delicate, fleeting gesture that neither Lupe nor the servants noticed.

“...You’re gonna end up with a baby at this rate.”

Leonia muttered as she stood by awkwardly watching them.

Only then did her parents quickly step apart.

The child clicked her tongue.

“Seriously, the younger generation these days... Clinging to each other at the crack of dawn...”

“...Grandma?”

Lupe couldn’t help but see his late grandmother in the young lady again.

“Then I’ll be off.”

Having finished his goodbyes, Ferio stepped out of the estate with Lupe.

“Come back soon!”

“Safe travels!”

Leonia and Varia saw him off.

“...Ahh, it’s really the North now.”

Stretching her arms, Leonia thought of the North this time of year.

“It must be chilly. And it’ll start snowing by late autumn.”

“And when it snows, it’ll be your birthday!”

“What kind of present will I get this time?!”

Leonia skipped around excitedly, already dreaming of gifts she hadn’t yet received.

“Is there something you want?”

Varia asked, already scrambling to think of what might suit her daughter.

She wanted to wrap Leonia in the most beautiful, expensive things the world had to offer.

“...A family portrait.”

Leonia mumbled.

“What was that?”

Varia hadn’t quite caught it, too deep in thought.

“No, uh, a portrait? Something like that!”