“Portrait?”

Varia, caught off guard by the unexpected answer, asked again. Leonia nodded and shared what she truly wanted.

“A drawing of me, Dad, and Mom together as a family would be nice.”

She explained how she wanted to hang it up in a big frame along the corridor where portraits of past Voreotis were displayed. As she spoke, she mimed the size of the frame with her arms.

“And it’d be great if we did it every year, one family portrait each year...”

“...”

“You don’t want to?”

Leonia asked cautiously.

“...How could I not want that?”

Varia, deeply moved, hugged Leonia tightly. Leonia returned the embrace just as firmly.

The nearby servants looked on at the mother and daughter with tearful affection.

“You’re such a sweet girl, Leona.”

Varia gently brushed her daughter’s hair aside as she spoke.

“You’ve been that way from the start. Leona, you’ve always saved me and made me happy.”

It was Leonia who had brought light and hope into the second chapter of Varia’s life.

She was the one who brought her to the Voreoti estate, helped her adjust to this unfamiliar place, and taught her what it meant to be loved.

Everything—this precious love, this new family—was all thanks to this lovely child.

‘I love Leonia more than I love you.’

Varia recalled what Ferio had once said during his marriage proposal.

He had confessed that while his love for both her and the child was sincere, as a parent, there would be times when he had to prioritize their child.

Varia had been deeply moved by that.

It was the first time in her life that someone had made such a heartfelt and careful confession.

Had he said he’d put her above the child, she would’ve been disappointed, and her feelings might have cooled.

‘I understand now.’

With someone this lovable—how could you not prioritize them?

At times, the indecent remarks that openly crossed the line and the obsessive affection for muscles were a source «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» of worry and concern...

But none of that mattered.

Leonia, just by existing, was a precious and beloved daughter. That alone was enough to forgive everything.

‘...Let’s be brave.’

Varia gently touched her stomach.

‘Leona will be happy.’

And she made up her mind.

She would make sure Leonia never felt neglected or pushed aside because of her sibling. She would protect her daughter from any hurtful, thoughtless words that might be flung around because of the child in her womb.

“I wish Ferio would come home soon.”

“Dad? He just left.”

Leonia tilted her head, puzzled. Varia smiled softly at the sight.

“When the whole family’s together... there’s something I want to say.”

***

“I’d like to request a vacation.”

The moment the carriage arrived at the palace and Lupe stepped down, he presented the wish he had been keeping close to his heart.

“Just during the heavy snow, while Your Grace and the young lady are out hunting monsters.”

“If anyone heard you, they’d think I’ve been working you to death.”

Ferio let out a dry laugh.

Lupe, however, glared daggers at the back of Ferio’s head as if to say, Haven’t you?

But even that fire died instantly under a single glance from Ferio.

The ever-pragmatic secretary folded his hands neatly and, in a much more respectful tone, continued,

“Surely, Your Grace would like some peaceful time with your family.”

He added that his presence would hardly make such moments any more pleasant.

Fortunately, Ferio seemed to agree. As he absently stroked his chin, Lupe’s hopes soared.

“Time spent with family is precious.”

“Exactly!”

“Looking back, I’ve been a bit neglectful toward my wife and daughter lately.”

“I wouldn’t say that at all.”

“They’ll be busy for a while now.”

“...Sorry, what?”

Lupe’s smile cracked like dried clay. Ferio smirked at the sight, twisting his lips into a smug grin.

“While I rest, someone has to work.”

You think I’d let you rest too?

Lupe closed his eyes tight. He knew then that he had dug his own grave.

Ferio, unaffected by his secretary’s despair, turned his attention toward the palace ahead—so quiet and calm it was almost eerie.

“...Any word on their whereabouts?”

Just before entering Kasus Palace, where the noble council was being held, Ferio came to a stop.

Lupe, dragging his feet behind him, straightened up and responded.

“My apologies.”

There was still no sign of the emperor.

Even with the Imperial Knights, Voreoti, and Revoo orders combing the palace grounds, not a single hair had been found.

At this point, even Ferio found it impressive.

Did he kill himself?

But he immediately dismissed that idea. The emperor was the kind of man who pitied himself more than anyone and was easily frightened.

He didn’t have the guts to take his own life.

Then someone must be hiding him.

And that someone was clearly Olor.

Ferio asked about Olor’s recent movements.

“According to a report from a servant inside the Olor estate—smuggled out, of course—he’s been extremely sensitive. He’s already injured four maids in a fit of rage.”

“As always, his specialty is being vile.”

Only ever targeting the weak—it was nothing more than a confession of how pathetic and cowardly he really was.

“But the young master of House Olor has been calm.”

“...Calm?”

Ferio stopped in his tracks.

Lupe realized how strange that sounded and knew he had to be honest in his report.

“Since the Ceremony of Honor, he had become violent. He reportedly hit his wife on a regular basis.”

“Tch.”

Ferio offered a short breath of sympathy for his sister-in-law.

Varia must never find out.

If his kind-hearted wife learned about this, it might shake her. And her gentleness wasn’t something that should ever be wasted on such scum.

“But recently, as I said, he’s become unnervingly calm.”

“Is it drugs?”

Lupe shook his head.

Is he scheming something?

Ferio began walking again.

What can you do with a fallen eagle?

The only thing in Olor’s hands was an emperor who had clipped his own wings.

Bringing him back to the palace would be a huge risk. Power in the palace already leaned heavily toward the empress.

At last, the two men arrived at Kasus Palace.

Inside the grand hall where the noble council was to be held, many nobles had already taken their seats.

When Ferio entered, they all stood in greeting. He accepted the gesture like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I’ll wait outside, then.”

Lupe addressed Ferio.

Not being listed as a council member, Lupe had to wait until the session was over.

“When we return to the North...”

Ferio spoke casually to Lupe’s back.

“...I’ll grant you that vacation.”

“Your Grace...!”

Lupe, deeply touched, bowed repeatedly before exiting.

“Aren’t you working my little brother too hard?”

The young heir to the Marquis of Pardus, who had been watching, spoke with a wry smile.

“You seem unusually relaxed.”

Ferio twisted his lips in disdain.

“Not like you’ll have the luxury of relaxation today.”

His scornful smirk made the nearby nobles shrink back instinctively.

Unintentional as it was, Ferio was quite pleased.

Now they remember to fear Voreoti again.

And that was good. When the second child was born, he couldn’t have these cowards losing their sense of fear and spreading foolish rumors that would trouble Leonia.

If they ever did that again...

...Maybe I’ll try flower arranging.

A row of “head” flowers lined up at the foot of the Northern mountains would make for a lovely display.

After all, flowers were known to soothe the heart—perfect for focusing on prenatal care.

And no more talk of muscles.

The truth was, Ferio’s biggest headache right now wasn’t the emperor or Olor.

It was his daughter’s plan for her future sibling’s upbringing.

A self-proclaimed “muscle philanthropist,” utterly obsessed, was scheming to raise her sibling into a fellow degenerate.

Ferio still felt faint thinking of Leonia’s child-rearing proposal from that day.

She’d once threatened to “eat dirt before letting anyone stop her from wearing skintight training gear.”

That pervert...

Words weren’t going to stop her. She wouldn’t give up her muscle mania no matter what he said.

The second child must be raised normal.

There was so much beauty in the world—

Beautiful flowers. Great masterpieces.

And yet, why on earth would anyone want to show grotesque aggregations of muscle fibers to a fragile newborn and get them addicted?

Ferio swore to never let his future child giggle at a knight’s bulging biceps.

Leonia’s influence was terrifying. Varia had once tried to “purify” her but ended up falling for muscles herself.

And then she fell for Ferio.

...Should I be worried?

Ferio faltered for a moment.

“What’s with your face?”

Carnis, watching his friend closely, furrowed his brows.

When he asked if he could sit beside him, Ferio nodded without hesitation.

There was still time before the council began.

“What’s wrong with my face?”

“You had this weird, creepy smile on your oh-so-handsome face.”

“...A smile?”

“I’d put more emphasis on the creepy part, personally.”

Carnis chuckled heartily.

“What’s got you grinning like that? Were you thinking about your daughter?”

“...Maybe.”

He had, indeed. Though it was more like fretting over the chaos she’d bring to childrearing. Still, he had smiled without realizing it.

It even surprised him that Carnis had guessed so easily.

“You always smile when you talk about your daughter. That’s why I guessed.”

“...”

“Of course, when you’re worrying about her eccentric hobbies, you look like the world’s about to end.”

“Unfortunately, this time it’s the latter.”

“Oh-ho, really?”

Carnis laughed again.

He still found it amazing—Ferio, tormented by his own child. But it made him seem more human, more relatable.

He once held little Leonia’s hand and said,

‘I truly think it’s a blessing that you became part of Ferio’s family.’

It was then Carnis realized—Leonia was the one who turned the lonely black beast of winter into a person.

“You’re happy, aren’t you?”

Carnis asked.

“...Did you eat something weird?”

Ferio looked at him with suspicion. Carnis burst into laughter.

“This is just me expressing how much I care about you.”

“...I’m starting to think Leonia paired me with you for a reason.”

“Are you still playing matchmaker, young lady?!”

Carnis hugged his own shoulders and cried out. His squeal was so delicate, the nearby nobles flinched in surprise.

“Don’t call it matchmaking.”

Even then, Ferio sided with his daughter.

“But all jokes aside...”

Just then, a noble cautiously broke the silence.

“Isn’t this running a bit late?”

It was well past the appointed time for the council to begin.

And yet, the empress still hadn’t appeared.

Nor had Olor.