Chapter 11

In the original main story, the Second Prince wasn’t a particularly important character.

Whenever he did appear, he was always kind to Harzen. There were even readers who liked the Second Prince because of it.

Not me, though.

‘Something about him always felt suspicious.’

Like he had some hidden agenda.

Back then, he barely had any screen time and didn’t really do anything noteworthy, so I let it slide.

‘Who would’ve thought he’d reveal his true colors in the side story?’

The more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

My dads were supposed to be the strongest people in the world.

So why couldn’t they stop Mom’s death in the side story?

I could understand the other dads failing if they hadn’t accompanied Mom to the imperial palace.

But why couldn’t Daddy Harzen protect her?

He was the type of person who suspected almost everyone in the palace.

“Brother.”

I quietly closed my hanging jaw and looked at Daddy Harzen.

There was unmistakable familiarity in the way he looked at the Second Prince.

‘Daddy trusts the Second Prince.’

The reason Harzen, who hated the palace and the imperial family, trusted only the Second Prince.

Wasn’t it because he was one of the few people here who had shown Harzen something resembling affection?

‘He probably treated Daddy kindly ever since he was young.’

Was that affection genuine?

Or was it simple sympathy?

Or perhaps…

A hypocritical act?

I couldn’t know the Second Prince’s true feelings.

One thing was certain.

His actions had earned Harzen’s trust.

Trust that had been built up little by little over many years until it became an unshakable tower.

“Harzen.”

The Second Prince met Daddy Harzen’s gaze and smiled warmly.

“It’s been a very long time. You haven’t even sent me a single letter.”

The arrogant expression he’d worn earlier was nowhere to be seen.

His face was full of sincere delight.

Then he shifted his gaze to Mom.

“Lady Miller.”

“I greet Your Highness, the Second Prince.”

“Thank you for coming all this way. It couldn’t have been an easy decision to return here. On behalf of my mother, I offer my gratitude.”

This time I didn’t let my mouth fall open.

Instead, I clicked my tongue internally.

‘No wonder Daddy Harzen got completely fooled.’

If it weren’t for the scroll, I might’ve fallen for it too.

But I’m not that easy to trick.

If he thought this much would be enough to fool me, he was mistaken!

“Hmph.”

I snorted and strengthened my resolve.

Daddy is hopeless.

I’ll have to stay sharp and protect Mom myself.

“And this child is…?”

The Second Prince finally noticed me and asked curiously.

I deliberately answered in an even clearer voice.

“Hello. My name is Cecilia Miller.”

“…”

“I’m seven years old, and I’m Mom’s daughter.”

People say the key to any battle is seizing the initiative.

Rule number one for winning a battle of wills.

Act confident no matter where you are!

“Cece…?”

Mom blinked rapidly, clearly caught off guard by my bold introduction.

Daddy Harzen also looked at me with one eyebrow slightly raised.

The two of them were probably thinking the same thing.

Did this kid eat something strange?

Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?

“Haha. What a bold child.”

The Second Prince simply laughed.

“Her personality and her face. She’s the spitting image of Lady Miller.”

I widened my eyes even more.

As expected from someone who managed to fool Daddy.

He’s certainly good at saying the right things.

But me, Cece.

I’m already a child who’s tasted the bitterness of life.

A little praise won’t fool me!

“The habit of being suspicious of everyone she meets is exactly like you, Harzen.”

Ignoring my thoughts, he added with crescent-shaped eyes.

At the same time, someone coughed from farther away.

“Bertolt.”

I glanced at the Second Prince and nodded inwardly.

Right.

His name was Bertolt.

“Ah.”

Only after the Emperor spoke did Bertolt finally look away from me.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. I was simply delighted to see Harzen again after so long…”

“How is the Empress?”

“To be honest, she’s in even worse condition than yesterday. Today she didn’t even recognize me.”

“I see.”

At Bertolt’s answer, the Emperor closed his eyes and pressed his fingers against his forehead.

‘She can’t even recognize her own son?’

My eyes widened.

The situation was even more serious than I’d expected.

Then again, otherwise they would’ve never summoned Mom after treating her coldly all this time.

“That bad…”

Mom’s expression also darkened.

Then, as though reaching a decision, she spoke firmly.

“I’m sorry to bring this up amid such a chaotic situation caused by my daughter, but would it be alright if I examined Her Majesty the Empress immediately?”

“…Then allow me to ask you something.”

The Emperor slowly opened his eyes and stared straight at Mom.

“Do you understand the implications of examining the Empress’s condition?”

His authoritative voice echoed throughout the audience chamber.

“If the Empress cannot be saved, everyone who examined her will be held accountable.”

At first glance, it looked like a predator cornering its prey.

“Especially you. You’re known as the finest healer in the empire. Your reputation would suffer greatly as well.”

“…”

“Those who already dislike you would use this as an excuse to hound you for the rest of your life.”

But Mom, Yuria…

Was a veteran hunter who had brought down predators far more dangerous than this one.

“I understand.”

She met the Emperor’s gaze without backing down.

“However, I also understand why Your Majesty, who likely finds me most disagreeable, summoned me here.”

“…”

“Because there is no one else in this empire capable of treating Her Majesty the Empress. Isn’t that correct?”

I tightly held Mom’s hand and puffed out my cheeks.

‘Exactly, exactly.’

They’d gone so far as to send soldiers to drag Mom and Dad here.

And now he’s saying things like this.

Even if Mom refused, they would’ve forced her to treat the Empress anyway!

“I can’t honestly promise that I will definitely be able to save Her Majesty the Empress. Especially before I’ve even examined her condition.”

“Then…”

“Even so, I will do everything in my power to save Her Majesty.”

Her violet eyes shone with determination.

“That much, I can swear.”

When they met the Emperor before setting out to defeat the demon king, Mom and Dad had said something similar.

[“I cannot promise that we will return after defeating the demon king.”

“…”

“However, we will devote our lives to the task.”

“That much, we can swear.”]

And in the end, they had returned after taking the demon king’s life.

“Not only me. Every physician who has cared for Her Majesty until now must have approached her treatment with the same determination.”

“…”

“I earnestly ask that at the very least, Your Majesty acknowledge those feelings.”

After Mom finished speaking, a heavy silence settled over the audience chamber.

I swallowed nervously and glanced at the Emperor.

And the expression I saw…

‘Gasp.’

I immediately sucked in a breath.

Was it just my imagination, or did he look even more stern than before?

‘No, it’s real.’

Just look at those eyes.

He looks like he’s about to eat our entire family.

‘Is he angry?’

What Mom had effectively said was that no one involved should be punished if things went wrong.

Not just her.

Everyone who had cared for the Empress.

In other words, she was asking the Emperor himself to serve as a shield if the worst happened.

‘And the Emperor already doesn’t like Mom very much, so it’d make sense if he’s upset…’

“Hmm.”

At that moment, the Emperor finally broke the stone-like silence and spoke.