Chapter 25

I want to tell them I’m not leaving, that I’m really fine, but with things looking like this, I don’t look fine at all!

‘And with a patient already here, they’re bound to be extra sensitive about this kind of thing.’

I know that staying here in this condition is causing trouble.

But…

‘The scroll is still normal.’

Even while sneezing, I desperately checked the scroll.

No matter how many times I looked, nothing seemed to have changed.

The original story hadn’t even started yet, and the progress revision was still ongoing.

‘Then what is it?’

Are they not planning to harm Mom right now?

Then why can’t I stop sneezing?

<There are certainly many enemies there. The problem is that we can’t perfectly identify all of them.>

Suddenly, I remembered what Daddy Harzen had said to Daddy Derek.

Enemies within the imperial palace.

So many that they couldn’t all be perfectly identified.

Could the person here be one of them?

But…

‘Even if they’re an enemy, it doesn’t automatically make sense for them to have killing intent toward Mom in a situation like this.’

Unless they were someone whose plan to assassinate the Empress had just failed…

Wait a second.

I think I just had a pretty huge realization.

“I’m fide.”

First, I needed to convince them that I was actually okay.

Otherwise they’d throw me out.

As a temporary measure, I pinched my nose shut and barely managed to speak.

Okay, good.

This seems to be helping a little—

“Kchoo!”

Never mind.

“You shouldn’t be stubborn, Cece. Let’s get out of here first.”

In the end, Mom grabbed my hand and started leading me out of the bedroom.

I tried planting my feet and resisting as hard as I could, but there was no way I could win against Mom’s strength.

Drag.

Draaaag.

After I was finally pulled out into the hallway…

“Whew.”

Only then did I regain my composure and let out a deep breath.

Am I going to keep sneezing every time I find someone who wants to hurt Mom?

That’s a huge problem…

“Should we call a physician right away? You don’t seem to have a fever.”

“I’m really okay now. See? I stopped sneezing.”

Of course, I’d start sneezing again the second I went back inside.

More importantly, Mom.

“But isn’t there something strange going on?”

It’s strange.

It’s suspicious.

This sneezing came out of nowhere and disappeared just as suddenly!

You really don’t notice?

“Something strange? Your health…?”

Mom tilted her head, failing to understand what I meant.

She’d obviously forgotten all about the Sneeze Powder.

‘Can’t be helped.’

I’d have to explain it eventually when I sprinkled it on Mom and Dad anyway.

I’ll just say I brought it from Daddy Kyle’s laboratory.

“No, it’s—”

I was just about to explain the Sneeze Powder when…

“Hm? I didn’t expect to find you out here.”

A voice I absolutely did not want to hear right now rang out.

I slowly turned my head and looked at Bertolt.

“H-hello…”

It wasn’t nice seeing you, and could you please leave now?

“Brother.”

“I heard Mother regained consciousness and came running right away…”

As he spoke, he swept his gaze over our family and smiled.

“Seeing you all gathered here like this, I suppose now isn’t the best time for a conversation.”

Yes, that’s correct.

And I don’t think you’re in any condition to have a conversation with our family either.

“Mother has already fallen asleep again. Her body hasn’t fully recovered yet…”

“Still, the important thing is that she regained consciousness. More importantly, why are you all standing out here?”

The moment Bertolt finished speaking, all three pairs of eyes turned toward me.

They seemed curious about whatever I had been about to say.

But…

‘I absolutely can’t say it in front of this guy!’

If I tell them here, I’d be revealing my trump card to the enemy!

That’s absolutely not happening!

‘Come to think of it, I can’t tell Daddy Harzen directly about the Sneeze Powder either.’

I’d forgotten there was a chance he’d tell Bertolt everything.

I quickly revised my plan and looked at Daddy Harzen.

Sorry, Dad.

For now, this will stay a secret between Mom and me…

“What were you trying to say earlier, Cece? What did you mean by asking if something was strange?”

While I was thinking, Mom stared at me and asked.

I frantically thought of an answer.

Something strange. Something strange…

“I’m sneezing, but I don’t have a runny nose.”

Yeah.

That was the best I could come up with.

I rolled my eyes upward and gave an awkward smile.

“Maybe the room was too dry…”

Mom tilted her head and muttered.

Daddy continued staring at me with a serious expression.

“The environment changed suddenly. It wouldn’t be strange if she became ill because of it. I’ll take Cece to get examined.”

“Oh? You’d do that? Then I’ll stay and continue caring for Her Majesty the Empress a little longer.”

“Huh?”

Did you just say you’re going to leave Mom alone with Bertolt and an unidentified enemy?

‘Absolutely not!’

Dad needs to stay and protect Mom!

“No, Daddy.”

I hurriedly shook my head and grabbed someone’s sleeve.

“I wanna go with Mister.”

Naturally, it was Bertolt’s sleeve.

This way Mom and Dad could stay together, and I could keep Bertolt away from them.

“Hmm?”

Apparently my choice was unexpected.

Bertolt raised one eyebrow and let out a low hum.

I deliberately smiled even more brightly and clung tightly to his sleeve.

“That’s okay, right, Mister?”

“Of course it’s okay with me.”

“Brother.”

“Really, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Mother isn’t in any condition to hold a conversation anyway.”

He stared directly at me and smiled arrogantly.

“I’ve been personally curious about this little lady myself.”

The feeling is mutual, you evil grown-up.

“I’ll take her to the physician. You can stay here a little longer.”

Soon, Bertolt took my hand and spoke in a reassuring voice.

I waved my free hand at Mom and Dad and followed him.

How long had we walked?

By the time we reached the garden outside the empress palace…

“Lately, this imperial palace has started feeling strangely unfamiliar.”

Bertolt, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke.

“I suppose quite a lot has changed in such a short period.”

Was it because night had already fallen?

His blue eyes, submerged in darkness, glimmered strangely beneath the moonlight.

“Could it all be thanks to you?”

I swallowed hard and looked back at him.

Surely it wasn’t just my imagination that it sounded more like ‘all because of you.’

I couldn’t tell whether the chills running down my spine came from the cold night breeze or from him.

He was clearly smiling at me, and yet…

‘I want to run away.’

Was it really the right choice to end up alone with this man?

What if I disappear without a trace?

Feeling a pointless surge of fear, I kept glancing toward where Mom was.

“You seem very interested in your mother.”

Bertolt watched me closely, as though studying me.

In the end, I tore my gaze away from the empress palace and replied sulkily.

“Because she’s my mom.”

It’s okay.

Don’t be intimidated.

Stay strong like a brave kid!

“Come to think of it, I heard you asked Father to build you a laboratory.”

As I sat there strengthening my resolve while looking at Bertolt, he changed the subject.

“What did you make there?”

Why is he asking that?

“…Powder. Sparkly powder.”

“That’s all?”