“My woman, be critical. If you find yourself critical, your presence is often felt!”

Sarah, apprehensive about me, stated as she helped me costume.

Stepping out of the carriage, I did as she stated and slowly scanned the imperial gardens, which regarded at the very least 4 instances as massive as my home.

I can’t do that. I felt like I used to be going to die.

“Are you indignant?”

Liel, who had adopted me, requested, blinking.

“No, Sarah stated my presence is felt when I’m critical. What do you suppose, do I look somewhat stern?”

“……Sure.”

His reply was somewhat late, however at the very least it was an affirmation, so I made a decision to take Liel’s phrase for it.

The 2 of us adopted the servant by way of the gardens and throughout the hallways of the palace, and shortly discovered ourselves in entrance of the viewers room.

“Go in. I’ve not but been knighted, so it’s not possible for me to accompany you as an escort.”

Liel stopped in his tracks and glanced on the knight standing in entrance of him.

“That’s why I’m coming alone…….”

There was a small scuffle earlier than they left, when Liel refused to not comply with her.

However for as soon as, Liel was cussed and unyielding.

He had heard from the Duke of Marsen that the variety of demons getting into the Empire was rising.

Maybe that’s the reason Liel is so cautious.

“I’ve an acquaintance within the Imperial Knights, so I’m going to go and practice, come again once I’m executed.”

With that, Liel straightened my tie, which I had left free out of frustration.

I had forgotten about it, and if it weren’t for Liel, I might have been a raveled mess and would have been seen by the Empress.

The Marquises of Seywint have at all times been impartial between the imperial household and the the Aristocracy.

They valued proper and improper greater than private achieve.

It had usually precipitated friction with the earlier Empress, however the present Empress was match for them, and so they had grown fairly near my grandmother’s technology.

Maybe the rationale he known as me right here at this time is to speak about my grandmother.

⁂

As quickly as I entered the palace, I used to be ushered right into a small drawing room connected to the palace.

An extended eating desk was set with a luxurious feast that made me surprise if I had made a mistake within the room I entered.

It was as if my tastes had been studied beforehand, since each single merchandise was my favourite.

As I gazed in surprise in any respect the meals, the present Empress, Her Majesty Lexion Rotania, who had adopted me into the room, spoke up.

“Marquis Seywint, don’t you just like the meals?”

I, who had been seated and ready for her, jumped to my toes and clapped my palms.

“What? No, Your Majesty. These are all my favourite meals.”

“Oh, nicely, I’m glad to listen to that. I’m right here to serve you, so don’t be so formal.”

As she spoke, the Empress smiled, a smile extra lovely than some other within the room.

I couldn’t assist however be mesmerized by it, although I had by no means seen her earlier than.

On the similar time, I spotted that my world had been too small till now.

So far as I knew, the best particular person was my grandmother, and essentially the most lovely particular person was Liel.

However I made a decision to not change my requirements so simply. I used to be too proud to confess it.

Anyway, it’s not well mannered to show down a proposal of meals, so after a short change of greetings, I tasted the rigorously laid out dishes.

All of them tasted nearly as good as they regarded, and my reward was unequivocal. After I talked about this to the Empress, she was all smiles.

“I’m glad to listen to it, good factor I had listened to Anise, who brags about her granddaughter at any time when we meet.”

Apparently her grandmother and the Empress bought alongside fairly nicely.

The Empress had already completed her meal and was me with a set jaw. She stopped transferring her plate, questioning if I ought to cease consuming too.

“Oh, by no means thoughts me, eat extra. I didn’t name you right here to make you uncomfortable.”

Then what the hell did you name me for…….

I used to be nonetheless a great distance from being my grandmother, and I wasn’t daring sufficient to maintain my composure whereas speaking to somebody this excessive up.

So I turned increasingly more involved with my facial expressions.

“I can’t assist it for those who’re already uncomfortable…….”

Her Majesty muttered one thing, however I couldn’t make it out as a result of distance.

After one other chew or two, I put down my fork and knife.

“Have you ever completed consuming already?”

“Sure, thanks for the hospitality.”

I clasped my palms collectively and slid them down the desk. Her Majesty nonetheless had a smile on her face.

The gorgeous upturned corners of her mouth gave the phantasm of a halo shining behind her.

I blinked brokenly and tried to regain my composure.

Simply then, the butler subsequent to me introduced tea. Because the aroma of the tea tickled the tip of my nostril, Her Majesty spoke once more.

“I’m sorry to listen to about Marquis Anise. I might have attended the funeral, however I feared that my presence may need been misunderstood. Forgive me if I pay my respects with solely my coronary heart.”

I nodded in silence on the Empress’s phrases.

As she stated, I didn’t need my grandmother’s funeral to be politicized, so I made a decision that her coronary heart was sufficient.

“Really, I owe Anise rather a lot personally.”

Her Majesty’s crimson lips touched her teacup.

“My daughter may be very keen on her, and he or she usually performs together with her as an alternative of me.”

True to her phrase, my grandmother had usually traveled out and in of the palace to look after the princess earlier than I entered the Academy.

She was at all times fond of youngsters, so she will need to have loved these instances.

On the time, I used to be finding out for my entrance exams, so I didn’t hear a lot about her, however from what I heard, she was a really cute and loving particular person…….

“……I known as you right here as a result of I needed to ask you a favor.”

“A favor?”

As I vaguely imagined that I, too, would someday meet the princess, I noticed the priority on her face.

I used to be shocked that she would ask me for a favor after assembly me for the primary time at this time, however I used to be somewhat apprehensive about what might probably be inflicting her to look so bitter.

“It’s not—”

“Princess, Her Majesty is at the moment chatting with a visitor……!”

Simply as he was about to get all the way down to enterprise, a small commotion erupted on the entrance to the drawing room.

I naturally turned my head to take a look at the door.

There, I noticed a younger woman, properly dressed, and a bunch of maids scrambling to maintain her out.

One of many maids, who appeared to have the very best rank, regarded up shortly and commenced to excuse herself.

“……I apologize, Your Majesty. I shouldn’t have introduced the Marquis’ entrance to the palace…….”

The maid’s excuse didn’t sound correct.

My consideration had already been drawn to the small blonde little one standing beneath with a pouty expression.

“…….”

A baby who regarded precisely just like the Empress herself was me with inexperienced eyes that jogged my memory of a blade of recent grass.

It was the Princess.

‘Her cheeks are so cute……. I need to poke her cheeks…….’

Apparently, I like youngsters as a lot as my grandmother. The primary time I noticed her, she regarded so cute.

She stated she was 4 years outdated once I entered the academy, so she should be about 5 now.

“Chloe!”

What a shock……!

As I used to be calculating the Princess’ age in my head, I heard a stern voice beside me that sounded unbelievably like Her Majesty, who had simply been so form to me.

I regarded on the Empress and Princess Chloe in astonishment.

“Is that what your etiquette instructor taught you?”

Her Majesty’s face was extra of just like the Empress’s than a guardian’s as she reprimanded her little one with a stern expression.

I instantly felt like I needs to be well mannered, too. Shocked, the Princess pursed her lips as if to protest, however then shut them.

“Return to your room.”

“That’s …………. I’m sorry…….”

Quickly, Princess Chloe sobbed and admitted her fault. The pitiful look on her face broke my coronary heart.

However heartbreak is heartbreak, and training is training.

So I stood nonetheless and watched as Her Majesty spoke, after which the Princess glared at me.

To be sincere, I discovered it extra amusing than horrifying, as a result of she was cute as a kitten.

Maybe the princess was impressed that I didn’t react when she was evident at me.

Quickly, the maid took the princess’ hand and led her away.

“Phew……. I’m sorry, Chloe remains to be younger and generally acts impulsively like that.”

Her Majesty the Empress, her forehead furrowed in misery, apologized politely, and I unexpectedly assured her that it was no downside.

“No, she will need to have actually appreciated my grandmother, if she’s heard the announcement and are available to see me out of curiosity.”

I flashed her a vibrant smile in an try to lighten the temper, however all I bought in return was a bitter look.

“Really, I’ve a favor to ask of you, and it includes Chloe.”

“You imply the princess……?”

“Sure. Ever since Anise died, Chloe has been visibly depressed.”

In contrast to when she was berating the princess, the Empress’s face modified to that of a guardian with a baby.

“I apologize for asking this of you at such a busy time of 12 months, however I ponder for those who might cease by the palace and play with Chloe, simply as Marquis Anise did.”

“……me?”

“I’m asking as a result of I consider she’ll comply with you in addition to she did with Marquis Anise, since she got here to see you although she knew she’ll be scolded by me.”

And also you’re Anise’s granddaughter.

“As you’ve seen, Chloe offers me a more durable time than anybody else.”

“…….”

“I’ve at all times needed to be strict with Chloe, so it’s not straightforward for me…… to play together with her, and at this charge, I’m afraid she’ll by no means name me mom.”

Princess Chloe was to be the subsequent Empress.

She was nonetheless too younger to turn out to be the crown princess, nevertheless it was clear from her angle that she had already made up her thoughts to move the torch to Princess Chloe.

So she should be much more strict together with her.

“After all, I’m not asking you to do that, however I promise you that someday, I’ll grant you something you would like for.”

My eyes widened on the stakes.

“So long as it’s not a favor that includes the glory of the nation.”

I chuckled bitterly at her joking tone.

I don’t have the capability to ask for a favor like that……