Chapter 38

"Can't it be...? I'm sorry for making such a decision on my own..."

"Hmm, Riri."

Rudia fell into thought. Fjord Barat dies at fifteen.

Barat's greatest masterpiece.

She knew almost nothing about him. She only remembered his expression being terribly dark when they met once at the duchy.

'Besides, he had a reputation as a playboy.'

He was said to hang out with low-quality people, enjoying hunting and gambling instead of studying.

That's why he became a headache for Duke Barat.

'And only after he died did Rizelt appear.'

Was Rizelt an illegitimate child? People speculated as much.

Since Fjord was dead, they had no choice but to legitimize and reveal the illegitimate daughter they had been raising.

They said she had been educated at a rural convent, but she didn't look like it at all.

She could be called Barat's ruined masterpiece. Her cruel nature was twisted in every way.

'So he dies.'

Rudia thought this calmly and looked at her daughter. Her daughter's anxious eyes met hers.

"Riri, do you really need to get so close to Fjord?"

"Hmm..."

Ririka hesitated and turned her gaze away. Rudia said,

"Come here and tell me quietly, just to Mom."

At this, Ririka got up from her seat and hesitantly approached. Her mother's face, which she had checked many times, showed no anger, but she still felt tense.

"That's..."

"That's?"

Leaning in, Ririka covered her mouth with her hand and whispered,

"Because he's... very beautiful..."

"!!"

Rudia's eyes widened in surprise as she turned to look at her daughter. Ririka's cheeks were flushed.

"You think so?"

Without realizing it, Rudia burst out laughing. Ririka, unsure of what to do, clasped her hands tightly.

Beautiful.

It wasn't just that, but she couldn't help but say it, including everything.

His silver hair with rainbow highlights, his elegant curtsey, his unstable crimson eyes, the way he matched her pace and called her the Nightingale Princess...

It was all included in 'beautiful.'

"Hmm, what should we do then."

Rudia chuckled. Liking beautiful things is a human trait. In fact, it wasn't strategically bad for Ririka to get along well with Fjord. If she were in her old self's shoes, she would have taken full advantage of him. But that was then, and this is now. After pondering, Rudia said,

"It's fine for now, but if Fjord has problems later... I'll tell you not to see him then."

Ririka nodded.

"Then I won't see him?"

"Yes, I won't."

"Okay, then it's a promise."

Holding her mother's outstretched hand, they shook it three times.

"Then it's fine to see him. Oh, and by the way."

Her mother whispered in Ririka's ear.

"If you find out if Fjord has any other siblings, let me know."

"Yes."

Though puzzled, Ririka nodded vigorously. If her mother allowed it, that would be fine.

Rudia smiled and said to Ririka in a small voice,

"Uba will be back next week."

"Really?!"

"Yes, let's look forward to what he brings."

Ririka's heart leaped at her mother's words.

'So he's back safely. That's a relief.'

"Then the sherbet will melt. Let's finish it quickly."

"Yes!"

Ririka hurried back to her seat and diligently moved her silver spoon. Her mood improved as much as the tangy, cold lemon sherbet.

Listening to her mother's story, Ririka marveled. Then she said,

"I want to help Mother soon."

"Riri is already helping a lot, you know?"

"No, a bit more... Hmm... I want to host salons like Mother and meet people."

"You have to be at least ten for that."

Ririka sighed softly.

"Yes."

She wanted to grow up quickly. Rudia watched Ririka for a moment and then said,

"Is there anything you want? Should we get more clothes? How about a shoulder cape this time?"

"No, that's fine."

Ririka shook her head. Rudia said,

"Don't be like that. Ririka must want something too. I've always made things that look good to me. Wasn't there anything you liked?"

Ririka hesitated at Rudia's words. She wondered if she should say it, but her mother said again,

"Anything is fine, just tell me."

Ririka looked at the empty glass and mustered her courage.

"Well, I actually want to wear a crinoline dress."

"What?"

Rudia couldn't help but repeat the unexpected words. She tried to picture a crinoline in her mind.

'That old-fashioned dress? A completely outdated dress? My daughter? No way!'

She almost blurted out a comment about her aesthetic, but managed to hold it back.

For heaven's sake.

"Isn't the dress I'm wearing now much prettier? Right?"

"Um... yes..."

Ririka nodded and looked down at the glass. Rudia became anxious.

If Ririka had screamed, "No, I want to wear a crinoline!" and thrown a tantrum—other children did that, she heard—it would be one thing, but this made her feel uneasy.

Rudia cleared her throat and asked,

"Crinoline is uncomfortable, so what do you like about it?"

"..."

"It's okay, I'm just asking. I'm really curious."

Not trying to criticize, she said, and Ririka spoke softly,

"Because it looks like the princess's dress in the play poster..."

"Oh."

Rudia let out a small exclamation and clenched her fist.

She didn't want to put her daughter in a crinoline. What would the remaining noblewomen think? They might even see it as a surrender to the empress.

What's so important about a dress that a child likes?

The dress she's wearing now is much prettier.

Ririka will want to wear the latest fashion when she's a bit older, so she doesn't need to wear such a dress now—

"It's fine, I really like the dress I'm wearing now. Mother."

When the silence stretched, Ririka quickly lifted her head and said earnestly,

"I'm sorry. I keep insisting. I like the bustle dress more, so..."

Worried that her mother might be upset because she popularized the bustle dress, Ririka shook her head.

Seeing this, Rudia couldn't argue anymore. Tightening her lips, she said,

"So you want a dress that flares out?"

"Huh? No, I like the bustle dress."

"No, I understand. I'll order it. Let's get it made today."

"Huh? But..."

"It's fine. It won't be a crinoline dress. That's too heavy and hard to move in. But I'll try my best to make something Ririka likes."

Rudia signaled to the chamberlain to summon the designer.

"Don't worry, I'll make a dress that Riri will like. Leave the design to me."

"Yes."

Ririka nodded. Her expectations rose at her confident mother's words. Though she said it was fine, the thought of wearing a flared dress made her happy.

Rudia watched her daughter's face light up with happiness.

'It's healing.'

The stress from Altears' recent nonsense about love melted away like ice on a summer day.

'That dragon, no, that person is really something.'

Where did he hear such strange things?

'Writing strange poems, bringing bouquets, giving a jewelry box he picked out himself.'

She chuckled. The strange thing was that his voice was really good when he recited poems, the bouquets were tasteful, and the jewelry box contained only a few of the best pieces.

So, his actions were funny, but they seemed genuine. The maids around her squealed, and the noblewomen she drank tea with sighed enviously and looked at her.

'Really.'

A headache.

Rudia sighed with a smile and looked at Ririka. Ririka, sensing something, asked,

"Is something wrong?"

"Hmm, no. Nothing."

She couldn't tell Ririka about this. Rudia shook her head and asked,

"So, is there anything else you want to add to the dress?"

* * *

Walking down the corridor, Ririka sighed to Bryn.

"It's really fine..."

It was more like, 'It's good, but is it okay to do this?' Bryn laughed.

"Still, Her Majesty the Empress wants to prioritize the Princess's wishes."

Ririka's face turned red.

"Does she?"

"Yes, of course. How much Her Majesty cherishes the Princess."

"Hehe."

Blushing, Ririka pressed her chest. The joy of getting a pretty dress was great, but the joy of knowing her mother cared for her was even greater.

A fluffy, warm feeling.

It felt like the lemon sherbet she had just eaten. A happy yellow.

Then she saw Pai walking down the corridor.

"Pai!"

"Princess."

Pai quickly approached and greeted her, then asked,

"Are you on your way back to the White Dragon Hall? If you have time, please stop by the Black Dragon Hall, Princess."

"Come to think of it, Bran said to come for ice cream. I also need to talk to His Highness."

Pai quickly caught on to the change in title and blinked. Bryn tilted