After the engagement ceremony, prayers had to be offered at Hanos’s altar in the royal palace.

Thus, Reidox’s family could not go directly to Yukanadar but had to head to Recador instead.

Curious about how Lucy felt toward Seo Yeon, I boarded the carriage with Lucy on our way back.

Lucy sat remarkably calmly even as the carriage rattled along.

I subtly brought up Seo Yeon to start a conversation.

“Lucy. Weren’t you surprised that Lady Seo Yeon and I have the same eye color?”

“Oh. Duchess. Yes. Honestly, I was a little startled at first. But then I heard the nanny is from the same hometown as you, so it made sense.”

“I see. You must have been quite surprised at first, seeing someone with black eyes.”

“Yes. I’d seen brown eyes before, but never black ones.”

“Perhaps because she’s from the same hometown, I feel very close to Lady Seo Yeon. Lucy, may I ask what kind of person she seemed to you?”

Lucy made a thoughtful expression for a moment, then glanced at me cautiously before speaking.

“Can I speak honestly?”

“Of course. I’d be truly grateful if you did.”

Lucy whispered to me as if revealing a very important secret.

“Actually… Father seems about to marry the nanny soon.”

Goodness. She’s so perceptive. Should I pretend I didn’t know? Or should I say I already knew? After a brief hesitation, I replied,

“Lucy, do you dislike it if the Marquis gets married?”

“Honestly… I’m not sure. I’ve just… never even thought about it before. Luid likes the nanny and often says he wishes she’d become our mother. Whenever he said that, I’d imagine her becoming our mother… but I still don’t know. After all, the nanny isn’t my real mother.”

Though Lucy was speaking about Seo Yeon, somehow I felt those words were also meant for me, and my heart tingled slightly.

“Just as you said, Lucy, Lady Seo Yeon can never become the mother who gave birth to you—just like me.”

Lucy looked at me with feigned surprise, as if to say she hadn’t meant it that way.

“I—I’m sorry, Duchess. I think I spoke without thinking properly in front of you.”

“No, honesty isn’t bad. And I know you weren’t really referring to me.”

“Thank you for understanding my feelings, Duchess.”

“But Lucy, there’s one thing I must tell you.”

Lucy’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, wondering what I would say.

“As you know, I’m Kian’s adoptive mother. Although I didn’t give birth to him, from the time I adopted the king until he turned ten, we slept together and spent every day side by side. I wanted him to grow up without any sense of lack, but I also pride myself on loving him no less than his birth parents would. I believe Lady Seo Yeon feels the same way.”

As I spoke, my emotions rose slightly. Even though I had parents, it often felt as if I didn’t. So I believe I understand better than anyone the hearts of those who’ve lost their parents.

I took Lucy’s still-confused hand and said,

“Lucy, even without sharing blood, people can become true family—if they cherish and love each other. Lucy, now that you’re engaged to the king, you’re part of my family. I hope you’ll always feel comfortable with me.”

“Duchess…”

“In that spirit, shall we hold hands?”

Lucy smiled and took my hand.

“But don’t you think we’re getting along too well for mother-in-law and daughter-in-law?”

Lucy beamed with a bright, sunny smile.

“It’s because you’re such a kind and gracious lady, Duchess. I still treasure the shawl you gave me.”

Strictly speaking, it was the first gift I received from my mother-in-law. I felt I should give her something even better.

I must formally give a gift to such a lovely, beautiful daughter-in-law—especially since she’s the protagonist of this world. I’ll have to think carefully about what to choose.

But no matter how casually I act, I’ll always be her mother-in-law—even if I’m technically the queen mother.

“Lucy, someday you’ll enter the palace too. You may or may not realize this, but palace life can be lonelier than you expect.”

Lucy bit her lip slightly, as if steeling herself.

“It’s the fate of a queen, I suppose.”

She was already thinking this way. Lucy was admirable, but I wanted to gently advocate for Seo Yeon.

“Wouldn’t having your birth mother nearby be a great comfort then?”

Lucy suddenly lifted her head and looked at me.

“Honestly… I do like the nanny.”

So she likes Seo Yeon. Good. Of course, Seo Yeon is exceptionally devoted to children.

Since I love this novel and ended up caring for both protagonists, how wonderfully things will turn out.

How happy Seo Yeon will be when she learns Lucy likes her. Just imagining her joy made my own heart flutter.

“You like Lady Seo Yeon, but you’ve never thought of her as a mother, right?”

“Yes. I’ve never even imagined Father meeting someone else…”

Of course—at an age when she’s still wholly receiving parental love, no child would consider their parent remarrying.

“The Marquis will respect and wait for Lucy’s decision. No matter how long it takes, he’ll follow your wishes. So please don’t feel pressured.”

“Will he really wait for me?”

“Absolutely. Absolutely. Lady Seo Yeon also knows that to the Marquis, Lucy and Luid are the most precious people in the world.”

Perhaps reassured by hearing she was most precious, Lucy’s previously troubled expression visibly softened.

“Thank you, Duchess.”

“By the way, I had no idea Lucy had matured this much? You’re practically a full-fledged lady now.”

Lucy smiled shyly and lowered her head.

“I’m truly grateful for your overly generous praise, Duchess.”

She’s so lovely.

Even I think she’s this beautiful—how much more beautiful must Lucy appear in Seo Yeon’s eyes, who adores Reidox?

No matter how quickly we traveled, by the time we arrived at the royal palace, the sun had already dipped below the horizon.

No matter how late the hour, Kian and Lucy still had to go to the altar to offer prayers.

Normally, no one would visit the altar at such a late hour, but we had no choice since we’d just returned from the snowy mountains.

Worried about Kian in the late night, Sikar sent Vika and Durion along, but Kian summoned fire spirits to reassure us.

“Now you can rest easy, Mother. Father.”

Lucy gazed in awe at the fire spirits beautifully illuminating the night path, then, when her eyes met Kian’s, she assumed a haughty, indifferent expression.

Perhaps Lucy won’t ever feel lonely, even after entering the palace.

Upon receiving the report that the ruined palace’s reconstruction had finished today, Sikar rushed off—apparently urgent—to meet Gillian.

Still, with Vika and Durion beside me, I didn’t have to eat dinner alone.

“Lord Durion. Do you happen to know what’s going on between Gillian and the Duke?”

Durion, who had been hastily shoveling food, gulped down a piece of meat at my sudden question and replied,

“Well… I’m not sure?”

His expression suggested he genuinely had no clue. So I turned to Vika—but before I could even meet her eyes, Vika spoke without looking at me.

“My Lady, asking me is useless. Even if I knew, I couldn’t tell you. If I did, the Duke wouldn’t let me off easily.”

“Is it really that serious, something you can’t even tell me?”

Vika looked at me with a “oops” expression, then scratched her chin awkwardly.

“Well, it might be. Knowing the Duke’s personality, he wouldn’t tolerate anyone discussing his affairs without his permission. And honestly, I don’t even know what’s going on. Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”

Since no one seemed to know, I thought it might be nothing—but then again, the fact that Sikar went straight to meet Gillian at this hour, right after hearing the ruined palace was finished, made me suspect it might be something important. Throughout dinner, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

What on earth is going on? I must ask him the moment he returns today.

Sikar took Gillian out of prison and brought him before the ruined palace.

The ruined palace had once been the secondary palace used by the deposed king whom Gillian and Sikar had overthrown—and also the very palace where they had jointly captured that king.

Once charred black by flames, the ruined palace now shone as if restored to its original glory.

Gillian stood gazing at the palace with nostalgic eyes.

“How pleasant to revisit the very place where our coup unfolded.”

“Feel free to enjoy it. It might become your grave.”

“No matter how much you sneer, I intend to eat well and live well here.”

“That’s wise. I won’t let you take a single step beyond this place. From now on, this will be your prison.”

Gillian didn’t care. He had already realized he could never regain power—and if so, he might as well eat and live well.

“I endured eating rotten grass in wastelands to escape the deposed king. For me, such luxurious living is exactly what I’ve always longed for.”

“Then speak now. What is the condition under which the black-eyed people disappear? What have you discovered? It’s time to tell me.”

Gillian began walking step by step toward the palace interior, smirking faintly.

“The black-eyed people… weren’t they a bit strange?”

Sikar followed Gillian toward the palace, moving his feet as well.

“Strange how?”

“Didn’t they speak as if they could see through this entire world?”

“In what way?”

Gillian didn’t answer immediately. He walked silently down the corridor to the inner hall, glancing around.

“The wall decorations are lovely. Even for a ruined palace, I can see considerable care was taken. I like it.”

“Stop digressing and continue what you were saying.”

But Gillian kept rambling on.

“I always wanted corridors like this. Humans naturally love such splendor. The lanterns and chandeliers on the walls are exactly what I wanted. For a secondary palace, this place is quite large.”

“Gillian.”

Sikar’s voice hardened—it was a clear signal to stop digressing and speak plainly.

Gillian continued scanning the palace interior with an amused look.

“A splendid palace and servants. Everything is arranged exactly as I desired.”

“Yes. I prepared everything you wanted. So speak now—what is the condition under which the black-eyed humans disappear?”

“This. Exactly this. What I wanted.”

“I told you to stop spouting nonsense.”

Gillian chuckled gleefully, then suddenly wiped the smile off his face and stared at Sikar.

“The moment what I truly desired was fulfilled—I am savoring this moment completely. But they… they disappear when such a moment arrives.”

Sikar didn’t grasp Gillian’s meaning immediately and asked again.

“What?”

“When they truly desire something—and achieve their goal—at that very moment, they vanish.”