Chapter 84

It was Ignis, walking toward the prison with Joseph. Karentina propped her chin on the armrest of the sofa and murmured to herself.

“They said they’ve locked up all the knights from the Horton estate.”

She thought back to the day she came back from the west, the day they were ambushed by assassins.

‘…To live a life where you have to kill others in order to survive.’

「 I’m okay. 」

Ignis’s expression, brushing it off like it was nothing, kept replaying in her mind.

“Hah… It’s really bothering me.”

Was it because he looked so much like Stella? Or was it because he was kinder than she thought?

After returning to the northern castle, Karentina immediately sent a thank-you letter to Madam Sharon. She had only casually mentioned her gratitude for the baron family’s generous supply of magic stones and the cushions placed in the carriage, but in the reply she received from Madam Sharon, his name was specifically mentioned.

【 The one who asked for the cushions to be placed in the carriage was His Highness the Crown Prince. It seems he was concerned about you… Oh my, could it be that you didn’t know? 】

Karentina squeezed her eyes shut, feeling as though the walls she had unknowingly built around herself were slowly crumbling.

What would happen if Ignis found out that the reason she created Zion was to stage a rebellion?

She let out a soft, shaky breath. When she subtly asked Gemma, she found out that Ignis was still desperately searching for the woman with black hair.

‘I can’t keep deceiving Ignis forever. If he finds out…’

The thought of Zion and Leah might disappear forever and that she might face his icy, merciless stare as she met her end made her feel dizzy. She couldn’t understand why he was so obsessively searching for her.

‘If only he could just forget about it…’

Karentina sank into the sofa, her shoulders slumping.

The more she lied, the more lies seemed to pile up, and the turmoil inside her refused to calm down.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ୨ৎ ໒꒱ ‧₊ ୧‿︵

The morning of the imperial New Year arrived, ushering in the end of one year and the start of another.

The New Year’s festival was always the coldest day of the year in the northern region, and this year was no different. The rain from the night before had turned into snow, and the temperature plummeted.

Karentina couldn’t help but shake her head in disbelief at the unimaginably brutal northern weather.

The biting wind, sharp as a knife, made it impossible to take even a single step outside the castle without risking frostbite. Still, it was a relief that there were magic stones in this world. Thanks to that mysterious power source, they could manage to survive in such bitterly cold winters. She thought to herself that being the northern princess was no easy job as she bundled herself up tightly in her blanket. Outside the warm blanket, the cold winter was dangerously harsh.

“Karen! Wake up! It’s morning!”

A voice, chirping like a little chick, shook Karentina relentlessly. As she rubbed her sleepy eyes, Stella’s excited, flushed face was right in front of her.

“Come on, come on! Get up!”

She smiled warmly at Stella, who was using her small hands to shake her awake, and slowly got up. When she gave Leah a quick glance, the white rabbit ears twitched happily.

‘It must be a day similar to Christmas for the children of the empire. No wonder she’s so excited.’

Stella had been looking forward to this day for so long. Karentina made up her mind to make this day one to remember for the adorable little girl.

“Stella, did you sleep well?”

“Yeah! Did you sleep well too, Karen?”

“Yes. Thanks to you, I slept soundly.”

Karentina’s eyes softened as she gently stroked the little girl’s golden hair.

“Well then, shall we start getting ready now?”

“Yeah!”

Watching her eyes sparkle like little rubies, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Stella reminded her so much of a little reindeer.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ୨ৎ ໒꒱ ‧₊ ୧‿︵

The servants moved busily through the castle, their faces glowing with warmth and contentment.

Karentina held the child’s hand and walked down to the dining hall. Inside, Ignis was already there, waiting for Stella with a faint smile.

‘Wow! He’s so handsome. He’s literally glowing…’

She found herself staring at Ignis, completely captivated by how handsome he looked in his formal attire.

“Good morning, Stella. And to you as well, Lady Karentina.”

As Ignis’s gaze met hers, Karentina instinctively averted her eyes.

“G-Good morning.

“Your face seems a bit red. Have you caught a cold?”

Karentina quickly lifted her head and brushed her cheek with the back of her hand.

“No. It’s just chapped from the cold.”

Ignis raised a questioning eyebrow, but she hurriedly avoided his gaze and quickly rushed to her seat. Zion pulled out her chair, and she gave him a sweet smile, her eyes crinkling.

“Thank you, Zion.”

Ignis’s expression seemed to tighten for a moment, but he soon took his seat beside Stella.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ୨ৎ ໒꒱ ‧₊ ୧‿︵

With the abundant food supplies from the west, they enjoyed a more extravagant breakfast than usual, and the moment Stella had been waiting for finally came.

“Time to eat the galette!”

The little girl’s cheeks were a bright, rosy pink as she was practically bouncing in her seat, unable to contain her excitement. Her wide, innocent eyes gleamed with anticipation. Normally, Gemma or Ignis would have reminded Stella to mind her manners, but today, no one said a word about etiquette.

While the servants hurriedly cleared the table, Stella nervously asked.

“If I find the kidney bean in the galette, that means I get to be the queen for the day, right?”

As if she wanted confirmation, the child kept glancing back and forth between Ignis and Karentina.

Everyone in the dining room struggled to hold back their laughter at the adorable sight.