Chapter 96

“Your Highness, His Highness is currently occupied with urgent matters.”

“I know that. But surely he has time for a cup of tea with his little sister. The book says working too much makes your brain go stiff. It also says you need breaks every now and then.”

The child pointed earnestly at the picture book she’d been reading.

Gemma, watching Stella speak so firmly and sensibly, couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

“Understood. As Your Highness says, this is indeed a time for rest. I’ll have tea prepared in His Highness’s chambers.”

“Yes please.”

While Gemma pulled the bell cord and gave instructions to the maid, Stella hopped down from her seat and skipped over to Karentina, taking her hand in hers without hesitation.

Karentina looked at her in surprise.

“Stella?”

“Come with me. Let’s go see my brother together.”

“Pardon? Me too?”

Her eyes widened like a startled rabbit’s.

“When we go back to the palace, my brother will be even busier than he is now… Then I’ll be all alone again. So come with me, please?”

Faced with the child’s pleading, sparkling eyes, her resolve softened once more. No matter how much time she spent with Ignis, it never seemed enough for Stella.

With only a little time left together, she wanted to grant the child as many wishes as she could. She nodded slowly.

“Alright.”

And with Stella looking up at her with such joy it was almost moving, the two made their way to Ignis’s chambers.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ୨ৎ ໒꒱ ‧₊ ୧‿︵

Just like Stella, Ignis didn’t show it outwardly, but the discomfort gnawed at the edges of his nerves. He couldn’t afford to handle the matter of returning to the capital carelessly, and there was still no progress in the search for the black-haired woman.

But above all else, what troubled him most was the fact that he hadn’t properly seen Karentina’s face in days.

He even wondered if he might be ill and had the palace physician examine him several times through the knights, but there was nothing wrong with his health.

“Your Highness, these are the documents you requested yesterday.”

Leaving behind Ceria, who was silently protesting with a face full of complaints, he turned his eyes back to the documents.

And then—

Knock knock.

At a soft rapping at the door, Ceria moved to open it.

“Brother!”

Stella ran in with a beaming smile and rushed straight toward him. Ignis, who had been seated on the sofa reading documents, quickly set them aside and swept her into his arms.

“Stella?”

He let out a quiet sigh, a faint furrow forming between his brows.

Even for Ignis, who was generally lenient with his younger sister, there were certain unspoken rules that weren’t to be broken. One of the most important rules was never to disturb him while he was working. If they were at the Imperial Palace, there would be no shortage of people twisting the story to tarnish Stella’s image with malicious gossip.

Although Stella was still young, this was one of those moments that called for a firm lesson.

“Your Highness, you must be terribly busy?”

In that moment, the sight of Karentina standing at the door melted away all the anger Ignis had felt, like snow beneath the sun. He forgot about the tightness in his chest and the suffocating pressure. It wasn’t the tearful girl he remembered, but Karentina, wearing the gentle smile he’d so longed for.

“My lady, you… no, what brings you here?”

‘Damn it.’

He was so flustered, so the words came out more harshly than intended. Ignis swallowed nervously, trying to compose himself as he waited for her reply.

“I thought it might be nice to share a bit of tea together. Once we return to the palace, it’ll be harder to see you.”

“If that’s the case, I should’ve made time in advance. That was careless of me.”

He hadn’t wanted to show her the mess he’d become, buried beneath stacks of documents. But despite his true feelings, cold words slipped from his mouth.

“….”

When Karentina remained silent, Ignis grew uneasy and rushed to speak again.

“No, what I meant was—”

But Stella shook her head firmly and cut him off.

“No, it wasn’t Karen’s idea. It was mine. I just really wanted to see you. I’m sorry. So don’t be upset with Karen, okay?”

He felt an overwhelming urge to bang his head against the nearest wall. At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel proud of his sister for bringing Karentina along.

He affectionately patted her on the head.

“If you tell me in advance, I’ll always make time for tea, no matter how busy I am. And you know you’ll need to be more careful once we’re back at the palace, don’t you?”

His voice carried a quiet, gentle weight, and Stella nodded obediently in response.

“I know. I’ll be careful, Brother.”

With a faint smile, Ignis lifted her down gently from his lap.

“My apologies for raising my voice.”

“No, I’m the one who should apologize for disturbing you when you’re so busy.”

“Not at all. I’m not busy in the slightest. In fact, we were just about to have tea.”

Ignis spoke in a tone so stiff it sounded almost mechanical, prompting Ceria to contort her face in horror, as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Karentina felt a pang of sympathy at the sight of Ignis’s weary, worn expression. It had been some time since they’d last seen each other.

‘He really must have been swamped.’

And when she noticed Ceria beside him, looking as though she were on the brink of collapse, Karentina was quietly horrified.

‘…Is the male lead trying to work the female lead to death?’

She was at a loss for words at the sight of Ceria, whose dark circles stretched all the way down to her neck. At this rate, forget romance, Ceria looked like she was destined for an early grave.

“Your brain works better with something sweet. A short break might help you work even more efficiently.”

“All right.”

Despite the fact that his expression showed clear reluctance, yet strangely enough, he listened to Karentina’s suggestion without protest.

“Yay! You’re the best, Brother!”

Stella threw her hands up in triumph and stomped her feet with glee, while Ceria let out a long sigh, savoring the brief reprieve.