Chapter 10

For the first time since coming to Levonto, she was crossing Cress Bridge. To think she was crossing the bridge she couldn’t cross alone while holding someone’s hand. Elena gulped.

Clop-clop.

Elena, who had forgotten her composure and stretched her neck out to look outside, caught sight of the horse stepping onto the bridge.

‘Really…’

So this was possible. It was nothing at all. Her heart raced. Elena gulped.

And when the carriage completely crossed Cress Bridge, Elena regained her composure. Elena, who sat up straight while rubbing her flushed cheeks, sneakily glanced at Hazel.

Fortunately, Hazel seemed to be absorbed in her book. Her chest swelled. A deep sense of liberation made a smile bloom on Elena’s lips. Elena unknowingly tapped her feet.

While adjusting her body so the sleeping Leana wouldn’t be uncomfortable, Elena’s mind seemed to be outside. She felt like a bird that had opened its cage and was flying freely.

She no longer had to wrestle with Cecilia over nonsensical things. She no longer had to be anxious about protecting Leana from Cecilia. That alone made her heart much more at ease.

Hazel glanced over her book at Elena’s face that had bloomed like a flower. Since departure, when the child who had been fidgeting finally stuck her head out the window, Hazel had to barely suppress her laughter.

‘She’s a child with unexpectedly cute sides.’

Elena became more and more appealing to her. For someone like Maxim, who was wounded and hostile to the world, a child as soft and fluffy as Elena would suit him. Didn’t she look full of warmth at first glance?

The carriage picked up more speed.

The train station was getting closer and closer.

For a while, she planned to stay together at Maxim’s mansion under the pretext of helping find a governess position.

With a young man and woman staying in the same house, there was no way nothing would happen. Without even looking, sparks were sure to fly between the two. Some unnecessary rumors might spread in the process, but with herself, an imperial princess, being there and using the excuse of being her guest, it would be somewhat smoothed over.

Hazel hummed with pleasure.

“Leana, wake up. It’s the train station.”

“Mmm?”

Leana, who was blinking her eyes, and Hazel’s eyes met. Hazel smiled brightly. For Elena and Maxim’s relationship to progress, Leana would be a bit of an obstacle. It seemed she would have to throw herself into childcare in Andres after a long time.

Hazel extended her hand to Leana, who was blinking like a cute rabbit.

“Come here?”

“…”

“Won’t you ride the train with me? It’s been so long since I’ve ridden a train that I’m a little scared. I’d like Leana to hold my hand.”

“Are you scared?”

Leana asked with wide eyes. That look was exactly like her sister.

“Of course. I’m so scared. Are you okay, Leana?”

“Yes! Leana is, cough. Leana is brave! I’ll protect you!”

Leana’s small hand slipped into Hazel’s hand. Hazel wrinkled her nose. How could she be so cute? Having only raised a dark-haired son, she had never experienced such joy.

It seemed her life was about to bloom in her later years.

Hazel cheerfully opened her parasol. Hazel, who tilted the parasol toward Leana, asked.

“There’s a delicious smell. What kind of candy does Leana like?”

“C-candy? W-wow…”

Leana gulped. Even her glancing at her sister was cute. When Elena nodded slightly as if she couldn’t help it, Leana shook Hazel’s hand.

“This one… and this one…”

Watching her stand on tiptoes to look at the stall and point at candies with her small finger, Hazel smiled softly. It was unbelievable that such a daughter had grown up under Cecilia Joseph.

‘Her sister must have raised her by working her bones off.’

Thinking that made her heart ache. She really wasn’t like children these days. Hazel sighed slightly and handed money to the stall owner.

“Give me all the different flavors.”

“W-wow!!”

Leana bounced up and down. Her cute cheeks turned pink.

“Grandma, you’re the best!”

“G-grandma…”

At the word she was hearing for the first time, Hazel gulped. Her head felt dizzy, but it also seemed good.

Hazel smiled weakly. Marriage was secondary—compared to her son who was blunt and only knew how to swing swords, she was like cotton candy.

“Leana, you should say thank you.”

At Elena’s stern words, Leana bowed her head.

“Thank you, grandma!”

“You should call her ‘my lady.'”

Elena sighed and tidied Leana’s clothes again. Then she picked out the candy the child liked most and popped it into her mouth. She used to buy them one at a time occasionally because she had no money, but now she had an armful—how happy she must be. She understood that feeling, but she was still cautious.

Elena and Leana were now entrusting everything to Hazel. A small mistake could overturn everything. Elena watched Hazel’s reaction. Because of the parasol’s shadow, her expression wasn’t clearly visible.

“It’s fine, Elena. I like grandma. Leana, you said grandma was the best, right?”

“Yes!!”

Fortunately, Hazel’s face revealed under the parasol tilted back had a bright smile. Elena secretly patted her chest in relief.

“I’ll show you how great this grandma is! Have you ever ridden a train?”

Leana shook her head vigorously. Hazel smiled leisurely.

“Shall I let you ride that train?”

“R-really?”

“Of course. I’ll let you ride in the biggest seat.”

“Wooooah!”

Leana got even more excited and stamped her feet. She spun around and, unable to contain her joy, hugged Hazel’s legs tightly. She was honest about her emotions and mature enough to be touching on one hand, but sometimes childish like this.

Elena swallowed her tears.

Seeing Leana laughing like that made her realize it once again. How long had it been since she had seen Leana, who used to watch adults’ reactions daily because Cecilia hated the sound of coughing, laugh out loud like that?

Elena gripped the bag handle.

Hazel firmly held Leana’s hand and led the way.

Elena followed behind.

“Would you like to try it yourself?”

“Huh?”

“I asked if you’d like to buy train tickets yourself. This grandma will help you.”

“Can Leana do it?”

“Of course!”

Hazel lifted Leana up. Leana held out the money in her hand. Hazel whispered in Leana’s ear.

“Ask for three train tickets to Andres.”

“Three train tickets to Andres!”

Leana shouted like a parrot.

“Well done.”

Hazel smiled softly. The conductor exchanged the money for train tickets, and Leana smiled as if she owned the world while holding them to her chest.

The train was coming in.

“Who is that? Isn’t that Countess Hazel?”

“Oh my, you’re right. She must be going to Andres. Is there something happening at the palace?”

“Who knows? But who are that child and young lady next to her?”

“I’ve never seen their faces before…”

Those who recognized Hazel, a celebrity in Levonto’s social circles, whispered among themselves. But this too was drowned out by the train whistle.

Elena blinked as she watched the huge mass of metal rolling in. She was leaving. Leaving Cecilia behind. Elena was about to turn back but stopped. And she boarded the train just like that.

Trying to shake off her lingering attachment.

---

After hesitating, Cecilia knocked on the door of the Presto Count’s house. The head butler came out to greet Cecilia but didn’t open the door for her.

“What business do you have?”

At the head butler’s rude attitude of making a guest stand in front of the entrance, Cecilia’s eyes sharpened. But Cecilia didn’t forget where this place was.

“…I have something urgent to ask the Countess. Could you tell the Countess that Cecilia of Joseph has come?”

The head butler cleared his throat. Countess Presto had earnestly instructed him before leaving. Even if a woman named Cecilia came looking, absolutely don’t let her in, and don’t breathe a word about the guests who had stayed briefly.

The head butler said tactfully.

“Unfortunately, that won’t be possible today. The Countess is lying down with a severe fever.”

“Oh my, goodness.”

Cecilia covered her mouth with her hand. Though she was putting on an act, inside she was furiously working her brain. The Countess who had been fine suddenly had a fever. That already smelled suspicious.

Cecilia took a step back.

“Then I’ll come another time. I hope the lady of the house recovers quickly.”

“I’ll convey that message. Thank you.”

Cecilia glanced toward the stables. The family carriage was still there. Cecilia bit her lips repeatedly. Could she have been on the wrong track? Or were they deliberately hiding something?

She couldn’t tell yet.

But if the Countess wouldn’t speak, she had no choice but to go find them herself. Cecilia hurried her steps to find a hired carriage to Andres.