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"Are you feeling unwell, perhaps? You don't look well."
"I'm fine—"
"She's had a cold since last night. She also has a fever."
As Her Majesty the Empress tried to deny it, the maid who was guarding her from behind suddenly interjected.
'I heard that this person is the Empress's closest aide, having followed her from the kingdom, right?'
Her attitude was as if she was telling on the Empress, hoping I would persuade her.
Then, Her Majesty the Empress could no longer deny it and shut her mouth tightly.
I suppressed a laugh at their relationship and persuaded Her Majesty the Empress.
"It would be best if Your Majesty returned to the Imperial Palace first. I'll explain everything to the people."
"I know Ludian worked hard to practice his riding skills to show me today. But if I go back without seeing it..."
"Of course, he'll be disappointed. But if Your Majesty is sick, he'll be sad beyond comparison to that disappointment."
And more than anything...
'Judging coldly, if something happens, it will be more difficult to cope with patients.'
It was right to send her back first for both Her Majesty the Empress and Ludian.
"Today isn't the only day. There's the time after Your Majesty recovers, and if it doesn't work out, there's next year too."
Then, suddenly, Her Majesty the Empress burst into laughter.
"Lady Leticia, you have a talent for soothing not only children but also adults."
Then, she nodded as if defeated.
"Then... I'll leave Ludian in your care."
"Don't worry."
Shortly after, Her Majesty the Empress left.
I could see women and children who had finished their preparations gathering at the assembly point.
"Okay, Leo, we should go too... Huh?"
I was about to lead Leo to the assembly point.
Strangely, Leo didn't budge.
Even when I gently stroked his back to soothe him, he remained motionless.
"Leo, we have to go. Okay?"
I was flustered and tried to coax him while holding the reins, but Leo just stared blankly into the forest where there was nothing.
I looked back at the forest too, but there was nothing but dim shadows of trees.
Fortunately, after coaxing Leo a few more times, he moved as I wanted, so I was able to finish riding without any problems.
It was so uneventful that it made it pointless for me to be on edge, worrying about something happening.
"I have to show it to my mother again later!"
Ludian was initially disappointed when he found out that Her Majesty the Empress had returned, but he seemed to be more proud of being praised by people.
"Your Highness, shall we go wash our hands?"
Before moving on to tea time after riding, a break time was given.
I came to the stream inside the forest with Ludian. Two escort knights followed us.
However, I encountered a face that was never welcome there.
"... Feidan?"
"Let's talk for a moment, Leticia."
Feidan, who should have left for hunting with the others as planned, was in front of me.
'That shabby bastard again...'
The knights who followed seemed to respect my wishes and watched from a distance.
Just as I was about to swallow a sigh and snap at him.
'Huh?'
Ludian pulled on my clothes and looked up at me.
Judging by the way he was flapping his little hands, it seemed like he had something to say.
When I bent my knees and made eye contact, Ludian covered my ear with his small hand and whispered.
"Leticia. That person, he's a bad person, right?"
... Huh?
'How did Ludian know?'
Surprised, I looked at him, and Ludian patted my arm as if to reassure me.
"Don't worry. I'll chase him away!"
Then, with a solemn expression, he glared at Feidan.
"Leticia has to play with me, so she doesn't have time to talk to the Duke."
"... Excuse me?"
"Talk to her later by sending a letter to make an appointment."
Feidan's expression became comical, as if he hadn't expected to be hit by the young Crown Prince.
Ludian grabbed my hand firmly, elated with victory.
"Let's go now, Leticia."
In the end, I couldn't help but burst into laughter.
'I said I would protect Ludian, but somehow our little Crown Prince is protecting me?'
I obediently held Ludian's hand and replied.
"Then, I'll ask for your escort, Your Highness."
As I turned around with Ludian, I heard a cry of anger from behind.
"Leticia!"
I erased the smile towards Ludian and turned to look at Feidan.
His terribly distorted face felt sickening.
"This is all to save you! If you leave like this, you'll definitely regret it."
Feidan was quite determined, but I scoffed and turned around without saying anything.
"I warned you, Leticia."
I heard Feidan's meaningful muttering, but I ignored it and walked away.
On the way back to the meeting place with Ludian.
I asked what I was curious about.
"By the way, Your Highness. How did you know that person was bad earlier?"
"I heard Meiran and Roana talking. They said Duke Farnese was making things difficult for Leticia."
I don't know who they are, but they must be maids of the Crown Prince's palace.
'Hmm, thanks to that, Ludian saved me, which is a good thing, but... I need to tighten the mouths of the maids.'
No matter how smarter he is than other children of the same age, and even if he is a talent who will look after this country in the future, he is still a child.
There are still things you don't need to know.
"Thank you, Your Highness. For helping me."
"No. Leticia is my people and my family, so it's natural to help."
I was startled again by the word 'family' that naturally came out of Ludian's mouth.
"Would Your Highness like me to become Your Highness's family?"
"Yes."
Ludian nodded vigorously as if expressing his sincerity.
His heart that purely likes me is cute and grateful, but on the other hand, I also felt indebted.
'What if Ludian gets hurt when the contract with Idriss ends?'
To perfectly deceive others about our relationship, it is right to deceive even Ludian, but I felt uncomfortable seeing him like that.
After hesitating for a while, I finally decided to let Ludian know that 'there is a possibility that we will not become a family'.
"I'd love to be a family with Your Highness too, but marriage is with someone you really love. If either of us doesn't love each other, we can't get married or become a family."
Then Ludian tilted his head.
"No, Uncle loves Leticia, so he'll marry you. I know."
For some reason, his voice was full of confidence.
'Did Idriss joke around?'
Looking back on his appearance of nonchalantly saying things to his nephew that were hard to tell whether they were true or false, as he did to me, it was a plausible story.
'For now, I've told him about the possibility of us breaking up, so I should end the conversation here.'
If I go any deeper, Ludian will be sad.
However, Ludian, who had been staring at me intently, asked a sudden question.
"How about Leticia?"
"Me? About what?"
"Does Leticia love Uncle?"
It was unexpected, but it was an easy question.
To protect Ludian's innocence and for our contract, I just had to lie that I love him.
'But why...'
Why can't I answer that question?
It was then that I was unable to answer easily and was just moving my lips.
"Kyaa!"
A sharp scream from the front distracted my attention.
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