By Zephyria 
I was lectured for a long time about proposing publicly without a ring or a single flower.
When I couldn’t take it anymore and argued that my own parents hadn’t even exchanged a proper proposal, my father, who was watching from the side, said he had formally proposed to my mother when I was two years old, leaving me speechless.
When did he do such a thing behind my back? I looked at my father with astonished eyes and earned a hearty laugh. Seeing my parents, their cheeks flushed red, looking so happy, I didn’t press the matter further.
Besides the handkerchief, there were several other items Ruben had prepared. My family, instantly cleaned up by the power of Magic Artifacts, was now chattering away about what had happened, all smiles.
After I went missing, everyone firmly believed I would return for a while. Apparently, my family only received news of me a full week after my disappearance.
Ruben had wanted to hold the coronation ceremony after I returned, but after a full month passed, he couldn’t wait any longer. As soon as the new year began, he held a simple coronation and became Emperor.
And in February, Michael enrolled in the Capital Academy.
As the spring flowers bloomed, unsettling rumors began to spread everywhere. It was the fault of those who were greatly disadvantaged after the newly enthroned Ruben began purging the First Prince’s faction, spreading baseless rumors. It was around this time that Spiritus stepped forward to offer a non-explanation.
My family was deeply saddened by Spiritus’s words and was in great confusion for a long time. Ruben, to encourage my distraught family, asserted my possibility of survival and soothed them, asking them to wait a little longer, that they could wait more. So that they could welcome me back anytime I returned, all my blood relatives stayed at the town house in the capital.
A year later, Gano Paquin, who had been assisting Ruben with various matters, returned to Biban.
And just last year, in a sunny autumn, we held the funeral for my paternal grandfather, the former Count Ernhardt.
To lay my paternal grandfather to rest in the family mausoleum, the entire family descended upon the Ernhardt Count’s Estate. Michael took a leave of absence from school, and Asdel postponed his enrollment. Not long after that, my own funeral was held. Hearing that the entire family had been in mourning clothes ever since, I nodded in understanding.
“I thought you were wearing mourning clothes because of me and misunderstood.”
“That’s also true.”
“Yes?”
“My father left a will stating it would be best to hold your funeral. It was a will, not just some casual remark, so we had to abide by it, but at the time, we simply couldn’t… we weren’t ready to let you go.”
My father took a deep breath. His breathing gradually became moist. But instead of bursting into tears, he lifted the corners of his mouth. His benevolent gaze swept over my face. It was a great relief that I had undergone a complete transformation. His benevolent gaze, which examined my unscarred face again and again, felt intensely sharp.
“That’s why we only put up that much resistance. Even though we started the funeral, we didn’t finish it, so you are still alive. Before this ceremony ends… you would, come back again…”
My paternal grandfather was an old man who had witnessed many deaths.
He worried about the possibility that I might truly never return. He pitied his family, who would live their lives in sorrow, unable to do anything. The dead should be buried in one’s heart, and the living must live on. Following my paternal grandfather’s will, the family held my funeral and elevated Michael to the position of Young Count Ernhardt.
That was the explanation for why the entire family couldn’t shed their mourning clothes even after the funeral.
Michael, who had been listening quietly, lowered his shoulders, unable to look directly at me. Finding him so cute and pitiable, I hugged him tightly once and let him go. I glanced back, worried my mother might shed tears again, but she was smiling.
Yes, the sorrows that had gradually welled up in passing remarks had now become unbearably cheerful jokes. Seiren, with a voice as cheerful as if he were about to sing, mimed throwing off an invisible veil.
“We burned all those clothes the moment we heard you were back. Now, even if we were told you were dead, we wouldn’t believe it. We thought such foolish thoughts about a son who fought and won against even God to return.”
“Mm.”
“Actually, we did hold the funeral too early. If it weren’t for the passing of your paternal grandfather, the former Count Ernhardt, we could have waited ten more years.”
Although the family all wore somewhat wistful expressions, they didn’t look distressed.
I knew my paternal grandfather was a bit older than my maternal grandfather. However, because I hadn’t seen him for a long time, using the excuse of wandering the continent, the grandfather I remembered was a cheerful and young man. Feeling guilty for not seeing him often, I felt a pang of unease.
My father, as if to comfort me, placed a cookie in my hand and opened his mouth.
“You know, he was already elderly. By the time you went on Floyd’s expedition, he was already having trouble moving. He doted on you so much during his life, so let’s go pay our respects at the Ernhardt family mausoleum sometime later.”
“…Yes. I will. Oh, by any chance, is Grandmother currently…”
“She is living with us at the Ernhardt Count’s Estate. We brought her home to prevent her from falling ill on a long journey. She was very happy to hear news of you.”
Did they leave the old woman alone at home? I was momentarily puzzled, but then I realized that the ‘home’ the family was referring to was not the Young Count’s Estate where I used to live, but the Ernhardt Count’s Estate. Since she was living with the maids and servants who had served her her whole life, she would never be left alone, so I had worried unnecessarily.
Still, I should visit Grandmother before it’s too late. I must visit the Ernhardt Count’s Estate in the near future, even if I have to coax and persuade Ruben.
After pondering for a moment, I asked cautiously. I was tense, worried I might hear more sad news I didn’t know.
“By any chance, are my maternal grandparents…”
“They are very healthy. Both are now honorary professors at the Valentia Territory Academy and are very busy. They laughed heartily upon hearing your news, saying they knew it would be like this. They apologized for not being able to come up immediately due to the semester.”
“No, it’s my fault for coming back so late.”
“That’s right. You came back too late. But it’s okay. Everything is okay now.”
My mother told me about my maternal relatives.
“Oh, and Eisen and Hendel also send their regards.”
“Brother, Sister, what are they doing now?”
“They have begun the competition to become the Young Duke of Valentia. They each take half of Valentia’s businesses and manage them for six months, then switch responsibilities and manage them for another six months on the promised date. They are testing throughout this year and will confirm the Young Duke title in early next year.”
“Is this how you’ve always decided succession?”
“No. This was requested by Eisen and Hendel themselves. They said that if the difference in their abilities was that significant, they thought they could step down willingly.”
“…Mm.”
My maternal relatives were living their lives well in their own way.
Still, it was a great relief. If Ruben’s plan to install portals in each ducal territory succeeds, it will be a great help to my cousins. Since I must visit the Valentia Territory at least once to plant the Holy Wood, I can greet them then.
There was still some time before the morning sun would rise.
Michael, who had been sitting on my lap, now found a place to sit and went to my father’s side. We all sat around the table and quenched our thirst. I, having entered the Imperial Palace first, brewed tea for my family. My mother, who had been watching my fingertips intently, soon looked crestfallen.
“When did you learn all this?”
“…Not long ago. No, knowing I lacked such manners, did you just let it be?”
“You spent every day in the martial arts training ground and didn’t make time for separate lessons. Still, I like this one thing. Did His Majesty teach you directly?”
“No, not exactly… My friends gave me advice, so I hired a etiquette teacher.”
“Advice?”
“Yes. They said that since the Empress Dowager is very proficient in Fan Language and etiquette and is quite strict, I had to learn etiquette to gain her favor.”
I couldn’t lift my head, feeling embarrassed by my entire family looking at me with wide eyes.
“It’s no use raising a son.”
“…Hmm. So I have many questions. Mother, do you know the Empress Dowager well?”
“Of course.”
To avoid further scolding, I changed the subject. Since Ruben was three years older than me, his mother and the Empress Dowager would likely be around the same age. There would be at most a four or five-year difference. My mother, who had frequented high society early on, knew Kate both before and after her marriage.
“From when I first debuted in high society, she was already perfect. Kind, benevolent, elegant. Even though there were some incidents back then… everyone thought there was no one more suited for the position of Empress than her.”
“More than you?”
“I, somehow, wasn’t suited for such a position. I grew up much more… uninhibited than her.”
After all, my mother was said to have brought strong liquor on her wedding night, a cheerful and uninhibited person. That’s why she became a Countess instead of a Queen Consort of a neighboring country. It was unimaginable now, seeing her elegant demeanor, but everyone has their youth. I simply acted demurely, feeling pleased.
My mother, pondering slowly, continued cautiously.
“But she wasn’t someone who acted difficult. It wasn’t because of her status or position, nor because we were personally close, but simply… because I knew a few anecdotes about her.”
“Anecdotes?”
“Yes. She used to send her chaperones to look after young girls who had just entered society, so they wouldn’t face difficulties. That’s why she always had people around her. There was even talk of a ‘fairy ring’ around Lady Kate Antines, the Marquis’s daughter.”
“A fairy ring…?”
“It was because pretty girls who smiled brightly always surrounded her. Girls my age would joke that they wanted to become fairies too. I already had a chaperone assigned, so I never received help, but in my heart, I admired her.”
Seiren’s voice sounded as if she were lost in a dream.
The Marquis Antines’ daughter was a famous figure from when Seiren used to frequent various tea parties. A woman who was exceedingly cold to men and incredibly sweet to women. Thus, she was considered an idol and an older sister figure by many women. This was the Kate my mother remembered.
Seiren slowly shook her head, her face slightly flushed.
“The talk of her being strict with etiquette only started after she became Empress. If she were truly a stern person, the Third Princess wouldn’t have grown up so cheerful. You’ll understand what I mean when you meet her yourself.”
“Actually, I’ve already met her once.”
Should I be telling them this in front of my younger siblings?
I paused for a moment, glancing at them. Asdel tugged at my sleeve, urging me on.
“Met her? What did you talk about when you met?”
“Well…”
“Brother, I’m fifteen now. Hurry up and tell me. What is it?”
Where should I begin, and how should I tell this story?
What stories are permissible, and what stories are not?
She was to become a stepmother to my parents. Not wanting to instill any prejudice, I pondered deeply.
“Well, she… she doesn’t seem to believe in love.”
“…Huh?”
“In her eyes, Ruben is greedy… and she was worried that I wouldn’t be able to fulfill all that greed, saying that weak emotions like love don’t suit me… that I wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
“…Oh my. She must have had a really hard time after the former Emperor passed away…”
Does it turn out that way?
It was both right and wrong. I closed my lips tightly, feeling awkward.