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Chapter 46

Meanwhile, at that same time.

Ivan looked down at the books and papers spread across his desk with a slightly sulky face.

He had already finished all the homework Emilia had given him.

I've already finished—now what?

Ivan swung his legs, thinking.

He tried getting down from his chair and fiddling with his toys, but it was the same.

Time without Emilia by his side seemed to pass so slowly.

I won't have much time left to spend with Emilia...

Before coming to this residence, Ivan clearly remembered what the Duke of Valen had told him.

That in a few months, he would have to go to the Holy Kingdom of Hypria.

Recalling that fact made Ivan gloomy for a moment, but he quickly cheered up.

With determined steps, he left his room and headed to the library.

But there was already a visitor there.

"Oh? Master Ivan?"

"Herald!"

Ivan's face lit up as he trotted over to Herald.

"What brings you to the library?"

"I'm boooored!"

"Ah, so you're bored."

"Yes!"

Herald looked down at Ivan with a somewhat envious gaze.

Today, his superior had given him an unusually large amount of work.

Thanks to that, he'd left the residence at the crack of dawn.

And that wasn't all—he had another schedule later, so he'd have to go out again without a moment's rest.

Then a thought occurred to him.

"Ah!"

At his exclamation, Ivan blinked.

Herald, who had looked tired just moments ago, brightened up.

Then he spoke in an exaggerated voice.

"Oh no! Boredom—what a terrible crisis! In that case, how about we play a fun game together?"

"...?"

Ivan looked bewildered for a moment, then nodded eagerly.

"Yes, yes!"

---

"Should I do it like this?"

Ivan, sitting on the library chair with his feet not even touching the floor, asked Herald.

"Oh! Yes, Master Ivan. You're doing very well! How is it—fun?"

"Mmm."

Ivan nodded as he diligently sorted documents into two piles as Herald had shown him.

It wasn't actually that fun, but the time did seem to pass faster than before.

Watching Ivan, Herald cleared his throat.

He did have a conscience, after all—putting those tiny, fidgeting hands to work made him feel a little guilty.

"Well... getting used to reading letters will also improve your Imperial skills."

"Really?"

"Of course, haha."

"Yes, yes!"

Ivan began examining the documents even more enthusiastically than before.

"Come to think of it, you're speaking really well now."

Herald propped his chin on his hand and murmured, having offloaded his work.

"When you first spoke to me, you said you wanted to learn Imperial, I believe."

"That's right!"

Ivan answered cheerfully, moving his hands diligently.

A while later, the not-so-fun game came to an end.

Checking the clock, Herald let out a deep sigh and rose.

"Master Ivan. I have some work to attend to now, so I'll have to go. Will you be staying here?"

"Yes! I'm going to read books and wait for Emilia!"

Left alone in the library, Ivan fell into a brief daydream.

In truth, the reason he'd wanted to learn Imperial was entirely because of Emilia.

Before meeting her, he'd never even thought of learning the language.

Ivan didn't have many memories of his mother.

She had always lain weakly on her bed.

What if she doesn't wake up tomorrow?

Whenever that thought crossed his mind, Ivan would go to her side and hold her frail hand.

Then, a faint smile would appear on her pale face.

"[Because our Ivan holds my hand like this, it doesn't hurt at all.]"

"[Hehe, really?]"

Just that was enough to make Ivan happy.

So every single day, without fail, he held his mother's hand.

That small act was both the beginning and the end of his day.

Then, one day.

"[Mother?]"

He took her hand as always—but there was no response.

Her hand was colder than usual.

The faint smile that always came was absent.

"[Nanny! Mother, Mother...]"

Ivan ran to his nanny.

After confirming the state of his mother, the nanny collapsed on the spot and wept bitterly.

"[Nanny, don't cry, don't cry.]"

Ivan grabbed the nanny's hem with trembling hands.

But the nanny roughly shook off his hand and wailed.

"[It's all because of you, Master Ivan! If only you hadn't been born!]"

More resentful words poured out.

Ivan couldn't understand everything the nanny said—but he understood one thing.

That he would never again see his mother smile at him.

After that, Ivan lived alone with the nanny.

She had never favored him even when his mother was alive, and she only provided the bare minimum while largely neglecting him.

Only once did she fly into a rage.

It was when Ivan had shown interest in Imperial.

After returning from watching children play outside, Ivan had tried to mimic their words.

That day, along with the nanny's sharp glare, Ivan received a slap on the cheek.

"[Master Ivan! I told you not to associate with those Imperials!]"

"[S-sorry. I won't do it again.]"

Ivan had to fall asleep that night clutching his burning cheek.

After that, Ivan felt like the only foreigner in this vast Empire, using a different language—and he no longer thought about learning Imperial.

But then—

"[No.] Rather, I'm the one who's [thankful.]"

After meeting Emilia, who had said that to him—

Ivan became curious.

What were the words she'd said before telling him she was thankful?

What had she been saying when she talked with Herald?

He wanted to understand her words, just as she had understood his.

So for the first time, he approached Herald and said he wanted to learn Imperial.

"Hehe."

Ivan smiled happily, recalling the moment he'd met Emilia again at the residence.

Just then—

He heard a commotion outside the library window.

What is it?

Ivan tilted his head and rose from his seat.

---

Emilia had been talking with Kaliana, wondering if there was any way to help solve her problem—

When suddenly, Kaliana stopped mid-sentence and looked behind her.

Emilia turned around and saw Kayden.

"Oh, did you finish your discussion?"

At her question, Kayden nodded slightly.

Then he gestured toward Kaliana and asked.

"Who is this woman?"

"Ah, this is..."

Emilia trailed off and looked back at Kaliana.

Kaliana shrugged and said casually.

"Just an ordinary person who holds a grudge against the head of the Farizian Company."

"A grudge?"

Emilia then, after getting Kaliana's permission, briefly explained her situation to Kayden.

Meanwhile, Kaliana studied the tall man.

He wasn't her type, but he was strikingly handsome—enough to make her eyes pop.

The way he leaned toward the woman and listened to her looked very familiar.

Her lover?

Outwardly, he seemed quite courteous, but the way he looked down at the seemingly innocent woman carried the aura of a predator eyeing its prey.

But he also looks familiar somehow...

As she was thinking that, the man turned his gaze from the woman and looked at her.

Then he walked straight toward her.

Before she could wonder why, he gave her a once-over and spoke.

"Let's have a private word for a moment."

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