Until The Real One Shows Up

He didn’t have to see her, he wanted to see her.

The moment he realized that, he couldn’t control her emotions.

He impulsively approached her and hugged her tender body tightly.

“Ah…!”

As a groan as thin as her size brushed his ear, his heart beated faster.

“What happened?”

When Anastasia asked in his arms, he chose to lie.

“…no.”

He didn’t want to tell her what happened with Duke Barantes earlier.

He didn’t want her to know that he had found out that she had asked her father a favor for her.

It was a strange feeling that he did not know how to explain, but he decided to do so without questioning it.

“Nothing happened.”

“But, why…”

“… I thought I should see you.”

Yeah, he knew he was looking for her, but he eventually realized he missed her.

‘… Of course, I would want to see her in such a situation. What a great feeling that is.’

But to say that he missed her… He didn’t think he could.

It was strangely unfamiliar to utter those words.

“Really, are you okay…”

At that moment, Anastasia was startled and pushed Wilhelm away.

Wilhelm, who suddenly took a step backwards, looked at Anastasia with a puzzled expression.

At the end of Anastasia’s gaze… … Louis was there. Louis hurriedly covered his eyes and turned around.

“Ah, I didn’t see anything!”

Oh…

“Oh, I’ll have to do more business.”

“Just come here, Louis.”

Anastasia smiled embarrassingly and spread her arms toward Louis, and Wilhelm unwittingly wrapped his arms around himself, as if regretting the warmth that had disappeared from his arms.

Louis looked at Wilhelm’s countenance and gently embraced Anastasia.

“It’s too late today, isn’t it? I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s not. You should have come a little later.”

“What?”

“No, it’s not.”

Louis answered sharply, and Wilhelm looked at Louis in Anastasia’s arms in an indistinctly sad mood.

It was a ridiculous feeling, but he felt like he had something that was his taken away.

“But what brings you here, Your Majesty?”

Anastasia asked with an expression of cluelessness still.

When Wilhelm heard the question, he felt as if he was doused with the cold water of reality.

His eyes naturally turned to Louis, the purpose of coming here.

Louis was also staring at him with a curious look on his face.

He couldn’t look away from that lovely nephew’s face any more.

‘…courage.’

It was when he opened his mouth solemnly.

“Have you come to see Her Majesty?”

Louis intercepted Wilhelm’s answer.

Wilhelm hardened like a statue with a panicked look on his face in the unexpected situation, and so did Anastasia.

“Louis, Louis, that’s…”

“No!”

Then, a determined answer popped out of Wilhelm’s mouth. Louis looked at Wilhelm like that with a look of absurdity.

“Never, I didn’t come because I wanted to see the Empress. I hope you don’t misunderstand.”

“Yes…?”

“Yes.”

Wilhelm smiled and knelt in front of Anastasia.

He was meant to be at eye level with Louis, but Anastasia knew that, but she felt strangely excited.

“I came here because I wanted to see you.”

“Me…?”

Louis’ eyes widened this time, probably because he thought it was an unexpected answer. Anastasia also looked at Wilhelm with a surprised expression.

‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes.’

After exchanging words with Anastasia for a moment with a glance, Wilhelm smiled again and focused his attention on Louis.

“Will you play with my uncle, Louis?”

~~~~

Anastasia was interested in watching Louis teach Wilhelm how to make a liquid monster.

“So, you can squeeze in any paint you want here.”

“What color do you like?”

“I like pink.”

“Alright, then I’ll…”

“No, you can’t. Pink is mine. Your Majesty, do it in a different color.”

Looking at Louis hiding the red paint behind him as he spoke decisively, Anastasia burst into laughter.

The eyes of the two men who heard the sound both turned to Anastasia.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Why are you laughing?”

“No, it’s just…”

Anastasia was flustered for a moment, but soon laughed again as if she could not help it.

“It’s nice to see you two.”

It was a scene she had longed to see. She really wanted the day to come.

Louis and Wilhelm’s cheeks were flushed by Anastasia’s frank confession.

The two turned their heads from her at the same time as if they had not heard of it, and began to concentrate again on making liquid monsters.

“So if you squeeze the purple paint in here…”

“Wow, it’s really turning purple”

How can they look the same?

Thinking that bloodlines were scary, Anastasia’s warm smile stayed on her lips for a long time.

~~~~

Because Wilhelm visited at such a late hour, their play activities did not last long.

“I’ll see you soon, Louis.”

Wilhelm put his pinky on Louis’ and even made an appointment before leaving his room.

Anastasia saw him off to the front of the Empress’ Palace.

“Then, be careful…”

“Thank you.”

Wilhelm’s voice stopped her as she bent over to say goodbye to him.

Anastasia looked at Wilhelm with a surprised and embarrassed look.

“I was here to say that.”

Yes, thank you.

He thought he should see her but he wanted to see her. 

To say thank you, he had to see her.

So what he felt about Anastasia in Louis’ room today…… It will all be part of it.

Wilhelm thus diagnosed his condition.

“What… are you thanking me for?”

“It’s just…”

Wilhelm answered with a pause.

“Everything.”

“…”

“Thank you.”

“Me, too.”

Anastasia responded cautiously.

“Thank you.”

“Why are you?”

“Thank you for coming to see Louis.”

Anastasia smiled brightly.

It was an overly beautiful smile.

As if the moon were bright.

Wilhelm’s face hardened as he saw Anastasia’s smile.

“You’ve given me courage, Your Majesty.”

Why….

Looking at that smile, he wondered why he couldn’t smile the same way.

“My oath was not in vain.”

“… Of course.”

As if frozen, he slowly opened his mouth.

“What kind of promise would that be otherwise?”

“Then please keep the promise you made to Louis today.”

Anastasia asked in a cautious voice.

“I don’t know anything else, but the promises made to the child must be kept.”

“Don’t worry.”

Wilhelm said with a smile.

“I will come see him often.”

“… Yes.”

She knew he meant Louis, but Anastasia was thrilled as if she had been referred to.

Realizing that, Anastasia let out a long sigh inside her.

‘…You were very greedy, too.’

She couldn’t believe it made her heart flutter. She seemed to love Wilhelm too carelessly.

‘… Let’s let it slide. Because this will be over soon.’

Seriously, there were less than two months left until Avelin appears.

The night of the two of them was coming to an end.

~~~~

Wilhelm kept his promise to Louis. After that, he did not forget to visit Louis.

However, Louis could not stay in the Empress’ Palace forever.

According to the law, Louis was sent back to the Imperial Palace. But this time his maids had changed, and a new nanny had been found.

They were all chosen by Anastasia.

“Greetings to Countess Fiagel, Prince.”

Anastasia introduced Louis to Countess Fiagel, who came as a nanny.

She was a woman of the same age as the Duchess of Rochester, and she had a warm and kind impression that anyone could see.

“…”

But Louis only hesitated, hiding behind Anastasia’s dress, as if hiding his face.

Anastasia was perplexed by the sight, but the voice of Countess Fiagel was heard.

“It’s okay, Your Majesty. Because today is the first time we’re meeting. He’s going to have a hard time with me.”

“Madam, I want to talk to the Prince before I go.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. She.”

The Countess Fiagel stepped aside, and Anastasia knelt down on her knees and was at eye level with Louis. With a pale expression on his face, Louis snuck away from Anastasia and her eyes.

“Louis, are you sad?”

“… No.”

“I think you’re sad.”

Anastasia jokingly retorted, but Louis didn’t respond.

Anastasia looked at Louis like that, and gently wrapped her arms around his shoulder.

“You don’t have to be disappointed. I will come here more often in the future.”

“Really…?”

“Yes. If you want to play with me, Louis can also come to the Empress’ Palace at any time. We’ll keep Louis’ room as it is.”

Anastasia hesitated, and she kissed Louis’ forehead one last time.

“I love you, Louis. Do well in the Imperial Palace. Okay?”

Louis nodded his head, and Anastasia was then relieved.

~~~~

Other than having fun with Anastasia, there were no very good memories in the palace.

“Her Majesty told me not to let you study too hard in the future.”

But Countess Fiagel, who said so, seemed a good woman.

“Prince, do you want candy? I got it as a present yesterday, and it’s really sweet.”

“Prince, I can fold a paper bird for you. Play with me!”

The ladies of the court were all kind and friendly to him like the ladies of the Empress’ Palace.

‘I think I’ll be able to get along well here, too.’

Louis thought so, and lay alone in bed and slept.

-Walking.

Then I heard footsteps, and Louis thought it was one of the maids. Louis closed his eyes and remained silent, wondering if they had come to look at the lamp.

However, after the footsteps stopped, a complete silence came, and Louis felt something strange and opened his eyes.

“Ah…!”

At that moment, Louis’ complexion turned white.

“Hello, my baby.”

Olivia greeted Louis by raising the long, creepy corners of her lips.