The Female Lead Takes Care of Everything - Chapter 90

Spring was just around the corner.

That also meant Nivellia’s fifth birthday was coming soon.

“I was born on the first day of spring.”

Nivellia told Aref about her birthday.

The two of them sat side by side by the window, sharing a thick blanket while reading a picture book.

In the story, the main character celebrated their birthday by eating cake with their family. Seeing that illustration made Nivellia start talking about her own.

“It was a very dark night when I was born. My dad told me. He said it was snowing heavily outside, but up in the sky the stars were shining brightly.”

“Wow…”

Aref listened carefully, not wanting to miss a single word.

‘If only I had been there that day…’

He felt a deep sadness knowing he hadn’t been there when Nivellia was born.

‘But I couldn’t be. That was my choice…’

Wait.

“…Huh?”

Aref flinched in surprise.

“Aref?”

Nivellia stopped chatting and looked at him.

“Are you sick? Are you hungry?”

“No, that’s not it…”

He had startled himself with his own thoughts.

‘My choice? What choice?’

But as always, no answer came back.

“Just a strange thought crossed my mind.”

“What kind of thought?”

Worry started to show on Nivellia’s face.

She took Aref’s hand and began checking him gently, just like how their parents did when they were concerned.

“A strange thought?”

“What do you mean by strange?”

“What if it sounds weird?”

“It’s okay. I’ll listen carefully to everything you say.”

Encouraged by her words, Aref finally shared something he had never said out loud before.

A strange feeling that sometimes came over him.

“About the day you were born.”

“Yes?”

“I had this thought that maybe I wasn’t there by your side because I chose not to be.”

“Really?”

“…”

Aref hesitated, then shared what was on his mind.

“I don’t know.”

It wasn’t that he was saying no.

“It’s just… I don’t remember.”

This wasn’t the first time.

Whenever he talked about Nivellia or moments tied to her past, strange thoughts would come to him.

And every time, there was a strange sense of distance.

Today was no different.

Whenever that happened, Aref remembered the question he had been carrying inside him.

‘What exactly did I do to be considered their benefactor?’

Why was he called the savior of the Deiamor family?

What had he done to deserve that?

No matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn’t remember anything. When he asked the adults, they never gave him a clear answer.

At first, he thought maybe it had something to do with his birth parents, whom he couldn’t remember.

But the more he thought about it, the more that idea felt wrong too.

“…Did you want to be there?”

Nivellia asked nervously.

“Did you really want to see me when I was born?”

“Yes.”

Aref answered from the bottom of his heart.

“I really wanted to.”

“…Heehee.”

Nivellia smiled brightly, even though her eyes looked like she was about to cry.

And then, round tears slipped down her cheeks.

Surprised, Aref quickly took out his handkerchief and gently wiped them away.

Whenever Nivellia cried, it made Aref’s heart ache.

But today’s tears felt different.

‘She looks happy.’

She looked happy, and yet… somehow, also a little sad.

‘You really can cry while smiling.’

For some reason, Aref wanted to cry too. And he also wanted to smile.

But he had no idea why he felt that way.

So instead, he just gave a small, lonely smile.

Not knowing was a quiet, aching kind of sadness.

Aref pulled the blanket back up over Nivellia’s shoulders, making sure she stayed warm.

After she stopped crying, Nivellia snuggled even closer to Aref. As if that still wasn’t enough, she reached out her arms and hugged him tightly.

“I missed you so much, Aref.”

Aref hugged her just as tightly in return.

No.
I missed you even more.

Another strange thought passed through Aref’s mind.

Why did words like that keep coming out of nowhere?

Still, he decided not to think too hard about it.

Everything I feel is real.

There was no need to explain why he liked her.

Aref simply liked Nivellia.

That feeling alone was reason enough.

A few days later

“They really chose a perfect date, didn’t they?”

Caleo, dressed up for the first time in a while, adjusted the stiff collar of his formal coat with a sigh.

“That’s how politics works, doesn’t it?”

Celletina, just as elegantly dressed, gave a little shrug.

Caleo gently draped the shawl he had prepared over her bare shoulders and mumbled in complaint.

“It’s cold. Why are you wearing something like this? You should be dressed warmly.”

“This is part of the new spring collection from the Rubeo Department Store. I couldn’t pass up a chance to wear it. How do I look?”

“If it didn’t suit you, I would’ve asked you to change as an excuse.”

Caleo let out a small groan, then nodded.

“You look beautiful, Director.”

“You’re quite handsome yourself, Marquess.”

The couple exchanged soft compliments and affectionate smiles.

And then.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The children who stood between them watched everything.

Nivellia asked,

“Is it over now, or should we wait a bit more?”

“W-we’re getting in right now.”

“Sorry. You’ve all been waiting.”

Looking a little embarrassed, the couple finally climbed into the carriage.

Today was the day.

They were finally heading to the Imperial Palace to present the mana stones.

Two carriages set out toward the palace.

One carried the children and their parents. The other carried Muniel, Ardores, and Deter.

“The carriage ahead has your grandma and grandpa inside,” Caleo said.

“Never forget that they are always the first to lead.”

“Because they’re the leaders?”

Nivellia asked, and Caleo nodded.

“Especially your grandmother. She once defeated the Demon King by herself. Everyone in this world is alive thanks to Saint Muniel.”

“Then why is Deter riding in that carriage?”

Soles asked curiously.

“Grandmother has something she wants to say. That’s why they’re together.”

The carriage passed through the palace checkpoint and headed straight toward Sekun Palace.

As the carriages marked with the Deiamor family crest arrived, many eyes turned toward them.

“Young lady.”

Deter, who got off first, gently lifted Nivellia into her arms.

Nivellia wrapped her arms around Deter’s neck and closed her eyes tightly. Soon, a thin blanket was placed gently over her head.

From beneath the blanket, she could hear the quiet voices of the adults.

“They said we can wait in the lounge until the ceremony begins.”

“Is Nini the one confirmed to carry the mana stone? Is the weight okay for her?”

“Just in case, I brought an extra pair of soft leather shoes.”

“Have the chief attendant check. Starting with how the knights are positioned inside…”

It all sounded like a conversation from a dream.

They were definitely speaking, but the words didn’t come through clearly. It felt like the muffled sound you hear underwater during a bath.

She could hear it, but she couldn’t understand it.

Then, the blanket was gently lifted.

“Nini.”

Along with a soft light, her parents’ faces appeared.

Nivellia started to squint, but a shadow quickly fell across her face as Caleo raised his hand to block the light.

“My sweet girl, we’ll see you soon.”

“If it gets too hard, just tell Deter. Then we’ll make sure you don’t have to do anything.”

Nivellia didn’t answer. Instead, she reached out her hand.

Caleo and Celletina took her small fingers and held them tightly.

That warm pressure made Nivellia smile softly.

“I’ll do my best.”

At that moment, Caleo and Celletina nearly cried.

Their youngest daughter had grown up so much.

Nivellia no longer referred to herself as “Nini.”

She had become her own person.

It began with the Emperor’s declaration.

“May the great gods continue to bless the Dramenor Empire.”

Wearing a splendid blue uniform that represented mana stones, the Emperor stood before the nobles gathered in the audience hall and spoke.

“Today, I am able to share this joyful news with all of you who have faithfully served the Empire.”

The nobles looked up at him with eyes full of anticipation.

This was the moment the mana stone mine—undiscovered for ten long years—was finally being introduced to the world.

This new discovery not only pulled the crumbling empire back from the brink of economic collapse but also created a chance for even greater growth.

Other nations, having already caught wind of the news, had begun approaching in the name of investment.

“This is truly the arrival of another hero who saved the empire in its time of need.”

The Emperor’s words were met with thunderous applause.

Muniel, who had only been clapping softly, leaned toward Ardores and whispered in his ear.

“He’s become quite the politician, hasn’t he?”

“You’re the one who taught him.”

Ardores gently teased her with a grin, not letting her play innocent.

Then he glanced toward the man seated beside the Emperor.

“He showed up today.”

“He had to. It would’ve been serious if he didn’t.”

The Empress had finally made a public appearance.

She usually remained out of sight, claiming illness, but today she was present for the first time in a long while.

She was strikingly beautiful, with golden hair that gleamed under the light.

But the most memorable feature was her sharply slanted eyes. Her face was thin, her jawline defined, giving her an intense and severe impression.

“Muniel.”

Still looking at the Empress, Ardores spoke in a low voice.

“Will it be alright?”

“It will be.”

Muniel kept her gaze on the tightly closed doors of the audience hall. She had no interest in the Empress to begin with.

“Let them in.”

The Emperor gave his command at last.

The attendants at the door moved slowly, opening the grand entrance.

Standing in the doorway, dressed in matching outfits of the same color, were the children.

Soles, Nivellia, and Aref stood side by side in that order.

The Emperor watched them with satisfaction, and his voice softened.

“Bring it forward.”

Nivellia stepped forward and began walking slowly.

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