The Female Lead Takes Care of Everything - Chapter 92

“It will only take a moment, I promise!”

The servant pleaded so sincerely that it made others feel sorry for him.

“Her Majesty the Empress said she would like to give a gift to the young lord and lady of House Deiamor.”

Deter looked troubled.

Why is this happening? It’s making me want to scream.

He hated anything that triggered sympathy more than anything else, but in this case, there was nothing he could do.

As a mere servant, how could he possibly refuse the Empress?

“It is an order from Her Majesty,” Soles said with a small, helpless smile.

The children turned around and reentered Sekun Palace.

As they were being carried in Deter’s arms, Nivellia spoke up.

“I want to walk.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Once she was set down, Nivellia took one of Aref’s hands and one of Soles’s hands in her own.

“When I walk like this, I’m not scared.”

Luckily, on their way to meet the Empress, they did not run into any knights wearing swords.

Now and then, palace guards holding long spears walked by.

Nivellia wasn’t scared, but she watched them curiously.

“They’re royal guards,” Soles said, noticing her interest.

“They protect the palace. They’re a little different from knights.”

“How are they different?”

“Knights hold a title. Even if they aren’t born nobles, they’re treated as nobles. But royal guards don’t have a title. So they don’t get the same treatment.”

“I see.”

While the siblings chatted,

Aref kept his eyes straight ahead, trying hard to ignore the servant who had been stealing glances at him ever since earlier.

Why is he doing that? Did I do something wrong?

Thankfully, once Deter stepped closer to Aref, the servant quickly looked away.

Relieved, Aref glanced up at Deter. Their eyes met, and Deter gave him a gentle smile.

The servant led them to a waiting room located right next to the audience chamber.

“Your Majesty,” the servant said as he knocked on the door to announce their arrival.

Soon, a voice from inside granted them permission to enter.

When they stepped in, a blonde figure stood with their back turned.

The Empress had her hands clasped behind her, fidgeting as she opened and closed them restlessly.

Nivellia wondered if the Empress needed to use the bathroom.

Huh?

Then her eyes landed on the Empress’s hair.

Wait a minute.

She looked over at Aref standing next to her.

They’re the same!

Their golden hair was exactly the same shade.

As Nivellia was thinking that, Empress Derant slowly turned around and revealed her face.

The first thing that stood out were her dark blue eyes. The deep sapphire color sparkled sharply.

She was very tall. Her figure was slim, but her broad frame gave off a strong and commanding presence.

If she had a bit more weight on her, she might have looked like a powerful warrior.

Soles stepped forward and greeted her respectfully.

“I greet Your Majesty, the first moon of the Empire.”

“I greet Your Majesty,” Nivellia said.

“I greet Your Majesty,” Aref added.

The Empress welcomed them with a kind smile.

“I’m sorry for stopping you on your way home.”

“It’s no trouble,” Soles replied politely.

Still, he couldn’t help but wonder why the Empress would call upon them when she didn’t even know them personally.

But there was no need to ask.

“Why did you call us?” Nivellia asked, as expected.

Her innocent boldness made Empress Derant laugh. Her soft laugh was like the sound of a crumbling cookie.

Because of that, Nivellia didn’t find her scary at all.

The Empress lowered herself to meet the children at eye level.

“You received a knight’s title, so of course I must give you a proper reward.”

“But I already got one,” Nivellia said, pointing to the medal on her chest.

“It looks wonderful on you. Do you like it?”

“Yes, I suppose the shape of the medal isn’t very pretty,” the Empress said with a laugh.

“It’s ugly,” Nivellia agreed.

The Empress chuckled again, then took a moment to explain more clearly why she had called them back.

“I want to give you land. A piece of land that falls under my jurisdiction.”

“Your Majesty!” Soles shouted in surprise.

Receiving imperial land was a completely different matter than being awarded an honorary knighthood. If this news got out, it could shake the Deiamor family’s political neutrality.

“I know what troubles you,” said Empress Derant, looking at Soles.

“Of course, it may seem excessive to grant land with a non-hereditary title. It might indeed put your family’s neutral position at risk.”

That was why she added that it would be a place where no one currently lived.

Soles’s eyes widened. It was as if she had read his mind completely.

“The Emperor has already given his approval.”

The land they would receive was a small forest, located three days away from the capital by carriage.

Even so, Soles still hesitated.

It didn’t seem like this had been agreed upon by the adults. If it had been, someone would have told him in advance.

Then why were they trying to give land to us?

While Soles was lost in thought, Nivellia started chatting with the Empress.

“I know what a villa is. It’s the place you go for fun!”

“You’re very smart. How old are you, Lady Deiamor?”

“I’m four!”

Nivellia held up four fingers proudly.

“But after my birthday tomorrow, I’ll be five.”

“You’re already turning five? Time really flies. And how about you?” the Empress asked, turning to Aref with a gentle smile.

Aref, who had been quiet the whole time, hesitated before answering.

“I’m eight.”

“And your name?”

“My name is Aref.”

“That is the same name as the wolf once raised by the late Marquis Deiamor. It suits your golden hair and red eyes very well.”

“Thank you.”

Aref smiled shyly after the compliment.

His round cheeks turned slightly red, giving him a much softer expression.

Even his sharp eyes looked gentler now.

Empress Derant couldn’t take her eyes off him.

“Do you… know who your parents are?” she asked, trying to steady her voice.

“No.”

Aref explained that he had grown up in an orphanage and had no memories of his birth parents.

The Empress looked heartbroken.

“Nothing at all?”

“No.”

“Then what is your favorite food? Is there anything you don’t like? Do you like cucumbers? They are very refreshing in the summer since they have so much water.”

“Um…”

Why is she asking me this?

Though confused, Aref answered honestly.

“I like meat and chocolate cookies. I don’t like some vegetables. Just a few. I can’t eat cucumbers because they smell weird.”

“Aref says cucumbers smell bad. I don’t know what he means though,” Nivellia said, stepping slightly in front of him.

She had begun to sense that the Empress’s endless questions were making Aref uncomfortable.

“Your Majesty,” the servant who had been watching quietly from the side finally stepped in.

“Pardon me, but perhaps it is time…”

“Ah, yes. You are right.”

The Empress slowly stood up.

“I should not keep the children here so long. You must all be tired after such an important day. I wasn’t thinking.”

Then she turned to Soles.

“You should take it and go. Get some rest.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Soles finally realized that the only way to move on from this situation was to accept the land.

“I think she did it on purpose.”

Inside the carriage on the way back to the estate, Deter gently laid the drowsy Nivellia across his lap as he spoke.

She let out a wide yawn and fell asleep almost instantly.

“You think so too, Deter?”

Soles, sitting across from him, didn’t bother to hide his irritation.

The land they had been forced to accept had originally belonged to the Empress’s family.

It was called the Lustria Forest. Since there was no heir to inherit it, the land was currently being managed by the imperial household.

Even though it was just a small forest with a villa, it was still technically royal property.

The land itself was troubling, but…

Soles glanced sideways at Aref, who was sitting next to him.

Aref had been staring blankly at the floor for a while now, lost in thought. He was probably still thinking about their meeting with Empress Derant.

What was that attention she showed Aref?

Should I just brush it off as nothing?

It felt like she was convinced he wasn’t an orphan.

Suddenly, a wild thought flashed through Soles’s mind.

Could Empress Derant’s missing younger sister be Aref’s mother?

But he quickly pushed the idea away.

If that were true, the adults would have contacted the palace right away. There would be no reason to hide something so important.

It was widely known that the Empress had suffered from emotional distress after her sister went missing. That was also why she rarely appeared at formal events.

Still, she did show up today.

But that was because of the mana stone mine that saved the Empire, not because of Aref.

And even if Aref…

Even if he truly had royal blood, it didn’t matter anymore.

Soles turned to Aref and called his name.

“Aref.”

“Yes?”

“We’re family. So if the Empress or anyone else ever asks you strange questions, you tell them our parents’ names. Understand?”

Aref stayed quiet.

“You’re my brother. You’re our parents’ son.”

Aref still didn’t respond, and Soles, growing frustrated, pushed him a little—something Nivellia usually did.

“That’s how you protect yourself. Use our parents’ or grandparents’ names. Okay?”

Aref stayed silent for a moment longer.

“Say you will.”

“I will.”

“Good.”

Only then did Soles smile, finally feeling relieved.

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