Chapter 116
“I greet the little sun of the empire.”
“It’s been a while since the banquet. Are you here to see Adrian?”
“Yes. But there’s already a visitor ahead of me, so I was planning to come back later.”
“Is that so? Then I suppose I should come back later as well.”
The Crown Prince flashed a grin and extended his arm.
“May I escort you to your carriage?”
“Of course.”
Indeed, the Crown Prince had a brighter future than that wastrel Cesare.
Unlike Cesare, who was always embroiled in scandals with women, he was a devoted man who looked only at his wife.
His character was exceptionally fine, and he had quite a few loyal followers.
If only he hadn’t inherited his mother’s frailty, he wouldn’t have been so easily manipulated by a younger brother like Cesare.
Recalling the joyful news I’d heard a few days ago, I said,
“Congratulations on the Crown Princess’s pregnancy.”
At that, a shadow fell over the Crown Prince’s expression.
“Thank you.”
His smile was bitter.
It was far too somber for the face of a man about to become a father.
Guessing the reason for his gloom, I gently broached the subject.
“You don’t look well. Is there something troubling you?”
The Crown Prince reacted awkwardly to my question.
“Actually, the Crown Princess’s health is deteriorating, and I’m worried. Her morning sickness is severe, and she can’t sleep at all.”
From his expression, it seemed he still didn’t realize how serious this issue could become.
‘It looks like it’s begun.’
In the original story, the Empress secretly cast a curse on the pregnant Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Ravernin in the north, a staunch ally of the Crown Prince.
Moreover, she was praised for possessing both the grace and intellect befitting an empress.
Her only flaw was her delicate constitution, which had prevented her from conceiving for three years after marriage.
The Empress had been spreading rumors of the Crown Princess’s infertility to keep her in check.
As soon as she heard about the pregnancy, she decided to eliminate it.
Under the Empress’s curse, the Crown Princess wouldn’t last a few months before miscarrying.
Unable to bear the shock, she would waste away in grief and eventually take her own life.
In the end, the Crown Prince, having lost both his child and his wife, would go mad to the point of being unable to manage state affairs properly.
Thanks to that, Cesare’s approval rating, which had been stagnant, would rise, and the Empress wouldn’t miss the chance to rally public opinion to depose the Crown Prince.
A country with Cesare as Crown Prince?
That would be the worst possible scenario.
For the future of the empire, the Crown Prince had to hold onto his position no matter what.
With my resolve hardened, I pulled something from my bosom.
It was an item I’d originally intended to pass through Adrian, but the situation seemed urgent.
“Come to think of it, I’ve only offered my congratulations verbally.”
Easing into the topic naturally, I handed the rosary to the Crown Prince.
It was the item Sierra had once put up for auction as a cherished possession.
An artifact infused with a blessing that aided the power of summoners.
I’d imbued it with my own purifying energy, so it should temporarily nullify the curse tormenting the Crown Princess.
“I’ve heard that the Crown Princess is a devout believer. This is said to be an object blessed with divine protection. Just carrying it should provide strength, so I’d like to give it to you as a gift for her.”
“Thank you. I’ll make sure to convey your kind intentions without fail.”
Unaware of anything, the Crown Prince simply rejoiced in my warmhearted gesture.
The rosary was only a temporary measure.
Unless the cursed doll planted by the Empress was removed, the Crown Princess would fall ill again.
But another opportunity would come.
‘If it’s the Crown Princess, she’ll recognize the power in this rosary immediately.’
* * *
By evening, when Adrian returned home, rather than interrogating me, he wore a dazed expression.
He seemed deeply shocked that Summer had stolen his chance to confess.
I thought the whole “Tall Lady” affair might just fizzle out like this.
But a few days later.
As I headed down to join the family for breakfast, May said,
“Good morning, Tall Lady. Did you sleep well?”
“What? How do you know about that?”
“May was the last to find out, you know? It’s all the rage among the servants right now—the Tall Lady.”
“What?”
I glanced around, and everyone was looking at me with proud eyes, like a granddaughter who’d won an award.
When did this brother of mine go around blabbing?
There wasn’t really a reason to hide it anymore, but it was a bit embarrassing since I’d done it with ulterior motives.
I shuffled awkwardly into the dining room, where Dad rubbed his nose and said,
“I’m thinking of starting a charity for families in need, taking a page from our Delly.”
“That’s a great idea. How about naming it <Tall Lady>?”
“Wouldn’t <Tall Delly> be better?”
Mom’s playful remark was met with Adrian’s joking retort.
Everyone’s eyes were sparkling.
What was this? It felt like they were all itching to praise me.
“Why is everyone acting like this? Just be normal.”
As soon as I said that, Adrian chimed in as if he’d been waiting.
“We’re being more careful than usual. Right, Father?”
Seeking agreement, Dad looked at me fondly and murmured with affection,
“How is our Delly’s heart so pure? Saving up her allowance, which isn’t even that much, to help others.”
“Well, it’s not exactly ‘not that much,’ to be honest. But since she used it for a good cause, maybe I should’ve given her more.”
Mom shrugged as she picked up the conversation.
I didn’t know what to do with the family’s relay of compliments.
It had been so long that my immunity had clearly worn off.
Especially my brother’s honey-dripping gaze—it was the most burdensome.
He must be extra like that because I sponsored his girlfriend!
This sis-con, Summer-obsessed fool!
Still, it was heartwarming to see the two of them getting along well.
Once breakfast was finished, Adrian cleared his throat like a man facing a momentous task, drawing attention.
“Ahem.”
But no one paid him any mind.
As if used to it, Adrian coughed even louder.
“Ahem!”
Then Kianu quickly covered Jasmine’s mouth with a handkerchief, as if protecting her.
With the handkerchief between them, Jasmine gently asked,
“Did our son catch a cold?”
“No, he didn’t.”
As expected, Jasmine brushed the handkerchief aside.
Adrian wasn’t hurt by the familiar overprotectiveness.
“I have something to say to everyone.”
I shrugged at his grave tone.
It was obvious—he was going to announce that he was officially dating Summer.
But my brother was even more extreme.
“I’m getting married!”
“Pfft!”
Caught off guard, I sprayed the water I’d been holding in my mouth all over Dad.
“Ah, sorry, Dad!”
“It’s fine. I was feeling hot anyway.”
The now-damp Kianu wiped his face with the handkerchief.
‘This brother of mine—declaring marriage right after starting to date? He must be crazy!’
I eyed Adrian with a flustered expression, and Jasmine said,
“Who’s the other party?”
“Summer Clopen.”
“Summer Clopen—you mean the lady our Delly was sponsoring?”
“Yes, that’s her. She’s a very beautiful and kind woman. I’m sure you’ll like her too, Mother.”
Adrian tensed up at her interrogative tone.
As the heir to Peris, he already had plenty of young ladies handpicked by Jasmine.
Even if he’d chosen from among them, it might not have satisfied her, let alone some woman from the academy announcing marriage.
Just then, a wrinkle formed between Jasmine’s brows.
Anticipating his parents’ opposition, Adrian declared resolutely,
“Even if you oppose it! I! Will definitely go through with this marriage! Summer is the only one for me!”
At our mom’s son’s tearful plea, I squeezed my eyes shut.
I understood what he was worried about.
But hadn’t he forgotten the most important part, brother?
I couldn’t bring myself to ask, ‘Did you get Summer’s permission before doing this?’
Summer was someone who knew her place all too well.
Even in the original story, she hadn’t even considered marriage to Adrian because of their difference in status.
Having just started dating, she probably had no idea he was already thinking about marriage.
‘It’s his first love and first relationship, so he must be blind to everything else.’
