episode_0034

Saladin Azak.

He is the second most powerful person in the empire after the Padishah (Emperor), and is also the maternal grandfather of Katlena.

Although he was a man of such great power and authority, now he was just a grandfather celebrating the admission of his beloved granddaughter.

At that time, there was someone who approached them.

“Welcome, Your Majesty. I really didn’t expect you to come all the way here without any notice.”

The Duchess bows politely before Saladin.

Mina Roseveta Dragona.

The joy on the prime minister’s face quickly disappeared as he looked at her, and instead, only a strange coolness remained.

At the same time, the surrounding atmosphere froze in an instant.

In it, Saladin spoke to Rosetta in a quiet voice.

“It’s you. How have you been? I heard you’ve been doing a lot of things lately.”

“Yes. I can’t stay still for even a moment while running the country, so I’m always busy.”

Saladin’s words were as sharp as thorns.

Rosebetta answered him in a calm voice, but there was a sharpness in it that was more than Saladin’s… like a blade.

The two people who were looking at each other right away had quiet smiles on their lips, but anyone watching could easily tell that there was not even a hint of positive energy in those smiles.

“Yeah.. It’s a good thing that the leaders of a country are busy. As long as they don’t go in a foolish direction.”

“We really appreciate your concern for us, but… this country will continue to run smoothly as it has so far, as long as no one interferes, so don’t worry too much.”

Rosebetta answers, still smiling.

However, in the sight of her clearly smiling face, the fear that seemed to stimulate human instincts began to feel greater and greater.

“By the way, what brings you here? I thought the Imperial Prime Minister would be even busier than I am.”

“No matter how busy you are, you can’t just ignore the admission of ‘my’ beloved granddaughter. Isn’t it your duty as a maternal grandfather to congratulate her?”

With those words, Saladin slightly strengthened the arm holding his granddaughter.

At that moment, a look of unconcealable anxiety began to appear on Rosebetta’s face, which had always been smiling, but she soon erased that expression and spoke to Katlena, slightly spreading her arms.

“Baby, come this way.”

“Huh? Huh.. but..”

“Quickly!”

After feeling embarrassed by Rosebetta’s words, Cattlena carefully escapes her grandfather’s embrace.

Saladin frowned slightly at her actions and reluctantly released her arm.

Princess Catlena bows her head to Saladin.

Immediately after that, she ran straight to Rosetta and hugged her. Rosetta then looked at Prime Minister Saladin and spoke in a cold voice.

“Since you have come a long way, I will not say anything else. Please enjoy your stay quietly.”

“There’s no need for that. I’ve got a lot of work to do, and more than anything, I’ve already said hello to my beloved granddaughter. I guess I should go back soon.”

With those words, the prime minister looked at Katlena with affection on his face again.

“Well, I’ll see you later. Good luck with your admission, Katlena.”

“Ah.. yes. Thank you, Grandpa.”

With Saladin’s departure, the serious atmosphere that had been like the calm before a storm passed, and an awkward silence began to fall over the banquet hall for a moment.

Then, the band on one side started playing again to somehow change the mood, and in the meantime, people began to converse among themselves again, with slightly forced smiles on their faces.

Meanwhile, a person who was watching a series of events within it…

Zeros followed Katlena out of the hall, led by Roseveta’s hand and heading somewhere.

*

‘Eww… This atmosphere was seriously no joke.’

Zeros shuddered slightly as he recalled the scene he had just seen with his own eyes.

The conflict between Duchess Rosetta and Chancellor Saladin, which could be felt even though they were not involved.

It might be seen as simply a conflict between relatives, but the reality was not that simple.

‘If you think about it, you could say that the issue of succession, which would later become the trigger for Katlena’s death, was also tied to that.’

The story of power underlying the conflict between two people… no, to be precise, the story of the conflict between two countries.

Zeros, who knew the original story, knew very well how far the flames would spread.

‘The part I have to worry about is Katlena’s death, but… that’s just the beginning. If you consider what happens after that…’

Considering these points, Saladin is the final boss that Zeros must deal with.

As he was turning the corner with that thought in his mind, Zeros suddenly stopped walking and his thoughts continued.

The reason was because of a scene that appeared before his eyes the next moment.

‘That’s..’

It was the sight of Rosebetta hugging Katlena’s small body.

There were tears in the Duchess’ eyes, and although she could not see Catlena’s face clearly in her arms, she could tell that it was not a bright expression at all.

‘When I see things like this, I can definitely see that she is truly an amazing mother. The Duchess of Rosetta…’

Zeros slowly steps away from there while thinking that.

As a direct servant, he had a duty to stay by Katlena’s side. But at the same time, he was not so clueless as to interfere in a situation like the one now.

*

Duchess Rosetta embracing Catlena’s body.

She was usually kind and somewhat relaxed, but at this moment, there was no sign of the leisure she always had.

Anxiety and worry… and a little bit of obsession.

Although she wasn’t saying anything, Katlena could clearly sense her slightly trembling emotions.

And, in the arms of such a ‘mother’, Katlena began to quietly convey to her in her heart the comfort she could not express at that moment.

‘It’s okay, Mom. I… I already know everything, don’t I? What kind of relationship I have with you… and despite that, how you think of me. How much you love me.’

So, along with words of comfort to her mother, Katlena apologized to the person who was not present, with a dark expression on her face that was completely different from the one she had shown her grandfather just a moment ago.

‘I’m sorry, Grandfather… My mother is only this person. There is only one mother, Roseveta. Even though she gave birth to me, I still… think it was right to choose this person.’

A series of events that will unfold from then on.

Chewing over them again, Katlena once again made up her mind.

To repay even a little bit of the kindness I received from this person in front of me.

At the same time, so as not to waste this precious life in vain.

*

A carriage preparing to depart in the morning sunlight.

In front of them are Zeros and Cattlena, who have finished preparing for departure.

And there stood the duke and duchess and the serif seeing them off.

“Then, take care on your way back. Be sure to send me a letter when you get there.”

“Yes, Father. I will do that.”

“If anything happens, contact me right away. If it’s urgent, you can talk to your sisters. Got it?”

“Haha, don’t worry, Mom.”

With those words, Catlena hugged Rosetta’s body tightly once again… her mother’s body.

Looking at her like that, Rosetta spoke to her ‘daughter’ in a voice full of affection.

“Have a safe trip, I love you my baby.”

“Yes, I love you too, Mom.”

After expressing the love between mother and daughter, Katlena gets on the carriage with a little regret.

Meanwhile, as she was saying goodbye to her parents, Zeros bowed his head to Serif, who was his superior and the first teacher in this world.

“Thank you so much, Serif.”

“Thank you, but go and protect the princess. Even though you are fellow students, don’t forget that you are her direct servant.”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind, Serif.”

After finishing that slightly stiff greeting, Zeros followed Katlena into the carriage and closed the door.

“Then, let’s go.”

A carriage moving slowly forward with the coachman’s horses.

Seeing this, the duke and duchess slowly waved their hands.

and..

“..black.”

The next moment, Serif finally begins to shed the tears she had been holding back.

Rosebetta gently hugged her body and comforted her.

“Really… I wish he had been a little more honest in the end. Anyway, he has a lot of affection, but he’s not good at expressing it.”

“Huh… ”

Serif was unable to respond to Rosebetta’s words and just sobbed softly.

Please… I hope the boy she raised has a smooth future.