“Is… is that really true, Mother?”

Cazerose asked again, filled with deep joy.

Seeing her like this, the Duchess let out a heavy sigh and replied.

“Haa… Yes. That’s how it is. Just the way you wanted.”

Her mother spoke with a deep sigh.

Even though Cazerose was aware that there were bones hidden within that statement, it didn’t matter to her at this moment.

“Then does that mean I can go back to Bohemia now?”

“…Someone might think you’re returning home. Do you really like that man that much?”

“Yes, I do. The place where he is is where I belong.”

No matter how much she was held back, the Duchess spoke with a deep sense of regret.

However, Cazerose answered immediately without the slightest hesitation.

As if saying there was no need to mention the obvious.

Hearing her words, the Duchess slowly shook her head with a deep sigh.

Her daughter was literally blindingly in love.

If she were to find out that she had been betrayed, it would undoubtedly break her heart… However, the Duchess had no intention of telling her just yet.

The first reason was that unlike before, the Dragona Empire had decided to support the Heretic Alliance, and it was necessary for her daughter to contribute to this flexibility.

The second reason was that she thought this incident would serve as a harsh lesson for her daughter.

“Of course, love is important… But she needs to know that love can also just be a simple deception.”

Even though she was currently living happily with a man who truly loved her and had formed a family, the Duchess had once sincerely loved a man, much like her daughter, only to experience the bitter end of betrayal.

Through that experience, she profoundly felt that before falling in love, one also needs the ability to discern whether that love is genuine.

Though it was an unbearably painful ordeal at the time, it ultimately allowed her to broaden her perspective of the world and helped her find someone who truly loved her.

Life is learned through painful and breaking experiences and finding the right path.

In that sense, she thought this incident would be a beneficial medicine for her beloved daughter, deciding to silently watch the situation until her daughter inevitably realized the truth upon returning to Bohemia.

“You know about it because you’ve heard the story, but soon there will be a wedding for Catan. I’ll have you depart after that.”

“Yes, I will do as you say, Mother.”

The wedding was about a week away.

Though that was also a difficult wait for Cazerose, she couldn’t help but remain silent for the time being.

After all, just the fact that she could meet Santana again was enough to bring her immense joy.

Waiting just another week wasn’t an unbearable ordeal for her.

“Then during this time, you should prepare as well. Also, since His Majesty will be coming, make sure to pay attention to that. And I would appreciate it if you could put away that Paladin outfit as soon as possible.”

“Yes, I understand, Mother.”

Until now, Cazerose had insisted on wearing the Paladin outfit as a form of protest, but now that it was no longer necessary, she decided to comply with her mother’s request.

Above all, she was well aware that the Emperor didn’t favor the Church or Paladins, and there was no need to create unnecessary misunderstandings.

Thus, Cazerose left the room with her attendants to prepare and change her attire…

Watching her daughter, the Duchess began to feel a bittersweet emotion.

*

A modest-looking carriage with a black hue.

Though the horses pulling it were quite impressive, the carriage itself had no decorations and appeared surprisingly simple.

However,

Despite its outward appearance, the person sitting inside the carriage was definitely not an ordinary existence.

With her face covered by a black veil, she quietly sat inside…

The ruler of this land and the Great Empire.

Mina Rozebeta Dragona Emperor was gazing at the long-missed scenery with a gentle smile on her lips.

‘This place hasn’t changed much since back then…’

The forest trails she used to stroll through with her children in the past.

Looking at it, the Emperor began to drift into a serene contemplation of past memories.

Before being the monarch of a nation, she had spent time here as a mother of children.

Even though the national power at that time was not as strong as it is now, and they had to heed the neighboring countries, it was merely a small duchy.

Yet…

Regardless, Emperor Rozebeta recalled that she felt much happier back then, living as the Duchess of a small duchy together with her beloved children.

The nation had become prosperous, and her power had grown immensely.

No longer did this nation named Dragona need to concern itself with the eyes of surrounding countries; instead, it had become the kind of country that others needed to pay heed to.

However…

This advancement of the nation and the establishment of the Empire had taken away her leisure in life…

Moreover, her children were no longer under her shadow.

Just like young birds leaving the nest, her children had naturally departed from their mother’s embrace.

Some remain within the reach of their mother’s influence, while others have gone far away…

While Emperor Rozebeta understood that this was the natural order and a rightful matter, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret about it.

It had been so in the past, and it was the same in this moment.

And in that regard, her visit to Sophia was a time filled with expectation for many reasons.

It was a chance to see her grandson’s wedding and to likewise see her beloved daughter and her children.

‘Speaking of which, I heard that the child who ran away has returned. I wonder what kind of child it is…’

While pondering this, the Emperor’s mind began to form an image of the child, recalling that they had a striking resemblance to her mother.

“Your Majesty, we have arrived.”

Finally, after a long journey, the carriage came to a stop.

Right after that…

The Emperor slowly stepped out of the carriage and began to take in the sight of the people who had come to greet her.

In front of her, accompanied by a detachment of soldiers, was a woman…

With black hair, skin like white jade, and distinctive red eyes…

A woman seeming quite young, who was the ruler of this land and someone she could freely call “daughter.”

Seeing her, Emperor Rozebeta broke into a deep smile and embraced her.

“My dear…”

“Mother.”

Though they lived in the same country, the immense size of the nation had made it so they seldom saw each other’s faces.

Embracing her daughter, whom she hadn’t seen in such a long time…

The Emperor was momentarily able to relive the joyful feelings of the past.

“Have you been well? Are you feeling okay anywhere?”

“Yes, Mother. But how have you been? Is there anything wrong with you?”

“I’m fine. When I think about it, I might be too healthy for my own good.”

Though they both knew that, as witches, they wouldn’t have any physical illnesses, they confirmed their affection for one another.

While asking about each other’s wellbeing, the two shared a warm moment.

Meanwhile, observing them from a distance…

Cazerose keenly focused on the woman who was veiled before her eyes.

‘That person is Emperor Rozebeta, the ruler of the Dragona Empire… and at the same time, she is my grandmother.’