“Stop meddling with useless acts!”
Kaiderich always regarded Iris with a dissatisfied glare.
But that day, his expression was truly filled with wrath as he stared at her.
Because she reminded him of his late wife.
Shivering in the rain, Iris couldn’t utter a single word.
The simple wish to see her mother again.
Had she truly wanted to meet her mother purely?
Or was it just an escape from the cold rejection of the living family, fleeing instead to the dead?
Tears welled up from the ugliness she felt within herself.
“I was wrong…”
Instead of pouring out her emotions, she apologized for spoiling Liliana’s birthday.
Her thoughts turned to her mother—
“Do you miss her?”
Cedric’s question cut through the shadows of her past.
Iris exhaled lightly; her eyes flickered uncertainly.
“Should I miss her?”
If she didn’t, would that make her a wicked daughter?
But she had always been such a child—to Kaiderich, and perhaps even to herself.
Cedric’s gaze drifted to the window in response to her vague words.
“I miss her sometimes.”
His tone was calm, but Iris knew exactly whom he meant.
The former Crown Prince and his consort, whose deaths were shrouded in secrets—
Affairs of the heart, power struggles, and baseless rumors all clung to that massacre.
Cedric was the sole survivor,
Forced to serve the Emperor suspected of murdering his own parents, clinging to life.
“Perhaps they loved you, Cedric.”
Iris looked at him with a heavy heart.
His red eyes held memories untainted by time—
Memories she herself lacked.
“If I say… I miss her, would my mother be pleased?”
Perhaps that was why she spoke out.
Had her mother forgotten?
The Sacred Rite Day she so dearly loved could only be reached by passing through Iris’s birthday.
“You never got to say your final farewell, did you?”
Cedric’s words made her lashes tremble.
That’s right—she hadn’t.
She was only two or three years old then.
All she remembered was her mother’s screams and the wails of those left behind.
“If you deliver it properly,”
Cedric’s gentle smile pierced her heart,
“At least Iris will find joy.”
She couldn’t say it aloud.
Since she felt her longing was wrong, she had never dared voice it, overwhelmed by guilt.
She judged her own emotions.
“Mother.”
Summoning courage, Iris thought within her heart,
“I think I missed you.”
Of course, young Iris had found it nearly impossible to endure—that was part of it.
But why had she rushed out with an umbrella on that rainy day?
“It’s raining. Mother always felt worse when it rained heavily.”
That was what she had heard once as a child.
Perhaps she couldn’t accept that her mother was truly gone.
“Maybe I wasn’t your first priority.”
Her mother had always loved others more than Iris.
Now that she herself had come to love someone, she could understand.
“So, now… goodbye.”
Just as she reached to close the window, a white flower floated into the carriage.
A familiar bloom.
“Mother’s favorite flower. I hope our Iris likes it too.”
The flower her mother had pinned in Iris’s hair while carrying the unborn Liliana.
A rare blossom, difficult to grow in this parched land.
Iris’s eyes remained fixed outside until the flower disappeared from view.
The white petals fluttered in the wind as if answering with an apology.
Only when the sky tilted toward dusk did Iris and Cedric arrive at the capital.
Several servants awaited them at the villa, hastily unpacking their belongings.
“You’ve traveled far, Your Grace and Lady. I am Margaret, steward and head housekeeper here.”
“Pleasure to meet you.”
Margaret was a blend of Hannah’s warmth and Vincent’s sharpness.
Her expression kind, yet her gaze firm.
Iris smiled softly as she looked upon the serene estate before her.
She knew this place well.
The villa once used by the late Crown Prince Castro and his consort.
Sometimes called Lilac Villa, named after the Crown Princess.
Though he harbored no desire for the throne, the Crown Prince purchased it for his family.
“This is where Cedric was born and raised.”
If the Crown Prince and his wife hadn’t mysteriously passed away, Cedric would probably still be living here with them.
Surely Ludwig had ordered this place demolished.
‘They preserved it.’
A wave of sorrow and warmth welled up deep inside.
Turning her head to call Cedric, Iris caught sight of the carriage wheels and gasped sharply.
“My goodness.”
The wheels sparkled like massive raw gems.
Iris had seen this before.
‘Dried Helis flowers.’
They shimmered just as they did then.
Margaret approached, smiling, and said,
“I heard the Mistress crafted these Helis wheels herself.”
“Oh, no, it was a team effort,” Iris replied.
“Because of that phenomenon, Helis wheels are gaining popularity even in the capital. Quite beautiful, aren’t they?”
Iris nodded in agreement.
The carriage wheels shining in the dark night couldn’t be called anything but beautiful.
‘Come to think of it,’
Thankfully, Zelda, who rescued the expedition, had sent a letter.
She hinted that Helis wheels were selling like wildfire even in the capital.
And the twin arcane engineers had sent a long letter too—so long Iris couldn’t bring herself to finish it.
It must have been about this phenomenon.
The capital wasn’t as cold as Leonthaime, so no overheating occurred; naturally, the Helis wheels dried perfectly.
“Mistress, the wind is cold.”
“Oh, yes, let’s go.”
At Cedric’s urging, Iris tore her gaze away from the wheels and moved forward.
Thinking her small idea had changed so much felt strange.
Fearful, yet certain footprints left behind.
‘I hope this doesn’t block Cedric’s path ahead.’
With that thought, Iris pictured a novel in her mind. The book opened, revealing the last chapter.
No changes yet.
But it would change in the future.
The Sacred Sword was still resonating.
Perhaps because it was late, Margaret led her to the bedroom first.
“I’ll have everything ready by tomorrow morning. Rest well.”
“Very well. Take it easy; we have two days until the banquet.”
“Thank you.”
After changing into pajamas and seeing her off, Iris stretched deeply.
Since the Sacred Festival lasted a full week, conserving strength was crucial.
As she prepared to sleep early, someone knocked.
“Mistress, are you asleep?”
“No, I’m not.”
Iris hurried to open the door.
Cedric stood there, dressed in equally comfortable pajamas.
It wasn’t usual for him to come at this hour.
“What is it?”
“I have something for you.”
“What is it?”
“A gift.”
Iris’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I’ve already received everything…”
“No, one remains.”
She slowly counted the gifts she had received one by one.
‘It’s true.’
She hadn’t received the last birthday gift yet, but what she had was already enough.
“I’m really fine—”
At that moment, Cedric knelt on one knee, looking up at Iris, who was too surprised to speak.
“At first, I wanted to give you the necklace.”
His eyes turned to the brooch necklace Iris still wore.
“It seemed precious to you.”
Cedric pulled out a small box he had been hiding behind his back and opened it.
Inside was a ring.
It wasn’t a large or extravagant jewel, but it emitted a subtle, steady glow that was hard to look away from.
Cedric rarely showed signs of nervousness.
But now, he was nervous.
“Will you… accept it?”
It was just a gift, but Iris’s heart raced as if it were a proposal.
‘Maybe because I didn’t get a ring at the wedding.’
At that time, Iris had a panic attack, and the wedding never properly took place.
Perhaps Cedric had been waiting for the right moment to give her a ring since then.
It truly felt like a normal couple confessing their love.
‘Really.’
This man’s life was like a novel. Maybe that’s why he makes me so emotional too.
“…Thank you.”
Iris accepted shyly.
“I shall place it for you.”
Cedric’s vivid crimson eyes brightened as he slipped the ring onto her slender finger.
The ring was exquisite.
She had thought it merely glowed softly, but it shone even more brilliantly now that it adorned her hand.
“Beautiful.”
Her heart pounded fiercely.
Could she truly accept such precious treasures, gifts made solely for her?
“It frightens me, how much of myself is accumulating.”
What if she couldn’t bear the weight of these things, or worse, shattered them?
Yet, she refused to give up.
As Iris continued gazing at the ring, Cedric’s expression grew cautious.
“Since you are one who wields the blade, Lady, perhaps the ring might prove cumbersome.”
Training with a sword while wearing this ring would surely be difficult.
Still, Iris gently clasped her hand adorned with the precious ring and smiled faintly.
Her sky-blue eyes met Cedric’s crimson gaze.
“Even so, I will treasure it.”
This was the greatest courage she could muster.
As the Sacred Rite Day approached, the capital slowly filled with festive energy.
Normally, the Valentine estate would share in this celebration.
But with Liliana having just been released from imprisonment, the atmosphere could not be the same.
Especially in this fragile moment before the Rite.
“Is this all the letters? You’re not hiding some from me as a prank, are you?”
Liliana shot a sharp glare at the maid who brought the letters.
“I—I swear these are all of them.”
“No way…”
The maid bowed her head, lacking confidence, insisting, “Really, Miss.”
Liliana snatched the letters from her limp hands and flipped through them with a heavy heart.
“Only this many?”
At this time of year, letters inviting her to the Sacred Rite banquet usually flooded in.
“They must all be mocking me.”
Now, only perfunctory letters asking after her wellbeing arrived, most relishing her downfall in secret.
Chapter 54