NIYTR 20

Chapter 20

The Adorable Colt

An extravagant pearl necklace, a flamboyant proposal letter, and even a fountain pen.

He’d gone so far as to kneel in front of everyone.

‘Honestly, that’s more than enough… but there’s no need to refuse something he’s willingly offering.’

Still, nothing came to mind right away.

“I’ll hold off on claiming that price. I’ll think it over and let you know later.”

“…Suit yourself.”

Damian stared at Edelweiss for a moment, then opened the carriage door and stepped aside so she could get in first.

Edelweiss lifted the hem of her dress slightly and climbed aboard.

Inside the silent carriage, the closer they got to the Imperial Palace, the more Damian’s breath grew heavy with fatigue—clearly, worry for Princess Charlotte weighed on him.

Upon arriving, Edelweiss walked east.

She stopped in front of Calliope Palace, not overly large in scale, but radiating a quiet nobility more than grandeur.

“Is Her Highness the Princess here?”

“Yeah.”

It was puzzling. She’d always thought that members of the Imperial family had their own separate palaces from birth.

But Calliope was known to be Damian’s residence.

‘Princess Charlotte’s quarters should be in Ediar Palace, on the western side…’

Sensing her questioning gaze, Damian gave a short explanation.

“She was brought here after poisoning herself last year. It’s better to keep her nearby and watch over her.”

“…I see.”

That explained why he kept her close.

Without further questions, Edelweiss quietly followed him.

As soon as they reached the bedroom where Princess Charlotte was staying, commotion could be heard from inside.

“You little colt, didn’t I tell you to stay in bed?”

Damian flung open the door and snapped.

The bed puffed up like something had scrambled under the covers in a panic.

“Don’t call me a colt!”

At the same time, the blanket was thrown aside, and Princess Charlotte, clearly smaller than most her age, sprang out and glared.

“If you don’t want to be called a colt, then stay put.”

“I don’t want to! I’m tired of lying in bed all the time!”

she grumbled, then tilted her head and looked at Edelweiss.

‘They really do look alike.’

Their resemblance made it obvious they were siblings.

Edelweiss realized she had been watching them fondly and quickly composed her expression.

“Brother, who’s she?”

“I offer my greetings to Her Highness, the shining star of Rejenoel, Princess Charlotte. Edelweiss Oberlin Blossomweaver of the Marquisate of Blossomweaver considers it an honor to be in your presence.”

Princess Charlotte’s guarded expression brightened instantly.

“Edelweiss?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You’re the one marrying my brother, right? Nice to meet you!”

She bounced off the bed with sparkling eyes.

Her eyes were a paler blue than Damian’s, full of innocence.

Her wavy hair, tinged with dawn-pink, danced like waves.

Her round, flushed cheeks were rosy and utterly endearing.

At a glance, one would never guess she was unwell—she was an innocent, cheerful child.

“But you’re really pretty. Your eyes make me feel like I’m deep in a forest.”

Embarrassed by the blunt compliment, Edelweiss lowered her gaze.

“You’re too kind, Your Highness. Your words make me happy.”

“I’m not lying! I never lie! If someone’s ugly, I say they’re ugly, and if they’re pretty, I say they’re pretty!”

As Princess Charlotte puffed out her cheeks, Damian chuckled.

“She’s telling the truth. That little colt once yanked out our father’s beard while sitting on his lap and told him he was ugly.”

Even though he was the Emperor, she was first and foremost his daughter.

If she could say that to the Emperor himself, her claim of never lying felt quite credible.

Edelweiss smiled gently, amused.

“You’re even prettier when you smile… Sister, don’t marry my brother. Marry me instead! I—cough!”

“Colt. Quit fooling around and get back in bed.”

Charlotte broke into a fit of coughing mid-sentence. Damian slipped both his hands under her arms and laid her back down.

“Hmph. Why is sister marrying my brother? She’s too good for him.”

“I’m the one who raised you, Charlotte Rejenoel.”

“But you think sister is pretty too!”

“You’re not listening to a word I say, are you.”

“Just answer me!”

As Charlotte continued to press him, Damian glanced at Edelweiss.

When their eyes met, she quickly looked away in embarrassment.

“You’re so not honest. Don’t worry, sister! My brother and I have the same taste!”

Charlotte winked, instantly brightening the mood again.

‘Even though she’s so frail she can hardly go outside and spends most of her time in bed, she’s so full of life.’

Maybe it was nap time—soon, Charlotte began nodding off.

Damian gently patted her belly to lull her to sleep.

He might call her “colt” and speak bluntly, even without much tenderness in tone…

But bringing her to Calliope Palace clearly showed how much he cared for her.

‘That’s probably why he agreed to marry me—to get the blue rose.’

There was something oddly enviable about the gentle side he showed now.

Before her mother died, Edelweiss’s own older brother Tessen had once been like this too.

“Edel, when did you even climb that tree! Stay still—it’s dangerous!”

“brother, I’ll come down, so catch me!”

“Edelweiss!”

“Hehe, I knew you’d catch me, Brother!”

“You really are just like Mother. I heard she was just as mischievous when she was little.”

Edelweiss found herself naturally reminiscing about childhood memories.

“Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Damian lowered his voice, cautious not to wake Princess Charlotte.

Edelweiss folded away her sentimental thoughts and followed him into the sitting room.

Inside, the warmth of the palace shut out the lingering chill from outside.

“Are you tired? What’s wrong?”

“…Pardon?”

“Your complexion is different from earlier.”

Edelweiss stared at him, surprised that Damian had immediately noticed her subdued mood.

Eight years ago, Empress Anastasia died during childbirth while delivering Princess Charlotte… confined and weakened until the end.

How could he still love and cherish the little sister who had been born at the cost of their mother’s life?

“Her Highness is lucky. She has a brother like you.”

“I keep tallying the damage she causes me on a daily basis. I’m even about to be sold off in marriage because of her. And you’re still envious?”

Now, Edelweiss thought she understood what his peculiar tone often concealed.

“Even so, you accept it all. I find it strange that you don’t resent her.”

“…Why?”

“Am I the strange one?”

“I asked for your reason.”

“I was told my whole life that my mother’s death was my fault. My brother adored me as a child, but the moment Mother died, he changed.”

Damian glanced toward Charlotte’s bedroom with a faint bitterness in his expression.

“To me, Charlotte isn’t the cause of our mother’s death.”

“……”

“She’s the final trace our mother left behind. Her last wish was for me to protect that child.”

“……”

“The Duke and his heir are the ones who are twisted. Not you.”

Not her.

The ones who were truly wrong were them.

Edelweiss found comfort in the firmness of his words.

“Oh, I forgot to ask earlier—do you like the fountain pen? Chloe seemed more excited about this marriage than I was.”

With practiced ease, Damian shifted the conversation.

“…I didn’t expect you to grant me use of your personal seal. Thank you.”

“I only paid the price for it, so you don’t have to be overly grateful. Was it too much?”

“To say it wasn’t at all… would be a lie.”

“No need to worry. I have enough fortune to indulge you as freely as you breathe. It’s money I earned in the navy since I was fifteen—payment for my life, essentially. Use it as you wish.”

Payment for his life.

Edelweiss felt even more burdened hearing that.

“Your Highness, you really have a talent for making people uncomfortable with your words.”

“I hear that often.”