____

Not long after I left Lady Mia stunned and surprised, someone from inside the Empress' throne room went out. He was a tall man with a familiar symbol on his brooch. The flower of Lilies that represents the Marquess of Marveil.

His perfectly combed cherry-blonde hair is the only thing that made me realize who he is: Lady Mia Marveil's father.

As soon as he closed the door, he noticed me and my nanny. He stared down at me with his red menacing eyes, and I locked my stare with him too, my silver eyes seriously looking at him.

Tension seems to swift around us and Jamie isn't oblivious about it. "Greetings, Marquess Marveil."

The Marquess, whose been acknowledged by my nanny, teared his gaze away from me and looked up to my nanny. He only gave her a nod before looking down at me again with a menacing smile.

I mentally frowned. Is he really looking down at me because of my height, or because of something else?

"May time make haste to the heir of Vermilion," he greeted, bowing down at me. "Our beloved crown prince, the Empire's next sun and ruler."

Thou I'm not sure if he greeted me sincerely or sarcastically, I acknowledged his greeting. "It's a pleasure to meet you too, Marquess."

"I just finished discussing important matters with the Empress," he told me with a flat tone. "Now I shall take my leave."

Without even having any longer conversation, he chose to take his leave with an abrupt conversation. That just shows that he is a straight-forward man. Somehow he resembles his own daughter whose somehow straight-forward with me.

Like father, like daughter.

As soon as he is out of my sight, Jamie sighed in relief before beaming a smile at me. "Shall you go in, your highness?"

Sighing, I nodded my head. It's nothing new to me since I've been inside the throne room with the Empress a lot of time before.

The moment Jamie informed the Empress about my visit, the door opened and I entered.

As usual, the Empress is sitting in her throne, her long black hair which is usually hanging down is now tied in a braided-bun. Her crown is something similar to an Emperor's crown today too. She's also wearing a gown which is somewhat formal.

Is she going for a meeting?

The first time I went here, I bowed down and greeted her as if she's not a family of mine. In the end, she told me not to greet her like that since she feels inferior about it. As if I was dragging myself down, she wanted me to be someone who can't and won't bow down to anyone.

Still, I always have a simple greeting. "Good morning, mama!" I beamed a smile as I approached her sitting in the throne. There were some small steps of stairs that made her throne seem taller.

She looked at me and didn't respond, which she would always do. But today, she looked at me and replied bluntly. "It's already noon." My smile didn't waver, well, it shouldn't or else I'll lose my head.

Stretching out her hand, I put my hand on her hand and smiled. "What brings you here?" she asked.

"I just want to greet mama!" I replied happily, but internally screaming to myself for being too much of a mama's boy. "I'm also feeling lonely since everyone's not around."

Her gaze lowered down at me with confusion. "Lonely?"

I nodded and pouted. "It has been a while since I last saw mama so I came. Klydeur is also busy with his mentors. While my tutor is missing."

The Empress held her chin, as if she's in deep thought. "Is that so?" Leaning her back on the throne, she sighed. "I'm a bit busy today. I have to attend a meeting with the nobles in my faction and support. Those aristocrats and nobles who opposes me are getting annoying, so we need to discuss a solution to this with each of the heads of the noble families. Eldest is also trying to see through the matter, so she also needed to go back to her estate before coming back."

I blinked my eyes. Thou I've reincarnated as someone not me but knows how the timeline goes, the topic about these nobles who support her and those who opposes her, aristocrats, anything about noble shit doesn't make sense to me.

"It's okay mama! I came by to also check if you're okay!" I simply replied since I don't know what else to say, only to earn a confused look on her face again.

"To check...if I'm okay?"

I nodded my head quickly. "Yep! Since being an Empress is hard like you told me before, mama. I hope you're doing well." To make it more sincere, my smaller hand squeezed her hand as she is still holding into it.

Her gaze looked down before closing her eyes. "I understand." Patting my head with her other hand, she stood up. "My meeting won't be too long so I won't get tired at all. No need to worry."

"Goodluck then, mama!"

As we walked out of the throne room, we separated ways as she went to their meeting room together with her knights. While Jamie and I went back to my palace.

"Greetings, your highness!" Glancing at the maids who greeted me in the middle of our walk, my eyes sparkled at the sight of familiar maids.

It's Mia and Ria!

"Nanny! Nanny!" I excitedly called out to them. Jamie chuckled as I gave the other two maids a hug. They both cooed at my cuteness.

"It has been a while, your highness. How have you been?" Ria asked with a sweet smile. Mia is busy taking out something from her pocket.

I smiled. "I've been good. How about you two?"

"We're also doing fine as usual, your highness."

"Here, your highness!" Mia beamed as she took out a handkerchief. Unfolding it, there I saw a chocolate cupcake. I suddenly felt hunger the moment my eyes laid on it.

As she offered it to me, my smile grew wider. I almost forgot my real age and identity. "Thank you nanny!" In return, I gave both Mia and Ria a peck on their cheek.

Jamie just had a smile on her face, tho it also looked a bit dissapointed. I chuckled before pulling my nanny's arm. She looked at me and curiously asked. "What is it, your highness?"

I signaled for her to bow down to reach my height, and so she did. I also gave her a peck on the cheek, smiling at her. "Thank you for taking care of me, nannies!"

The three of them seem to melt at me. I just continued to beam a smile as they continued to escort me back to my palace, then into my room. I finished my cupcake along the way and Jamie offered me a glass of water which I gladly accepted.

The moment we reached my room, the two other maids smile and bowed down to me.

"Take care, your highness!" Mia and Ria bid me farewell as they went off to do other maidwork. As usual, my ever loyal nanny stayed by my side.

"Is there anything you need, your highness? Would you like to get changed into something more comfortable?"

I shooked my head as I laid down the bed, staring at the bright white ceiling. "No need. I'm okay."

"Very well. I'll be outside your room. You may take your rest, your highness." With a smile, Jamie bowed down at me before taking her leave.

I suddenly remembered something. Lady Mia Marveil. And my other nanny named Mia. They may have thesame name, but they are two different people. And among the two, I prefer my nanny more than the noble lady.

Marquess of Marveil is also a bit threatening. He may be in thesame faction as the Empress and even support her, but he is someone who can also be abrupt in showing his true intention.

If he sees something is off about us, then he'll probably won't bat an eyelash and take the other side.

"Hah," I sighed to myself as I closed my eyes. Even if I have my break for today, I don't feel like relaxing at all. Everyone is busy, so I feel the urge to do something as well.

I wonder if I'll be able to keep up with this new routine for the next few years? All I want is to survive and avoid the inevitable.

My death.

Just when I was about to sit up and read books, I felt something tickling the side of my face. Opening my eyes slowly, there I was met with a familiar face. Her golden eyes seems dull at the moment, which is unusual.

"Eldest?"

____