“It seems we’ve arrived,” says Nils, glancing out the window.

Oh, thank goodness! My butt is aching! And these clothes that I am wearing. Ugh~

I am wearing a tail coat, vest, and white shirt with ruffles. Like some 18th-century noble boy. And this painful ride in the Imperial Carriage is not improving the mood.

Nevertheless, I finally arrived at my destination for the day.

The Wyndsyr Archducal Palace.

To think this palace is just located within the Imperial Palace Complex, however, I still need to ride a damn carriage to get here. That’s just how massive this place is. For an Imperial Palace, it would be more adept to call this place a Palace City. The whole place is a complex of palaces, mansions, annexes, and gardens.

This place serves as the Capital Estate of the Archducal House of Wyndsyr.

Actually, after my maternal uncle had been slain in the Bloody Night Incident, I now hold the title Archduke of Wyndsyr. Along with all the Archducal Titles of the other Cadet Houses which had been returned to the crown. Speaking of which, with the Stahlins’ fall, the title of Archduke of Bohrbon had also returned to the crown.

The reason I came here is to visit my mother.

After the Coronation, I sent her here for her protection in the fallout of the fall of Stahlin. I had thought it would take a little longer since I had a ton of political enemies after Stahlin but the St. Artur’s Incident had given me more room to breathe.

And to reconnect with my mother in this life.

I finally disembarked from the carriage. Accompanying me today were my attendants, Nils and Nera.

After, rubbing my butt, I took a look at the Palace. It was based on the Palace of Westminster with Big Ben and all. Come to think of it. The Countryside Estate of Wyndsyr takes the appearance of Buckingham Palace. I guess the Wyndsyr and the “Windsor” naming coincidences run deep.

It also feels kind of weird that I technically own this place.

Oh, I see an old familiar face waiting for me. An old butler stood at the grand entrance of the Palace.

“Mr. Zebastian!”

As soon as he saw me he began to tear up. This was the butler, Zebastian. In the game he was a mere NPC that assisted Arte by providing necessary information. I remembered him quite fondly. He was the one who stood as a father figure to me while my parents were still estranged.

“Oh, Young Master- Ah! Pardon me...Your Majesty...” He bowed low.

“No need for that Mr. Zebastian. I am a Young Master to you anyways in both age and appearance.” I chuckled.

“I beg to differ, Sire…I see a great man in you already! That gaze in your eyes reminds me of your Grandfather. Both of them. You have done your ancestors proud.”

I felt a little embarrassed.

“Well, I just hope to get things back on track after that snake’s mess. He’s caused a lot of trouble for everyone. Especially mother. Speaking of which, may I know where she is? I thought she would meet me at the foyer.”

“Her Imperial Majesty is in the gardens preparing for your arrival. Allow me to escort you there.”

Zebastian began to walk ahead, however, he soon noticed that I was not following him.

“Your Majesty?”

I…was frozen…

To be honest, I don’t know how to react upon meeting my mother from this world. When I last saw her, I blatantly used the excuse that I was tired the last time but now that I am here.

Frankly, I’ve been agonizing about this.

When I reincarnated into Wilthelm, I retained all his memories up until that point. I could tell how much the original Wilthelm loved his mother. I mean I can understand. I loved my previous life’s mother as well.

But in this life, the Dowager Empress is my mother.

I’m just worried…that I can’t muster the same feelings.

I feel rather detached right about now. Like I am in between two persons.

As I was thinking this, a hand could be felt on my shoulder.

“Come on. Your mother is waiting for you.” Nils says with a gentler smile than I’ve ever seen on him.

“You’ve kept her waiting long enough.” Nera encourages me as well.

With a deep breath, I sighed.

“Your right. Let’s go.”

***Dowager Empress Alixandra’s POV a bit before Will’s Arrival***

I sat in front of a large mirror as the maids arrange my hair and make-up. Meanwhile, my butler, Zebastian, was reading off a checklist to me for today’s event.

“Zebastian, have the assigned maids set the silverware?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The hedges surrounding the gazebo?”

“The gardeners have just finished trimming and cleaned up.”

“And, the food?”

“The chefs have the entrée ready to be served.”

“Good. Everything has to be perfect. Goodness, I haven’t organized a luncheon for a long time…Well, I just want to welcome my son after a long time.”

“I’m sure the Young Master…”

“Zebastian…remember whom you are referring to.”

“Ah, I do beg your pardon! I mean…His Imperial Majesty would be quite pleased.”

Yes, today is the day my son, Wilthelm, is coming to have lunch with me.

I thought for sure it would have to be postponed considering what had happened at St. Artur’s Cathedral just the other day. The explosion was so great that it shook this palace. I could even see smoke and flames from the balcony of my room. I feared that another Bloody Night had occurred. The Imperial Guard did come at my son’s orders to ensure my protection and I heard from the guard he had led the response to quell unrest and suppress the raging fires that erupted from the explosion.

I couldn’t sleep that night out of worry but coming sunrise I received the news that everything had been settled and that Wilthelm was lauded as a hero to the masses. I also received further news that the explosion originated from within the Catacombs of the Cathedral. Apparently, there was a secret gathering of notable people from different factions planning to undermine Wilthelm’s reign and reforms but accidentally set off that explosion which killed them all. A very angered Wilthelm had given orders to raid their homes to apprehend their families and gather evidence. A second purge had come upon the aristocracy and as result, a large number of Wilthelm’s political opponents were exterminated in just a few days.

To be honest, I felt relieved that such individuals were stopped before they put their nefarious plans into action. Perhaps, it was indeed an act of the gods that such a fate had befallen them.

I sighed as I put that all aside. What is important now is welcoming my son and little hero.

The whole Wyndsyr Archducal Palace is very hectic to welcome its esteemed guest. Not only because he is my son…but he is also the current Emperor of Atlantasia. An Empire so ancient and massive that we are a world power and a force to be reckoned with.

“How do I look?”

“Stunningly beautiful. Though I must say, donning that Widow’s Cap hides your lovely hair, milady.”

The Widow’s Cap is a veil and cap traditionally worn by women of the Empire for the loss of their husbands. Though it’s usually worn for the first mourning period. I, however, had kept my Widow’s Cap for over ten years now.

It has been over ten years now since that incident. My husband, the Emperor was slain and my son was taken away from me by that horrid man, Stahlin.

For ten years, I had not been able to hold my son.

I had met him only twice since he had been taken to the Imperial Palace. The first was during his coming-of-age ceremony where he appeared to me like a soulless doll. Then the other, was during his Coronation where…a lot of things happened.

To be frank. I’m still confused.

Ah, where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Alixandra Betelgeuse von Atlantasia. I was born as Alix von Wyndsyr, a lady of the Archducal House of Wyndsyr.

But now, I am the Dowager Empress of Atlantasia, widow of the previous Emperor and the mother of the current sovereign. Normally, one would assume such a position is one filled with honor, prestige, and respect. However, honestly…sigh*...let’s just say, all the trouble that came with it would make one rethink why anyone would covet the position of Empress in the first place.

Knock* Knock* Knock*

“Pardon me, Your Majesty…” A voice speaks from the outside.

Ah, one of the maids. I motioned for one of the maids in the room to allow her in. She curtsied to me before relaying the news.

“His Imperial Majesty’s carriage has entered the estate.”

“Already?! Everyone, off to your respective tasks now. Zebastian, please bring His Majesty to the Gazebo.”

“By your will, milady…”

I stood up and proceeded to the gardens followed by the handmaidens. I passed by the halls where the past Archdukes of Wyndsyrs. I stopped by the portrait of my dear brother Arthyr. He was one of the casualties in Bloody Night Incident.

“Your Majesty, is there something wrong?” One of the handmaidens asked.

“Ah! The portrait frame is still dusty!”

“Who was assigned to dust the Portrait Hall?!”

I turned to face them and gave them a stern look.

“Ladies…Stop making a fuss!”

“““Pardon us for our rudeness!”””

Sigh*

“Well, let us not tarry. His Imperial Majesty is on his way to the Gazebo and I should be there to meet him.”

How these maids act is a far cry from the ones at the Imperial Palace.

The maids in the Imperial Palace often sided with those with greater influence. Despite me being the Empress, I had little to no influence. My marriage was one born out of an agreement between old friends: my late father and the late Emperor Wilthelm VI. Despite it being a political marriage, I did love my husband though.

But the position of Empress is not as simple as marrying the monarch. If I were to describe it, it was a position right in the middle of a battleground. Even if I were the Empress, it was the Imperial Concubines who had the support of major nobles that had a greater influence on the Palace. Even though I too was from the Archducal House of Wyndsyr, our family was not in particular influential and only a few nobles sided with us. Because of this, the servants often sided with the more influential Imperial Concubines while they were condescending toward me.

Though when the Bloody Night occurred, quite a lot of them had been slain in the coup. The ones that did survive still served the Palace and were inclined towards Stahlin and the Bohrbon Archducal House.

Of course, now that Wilthelm had regained full control of the Imperial Palace, he had them dismissed in disgrace. He even sent out a notice to all nobility and wealthy condemning them for their failures as servants of the Imperial Palace. Normally, having worked at the Palace is a great honor and those who leave, which is extremely rare, are often sought after.

But receiving such a review and from the Emperor, himself would end their careers.

They were simply reaping what they sow but I couldn’t help but be concerned that Wilthelm may be too cruel and harsh.

As I was mulling about these thoughts, I finally arrived at the garden. I see the gardeners have done a tremendous job. The hedges are trimmed, the grounds swept, and I can see they’ve nipped all the wilted flowers from the rose bushes.

The Gazebo has also been decorated for the occasion. A table for two with the finest linens and silverware. One of the maids helped me to sit after which she joined the other two and stood on the side.

I sat there waiting…my heart pounding.

Sigh~ How much has that boy changed…?

What’s more…Wilthelm is not the only one I am concerned about…

I wonder how much he has also grown…

“Mother?”

I hear a voice and the sounds of footsteps. I turned my head and saw him.

My son…

Wilthelm was walking towards the Gazebo with Zebastian guiding him and his two attendants following behind him.

Due to his Everyoung Atavism, he had the figure of a child despite being of age. But he still looked so handsome and dashing. It was almost as if I was seeing Francys again.

Once they arrived at the Gazebo, Zebastian bowed to me.

“Your Majesty…His Imperial Majesty has arrived.”

“Thank you, Zebastian.”

He then joins the maids at the side. I immediately stood up and curtsied to him. Despite being his mother, he is the ruler of the Empire now. The maids and Zebastian bowed as well.

“I greet His Majesty…the Sun of The Empire.”

“I greet my Mother…the Shining Moon of the Empire.”

After our respective greetings, we both straightened up.

There was an awkward pause between us that felt like hours. Zebastian and the maids stood silently on the side with well-practiced stoic expressions. But I can tell they were nervous because of the awkward air.

“Mother…”

“Wilthelm…”

“Are you well?”

“Yes…”

“That’s good…”

“What about you?”

“I too…”

Another pause stretched between us. Wilthelm turned his gaze down.

“Wilthelm…I…?!”

The next thing I knew, I suddenly felt arms wrapped tightly around me. I looked down and saw the figure of Wilthelm embracing me. Zebastian, Wilthelm’s attendants, and even the maids who were standing in the corner were stunned by his childish display.

The way he embraced me while shaking matched his appearance.

“W-Wilthelm?”

“I missed you… I missed you so much… Mom…”

Mom…

I could hear his broken mumble which shot through to my heart. It has been so long since I had been called that. It was a commoner term for “mother” which he learned from a servant from our territorial estate.

Although I chided him when called me that in public, he still calls me that in private.

“You’re not supposed to call me that in public. And you’re the Emperor now.”

Without thinking, I felt my arms wrapped around him. Cuddling my son, just like back then.

Right now, he was not an Emperor nor a hero lauded by the masses. He was my little boy.

“But I missed you too…sweetheart…”

I say to him, patting his head. My tears are falling and ruining my makeup.

However, I didn’t care.

I didn’t care that my make-up was ruined. I didn’t care if my appearance was undignified. I didn’t care that everyone was looking at us with tears.

At that moment…all it really mattered was that I finally had my son back in my arms.

The nightmare Stahlin had put us through was now over.

***Will’s POV***

I don’t know what came over me.

The moment I saw my current life’s mother. All the emotions and memories just came welling in. I guess this may be residual feelings of the OG Wilthelm.

Before I realized it, I embraced her with all my might.

I thought she would chide me for my unroyal behavior but instead, she returned my embrace with a tight one.

We just stood there, embracing each other.

For once, I felt all my efforts were worth it.