FTMR 07

Chapter 7

“Wanting Anything More Than This Would Be Shameless”

Lucius continued speaking.

“That’s true. Members of the imperial family are born with divine authority, so their growth tends to be slower during childhood.”

There was a certain implication in his tone, but Annette didn’t quite catch it. She was too busy coming to terms with the reality that she had truly become a child again.

And to think that the body she’d assumed was that of a ten-year-old was about the same size as the eight-year-old Crown Prince—who was considered small for his age.

If she’d known this would happen, she wouldn’t have answered so confidently that she was ten.

Annette rubbed her face with her small hands, her expression troubled.

Seeing this, Lucius barely managed to suppress a laugh. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he rummaged through his robes.

“Come to think of it, there was something I meant to give you, Princess. I almost forgot.”

“…A purification stone?” Annette asked, immediately recognizing the small white stone that glowed with holy energy.

“Yes. Since you were covered in monster blood, purification is necessary—but it would be difficult for you to enter the temple in your current condition. Of course, we could instruct them to keep quiet, but since it’s not within the palace grounds…”

“I’m fine with that. It’s safer if fewer people know about my current state. And… it’s actually better for me if I don’t have to receive purification from a priest.”

It’s less troublesome, and more convenient.

Realizing she’d spoken too frankly, Annette added the last part quietly, feeling a little embarrassed.

But in truth, she was genuinely relieved she didn’t have to go to the temple.

It wasn’t just because she wanted to keep her condition secret. Every time she visited the temple in the Kingdom of Hayworth after finishing a subjugation mission, she vividly remembered the way the priests looked at her—with thinly veiled unease.

Watching them perform purification with obvious reluctance, it was painfully clear what they were thinking.

‘Purifying the seed of a monster—aren’t we just wasting divine power?’

Every time, she had desperately wished for a purification stone—something sold only at the Grand Temple of the Alkan Empire.

The purification stone was a masterpiece created by Emperor Lucius, mobilizing both the temple and the mage tower. Rumor had it that he’d made it specifically for his younger brother, Grand Duke Hargent.

‘They said the Duke missed the proper purification timing during a monster subjugation and ended up with a grotesque appearance.’

Though vastly more expensive than the donation required for priestly purification, purification stones were portable and convenient. Their popularity was immense—knight orders and even mercenaries heading far off on monster hunts always stopped by the Alkan capital to purchase them.

The Hayworth Royal Knights, however, were an exception.

Their allocated budget was never generous, and the royal family refused permission, saying there was no need to travel all the way to the Alkan Empire just to buy purification stones.

It was because she was the commander.

They had been deliberately uncooperative.

That was why Annette had felt an even stronger sense of responsibility, always stepping forward to face monsters herself. But now that she could no longer do so, her thoughts lingered on the subordinates she’d left behind.

‘Could I ask for purification stones to be sold at the Hayworth temple as well?’

If that were possible, the royal family wouldn’t be able to make excuses anymore.

Even so, Annette found it difficult to bring herself to say it aloud.

Through this political marriage, the Alkan Empire had promised military assistance to Hayworth in the event of a Bayendor invasion.

And though she hadn’t even been allowed to check the list herself, she’d overheard the delegation boasting that the Empire would be sending an enormous amount of gifts to the Kingdom.

‘And yet… I couldn’t even prepare a dowry.’

Of course, that was because the Alkan Empire had said there was no need.

Still, as a princess marrying into another nation, Annette had assumed Hayworth would at least prepare the bare minimum, if only for appearances.

Instead, the King of Hayworth had sent her to the Empire truly empty-handed.

Anyone who knew how Hayworth’s treasury had been filled over the years would find the decision absurd.

Unaware of all this, Annette thought quietly to herself,

‘Right. The Empire extending its hand to form an alliance in the first place was already overwhelming generosity. Wanting anything more than that would be shameless.’

And now that the knight order had been reorganized, surely the royal family wouldn’t treat them so harshly anymore.

Clinging to that belief, Annette let go of her lingering regrets and reached out to accept the purification stone from the Emperor—

Zap.

Her palm stung, as if from a sudden static shock.

Startled, she looked up at Lucius, but even as their eyes met, he showed no sign of agitation—only a gentle smile.

Instead, as though he’d been curious ever since she recognized the stone, he asked,

“There’s no record of the Hayworth Royal Knights purchasing purification stones… Do you happen to know how to use one?”

“…Yes. I received one as a gift before.”

Being given a “gift” was rare enough that Annette recalled the surprise she’d felt back then, nodding slowly.

She deliberately avoided the curious looks on Lucius’s and Charlotte’s faces and closed her mouth.

For reasons she couldn’t explain, she didn’t want to tell anyone about that incident.

Just then, one of the Empress’s attendants entered the banquet hall and delivered a message from the Dowager Empress’s palace.

“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has requested a tea time this afternoon?”

“Yes. She specifically instructed that you bring along your distinguished guest.”

At the maid’s words, Lucius frowned slightly.

“You’ve already informed Mother?”

“Yes… It couldn’t be helped. We had to urgently secure—”

“Ah. Well, the palace is…”

After asking Annette for her understanding, Lucius and Charlotte began speaking quietly to each other with serious expressions.

“At this rate… she might be quite shocked…”

“But it’s not something we can avoid…”

Trying to remain polite, Annette turned her head, attempting not to listen—but the mention of the Empress Dowager, and the way the Emperor and Empress kept glancing at her, made her ears prick up despite herself.

When their discussion ended, Charlotte spoke carefully, as though broaching a delicate subject.

“Sir Hayworth… It seems you’ll need to accompany me this afternoon to meet Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

“…Pardon? But my current condition—”

“She already knows, so there’s no need to worry about that.”

Even though she’d half expected this, Annette felt her heart drop.

Only now did it occur to her how naturally the Emperor and Empress had accepted her condition—and that realization made her uneasy.

How would the most senior figure in the palace, the Empress Dowager, react?

Remembering the hushed conversation she’d overheard, Annette’s anxiety deepened.

‘She might take this opportunity to suggest changing the bride.’

Annette thought of Bridget, who had once cried childishly, saying she didn’t want to marry, and let out a silent sigh.

Still, she steeled herself.

There would be time to worry later. First, she had to face what was directly in front of her.

“Are you very worried?” Charlotte asked.

“…Pardon?”

“You look extremely tense.”

Annette nodded at Charlotte’s words.

Honestly, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this anxious.

‘Even my first monster subjugation was less nerve-racking than this.’

Before visiting the Dowager Empress’s palace, they shattered the purification stone and completed the purification process. While attendants helped her dress and groom herself again, her thoughts were in utter turmoil.

What if her body never returned to normal?

What if Bridget never changed her mind?

What if all of this ended up jeopardizing the alliance?

Seeing how distressed Annette was, the maid who had trimmed her hair that morning tried to comfort her, saying it seemed to have grown a bit already.

Annette appreciated the kindness, but she couldn’t really feel any change in her body.

“…Haa.”

When Annette let out a deep sigh, Charlotte chuckled softly.

“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is a good person. She’s kinder than she looks, and very warm-hearted. Though…”

Though what…?

Annette looked at Charlotte anxiously as she trailed off.

“In any case, there’s no need to worry too much. Of course, it’s your first time meeting the woman who’ll become your mother-in-law, so it’s only natural to be nervous…”

“…What?”

Annette’s eyes flew wide open.

Mother-in-law? Mother-in-law?

Come to think of it—she really was her future mother-in-law.

Up until now, Annette had come here thinking only about whether the alliance might fall apart.

But hearing Charlotte say it out loud made her suddenly realize that this was her first formal meeting with the mother of the man who would become her husband.

Her scalp prickled, and the tension only worsened.

Just then—

“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager invites you to enter.”

The doors to the reception room of the Dowager Palace swung open.

Thump. Thump.

Her heart pounded wildly.

She had come to the Empire for a political marriage—yet how foolish was she, to only now realize that the Empress Dowager would soon be her mother-in-law?

Struggling to calm herself, Annette stepped into the reception room. Determined not to make any mistakes this time, she carefully repeated the motions she’d rehearsed countless times in her head.

She stepped her left foot back, lightly lifted the hem of her skirt, and bent her knee.

As a princess.

…As a prospective daughter-in-law.

“Annette of Hayworth humbly greets Her Majesty the Empress Dowager of the Alkan Empire.”

Just as she relaxed, believing she’d completed the greeting without any major missteps—

Silence.

No response came in the quiet reception room.

Unable to raise her head, Annette lowered her gaze and endured the heavy stillness.

And then—