Edwina had already wanted to build a good relationship with Cain, and now that they had opened up to each other, she was quite invested in their conversation.
However, it wasn’t just Cain speaking. He took the opportunity to ask Edwina for basic information about this world.
The two of them chatted for two or three hours. As dusk approached, Edwina felt she had stayed a bit too long and decided to leave of her own accord, fearing she might be impolite otherwise.
Although she wanted to spend more time with Cain, she knew that being too clingy could lead to resentment. Thus, despite her inner reluctance, she bid Cain farewell with perfect decorum.
“I will take my leave now. Thank you for spending so much time with me, Mother.”
Standing at the door, Edwina lifted the sides of her skirt and bowed politely to Cain. Looking at this well-bred, accidental daughter, Cain could only manage a helpless smile.
He didn’t even have a girlfriend yet, and now he suddenly had a daughter this old.
“Yes, let’s chat again when we have time, Edwina.”
“Yes, Mother.”
After giving Cain an elegant and appropriate smile, Edwina opened the door and disappeared from his sight.
Cain settled back down to rest.
Ordinarily, Edwina should have left quickly after exiting the room.
However, that was not the case. She didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she paused outside the door, her gaze slanted toward the floor. The corners of her mouth curled upward unconsciously, and a look of satisfaction filled her mysterious, melancholy violet eyes.
‘It’s so good that Mother hasn’t adopted any other children. It would be even better if Mother could stay in the royal palace forever. Is there some way to make him stay?’
Cain might have thought he had hidden his intentions well, but Edwina was not a thick-skinned person; she was a clever girl with delicate sensibilities.
She had vaguely sensed Cain’s desire to leave the palace.
She didn’t want him to leave. She wanted to see him every day, talk to him, and be praised by him.
She also knew that her mother was a strong-willed person — even the one from another world. His politeness was just a facade; ordinary methods wouldn’t stop Cain once he had made up his mind.
So, was there a way to ensure Cain stayed in the royal palace to be her male mother?
Actually, there was one.
‘Wait… what if I just put Mother and Mother together!’
The thought of such a bold plan made Edwina’s eyes widen with excitement, and a pure, innocent smile of joy appeared on her face.
Others might not be able to stop Cain. After all, looking at Cain felt like looking at Corellia; people were suppressed by the cold and exclusionary aura inherent to both of them.
But what if it was Corellia herself facing Cain?
This way, not only would Cain stay, but for Edwina, having Mother and Mother being close together, with both of them accompanying her and praising her as a qualified princess who didn’t disgrace the royal family… it would be double the happiness!
‘Hehe… hehehe. That’s right. As a partner, no one is more suitable for Mother than Mother herself. Ah, I must thank the Goddess for giving me such a wonderful future ~’
Indulging in her genius idea, Edwina couldn’t help but cover her mouth and giggle happily.
The melancholy that usually filled her eyes was now replaced by a certain fanatical light.
The pale purple eye shadow and lip makeup no longer outlined just a gloomy princess, but someone resembling a beautiful, wicked, and dangerous witch from a fairy tale.
As the saying goes, the quietest people are the most terrifying when they explode. Edwina, who had long craved affection, finally snapped at this moment.
The most critical part was that she was completely unaware of her own abnormality.
Once that peak of satisfaction and excitement passed, she quickly returned to her usual melancholy self. She cupped her face, looking somewhat embarrassed, and murmured to herself.
“Ah, no, I’m getting ahead of myself. It’s too early to be happy. I must think of a truly feasible plan.”
Covering her burning cheeks and feeling shy about her over-excitement, Edwina took several deep breaths. After gradually regaining her composure, she began walking toward her room again, contemplating the specific method to achieve her goal.
Since her voice was very low, no one else could hear her talking to herself.
…However, that didn’t mean her unusual expression had gone unnoticed.
“…”
From a corner on the other side, a pair of emotionless eyes secretly watched everything.
It was Altina Noir, the “cold-blooded” noble daughter who had come specifically to wait at the door after hearing from a maid that Edwina had gone to see Cain.
Even if she couldn’t hear Edwina’s shocking words, that expression alone was enough to indicate a problem.
As a noble of the kingdom and the Queen’s childhood playmate, she had no reason not to inform Her Majesty after seeing the Princess like that.
As for how Her Majesty would judge the situation, that was her business.
However…
“Is that so? I understand. You may leave.”
In the Queen’s private office, Her Majesty showed no reaction even after hearing about her daughter’s odd behavior.
She simply opened her thin lips, coated in ice-blue lipstick, and spoke cold words that suggested she didn’t care about anything.
Her frost-filled eyes were the same, showing not a hint of concern.
“Yes, Queen Corellia.”
Two or three years ago, Altina might have suggested that Corellia should care more about her adopted daughters to prevent any accidents.
But the current Altina no longer bothered with such useless efforts. Facing the Queen’s command, she simply performed a noble court salute to her childhood friend like any ordinary subordinate and left with a cold expression.
Though they were both cold beauties, there were different kinds of “cold.”
Altina wasn’t as exclusionary as Corellia; she just didn’t see the need to wear her emotions on her face.
Now, she was very glad for her rational personality. Otherwise, someone might have discovered what she was thinking.
After all, it was better not to let the Queen know about her dissatisfaction.
After leaving the Queen’s office, Altina walked toward her private lounge.
As the next head of the House of Noir and the head instructor of court swordsmanship for the nobility, she didn’t intend to be a subordinate who only followed the Queen’s orders. She had her own judgment.
To be honest, she had been against Corellia adopting those two as daughters from the start. Adopting two dragons with amnesia as daughters was far too scandalous.
If they stayed in their place, she could turn a blind eye.
But if they caused destruction to this country, then whether it was the evil dragons who luckily obtained royal titles or the Ice Queen who allowed them to act willfully, they would all be her enemies and the enemies of this nation.
At that time, she wouldn’t mind overthrowing the current Queen’s rule.
One had to remember that the Queen wasn’t the only suitable successor in this country. The Queen had a younger half-sister.
Although the younger sister’s side had its own issues, it was still better than an arrogant older sister who refused to communicate with others.
And… now there was another choice: that Prince from another world.
If that Prince was suitable, Altina wouldn’t mind letting him replace the current Queen. She didn’t mind serving a male king.
Corellia had certainly been her friend once, but whether she still was today was hard to say.
Even if she was, Altina could not allow her to do as she pleased with this kingdom.
This kingdom did not belong to the Queen alone.
…In any case, she would continue to monitor the Princesses’ actions while contacting and testing the character of the Prince from another world. If that Prince was truly more suitable to be King, for the sake of the country she loved, she wouldn’t mind offering everything, including her own body.
This was the resolve of the next Duke Noir, Altina Noir.
Gazing out the window at the capital dyed by the blood-red sunset, the cold-blooded girl’s lake-blue eyes — which were somewhat similar to the Ice Queen’s — remained crystal clear, without a hint of hesitation or confusion.
“…Hiss, what’s going on? Why did I suddenly feel a chill? And more than one?”
Meanwhile, the unlucky guy who had no idea he was being targeted looked around after feeling a sudden shiver.
‘How strange. Did I not close the window properly?’
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