An attendant approached and carefully began combing Andrea’s long hair. Andrea stared blankly at his own reflection in the large, spotless mirror.

The bright blond hair and white face were exactly like Michael’s with his eyes closed. And the light green eyes staring back from the mirror were...

‘Your eyes are the color of newly sprouted, tender, fresh grass. It is as if God has placed the breath of life within your eyes.’

He remembered what Kiel had said long ago, as he gently touched the corner of his eyes.

Now that he had become “your majesty,” couldn’t he find Kiel? The appearance of the man from yesterday, whose existence he could not tell was a vision or not, perhaps had been a divine revelation that he might meet Kiel again.

A hope he had never once dreamed of in all those years, no, a hope he had not been able to dream, came alive and twitched faintly.

The attendant’s hands combing his hair were so skilled, Andrea did not feel his scalp tighten even once while he was brushing it. The long blond hair that the abbot had firmly forbidden them to cut flowed smoothly like a skein of pure gold thread, thanks to the careful brushing. The attendant loosely braided his hair into one plait, then tied it with an embroidered ribbon studded with jewels and let it hang over his chest.

“How would you like your breakfast?”

The chief attendant came over and asked. Andrea sent him a look as if asking what that meant. As though he had been waiting for it, the chief attendant offered Andrea a choice.

“Upon hearing that your majesty has awakened, the nobles who rushed here have all gathered in the dining room and are waiting to eat with your majesty. But since your mood may still not be at ease, it may be best to have breakfast here, privately, with Duke Fernan.”

Of the two choices the chief attendant presented, there was only one he could choose anyway.

“I’ll eat with Duke Fernan.”

When Andrea said that, the chief attendant looked toward the attendants standing by as if he had known it would be so.

Andrea sat in the chair the chief attendant pulled out for him and fiddled with the splendid clothes he had never worn in his life. The luxurious fabric brushing beneath his fingers and the feel of the beautiful embroidery on it were utterly unfamiliar. Perhaps because he had worn only shabby, rough monastic robes for so long, the touch of the soft cloth wrapped around his body did not feel familiar.

“Your majesty. Duke Fernan has arrived.”

The chief attendant informed Andrea in a gentle voice. Andrea reflexively tried to spring up from his seat, but when he saw the chief attendant give a slight shake of his head, he sank back down awkwardly.

“A beautiful morning, your majesty.”

Duke Fernan strode over, knelt on one knee beside Andrea, and held out his hand. Andrea, taking the hint, lightly placed his hand on it. Duke Fernan lightly kissed the back of Andrea’s hand and stood up.

“To see you in such good health, this maternal uncle is truly relieved.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Was that enough of a reply?

When Andrea looked over, Duke Fernan smiled with his eyes as if to say well done.

On the round table right beside the large window, plates steaming with warm food were set down. Stew packed with expensive spices, fresh ingredients, and plenty of meat. White bread that looked as soft and fluffy as clouds. Meat dripping with juices and fresh vegetables. Precious foods he had never even imagined, let alone seen, in the monastery filled the table.

Andrea looked at the mouthwatering food for a moment, then picked up his utensils. Fortunately, he had once learned the basics of using utensils in the mansion where he had lived until his early teens. Without that experience, he would have been flustered, not knowing what to do with the utensils laid out in a row.

After confirming that Andrea had begun eating the stew, Duke Fernan slowly began his own meal. Perhaps because the tension in his body had eased a great deal from the warm bath, or perhaps because the food was so soft and delicious. It went down better than he had feared.

There was no need to worry about the order of the meal. The attendant standing beside him cut and served the food on his own. Whenever Andrea glanced over once, the attendant would catch it like a ghost and serve him a portion small enough to fit in one bite.

“Is there anything uncomfortable?”

“Everything is good... no, everything is good.”

“That is a relief. Everyone here has served your majesty closely for a long time, so I believe you will become accustomed to them quickly.”

“Mm.”

Andrea let out an uncertain sound because he did not know how else to answer.

“We have informed the imperial palace that your majesty has lost your memory. If you return today, I do not think there will be any reason for your mood to be disturbed.”

“...That is a relief.”

“Yes, your majesty. When you return, though you may be somewhat tired, it would be best to meet the Empress Dowager first. Her majesty must be terribly worried.”

“The Empress Dowager, you say?”

Andrea asked softly, with shaken eyes. His mother, who had saved him when she should have killed Andrea without a trace under the former emperor’s orders. His biological mother, who had given birth to him.

Even for Andrea, who had never thought about blood relations or longed for them, she was an existence that could not fail to stir his heart.

“Yes, your majesty. Is she not the one who loves your majesty most devotedly in this world? I am sure she will be happier than anyone to see you return so healthy.”

Duke Fernan’s words carried an ambiguous meaning. He was subtly saying that she would be glad that it was Andrea, not Michael, who had returned. Andrea placed a hand over the dull ache in his chest and gave a small nod.

What would the Empress Dowager feel when Michael, whom she had raised with her own hands, died and Andrea, whom she had sent far away and hidden, was returned to her? Would she truly welcome Andrea? Or would she shed blood tears inside and only pretend to welcome “your majesty”?

His mind grew complicated. His chest felt strangely unsettled too.

“Is your stomach unwell?”

The chief attendant asked quickly. Andrea nodded and set down his utensils. The chief attendant handed him warm, fragrant tea. Andrea sipped it little by little and soothed his churning stomach.

***

After finishing breakfast and resting for a while, Andrea left the villa with Duke Fernan. This place, which had seemed like nothing more than a large stone mansion on the night they arrived, was said to be the emperor’s hunting villa. The emperor had been injured while hunting in the vast forest spread out behind the villa.

Andrea gave the villa, which was quite beautiful and atmospheric unlike how it had looked in the dark, a once-over, then climbed into the splendid carriage with the support of an attendant. The nobles who had rushed over upon hearing of the emperor’s accident, perhaps to confirm the emperor’s life or death up close, mounted their own horses one by one and followed behind the carriage.

Andrea occasionally glanced through the window at the nobles trailing behind, trying hard to find the black-haired man. But as if he had truly been a vision, he did not appear in Andrea’s sight again. Since he had kept hoping, the deep disappointment rising in him could not be helped.

The carriage traveled at a slow pace for about half a day.

When going to the villa, the carriage window was completely covered by cloth, but today was different. Andrea leaned back in the soft, comfortable chair and watched the scenery passing by outside the window. It was, truly, a wondrous and marvelous sight.

Even in the mansion where he had been confined until his early teens, in the forest near the mansion that he sometimes crawled out to see through a hole in the wall, and in the monastery where he had lived ever since, the appearance of the “outside world” was something precious beyond measure.

“Your majesty’s eyes look as if you have returned to being a child.”

Duke Fernan, seated opposite him, said in a voice tinged with amusement. There was not the slightest trace of reproach in the blue eyes looking at Andrea. They were simply eyes looking fondly at a young nephew.

“Since I have no memory, everything only looks new to me... no, it does look that way.”

At Andrea’s words, Duke Fernan gave a small laugh.

“Perhaps when you arrive at the imperial palace, you will see many more wondrous and precious things. All the scenery you see outside the window now, and everything and everyone you will see from here on, belong to your majesty, and are also your majesty’s retinue.”

Duke Fernan said it as if making Andrea aware of his position.

“…Mm.”

Andrea let out an ambiguous sound and turned his gaze back out the window. It seemed it would take quite some time to adjust to this new and luxurious world.

“We will soon enter the imperial capital, Siroyan.”

Duke Fernan said. Just as he said, the carriage passed through a grand city gate, as if it had entered the imperial capital. The gate was guarded by soldiers in splendid attire, holding long spears. They bowed respectfully toward Andrea’s carriage.