Chapter – 06

“Father loves Mother. More than anyone else in the world. Then he should stay by her side. Mother will need him, you know.”

When Mother eventually passed away, Father would have wanted, if he could, to follow her.

But he couldn’t, and that’s why Father fell ill.

Etern reached out and firmly grasped Winter’s fingers. He had expected them to be cold, but they were not. They were hot, almost boiling, and solid.

Yet he still seemed empty. It was as if he could neither see nor hear anything.

“I’m sorry for being a coward. But I know how much Father loves Mother.”

For a brief moment, Winter’s black eyes wavered.

Etern silently prayed that her words would reach her father, and spoke again earnestly.

“Mother may be asleep, but she will be waiting for Father. Even in her dreams.”

A faint glimmer appeared in the black eyes that had seemed hollow.

Seeing Winter’s expression soften slightly, Etern breathed a quiet sigh of relief—but then he let out a sad chuckle.

“How would you know such a thing?”

Tears streaked down Etern’s face, but she smiled brightly. A smile so radiant, so pure, it seemed capable of lifting even the deepest darkness from Winter’s heart.

“I also hope that every night, Father and Mother appear in my dreams. And Dora too.”

“Dora?”

“Yes. They are the people I love most in the world, so I want to see them even in my dreams.”

Her voice was pure, unshadowed. Winter’s fingertips twitched. Slowly, he lowered his gaze to see the fingers of the daughter holding his hand.

They were so small, so delicate.

[Winter, look at this. How can they be so tiny and fragile…?]

After Etern was born, Maikelrun had kissed the tiny fingers of the swaddled baby countless times, saying:

[Our first child.]

Even though the pains of childbirth must not have fully left her body, her face shone with joy, like the abundance of nature itself.

But that joy did not last.

[Mei!]

Etern tumbled from her mother’s arms, her tiny mouth wide open as if foreshadowing the sorrow to come.

Her little hand, freed from the swaddling, flailed awkwardly as if searching for her mother.

“Father.”

Winter, lost in thought, was suddenly brought back by her voice. He looked up and then returned his gaze to the daughter holding his hand.

Over it, he seemed to see the soft hand of Maikelrun layered above.

“Father should visit Mother every day. Call to her. Then perhaps she might wake sooner.”

“There’s no such thing as a miracle.”

“But… maybe there is! If Father keeps speaking to her, she might see him in her dreams, and then she might really want to see him and open her eyes!”

Please listen to me, Etern thought.

Father needs hope.

Even the faintest hope would be enough. Even the mere expectation that Empress Maikelrun might awaken could help prevent Father from being consumed by despair and rage.

“Do you promise?”

Winter remained silent, and Etern, anxious, pressed further. If he refused, she was prepared to cry and thrash about until she got a promise.

If that doesn’t work… I’ll go on a hunger strike.

“Alright. I understand.”

Etern’s face lit up. Like a morning glory basking in the sun, she felt radiant.

“Then it’s a promise.”

Etern extended her tiny pinky finger, and Winter, with a faint half-smile, tapped hers three times. A silent vow to keep the promise.

Etern grinned and clenched his lips with determination as she held his hand.

Good, good. This is a fine start. If I can keep Father calm and find a solution quickly, everything will be alright.

“I don’t understand…!”

Her voice rang out loud enough to be heard outside her chambers, startling the servants, who peeked in.

“What is Her Highness doing…?”

“Studying, I suppose.”

“To be so young and already reading such books?”

“Of course. She is the only Princess. Think of how much His Majesty must expect of her.”

“Still…”

The whispering servants scattered to avoid Dora’s sharp gaze. Meanwhile, Etern banged her forehead against the desk, her legs kicking restlessly.

Looking down at her pitifully, Dora said,

“Your Highness, you can read these books when you are older. There’s no need to work so hard now…”

“No!”

Etern lifted her head sharply and snatched the book Dora was organizing. It was heavy, almost slipping from her hands, but she held it firmly.

“Just what are these books? I can’t read a single word, and yet, Your Highness… do you even know which language this is?”

Etern, about to answer, sealed her lips.

It’s the ancient language of the Empire. If I said I could read it, they’d be shocked.

She deliberately adopted a coy expression.

“I’m just reading for fun. The letters are fascinating.”

“Even though there are no pictures?”

“Really! Dora, will you stop interrupting me?”

Etern’s short limbs flailed as she pouted. Dora, helpless, sighed and nodded.

“Very well, Your Highness. I won’t disturb you. Please tell me, though, what snack would you like?”

Etern’s eyes sparkled.

“Orange tea with milk and honey cookies!”

“Understood. I’ll bring them right away.”

Dora hurried from the room, and Etern returned to her book, absorbed. She seemed ready to be swallowed by the massive tome.

Seriously… I can read it, but I can’t understand a single word!

In her previous life, Etern had been fluent in the Empire’s ancient language and several foreign tongues.

And now, after returning to life, her knowledge had expanded, allowing her to read even more difficult scripts with ease.

The problem was…

I can read it, but I can’t understand it at all! How can I find a way to wake Mother like this…

If it were a disease, she could consult medical texts. Etern frowned in thought.

Mother’s condition isn’t caused by any ordinary illness.

Through the knowledge gained in surviving death, she had learned a great deal about medicine.

She knew how to treat common illnesses, rare foreign epidemics, and even life-threatening diseases.

Yet none of them matched her mother’s condition.

A patient can fall into a coma from countless illnesses, but no disease causes someone to simply sleep without any physical changes.

Then only one possibility remained.

Magic… or a curse.

Concluding that her mother’s state was not a disease, Etern turned her attention to ancient books about magic.

Although mages were common only in distant times, invisible magical energy certainly existed.

Such energy could affect the human body. If Mother had been exposed to overwhelming magic, or if the magic within her had suddenly vanished…

Just as the body becomes drowsy and heavy when fatigued, magic can affect the body similarly.

It was likely that Empress Maikelrun could not awaken because she either could not control runaway magic or had lost too much of it.

That’s why I pulled every magical text I could find from the library!

Etern tilted her small head back and sighed while rereading the cryptic text.

“Your Highness! Are you unwell? Do you have a headache?”

Dora returned just then with tea and cookies, startled to see Etern’s expression.

“Quickly, lie down and rest!”

“I’m fine, Dora. It’s just that the book is difficult.”

Dora stamped her foot anxiously.

“Why pile up so many complicated books?”

Etern mumbled, chewing her pointy lips like a bird beak, and reached for a cookie.

Sugar was the best companion when thinking. After quickly finishing her snack, she clenched her fist.

“Alright, back to it.”

“Are you serious, Your Highness?”

“Yes. Even if they don’t come when called, it’s fine.”

Immersed in her book, Etern left Dora no chance for her usual affectionate scolding.

What on earth is she doing…? If she overworks herself and gets sick, it will be disastrous. I should bring her new books today…

Dora sighed, noticing a shadow at her feet. She looked up absentmindedly.

“Ah!”

Startled, she instinctively bowed.

“It’s… His Majesty, the Emperor.”

Their eyes met. Winter’s face was expressionless as he tilted his head.

Dora stood straight, her face pale. She realized she had almost collided with the Emperor.

“Your Highness, thank you for visiting despite your busy schedule.”

“So you are the Princess’s caretaker.”

Dora bowed politely.

“What is the Princess doing?”

“She is reading a book.”

“Reading a book, huh…”

Winter’s gaze swept across the room, cold and impassive.