The Empress dowager who in a hushed tone called me, stretched out her hand to me.
I carefully handed her the incense.
Her Majesty lit the incense, placing it in her hands as she bowed her head.
The smoke from the smoldering incense permeated throughout.
Breathing in the incense, I was quickly lost in thought.
‘I’m really glad I could give a hand in changing all the maids of the Empress dowager’s palace last time.’
Five years ago, there was a tea time hosted by the Empress dowager.
Under the pretext of a problem between me and the Empress dowager’s maids, the Empress dowager was able to do her best in filtering out the Emperor’s spies.
Those five years have passed since then.
During that time, the Empress dowager was somewhat freed from the Emperor’s influence.
That’s why we could make this meeting happen.
‘Did Damian safely meet the Empress dowager?’
I glanced at the Empress dowager’s face from the side.
Behind the long veil, glimpses of her Majesty’s face could be seen.
The Empress dowager was actually the handmaiden from the Empress dowager’s palace disguised as her.
***
Damian rode his horse to the front gates of the imperial palace.
The appearance of the crown prince was staggeringly shabby.
The gates were void of people.
A far cry from the outpour of cheers and farewells a prince should receive, there wasn’t even the shadow of a person in sight.
Nevertheless, Damian’s face remained steadfast.
He had never held such expectations from the start.
But the sad thing is….
‘….Lize.’
Damian still thought of Charlize last night who didn’t cry and kept her lips closed.
She seemed all right when they parted.
“Ha.”
He let out a brief sigh.
At least Charlize could see his face yesterday, he didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye to his grandmother.
She looked so old when he saw her at the harvest festival.
“If I leave like this now, when will we ever get to see each other again…”
“Dian!”
Then, someone who disregarded her surroundings called out to Damian.
It was a nickname he hadn’t heard in ages.
Startled, Damian looked back in a whirlwind of emotions.
From afar, a woman with a veil covering her face staggered as she ran towards Damian.
“Dian, my dear Damian!”
“….nana, grandma?!”
In an instant, his scarlet eyes widened.
Damian jumped off his horse.
The woman removed her veil.
The face of the Empress dowager with tears streaking down her face was revealed.
….could it really be?
Damian looked up at the Empress dowager with a stunned expression.
“I-I, is it….are you grandma mama?”
“Yes Dian, it’s me,” cried the Empress dowager with tears of joy.