Ah.

‘You really believe it, Annette.’

—Sislin will return.

Heinrich smiled brightly as he looked at Annette’s assured face.

‘It’s so like Sister.’

Yes, that was one of the reasons he loved Annette.

She always looked like she was as sweet and fragile as a sugar cookie, but inside her heart she had strong beliefs and convictions that no one else could touch.

Seeing her beliefs led her to happiness, Heinrich could be a little happier too. He realized it now.

Heinrich stood next to Annette and looked at the river together.

The cool wind was kind of lonely, but..

“Well, wouldn’t it be nice to show everyone the authority of the new tower lord?”

“....!”

Somehow, it felt good.

Seeing Annette’s smiling face made him feel more at ease.

“If the tower lord and the Duchess of Valienne say that, the state council will have no choice but to make that decision.”

“..Thank you, Heinrich.”

It must have been a concern in her heart, judging by her small smile now.

“Ah, it’s because I’m too lazy to even attend the funeral of a guy I hate to see.”

“..Heinri.”

This time, her light green eyes were a little droopy.

Heinrich smiled playfully and grabbed Annette’s hand.

Then he said quietly.

“He will definitely be back, that man.”

“.....”

“I don’t really like him, but I admit that he is very strong-willed. Even in Bayonaire, he found you before me.”

“.....”

“It was also he who followed you until the end when you left the Forest.”

‘Maybe that’s why I didn’t win your heart. I think I was..’

‘..a little less desperate than the opponent.’

He feared and worried that she would leave, but for that guy, those fears and worries were always second.

Just as if today was his last, he always desperately did his best to pursue and love her.

‘I lost.’

So now, let’s admit defeat.

Even when the whole world believed in his death, in front of her, who was confident and believed in Sislin..

Unlike himself, who made her cry by acting like a fool, the only way to beat Sislin, who risked his life to save her.

It’s..

“Sister, you must be happy.”

“.....”

It’s putting her happiness ahead of his fears and longings.

“Remember? When I was young, you always read children’s books with happy endings at my bedside.”

Annette’s eyes trembled finely, like a halo of lights embroidering the river.

Heinrich raised the corners of his lips.

“I first learned from listening to those fairy tales that people’s lives can end happily.”

“.....”

“Before that, it was natural for life to be unhappy.”

Now, he felt he could understand the heart of the person who told him happy endings.

―You can be happy too, you too can be happy. She was praying for it.

The person who wrote the story must have felt the same way.

“Now I will wish you a perfect happy ending.”

“..Heinrich.”

“So, Sislin, he will definitely come back.”

‘Like the happy fairy tales you read at my bedside when you were little.’

‘Let’s.. be happy. Annette.’

The imperfect and fearful love had finally deepened and ripened, and her happiness was now his.

‘Please be miraculously happy.’

“Thank you.”

At Annette’s reply, Heinrich smiled comfortably and grabbed her hand.

The two of them held hands and looked at the river for a long time.

The white flower buds of the hawthorn surrounding them swayed in the wind.

━━━━???━━━━

El Dorado gradually found stability.

Meanwhile, Annette received letters, flowers and gifts from countless people every day.

Victoria raised her eyebrows.

“Hmm, this is the 119th bouquet. In the future, flowers should be banned.”

Surrounded by gift boxes, Annette said as if she was troubled.

“..Please ban all gifts, Victoria.”

“It can’t happen!”

Victoria dared to contradict, sternly raising her finger.

“The Duchess saved the empire. no! It’s like saving the world.”

‘..Huh, suddenly, the world?’

‘I can feel some great bean pods and praise, Victoria.’

“Gerard, if you hadn’t stopped the evil one, wouldn’t he have the ambition to become the ruler of the world? So, you’re the hero of our country and the savior of the world. A million more of these gifts are not enough!”

“.....”

‘A bread lover is the savior of the world?!’

Annette wanted to refute something, but she gave up because Victoria’s eyes were too bright.

But the invitations of the minstrels must be stopped.

This was happening because Victoria had expressed her aspirations to set up a statue of the ‘Duchess of Valienne’ in the square and make the minstrels sing songs of praise to the world.

..It was really serious.

‘It’s hard to go out even now.’

Whenever Annette went out, someone would always come and ask for a handshake or opportunity to chat.

Also, with very passionate eyes.

It was scary at times.

..It’s like the whole empire has become a ‘obsessive maniac’?

‘If I get even a little more popular, I’ll be locked up at home.’

However, contrary to Annette’s discomfort, it was only natural that the status of Valienne, which had been quiet for a long time because the previous head had been ill, rose at once.

‘Will my mother like it?’

This was something she could be sure of.

She was sure her mother would like it. She seemed to be watching her daughter doing well, her love who she had tried to keep.

Even from afar..

That alone put Annette’s mind at ease.

“Duchess!”

“Yes? ..Please bear with the minstrels, Victoria.”

In front of Annette who somehow became lost in her thoughts, Victoria received a letter from a maid and said,

“It seems that new charges were revealed before the trial of the former first prince.”

“....!”

Annette’s eyes widened.

‘The death penalty is pretty much confirmed, but there’s other charges?’

━━━━???━━━━

It started with the declaration of one of the Morserk clan who was working in the imperial court.

“Gerard, he is not of His Majesty’s blood in the first place!”

She said that she had helped transform Gerard into a prince in accordance with the wishes of her clan long ago, but she became increasingly skeptical.

It was an action for the revival of the clan, but Gerard tried to annihilate the clan.

She was the only surviving Morserk, who managed to save her life by hiding her identity, but she said that she always lived a life of regret.

She said again.

“It was something that should never be done for the sake of the family or the country.. I’m telling you the truth to fix everything right now!”

Those remarks changed the mood of the empire.

Although Gerard was a traitor who attacked the country, he was a prince who was respected by the people of the empire.

And there were clearly those who did not want Sislin to be the crown prince.

They had been defending Gerard, the only remaining imperial bloodline.

Such ones had even been protesting against the death penalty.

―But, he wasn’t even a prince in the first place?

El Dorado was taken aback, and before the trial, an investigation to finally reveal the truth began.

This time, Gerard had to stand in the place where Sislin had proven that he was of the imperial blood with his own blood.

(TL/N: remember, our boy didn’t just waltz into the palace. I mean, he kinda did, but he didn’t exactly smoothly obtain his ‘prince’ status.)

It was there that it was discovered that Gerard’s blood did not belong to the imperial family.

At that moment, everyone’s dagger-like gaze turned to Gerard.

“No!!! The test results are wrong! I am Gerard von Axelferion. The prince who was respected by El Dorado!”

“.....”

“Have you not bowed your head and served me all your life? Have you all forgotten?”

“.....”

“This is a set up! There’s no way I’m not of imperial blood!”

Gerard frantically tried to explain, but it seemed just a madman’s cry.

The nobles who supported Gerard to the end and believed in his innocence were greatly disappointed on the spot, and the news immediately spread throughout El Dorado.

There was no one to defend him anymore.

—It was a complete downfall.

And..

On the afternoon of the day of the uproar, Annette held her mother’s funeral.

The funeral was held quietly, but it was as dignified as there was care; it bore an atmosphere where the deceased could be sent comfortably.

Annette quietly greeted her mother by scattering flowers at the induction ceremony.

To her mother, whom she had never even talked to, Annette seemed to be able to speak confidently and comfortably now.

‘Goodbye, Mom.’

Now, feel at ease.

‘Everything you have passed on, I will carry on well.’

‘Don’t fret any longer and sleep comfortably.’

That afternoon..

One of the people at the funeral stopped by to see Annette.

“..Annette.”

A bouquet of flowers was held in the man’s hand. He smiled softly.

Annette rose and greeted him.

“Welcome, Kyle.”

Ame:?:”) is it just me, or have all our main characters matured? A?MINOR?VERY IMPORTANT SPOILER for the last main story episode.. *drumrolls* NUMBER 19 FINALLY GETS A NAME!!! Hahahaha I just had to say it here cause it’ll definitely be swallowed up by.. *looks left and right, and shuts up*

Anyway! It’s been a few novels, but I still hate the feeling of nearing/reaching the ending ;-; The kkp announcement makes me think there’ll be side stories though!!! Please keep praying along with me?

Tassie:?Oh my god, I can’t believe we are already almost at the end!! Look at how much all of our babies have grown ;-; putting Annette’s happiness above their own