In any case, to the two-year-old baby, it was a mystery shell.

“Mistew Shew…mistew shew,” she said. “How aw you?”

This was a basic greeting Helena had taught her during the morning lessons. It was used when talking with a new acquaintance.

Helen laughed and knelt down. “Pardon me, Your Highness,” she said, as she carefully wrapped her arms around the baby to lift her up.

The old woman carefully carried the baby Princess back to the private living room of the palace. This was where the royal family often spent their time as a family (in contrast to the larger living areas for guests) when they just wanted to chat among themselves.

Sometimes, the Prince’s tutoring sessions could be held here, too. Baby Evie liked it best when they were there because she could listen from the side.

Baby Evie was placed in her favorite seat, holding the shell. She was bored, so she continuously talked to it. The little girl didn’t have friends her age and was a bit lonely.

“Mistew Shew, how was yew day?” she asked. This was always a question her mother or her brother would ask her after a long day apart. When there was no answer, Evie answered her own question instead.

“I wowk up ewy today, but food was bowing,” she mumbled. “Dunno why tho. Evee one seems fine.”

“I weawned many things today, aways howd head up hai, back stait,” she said, lifting her chin up and straightening her back as she sat there, though she slouched again after that. “It was tiwing tho…”

She continued to complain, chattering for hours about the most banal things.

She didn't know why, but she felt like she could talk to the shell.

“How is yow food Mistew Shew?” She asked, but then she paused, recalling where the shell had been found. “Ah, you wew in twunk. Aw you hungwy?”

“You can hav my dinnew today. Is not vewy good anyways.”

The maids at the side giggled, but they were trained to maintain a low profile, so they just let the cute princess be. It wasn’t like they were allowed to act so closely with the royals anyway, at least not unless she called for them and explicitly ordered them to play with her.

This was the standard etiquette of maids here, and it was inevitably a little lonely for the princess.

That said, they all took note of what the princess was saying, because it would give them insight into her thoughts and, hopefully, they could improve their services somehow.

The princess’ endless chatter went on until dinner time, when her mother arrived.

Next to her were her two handmaids, Penny and Leah, who were polar opposites of each other in all aspects. One had a plain face, but had a vivacious atmosphere around her, while the other was beautiful, but seemed to have a perennial frown on her face.

Anyway, Celeste blinked when she realized that there was no baby princess to greet her as usual. The maids smiled and told her where the baby was, only for Celeste to see her relaxing on the sofa with a somewhat familiar item in her hand.

Celeste’s pretty eyebrows rose up in interest as she walked over to look closer. Amusingly, when she tried to borrow it, the baby held on to it with her whole small body, pouting at her.

Celeste and the other maids giggled. She leaned down and kissed the baby’s forehead, reassuring her that she was only taking a look.

“So it is that thing…” she said, the spark of recognition flickering in her eyes.

“Do you remember what it is, Mistress?” Helena asked, quite curious herself.

“We have always known it’s a magic tool of sorts based on the mana signature, but we couldn't determine what it is used for…” she said.

“It was already in the Glenhart Estate when I was young,” she added, eyes glazed with a bit of nostalgia. “It was just…there, really.”

Celeste handed the shell back to the baby while she lifted her up, then carried her to the dining room, where the food was already prepared.

The food was especially luscious today.

This was because there was an occasion: The Prince’s birthday, though the boy had specifically said not to celebrate—he had even sent a letter to remind her last night—which was why things were so low-key.

However, as a mother, she couldn’t really allow things to be completely as usual, right? At least the food had to be special!

Oh, and her daughter looked especially cute today! Fortunately, the royal seamstress had accepted the modifications she had asked for, so Evie was comfortable enough in a fancier-than-usual dress.

Although there was already a high chair prepared, Celeste opted to carry her baby in her lap while they waited for the celebrant. It couldn’t be helped; she was just too cute!

Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long as new footsteps sounded near their halls. They turned to look, their eyes sparkling when they saw who it was.

Prince Elric.

The young boy— just turning eight years old at this time—was already strikingly handsome. His back was ramrod straight, and there was a stable aura about him, making him appear dignified and dependable even at such a young age.

He had inherited his mother’s platinum hair and soft features, but—unlike Evie—he had inherited his father's dark, almost black, blue eyes.

There was also a smile fixed on his face, something he never stopped wearing, no matter the situation.

It was an infamous smile in their circle. Celeste had heard that many of his peers (and adults) called it creepy. After all, even when the younger prince or some other relative insulted Elric, he would still keep this smile on his face, remaining polite no matter what.

Celeste knew he wore this mask to stay strong—to pretend he was unaffected. From a young age, he had to learn to keep himself out of trouble when other people kept trying to pull him in.

However, he was only eight. How could she—a mother—feel comfortable?

One of her biggest dreams was to see him acting spoiled like he had when he was a baby.

Celeste wanted to tell him he need not put so much pressure on himself, but she knew it would do him no good.

It was also why she respected his decision not to celebrate his birthday again this year, despite his other siblings (from the Queen) turning theirs into city-wide events.

A party in their situation would simply add more strain to the already sensitive line they all had to walk on.

Fortunately, at least when he was with them, his smile would turn genuine.

“Bwothew!” the daughter in her arms yelled, reaching her little arms to the young boy.

Celeste smiled and put the baby down. The little girl quickly ran to her brother, and the sound of her little footsteps pattering across the floor softened the hearts of those around her.

The family sat down at the dining table, with their mother sitting on one side with the baby next to her, while Elric was sitting across from them. Lastly, the head seat was empty. It was supposed to be for the children’s father, also known as the King of this country.

And it had never been filled. Ever.

Celeste did, however, hope that tonight would be an exception. She had sent an invite early this morning (with Elric’s reluctant permission), but it seemed like that man wasn’t going to come again today either.

After an hour of waiting, Celeste’s eyebrows had furrowed, Elric’s smile had faded, and Evie’s cheeks had puffed as she pouted. She had been asked to behave for forever now, and nothing was happening. Her bum was itchy!

Celeste turned her head slightly to the side, and her head maid immediately understood the instruction. “I’ll get someone to check, Milady,” Helena said, looking at Penny who immediately went out to check.

A few minutes later, Penny arrived with a dark expression on her face. “The King is with that woman again,” she said, gritting her teeth. “He’s with her every time! He—”

She was stopped by Leah who grabbed her arm. “Hush, the princess is here,” she said. “Also, ‘that woman’ is—for better or for worse—still the Queen of this country. Be careful what you utter.”

Penny tutted and crossed her arms, looking away.

Fortunately, Evelina was busy looking at the food and didn’t even hear them.

Celeste sighed, while Elric’s expression was mild, though his eyes were dark.

“Well, the food would taste worse with him here anyway,” he said, making the rest of them blink in surprise. It was unlike him to make such a comment—and more so about the King.

However, no one reprimanded him.

They all agreed, anyway.

…

That night, while holding her favorite shell, Baby Evie watched her mother get prepared for bed, though she seemed to move a little slower than usual.

The baby tilted her head as she watched. Children were said to have special senses in them, even if they didn’t understand what was going on.

She felt her mother was sad, and she wanted to offer comfort. However, because her understanding was limited, all she could do was send several hugs and kisses.

Fortunately, it brought a large smile on her mother’s face, and was reciprocated in kind.

However, later that night, when Celeste thought Evie was asleep, she continued to stare at the ceiling. Unable to fall asleep, she sat up and headed to their study to read some parchments to pass the time.

Unbeknownst to her, Little Evelina was woken up by the movement. It was just that she was too groggy to react before her mother left the room.

The baby pouted, immediately feeling lonely. “Mummy…?” she mumbled, but no one came. At this, she sat up on the bed, grabbing the shell that laid still on the nightstand.

After grabbing it with her small hands, she walked back to the middle of the bed with her tiny feet, flopping down on the bed and laying down with it.

She treated it like her own personal silent listener.

“Hewo Mistew Shew, aw you asweep?” she asked. “I’m not,” she said, stating the obvious. “I’m sowy for waking you up…

“Mummy left me alone… she never leaves me alone…” she said. At the very least—in the middle of the night and in bed—she had never been away from her mother (while she was awake, anyway).

“My dad didin come today again…mummy and bwothew aw sad…” she continued.

While she didn’t fully understand all the implications at her young age, she just felt the emotion, and it reflected in her tone.

Unexpectedly, just as she was about to fall asleep—inexplicably lulling herself with her own voice—a sound came out of the shell, responding to her, and immediately jolting her awake.

“Are you sad?”