[IYFILWATIP] Chapter 7

The child was lovely. Everyone in the imperial palace adored her, except for Kirona. Precisely, Kirona could not find it in herself to adore the child, who did not know that Kirona was her mother.

Kirona's expression darkened. Zelda, noticing her mood, cautiously began to speak.
"Your Highness."
"..."
"I've been contemplating whether to speak or not... but Her Highness Yuri has been searching for her mother."
"Did Yuri find out I'm her biological mother? Who told her?"
Kirona's eyes narrowed, suggesting she was ready to throw the culprit into the dungeon immediately. Zelda waved her hands dismissively.
"No, she doesn't know. She's just curious about who her mother is. Recently, she even came alone to your office area... but the knights found her and took her back."
"Tell her the storks brought her to the imperial family."
"Do you think she'd believe such a lie? She's very smart! And honestly, she has eyes! Wouldn't she suspect something seeing someone in the palace who looks just like her? She might guess that person could be her mother!"
Kirona threw a bundle of portraits aside and turned her head away from Zelda's gaze.
"You can't hide it forever."
"Yes, she'll find out eventually. But it's not now. Yuri must not know."
"...at least until I die."
It seemed Zelda understood even the words Kirona couldn't bring herself to say. Zelda did not press further. Kirona sighed and slowly explained.
"Don't talk about Yuri anymore. I know what you're trying to say, but my mind hasn't changed."
"Your Highness."
"I'm going to die anyway. Why are we causing such a fuss trying to fabricate a plausible father for Yuri? I know I won't live long, and having Yuri was just my own selfish desire... Yuri didn't choose this. I can't stay by her side for long."
"..."
"..."
"People find a way to live, even if it hurts."
"It's better not to get hurt if you can avoid it. They say you grow as much as it hurts, but that's all nonsense. I know because I've been through pain."
Fortunately, Yuri is royalty. There are many others who can take care of and love her. So she's not just my child but a child of the Mihadus Empire."
Kirona got up from the desk and crawled into bed, wrapping herself in the blankets and staring intently at Zelda. It was a gesture to stop talking. Zelda put the documents back on the desk and followed Kirona.
"I shouldn't have brought it up."
"Just do your work, Zelda."
"No, let's continue our conversation. It was interesting."
Zelda sat down close to her. Kirona recognised this as Zelda's way of offering comfort.
"What were we talking about?"
"Your Highness's ideal type."
"Are you still talking about that?"
Zelda smiled and urged her on. Kirona narrowed her eyes. After all, this person was as famous for her many men as she was. What was her full name again? Zelda Black. As frivolous as she seemed, during the time of Jade Eclipse, she was a promising candidate for the knights' order that rivalled him. Now, she was a strong candidate for the next chief.
She must miss Jade, too. Kirona felt a strange kinship and began to speak.
"Well, first, he must be handsome. And a man with a strong body. Big and with thick lines. I prefer a warrior to a scholar. But he can't be arrogant. A man as faithful as a dog."
"Blonde? Dark-haired?"
"Dark blonde. A lot of brown mixed in, not too bright."
"Eye colour? I've been liking green lately."
"Deep navy blue..."
Kirona stopped mid-sentence. The image of a man that came to mind was oddly familiar. It seemed Zelda realised the same thing. A moment of silence passed. Kirona coughed and turned her head.
"It's strange how a specific person comes to mind as we talk."
"What a coincidence, Your Highness. I, too, oddly think of a specific person. There was a junior of mine back then, Jade Eclipse, who was well-bred and skilled. His half-and-half face was striking... It reminds me of that rascal."
"Yeah, don't play dumb. I knew him, too. He was my escort, almost exclusively. He's dead now, though."
Zelda was clearly trying to change the subject. What to do? Kirona further dampened the mood with a pointless question.
"What was he like? The Jade Eclipse you knew."
Zelda answered without much thought, heavier than Kirona's lighthearted question deserved.
"A madman."
"..."
"..."
"A madman in love. Hopelessly in unrequited love."
The Jade Eclipse Kirona knew wasn't really someone who fit the word 'mad'. He was presumptuous but generally decent, loyal, and even kind to some extent.
But Zelda seemed not inclined to revise her opinion of Jade. She instead looked at Kirona, demanding an answer.
"Did you really have no feelings for Jade, Your Highness?"