It was a complete shift of personality from him who was engaged in a verbal war with the emperor’s delegation just earlier. He held the child affectionately, as soothing his own grandson. Unlike his obstinate impression, Edmund was a person with a delicate side to him.

‘Come to think of it, Arpen was able to survive the bitter cold and overwhelming mana of this territory all thanks to Edmund in the original work.’

That care was cut off following his death.

‘Does Edmund know that the child he’s holding will be the one to end his master’s life in the near future?’

Clette stared at the little boy in her butler’s arms with a perplexed expression. The little boy raised his teary eyes to glance at Clette. But, as soon as their eyes met, she averted her gaze.

“Why on earth did the emperor send the precious prince to this land, your grace? It’s a very dangerous place to send a child to.”

“He wants me to become his guardian.”

“Excuse me?”

Edmund’s astonishment almost made him drop the little boy.

“No way! How do you even raise a child in Velos?! The castle might shield him from the cold and danger but we can’t hold the prince hostage in the castle, now, can we? More importantly, why did he entrust you of all people with this task?”

‘Why, I ought to teach this little…’

No matter how annoyed Clette felt at his words, she couldn’t refute them. Although she caught onto concepts and subjects pretty well, even in her past life, one thing she couldn’t understand in either life, however, was raising living things. Clette had been, and still is, a woman who managed to kill cacti, which are among the easiest living beings to raise and look after.

“The boy might be a prince but he’s an illegitimate one. He can’t formally be listed as a member of the imperial family.”

‘No matter how young he might be, making comments about his birth in front of him must be a nasty experience.’

“How could they…”

Edmund seemed to grasp her unease at discussing things in front of the child and let out a deep sigh. He must have realized the emperor’s intentions as well. His gaze towards the boy was filled with pity.

“Poor child. I’m afraid you won’t grow up safely here.”

“He will safely reach adulthood long as we take care of him appropriately.”

‘It’s who he becomes after he reaches adulthood we should be worrying about.’

“How about we place him in a room, now that he’s done crying.”

“Understood, your grace.”

“Halt.”

Edmund, who was making his way out of the drawing-room, and the little boy following him, turned to look at Clette.

“Give him a warm room. I heard kids are weak and catch colds easily.”

***

A second letter arrived from the emperor. Clette threw it straight into the fireplace without hesitation. A long 10 days had passed since she sent a letter informing him of the boy’s arrival in Velos; so why was she getting a letter over a week later? No matter how inferior the skills of the current magicians were, 10 days was long enough for a letter to arrive.

The letter, which was purposefully sent late, only expressed the emperor’s gratitude toward her. There was not a hint of question or concern for the child and how he was fairing in Velos. Clette was able to glean the aura of indifference from the few words in the letter, it was almost as if he was saying; ‘Now that the issue of his security is resolved, he no longer concerns me.’

After reading the cruel detachment his highness the emperor displayed, a cold shiver ran down Clette’s spine.

‘Son of a bitch. He completely deserves the ending he got in the novel.’

After confirming that the letter was burned without a trace, Clette teleported to a small workshop attached to the castle. She had an important task to complete; it was to make recovery potions and scrolls. In many ways, potions and magic scrolls were essential in the barren land of Velos. Making and then distributing them to the few local people residing there was one of Clette’s tasks as the governor of the fief. If she neglects her duties, Velos will be a land of death infested with nothing but demonic monsters.