Special Side Story Chapter 6

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By the time Dahlia returned to the imperial palace, the sun was already setting, casting a warm glow over the late afternoon.

“Alright, by now…”

Glancing at the time, Dahlia hurriedly dashed toward the main palace.

At that moment, noblemen who had just finished the council meeting were trickling out one by one.

The nobles who noticed Dahlia widened their eyes in surprise.

“Princess Dahlia?”

“What brings Her Highness here…?”

“Hello! I came to see Father!”

Dahlia gave the nobles a quick greeting before briskly continuing on her way.

Then, she spotted her target in the distance—Diamide, walking out of the council chamber while conversing with Mathias about various matters.

“Father!”

Diamide, who was exiting the chamber a little later than the others, noticed his daughter running toward him and blinked in surprise.

“Dahlia?”

Poof!

In an instant, Dahlia threw her arms around Diarmid’s waist, hugging him tightly.

For a moment, deep emotion flickered in Diarmid’s eyes.

“…D-Dahlia?”

He was so touched that his voice trembled slightly.

And with good reason—Diamide was well aware of the truth.

He knew his daughter often looked down on him, even if subtly.

“What brings my sweet Dahlia here today?”

Despite that, Diamide’s face broke into a bright smile.

Of course, he was a doting father through and through.

“Father, could you come to the princess’s palace every day after the council meeting from now on?”

“The princess’s palace? Why there?”

“I’ll tell you when you come.”

Dahlia replied coyly before adding with a serious tone.

“And you must absolutely keep it a secret from Mother. Alright?”

She earnestly emphasized her point before spinning around to face Mathias.

“Duke Rochester, you’ll keep the secret too, right?”

Mathias, who had been gazing at Dahlia fondly, chuckled softly.

“Well, it’s not difficult. But why so suddenly?”

“It’s just…”

Dahlia shrugged playfully, as if to draw attention.

“I want to prepare the gift Mother would love the most.”

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Whether by misfortune or fortune, a message soon arrived stating that Charlize was too busy with her duties to join them for dinner tonight.

Beaming with joy, Diamide accompanied his daughter to the princess’s palace.

And what awaited Diamide there was…

“A Face Mask?”

Diamide murmured in a dazed voice.

And it was no wonder.

Dahlia was energetically mixing a face mask made of grains and honey, then nodded her chin toward Diamide.

“Lie down, Father.”

Her commanding tone was so assertive that Diamide instinctively obeyed, lying down.

As he settled in, he cautiously observed his daughter.

“Well, Dahlia, why are we suddenly doing a face mask?”

“Because Mother’s birthday is just a week away, isn’t it?”

“What does that have to do with a face mask…?”

“Oh, come on! Are you being silly, Father?”

Dahlia shot back, as if exasperated by his cluelessness.

“Mother loves your face the most, doesn’t she?”

“What?”

Charlize does?

Diamide blinked blankly.

Now that she mentioned it… that might actually be true.

“That’s why you need to clean up your face and look as handsome as possible for her birthday,” Dahlia explained as she carefully wiped his face with a warm towel.

Then, she wrapped a towel around his neck and began applying the face mask with practiced ease.

There was something almost too skilled about her method.

“So, who taught you how to do this?”

“Aunt Rose did.”

Ah, the former empress.

Diamide shut his eyes tightly for a moment.

Her again?!

But Dahlia wasn’t done yet.

“Aunt Rose said Father should at least take care of his face.”

“Why?”

“Because you always stress Mother out.”

“…”

“She said the only redeeming quality you have is your face, so you should maintain it well.”

Diamide fell silent.

Even as the words stung, he had nothing to argue in his defense.

And that somehow made him feel even more pitiful.

---

The empress Charlize, beloved by every member of the imperial family, had lately been feeling slightly left out.

“What are they all plotting behind my back?”

It was clear that something was going on.

“I haven’t heard anything,” the dowager empress said with a kind smile and a shake of her head.

“Perhaps you’re overthinking it a little?”

“Exactly, don’t worry about it,” Eloise and Lisa chimed in with smirks as they exchanged glances.

“Your Majesty, I have no idea what you’re referring to,”

“Why would you think that, Charlize?”

Even Mathias and Diamide feigned complete ignorance!

And so, Charlize sat at the dinner table with a slightly sulky expression.

Still, she couldn’t keep her eyes off Diamide, seated across from her.

“He’s been looking more handsome lately.”

His skin had been glowing and smooth, after all.

Even though it had been eight years since she married Diamide, Charlize still found herself occasionally flustered by him.

“By the way, Charlize, your birthday is tomorrow, isn’t it?”

“Oh, has it come already?”

Charlize nodded with a soft smile.

In fact, considering how leisurely her birthdays had been celebrated until now, there was no way she wouldn’t have known.

At the same time, Diamide gave her an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry, but there are so many urgent matters to attend to. Would it be okay if we just have dinner together tomorrow?”

“Ah…”

Charlize’s lips twitched.

At that moment, Dahlia quickly interrupted the conversation.

“Then, Mother, could I go with Dahlia tomorrow to visit Grandmother?”

“Sure, let’s do that.”

Charlize forced a smile and nodded.

It was her first birthday she couldn’t spend with her husband.

Though she knew it was because of his royal duties, and she shouldn’t be upset,

she couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

And so, Charlize didn’t notice the secret exchange of glances between Diamide and Dahlia.

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The Next Day.

Charlize, accompanied by Dahlia, arrived at the Dowager Empress’s palace and was completely taken by surprise.

“What… what is this…?”

Charlize’s eyes widened in shock as she looked at the grand decorations inside the palace, prepared for her birthday celebration.

“Welcome!”

“You’re a bit late, Charlize.”

The people who had already arrived greeted Charlize with bright smiles.

“D-Dowager Empress?”

Charlize, flustered, turned to face the Dowager Empress.

The Dowager Empress shrugged with a smile.

“What could we do? Our lovely Dahlia asked us to do it.”

“Dahlia did?”

Charlize instinctively lowered her head.

“Hehe.”

Dahlia, meeting her mother’s gaze, proudly smiled.

“I wanted to surprise you.”

“Anyway, happy birthday, Your Majesty.”

At the same time, Siena joined the conversation.

How many times had Charlize been surprised already?

She clicked her tongue inwardly.

“Siena? When did you arrive?”

“Of course I’m here, it’s my friend’s birthday!”

“…Is that so?”

Charlize’s expression softened.

Siena, with a single line, managed to touch Charlize’s heart, then lifted Dahlia in a hug.

“My goodness, Princess Dahlia! You planned this surprise party without me? I’m so upset!”

Siena purposefully drooped her shoulders and scolded Dahlia.

“Well, Lord Antes is far away… so…”

“Still, you should have at least sent a letter!”

As Siena and Dahlia bickered,

“Anyway, happy birthday.”

“Happy birthday, Charlize.”

“Happy birthday, Your Majesty.”

The Dowager Empress, Eloise, and Lisa all offered their congratulations at once.

“Congratulations on your birthday, Your Majesty.”

Even Joshua, who had reluctantly followed his mother and aunt, was exceedingly polite to Charlize.

But Eloise could clearly see through her cunning nephew.

“That brat, he’s trying to get on his future mother-in-law’s good side.”

“Ah, did we arrive a bit late?”

Finally, Diamide and Matthias joined.

Charlize couldn’t take her eyes off her husband.

Diamide had dressed sharply in a suit, and he looked absolutely dazzling.

When their eyes met, Diamide awkwardly smiled.

“Well, Dahlia insisted I dress up nicely.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Well, you like my face the most…”

“…”

He’d hit the mark.

Was this what it felt like to be speechless?

The saddest part was that her conscience couldn’t answer “no” to that statement…

But just then,

“Huh?”

Charlize turned to see Dahlia staring at her intently, her eyes shining brightly, as if she wanted something.

“Ah.”

Charlize suddenly realized something.

“So, Dahlia decorated all of this?”

Dahlia shyly nodded.

Charlize lovingly patted her daughter’s head and smiled brightly.

“Thank you so much, my dear.”

Her loved ones had all gathered here, just for her.

And at this very moment,

Charlize was the happiest person in the world.

• The End –