Your Regrets Are Late

“Where’s our youngest?”

Charteron, playing hide-and-seek, found a tiny foot behind the curtain. Karena, who hid quietly and was caught right away, was so cute that she almost burst into laughter.

“…Ah, I really can’t find her. Where on earth is she hiding?”

After barely putting up with it, she kept looking around, pretending not to know. As if Karena thought she was completely hidden, Charteron heard her giggling.

“

I don’t think she’s here… I need to stop looking.”

At that moment, an urgent voice popped out.

“Older Sister! Here! I’m here!”

“Our youngest! Here you are. I’ve missed you. Have you been well?”

“Yes!”

Coming out of the curtains quickly, Karena was hugged by Charteron. It had been a very long time since Charteron had seen her, as she lived in a dormitory of the Eralpier Academy and returned here once a month.

“Are you eating well?”

“…Yes.”

“Really? I heard in a letter from His Majesty Father that you’re a picky eater.”

“Father got it wrong…”

Karena, cupping her face as if she had been waiting for a long time for her to return, turned her head to answer Charteron’s question. It was clear that her conscience was pricking her.

“Our Rere, you’ve grown taller while I haven’t seen you.”

“I’ve grown so much! In a little while, I’ll be taller than Older Sister!”

Charteron poured kisses on Karena’s cheek.

“It-it tickles! Older Sister!” Then, a giggling sound spread throughout the room, saying it was tickling.

“Me too. I missed our youngest so much.”

“

. You’re going to leave soon again! I hate it!”

“It’s winter vacation, and our youngest’s birthday is coming up soon, so I’m going to stay for a really long time this time. Do you still hate it?”

“…Really?” Karena turned her head quickly and asked back with her face instantly brightening.

“Of course, it’s true. When did I lie to Rere?”

“

Last year, Older Sister said you would stay with me but secretly went away at night. And the last time Older Sister came…” Karena, who answered immediately without any hesitation, counted on her fingers.

“…Have you had a snack?”

“I held back so I could eat with Older Sister!”

Charteron became embarrassed and changed the topic. When Karena told her she had been held back to eat together with her, she was so moved that she hugged her tightly.

“Our youngest, so cute… I wish you could be a baby for the rest of my life.”

“No! Take back what Older Sister just said!”

“Okay, I’ll take it back. But does our youngest want to grow up so quickly?”

“Of course. When I grow up, I will attend the academy with Older Sister.”

Charteron put Karena down on the floor and grabbed her heart. The sight of her speaking proudly with her hand on her waist was so cute.

“Rere, this older sister loves you so much.”

“I like Older Sister a lot too.”

“Huh? You don’t love me, you just like me? I’m a little sad.”

“No! Is that two different words?” Karena covered her mouth in surprise.

“Both are good words, but I prefer the word ‘I love you’.”

“Okay! Older Sister, I love you!”

“I love you too. By the way, where’s Lur? I’m sure he came back before me?”

“Older Brother Lur is probably asleep now. He played with me for two hours earlier.”

“Two hours?”

“I covered older brother with a blanket after he collapsed and begged for help. I’m kind-hearted, right?”

“You asked Lur to fly again.”

“I didn’t play much, but I think older brother is a little weak.”

“…Aren’t you tired?”

“I have to play with Older Sister! Let’s play tag this time.”

As time passed, Charteron’s face turned pale.

* * *

It was three hours later. Charteron, who handed over the sleeping Karena to the nanny, asked in a quiet voice.

“Your Royal Highness?”

“Shh, don’t wake her up, please. She barely fell asleep…”

“Yes.”

In the meantime, the nanny, who looked pitifully at the emaciated Charteron, nodded.

“You’ve worked hard. Her Royal Highness Karena has gained a lot of stamina these days.”

“I wanted to refuse her, but those words didn’t come out. Well, then… I will visit Her Majesty Mother.”

Before Karena woke up, Charteron ran away quickly. When she arrived there, she found Luensir drinking tea in Charelize’s office.

“Lur? Why are you here? I heard you’re sleeping?”

“Of course I pretended to sleep.”

“…That’s so mean.”

“But she’s really meticulous. She didn’t know if I was really asleep or not, so she slapped me a few times. She even touched my nose. Our youngest, she’s going to be a big person.”

Charelize, who approached the conversation with a smile, hugged the children tightly. “My Babies. You did a great job playing with your younger sister. Thank you.”

“That’s not it.”

“It’s hard, but I’m having fun with Rere.”

With a smile around her mouth, Charelize asked how they were doing. “How have you been? Did anything happen?”

“Lur is the top student in this exam as well, so I wanted to take second place… but my grades dropped because I added something incorrect to the magic potion during the experiment.”

“But you still got a perfect score on the written exam. The exam was difficult.”

“Anyway, I’ll be the top student next time,” Charteron replied with a furrowed brow, strengthening her ambition.

“By the way, Your Majesty.”

“Yes?”

“Rere was asking about Lur’s first name. What does ‘Lino’ mean?”

“Lino?”

Luensir’s calm body flinched at Charteron’s question. Thinking his first surname came out of nowhere, Charteron waited for an answer.

“It’s the childhood name of the predecessor duchess, who was the princess of the Risperan Kingdom. It means ‘my dear child’ in the language of that place.”

“

These days, there’s a trend in the academy to call people by their first surname instead of their name. So, my friends call me Laressa, but Lur doesn’t like being called Lino.”

“Really?”

“…Its name refers to the succession rights of Duke Marsetta. It’s not something that others can talk about lightly.” Luensir replied, avoiding Charelize’s gaze.

“What the, just because of that? I thought you didn’t like it because it looked as cute as your nickname.”

“But you keep calling me Lur. Now that I think about it, you’re really consistent.”

“That’s better. But… if you don’t like it…” Charteron, who wiped away tears that didn’t even come out, pretended to cry.

“…Just call me Lur, as usual.”

“Yes!”

Luensir glanced at the clock and put down his teacup. “Your Majesty Mother, I’ll see you later at dinner. Charon, let’s go.”

“Wait, come with me!”

Luensir greeted politely and took Charteron out.

“Hailey, do you know why Luensir’s first surname was ‘Lino’?”

“First of all, the meaning is good… And the predecessor duchess…

wasn’t she treating Royal Princess Yekaterina well?”

Luensir, who happened to have left his brooch in her office, sent Charteron first and returned again.

“That’s not wrong either, but… I will never forget it, and I will always remember it… It’s to let that child know.”

“…That child?”

“Yes, my first child.”

Hearing Charelize’s reply, Luensir walked away with a blank expression.

* * *

It was the next afternoon. Luensir sent a letter to Charelize through Hailey, which he wrote with great struggle all night.

“Your Majesty, this is a letter written by His Royal Highness.”

“Luen?”

“Yes. After reading it, he said he would like you to come to the Garden of Light.”

“Does he have something important to say?”

Upon receiving the letter, Charelize wondered and opened the envelope.

[Mother.

As you said back then, you held my hand, walked with me, and made Mother’s dream come to life. The day you found out you were having Charon, you cried and said you were sorry. So, I took Charon’s hand. I envy Charon, who will be born and grow up to be Mother’s child.

Until now, I thought the reason my first surname was ‘Lino’ was simply because you liked that name. But you kept missing me, and I didn’t know you gave me that surname while thinking about me. Thank you for remembering me.]

Charelize’s hand, holding the letter, trembled. It wasn’t long before tears fell down.

“Yo-Your Majesty?”

Hailey was surprised when she saw this and called Charelize, but Charelize quickly went outside.

“Luensir!”

Charelize ran into the Garden of Light and found Luensir.

“…Your Majesty Mother.” Luensir, who was playing with Ter by the tree, looked back.

“

.” Tel, who looked at Charelize, escaped.

“Baby.”

“…”

“I gave up on you… Don’t you hate me?” Charelize, who didn’t have the courage to get closer, stopped walking and asked in a trembling voice.

.

“You did it to protect me. I never once held a grudge.

“I… you…” Charelize was at a loss for words.

“Mother, you remembered me till the end and raised me with love… I will never forget it. Once again, thank you for being my mother.”

“Baby…”

“From now on, I’ll walk while holding Mother’s hand.”

Charelize’s heart was beating insanely fast. She had no idea how she was standing on her feet or what spirit had brought her here.

“Name… could you please call me? It’s my real name, given to me by Mother.”

“…Lino.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Thank you for coming as my child again.”

Luensir carefully wiped away Charelize’s tears.

“Not once, I’ve never forgotten you.”

“Don’t cry. I want to see Mother’s smile.”

“…The day I found out I had you, I was so happy. I wanted to give you all the love I didn’t receive.”

“I know without you having to tell me, Mother. You always called my name and made me happy.”

Charelize brought up one of the memories she had buried.

It was a long past that would never return.