A private booth in a family diner on campus. One near the back of the room, and one where Evelyn had quietly paid off the staff to give them privacy.
After ordering their meals, and after it came, the group started eating.
As they did, Roland carefully observed the young girl sitting beside Evelyn.
'...Emma really does look like their child.'
There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
The hair, the eyes, the facial features...
Unless you were blind, it was impossible to not tell that 'Emma' was Evelyn's daughter.
But that brought up questions. Many, many, MANY questions.
Needless to say, Roland did not understand.
Marisa clearly didn't either as she kept staring at Emma.
Emma paused in the middle of cutting a piece of pancake with a knife and fork. Properly too, just like Evelyn would. Then she said, "It's rude to stare! Even if you're Mommy's friends!"
"...I'm sorry, Emma." Marisa shook her head. "It's just..." Her emerald eyes flitted from Evelyn to Emma and back to Evelyn. "This is all... very unexpected."
'Tell me about it.'
Roland had woken up thinking the world had ended. Marisa had clearly done the same. And then when they go to find answers from the one person who would have them, they come across this situation.
Evelyn let out a strained smile and said, "It's... complicated. But make no mistake." She glanced down at Emma and her smile warmed. Wrapping one arm around the young girl's shoulders, Evelyn pulled her close and said, "Emma is my daughter."
Marisa looked into Evelyn's eyes and said, "You do realize the implications of this, right? And what will happen by you claiming her?"
Roland nodded. "Yes. This isn't... Well. Emma is wonderful, but taking everything into consideration..."
It was already bad enough that Evelyn was dating Alex. And that had definitely played through to the worst case scenario in that nightmarish memory.
But adding a child on top of it? One who looked no older than five years old in the best case scenario, but realistically seemed to be three or so?
And a child out of wedlock? From a commoner?
'If Angela had done that...'
Roland's father was a Baron. Him and his sister were nobles, but just barely. Even so, if his sister had been older and then had a child out of wedlock... and she claimed said child while at the academy...
'Not just a scandal. A house-ending scandal.'
Even if they weren't stripped of their nobility, it would be something that would stain the family name for generations.
And for the imperial princess to do this...
Evelyn quietly braided Emma's hair as she watched her daughter eat. Then she said, "I'm aware. But to be frank..." Her hand twitched towards her chest for a moment. Then she said, "Life is short. And I'm tired of waiting to get what I want."
Roland's eyes widened.
Marisa glanced over at Roland, nodding.
It seemed they both had noticed. Which meant...
"Your Imperial Princess, Evelyn..." Roland looked into Evelyn's eyes and continued. "...Do you remember 'that time' as well?"
Evelyn paused. Then she looked between Marisa and Roland. Her gaze paused on Roland's dark circles. Then on Marisa's clinginess to Roland.
After that, she said, "Oh. You too?"
Emma finished eating her pancakes and looked up. "What are you talking about, Mommy?"
Evelyn idly cleaned Emma's mouth with a napkin and said, "Just confirming some things with Mommy's friends, dear." She looked down at Emma and said, "Are you still hungry?"
"Yeah!" Emma let out a bright smile. "Can I have some baking?"
"Of course, dear. I'll get you some more bacon."
"Thank you, Mommy!"
Evelyn let out a warm smile and then started cutting pieces of bacon on her plate before handing them over to Emma, who immediately grabbed them with her hands, munching on the crunchy bits like they were candy.
Roland watched the two interact. And as he did, he realized that Evelyn hadn't just committed to being a mother, she WAS a mother right now. Although she was still being tightlipped about the how and why Emma was here... it was clear that Evelyn didn't just SEE Emma as her daughter. Emma WAS her daughter.
That maternal instinct and action didn't come from just declaring it. That was the same way that Roland's mother used to act when Angela was still a toddler. The way a mother would act towards a child that came from their body. A bond that ran deeper than just words.
Marisa seemed to have noticed it as well. Glancing at Evelyn, she frowned and said, "Eve. I won't ask for the specifics... but I'll just ask to confirm it. Is Emma the daughter between you and Alex?"
Evelyn hesitated. But then her eyes were filled with resolve as she said, "Yes. She is."
Roland sighed. "...This is worse than before."
He could still remember how that night unfolded. The way that Frostblade had come in like a reaper of death. How powerful he had been and how unexpected. And that cold wrath was just because Alex had been DATING Evelyn.
If it came out that they had a child too... not only that, one out of wedlock and one seemingly conceived years ago...
Marisa looked at Evelyn. Then she slowly nodded and said, "Okay. Then... we'll help."
Roland looked up. "Mari?"
"What?" Marisa huffed. "Do you not want to help our friend? And the cute baby girl?"
"It's not that. It's just..."
Roland could still remember it.
How quickly everything broke down. How they thought everything was fine and how quickly it spiraled.
If Emma was added on top of all that as another variable...
"...Can we even protect anyone?"
That was Roland's fear.
He'd already failed once. If it was even worse...
Marisa gently held Roland's hand and said, "It will be fine, Rolo. This time, we know. And also... we have time."
"...I don't think two weeks is enough time to make much of a difference, Mari."
Evelyn poured herself a cup of coffee from a nearby thermos and said, "On the contrary, I believe two weeks is plenty of time."
Emma nodded, a mock serious expression on her face. "Two weeks is lotsa time."
Marisa looked at Emma's serious expression and giggled.
Roland couldn't help himself and laughed a bit as well.
Evelyn chuckled and then patted Emma's head. "Yes, dear. Two weeks is a lot of time."
"Right, Mommy!" Emma smiled and then went back to grabbing pieces of bacon to eat.
Evelyn watched her for a bit, a warm smile on her face. Then she shifted her gaze back to Roland and Marisa. "Let's not talk about that for now. My love seems to be out sorting some things regarding that situation... so let's talk about lighter things." She let out a teasing smile, flitting her eyes between Marisa and Roland. "You two seem closer now... did you finally cross the line?"
Marisa turned a beet red. "C-C-Cross the line?!"
Roland felt his face heat up. "That's not... W-Well, we did share a bed, but-"
"ROLO!" Marisa rounded on him, her face an even darker red. "PHRASING!"
"Th-That is to say..."
Evelyn giggled and said, "Well, I was curious. I heard on the way here that Mari rushed out in quite a ruckus late last night. I was deep asleep with Emma here so I didn't notice. But to do all that... If we are discussing potential scandals, I do believe you two have one to handle as well, no?" She shifted her gaze to Roland and said, "Did you consider that word might have reached both Mari's grandfather and uncle?"
Roland froze.
Marisa did as well. But then her eyes widened and she snapped her fingers. "THAT'S IT!"
Roland flinched. "W-What? What's it, Mari?"
Marisa turned to look at Roland and grinned. "Eve's right. It's definitely going to be a scandal. One big enough for Grandfather and Uncle to hear about it and come running. But if they're here..."
"...Then they'll be here to help stop Frostblade and the others." Roland paused. "But rumors probably won't be enough right-"
A faint warmth on his lips. The taste of syrup, coffee, and something refreshing that was uniquely Marisa. Then a slight ticklish sensation as something soft and warm brushed against his tongue...
Roland's eyes widened.
Marisa leaned back, her face a bright red, but with a bright smile on.
The staff in the back were CLEARLY taking pictures.
"Ew! No kissy!" Emma covered her eyes and turned her head.
Evelyn laughed, a warm smile on her face. "It was about time you stopped dancing around it, Mari."
Marisa giggled and then looked at Roland. "Well, Rolo?"
Roland blinked. Then he laughed and pulled Marisa in for a proper kiss.
"Eeeeew! Mommy!"
Evelyn's laughter continued, filling their private booth.
In the distance, Roland heard the staff gasp and some vague talk about the picture of a lifetime.
But for now, he just focused on the woman in his arms, her lips on his, and stealing every last breath from her.