After I told my ladies-in-waiting that I was going to meet with McKenna, Mastas escorted me to the office door at the appointed time.
McKenna had arrived first and was waiting for me inside with a large box.
Was there a portrait of Heinley as a small boy in that box?
"Ah, Your Majesty."
It seemed like there was. McKenna opened the box as soon as I entered, took out a small picture frame from inside and showed it to me.
"This is a portrait of His Majesty as a child."
Although I hadn't exactly come to see this, I was also curious, so I reached out and grabbed the picture frame.
Was Heinley seven or eight years old in this portrait? He looked to be about that age. When I saw little Heinley, I couldn't help but exclaim,
'Oh my, he really looks like a troublemaker.'
Why did he have the face of a bratty child? Why did his cheeks puff out like he was upset? In contrast, he was always smiling now.
"Heinley was angry at the time?"
"Yes. The portrait was done against his will."
"Look at this one too, Your Majesty."
The next portrait McKenna gave me showed an even smaller, smiling Heinley. Here he was five or six years old?
"Oh my."
I could not help but exclaim again. Even in the portraits in which he came out with a smile, that didn't take away from his unruly nature.
I was so curious that McKenna showed me some more portraits.
As I examined them carefully, several puzzling questions came to mind. Hadn't I come here to hear about Heinley's childhood? Why did McKenna have this? Why did he keep so many portraits of his cousin?
"Did you get along very well with Heinley?"
Although I got along very well with my brother, I didn't have that many portraits of him. At most I had two or three, but I didn't even know exactly where they were stored.
When I asked curiously, McKenna smiled, put the portraits back in the box and said,
"Whenever His Majesty Heinley did something wrong, the queen ordered a portrait to be made of him as a disciplinary measure and also as a record."
"Heinley's mother?"
"Yes. His Majesty hated to sit still, so she punished him that way."
Oh, so that's why he used to show up with a bratty child's face.
"Originally, the portraits were to be given to His Majesty when he was older, but His Majesty was caught trying to destroy the evidence when he was 12 years old. Since then, I've been in charge."
It was nice to hear that, but no doubt… in his childhood he was a troublemaker.
My hands went up to my belly naturally. The baby had not been born yet, but I could already imagine my child causing trouble.
I knew nothing about disciplinary measures. Until now I had never thought about parenting or babies. Of course, it won't cause any problems if it looks like me… no, if he looks like me, he might have the same problems I do.
As I pondered this, McKenna smiled and pulled out another portrait.
"The story behind this one—"
But before he could begin to speak properly, there was a knock on the door.
Looking back, Heinley was leaning against the door with a forced smile.
As Rashta walked through the Southern Palace, the distinguished guests strolling around exchanged glances and whispered to each other.
Everyone knew of the Emperor's change in attitude towards Rashta. However, few were sympathetic. Most seemed to enjoy the fact that Empress Rashta was in a difficult position.
Clenching her fists, Rashta walked with her back straight and her head high. But as soon as she entered Duke Elgy's room, she fell to her knees as if she had completely collapsed.
"Rashta?"
Surprised, Duke Elgy helped her stand up.
"What happened to you?"
Rashta responded through tears.
"People hate Rashta. Everyone hates Rashta."
Duke Elgy clicked his tongue. Unlike Viscount Roteschu, he was already aware of what happened in the East Palace. So he comforted Rashta.
"His Majesty will calm down soon. Even if not, Rashta has me."
But Rashta hadn't come for that, so she shook her head quickly,
"No, it's not that. There's another more serious problem right now."
"Is there a more serious problem?"
When Duke Elgy asked in bewilderment, Rashta explained with trembling hands,
"Rashta's real father visited Viscount Roteschu. He will no doubt try to blackmail Rashta."
"Your real father?"
Duke Elgy's eyebrows raised, he looked very surprised. Rashta nodded immediately.
"What should I do? Viscount Roteschu is too busy to help Rashta. He said to speak to His Majesty, but His Majesty won't help Rashta at this time."
"Do you know what your father wants?"
"Surely money."
Rashta said sternly and tightly gripped the hem of her dress. As the fear disappeared, the anger increased.
Because of her father she became a slave, because of her father she lived as an orphan.
'But now he has come to see me. It must not be for a good reason.'
"I don't know what to do about it."
Rashta muttered nervously.
The mercenary hired through Viscount Roteschu had been commissioned to assassinate the Duke and Duchess Troby, and the assassin she personally hired had been sent to Rivetti.
It would be difficult to hire another of that level right away. Even if it was possible, she was completely reluctant to kill her real father. She preferred to send him to a place where she would never have to see him.
Duke Elgy patted Rashta's back gently and clicked his tongue as if in pity.
"There is no alternative. In this case, it will be better to give the money he asks for."
"I'm afraid that it will become a bad habit and he'll keep asking for money, not just once or twice…"
"Still, it's the best way to appease him. No matter how much money he asks for, he'll probably keep his mouth shut because he's Rashta's real father."
"Really?"
"Of course. How much money do you think he'll ask for?"
"I don't know."
Rashta shook her head.
"But Rashta doesn't have enough money to give him right now. Just a small amount."
Duke Elgy smiled as if he found it funny that she was worried about that nonsense, walked over to the desk, wrote something on a piece of paper and brought it over. It was a check with a huge sum of money written on it.
However, Rashta did not immediately accept it like she used to, and muttered,
"If you do this, Rashta… Rashta seems to be getting too much…"
Not much time had passed since the case of the Empress Navier's promissory notes came to light, so she was wary of suddenly accepting a huge sum of money.
"It's fine. It's not an inordinate amount of money."
Duke Elgy, who added in a sweet and soft voice, "Not for the first or second time?" Offered the check to Rashta again.
That was true. Rashta soon convinced herself and accepted the check.
"Thank you."
"Friends should help each other."
"The port you wanted… Rashta will try to give it to you."
312Duke Elgy stood out on the filthy streets.
Drunks talking nonsense, gangs fighting for control of territory, and even tavern keepers angry to the point of throwing out drunken patrons, kept their mouths shut as Duke Elgy walked by.
He was much taller than the others and had an arrogant expression, with an attire that seemed so high-class that it was even difficult to look at him. In anyone's eyes, Duke Elgy was either a high-status nobleman or a member of the imperial family.
The people here knew well that it was a loss to fight against such nobles.
However, one had the courage to do so.
"Hey."
That person was so small that he shouldn't even be considered an opponent. There were people who despite their short stature fought well, but this man didn't even look like that.
Everyone who had shut their mouths laughed among themselves, muttering that the thin man had a lot of guts, but that he didn't know it was suicide.
However, the man approached Duke Elgy as if he were an acquaintance.
"Thank you for helping me find my daughter."
"I helped you find your daughter? When did I do that?"
"Well, not directly. But didn't you make it possible for me to meet Viscount Roteschu?"
The man smiled wryly and continued speaking in a friendly voice.
"In any case, I know you helped me for an ulterior motive. That's why you asked me to pretend not to know you the next time I see you. So I will not greet you again, nor pay you for what you did."
It was a soft but malicious voice.
The corners of Duke Elgy's mouth turned up in a twisted way, and he looked at the silver-haired man who was still close to him.
His clothes were old but did not look cheap, and he had well-defined features despite being small. This man, who would be quite popular if he were well groomed, was Rashta's real father.
When Elgy stared at him, the man smiled even more wryly. Then, with his hands shoved in his pockets, he asked quietly,
"By the way, what is your relationship with my daughter? Huh? Well, it doesn't matter what relationship you have with her. What matters is that you sell information about my daughter, isn't that right?"
The man moved closer to Elgy and held out his palms.
"So give me money. That or I'll tell my daughter everything you're doing behind her back. I need money to keep my mouth shut, alright?"
He wiggled his fingers with a mischievous expression. He would soon see his daughter to get money out of her, he seemed really happy to be able to get money out now too.
"You're contemptible."
Elgy was surprised. Although he had met all sorts of evil people in his risky adventures, he could count shameless people like this guy on the fingers of one hand.
The man seemed not to care what Elgy thought, he kept his hands outstretched and mocked the Duke.
"What's the matter? You seem to have a lot of money, but you resent paying to keep it a secret that you sell information about my daughter—"
But before the man finished speaking. Elgy grabbed his head with one hand and slammed him against a nearby wall. Those around them fled in shock.
The man struggled with both hands.
"What the hell! Let go of me! Let go of me!"
Elgy didn't let go. Instead, he reached out his other hand and grabbed the man's neck as if to crush it.
"Say what you want. I don't care."
As his windpipe was being squeezed and his head pressed with tremendous force, the man waved his arms in panic. Hastily pounding on the wall where his head was pinned, the man begged for his life.
Elgy released the man just before his eyes turned completely white, and walked away without even threatening him.
The man coughed a few times and wiped tears from his eyes. As much as he wanted to curse, Elgy was already far away. The man smiled awkwardly as he looked at his back.
"How can a nobleman have those eyes? They look like those of a murderous bastard."
Then, the man said angrily,
"It's fine. I'll do as you say. I'll tell my daughter everything. My daughter is the Empress! My daughter is the Empress!"
The man's loud voice reached Elgy's ears.
'I won't even have to intervene.'
Elgy shook his head at the man's confident shouts he could still hear.
Today was the day her real father had decided to visit her. Rashta spent the entire morning in shock.
Rashta not only hated her father because she had been a slave, but because he never gave her love.
'Now my shameless father will appear in front of me.'
"Your Majesty, is it all right not to prepare any dishes?"
"It's okay. This is not a special guest."
The maid left immediately at Rashta's reply. But her expression was filled with curiosity. The maid wondered who was coming, why the empress was so pensive, and why she didn't want tea and snacks to be prepared. The maids did not know that the person who would come to visit the empress was her real father.
Rashta ground her teeth. In fact, until last night, she didn't know either. Although Viscount Roteschu had told her that her father would be back, she hadn't expected it to be so soon.
Even Rashta had thought that maybe if she didn't look for him, he wouldn't appear. But last night, a messenger sent from Roteschu Mansion destroyed Rashta's hopes.
While she was deep in thought, the maid entered again and let her know that her guest had arrived.
"Take him to the drawing room."
Rashta counted to a hundred before going to the drawing room. As soon as she entered, she saw a man sitting on the couch.
His back was slightly hunched and he gave an unpleasant impression. He had well-defined features, but it was all buried under his wicked expression.
Rashta clenched her fist and chose to take a deep breath. This man was both strange and familiar to her.
"Rashta, my daughter."
313The man got up from the couch with a wide grin.
'Rashta, my daughter.' Rashta shuddered as she compared her childhood father to the man before her.
The man was not a father like Sovieshu. He called Rashta sweetly, but he didn't love her, he didn't mistreat her, but he didn't take care of her either.
The man always had an excuse for Rashta. 'Because of our status, I can't take care of you.'
He was a very carefree man in that sense. He didn't even remember her birthday, and sometimes confused her name.
"You've grown up well. You've become a great person."
'Even a stranger could say that.'
Rashta looked at the man coldly and asked,
"Why have you come?"
The man put on a sad expression.
"Why did I come? I came because I heard about my daughter, Rashta. I heard that my daughter was doing well, so naturally I wanted to find her."
"Why didn't you think to find your daughter when she was suffering?"
"Oh.. you're angry."
The man raised his eyebrows in surprise, and approached with open arms.
Rashta turned to the side to avoid him. She felt nauseous. She wanted this man to take care of her before, but now she didn't even want him to touch her.
"Go away! Go away and don't appear in front of me again. For me you ceased to exist from the day you left me. It's better for me not to have you. Don't cling to my ankles and go away."
Rashta glared at him. She didn't say it thinking that he would really leave. He had come to ask for something, he wouldn't obediently leave after being insulted.
Still, the reason she said this was in case he made a difficult request. She wanted to make him feel at least a little guilt for blackmailing his own daughter. If he felt guilty, he probably wouldn't come back.
The man's eyes widened. He was taken aback that Rashta, who had always longed for affection, had coldly scorned him.
"Are you very angry with your father, my daughter?"
When Rashta was about to leave the drawing room without answering, the man hurriedly said,
"Rashta. Do you know a man who is very tall and handsome?"
"There are so many men like that."
"His hair is a mix of brown and blond. His eyes are green. He gives the impression of being very strong. Ah, he wore his coat over his shoulders."
Immediately, the image of Duke Elgy came to Rashta's mind and frowned. 'He talks about Duke Elgy? If so, why is he suddenly mentioning Duke Elgy?'
The man smiled broadly.
"He told me how to meet you."
"What?"
"Although I accepted his help, he didn't seem to have good intentions. I'm your father, your real father. I had to tell you."
Rashta smiled forcedly. 'What the hell is he saying?'
Duke Elgy cared for her better than her real father, who never gave her a bit of love.
'Did Duke Elgy give him any information? Still, didn't he come to blackmail the daughter he abandoned?'
Rashta didn't bother to refute him, just went into her bedroom and closed the door.
"Rashta. Rashta."
The man hurried after her and knocked on the door. After knocking several times on the bedroom door, Rashta came back out and looked at him with disdain.
"Haven't you left yet?"
"I'm sorry, Rashta. If it's someone you like, I shouldn't have said anything."
When one is in love it is natural to turn a blind eye.
The man realized that Rashta was in love with that nobleman. So no matter what he said, she wouldn't believe him.
As soon as he came to that conclusion, rather than speak ill of the terrifying nobleman, the man smiled and went to the point.
"Rashta, actually… these days have been hard for your father. I hope my daughter can help me."
The man cared more about profit than revenge. He would have liked his daughter to deal with that nobleman for him, but his true interests came first.
"What kind of help? Money?"
"Yes. Uh… your father wants to set up a trade team."
"How much do you need?"
"Good things happen when one has a good child."
The man smiled happily and said the amount.
While she was glad that the amount was less than she had expected, she was annoyed by her father's false words. Rashta eventually realized something strange.
"How? Trade team?"
Rashta had been a slave because her father had been. Her father had become a slave because he had committed a scam.
Normally, if one committed a crime punishable by life imprisonment as a commoner, one and one's family received the punishment of becoming slaves, and even if one did not commit a crime of such magnitude, one could become a slave for a term.
The 'term' here was not a question of time, but of money.
In general, those who received this type of punishment the most were those who were convicted for money matters. Those sentenced to be slaves for a term, could only be released from slavery immediately if a certain amount of money was collected, one part was returned to the victims and the other part was paid as a fine to the state.
This was the case with Rashta's father. And as far as Rashta knew, slaves could not set up a trade team.
Rashta's father answered casually,
"Your father worked hard to raise the money to be freed from slavery."
Rashta looked at the man in astonishment. How could he say that so calmly?
"And me? What about me?"
Rashta asked angrily.
"I became a slave because of you, but you abandoned me so you could be a commoner? How could you do that?"
Although she was now the empress, she still felt uncomfortable because of the slave certificate. If it were not for that certificate, her situation would have been much better.
Of course, Rashta could have been officially freed when she became a concubine, but then everyone would have found out that she had been a slave, so Sovieshu chose to create a false image of her, despite not having destroyed the slave certificate.
Had she been freed from slavery before she became a concubine, none of this would have bothered her.
'How could he do that? Did he raise the money to free himself from slavery alone?'
"Ah, obviously I also thought of freeing you."
Her father smiled awkwardly and made up what happened,
"But when I went to see you, I found out you were dating Viscount Roteschu's son and I assumed you had a good life, so I thought he would set you free. He certainly had a lot more money than I did."
"Are you serious?"
"Really. I went to see you. I left when I heard you were well."
"Don't lie! Did you leave when you knew I was well? No! You left because of a selfish decision."
Rashta staggered as she screamed angrily. She almost fell over, but her real father didn't help her. He merely clicked his tongue instead.
"Jeez, why do you have to yell."
Rashta leaned back to regain her balance. After taking a deep breath in that state, She stared at her father and said firmly,
"I won't give you a penny! If you really want to set up a trade team, that's your business! Rashta doesn't care!"
Her real father looked at Rashta with an expression of disbelief. Then he frowned and asked sternly,
"Gosh, you're a bad daughter. Is that the way to treat your father who saw you born and raised?"
"How about you? Do you want to take money from your own daughter who was a slave because of you?"
"It's all thanks to me that you became the Empress. You owe me that pretty face of yours. You don't know what reciprocity means… How ungrateful!"
Rashta was shocked to the point that she found it hard to breathe. How could such a person exist?
After speaking angrily, the man suddenly smiled and said,
"Rashta, do you think I'll stay calm if you throw me out like this? I'm your father and it's your duty to take care of me. If you abandon me, I'll have no choice but to tell everyone what an ungrateful and bad daughter you are."
As I cocked my head to the side, I could feel a burning gaze behind me. Ah, Heinley caught me digging into his past!
"McKenna?"
'Take me with you!' I swallowed these last words.
"I forgot something."
Then I tried to follow McKenna with quick steps as I strove to maintain the empress' dignity.
"Where are you going, My Queen?"
However, I was immediately stopped.
When I turned around awkwardly, Heinley looked at me with a mocking expression.
"I just remembered that I forgot something."
At my excuse, Heinley's eyes widened, he reached over and stretched my cheeks.
"Don't be bold."
I purposely tried to sound cold, but Heinley smiled casually.
"I learned something new about My Queen. You know what it is? When you are in an awkward position you are more cold and dignified."
How did he notice that? It was a secret method I used to hide it.
Because I was in an awkward position, I showed a more determined expression. Heinley put his hands on my cheeks, kissed the tip of my nose three times and smiled.
"How lovely. How beautiful. I love every time My Queen acts like this."
When I avoided his gaze, he moved his body to make eye contact with me and when I lowered my gaze, he leaned in to look me in the eye.
Stop!
In that posture, Heinley quietly asked with a broad smile,
"My Queen, what were you talking about with McKenna?"
"I just… wanted to know about your childhood."
I confessed sincerely. Although I kept the intention behind it hidden.
No, he had heard it all, so why was he pretending not?
"I want to know more about you."
When I answered again without revealing my intentions, Heinley smiled with even more narrowed eyes. He seemed to be in a good mood.
"You lie."
"!"
"My Queen, you don't lose your elegance even by lying."
Heinley pulled his hands away from my cheeks and straightened his back. Then, I looked him in the eyes. Could he be angry?
"Are you angry?"
When I asked carefully, Heinley shook his head.
"No, it's not that. It's just that I'm embarrassed."
"What embarrasses you?"
"I was a little naughty as a child. I didn't want My Queen to know about it."
"I'll also tell you about my childhood. What do you think?"
"My Queen seems to have grown up without causing any trouble, right?"
"…"
"I knew it."
Heinley chuckled as he rubbed his forehead against mine. Then he picked up a small portrait McKenna had left behind.
Heinley held up the portrait of himself with puffy cheeks as a child and looked at it with a smile.
In a way, he looked lovely. Heinley's mother…Heinley's mother, who ordered a portrait to be made of him whenever he caused trouble, probably thought the same.
Maybe that's why each of the portraits had been kept despite being a punishment?
As soon as I thought about this, I realized that I had worried unnecessarily until now. Whether it was a naughty child, or a quiet child, I would love my child. It made no sense to fear at this point.
"I think it would be nice to have twins."
I muttered naturally.
Heinley, who was taking the portrait out of the picture frame, asked in surprise,
"What?"
"One child who looks like you, and one who looks like me. I think it would be nice to have twins like that. Or to each have a bit of both of us?"
"My Queen…"
"And give me the portrait. Don't even think about destroying it."
As soon as I raised my hand, Heinley handed it to me sullenly as in his childhood days.
I held Heinley's portrait tightly in my arms and smiled triumphantly.
314"Have you heard? About the baby…"
"Yes, I heard that the Empress and the Emperor are taking a medicine that aids conception."
"Huh? That's a bit different from what I've heard. I understood that they were undergoing fertility treatment."
"Is that true?"
"Yes, I heard it from the palace doctor's cousin. About the medicine, it could also be true."
"So, is the Empress infertile as rumored?"
"Shh."
"If that's the case, isn't it really a delicate matter? His predecessor had a healthy younger brother during his reign, so there was no problem, but His Majesty Heinley doesn't even have a younger brother!"
It seems that the seeds Heinley and I planted were slowly sprouting. While my ladies-in-waiting told me the rumors that were circulating, I drank a tea that would not harm the baby.
It was a tea brought directly by the palace doctor, and the supposed medicine that was talked about in the rumors.
The reason it was rumored to be a fertility medicine or to aid in conception was because I had asked the palace doctor to bring it wrapped up that way.
Heinley and I pretended that we had been secretly prescribed an unknown medicine, and we would change the subject whenever anyone tried to talk about the successor.
Because of this, no one around me had brought up the subject of the baby or the successor recently. Not only those who supported me, but also those who were left on Christa's side.
Fortunately, everything was going according to plan. However…
"It's strange."
"Yes! I don't know why they do this, they should mind their own business!"
That came out of my mouth involuntarily. Mastas shook her fist in the air, thinking that my words were directed at the nobles.
"That's enough! They must be taught not to mess with the Empress. It would be nice to make them walk on their hands for several hours!"
I shook my head. Although I was grateful that Mastas was angry about it, at this point I wasn't talking about the fish that took the bait.
What struck me as strange were those who remained still, both Marquis Ketron and Duke Liberty. People I labeled as Danger Level 3.
Until now, I was sure it had been Marquis Ketron who started the infertility rumor. It was another nobleman who mentioned it in the middle of a meeting, but he gave the impression of being controlled by Marquis Ketron. At the end of the meeting, we exchanged words that also led me to that conclusion.
'Why then? Why doesn't Marquis Ketron make a move now? Why is Duke Liberty so quiet again now?'
They're being cautious… anyone would think so. But if so, they would have been cautious from before. Duke Liberty aside, what was more suspicious is that Marquis Ketron, who brought up the infertility issue first, now stood idly by.
Is it because of the humiliation he was subjected to by trying to use Heinley's playboy image?
After much thought, I went to Heinley's office and asked for his opinion,
"What do you think, Heinley?"
In the Eastern Empire, I could have figured it out on my own. I grew up observing the nobles there.
In contrast, I still didn't know the nobles of the Western Empire well. Of course, there were many nobles I had befriended over the past few months. Except for some families that harbored bad intentions, many nobles opened their hearts to me.
Still, six months ago I didn't even know them. Even if it were a close noble, it would be difficult to fully understand his character and decipher his true intentions. Evidently, I was not close to Marquis Ketron. To decipher his intentions, I knew little about him.
So I had no choice but to seek Heinley's help.
"I heard that Marquis Ketron and Marquise Ketron had a falling out."
"Is it because of the previous incident?"
"It may be partly because of that."
Heinley sighed and added,
"Come to think of it, the Ketron Family has three smart children. Marquise Ketron probably had a huge fight with Marquis Ketron for not really being on my side."
Since Heinley was the only one left of the true Imperial Family, did he decide to keep his head down for now? For the future of his children?
Heinley sighed again,
"Of course, going on like this would have been exhausting for both sides."
He was right. I finally leaned back on the couch after being very worried and said sincerely,
"I guess setting traps is not a field I'm good at."
"The best part of fishing is waiting, My Queen."
"It's boring to wait blindly not knowing if the other person is going to react."
"So how did My Queen deal with political enemies in the Eastern Empire?"
When I stared at him with my arms crossed, Heinley quickly shook his hands.
"No, just because you dealt with your political enemies doesn't mean you're a bad person. There are times that it is necessary. That's what I mean."
"I didn't have much trouble."
When I was in the Eastern Empire, I had consolidated my position under the support of the former empress, so there were few who tried to fight openly. Even in those cases, I had many ladies-in-waiting on my side, and my own family was powerful…
Still, it seemed like a subject that interested Heinley, so I told him about my experiences. It was then that my palms began to itch. As I unconsciously scratched them, I had a similar sensation to earlier, when I had frozen Heinley's hair.
As soon as I thought about it, my hands itched even more, so I put them on the desk to warm them up.
At that moment, a thin piece of ice appeared on the desk unexpectedly.
The piece of ice moved across the desk until it stopped near Heinley on the other side.
"Ahh…"
As I looked at my hands in surprise, Heinley asked.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. I was just a little surprised."
Seeing this phenomenon a second time made it even more amazing. Since it hadn't happened again, I wondered if it had been a fluke, or if the mana had disappeared. But it hadn't.
I closed my hands repeatedly, waved them in the air a few times and finally placed them on my lap. At this point, I felt an intense gaze from Heinley on me, so I looked up,
"What's wrong?"
When I asked because of his strange expression, Heinley raised his own mouth with his index finger and muttered,
"Now that I remember, we forgot about the matter of the magical academy after the pregnancy became known. Although you need to go to the academy at least once, I don't know if it would be better for you to go as soon as possible or in the future."
315"Daddy. Try it. Daddy."
The baby went "bubu" and laughed. Sovieshu smiled as happily as if the baby had called him dad, gave her a kiss on her belly and repeated,
"Daddy. Try it. Daddy."
When the baby went "bubu" again, Sovieshu was moved and murmured,
"My princess, my princess is very smart."
The baby burst out laughing again.
Viscountess Verdi smiled ruefully at this scene as she brought a bottle of warm milk for the baby.
Although Sovieshu looked good with the baby in his arms, how many people did he have to sacrifice for this? Just thinking about it made her feel bad.
The princess looked really lovely waving her hands. The Viscountess was wrong to think that she would not be able to love her because she was Rashta's daughter.
After becoming the princess's nanny, Viscountess Verdi grew more attached to the lovely princess with each passing day.
When Viscountess Verdi approached, Sovieshu handed the baby into her arms.
Viscountess Verdi received and held the princess deftly.
But in the midst of the pleasant moment, there was a knock on the door.
"Your Majesty, it's Marquis Karl."
Seeing the princess laughing in Viscountess Verdi's arms, Sovieshu reluctantly left the baby's room.
"What's the matter?"
"Your Majesty. There is something you must see."
Marquis Karl spoke seriously. Just by looking at his expression, one could tell that he had not come for anything good.
"I'll show you in a quiet place."
Sovieshu led Marquis Karl into his drawing room and asked,
"What is it?"
Marquis Karl took out a folded newspaper he had inside his suit.
"There is an article about the Empress."
While the Marquis did not dare to say it directly, Sovieshu accepted the newspaper and opened it. His eyes quickly swept over the contents of the newspaper.
Soon after, Sovieshu found out what Marquis Karl wanted to show him.
"What does this mean?"
Sovieshu's expression also darkened.
The article itself was not very relevant within the newspaper. It was in a small section at the end of it.
However, the content of the article was shocking.
The journalist related that he had met with a man who claimed to be Rashta's real father and, although he made it clear that he could not be sure, he detailed each of the man's statements.
The man who claimed to be Rashta's real father made three main statements. He worked so hard to support his daughter that he didn't even know she had become the Empress. His daughter seemed to have sought fake fathers among the nobility because she was ashamed of being a commoner. He visited his daughter, but was rejected and thrown out.
This was a summary of the extensive article, but some people would be confused by the convoluted statements.
Sovieshu rubbed his temple. These articles about high-status individuals were usually written anonymously by journalists. However, this journalist proudly revealed his name.
Even this was unfavorable for Rashta. By revealing his name in an article like this, he gave it more credibility, which would lead to the formation of a certain public opinion.
Although now it was just a baseless claim…
"What about the slave certificate? You still haven't found it?"
"It's hard to find because you have to look for it secretly."
A burning lump rose in his throat. Sovieshu sighed, trying to calm his anger. However, his anger rose even higher instead.
Although Rashta would soon leave the position of empress, that was not the case with his daughter. His daughter would be in a difficult situation if Rashta was confirmed to be a slave.
Even a normal princess would be. But it was especially true for Glorym because she would become the first reigning empress of the Eastern Empire.
"Where is this journalist now? Who is this man who claims to be Rashta's real father?"
Sovieshu shook his head.
"No. First I have to check if what this man says is true, where is Rashta?"
Rashta was in the Western Palace with the journalist.
Initially, she had been reluctant to call the journalist because Sovieshu had greatly reduced her power, asking to be informed first when she exercised her authority as empress.
But as soon as she saw the name of the person who wrote the article about her real father, she changed her mind, convinced that she couldn't stand idly by.
The journalist was Joanson. He was the journalist who went to the audience chamber and asked to find his sister. Before that, the journalist who described her as the hope of the commoners after interviewing her.
Each time this journalist met her, his expression was different. At the first meeting, he looked at her with bright eyes; at the second, he looked at her with eyes full of despair, and now he looked at her more coldly than ever.
Rashta asked Joanson with a sad expression.
"Do you hold a grudge against Rashta?"
"No at all, Your Majesty."
Joanson answered immediately. But even as he said this, he had a somber expression.
"Rashta has seen all the absurd articles you've published, but Rashta has turned a blind eye because you should be free to publish whatever you want. Still, this time, have you not gone too far?"
Rashta looked at Joanson with tears in her eyes.
"You interviewed Rashta before the wedding, so you know how much Rashta suffered for her parents. Don't you think it's heartless to do this?"
Rashta couldn't sleep after throwing the baby on the floor. Because of that, she had dark circles under her eyes and a pale face, her appearance was very pitiful. Even the coldest person's heart would soften at the sight of Rashta like this.
But this was not the case for Joanson. He felt deeply betrayed by the Empress. He was also convinced that Rashta had hurt his sister. Therefore, he didn't care about anything she said, he would not be moved.
Joanson crossed his legs and responded calmly,
"As a journalist, it was my duty to publicize the claim of that man, Your Majesty."
Meanwhile, he carefully observed Rashta's attitude.
Nobles hated it when commoners crossed their legs in front of them. At best, the nobles would merely scowl, and at worst, some ordered their subordinates to break their legs.
Knowing this, Joanson crossed his legs to watch Rashta's reaction.
Of course, Empress Rashta grew up among commoners, so she might be different in this respect, but he still thought that if she really had noble blood, she would react to such a posture.
So Joanson continued to speak naturally.
"Didn't I write it clearly in the article? 'There is a man who makes such a claim'."
It wasn't just an excuse. In fact, in the article he published about the man who claimed to be Rashta's real father, the journalist did not assert that he was.
Since his words were coherent and his face had a certain resemblance to the empress', Joanson wrote the article, but added the sentence, 'there is such a claim'.
Rashta's face turned red with anger.
"Do you publish any nonsense that is said? Even if a child claims to be the Empress' bastard child?"
"The words of the man who claimed to be the Empress's real father were coherent."
'Because he's a swindler!' Rashta swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth.
Joanson's eyes narrowed as he examined Rashta. She didn't react to the fact that he was sitting cross-legged…
"Do you remember my visit to the audience chamber, Your Majesty?"
"I remember."
"My request has not changed. Please return my sister to me. That's enough."
"Rashta has nothing to do with your sister's disappearance. Why won't you leave me alone?!"
"Nothing I have written has been made up. Every published article has research behind it."
Joanson uncrossed his legs and stood up.
"Until my sister returns, I will not leave Your Majesty alone."