As soon as I woke up the next day, the first thought that came to my mind was, 'I'm hungry.'
I wanted to eat Heinley's baked bread. That thin, crusty bread. It was only when the urge to eat bread subsided a bit that I remembered what had happened yesterday.
While I was shocked by the unexpected reality, Heinley softly called me "My Queen".
As I sat up hurriedly, I saw Heinley come in from his room with a food trolley.
"Did you get up early?"
"My Queen, I know you haven't been able to eat well lately. I made breakfast mainly thinking about the food you love."
"This smell…"
"Ah, don't you like the smell of breakfast?"
I shook my head and walked quickly to the front of the food trolley. Removing the light yellow cloth covering the dishes, I could see an omelet, vegetable soup, and the baked bread I wanted to eat.
I couldn't stop my hand from going straight to the bread, I tore off a piece, dipped it in the soup and chewed it. My taste buds, which had been unable to perceive flavors for almost ten days, finally began to work.
"It's delicious."
"It pains me to see My Queen eat in such a hurry."
"Isn't it normal to eat like this if it's delicious?"
"I feel like you wanted to eat, but couldn't."
"Coincidentally, I really wanted to eat this."
Bringing a piece of bread back to my mouth, I pointed to what was left. Only after I finished eating did I begin to worry about my image.
'What a fool I've been! I ate it all without waiting for Heinley.'
Fortunately, I didn't eat Heinley's bread as well…. As soon as I thought about it, Heinley even offered me his own baked bread.
"What happened to Whitemond?"
Once I felt satisfied, I was able to ask as if nothing had happened.
Although inside I was very embarrassed, I didn't show it at all.
Actually, I wanted to ask him about the conversation he had with McKenna yesterday. However, I was afraid he would reply, 'I have been preparing to invade your country.' I wasn't ready to hear that.
So I'll put that question aside for now. I was also very curious about the results with Whitemond. When I arrived, the king had already left.
"What did the king say? Since he came all this way, it seems he didn't want to go to war either…"
"The king says Whitemond can allow us to use the port again."
"That's great, isn't it?"
"Well, it was a little ambiguous."
"Why?"
"Before we can use the port, he demands that we sign a treaty that the port will never be used as an excuse to invade them. Also, he wants the agreement to be certified by the Wol Alliance."
"If we accede to their demands, will we be able to use the port as before? Will it make no difference?"
"That's right."
"In that treaty will there be any clause that allows us to fight back in case of danger?"
"Yes."
It was quite complete. Would it even include a clause that the treaty would have no effect as long as the port was not used?
Not to start a war, but to be able to respond to provocations from the other side.
But with this clause, wouldn't Whitemond be agreeing to be invaded as long as the port was not used?
"What are you going to do?"
"Instead of the complicated way, we should take the easy way…"
Heinley, who was muttering to himself, turned his gaze and discreetly changed his words,
"I need to think about it some more."
While Navier and Heinley hid their true thoughts.
Christa's father, the old Duke Zemensia, was in his home study. Behind him, a subordinate was looking around uneasily.
The subordinate was surprised that old Duke Zemensia did nothing despite the strong rumor circulating about Empress Navier's possible infertility.
Not that he had decided to side with the Empress, but rather that he had no idea of her intentions as she didn't show any reaction.
"It will be difficult for Marquis Ketron to make a move right now. The Marquise decided to completely change the family's position after the Marquis' considers the future of her children more important than the loyalty between the Marquis and the Former Queen, so she seems to pressure the Marquis to stay quiet."
The subordinate continued nervously.
"Shouldn't we define our position as soon as possible? Between taking revenge or changing sides."
Finally, old Duke Zemensia spoke in a harsh voice while silently staring at the cover of a book.
"Most likely the infertility rumor is a trap."
"Do you mean that the Empress is not infertile?"
"It's not just that she's not infertile, but that it's possible she's pregnant. Otherwise, she wouldn't be so confident in setting this trap."
The subordinate's eyes grew wide.
"Wasn't it Marquis Ketron who started that rumor? Besides, whenever the successor is brought up, the Empress changes the subject with a serious expression."
"Do you think the Empress Navier, who ruled the Eastern Empire, can't even manage her expression?"
"Ahh…"
"That sly as a fox emperor has also let the rumors pass. They are definitely up to something."
"I see. Then what should we do?"
The subordinate asked with a worried face.
"At the moment it's best to be cautious, so we'll keep our mouths shut."
Old Duke Zemensia spoke heavily, slowly turned around and looked at the picture frame on the desk in his study. On the picture frame, a little Christa was sitting on his lap smiling broadly.
The old Duke, with tears in his eyes, opened his mouth helplessly,
"What I want now is to see my daughter. Is Christa still not responding?"
"No. It seems she was very upset that the old Duke did not intervene to defend her."
The old Duke, who stood stunned for a moment like a dead tree, lifted the picture frame that lay on the desk.
"Then I shall have to go personally."
Viscount Roteschu had set the arid frontier of Palme as the starting point in the search for Rivetti and also for 'Rashta's sister'.
Palme was the place where an infamous bandit group operated, the Thousand Eternals. Although they weren't currently as active around this place, they were when Viscount and Viscountess Isqua lost their daughter.
Viscount and Viscountess Isqua did not lose their daughter in the Eastern Empire, but they had said that they were caught up in an attack by the thousand eternal bandits, so there was a possibility that their other daughter had made it this far.
Viscount Roteschu was too busy with both searches. It had not been an exaggeration what he told Rashta, he didn't even know how Alan was these days.
Sometimes he worried about what Alan might be doing because of his foolish personality, but he tried to convince himself that nothing bad could happen.
Alan had always stayed home to take care of his son.
After several days of searching, Viscount Roteschu finally discovered a lead on the real daughter of the Isqua Family. He learned that the girl might have been sent to the Derose Orphanage after going through two foster parents.
That was not the lead he wanted having spent days searching mainly for information about Rivetti.
But he went to that orphanage anyway. He had hoped to find leads on his own daughter while searching for the Isqua Family's daughter.
"Let's see… What was her age range? Do you know her physical traits? If you don't know anything about her personality it doesn't matter, children's personalities are constantly changing. Besides, if she was caught up in a group of bandits, it's very likely that her personality has changed drastically… Hmm. You don't even know her physical traits."
As the orphanage director searched through the records of the time when the Isqua Family lost their daughter, Viscount Roteschu looked quizzically at the portrait of the Empress Navier hanging on the wall of the director's office.
In fact, this orphanage was supported by Empress Navier. It was also an orphanage that Rashta had supported with Navier's money.
"Oh, how fortunate."
At that moment, the director let out a sigh and smiled. Then he turned the document he was examining toward Viscount Roteschu.
"Only two girls entered our orphanage back then."
"Only two?"
"We didn't want to take in anyone else because we were full, but we had no choice but to take in two more due to the unfortunate circumstances the girls were in."
Viscount Roteschu hastened to look at the document the director had shown him.
There were two small portraits side by side. One of the portraits had 'withdrawn' written underneath it.
"This girl…"
"As I said, two were taken in. One left five years ago because luckily her real parents came to get her. So this is the only girl."
The director pointed his finger at the girl without a note underneath and smiled broadly.
"She is the pride of our orphanage. Her name is Evely."
322'Isn't Evely the mage that Emperor Sovieshu wants to make his concubine?!'
Viscount Roteschu jumped up in excitement.
If this were true, it would be a great event.
People would think that the two daughters of the Isqua Family would become the emperor's wives, while Rashta would feel that everything had been taken from her by Evely.
Viscount Roteschu decided to be cautious. These matters had to be handled carefully.
As soon as he left the orphanage, he summoned the mercenary who had introduced him to Rashta and ordered,
"There is a girl named Evely in the Southern Palace. Emperor Sovieshu's potential concubine. Bring me some of her blood."
Viscount Roteschu handed him a small bottle that he had prepared beforehand.
Over the next few days, Viscount Roteschu focused on finding any leads on Rivetti as he awaited the mercenary's return.
Meanwhile, the old Duke Zemensia of the Western Empire had left the capital for Compshire. He went to see his daughter, Christa.
If Empress Navier was really pregnant, he would have to change plans. That was why he wanted to comfort his daughter before thinking about his future actions.
'She must be very angry.'
He remembered the last time he saw his daughter.
It was in the meeting room. His daughter looked at him several times blankly, but her eyes cried out for help.
The outcome might have been different if he had intervened. But even if the outcome had changed, Christa would not achieve the glory of before. So the old Duke gave up Christa for the sake of his grandson who had greater potential.
As a result, she became angry. Christa left for Compshire without even seeing his face. Since then, he kept sending her letters even though she did not answer them.
The old Duke sighed. He had chosen the most beneficial path for the family, but that didn't mean he didn't love his daughter, so he was heartbroken.
Finally, the carriage stopped in front of Compshire's Mansion.
Being the place where the former queens spent the rest of their lives, the mansion was lavishly decorated.
When the old Duke was about to get out of the carriage, he realized that the carriage had not yet entered the mansion, so he sat back down and asked the coachman,
"Go a little further in."
But instead of the coachman's answer, he heard a small argument.
As he opened the window and peered out, he saw the knights, who guarded the perimeter of the mansion like walls, urging the coachman to retreat.
"What's going on?"
When the old Duke asked with dignity, the coachman approached and answered quickly,
"Master, they insist that the carriage cannot enter."
The old Duke frowned. He had heard that the knights of Compshire's Mansion didn't let anyone in, but he certainly hadn't expected that to include his father.
"Did you let them know who I am?"
"Yes. They still refused."
One of the knights who had blocked the carriage's passage approached the old Duke and apologized firmly.
"My apologies, Duke. Christa ordered not to let anyone in."
"I am her father."
"She instructed that no exceptions be made, not even to members of her family."
"Go ask her again."
At the old Duke's cold order, the knight glanced at another knight as if there was no other choice.
The knight who received the signal ran to the mansion. However, the answer he brought back was the same,
"Christa doesn't want to see anyone, not even her father."
The old Duke's face turned stiff. But instead of shouting, he asked calmly.
"So, no one from the outside has seen Christa?"
"Something's not right. It's strange."
Old Duke Zemensia, who rented an entire inn, muttered as he entered the bedroom on the top floor.
"Christa doesn't meet with anyone?"
After a servant dropped off the luggage and closed the door, the subordinate responded,
"She seems to want to be quiet."
Wasn't that understandable? If she had pride, she would probably want to hide for a year or more.
"Master, what do you intend to do now? Will you send someone a couple more times before you return?"
However, the old Duke shook his head.
"No."
"Then…"
"Look for an agile mercenary."
"What?" The subordinate was surprised and asked, "Are you planning to infiltrate the premises?"
"Do you think I'll be able to avoid those knights with this body?That's why I want you to get an agile mercenary. I want him to go in for me."
"But Christa doesn't want to see anyone…"
"I know."
The old Duke extended a finger and pointed at the subordinate. Next, he asked with a puzzled look.
"Isn't it strange? Christa likes to socialize with others. She takes so much care of other people that she neglects herself."
The old Duke's eyes narrowed.
"I can understand that she's mad at me, but it's not normal for her not to want to see anyone."
The fact that she left the throne and went to Compshire did not mean that she would be incarcerated.
The former queens lived a dream life even after leaving the throne, and nobles from home and abroad visited to pay their respects.
The influence the former queens had in high society was not diminished just by going to Compshire.
'So why would she remain so quiet?'
323Of course, it is possible that her behavior was different from former queens because she left in shame. However, it wasn't like Christa to turn everyone away. She would at least have accepted the visits of her followers.
The duke's fears were realized a few hours later.
The mercenary, who sneaked into the mansion in the middle of the night, returned to the inn before dawn and reported to the old duke.
"All the windows and doors in the mansion are blocked. There are some open windows that are situated too high and are so small that absolutely no one could get through there."
"What?"
"There was a small aperture at the bottom of the front door. It seems that food and drink are brought in through that space."
The old Duke understood the situation immediately.
'Heinley, that bloody Emperor has imprisoned my daughter!'
He shook his hands angrily.
Even after the mercenary left, he couldn't even sit up in bed. He felt distressed, disgusted, and indignant, as if his body would explode if he stayed still.
How could a brilliant girl, who cared about others, be imprisoned and isolated!?
He was angered by the way the cunning emperor acted behind the scenes as he pretended to cover up the scandal by sending Christa to Compshire.
Even now, there were those who were concerned because they felt that the measures taken by Emperor Heinley had been too soft.
But what made him angrier was that in this situation he did not have the power to get rid of the knights and free his daughter.
Unable to suppress his anger, the old duke threw a bottle of wine that was on the table to the floor.
When the bottle shattered with a crash, red wine flowed across the floor like blood.
"Emperor Heinley, I will not let this go…"
In that way, the old duke immediately left Compshire and returned to the capital.
What he did as soon as he returned to the capital was to get a food called 'Jesslen'.
That food tasted good and was healthy, but it had a negative effect on the fetus. It was a food that every pregnant woman should avoid.
"Will you give it to the Empress?" The subordinate asked the old duke in surprise, "Isn't it dangerous?"
If she was pregnant, she would not eat it even if he sent it to her. Instead, she might begin to doubt his intentions.
However, the old duke replied,
"No. Soon there will be a great prayer to be organized by the emperor. This food will also be an offering in the great prayer."
"Huh?"
The old duke smiled maliciously,
"She has to eat what is served there. Have someone make sure it's put on the altar."
In the Western Kingdom there was an event called 'Great Prayer' in which offerings were presented to the king and queen. The time had come to celebrate it.
It was expected that the event would still be held despite having become the Western Empire, so I asked my aides to explain the event to me and practiced a bit.
Overall, what I had to do was not difficult. I was just a little worried about having to eat at the event.
"… a total of six foods are presented as offerings. The priest checks that they are not poisoned. Then the foods are to be consumed by the Emperor and Empress."
Lately I couldn't eat anything, except for some of the dishes Heinley prepared. I didn't have morning sickness, but my stomach would turn whenever I put something in my mouth that I didn't want to eat.
I really had to eat six different foods…
"You don't have to eat it all, but just enough to make a good impression, Your Majesty. Be careful not to spill the food. Although it's not serious, it's considered unlucky to spill food."
That was very serious.
An emperor or empress was never to do anything that was considered unlucky because if something bad happened in the future, it would immediately be attributed to them and they would easily become the target of people's resentment. Even if they were really unrelated.
I thought about it for a while. What if I revealed that I was pregnant so I wouldn't attend the event?
Wouldn't it be terrible if I ended up throwing up something I didn't want to eat?
However, the infertility rumor trap, set by Heinley and I, was working too well to reveal my pregnancy at this time due to the event.
How many times had I already updated the nobles' danger level?
Heinley was striving to gradually reduce the power of high-danger families, either by not entrusting them with any tasks, or by entrusting them with tasks that had a high probability of failure.
Is it okay to remove the trap just because I didn't want to eat a bit? No. Certainly not.
Well, it's not like there's going to be food that's harmful to the baby, right? I'll just have to make an effort.
However, the situation was worse than expected.
After a few simple procedures, when the food that had been examined was placed in front of me, I almost laughed wryly.
On the table was food that was nutritious, but could not be eaten by pregnant women. I thought it would be fine as long as it wasn't food like this. Unfortunately, that was exactly what was served.
Heinley also frowned as he recognized the food I couldn't eat. When our gazes met, he smiled forcedly.
"Emperor Heinley? Empress Navier?"
Since neither Heinley nor I were eating, the priest who was helping us lead the event called us in a surprised voice.
I put my hands on my belly. It had been about two months.
In fact, I wanted to delay the baby announcement as long as possible. At least until Heinley's birthday.
By then, the hostile nobles would be practically decimated at Heinley's hands.
But because of the current situation, there was no other way out. I couldn't eat this, so I had to reveal the truth.
With a bright smile, I looked alternately between the priest and Heinley. Since I had decided to reveal it, it was best to do so with as happy an expression as possible.
"Empress Navier?"
The priest called back to me in bewilderment. Instead of answering, I extended my hand toward Heinley.
Heinley seemed to understand me and quickly grabbed my hand. Then he raised it, kissed the back of it and smiled splendidly at the priest.
The priest's face, who was forbidden to have a love relationship, began to blush. No matter how married we were, anyone would wonder what we were doing now in front of a priest who couldn't date anyone in his life.
Heinley turned his head to look at the nobles. The nobles were not embarrassed, but seemed puzzled to see the emperor and empress so sweet to each other, without eating what had been served to them.
With a broad smile, Heinley leaned over to me, placed his hand lightly on my belly and said loudly,
"This time I'll have to eat alone. God won't want his child to get sick from eating this."
The nobles didn't immediately understand. Then, I smiled at them with overflowing happiness.
If this food didn't appear here by coincidence, it was someone's dumb plan.
"I have two months…"
It was enough to tell the truth.
"Who… Who's pregnant?"
Sovieshu, who had Glorym on his lap, dropped the baby's toy he was holding in one hand at Marquis Karl's report. As a result, the princess burst into tears.
Sovieshu took the baby in his arms, patted her on the back and asked Marquis Karl.
"It can't be. Repeat what you just said."
"Navier is pregnant, Your Majesty."
Marquis Karl spoke again in a deep voice.
Sovieshu jumped to his feet. His eyes widened in shock.
"Who told you? Is it someone you trust?"
"Navier revealed it personally in front of the nobles of the Western Empire at an event."
Sovieshu's eyes withered like a plant without any water.
The princess flailed in his arms and slapped his stiff face with her small hands. When the princess began to pull his hair, Sovieshu finally came to his senses.
But he still had a distorted expression. Sovieshu's hands trembled so much that Marquis Karl repeatedly raised his own hands. He feared that the Emperor would drop the baby.
Fortunately, Sovieshu did not drop the baby and sat back on the couch.
He held the princess tightly in his arms as if she were his last hope and let out a sigh.
After Marquis Karl left, Sovieshu stroked the princess's hair in confusion. Fierce storms raged in his head.
'Navier is pregnant. Pregnant… Wasn't Navier infertile?'
During the years they were married they were never able to have a child.
'She got pregnant less than a year after she went to that country?'
Sovieshu shook his head.
'No, no. It can't be.'
He didn't want to accept it. He didn't want to accept that Navier was not infertile. Just then, he looked at the painting hanging on the wall.
Thanks to the arrangement made to her eyes, Navier was now looking at him in the painting.
Sovieshu exhaled heavily.
'If Navier was not infertile, had all the plans and the divorce been in vain? I left Navier for a child, but it turns out she wasn't infertile…'
All his movements and thoughts stopped. He even stopped breathing.
Sovieshu's arms, which held the baby, tensed. Sovieshu looked down with fearful eyes.
He saw the beautiful silver hair that resembled Rashta's. The silver hair on her little head was as soft as a lamb's coat.
Sovieshu had never seen such silky hair before. But his eyes were tinged with fear.
'What if the one who is infertile….. was not Navier, but me?'
324As soon as I made it known that I was pregnant, the priest who was helping us lead the 'Great Prayer' event waved his hands hurriedly,
"It came close to becoming a serious problem. You absolutely must not eat this food, Your Majesty."
He had a frightened look. It was probably because the imperial family was at a critical point since the time of the former king.
The priest quickly removed the food.
"Is it okay to do this?"
When I asked him just in case, he waved his hands again and said anxiously,
"Of course, of course. We cannot harm the future of the Western Empire while praying for it."
As we exchanged a few words, murmurs began to be heard all around. Most of the nobles had bright faces and voices.
For both the nobles who supported Heinley and those who did not, the succession issue was important.
Moreover, the fact that I was a foreigner was both a weakness and a strength.
Since I shared no blood ties with any family in the Western Empire, all the nobles wished to become my child's future aides.
Heinley kept a gentle smile and, once the commotion died down, decided to continue with the event.
When we all met for lunch at the end of the event, old Duke Zemensia approached with a glass of wine.
"My sincerest congratulations, Your Majesty."
There were already many nobles who came up to congratulate me, but I didn't expect the old Duke Zemensia to do so as well.
Isn't he Christa's father? I don't think he's someone who really wanted to congratulate me.
It wasn't easy to accept his congratulations without hesitation. Although I thanked him with a smile, I could not let my guard down since I did not know his intentions.
The old Duke only showed his true colors after he pretended to be friendly,
"Still it was unfair."
"Unfair?"
"The Empress's pregnancy is a national celebration and everyone's hope, but it was kept secret for two months. Even we nobles didn't know that Your Majesty was pregnant, and we never ceased to be worried about the succession issue."
Oh… I wondered if the food that was harmful to the pregnancy had been served intentionally, and if so, who had done it.
There was a high probability that it was this man who was behind it.
Some nobles who were talking excitedly about the baby were startled to hear the words of the old Duke Zemensia.
They seemed to be those who had on at least one occasion expressed concern about the succession and the rumor of my infertility.
Old Duke Zemensia whispered in their ears like a snake now that they were immersed in joy. He had hinted with his words that, 'the empress must have kept her pregnancy a secret to test them'.
"It was necessary to be careful in the early stages of pregnancy."
Heinley spoke calmly with a smile. Then he withdrew the empty glass from my hand and this time struck back.
"Besides, it hasn't been said all the time that nothing is wrong, that there are other things to worry about, that affairs of state are more important right now. The fault lies with those who didn't believe us, with those who had malicious thoughts."
As Heinley and old Duke Zemensia exchanged sly smiles, the faces of several nobles darkened at Heinley's words.
That night, my ladies-in-waiting, my parents, and even my brother made a fuss.
"It was unfair of you to keep it a secret even from us! Ahh… I'm glad you're pregnant! Still it was unfair! But I'm happy… Ahh!"
Laura repeatedly got upset, cried and rejoiced.
"So, first we have to prepare the baby's clothes? Or rather some toys? No, no, what's more important is the crib…. What design would be ideal for the crib?"
Suddenly, Rose began to talk about what she knew. Countess Jubel, who had extensive experience in marriage, pregnancy, and parenting, boasted with raised shoulders,
"What could a young lady who is not married know about that? Leave it all to me, Miss Rose. Leave it to me, Your Majesty."
However, Rose did not seem ready to give in,
"Countess Jubel. I have seen and heard many things, so I can handle it too."
"Your, Your Majesty. Is it alright for you to remain standing? No, you need to lie down, or rather sit down."
Mastas panicked, as if I had suddenly become a sick person. Once I sat up, I turned to look at my brother and he looked very pensive.
Is he pacing around the room because he can't sit still for a moment?
In contrast, my father didn't move or say anything, wiping his tears with a handkerchief. He seemed to want to congratulate me wholeheartedly, but unfortunately he had a lump in his throat… every time he opened his mouth, the words wouldn't come out.
At first, my mother repeatedly patted my father's back to comfort him, but eventually told him to get out of her sight if he wanted to cry. My father became saddened, stood against the wall in a corner and began to cry louder.
As I smiled awkwardly, my mother put her hand on my belly and gently stroked my hair.
"My dear daughter. You are still too little for me. I can't believe my little girl is going to be a mother…"
"Mother, I'm not really little."
"You'll understand when you have your children. No matter how much they grow up, they will always be to their parents little and helpless."
My elder brother, who had been reprimanded severely instead of being treated like a helpless person every time he got into trouble, moved his lips as if he wanted to complain.
"But I'm nervous."
"Why?"
"I want to raise my child well."
My mother wrapped her arms around my head and patted me on the shoulders. My mother's sigh ran through my hair.
"I don't know if I can do it, mother."
"You were an exceptional child. Very smart and obedient."
"I know."
"It's not easy for a smart person to teach others. It's fine if your child takes after you, but if by any chance…"
My mother's gaze drifted for a moment between my brother and my father.
"If by any chance your child is not so obedient, I worry that you won't be able to handle it."
I must never tell my mother about Heinley's childhood.
"I'll do my best, mother."
"I wish I could stay by your side to help you."
I also wished my mother could stay here with me…but my mother loved the Eastern Empire. Unable to ask her, I rested my forehead on my mother's chest.
Just then, my brother asked as if he had read my mind.
"Mother, can't you stay here with Navier?"
I had some hope too, so I looked at my mother.
"I'll think about it… Honey, you can turn around and come over here."
"Wife… our… our Navier… our Navier is still a baby, but our baby… Ahh."
My mother frowned at his words. Seeing this scene, Mastas pressed her lips together and lowered her head.
My father smartly hurried away, turned around and took out his handkerchief.
325"All the people close to Her Majesty seem to be elated."
Heinley said, "Yes?" and cocked his head.
"I mean the Troby Family and her ladies-in-waiting."
McKenna stood beside him with a letter in his hand.
"They haven't stopped crying and laughing since yesterday."
The corners of Heinley's mouth turned up in a warm smile.
"I'm glad they are very happy about the news."
"Your Majesty, you should join as well."
"Hmm. I know."
"You can do this tomorrow or the day after."
McKenna, who spoke as if he were sorry, handed Heinley the letter in his hand.
Heinley accepted the letter and asked a question instead of replying.
"Did you see My Queen's expression when old Duke Zemensia sneered in her face, McKenna?"
"Didn't she have a smile on her face?"
"What? What were you doing looking at my wife's expression so closely?"
McKenna looked at Heinley puzzled, unable to understand.
Heinley snorted and opened the letter McKenna had handed him, thinking to himself that it wasn't true.
"My Queen had an angry expression. My Queen is only supposed to think of good things since she's pregnant. This needs to be over with quickly."
A ruthless smile appeared on his face as he muttered and glanced at the letter.
At that moment, another secretary announced the visit of old Duke Zemensia.
"You sent for me, Your Majesty."
After the old Duke entered the office, he came within five paces of Heinley's desk and bowed his head.
He had a nonchalant expression. He did not look like the same person who yesterday turned on the Emperor and Empress to accuse them in front of the nobles.
While McKenna thought that he was indeed an old fox, he took the letter he had shown Heinley.
"I sent for you because I found something interesting, old Duke."
The old Duke looked up without a trace of emotion. His attitude reflected that, whatever it was, he had nothing to fear.
As soon as Heinley made an eye signal, McKenna handed the letter to the old Duke.
"What is this?"
The old Duke asked in a heavy voice, took the letter and opened it. Instantly, his expression tensed slightly.
Chin propped on his hand, Heinley looked at the old Duke as if he found him amused.
Soon after, the old Duke returned the letter to McKenna. He probably lowered his gaze to hide the fear in his eyes.
"What do you think, old Duke?"
Heinley asked with a smile. Then the old Duke answered directly.
"My handwriting has been forged."
"Forged?"
"I have written no such letter, Your Majesty."
"But I found it, old Duke."
"It's a fake letter."
"Is it incredible that you dare to deny it even after seeing the letter in your own handwriting? In the letter it is clearly written, 'the empress is pregnant, so prepare food that is harmful to the baby in her womb, it must not be poisonous because it will not pass the priest's check'."
"Do you think I would leave a letter if I had given that order?"
Heinley nodded shamelessly at the old Duke's question.
"Yes, I think so. Why did you leave it, old Duke? Evidence must always be destroyed to avoid inconvenience."
Old Duke Zemensia found the young emperor's words absurd.
In the first place, he had not written such a letter. Moreover, he would never leave a letter that could cause trouble. The letter was certainly a fake.
'No matter how good his little tricks are, he's still too young.' Old Duke Zemensia clicked his tongue inwardly.
"Are you taking revenge because I brought up the recent infertility rumor in everyone's presence? If that's the case, it makes no sense. Isn't the Empress already pregnant?"
"It's not revenge, old Duke. It's just an investigation."
However, Heinley firmly denied it and rang the small bell on his desk.
"I need the library's borrowed books record."
There was a clear click of the door being opened.
'Pathetic, how could my daughter suffer for someone so pathetic?'
Annoyed, the old Duke turned his gaze toward the slowly opening door.
But as soon as the door was completely opened, his eyes widened. The old Duke was stunned.
The woman who entered with a record book gave a dignified and gentle impression. She had dark blue eyes, brown hair… a face much like Christa's.
But it was not her uncanny resemblance to Christa that surprised old Duke Zemensia. The woman looked very much like Christa, but not to the point where he could not tell any difference.
What surprised the old Duke was the rope around her neck.
"What the hell does this mean…?"
It was clearly a thick rope used to carry out executions by hanging. Even the shape of the knot.
Heinley ignored the old Duke's reaction and reached out his hand.
The woman gently placed the book in Heinley's hand and left.
"Here it is, old Duke."
Heinley tapped the desk lightly with one hand to draw the old Duke's attention back to him, then gave the book a little shake.
"What's this all about?"
"This is the record of books borrowed from the library, old Duke."
"What does it have to do with me?"
"Here are the titles of the books your grandson has borrowed."
"Let's see…"Heinley, who muttered as he turned the pages, stopped near the middle.
The book titles flowed naturally from Heinley's mouth,
"Food that can be harmful, medications to be careful with, what a pregnant woman should not eat…Heavens. Your grandson has a unique taste in books, don't you think?"
Old Duke Zemensia's face paled.
This was a threat.
He could repeatedly assert that the letter was fake. As long as he did not accept the accusation, he would have no major problems. His popularity in high society might be affected, but that was all.
The emperor could impose punishment on him by his own will, but in that case the nobles would consider the emperor a tyrant.
The young emperor was plagued by bad rumors and even arbitrarily married the empress of the neighboring country. This would further damage the image of the young emperor, who was considered undisciplined and self-centered.
So now Emperor Heinley was threatening him.
He wanted the old duke to acknowledge the fake evidence. Otherwise, his daughter would be hanged.
Even if she wasn't hanged, Christa would die if Heinley stopped sending her food or poisoned it. If he kept everything closed after killing her, even the fact of her death would be buried.
Old Duke Zemensia's countenance grew paler.
The emperor before him was not a young man who suddenly ascended the throne. He was a cunning man who carried out ruthless plans under a smiling face.
"Old Duke. Answer me."
Once he closed the record book, Heinley urged the old Duke Zemensia in a kindly voice.
"Is this letter a fake? Or is your grandson just too curious?"