356
Emperor Sovieshu's letter was quickly sent via carrier pigeon.
Heinley frowned at the letter, but acknowledged it with a bitter smile once he read it.
"I know that too."
Puzzled, McKenna asked,
"What does it say?"
"That I always covet what is his. His wife, his jewels, everything he owns."
While not 'everything', Emperor Sovieshu had much of what Heinley desired.
An army of mages, a system that attracted new mages through the magical academy, many talented people, a vast ocean, ports, geographical advantages, and even Navier, the perfect wife who was now by his side.
"Huh? Don't we have more jewels?"
McKenna asked in bewilderment, he didn't know about the 'Fairy Tear'. The Western Empire had more jewels than any other country. Emperor Sovieshu was in no position to talk about jewels.
"Emperor Sovieshu sent my wife a jewel as a gift. I wore it as a necklace at my birthday party to show it off to everyone. I guess he sent this letter because someone informed him."
McKenna opened his mouth in surprise, but Heinley's expression seemed so sad that he made no joke. Instead, he encouraged him,
"Your child with the empress will be very smart and brave. The Western Empire could have a port of its own in the next generation. No, I'm absolutely sure. Your child already has two ships before birth."
Heinley laughed at McKenna's words,
"It's true. I never received a ship as a gift."
"You see."
"I should read war stories to my baby as part of prenatal education."
"No, that's not prenatal education."
"This is how a brave child is born."
"I have heard that the Empress reads fairy tales full of dreams and hopes to the baby every day as prenatal education. Will the Empress allow you to read war stories to the baby?"
"I can do it while My Queen is asleep."
'He's likely to have another marital problem and ask me, a single man, for advice.'
McKenna, who guessed what would happen, clicked his tongue and suddenly changed the subject.
"This is not the time for this. Princess Charlotte of Whitemond is here to meet with you."
After Navier told Heinley about the conversation she had with Whitemond's special ambassador, and her opinion that it would not be wise to start a war because it had recently become an empire. Heinley discussed it with McKenna and his trusted men.
He then called Whitemond's special ambassador along with the rest of the delegation to his office and discussed the problem between the two countries for several hours.
In the end, Heinley proposed a rapprochement on the basis that both countries would sign a non-invasion pact.
And now, Princess Charlotte had come from Whitemond with the answer to that proposal.
Heinley was indifferent.
"Of course we agree, thank you. That will be the answer, what other choice does Whitemond have?"
"Even so, the King of Whitemond sent the princess as a member of the delegation. Since we have decided to maintain good relations between the two countries, we must be polite."
Heinley muttered that he knew, got up from the armchair and headed for the Hall of Stars.
Several officials, nobles, and the Whitemond's delegation were already gathered there.
When Heinley appeared, everyone greeted him at the same time.
Heinley erased his earlier expression of displeasure, stood at the emperor's throne with a faint smile and welcomed the Whitemond's delegation.
"Welcome. I see the King of Whitemond sent the princess, so I imagine the response will be positive."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Although she must have felt offended that she had waited for Emperor Heinley for half an hour after she arrived at the Hall of Stars, Princess Charlotte smiled gently and expressed her gratitude.
"Thank you for your leniency in the face of the mistake Whitemond made. The team members were released and treated as distinguished guests. Whitemond's special goods were added to the trade team's commercial products.."
"That is good news."
"Also, once the trade team finishes their business in Rwibt, a Whitemond merchant ship will wait for them there."
It was an unexpected decision to have a Whitemond merchant ship wait on that continent, where there was little trade.
No one knew how much time the trade team would stay, so that meant Whitemond was prepared to endure the inconvenience.
The nobles sighed in astonishment. At that very moment, Marquis Ketron shouted loudly,
"The exceptional Empress Navier has been a godsend for the Western Empire!"
Marquis Ketron praised Navier, but the atmosphere instantly turned cold.
The nobles and officials looked at Marquis Ketron in silence. They thought that Marquis Ketron was like a vampire bat.
However, they soon began to agree with a broad smile.
"Yes!"
"It was Empress Navier who initiated this."
"She has achieved great results in less than a year, I look forward to the future."
"If all goes well, the Western Empire could become a trade power without a single port!"
Although Marquis Ketron acted like a brazen vampire bat, they had to agree with him, otherwise it would appear that they did not recognize Empress Navier's achievements.
For this reason, the nobles and officials praised Empress Navier almost in unison.
Heinley snorted at the scene. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly at the interesting praise.
However, the boisterous atmosphere turned heavy as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over their heads when Princess Charlotte said,
"To seal the reconciliation between the two countries, my father wants to celebrate a royal marriage. That is why he sent me as a member of the delegation."
Those present fell silent and looked at Emperor Heinley at the same time.
A marriage of convenience between Emperor Heinley and Princess Charlotte would be possible. Although it would be improper to call it a marriage because there was already an empress, it was not uncommon for a beautiful young princess from a small country to become the concubine of the emperor of a powerful country.
So now Princess Charlotte would be…
A knight who witnessed the situation, discreetly left the place and ran to the Empress's room.
"Princess Charlotte came because the King of Whitemond wants to celebrate a royal marriage."
When I heard about the arrival of Whitemond's delegation, I stayed in my room in the hope that the response would be positive.
Unexpectedly, Sir Yunim rushed into my room and spoke to me about Whitemond's response.
"Really?"
When Rose asked sharply, Sir Yunim answered in kind.
"Sister, do you think I would lie about this?"
My heart raced.
I knew Heinley would one day have a concubine, but I couldn't help but feel a pressure in my chest when that moment finally came.
'I don't want to.'
This was the first thought I had.
"His Majesty Heinley is not that kind of man. Empress Navier, you need not worry. He will refuse."
Mastas spoke hurriedly beside me, but the only thought that came to mind was,
'I don't want to, I don't want to, I don't want to…'
I got up from the couch and pretended to be calm,
"First… I would like to check the situation."
"I will guide you."
Sir Yunim guided me to the delegation's location.
It was in the Hall of Stars. The door was open, probably because there were so many people. I tried to sneak a peek, but because of that, several people noticed my presence.
Although I felt embarrassed inside, the people who saw me began to applaud strangely. This drew everyone's attention to me.
'What's going on here? Why do they applaud me?'
As I tried my best not to frown, a beautiful woman approached me and greeted me politely.
"I am Princess Charlotte of Whitemond, Your Majesty. I have heard that the empress played a very important role in the reconciliation between our two countries."
She was a very attractive woman, with a cheerful and confident voice.
I nodded with a forced smile, but it pained me.
Although I didn't accept Heinley's feelings because I didn't want to get hurt when this happened, it was already too painful.
Was it just an illusion that I had not accepted Heinley's feelings? Had I fallen in love with him before I realized it? I felt my heart melt.
If Rashta was like a slowly drawn bowstring, Princess Charlotte was like an arrow that pierced my heart suddenly.
Heinley wanted to have a port. Princess Charlotte could give the port to Heinley without going to war.
I found it hard to even breathe. When I looked at Heinley, I saw that he had a stiff expression.
Was he sorry? He said this would never happen, but it did.
Well, this wasn't his fault. Nor did I expect Whitemond to propose a royal marriage to seal the reconciliation between the two countries.
Seeing him made it more painful, so I averted my gaze and greeted the princess with a forced smile.
"Yes. Welcome, Princess Charlotte."
"I spoke to Emperor Heinley about the royal marriage. Since Your Majesty's approval is also necessary, I was going to discuss it alone with you later. But since you have come here we can talk about it right now."
My approval… to become Heinley's concubine. My hands trembled and my heart contracted.
Still, I smiled.
I didn't want to suffer, so I had been mentally preparing myself for this moment. However, how can you not suffer when it hurts so much?
It seems I wasn't ready yet…
"Your Majesty. I want to marry your brother, Sir Koshar."
What?!
357
Once the delegation sent to the Western Empire returned, the case of Grand Duke Lilteang was officially made public.
Everyone began to talk about it.
There were those who had suspicions like Sovieshu, but concluded that it would be better to keep their mouths shut.
There were others who were indignant that the Western Empire would arbitrarily imprison Grand Duke Lilteang.
But as the paternity test date approached, Grand Duke Lilteang's case was naturally forgotten.
Finally, the day of the paternity test arrived.
That same day it became known that Viscount and Viscountess Isqua had left the Western Empire amidst the commotion caused by the case of Grand Duke Lilteang.
— We found clues about our other daughter. The paternity test can wait, but the clues will be useless if we delay, so we must leave immediately. We promise to do the paternity test later.
That was the justification they gave. Many found it suspicious, but the couple had already disappeared.
Besides, the most important matter now was to know whether the princess was the Emperor's daughter. Whether Empress Rashta was the daughter of a fallen noble family or of a commoner was not an urgent matter.
Moments before getting in the carriage to go to the temple, Rashta saw the princess after a long time.
The princess was in the arms of Viscountess Verdi, who had become her nanny.
'Babies grow up so fast.'
Rashta noticed that the princess had grown a lot compared to the last time she saw her.
"Viscountess Verdi."
When Rashta called out to her, Viscountess Verdi did not look up and cautiously replied, "Yes."
Even though Rashta was in a difficult situation, Viscountess Verdi was still afraid of her.
Rashta looked at her sharply and asked coldly,
"Do you also believe that the Princess is not the Emperor's daughter?"
Viscountess Verdi didn't understand the reason for Rashta's question, but answered without hesitation,
"I do believe that Princess Glorym is the Emperor's daughter."
In fact, this was the answer that Viscountess Verdi was bound to give as the princess' nanny.
Viscountess Verdi thought that was not the question Rashta really wanted to ask. However, Rashta just stared at Viscountess Verdi with mysterious eyes. She did not ask the real question.
She didn't even mention that she wanted to hold the princess in her arms, she simply got in the carriage.
Viscountess Verdi frowned in discomfort, and got in a separate carriage.
Sovieshu's change in attitude left a deep scar on Rashta. In contrast, Viscountess Verdi's betrayal left her with an imperceptible scar.
Rashta herself didn't even realize how much her betrayal had hurt.
What Rashta really wanted to ask Viscountess Verdi was why she saved her when the maid rushed at her with a chair to kill her.
Every time she remembered that Viscountess Verdi had saved her, she felt a mixture of anger and curiosity.
'Why did she save me if she would betray me anyway?'
As the carriage started off, the rattle made her body shudder. Rashta closed her eyes and placed her hand on her belly like usual.
When the carriage finally arrived at the temple, Rashta stepped out and lifted her shoulders proudly. She was sure of the test result. She knew that Sovieshu and the nobles would use her past as a pretext to attack her later, but she would never admit it.
Once the paternity test issue was resolved, that would be the end if she didn't admit to her past.
At most, she would be deposed, but she could not be severely punished without any proof.
As long as she wasn't punished severely, she would be able to hold out somehow.
Rashta believed that if she held out for a few years, the princess could save her. Or perhaps Duke Elgy could come to her rescue, just as Emperor Heinley had rescued Navier.
'Duke Elgy?'
Rashta looked up at a temple pillar with a frown.
'Could it be because I just thought of him? How could Duke Elgy be here?'
Rashta saw a man who looked like Duke Elgy pass behind a pillar.
When Rashta stopped to stare, a knight called out to her in bewilderment.
"Empress?"
"Wait a moment."
Rashta walked to where she saw Duke Elgy.
However, Duke Elgy was not there. There was only a priest sweeping.
"Has no one passed this way?"
At Rashta's question, the priest answered quietly.
"No, I've been here sweeping alone."
"… Thank you."
It may not have been Duke Elgy, but Rashta was sure she had seen a man pass this way. Although she found it strange, she turned around and thought.
'Maybe the man I saw was this priest. Don't his clothes flutter just like Duke Elgy's? Besides, priests do not lie.'
"Your Majesty, you must hurry, the Emperor is waiting for you." Said the knight coldly, as he believed that Rashta was delaying on purpose.
Rashta nodded, and headed to the place where the paternity test would be conducted.
Sovieshu and Viscountess Verdi, who had come in another carriage, were already there.
As soon as her eyes met Sovieshu's, she remembered Navier's painting in his bedroom. Rashta could not bear it and turned her gaze to the princess in the Viscountess' arms.
The princess smiled sweetly at Rashta. When Rashta also smiled and waved at her, the princess laughed.
The baby seemed to recognize her mother. Rashta's eyes filled with tears as she felt her heart break, but she bit her lip to hold back the tears.
Soon everyone who doubted the princess would have to shut their mouths and bury their heads in the ground.
She had been a crybaby before, but now she didn't want to satisfy the nobles who longed to see her suffer.
"Stand here."
At the test site stood a lectern-like structure with two plates placed on top of it. The priest directed the Emperor and the Empress to stand on either side.
Sovieshu took the baby from Viscountess Verdi's arms and stood where the priest indicated. Rashta approached hesitantly.
Ironically, their positions were similar to when they sealed their wedding vows.
The priest in charge explained what they needed to do.
"Just drop some of your blood into this plate. I will hold the princess."
One plate was already filled with a clear liquid, and the other was empty.
Sovieshu handed the princess to the priest, pricked the tip of his thumb with a dagger, and dropped his blood on the empty plate.
Rashta did not dare to prick a finger, so she extended her hand to Sovieshu.
On that hand, Rashta still had wounds from when she, herself, hit it against the floor.
Sovieshu hesitated for a moment, but quickly grabbed Rashta's wrist, lightly pricked her thumb and made the blood drip onto his own.
As the blood of the two mixed, the priest poured some of the clear liquid from the other plate into the plate of blood. Then, he gently pricked the baby's thumb with a special tool. The princess burst into tears as she felt a sharp pain.
As the blood flowed from the princess's finger, Sovieshu frowned sadly.
The baby's cry echoed terribly in the silent temple.
Everyone present held their breath as they watched the priest drop the blood from inside the special tool onto the plate.
When the blood of the three mixed with the special liquid, bubbles formed.
If the Princess was the daughter of the two, the mixed blood would clear up until it disappeared. If not, the viscous blood would remain.
After a while, the priest finally declared with a pale face,
"The Princess is not the daughter of Emperor Sovieshu!"
358
Sovieshu's face stiffened, his eyes darkened and the atmosphere around him became heavy.
When Rashta took several steps back, the small distance between them widened. She turned pale and denied it desperately.
"No! No! No! It can't be! Your Majesty, this doesn't make sense!"
Sovieshu, who remained motionless, sighed lightly.
"It doesn't make sense?"
He was quick to mutter in a desolate voice,
"Yes. As you say, this really doesn't make sense."
"I don't mean that…"
Sovieshu clenched his fists repeatedly. He was very angry, but he couldn't vent here, so he looked even angrier.
In fact, not only was his mind in chaos, but he was also overcome with all kinds of negative emotions. It was very painful that the princess, whom he loved so much, was not his daughter.
Those present stood in silence, unable to breathe. No one knew what to say in this unprecedented situation.
Only the princess, surprised by the blood that had been drawn, continued to cry intensely.
"Marquis Karl."
After a while, Sovieshu called out to his secretary in a deep voice.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Marquis Karl, who was also shocked by what had happened, quickly approached. Sovieshu then muttered helplessly.
"What am I supposed to do now?"
"Your Majesty…"
However, when Sovieshu spoke again, his voice was determined.
"Bring that man."
'That man?' Rashta, who was devastated, raised her head curiously.
Suddenly, there was a commotion. When Rashta looked in that direction, she saw Sovieshu's men dragging Alan in.
'Why is Alan here?'
Startled, Rashta shouted,
"Your Majesty!"
But rather than answer, Sovieshu turned to the priest,
"Priest."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Do another paternity test to see if the princess is this man's daughter."
Sovieshu's order was categorical and cold.
Rashta exclaimed in astonishment as she felt the blood drain from her entire body,
"Your Majesty, let's repeat the test! It doesn't make sense! The Princess really is our daughter! The test must be repeated!"
Sovieshu became angrier when Rashta asked him to repeat the test, his patience had run out. He didn't want to suffer that humiliation again, he didn't want to hear again that the princess was not his daughter. However, he did want the test to be done with Alan.
"Let me go! Let me go! Rashta! Rashta!"
Alan shouted her name desperately as he was dragged in. When he brazenly uttered the Empress' name, those present whispered to one another.
Rashta ignored Alan and tried to approach the princess.
'No doubt someone has manipulated the test result. I don't know what that person did, but it was manipulated. Otherwise, this would not have been the test result.'
If she didn't hold the princess herself and draw her blood to check the result, she would never believe it.
"Your Majesty, it must have been manipulated. If not, it is because too little blood was drawn from the princess. If more is drawn, the correct result will be obtained."
The priest took a step back and shouted with a frightened look,
"Not much more blood can be drawn. The baby couldn't take it!"
The princess's crying grew louder. Sovieshu's face became even stiffer than before.
The nobles present also looked at Rashta with displeasure. It would be cruel to draw more blood from that little baby unnecessarily, even if it wasn't the princess.
Alan was terrified and asked Rashta for help, but no one cared about him.
Sovieshu, who felt that the more time passed the more he would become a laughing stock, coldly ordered.
"Do the paternity test."
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty."
The priest returned to his position in the structure and said to Rashta,
"Empress. Please stand here."
But Rashta stepped back and shouted,
"I won't do it unless the test is with Emperor Sovieshu! I'll not take a paternity test with that man! It's an insult to me! Your Majesty! Absolutely not!"
With fists clenched and teeth bared, Rashta looked like she would attack anyone who came near her.
She was still the Empress of the Eastern Empire, so there was nothing to be done if she flatly refused to take the paternity test.
The priest hesitated and looked at Sovieshu, who was frowning.
Alan hastily knelt down and begged.
"Your Majesty, I have nothing to do with the Princess. I only met Rashta again after she became your concubine."
Rashta was so enraged that he still called her directly by her name that she hit Alan in the shin with her heel, with all her might, and blood spurted out.
"Ah."
Alan finally closed his mouth and bent over in pain.
Sovieshu watched the pathetic scene, then gestured to the two knights near Rashta.
Once they received the order, the two knights surrounded Rashta, grabbed her by the arms and dragged her in front of the structure.
This was not the way to treat the Empress, but none of the nobles were surprised.
Now that the situation had reached this point, Rashta would not be able to remain in the position of empress. It would only be a matter of how much she would endure, in what manner she would fall, and whether she would be punished once she was deposed.
One knight held Rashta in front of the structure while the other extended her hand and pressed hard on the wound made by Sovieshu in the previous test.
Blood flowed from the wound again, falling into the newly placed plate.
"Let me go! Let me go! I am the Empress! You can't do this! Your Majesty, I am still the Empress! You can't do this!"
359
The hearts of some weak nobles were softened by Rashta's miserable screams, but most did not bat an eyelid.
The two knights released Rashta once her blood was drawn. Rashta staggered back, then cried and pushed the knights. But that didn't relieve her anger, so she clenched her fists and struck the knights who treated her harshly.
As she was still the Empress of the Eastern Empire, the knights received Rashta's blows without resistance, as Sovieshu gave no special orders.
But their faces turned darker with each blow, and some of the smart nobles clicked their tongues. They knew that if Rashta divorced or was removed from her position in the future, it would be these knights who would remain with her. It was foolish to make them her enemies.
"Hurry up."
Once Sovieshu spoke coldly, two other knights grabbed Alan and dragged him to the structure.
Rashta stopped hitting the knights.
The knights' attitude towards Alan was harsher than before, even hard to see.
As soon as they dragged him into the structure, they forcibly extended his hand and cut the center of his palm with a dagger without hesitation.
"AHH!"
As Alan screamed in pain, a lot of blood fell onto the plate.
'It doesn't take that much.'
The priest trembled as he dropped some of the princess's blood, previously extracted with the special tool, and mixed it with the clear liquid from the temple.
Just as before, it bubbled. But this time the blood completely cleared.
"The princess is this man's daughter. The Princess is this man's daughter, Your Majesty!"
At the priest's declaration, the murmurs suddenly became louder.
Sovieshu felt tears fall down his cheeks as he ran his hands over his eyes. Surprised to see the Emperor's tears, those present took pity on Sovieshu, who had been deceived by Alan and Rashta.
"No, it's really not true, Your Majesty! I even hate to see this man's face! How could the princess be the daughter of someone so loathsome?!"
Rashta screamed madly and knocked over everything on the structure.
"There is no way I would have a child with such a man, when I had Your Majesty by my side! Your Majesty, the princess is your daughter! Your only daughter!"
Rashta screamed in despair, but the nobles present considered her more pathetic.
"No matter how difficult the situation is, how dare she speak to the Emperor like that."
"It is disrespectful."
"Even if she wears fancy clothes and sits on the empress's throne, she will never be able to purify her blood."
Those present scorned Rashta due to the disrespectful manner in which she addressed the Emperor. Joanson laughed in the distance as he wrote an article. What will happen when it becomes known that Rashta's story was a sand castle built on a lie…? A vicious smile appeared on Joanson's face.
People liked heroes, but at the same time they secretly envied them. A hero with a high approval rating wouldn't have much trouble, but it was not easy to maintain.
Even Empress Navier, who had impeccable behavior, was criticized for her cold-as-iron and inhuman attitude.
Rashta's current approval rating was well below that level. With all the scandals she had been involved in, her approval rating was dropping day by day.
The commoners had high expectations for Rashta, and even revered her as the hope of the commoners. Despite her origin, they expected Rashta to be much better than Empress Navier and save their pride.
But since she failed to measure up and only bad rumors arose one after another, the high expectations turned into a bitter sense of betrayal that made the criticism louder.
If Rashta started to fall amidst all of this, those who secretly envied her would enjoy it because they could proudly display their dislike, while those who sincerely appreciated her would turn high expectations and affection into fierce hatred.
Joanson himself was the epitome of affection for Rashta turned to hatred, mostly due to his sister's disappearance. The more disappointed he was in Rashta, the more ashamed he became to have admired her. To hide this shame, he criticized her harshly in his articles.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I really have no relation to the princess!"
Alan grabbed at Sovieshu's shirt, but the latter pushed him away mercilessly. The knights kicked him so that he would not dare approach the Emperor again. Alan groaned as he wrapped his arms around his battered body, but no one took pity on him.
Sovieshu detested him to the point that he wanted to rip his head off.
He was very angry because this foolish man not only humiliated him, but now he dared to call his own daughter 'the princess'.
The priest looked around as he gathered the instruments that had been thrown on the floor by Rashta.
Just then, a person appeared who had not been called, a person who had not exactly come to observe.
"Oh. Are the test results out yet?"
It was Duke Elgy.
"I was very surprised to see you suddenly appear."
The meeting ended after Princess Charlotte communicated the unexpected request to me, and I went out with Heinley for a walk in the garden.
Heinley laughed as he rubbed his chest. As if he was still surprised that I had suddenly appeared.
I wouldn't have done it if I had known that the princess didn't mean to become his concubine. So I pretended to ask, puzzled,
"Did that surprise you so much?"
"My Queen, you had a very angry face."
"That…"
"Besides, you looked away as soon as you saw me. You were trying to suppress your anger."
That was true.
There was a little misunderstanding. No, there was a serious misunderstanding. I thought Princess Charlotte wanted to become Heinley's concubine.
That's why I felt so ashamed that I couldn't even raise my head after I found out that it had been a misunderstanding.
I especially felt sorry for Princess Charlotte. I was glad I had done my best to smile in front of her.
If I had shown her a bit of my cold side, I'd probably be locked in my room right now not wanting to see anyone.
"It's just that…"
"Yes?"
"I was a little confused."
I answered weakly in a low voice.
Although it was due to Sir Yunim that I misunderstood the situation, I still felt an ache in my chest at the memory of what happened.
The mere thought that Heinley might have a concubine was painful and it broke my heart.
"My Queen…"
I had decided not to accept his love completely, not to love this man so deeply, so that I could walk away even if he hurt me.
Unbeknownst to me, this man had penetrated deep into my heart.
When I found out that he could turn into a bird, I should have realized that this man could easily break through my shield. At some point he managed to reach my heart.
Did he notice how I felt?
"My Queen."
Heinley called me quietly, took my hand between his, placed it on his chest and said,
"You can rest easy. I will never allow my brother Koshar to marry someone he doesn't want to. I will never pressure him to marry for political reasons, so you don't have to worry."
Ah. He didn't notice at all!
"You're not a perceptive person."
"What?"
While I spoke to Princess Charlotte, Heinley approached with a serious expression, almost stopping our conversation. Now that Heinley said these words to me, it seems he approached me in haste because he feared that I would be offended by Princess Charlotte's request to marry my brother.
"I'm not trying to brag, but I'm very perceptive, Queen."
"If someone told you that, you'd better doubt what that person tells you in the future."
"My Queen, even you told me once that I'm perceptive."
"… I'm the exception. Always."
"Of course, My Queen is the exception. Always."
"I am the exception because you love me."
"That's right."
"You are the exception for me."
"Really?"
"You are the exception because…"
I omitted the last words and turned my head. Although I looked in another direction, I could feel Heinley flinch because he still held my hand against his chest.
When I looked back at him, his purple eyes were wide open, full of confusion.
"My Queen, a moment ago…"
"A moment ago?"
"My Queen. What were you about to say a moment ago?"
"Don't you say you're very perceptive? If it's true, you should be able to figure it out yourself."
"I can guess, but I want to hear it from you."
"I'll ask my brother what he thinks about Princess Charlotte's request."
"No. Why do you suddenly change the subject, My Queen?"
"I love you."
"My Queen, don't make too much of it…"
Heinley froze, unable to even finish his words. He lifted his hand and shut his jaw.
Heinley looked at me with a strange expression, unable to laugh or cry.
360
Duke Elgy carried a child who looked around with fearful eyes. He was identical to the princess. Of course, he also resembled Rashta.
"Why do you have Ahn?! Ahn!"
Alan shouted and ran towards the child, but was immediately blocked by the knights.
"Duke Elgy. What are you doing here?"
Sovieshu now had a severe headache. As soon as Duke Elgy appeared amidst this chaos, his anger increased.
In any case, Duke Elgy calmly answered,
"I don't know how this child came to me. I heard that the child's father and mother were here, so I came to return him."
Alan, who had been pressed against the floor by the knights, cried out,
"Ahn! Ahn!"
Duke Elgy glanced briefly at Alan, then turned his attention back to Sovieshu. He seemed really worried.
Sovieshu was curious about Duke Elgy's true intentions, but now there was no way to find out. However, it had become clear that Duke Elgy did not care about Rashta.
After the knights released Alan on Sovieshu's order, Alan ran to the Duke to snatch Ahn from him. But the Duke handed the child over to him without resistance.
Rashta was overwhelmed with all sorts of emotions when she saw him. She had asked the Duke to take Ahn to a family who wanted a child. She did not understand why he had appeared here, nor why he had used the expression 'the child's father and mother'.
However, now was not the time to think about that.
"Your Majesty, the princess is really your daughter. Please believe me. Your Majesty has always believed in me. Please believe in me once again."
Rather than argue with Duke Elgy, Rashta pleaded with Sovieshu again.
But it was useless. Sovieshu was so angry and hurt by this situation that he didn't want to hear any excuses now.
When he first met her, Sovieshu considered Rashta as pretty and delicate as a wildflower. Innocent, honest, and without greed. He thought she was completely different from the nobles.
While he was disappointed by her numerous times when she was his concubine, Sovieshu believed that Rashta truly changed after becoming the Empress, as she tasted power and was looked down upon by the nobles.
However, this conviction disappeared once it was revealed that the princess was not his daughter.
Does the fact that the princess is not my daughter mean that Rashta mocked me even in those days full of her purity and joy? Since when? Since when did Rashta deceive me? Was it really been a coincidence that she fell into the trap at the hunting ground?
At that moment, one of the nobles present shouted,
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! We should also take this opportunity to find out if the rumor that Rashta lied about her past is true!"
"Yes! We should also find out if that little boy is Rashta's child! We need to know if Rashta deceived His Majesty about her past in order to get married!
The nobles agreed one after another.
Rashta was enraged. Her eyes became bloodshot as she watched the nobles demand that the empress take a test to find out if the child was her son.
Rashta suddenly wanted to shout, 'Emperor Sovieshu accepted me even though he knew all about me.'
Rashta was annoyed that Sovieshu was playing the victim while she and the princess were in a bind.
Rashta wasn't completely incorrect. Although Sovieshu did not know about Ahn and Alan, he did know that she was a runaway slave and decided to deceive the nobles.
Of course, most of the nobles would not believe her. But Rashta would be satisfied to sow doubt in some of those present, as she wanted to harm Sovieshu as much as possible.
It would only take a moment to reveal this secret, but there was no guarantee that it would turn out the way she wanted. In contrast, it would be an ace in the hole if she kept the secret.
Rashta clenched her teeth and glanced at Alan.
"She has no shame."
"She wanted to make the illegitimate daughter she had with Viscount Roteschu's son a princess. It wasn't enough for her to hide her past!"
"His Majesty will be divorced soon, right?"
"What divorce? He should throw her out."
"His Majesty left Empress Navier for someone like that, tsk tsk…."
The nobles talked non-stop.
"Your Majesty, it's a mistake! The princess is your daughter, I swear it! Please, let's repeat the test! Your Majesty! Please! One more time! Please!"
Rashta cried out pitifully again, but it did not move Sovieshu at all,
"It has already been made public that she is not my daughter. It has already been made public that she is that man's daughter. Is there any need to repeat the test? How many more times do you want to humiliate me, Rashta?"
"Your Majesty… I'm telling you the truth. The results of both tests were absurd."
Sovieshu did not feel sorry for her. His shock at the fact that the princess was not his daughter and that Rashta might have deceived him from the start, made him colder than ever to Rashta.
Sovieshu coldly told the priest and the knights, "Do a paternity test on that child. I don't need to see this." Then he turned and left the temple.
Rashta tried to chase Sovieshu, but was stopped by the knights.
"You must obey the emperor's order to take the paternity test."
"'Let me go! Let me go!"
Rashta tried to shake off the knights, but they didn't care since they had been beaten by Rashta before. The empress would soon be deposed anyway.
Alan, who still held Ahn in his arms, was roughly dragged away again.
In the process, Ahn nearly fell to the floor, but the little boy was unharmed because he was quickly caught by the priest.
Viscountess Verdi, who now held the princess in her arms, watched the situation with bated breath and decided to follow Sovieshu.
Sovieshu's heart skipped a beat as he glanced at her, but he didn't order her to stop following him. Instead, he got into the carriage and left without a word.
After Viscountess Verdi got into the carriage in which she had come with the princess, her carriage followed Sovieshu's carriage.
Viscountess Verdi wrapped her arms around the princess, whose eyes were reddened, patted her back and murmured,
"Princess, I'll protect you. No matter what others say, to me you are still a princess."
Since she had taken care of the princess so far, even from before she was born, Viscountess Verdi had become very attached to the baby.
She didn't care if the baby wasn't a princess. She felt sorry for the baby who would be judged by everyone through no fault of her own.
She hoped that Sovieshu would still love the baby, or, at least, that he wouldn't treat the princess too coldly.
"Bu… bu…"
"Princess. His Majesty loves you, but he is a little angry now. He will soon hold you and take care of you again…"