371
"Is this true? Or a joke?"
As soon as I asked, my ladies-in-waiting frantically began to answer at the same time. It was difficult for me to understand them, so I shook my head and said,
"I'll read it myself."
It would be quicker that way. When I started to read the newspaper article, they fell silent.
Although an article may seem objective, I knew it might contain the journalist's personal feelings and intentions, so I tried to extract only the relevant information.
However, that information alone was full of surprises. The contents of the article could be summarized as follows,
1. The results of a paternity test conducted at the temple revealed that the princess did not have Emperor Sovieshu's blood.
2. Empress Rashta lived with another man before her marriage to Emperor Sovieshu, and she even had a child with him.
3. Empress Rashta concealed her previous marriage from Emperor Sovieshu.
4. The real father of the princess is Empress Rashta's first husband.
5. Emperor Sovieshu angrily deposed the princess as a result of the paternity test results.
I had assumed that Rashta had a child before she became Sovieshu's concubine, but how did the truth surface?
It was a little disconcerting. I cursed Sovieshu and Rashta on their wedding day because I didn't want them to be happy, but I didn't expect their relationship to end up so badly.
A journalist named Joanson went as far as ridiculing Empress Rashta. He remarked that it was contradictory for her to openly mock me for being a 'remarried empress' when she had also been married twice.
— Of course, unlike Empress Navier, Empress Rashta was not recognized as a legitimate wife in either her first or second marriage.
Laura was reading the newspaper over my shoulder, and she asked anxiously,
"Couldn't that journalist get in trouble for talking about it publicly? His Majesty Sovieshu will be furious when he sees this."
But Countess Jubel answered calmly,
"That journalist must have known that His Majesty would overlook it. If this story has reached us all the way here, it must have already spread throughout the Eastern Empire."
Rose clicked her tongue and said, "The Eastern Empire… is very lively."
Mastas asked curiously, "So… what will happen now?"
Now I understood why my ladies-in-waiting had come in with such unusual expressions, especially Laura and Countess Jubel. Unlike Rose and Mastas, who could fully enjoy the situation, both Laura and Countess Jubel were tied to the Eastern Empire. Their families, memories, estates and assets were all from the Eastern Empire.
After he belittled me for Rashta's baby, it felt good that Sovieshu was in this situation. But since I was born in the Eastern Empire, it was awkward to see the Imperial Family become a mockery.
Laura asked another question.
"Your Majesty, what will you do?"
All my ladies-in-waiting fell silent and waited for my answer. They had expectant faces.
But in this case, isn't the answer obvious?
"It's shocking, but… what can I do?"
Should I console Sovieshu by saying, 'I'm sorry that Rashta's daughter is not your daughter'? Should I console Rashta as empress of a neighboring country? Should I condemn her actions as the former empress? Or should I mock them?
No. It would be inappropriate for me to intervene in any way.
"It's none of my business now."
I spoke firmly and folded the newspaper.
There was another commotion in the Eastern Empire. Viscount and Viscountess Isqua reappeared as suddenly as they left when they claimed to have found clues as to the whereabouts of their second daughter.
When the Isqua couple reappeared, doubts about Rashta's parentage intensified. People wanted the Isqua couple to take a paternity test with Rashta.
"Empress Rashta must undergo a paternity test with her parents this time."
"She has lied so much. How could she not have lied about her real parents?"
As soon as the couple crossed the capital they were arrested and imprisoned.
It was still unclear whether Viscount and Viscountess Isqua were Rashta's real parents, as well as whether Empress Rashta would be removed soon. Nothing had been decided yet.
Since no one expected that the Isqua couple would be imprisoned, everyone was baffled. People began to gossip about the cause.
People were even more confused when it became known what Viscount and Viscountess Isqua were accused of: 'attempted murder of a court mage's assistant'. They didn't understand why a court mage's assistant had anything to do with them.
However, the nobles quickly found the connection.
"Isn't the assistant to the court mage the mage residing in the Southern Palace?"
"The young girl rumored to have been brought by His Majesty to become his concubine…"
"Oh, my gosh! I thought it was a misunderstanding because she seems to be living quietly while working as an assistant. So, was it true that she became his concubine?"
In an instant, several rumors arose. Some nobles believed that the Isqua couple had attacked Evely to protect the position of their daughter, Empress Rashta. Others believed that Rashta herself had asked them to take care of Evely.
Sovieshu smiled coldly when he heard the second rumor.
"They are not Rashta's real parents, and they didn't even raise her. If they feel cornered, they won't hesitate to blame Rashta for the incident."
"Is Rashta behind that incident?"
"Does it matter?"
Sovieshu's anger peaked after the paternity test.
He had been taught not to show his emotions, so at first glance he seemed unaffected by the current dire situation, but he wasn't. He couldn't take it anymore.
The problems with Duke Elgy caused his anger to grow even more.
Sovieshu planned to persuade Duke Elgy, and threaten him if it didn't work out.
However, that same day, Duke Elgy disclosed everything to the press. The newspapers published the news about the promissory notes and the port, and public opinion about Rashta became extremely negative.
After that, people who had only shown support for Sovieshu began to criticize him because he let Rashta do whatever she wanted.
In response, Sovieshu rushed the trial of Viscount and Viscountess Isqua.
"As soon as the couple is ready, proceed with the trial for the attempted murder of Evely."
"Yes."
"Given the results of the investigation, there is no way for them to escape punishment."
Sovieshu spoke coldly, sat down on his chair, drew his sword, and began to wipe the blade with a dry towel. His hand movements were so careless that it seemed at any moment he would cut himself with the blade.
Marquis Karl looked at Sovieshu with concern.
"Hmm… Your Majesty."
"What is it?" Sovieshu asked without looking at him.
Marquis Karl spoke cautiously,
"Viscountess Verdi has said that the princess is ill…"
Before Marquis Karl could finish his words, Sovieshu stopped moving. His eyes narrowed for a moment, though it was hard to tell because of his hair, and he asked coldly,
"Who is the princess?"
This was true. The baby, who did not have a drop of the Emperor's blood, was not a princess. Glorym still lived in the imperial palace only because Sovieshu still had a little affection left for her.
Marquis Karl, who had shown some sympathy for the innocent baby, was unwilling to bear Sovieshu's wrath for taking care of Rashta's second child.
"Pardon me, I forgot my words."
When Marquis Karl left, Sovieshu began to wipe his sword again. However, he moved slower than before. His gaze also wandered. Eventually, he cut his finger and blood came out.
Sovieshu didn't wipe off the blood, he just stared blankly at the blood flowing down the white sword. He then closed his eyes and called out to a trusted knight.
"You summoned me, Your Majesty."
"… Find out how ill the baby is, and send for the palace doctor."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The knight answered with determination without showing any emotion and left.
When Sovieshu was left completely alone, he lowered his sword and closed his eyes again.
Glorym was not his daughter, but Alan's daughter. It frustrated him that he couldn't get the baby out of his heart completely.
372
Problems continued to arise one after another, increasing Sovieshu's anger like an iron ball falling down a steep slope.
The next day, Viscount and Viscountess Isqua's trial began, but their testimony was unexpected.
"What does this mean?! How can they defend Rashta?!"
At Sovieshu's roar, all his secretaries fell silent. They didn't know what to say because no one had anticipated this.
"It's absurd."
Sovieshu smiled helplessly and tightly squeezed the armrests of his throne.
Since the Western Empire had provided evidence that the Isqua couple had attempted to murder Evely and demanded severe punishment, the couple would be unable to avoid punishment. Faced with this difficult situation, Sovieshu thought they would naturally blame Rashta, even if she was not really involved.
Sovieshu knew that Rashta was a runaway slave and, although he had not brought the Isqua couple forward, he was convinced that they were not Rashta's real parents. In some cases, it was possible for adoptive parents to develop a bond with a child similar to that of real parents. However, the Isqua couple had not raised Rashta, and they had known each other for such a short time that they were unlikely to have formed such a bond.
But at the public trial, the couple firmly denied that Rashta had anything to do with their crime, despite people's doubts.
It was certainly a brave act. Not even all real parents would do this in the face of severe punishment. Because of this, people began to whisper that Rashta really seemed to be the Isqua couple's daughter. They wouldn't have done this if Rashta was not their real daughter.
"Is Rashta really not involved?"
"…"
Marquis Karl preferred to keep his thoughts about the Isqua couple to himself. Rashta may not have been involved, but many people try to drag others when they fall. Also, he had learned from Baron Lant that the couple frequently received large sums of money from Rashta. He didn't expect such leeches to be grateful and loyal in the face of punishment.
"What will you do, Your Majesty?"
"What can I do? It bothers me, but I can't charge her with a crime that is not recognized by the true perpetrators."
Sovieshu answered coldly after he finally managed to calm down.
Although he had planned to bring Rashta down by exposing her crimes one by one, starting with the Isqua trial, there were still many ways to remove Rashta from the position of empress.
He wouldn't try to arbitrarily blame her for this crime because it might cause people to doubt the veracity of other crimes.
But once Sovieshu reluctantly decided to let it slide, an unexpected person intervened.
"I didn't expect to see you here so soon."
The Isqua couple, who were sitting against a wall inside a cell, suddenly raised their heads when they heard a man's voice.
The man approached the cell. It was Viscount Roteschu.
Viscount and Viscountess Isqua's expression became rigid when they saw his unpleasant face.
Rashta used to say a lot of bad things about Roteschu. Naturally, the Isqua couple had a bad impression of him.
Such a man approached them now that their pride was wounded and they were miserable.
Viscountess Isqua asked, coldly,
"What do you want?"
She showed no hesitation, but Viscount Roteschu laughed derisively,
"You are stupid, pathetic bastards."
In response to the offensive remark, Viscount Isqua became furious and stared fiercely at Viscount Roteschu.
"What are you doing here? Did you come to mock our situation? If so, you've come to the wrong place. We didn't even try to kill that bitch Evely, and even if we were framed with false evidence, we won't be severely punished for the attempted murder of a commoner."
Viscount Isqua smirked as he continued to speak.
"But in your case it's different. You dared to introduce your own blood into the imperial family, which is tantamount to conspiring to usurp the throne. Shouldn't you worry about your own neck first?"
They didn't dislike Viscount Roteschu enough to lash out at him in this way, but the couple was cornered. Only the determination to protect their daughter Rashta allowed them not to give in, but it was difficult to bear people's finger-pointing.
Since Viscount Roteschu would soon be in a worse situation, they tried to calm down a little by insulting him.
Roteschu should have looked scared, but he only smiled bitterly.
'Would any of this have happened if, instead of trying to find Rivetti, I had cracked down on Alan?'
He suddenly thought of that. After he asked Rivetti to return to the estate, he went to the mansion in the capital to find out what had happened while he was away searching for Rivetti. He learned that Alan had taken Ahn to the imperial palace to meet with Sovieshu and then with Rashta.
It was like oil in one hand and fire in the other.
As much as it bothered him that the Isqua couple blamed him for this, Viscount Roteschu reluctantly acknowledged it.
"That's right."
The couple hesitated due to his honesty. But then, Viscount Roteschu laughed cruelly and sarcastically.
"Although my neck is in danger, I don't regret anything because I'll die to protect my family. But what about you? Didn't you try to kill your real daughter for the sake of a fake daughter you didn't even raise?"
Viscount Roteschu clicked his tongue as if it was a wonderful thought.
"You won't be able to rest in peace when you die."
373
The Isqua couple was surprised by Viscount Roteschu's strange remarks. Viscountess Isqua asked directly.
"Our real daughter? What do you mean?"
Since they had failed to find the two daughters they were separated from, they became attached to their fake daughter, Rashta. Although the affection they felt for her was not understood by others, since they had met her less than a year ago, it was strong enough that the couple decided not to blame her unfairly. However, they were perplexed to hear about their real daughter.
Viscount Roteschu smirked.
"Oh, no. I thought you already knew because you visited Rashta often. Don't you know yet?"
Viscount Isqua exclaimed with a stiff expression.
"Speak plainly!"
"It seems that the fake daughter you are trying to protect deliberately hid this from you."
"It can't be…"
"Who is our real daughter?! Say it at once!"
The Isqua couple guessed who it was, but they pressed Viscount Roteschu to speak the truth. His words seemed to imply that Evely was their real daughter, but, if that were true, it would be cruel and horrible. They feared to acknowledge it, so they shouted, distraught, at Viscount Roteschu.
"You have already figured it out, but you don't want to accept it. It's Evely. Evely. His Majesty's second concubine, the mage Evely."
The atmosphere suddenly became cold, as if the air had disappeared.
Viscountess Isqua covered her face with both hands, her lips turned pale and her body trembled.
"It makes no sense… It's absurd… It's a lie!"
Viscount Isqua shouted angrily.
"Why should we believe you?"
Viscount Roteschu anticipated their reaction, so he smiled bitterly and handed over the orphanage documents he had brought along to clear up their doubts.
"Of course, I'm not entirely sure because a paternity test was not conducted. I went to the temple and was told that it could not be done if the parties involved didn't show up. But given the evidence, it's very likely that Evely is your long-lost daughter."
Viscount Isqua crushed the documents in his hands and shouted.
"Why do you say it now? Why didn't you say it before?"
If Roteschu hadn't waited so long to reveal the truth, they could have escaped with Evely to another country. At least, they wouldn't have tried to throw Evely out of the Imperial Palace for Rashta.
But Roteschu waited until their situation came to a head to confess. He certainly must not mean well.
"Rashta tried to kill my daughter. I don't have to cover for her anymore."
Viscount Roteschu didn't deny his motive. Then he turned around and left..
Although the information he had obtained was inconclusive, he had to reveal it. It was no longer up to him if the couple believed him. At least he had cast a doubt in their minds that would haunt them. And even if Evely turned out not to be their daughter, it was none of his business now.
As he walked up the prison steps, he heard heartbroken cries behind him that caused him to pause for a moment.
"Hurry up."
When the guard who secretly let him in rushed him, Roteschu quickly left the prison and gave the guard a large jewel as a reward.
"Go away at once."
Unbeknownst to Roteschu, Sovieshu watched him intently from the shadows.
Viscount Roteschu went straight to the capital to exchange his jewels for cash.
Once this was done, he put all the cash into several ordinary-looking bags, then he put the bags in a simple wooden box, and lastly, he sealed the box with nails.
He would send all the cash to his estate.
While Rivetti was a smart girl and running the estate wasn't very difficult, she had no experience and had not learned how to govern, so she would surely make some mistakes. It would take a lot of money to cover those mistakes.
After Viscount Roteschu completed the preparations that would help his daughter and wife, he walked back to his mansion proudly.
But the feeling quickly faded. Within a few steps, tears began to fall down his cheeks. In fact, he was so scared that he wanted to run away.
However, the Emperor had been benevolent by giving him time to organize his assets and save both his daughter and his wife.
He knew that if he tried to abuse the emperor's benevolence, not only Roteschu and Alan would be executed, but the entire family would suffer the same fate. He had no choice but to go ahead despite his fear.
When Roteschu arrived at the mansion, a black carriage was already waiting in the center of the garden.
The mansion had lost its splendor and looked desolate, as it no longer had any employees.
The butler, who was waiting in front of the carriage, came over and said sadly,
"My master…"
"Give this to my wife."
Viscount Roteschu handed the sealed boxes to his trusted butler.
"Master, shouldn't you do it yourself?"
The butler held back tears. He had been by Viscount Roteschu's side since he was very young, so he cared more for Roteschu than his children.
Although Viscount Roteschu was now a middle-aged man, the butler still thought of him like a little brother he had to look after. If only one person in the family could survive, he wanted it to be Viscount Roteschu.
"No chance to save me after Alan's scandal…"
"Master…"
"I will trust you."
Viscount Roteschu patted the butler's shoulder, then took out a small bag full of money.
"This is for you, so don't give it to Rivetti even if she asks for it. With this money, you will be able to live quietly."
When the butler accepted the money in tears, Viscount Roteschu looked around as he wiped his own tears.
"Where is Alan?"
Alan, who had been imprisoned even before the paternity test, was briefly released after Roteschu made the deal with Sovieshu. However, Alan was unable to see his father again.
"Some of the emperor's knights came to take him away."
"…"
Viscount Roteschu closed his eyes helplessly.
The butler sniffled and wiped his tears with the sleeve of his black suit.
"You, too, must leave."
"I would like to serve you until tomorrow."
"If you want to help me, leave now."
When the butler reluctantly climbed into the coachman's seat, Viscount Roteschu himself spurred the horses into motion.
As he watched the carriage drive away, Roteschu's eyes filled with tears.
He remembered a time when he became angry because his only successor was too dumb, and his then-healthy wife defended her son. Alan was still little back then, and Rivetti had not yet been born… He remembered his weakened wife sitting in a rocking chair singing to little Rivetti in her arms… He remembered his emaciated wife lying on the bed. She was breathing hard but whenever he took her hand she squeezed it as hard as she could…
"My darling…"
Disconsolate, Viscount Roteschu entered the mansion.
Suddenly, he wondered what had happened to Ahn, but quickly put the matter aside because he didn't care whether he died or not.
374
"What are you thinking about, My Queen?"
I was sitting on a comfortable chair in the garden admiring the reddish sunset when I heard Heinley's lovely voice next to me.
When I turned, he was looking at me with warm eyes. One of his hands rested on the back of my chair. His purple eyes mixed with the reddish glow of the sunset created a more mysterious atmosphere than usual.
"You don't look too pleased. Is it because you are still upset about the war stories?"
"No."
I smiled and stroked his cheek with my hand.
"I told you it's fine to read the war stories to the baby, as long as you omit the violent parts that aren't good for a baby to hear."
Heinley leaned over a little and rubbed his cheek against my hand. Then he kissed my palm lightly and spoke with concern.
"But, My Queen, you don't seem very cheerful."
"I'm confused… by the news from the Eastern Empire."
"Aren't you happy?"
"I have mixed feelings. It's not happy news, but it is satisfying."
Sovieshu had boasted of his love with Rashta, and I had witnessed how someone changes when love arises. Now, I was witnessing how someone changes when love ends.
Of course, if the article was true, Rashta had done so many wrongs that even love couldn't cover them up.
But now that Sovieshu was pulling away from Rashta… the man who falsely accused my brother for Rashta's sake, and who believed her no matter what I said… it made me feel strange.
I wonder if my love with Heinley could end like this.
But I quickly dismissed that thought. Our love had just begun, there was no need to talk about the end.
Besides, our love didn't have to end, like Sovieshu's. Our love could be long-lasting, like my parents'.
I shook my head, then I pulled Heinley by the neck and kissed his lips.
It was pleasant to hear him moan due to the kiss.
"Queen. Isn't this bad prenatal education? The little bird will hear it."
"I don't think the little bird heard your moans."
"But I don't think I can stop myself."
"Don't worry. The baby is asleep right now."
"!"
The Isqua couple were sitting against the wall of their cell in shock. They looked haggard, as if their soul had left their body.
Viscount Isqua scratched the cold stone floor with his fingernails, while his wife tugged at her hair.
Both had sunken eyes and pale complexions, to the point that they looked like vagabonds, rather than a noble married couple.
"Have these two gone crazy?"
A guard made the comment when he saw them, but the Isqua couple weren't even hurt by his words. The truth Viscount Roteschu had revealed pained them more than a guard's mockery. However, they still had doubts.
"Could it be true?"
After a long time, Viscountess Isqua asked with difficulty.
"Is that mage really… our daughter?"
"I don't know. Viscount Roteschu, of all people, was the one who told us."
"But we've never had direct contact with Viscount Roteschu. Why would he lie to us?"
"That's true."
"Although I know that the evidence provided by Viscount Roteschu is inconclusive…"
Viscountess Isqua sighed. The more she talked about it, the more it hurt her and the more she regretted it. Viscount Isqua also let out a deep sigh and covered his head with both hands.
"Come to think of it, she looks a little like us."
"Yes, her hair is the same color as yours, and her eyes are the same color as mine."
"She's not a bad girl. We thought she was bad because we were on Rashta's side at the time."
"That's right. She is the complete opposite. She's a very smart and feisty girl…"
The more they talked, the more they seemed to realize Evely's virtues. When they saw her as Rashta's enemy, Evely's actions seemed malicious and arrogant. But the prejudice that blinded them was now gone, and they struggled to understand how they ever viewed Evely in such a bad light.
It was painful now that they belatedly realized that Evely was a good girl.
"Shouldn't we talk to her first?"
"What are you going to tell her?"
"We—"
"Do you think she'd like to know?"
"We can't leave the relationship as it is."
Even if the couple was convicted of attempting to murder a commoner, they would soon be released from prison, as nobles were rarely punished severely for such a crime.
If Evely really was their daughter, they had to mend their relationship somehow.
Just then, footsteps were heard coming down the prison stairs. The couple stopped talking and waited to see who was coming.
Unexpectedly, Evely appeared.
The couple looked at Evely in surprise, while she looked at them coldly. Their gazes intertwined intensely.
"Miss Evely, why did you come?"
Viscountess Isqua forced a smile. Her daughter's coldness broke her heart. She wanted to touch her, look at her more closely, find out how she had been all these years. Although she tried to appear calm, her voice trembled.
"You seem to be afraid…"
Evely muttered as she stared at Viscountess Isqua with a stony expression. Her tone was indifferent and her gaze sharp. She felt utter contempt for the couple, who were saddened to feel it.
"Miss Evely…"
This time it was Viscount Isqua who carefully called out to Evely, but she asked coldly,
"Won't you treat me like a filthy commoner today?"
The couple were startled to remember everything that had been said to Evely. Their past words were now like daggers that stabbed into their chests.
Evely smiled nonchalantly,
"You had a haughty attitude when you were free, now you are pitiful locked up here."
"Miss Evely, we have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"We want to apologize… for how badly we have treated you…"
Viscountess Isqua spoke again in a trembling voice. However, Evely frowned and raised her hand for her to stop.
"Oh, there is no need to apologize. It's not a sincere apology anyway."
Before either could answer, Evely added, "Am I right?"
The couple's faces paled.
"If you're apologizing now, it's because you're afraid I'll testify against you in court. And that's precisely what I will do."
"That's not the reason, Miss Evely."
"It bothers me that now you want to pretend to be respectful. I would prefer that you act as you usually do, even if it's rude."
Evely took a step back, as if she couldn't stand the stench that emanated from the cell.
Her actions once again pained the couple.
"And you asked why I'm here. You used to approach me to mock me. Now, I've come to do the same."
Evely's every word cut deep.
375
"However, I'm a little curious. What about me upset you so much that you tried to kill me?"
"Miss Evely. It's a mistake. We have been mean to you, but we have no connection to the attempt to kill you. Really."
"Tell that to the judge."
Evely spoke sternly and took another step back. Then she stared at the couple for a moment, laughed casually, and turned to leave.
"It is said that children are a reflection of their parents."
Evely spoke without turning back to look at the couple. Their expressions stiffened due to her remark, but Evely couldn't see it. Even if she had seen it, she wouldn't have cared, as she considered them enemies.
"When I compare you to Rashta, that phrase fits the bill perfectly, although she grew up separated from you. Your other daughter must be just as despicable as the three of you."
The Isqua couple couldn't hold back their tears. They wanted to tell her the truth, but neither could speak due to the lumps in their throats.
With every echo of Evely's footsteps on the stairs, their hearts fluttered. When the door slammed shut, they collapsed on the floor and burst into tears.
After a while, Viscountess Isqua clenched her fists and said bitterly,
"We won't tell her we're her parents."
When Viscount Isqua looked at her in surprise, she crossed her arms around her chest and whispered,
"She hates us deeply. How can we tell her that we are her parents? If she knew, it would hurt her to remember what we have done to her, and it would also hurt her to remember what she has said to us."
"You're right, my wife."
Viscount Isqua reflected for a moment, and then he punched the wall with determination.
"We won't reveal the truth to Evely. But we have to deal with Rashta, who hid our real daughter from us and caused us to hurt her."
"That's right. Besides, if Rashta gets her way, she'll definitely try to hurt Evely."
"Yes, Rashta might have worsened the carriage incident. She might have ordered the same man we hired to cause an accident that would kill Evely."
The Isqua's statements at the trial were true. They had given an order to cause an accident that would scare Evely away. They never ordered the man they hired to kill her.
At the time, they deeply despised Evely, but had no intention of taking her life.
After the incident, they wondered how such a big misunderstanding happened. But, until that moment, they never thought that Rashta could be involved.
However, they changed their minds upon learning that Rashta had hidden Evely's true identity. Now, Rashta seemed evil enough to order Evely's assassination.
The couple exchanged cold glances.
Rashta was the current empress, so even if they testified against her in Evely's case she would only receive an insignificant punishment. That wouldn't be enough to take revenge on Rashta.
"We have to do whatever it takes to remove Rashta from Evely's life so that she doesn't hurt her again."
"Why…?"
Heinley suddenly announced that he would test the knowledge and ability in basic martial arts of the noble children who had not made their debut in high society.
I did not understand him at all. Noble families had private tutors to educate their children based on their preferences. Was it really necessary for Heinley to intervene like this?
When I discussed it with my ladies-in-waiting, Rose thought for a while and asked,
"Isn't it because of the baby that will be born soon?"
"You think?"
"Yes. When the baby grows up, today's noble children will be in full bloom. He may want to check their qualities beforehand."
Then Laura chimed in,
"If the age difference is not too great, they could become friends with the baby."
Countess Jubel also added as she embroidered.
"I think he is doing this to tease Old Duke Zemensia."
Mastas agreed with Countess Jubel. She said,
"There are two children in the Zemensia Family who qualify due to their age, but I heard that they weren't invited."
After each of my ladies-in-waiting gave their opinion, their gazes focused on me. They wanted to know my opinion.
I agreed with Countess Jubel.
Heinley went as far as wearing a gift that Sovieshu sent to me to irritate him, so it was not strange that he would do this just to rankle Old Duke Zemensia.
"I think it's because of the baby that will be born soon."
I couldn't be honest about Heinley's sly nature, so I deliberately sided with Rose and Laura's generous interpretations. I felt like I was covering for him, which made me feel a little awkward.
In the middle of the conversation, an unexpected guest arrived — Princess Charlotte.
When her arrival was announced, my ladies-in-waiting and I looked at Mastas at the same time. It was not intentional.
Mastas was stunned for a moment, and asked in surprise,
"Why are you all looking at me?"
I couldn't keep Princess Charlotte waiting long, as she was the princess of a country with which we were reconciling.
She entered the drawing room a few moments later, wearing a form-fitting cream-colored dress with numerous ruffles, and glasses. When I first met her, she seemed to be smart, but now I could have mistaken her for one of the scholars who worked in the imperial palace.
"Your Majesty, how have you been?"
She also had a smooth voice.
"Fine. Have you felt at home here, Princess Charlotte?"
"Yes. I learned a lot about what makes a country powerful while touring the capital. It was certainly useful."
"I'm glad it was useful."
I couldn't take my eyes off Mastas as I spoke. She was looking down with a somber expression.
Ah… perhaps she was looking down sadly because she has a grayish stain on the toe of her left shoe.
Once Princess Charlotte left, Mastas seemed more downcast. So much so that my ladies-in-waiting surrounded her with concerned looks.
"I'm fine. There's no reason to be down."
Mastas turned around with flushed cheeks and walked away. Since then, it was impossible not to believe that Mastas really did like Koshar.
That thought was on my mind until Heinley noticed during dinner.
"Queen? Are you worried about something?"
"I'm not worried…"
"So what is it?"
Just as I was about to answer that it was nothing serious, I suddenly remembered that he had been notorious for being a playboy.
Although he had told me that he just acted like he was a playboy, not everyone could act that way.
If I were asked to play that role, I would act colder than usual out of embarrassment, and if Laura had to do it, she would be so clumsy that it wouldn't take long for her to dissolve in a fit of laughter.
It was fortunate that I could ask Heinley about romantic relationships.
"Heinley."
"Yes, My Queen."
"Do you know much about romantic relationships?"
Heinley quickly stuck his fork in his mouth and shook his head.
"No."
"Don't you know even a little?"
"No, My Queen. You're the only woman in my life. I don't know much about women."
"Still, you should know at least a little because you were a playboy for so long."
"No."
… What's wrong? It's suspicious that he's so evasive.
Many people knew about his past, so didn't his reaction seem to indicate that he was hiding something?
"So how did you manage to act like a playboy?"
"I just pretended…"
That he avoided my gaze made me even more suspicious.
Suddenly, I wanted to inquire about his past, but… I was able to suppress the urge.
We were finally close and in love with each other. I didn't want to make the atmosphere uncomfortable, so there was no need to touch on the past.
Besides, I didn't bring this up to interrogate Heinley about his past. I deliberately smiled casually and put the subject aside,
"I'm not asking about your past. I just want to know your opinion on someone else's romantic situation."
"My Queen, as I have no experience in that subject it's hard to answer, even if you are asking about someone else."
However, Heinley refused again and focused on his food.
I felt a little upset to hear this so a thought involuntarily came out of my mouth.
"You are damned sly!"
"What?"
Heinley's eyes widened, as if he didn't understand what he had just heard.
I hastily raised my spoon to my mouth and pretended to eat with as much focus as Heinley.
"Cute. Queen is cute. My Queen is very cute."
McKenna cheerfully entered the office the next morning, but then he heard a terrible noise. He fell into a daze when he saw Heinley dancing in front of the desk. Doubly tormented, he covered his eyes and let out a cry.
"My eyes and ears hurt! Please stop!"
"Ah, McKenna."
"What the hell are you doing so early!?"
McKenna grumbled and removed his hands from his eyes. He couldn't believe Heinley was singing and dancing so horribly on a sunny day. He considered it an insult to the pleasant weather.
But Heinley was in such a good mood that he reacted to McKenna's words in good spirits,
"You're cute too."
"Argh! Stop it already! Why are you acting like a fool so early in the morning? No, you don't have to tell me. I suppose the Empress told you, 'Queen is cute."
Heinley shook his head.
"No, I said that My Queen was cute because I was moved by the nickname My Queen gave to me."
"What?"
McKenna got goosebumps. 'Heinley called Empress Navier, who seems to be a combination of ice and iron in a 50/50 ratio… 'cute'?'
Heinley smiled proudly and covered his cheeks with both hands,
"My Queen called me 'Sly'."
"… Huh?"
McKenna's mouth opened wide and he took a step back. Puzzled, he patted his ears.
"What did you say?"
"She gave me a nickname."
"But that's not the way Empress Navier normally speaks."
"No… she spoke a little differently."
"How did she say it?"
"'You are damned sly!' Something like that."
When Heinley mimicked the way Navier spoke, McKenna's expression became half mocking and half sympathetic.
"Isn't that just an insult?"