“I heard something at today’s gathering.”

The Duke said casually after wiping his mouth with a napkin.

“Rumors say that His Majesty seems to have found a woman. Have you heard anything about this?”

“Ah… that?”

She could feel Aiden’s surprised gaze on her. Since he rarely met people, her brother probably didn’t know at all.

‘It’s okay, Brother.’

Aristie gave Aiden a smile with her eyes. Then she replied as casually as her father had.

“I know. His Majesty had already informed me that there was a woman he kept as a conversation partner.”

“That’s good then.”

Duke Yentrice said leisurely. He didn’t seem to be bothered at all by the fact that his daughter’s fiancé had found another woman.

Well, it would be unreasonable to expect special feelings from a political marriage partner in the first place.

“Seeing your attitude, it seems I don’t need to worry, but let me say this out of old man’s concern.”

“Please do.”

“Don’t ever show any jealousy. Be especially careful in front of His Majesty the Emperor. No matter what anyone says, the position of Empress is yours.”

“…Yes.”

“Looking at history, there has never been an emperor who didn’t have concubines. Yet instances of fights over imperial favor were rare. That’s all thanks to the excellent character of the empresses throughout history. So you too.”

The Duke emphasized, straining his neck.

“Just follow the example of your predecessors and fulfill your role as a wise wife and a good mother. That’s all. Give up any unnecessary desires. Then you’ll be able to enjoy happiness while receiving praise from all.”

Your happiness, you mean, Father.

Aristie restrained her sarcastic thoughts and obediently answered, “Yes.” The phrase ‘wise wife and good mother’ felt endlessly ridiculous to her.

There was a time when she too aimed to be a wise empress. In the past, no, even until recently.

But after meeting Estelle, her dream had shattered. As long as Khalid continued to meet with that ill-mannered woman, she had no confidence in her ability to rule wisely as an empress.

Can I really live watching that spectacle? Is it a forbidden desire to drive away the villainess and plan for the future with Khalid alone?

‘There have been emperors who kept only the empress by their side… It’s not like such history doesn’t exist.’

The Duke’s statement that there had never been an emperor without concubines wasn’t true. Looking back at the empire’s history, there were certainly emperors who loved only one woman.

Befitting the bloodline of the Dragon Emperor. In the ancient times when they could truly transform into dragons.

But now it’s just a record appearing in ancient documents from a thousand years ago. It was pointless to bring up such an old tale in front of her father. Unless Khalid were to awaken as a Dragon Emperor.

Seeing Aristie lower her eyes as if in resignation, the Duke suddenly turned his gaze to Aiden.

“Now only your issue remains.”

“Y-Yes?”

Aiden flinched as he met his father’s piercing gaze.

“Is there any progress with your treatment?”

“……”

“Answer me. It’s been a good three months since we brought in the new teacher, hasn’t it? Has there been any improvement in that pathetic speech habit of yours?”

“I’m… trying my best.”

Aiden answered with difficulty. The tension that gripped his entire body was palpable even to Aristie.

The Duke glared at Aiden for a while, then abruptly ordered.

“Recite Article 1, Section 4 of the Imperial Law.”

“Father!”

Aristie raised her voice without realizing it. She could endure the oppression against herself, but she couldn’t bear to see her brother tormented. Even if it was her own father.

“The therapist said that brother’s condition is psychogenic. They said it can only improve when the mental illness gets better. This kind of pressure will only worsen the symptoms. It would be better to just watch quietly……”

“Shut your mouth!”

The Duke’s angry voice cut off Aristie’s objection.

“We’ve been watching quietly for 15 years! Hoping for improvement every single day! If you don’t want your brother to be a laughingstock at your wedding reception, stay out of this! ……Aiden!”

The Duke sternly pressed his son. His order remained unchanged.

“Recite Article 1, Section 4 of the Imperial Law.”

Aiden looked at his father with miserable eyes.

There was no escape.

Slowly, with stiff lips, he stuttered out the words.

“The pe-people of the Gr-Great Ferzen Em-Empire shall w-walk under the gl-glory of the Em-Empire……”

“You fool!”

The Duke didn’t even listen to the end before fiercely losing his temper. In that short time, beads of cold sweat had formed on Aiden’s forehead.

“Why aren’t you getting any better? We’ve tried correcting your pronunciation, psychological therapy, even medication, but you’re only getting worse! Are you even trying at all?”

“……”

Aiden kept his mouth shut. With an expression like a cornered animal.

It was always like this. Usually, the Duke hardly spoke to him, and even on the rare occasions they did talk, it would end in disaster like today.

A son who stutters especially badly in front of his father, and a Duke who can’t stand it. The relationship between the two was stuck in a vicious cycle.

‘It’s because of you, Father, that brother is getting worse!’

Aristie almost shouted out loud in anger. The Duke repeatedly scolded his son, but from her perspective, most of her brother’s condition was her father’s fault.

Because of the change in their father brought about by their mother’s death. Because of his temperament that became violent as if cursed after losing the woman he cherished like his own life.

—Mom will be going now. Be good and listen to your father, alright?

Isabella Crua Yentrice, the Duke’s wife and mother to Aiden and Aristie.

She too loved her husband and children like her own life. But because she also loved her work, there were times when she had to leave home on business.

—No! Take me with you. I’ll be good, okay?

One day, an anxious Aiden threw a tantrum, insisting on going with his mother. After some consideration, thinking it would be a good experience for her son, she took him along to inspect the merchant guild.

And she never returned.

Only Aiden was brought back, out of his mind.

Aristie, who had stayed at home, didn’t see what happened firsthand. From what she heard later, while their mother was talking with the manager, her brother had been playing nearby.

Out of curiosity, he pulled on a carpet wedged between piles of goods, and in doing so, upset the balance of the support underneath.

The precariously swaying items all collapsed at once. Most of them were too heavy for Aiden’s small frame to handle.

—Aiden……!

Seeing this, their mother ran towards her son and used her body to shield him from the falling goods. She managed to block most of them, but couldn’t withstand the iron chest that struck her head. Thanks to her, Aiden’s life was saved, but at the cost of losing their mother.

The fury of their father upon seeing his son return alone……

—No… No! Isabella!

The Duke, who had loved his wife dearly, fell into extreme despair. At that time, the Duke’s appearance was nothing short of a living ghost. Even to this day, he spends nights with his wife’s portrait, so one can imagine how shocking it must have been then.

Aiden, who had lost consciousness and then woken up, trembled uncontrollably and muttered.

—Mom… Because of me, m-mom…!

He should have been comforted then.

That it wasn’t his fault.

No matter how sad, painful, or angry one might have been.

However, the Duke, overwhelmed by his own emotions, couldn’t embrace his son. It would have been better if he had been indifferent, but instead, he showed fierce hatred, unable to control his rage.

—Yes. It’s because of you. Isabella died because of you! Because of you, you fool!

—That one. Remove that murderer who killed his own mother from my sight!

Aiden couldn’t speak, his eyes just wide open. The Duke’s verbal abuse was too harsh for an eight-year-old child drowning in guilt to overcome.

After that, Aiden became mute. And when he opened his mouth again several months later, he had become a stutterer.

No matter how hard he tried, his mouth could hardly utter a proper sentence. Also, no matter how harsh treatment he received, he couldn’t resist his father. Because his heart was still broken. As long as he couldn’t escape the shackles of self-blame, forever.

“Brother is trying. I know it.”

Aristie said in a subdued tone, suppressing her anger.

“He’s not that bad when he’s with me. He’s just nervous in front of you, Father.”

“Hmph!”

The Duke snorted at her words.

“Are you making excuses now? For someone who’s like that in front of everyone?”

“If you keep getting angry like this, it’s hard for me too. I’m worried it might interfere with the wedding preparations.”

Knowing it was useless to defend her brother, Aristie used herself as a shield.

This method had a small effect.