Chapter 9

Had I perhaps grown somewhat resistant to facing Eric by now?  

The man who once seemed only terrifying and insurmountable now stood before her.  

He had taken her child and was looking at her with a detached expression.  

‘Disgusting. Absolutely revolting.’  

At that moment, Euphrasia realized something.  

Suppressing herself, constantly watching her surroundings and enduring injustice, wasn’t the solution.  

This had been ingrained in her as a deep-seated habit.  

She had spent her life swallowing her tears, closing her eyes to unfairness, and vaguely hoping that “someday” things would resolve themselves for the better.  

That’s how she had lived her entire life.  

Even as she vowed never to experience a senseless death like before, she couldn’t think of an active or decisive way to resolve the situation.  

But now, after having her child taken from her again, Euphrasia finally understood.  

The fog clouding her mind suddenly cleared, leaving her thoughts sharp and focused.  

The weed that had lived confined in a greenhouse had finally mustered the will to break through the sturdy walls and step outside.  

“Duke.”  

Euphrasia took a step forward, then another.  

Though the small bird deciding to step out of its cage for the first time trembled with nerves to the point her lips quivered, she knew this was something she had to do.  

And so, she succeeded in speaking.  

It was a small act of courage, but it marked a significant turning point in her life.  

“Could we have a conversation, just the two of us?”  

Her tone made it clear that she would not take no for an answer.  

More than anything else, this was a moment when a conversation with the Duke was absolutely necessary.  

Euphrasia’s face was set with firm resolve.  

*** 

The warmth of the chamomile tea in the steaming cup between them had cooled, yet no words had passed between Euphrasia and Eric.  

When she had asked for a conversation, Eric had raised an eyebrow and stared at her intently, as if trying to gauge her intentions.  

Even under his piercing gaze, Euphrasia managed not to lower her eyes. Eventually, Eric had shrugged his shoulders as if he had no choice and nodded.  

‘Fine.’  

As a result, the two now sat facing each other in the spacious drawing room of Duke Herrington’s manor.  

However, when it came time to speak, Euphrasia found herself at a loss for where to begin.  

Eric, for his part, was patiently waiting for her to speak.  

Though he showed no outward signs, he was quite surprised.  

He hadn’t expected her to approach him first for a conversation.  

‘Is she finally revealing her hidden motives?’  

All his attention was focused on Euphrasia, his face betraying a spark of curiosity he couldn’t hide.  

“Duke.”  

At the sudden sound of her voice breaking the silence, Eric quickly concealed his expression.  

“Speak.”  

“How do I appear in your eyes, Duke?”  

Eric furrowed his brow, not understanding her question.  

What was this?  

Was she suddenly trying to flirt with me?  

Had her previous attempts to distance herself from me and demand child support been a lie?  

Was she hoping for some romantic development where I would say, ‘You’re the first woman to treat me this way’?  

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Eric hesitated, swallowing dryly as he tried to find the right words. But Euphrasia continued speaking.  

“Do you see me as some incompetent fool, Duke?”  

“What?”  

Her tone was sharp and biting.  

“I am Louis’s mother. Under the Empire’s law, I am currently his sole guardian and legal representative. This means that nothing concerning my child should happen without my knowledge.”  

Euphrasia’s voice grew more impassioned.  

Once she started speaking, the words she had held back for so long poured out in a torrent.  

“Duke, I am also a person. I am not some clay doll without thoughts, but a person who can think, just like you. However, judging by your actions toward me, I can’t help but wonder if you see me as a mere pet confined to the Duke’s estate rather than as an equal human being.”  

The words she had suppressed for so long finally burst forth.  

“Frankly, you must know how unreasonable this is. How do you expect me to prove the child’s bloodline? I’ve spent days locked in my room, agonizing over it, but it’s impossible. You’re truly cruel.”  

“Well, look at that, you can get angry too.”  

“I have feelings, Duke. How little must you think of me to act this way? After forcing me and Louis into the ducal estate, you now take my child without a word of explanation. How am I supposed to accept that?”  

Euphrasia’s face flushed red as she took a deep breath, having finally said everything she wanted to say.  

She felt a mix of satisfaction at having expressed herself and a lingering tension that made her emotions complicated.  

Her fingertips trembled slightly.  

Eric leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, observing her with interest.  

Her fiery outburst was a refreshing change.  

In some ways, it was true that no woman had ever treated him like this before.  

So, he decided to show a bit of leniency.  

“I’m not used to explaining myself or making others understand, but I get your grievances. It’s something I hadn’t considered.”  

It was a rare admission of fault on his part.  

In truth, Eric had never engaged in conversations aimed at mutual understanding.  

He was a man accustomed to giving orders, and there had been no one around him who could speak to him as an equal—except for the Mad Princess.  

But having a proper conversation with the Mad Princess was less likely than successfully communicating with a rock on the street.  

As Euphrasia watched Eric’s reaction, her eyes narrowed slightly.  

‘Is the conversation already having an effect?’  

A faint glimmer of hope began to rise.  

Perhaps Eric would retract his unreasonable demands and finally let her and her child leave the Duke’s estate.  

Perhaps he would simply send child support and give up his obsession with Louis.  

“Alright. Then, I’d like you to speak openly now. What were you thinking when you kept us here, and why did you suddenly take Louis away?”  

At Euphrasia’s question, Eric replied nonchalantly.  

“Because you annoyed me.”  

“What?”  

“I was annoyed by the way you acted as if you’d never tried to climb into my arms for status, only to later pretend you never did.”  

“What are you saying?”  

Euphrasia’s face turned pale.  

Was this conversation really yielding any results?  

Regardless of her reaction, Eric continued speaking.  

“To be honest, I couldn’t figure out your intentions, so I kept you close to understand what you were thinking. That was part of it. But…”  

Eric’s blue eyes scanned Euphrasia.  

“I haven’t told you yet why I came to you today.”  

“To take Louis away…”  

“No, to tell you this: I’ve found a way to prove the child is mine.”  

Eric stood up, glancing out the window.  

The sun was beginning to set, casting the sky in shades of crimson.  

Eric judged the time, looking at the orange-tinted horizon.  

“The delegation from the Kingdom of Kettlin arrived at the Imperial Palace today. The victory banquet will begin soon.”  

“And what does that have to do with anything…?”  

The conversation felt disjointed, as if they were speaking entirely different languages.  

Euphrasia was frustrated, unable to grasp his meaning.  

She tried to piece together his words slowly, one by one.  

The reason for her confinement in the Duke’s estate was, apparently, annoyance.  

From the Duke’s perspective, it was an understandable, if not acceptable, reason.  

After all, she had spent a night with the Empire’s most powerful man and appeared at his estate with his child.  

It was reasonable for him to misunderstand her intentions and be caught off guard when she suddenly demanded child support.  

That explained that.  

But the second point—his claim to have found a way to prove Louis’s bloodline—what was that about?  

And if such proof was possible, would the Duke truly let her and Louis go?  

Would a man so obsessed with an heir actually do that?  

And why bring up the Kingdom of Kettlin’s delegation?  

Unable to make sense of it all, Euphrasia gave up trying to connect the dots.  

Fortunately, Eric spoke again.  

“How much do you know about the Kingdom of Kettlin?”  

“…It’s a nation shrouded in mystery, isn’t it? I only know what’s publicly known—that it was founded with the blessing of spirits.”  

“You’re well-informed. Then, do you know about the Elixir of Truth?”  

“The Elixir of Truth…?”  

At that moment, Euphrasia began to grasp Eric’s intentions.  

The Elixir of Truth was famously expensive, and for good reason. Its main ingredient was the Tears of Spirits.  

Because it was created from the spirits’ essence, which could not lie, it was only produced in the Kingdom of Kettlin, blessed by the spirits.  

“So, I’m to drink the Elixir of Truth?”  

“If you’re confident, prove it.”  

The Elixir of Truth was said to curse anyone who lied after drinking it, with the penalty being death.  

In essence, Eric was demanding that she stake her life for the sake of their child.