108. John William (2)
The Empress Dowager shouted at Larael with a thunderous voice. Larael hesitated briefly, then bowed again to the Empress Dowager and turned to leave the reception room.

Crash.

A teacup flew in an arc beside Larael, falling to the floor with a sharp sound. The teacup shattered into pieces, making it difficult to recognize its original form. Larael turned around in surprise.

The Empress Dowager was breathing heavily, her eyes flashing with rage as she strode toward Larael.

“Berser!!”

Larael called for Berser who was waiting outside the reception room. As soon as she called his name, Berser rushed in and stood protectively in front of Larael.

“Get out!!”

When the Empress Dowager shouted at Berser who was blocking her way, Berser bowed his head deeply. Despite stepping forward to protect Larael, his opponent was the Empress Dowager.

“How dare you block my way!!”

The Empress Dowager raised her hand and struck Berser’s cheek. She hit him so hard that she momentarily lost her balance and staggered.

“Your Majesty!!”

Larael cried out to the Empress Dowager upon seeing Berser’s reddened cheek. The Empress Dowager’s eyes, filled with madness, flashed toward Larael at her uncharacteristically sharp cry. She seemed to have found a good excuse to punish Larael.

Berser, who had been momentarily pushed back, straightened his posture and again stood in front of Larael.

“Move aside!! Move!!”

The Empress Dowager screamed as if throwing a tantrum. But Berser kept his gaze lowered and didn’t budge from in front of Larael.

“Berser, please step aside.”

Larael ordered Berser. The Empress Dowager should not be allowed to lay hands on Berser. Not for the Empress Dowager’s sake, but for Berser’s. However, Berser didn’t listen to Larael either.

“Your Majesty, please return now.”

Berser said in a low voice. The Empress Dowager’s face turned as red as Berser’s slapped cheek. She couldn’t contain her anger that a mere guard knight would disobey her command and instead give her an order.

The Empress Dowager finally lost control of her temper and began hitting Berser, who was standing in front of Larael, with all her might. Berser covered his head with his hands and crouched down in place. The Empress Dowager was blind with rage. She struck and trampled him however her hands and feet moved. She didn’t stop until her hands and feet were throbbing and sore.

Larael embraced the Empress Dowager from behind and barely managed to pull her away. The Empress Dowager pushed Larael away, breathing heavily. She glared at Larael while nudging the crouching Berser with the toe of her shoe.

Perhaps summoned by one of the maids due to the commotion inside, Handelson belatedly rushed into the reception room. He looked at Berser and then at the Empress Dowager with an expression of shock.

“You, I won’t let this go. Which family are you from?”

“Handelson!! Quickly take Sir Berser out.”

“…Yes.”

Handelson came to his senses at Larael’s words and went to Berser’s side. He carefully helped Berser up and supported him. After Handelson and Berser left the reception room and the door closed, Larael looked at the Empress Dowager with cold eyes. Larael’s red eyes had settled into an icy calm.

“Your Majesty, this is a situation you brought upon yourself.”

“What? What nonsense are you spouting?”

The Empress Dowager spoke with bulging eyes, breathing heavily. The dignity she had once valued was now completely gone.

“Berser is the only son of John William.”

John William was a very common name.

“Who is that…”

The Empress Dowager, who had been shouting at Larael, gradually changed to an expression of shock. Only choked sounds came from her gaping mouth.

“You… you… that… name…”

The Empress Dowager’s eyes lost focus and became dazed. She collapsed to the floor as if her legs had given out. Her hands were visibly trembling. Larael knelt beside her.

“Your Majesty, I told you, didn’t I? That this is a situation you brought upon yourself…”

“You…”

The Empress Dowager flailed her hands trying to grab Larael’s collar, but Larael quickly stood up. Larael gave a slight smile tinged with mockery and bowed politely to the Empress Dowager.

“Your Majesty, as I mentioned earlier, I have a prior appointment, so I’ll be going now. Please return safely.”

“Larael Hedway, you… what are you?”

The Empress Dowager spoke with a trembling voice, emphasizing each syllable.

It was a name that someone like Larael Hedway couldn’t possibly know. It happened before she was even born. And the only people who knew about this matter were the Duke of Anderman of that time, the Empress Dowager, and two retainers of the Duke of Anderman who were ready to give their lives. Anyone else who knew about her affair had already disappeared from this world.

In her foolish youth, Empress Dowager Seraphine Anderman, blinded by love, had eloped with a knight from the ducal household. They fled from their pursuers, abandoning everything to live together in a small village in the countryside. At first, they were happy. She, who had only pursued ambition, was surprised to find happiness in small things. They even had a son whom they named Ben.

Whenever they sensed something suspicious, they would move, causing them to lose whatever jobs they had managed to find. The frequency of their fights increased, and Seraphine sold all the jewelry she had brought with her. However, the jewelry she sold became the clue that allowed the Anderman ducal house, which had been chasing her, to finally catch up with them.

Perhaps Seraphine had hoped that the ducal house would find her when she sold those jewels. When she went out alone, she encountered knights from the ducal house. As she was captured by the knights and taken back to the ducal house, she thought to herself that she hadn’t abandoned them, and that was enough to ease her guilt.

Seraphine was brought before the Duke of Anderman. When the Duke asked if she was curious about John and Ben, Seraphine firmly shook her head. It was unlikely that the Duke of Anderman would have let them live. From that moment, she buried John and Ben deep, very deep in her heart. She returned to being Seraphine Anderman so perfectly that no one could sense the gap in her life.

Due to her “recuperation,” the position of Empress already had an owner, though she had been a strong candidate for Empress. She willingly became the Imperial Consort, and when the position of Empress became vacant not long after, she reclaimed what was originally her place.

“How do you know about this?? Tell me!!!!”

Larael left the Empress Dowager behind and exited the reception room.

As Larael came out, the Empress Dowager’s maids who had been waiting outside hurriedly entered the reception room. Sasha and Joanna followed behind Larael. As they were boarding the carriage, Handelson approached with quick steps.

“Sir Handelson, how is Sir Berser?”

“He seems a bit shocked. I’ve had him receive treatment and told him to rest.”

“I see…”

Larael couldn’t help feeling sorry for Berser. Until they arrived at the Argen Marquis’s residence, Larael stared blankly out the window. The atmosphere inside the carriage was so heavy that even Sasha and Joanna couldn’t bring themselves to speak to her.

When they arrived at the Argen Marquis’s residence, Beatrice was waiting for her.

“I greet Your Highness the Empress Consort.”

Larael stopped Beatrice as she was giving her greeting. It was fortunate that she had hurried; otherwise, she would have kept her standing outside for a long time. Now Beatrice’s belly was quite pronounced, making it seem uncomfortable for her even to bow.

“Your Highness, I’ve been so worried about you lately that I couldn’t sleep.”

Larael smiled and entered the reception room of the marquis’s residence with Beatrice.

“Lady Nox is making herself prominent in social circles and actively interacting with the noble ladies. Have you heard?”

“Yes, I know.”

Larael nodded as she answered.

“Looking at Lady Nox’s recent activities, I wonder if it will be difficult for Duke Nox to return.”

Larael suddenly burst into laughter while listening to her words. She remembered the time when they had engaged in a battle of nerves before her regression. But now they were sitting knee to knee, drinking tea together.

Beatrice looked at her in surprise at her laughter.

“I’m sorry for laughing while talking about Lady Nox. I just suddenly remembered the past… I honestly never thought I would become this close with Beatrice.”

“Ah…”

Beatrice laughed along with Larael, her eyes showing embarrassment. She recalled how she had initially refused to meet Larael, having only heard rumors about her without even meeting her.

“Now the entire empire will be bustling with preparations for the Founding Festival.”