“You can’t…… drink alcohol?”

“Are you perhaps feeling unwell somewhere?”

Contrary to the worried voices, Leliana wore a rather troubled expression.

Only Selvia snickered at her behavior.

‘Finally, the opportunity has come.’

It certainly took long enough.

At this point, one might wonder if there was something wrong with Beatus’s seed.

To think she’s only now pregnant after being together almost every day.

Selvia swirled her wine glass and savored the aroma. The appropriate tannins and fragrance lingering in her mouth put her in a good mood.

Though Leliana had shown her hand, she wouldn’t be foolish enough to reveal it here.

She probably doesn’t even realize she’s fallen into the trap I set.

She knew the words were thrown to provoke her.

Selvia maintained a calm attitude without falling for Leliana’s provocation.

“You must not be feeling well. What a shame, it’s such delicious wine.”

“Mmm. To say I’m not feeling well……”

Are you pretending not to know while knowing?

Leliana rolled her eyes watching Selvia respond so nonchalantly.

“Oh right! Lady Flandre. I heard you broke off your engagement with Lord Ian Devorsel.”

“Oh my, weren’t they going to get married? Isn’t that why Lady Selvia Flandre became queen……? Oops!”

The ladies who had spoken without thinking quickly shut their mouths. They looked frightened as they carefully watched Selvia’s reaction.

“I don’t mind it since it’s not wrong. You didn’t make up false stories, you just stated facts. And you didn’t say it with ill intent towards me, did you?”

“O-Of course not. We were just curious since we heard the news late……”

“Since they’re curious, why don’t you tell them, Leliana? About why you broke off the engagement.”

“……What’s the big deal about breaking an engagement? You do it when hearts don’t match.”

Leliana awkwardly smiled at Ian’s suddenly mentioned name.

Selvia didn’t miss the opportunity and pressed on.

“You acted like you would marry right away, so I thought there must have been some urgent reason you had to get married. For instance, if you were pregnant.”

Leliana’s mouth fell open at the words with clear intent. She had obviously brought it up on purpose.

Selvia planned to cause discord by using facts that others knew.

Leliana ground her teeth.

“Your Highness. Someone might misunderstand if they hear you. If that were the case, wouldn’t I have gone through with the marriage?”

“I was just saying. You’re the one who suddenly brought him as your fiancé then. I’m saying this out of concern. I hope you meet someone good soon.”

Leliana forced a smile and took a sip of tea.

“You don’t need to worry about me. The wound from parting with him hasn’t healed yet……”

“Oh dear, that must be hard. I’m sure Lady Flandre will meet someone good too.”

Lady Seron wore a sympathetic expression.

Leliana stared at Seron, then rested her chin on her hand and lowered her eyes.

“I’m fine. I’ve recovered a lot while staying with my sister. Above all, His Highness said I could stay as long as I want.”

“My goodness, how kind……”

“So I’m thinking of staying longer.”

Selvia put down her wine glass and stared at Leliana.

‘Kind, they say……’

The Beatus she knew wouldn’t be so kind to Leliana either.

He was the type of person who only needed to get what he wanted.

But Selvia calmly suggested,

“Well, Leliana can be with him anytime. She’s my dear sister after all. The scandal is just a rumor, isn’t it?”

Selvia continued while keeping her gaze fixed on Leliana.

“Who knows? Since he wants a child so badly, he might take you as his second wife.”

At Selvia’s words, all the ladies’ eyes widened.

Leliana bit her lips while clenching her fists under the table.

Inside the carriage on the way back to the palace. Leliana glared at Selvia.

“Are you crazy? How could you say such things?”

Watching Leliana who was fuming with anger, Selvia smiled self-mockingly.

Who was she to say such things when she should be the one getting angry?

But Leliana seemed not to care about others’ feelings except her own.

“Isn’t this what you wanted, sister? You told me to do as I please!”

“Congratulations on your pregnancy. Though it’s later than expected.”

“Ha! You knew and still cornered me like that?”

Leliana gripped her dress hem and vented her frustration.

The ladies’ gazes toward her changed instantly at Selvia’s words.

Just thinking about it again made her blood boil.

“You, you!”

Unable to contain her anger, Leliana raised her hand.

Selvia snorted and caught Leliana’s hand, pulling it toward herself.

“You seem to habitually raise your hand because I’ve been too lenient.”

“Let go of me!”

“Calm down. I don’t want to waste energy on you.”

“Are you crazy?”

“If I let go now, won’t you fall ungracefully again?”

Selvia raised her hand and gently caressed Leliana’s cheek. Then she placed her hand on her belly and spoke with a concerned expression.

“Getting angry isn’t good for the baby. You should learn to control your emotions.”

“Ha!”

Leliana pulled her hand away.

Tears welled up from the stinging pain. This was the first time she had suffered such humiliation.

Finally, she glared at Selvia with tears in her eyes.

She had always thought Selvia wasn’t in her right mind, but since coming to the imperial palace, she had become even stranger and now seemed completely insane.

“I won’t let this slide.”

“Go ahead and tell Beatus. Tell him that you’re the child of prophecy and carrying his child.”

Watching Leliana trembling, Selvia smiled brightly.

Selvia felt her plans were becoming clearer now.

If only she could send a letter to Harwin to inform him of her situation and intentions.

Above all, her plans would change depending on Beatus’s reaction to learning about Leliana’s pregnancy.

Selvia curled up her lips while staring at Leliana sitting across from her.

‘Quickly, I wish the carriage would go faster. I want you to become more anxious.’

She could easily go to the empire.

Selvia was surprised by her own train of thought, suddenly recalling the Karina Empire, but quickly composed her expression.

Since he said he would protect her status, she could live a comfortable life.

Parting amicably with him was impossible. If he wouldn’t grant a divorce, she would become a deposed queen.

It was clear as day that Leliana and Beatus wouldn’t leave her alone when she left the castle.

So she wanted to leave before troublesome things happened.

* * *

Upon reaching the palace, Leliana ran straight to Beatus’s room while sobbing.

‘Sometimes I appreciate her hasty personality.’

She seemed ready to tell Beatus everything Selvia had done.

When he hears that Leliana is pregnant, he might accept the proposal she had made.

After all, she had dropped hints that it would be fine to put Leliana in her place.

Thinking about that made her feel a bit better.

Selvia stretched as she entered her room.

It felt like she could escape from this place if she endured just a little longer.

Just then, a maid approached and respectfully announced.

“Your Highness, a gift has arrived for you.”

“Hm? For me?”

Selvia stared intently at the box handed to her along with an invitation.

The familiar pattern was that of the Karina Empire.

“Does His Highness know about this?”

“Yes, he told us to deliver it. Though he hasn’t seen it……”

Selvia nodded at the maid’s words. After telling the maid to leave, she slowly opened the letter.

[This doesn’t seem enough, so I’m sending another gift.]

What has he prepared this time?

She felt somewhat expectant. Opening the beautifully wrapped box revealed a transparent orb.

Selvia carefully lifted it and examined it from various angles.

“Hmm? What is this? There aren’t even instructions on how to use it.”

It wasn’t stylish enough to be a decoration, and it had no loop to wear as an accessory.

After looking at it for a while, Selvia tapped the orb.

Suddenly, light spread across the wall and a familiar man’s face appeared.

“……It’s like you read my mind.”

What Duke Grey had sent her was a communication orb.

It was the most interesting and appealing gift she had received so far.

A humming sound was heard, and then a voice came through.

<I didn’t expect you to use it right away.>

Selvia blinked at the low resonating voice.

Looking toward the door, she quickly used shadows to block the room’s sound.

“I was actually troubled about not having a way to contact you. You sent just the right gift at the right time.”

Harwin shrugged and moved closer to the communication orb, whispering.

<Actually, I kept it on because I didn’t know when you would contact me. That’s why I received it right away.>

At his honest words, Selvia firmly pressed her lips together.

If she didn’t, she felt her lips might curl up into a smile.

<Have you made up your mind?>

“To some extent. But I have conditions. You must accept them unconditionally.”

<Whatever you want.>

He answered with the brightest smile possible.