Count Spencer had an audience with the Emperor. While he had occasionally visited the palace before to plead for arranging a marriage between Kate Spencer and Lloyd, today was different. Unlike his usual solo visits, this time he brought Kate Spencer with him.

Kate’s mere presence in the palace caused a stir. Many had seen her in Lloyd’s quarters on the morning of the knights’ tournament, and those rumors had already spread throughout the palace, causing everyone they passed in the corridors to glance at her. Kate couldn’t even lift her lowered head.

“We cannot delay any longer. Please proceed with the marriage between His Highness Lloyd and my daughter immediately.”

Count Spencer was more adamant than usual. Kate, standing beside him, remained silent with her hands clasped in front of her.

“Count Spencer, didn’t we agree to discuss this matter after arresting Marquis Belmont? How can we hold a wedding, which should be the most blessed day in one’s life, while Prince Lloyd bears false accusations of attempted murder?”

The Empress objected to Count Spencer’s demand. The Emperor had said the same thing when he visited the palace recently. Count Spencer had agreed to their suggestion to discuss the marriage with Lloyd after resolving the Belmont situation. The Empress, who thought they had bought time until then, was displeased with Count Spencer’s sudden change in attitude and urgency.

“A reason has arisen that makes further delay impossible.”

Count Spencer turned to his daughter with a grave expression. Even feeling her father’s gaze, Kate kept her head bowed.

“Kate is carrying a child. An heir to the imperial family.”

Silence followed his words. Neither the Emperor nor the Empress could speak, their eyes wide. This was a development even the Empress hadn’t anticipated. The veins in her hand stood out as she gripped the armrest tightly.

Impossible. To think that Lloyd’s child would come from that woman…!

But regardless of whether she approved or not, an heir to the imperial family wasn’t something that could be easily dismissed. Moreover, since Lloyd didn’t yet have an official consort, if Kate Spencer became his consort, the child would become a legitimate heir to the imperial bloodline.

“Bring… Lloyd here.”

The Emperor commanded in a calm voice. He seemed to have judged that the marriage couldn’t be delayed any longer now that Kate was carrying his child.

“Wait!”

The Empress intervened.

“Why only Lloyd?”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes at her question.

“You should also summon Prince Aidan. After all, Miss Kate was also Prince Aidan’s lover.”

At her firm words, the Emperor’s face contorted.

*

Not only Aidan and Lloyd but also Karina received a summons to the main palace. No sooner had Bernice informed Karina about Kate Spencer’s pregnancy than someone from the main palace arrived with the Emperor’s summons.

“Will you be alright?”

Bernice asked with a worried expression as she watched Karina prepare to go to the main palace. Karina only responded with a faint smile and turned away.

Honestly, she wasn’t alright at all, not even a little bit. The thought that Kate Spencer’s child might be Aidan’s made her heart feel like it was crumbling. For some reason, it hurt more than in her previous life. Back then, she felt more pathetic about not handling things properly than being betrayed by Aidan. Perhaps she had been mentally prepared for something like this to happen eventually.

But this time, she had completely trusted Aidan. She had been assured there would be no more entanglements with Kate Spencer after watching him coldly cut her off right before her eyes.

But pregnancy… She couldn’t understand why this was happening so soon. Maybe it was because she had returned from the future. Or perhaps because someone else had possessed Aidan’s body. While the basic premises had changed and situations were flowing differently, did this mean that what was meant to happen would happen anyway? The thought made her laugh bitterly.

No, it might not be Aidan’s child. Kate had also slept with Lloyd. So there was a possibility it happened then.

Even as she tried to comfort herself, she felt foolish for harboring such hope.

‘Why are the guards of His Highness’s chambers so careless?’

‘Well… His Highness often let Miss Spencer into his chambers…’

That’s what the knights had answered when Kate had barged into Aidan’s chambers. She had been regularly entering his bedroom even before his marriage to Karina.

Who could guarantee they hadn’t slept together before marriage? Rather, since he had spent nights with her frequently, if there was a child, the possibility was higher that it was Aidan’s. Even on their wedding night, Aidan had returned after meeting Kate.

What should she do if it really was Aidan’s child? Would she have to acknowledge her as Aidan’s lover again this time?

The more she thought about it, the harder it became to breathe. A lover… She couldn’t bear to see that again.

Though this wasn’t caused by the current Aidan, the imperial family would never give up an imperial heir. Therefore, Karina had only one choice.

Divorce.

The thought of that word created a heavy pressure in her heart. That too was laughable. She was the one who had wanted the divorce in the first place, and she even had divorce papers with Aidan’s seal on them. Though it would be difficult right now without Aidan and the Emperor’s consent, in a few months she could divorce thanks to the papers Aidan had sealed.

It didn’t matter that Aidan wanted her, not Kate. Karina had no intention of continuing as a princess consort while tolerating her husband’s lover and child. That was something she absolutely couldn’t stand. If they asked her to accept that child as her own like before, it would be truly unbearable. It would be better to step aside cleanly.

So in the end, was she unable to dream of a future with Aidan?

No matter how much she thought about it as she walked down the corridor, she couldn’t envision any good endings. With each step, resignation piled up layer by layer.

At this point, it seemed like it just wasn’t meant to be. She didn’t even feel any lingering attachments anymore. As for regret… it would be a lie to say she had none, but she thought it was fortunate that it was happening now. Since she had only just started to accept Aidan, she felt she could wrap things up now with less hurt.

“Karina.”

At the familiar voice, she looked up to see Aidan walking from the opposite direction. Seeing his face made her swallow unconsciously. Though she was quite troubled, Aidan must be too. He was about to be held responsible for something he hadn’t done.

“You’ve heard the news, haven’t you?”

Aidan nodded at Karina’s question. His expression wasn’t as serious as she had expected.

“Is that why you look like that?”

Aidan cupped her cheek with one hand and lifted her face. When she raised her eyes, surprisingly, he was smiling.

What an easy-going man. Or perhaps he doesn’t understand the current situation?

That could be possible. He must be so carefree because he doesn’t know.

“If by any chance the child Kate Spencer is carrying is yours, you’ll have to take responsibility.”

Even to herself, her voice sounded stiff, but seeing Aidan’s face looking not just carefree but leisurely, she couldn’t hide the sullen feelings rising within her.

“Responsibility? How?”

Aidan asked with a smile. He really seemed to have no understanding of the gravity of the situation.

“Either acknowledge her as your lover and keep her by your side…”

“I’m not the type to keep such things.”

He had mentioned before that he doesn’t keep lovers. Karina took a deep breath and met his eyes.

“Or you can divorce me and make her your official princess consort.”

At her calm response, Aidan stared at her intently. His expression seemed to ask if she was serious. When she turned her head away, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, she saw Aidan smirk.

“That won’t happen.”

“But…”

“Even if we divorce, it won’t be for that reason.”

She was about to mention the divorce papers he had already written, but Aidan cut her off and answered first.

“So you don’t need to look like you’re about to die. Though I’m secretly happy if it means you like me that much.”

Though Aidan answered as if it were nothing, Karina couldn’t accept it so simply. Kate Spencer’s child would surely become a source of conflict. Whether she divorced him or not, Aidan wouldn’t be able to free himself from that child.

“You should take this a bit more seriously.”

She almost sighed at his overly casual attitude.

“There’s no need for that.”

She wondered what made him so confident.

“You need to have done something worthy of responsibility to take responsibility for it.”

At his casual remark, Karina looked up at him.

What did he mean? That he hadn’t done anything to take responsibility for? Of course, that might be true, but did he not know that ‘Aidan’ was different?

“Another Your Highness, not you, might have done it.”

Despite her wordplay, Aidan just smirked as if finding it amusing.

“That’s fortunate.”

Aidan stopped walking completely and turned to face Karina.

“What is?”

When she questioned him accusingly, he smiled and leaned close to her ear. As she flinched, wondering what he was doing, she heard a soft laugh.

“That you don’t seem to know much about that guy ‘Aidan.'”

She frowned at this puzzling statement, but Aidan pulled back and smiled even more brightly than before.

“I’m glad you two weren’t that close.”

Though Karina furrowed her brow further, not understanding his words, Aidan paid no mind and urged her along, taking her hand and walking. He even hummed a light tune.

*