Knock knock. After waiting a moment following the knock, permission to enter came from inside. After opening the door and entering, Kai approached Aidan, who sat at his study desk checking piles of documents.

“On my way back from the training grounds, I met a member of the main palace’s knights.”

When Kai reported, Aidan lifted his eyes from the documents he was reviewing to look at him.

“It seems the atmosphere there is terrible since Marquis Belmont hasn’t been caught yet. Though His Majesty isn’t rushing them, they say they feel silent pressure.”

“Silent pressure…”

Aidan snickered. Perhaps the Emperor also hoped Belmont wouldn’t be caught. He might want to drag this out and then just cover up the incident. As Emperor, if Belmont were caught, he would have to sacrifice either the Empress and Lloyd or Belmont, who had been his close friend.

“What about the Empress’s side?”

“All quiet. They seem to have completely lost Marquis Belmont’s trail.”

“Of course they have, since we moved secretly. Still, keep watching. Lloyd might be slow since he’s busy lamenting his situation after the wedding, but the Empress won’t let this go. It would be most troublesome if Belmont were caught alive.”

After saying that, he lowered his eyes back to the documents, but Kai remained standing without withdrawing.

“Do you have something else to say?”

He asked without looking at him.

“Are you planning to bury that matter as it is?”

“That matter?”

“What we found at Marquis Belmont’s mansion last time…”

“Ah.”

Aidan smiled as if it were nothing and raised his head. Unlike him, Kai’s expression was serious. This wasn’t just any matter — it involved the Empress. He couldn’t understand why Aidan remained silent when revealing just that could overturn the current situation.

“Do you think it would benefit me to openly mention that matter?”

“What do you mean…”

“People don’t easily accept uncomfortable truths. Especially when it involves their family.”

Kai met Aidan’s gaze with a puzzled expression.

“If I were to reveal the truth Marquis Belmont shared in front of the Emperor — no, His Majesty and the ministers, would they readily believe it?”

“Your Highness has definitive evidence.”

“They would insist evidence can be fabricated. Like with Liam Smith. I wonder why there’s no forensic investigation here. That’s why those who shout the loudest win.”

“Forensic investigation?”

“Anyway, there’s no use in me revealing that matter directly. We need to lead them to harbor doubts themselves.”

“Is His Majesty the one who should harbor doubts?”

“Him included, of course. But you know, the more mouths, the better. There’s a reason public opinion exists.”

Aidan said with a grin.

“So how…”

“The mercenaries are already moving, so don’t worry.”

“May I ask why you didn’t give these orders to me?”

Aidan stood up completely and approached him. Sitting on the edge of the desk, he crossed his arms and looked at Kai.

“Because you’re my official knight.”

When he heard such an obvious answer, Kai just blinked. He thought that being his knight meant he should have a proper grasp of Aidan’s affairs. That was how he could protect his lord.

“Everything visible on the surface must be perfect. No flaws should show. You belong to that realm, that’s what I mean.”

Hearing this vague expression, Kai stared blankly at Aidan.

“Don’t get involved in anything illegal. That way, when I reach the very top, I can entrust my back to you.”

Aidan smiled, pulling up one corner of his mouth, and seemingly having no intention to explain further, he patted Kai’s back before returning to sit at his desk.

The very top. He immediately understood what that meant. His lord was moving forward with clear purpose. Though he couldn’t completely grasp what thoughts lay behind it.

“Will you be having dinner with Her Highness the Consort today as well?”

He changed the subject. Aidan still never missed having dinner with Karina, not even for a single day. No matter how busy he was, he would stop whatever he was doing to go to Karina.

“Of course. That’s why I’m working hard right now.”

Aidan gestured with his eyes toward the documents piled on his desk. After offering several practical opinions at the policy meeting, the Emperor had tasked Aidan with implementing the ideas he had proposed.

The first of these was resolving the border dispute with Italus. Italus had conveyed through diplomatic channels their agreement to exchange waterways and minerals. Aidan was in charge of determining the scale of the waterway construction and mineral exchange. Though ministers were assigned to assist, everything fundamental had to go through Aidan’s hands. As a result, he was incredibly busy.

Despite this, he never missed morning knight training or policy meetings. To Kai, it seemed like a daily schedule that made him wonder when Aidan even found time to sleep, yet he always made sure to have dinner with Karina. That showed how much Aidan prioritized Karina above all else.

“I’ll find out if Her Highness the Consort has any particular food preferences.”

There was no point asking Aidan as he would obviously say to go with whatever Karina wanted. As expected, Aidan nodded with a satisfied smile.

*

The weather was perfect for spending time outdoors. It was warm, and the garden was a spectacular sight full of blooming flowers. Karina hosted a small tea party, inviting noble ladies and young ladies around her age to the palace.

“It feels like it’s been so long since we’ve had time with Your Highness like this.”

Those who had connections with her since her time at the Hewitt ducal family especially welcomed the meeting with her.

“I arranged this gathering to have a comfortable conversation, so there’s no need to be formal.”

The young ladies who had just debuted in society couldn’t even make proper eye contact with Karina. Though their age difference was barely a year, they found her intimidating just because she was a princess consort. For these young ladies, Bernice’s presence was a great help. Being the same age, they conversed more comfortably with Bernice than with Karina.

It was fine if they didn’t become close to her personally. Karina wanted to hear stories from outside the palace through them. The stories relayed by ministers were very limited and contained many of their political views. Though the young ladies also limited their stories to their interests, they were less politically colored than the ministers’ and more personal.

“Have you heard that rumor?”

Around the time they finished a cup of tea, the young lady of the Gardner family spoke up, seeming to have relaxed a bit.

“Which rumor do you mean?”

Bernice quickly responded to her words. Despite bringing it up, Lady Gardner hesitated, watching Karina’s reaction.

“I’m not sure if I should spread such talk…”

Wondering why she was watching her reaction about whatever she wanted to say, Karina put down her teacup and looked at her.

“It’s alright, please tell me.”

With Karina’s permission, Lady Gardner leaned forward as if she was sharing a secret. This prompted the other young ladies to lean forward toward the table as well.

“You’ve heard the rumors about Her Majesty the Empress and Marquis Belmont, haven’t you?”

Ah, that story. Since Bernice had already relayed rumors that the Empress and Marquis Belmont were more than just friends, it wasn’t surprising.

“It’s just a rumor. Besides, they seem to have completely separated now.”

Everyone seemed to have encountered this rumor at least once.

“It appears to be true. Even His Highness Lloyd…”

Lady Gardner closed her mouth again and looked at Karina. Karina showed no reaction. When she didn’t give any warning, Lady Gardner continued.

“They say he’s Marquis Belmont’s bloodline, not His Majesty’s.”

This statement made Karina pause. Bernice had previously mentioned rumors that Lloyd was Belmont’s son. She had dismissed it as nonsense, but why was this story suddenly spreading now?

She must have been frowning without realizing it, as Lady Gardner watched her cautiously. This wasn’t a topic to be taken lightly. Karina took a deep breath and straightened her posture.

“That’s a dangerous statement.”

Though she didn’t want to take Lloyd’s side, carelessly speaking such words was problematic. Someone who spoke this way would likely gossip recklessly about Aidan behind his back too.

“I’m sorry!”

Lady Gardner seemed to understand the problem with her words.

“However, the rumor is rampant among commoners lately. I thought you should know if the imperial family wasn’t aware.”

Among commoners? This was strange. While some nobles had consistently suspected the relationship between Belmont and the Empress, none had openly expressed it. They knew they would fall out of the Empress’s favor if they spread baseless rumors. Moreover, the Emperor had personally acknowledged Lloyd as his child. If the Empress and Belmont truly had a deep relationship, the Emperor couldn’t have been unaware.

“It’s true. Children are running through alleys singing songs about it. They sing about how widow Lilith met a new man, seduced him for honor and wealth, and then married another man while carrying his child, riding in a flower carriage.”

The lyrics were too provocative for a children’s song sung without malice.

“The song has spread so widely throughout the capital that everyone knows it.”

Lady Gardner continued her explanation, defending herself that she wasn’t speaking nonsense.

Commoners never saw the Empress and Belmont in their daily lives. For commoners who were focused on their daily survival, noble scandals weren’t of interest. The sudden spread of rumors about their relationship among such people seemed unnatural. Especially at this point, now that the Empress and Belmont were at odds, such a song spreading seemed intentional.

*