“I greet Your Majesty, the Queen.”

As Caleb offered his greeting, Astrid also followed the royal protocol and showed her courtesy. Fabiola, who received their greetings, smiled warmly.

But only for a moment. Suddenly, she raised a hand to her forehead, and a faint groan escaped her lips.

“Ah…”

“Your Majesty the Queen!”

Lady McDowell, the startled chief attendant, quickly stepped forward to support her. Leaning slightly on Lady McDowell, Fabiola’s frail voice floated out.

“…I am fine, Lady McDowell.”

“But, Your Majesty!”

“Step back. There are matters more important than my condition right now.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

Reluctantly, Lady McDowell withdrew, and Fabiola, barely steadying herself, spoke to Caleb.

“Forgive me. Seeing Grand Duke Cliff reassured me so much that I momentarily lost my composure.”

“As soon as the funeral ended, you summoned the royal family. I trust it is a matter of great importance, and so I came quickly.”

Caleb cut straight to the point without exchanging pleasantries. His tone was so blunt that it bordered on rudeness.

This greatly offended Fabiola.

“…Ah.”

Fabiola noticed that all eyes in the room were now on her. She gave a faint smile.

“Has the young queen, ignorant of the world, kept you waiting too long with her lengthy preamble?”

As soon as she spoke, the murmuring in the room came to an abrupt halt. Silence enveloped the chamber. Feeling the intense focus of the gathered crowd, Fabiola smiled even more deeply.

“Though we must mourn the passing of the Crown Prince, this is a matter that concerns the future of the Croatan Kingdom. Since the Crown Prince left no formal successor, we must address this issue without delay, don’t you agree?”

At the mention of “successor” from the queen’s lips, the already heavy atmosphere became even more oppressive, bearing down on the assembly.

No one dared to speak first, their eyes flicking between Fabiola and Caleb, gauging their reactions.

“Indeed, Your Majesty!”

The chamber doors swung open dramatically, and Duke Xavier strode in. As a royal family member and the current chancellor, he was responsible for the governance of the kingdom.

Caleb’s eyes narrowed as he observed Xavier’s sly smile and the way he confidently entered with the royal physician trailing behind him like an appendage.

“…Anyone would think the King himself had arrived.”

Caleb’s voice was low but loud enough to be overheard. Astrid flinched and glanced nervously at Fabiola. Although Fabiola still wore a smile, her brown eyes had grown noticeably colder.

‘What are you doing? There’s no need to provoke her like this.’

Astrid was worried about Caleb, but there was no way to stop him in front of everyone. Anxiously biting her already-chapped lips, she tasted the sharp tang of blood as her skin split further.

“Stop it.”

This time, Caleb’s voice was so soft that only Astrid could hear him.

“…What?”

Before Astrid could confirm whether his words were meant for her, Duke Xavier arrived before them and greeted Fabiola.

“I greet Your Majesty the Queen.”

“Welcome, Duke Xavier.”

“Ah! And Grand Duke Cliff, you’re here as well.”

“…”

Caleb didn’t respond to Xavier’s remark, not even sparing him a glance. Xavier, however, remained unbothered.

“Ahem!”

The duke clapped his hands loudly three times, drawing the room’s attention.

“Everyone, I have an important announcement. Your Majesty, may I have your permission to make it on your behalf?”

“Of course, Duke,” Fabiola replied graciously.

Smiling broadly, Xavier turned to the assembly and announced in a loud voice:

“We have lost the Crown Prince unexpectedly to a tragic accident. This has brought great sorrow to the kingdom, including myself. However, we cannot afford to leave the position of successor vacant even for a moment. Naturally, His Majesty the King should have delivered the news himself, but alas, our king has fallen ill from the shock. Yet, it is my great honor that His Majesty entrusted me with a significant announcement!”

At the mention of a “significant announcement,” the crowd stirred with anticipation. Watching their reactions for a moment, Xavier raised his voice proudly.

“Everyone! Our queen is with child!”

The crowd erupted in gasps and exclamations. It was a harbinger of the chaos to come.

The queen’s pregnancy, following the death of the crown prince, seemed unrelated on the surface. However, upon reflection, one could sense an uncanny interconnectedness.

Xavier’s declaration sent shockwaves through the royal court of Croatan, which had largely enjoyed peace aside from the monster expeditions.

“Now, everyone!”

Relishing the moment, Xavier paused before continuing with enthusiasm.

“Though it is sorrowful to have lost the crown prince, is it not fortunate in misfortune? The king may be bedridden, but he is still with us, and the queen is carrying a royal heir. The Croatan royal family will not falter! Isn’t that so, Lord Allen?”

As Xavier’s gaze landed on him, the royal physician, Count Allen, stepped forward.

Pushing up his glasses perched on his nose, the physician declared in a loud voice, “Indeed. Her Majesty has been with child for about two months now. This is a particularly delicate time, and I will do everything in my power to ensure the healthy birth of the royal child.”

After the physician retreated, Duke Xavier stepped forward again.

“Our beloved queen has honored me by naming this Xavier as the godfather of the child to be born. How glorious this privilege is!”

Xavier looked around the assembly with a triumphant expression. The hall, which had been eerily silent moments before, was now abuzz with murmurs.

“Considering your lineage, abilities, and character, there could hardly be a more suitable godfather for the royal child than yourself.”

With a gentle reply from Fabiola, Xavier once again bowed deeply. Applause, cheers, and congratulations erupted from the crowd.

“…Tch. Is he a politician or a clown?”

It was then that Caleb, who had remained silent until now, muttered with disdain. Although he hadn’t spoken loudly, the remark caused a visible stir among a few nearby. Startled, Astrid softly scolded him.

“Caleb.”

“…”

Caleb simply shrugged at Astrid without further comment, his arms crossed as he leisurely observed Xavier’s performance as if he were an audience member at a play. His dark eyes gleamed ominously.

“Until the royal heir is safely born and ascends the throne, I, Xavier, vow to serve with my life. With the Grand Duke safeguarding Croatan’s borders and myself here in the capital, is this not a blessing amidst sorrow? Don’t you agree, Grand Duke?”

Caught off guard by the sudden attention, Caleb’s thick, dark eyebrows twitched.

‘…Please.’

All eyes turned toward Caleb. Astrid felt unbearable tension, worried he might lose his temper and make an explosive comment. At that moment, as if by magic, their eyes met in midair.

Astrid silently pleaded with him, her gaze imploring, ‘Please, Caleb, think of Cliff and your people first.’

To openly antagonize Xavier or Fabiola would inevitably lead to suspicions of him coveting the throne, giving his enemies ample justification to undermine him.

No matter how influential the Grand Duke of Cliff was, this was the capital, the very heart of the royal palace. Astrid was almost beside herself with anxiety, fearing Caleb might become a political scapegoat.

While she silently begged, Caleb’s tightly pressed lips moved slightly, forming a silent whisper.

“…Stop biting your lip.”

“…!”

Astrid’s eyes widened in surprise, her expression resembling that of a startled rabbit. Caleb let out a small chuckle, but the fleeting smile quickly disappeared.

Erasing all traces of humor, Caleb strode confidently to the center and addressed Xavier in a deep, resonant voice.

“The Grand Duke of Cliff guards the border, and you guard the capital? Let us get the facts straight, Duke.”

“…!”

“First, congratulations to Her Majesty on the pregnancy.”

Caleb gave a slight bow, and Fabiola returned his greeting with a smile—though it was a stiff and strained one.

Unconcerned with her reaction, Caleb continued without pause.

“I, Caleb Lionel, as the Grand Duke of Cliff, will not only defend Croatan’s borders but will also ensure the royal family is not neglected. I am, after all, not merely a subject of His Majesty but also his nephew.”

“…That is most reassuring, Your Grace.”

Though Fabiola maintained her smile, Astrid could detect the frosty undertone in her gaze.

‘…She’s always been like this.’

Kind and affectionate on the surface, but always with a hidden blade in her eyes, ready to strike when the opportunity arose. Fabiola was the type to smile while plunging a knife into your back.

Astrid vowed she wouldn’t let Fabiola’s blade even graze Caleb.

‘If only I could forget Fabiola forever and live as though she didn’t exist…’

Astrid didn’t want to waste her life hating the woman who had taken everything from her. But if Fabiola dared to harm Caleb in the slightest, Astrid was determined never to forgive her.

“Congratulations on your pregnancy, Your Majesty.”