Chapter 9.

Bellian wanted to completely ruin this insufferable imperial family through the child in Shuvien’s womb.

He had waited and endured for years for this moment.

“It’s right in front of me now. So I must treat it well so I don’t lose it before my eyes.”

At the words “treat well,” a huge question mark arose in Lloyd’s mind.

“Is this what you call treating well?”

“I’m treating her plenty well. I’m sending all kinds of high-quality dishes so the child won’t be hungry. And I’m secretly planting people in the count’s family to receive reports in case something happens.”

Lloyd smiled awkwardly at Bellian’s words.

“It seems more like monitoring and taming……”

“What?”

When Bellian glared at Lloyd fiercely, Lloyd nodded with feigned innocence.

“Of course, from Your Majesty’s perspective, you’re really doing your best to treat her well. Her Majesty the Empress should know that too.”

“She certainly knows well. She might not have known at first, but now she’s not afraid of me.”

Lloyd’s expression also sank at the words that spread with a certain emptiness.

“The best I can do for others is not to frighten them. That’s enough. What more could you want?”

In truth, that was all, and he didn’t know much else.

From the moment of his birth, he had never been loved, never loved others, and never received warm affection from people.

Very naturally, Bellian had been thoroughly ignored by his parents.

One of his parents cursed him, and the other didn’t see him as human.

“So I hide my true self very well. If they knew the real me, they might die. They shouldn’t get too close to me.”

“……”

“Everyone who met me became unhappy, and everyone died. Part of treating others well is making sure they don’t get too close. So they won’t be consumed by my misfortune.”

While he said not to get too close, Lloyd actually thought this was the first time Bellian had allowed someone near him and approached them himself, besides Lloyd and Oguren.

Even if she had in her womb what Bellian so desperately wanted.

‘You could just assign several wet nurses and just monitor her. But you go to see her personally, like today. Even last time when that woman called for you, you ran to her without a second thought.’

It was suspiciously too suspicious, but Lloyd deliberately didn’t say it aloud.

In fact, he welcomed Bellian gradually changing because of someone.

And the most amazing thing was….

‘Sometimes. You truly smile.’

Lloyd looked at Bellian, who even now wore a more comfortable expression.

‘Someone who doesn’t even know how to smile is smiling unconsciously.’

The reputation of the Felisa family was close to rock bottom, and Count Mondri was a pathetic figure who had no abilities whatsoever but merely inherited his title as the eldest son, so Lloyd found it distasteful that such a family had connections to the imperial family.

‘For now, I’ll just watch.’

He earnestly hoped that this person would no longer be hurt by people.

“The medicine?”

“Today is not a day for taking it.”

“Just in case.”

Lloyd took out a liquid from his br*ast pocket and gave it to Bellian.

Bellian wanted to properly brand the child in Shuvien’s womb as imperial bloodline by pretending to spend the night with her tonight.

But Bellian’s reckless plan, which he thought no one could stop, was blocked by the one person he overlooked.

***

Just as he was about to head to the bedroom where Shuvien was waiting, Bellian frowned involuntarily when he saw a woman standing like a mountain before him.

‘I’m doomed.’

As soon as she saw Bellian, a stubborn light filled her pupils.

“Your Majesty, is everything I just heard from the maids true?”

“Majeta. When did you return from your travels?”

“Of course I had to return to perfectly and thoroughly prepare for the wedding ceremony for the sake of imperial authority and dignity, as Your Majesty welcomes Her Majesty the Empress. But as soon as I return, I hear such an outrageous thing! You haven’t even held the wedding ceremony yet, but you’re planning to spend the first night together! That absolutely cannot happen, Your Majesty!”

This woman, who could speak only right and proper words without changing color before Bellian, called the creator of hell, was the only being in this world Bellian could not defeat—his wet nurse and the Duchess of Dvorel, known as the Iron Duchess.

She was the wife of Duke Dvorel, the First Elder whom nobles feared and detested second only to Bellian in political circles, but even Duke Dvorel was merely a docile small animal before her, which was why everyone called her the Iron Duchess.

“Your Majesty, please tell me I heard wrong.”

Majeta’s fierce gaze pierced through Bellian.

He swallowed a sigh as his eyes scanned her appearance.

Despite the passage of time, her posture remained as straight as a tree, and although her hair had turned white, her elegant hairstyle without a single flaw and her stubborn eyes with the aura of a lion remained unchanged.

He had worried when she suddenly said she would travel the world at her advanced age.

He felt relieved inwardly to see that her voice hadn’t diminished at all.

“Your Majesty, do you think I’ll back down even slightly if you stare at my face? That person will become Her Majesty the Empress. Your Majesty must follow the proper procedures and treat her preciously. Is this how I taught Your Majesty? If so, then it’s my fault. Punish me. Punish me for raising and teaching Your Majesty incorrectly!”

“What punishment? No matter how much of a scoundrel I am, I still respect the elderly. You used to worry that I was too ascetic for an heir, but now I need permission even to embrace a woman?”

“Who said what? I’m saying do it after marriage!”

“I need that woman right now. No matter what my wet nurse says, I will not sleep alone tonight. I will definitely sleep with that woman!”

Majeta was so astonished that she doubted whether she had heard correctly.

‘What kind of woman could turn His Majesty into such a woman-crazed, lustful rogue?’

While he had numerous frightening nicknames too terrible to mention, none were related to women.

He had been so frighteningly ascetic that she had worried about the imperial line being cut off.

To think the day would come when she’d have to curse her own mouth for saying she wished he would be obsessed with women!

But inwardly, Majeta felt slightly relieved.

‘I thought His Majesty couldn’t give his heart to a woman because of the former Empress.’

If he had developed even a little interest, this opportunity shouldn’t be missed.

‘Yes. Since she’ll become the Empress anyway. Perhaps it’s better to produce an heir before those feelings cool.’

She didn’t know how Bellian had come to be interested in the lady of the Felisa family, but for various reasons, she thought it wouldn’t last long.

“Majeta, are you listening to me?”

“Very well. Since Your Majesty is so adamant, I, a mere wet nurse, cannot go against the imperial order.”

Bellian looked at Majeta, who suddenly bowed her head obediently, with a puzzled expression.

“What’s this about? It’s not like you to fear my imperial orders.”

“Of course I fear the imperial orders too, Your Majesty. But all matters have procedures. Following those procedures prevents gossip. Thinking of it as consummation before marriage, you must follow the appropriate procedures for consummation.”

At the word “procedures,” Bellian’s expression hardened grimly.

“So that’s it. I thought it was strange you gave in so easily. That damned consummation procedure. Do you think I’ll follow that? It makes me feel like I’m truly a beast!”

Bellian was angry, but Majeta didn’t even blink.

“This is imperial law that has been passed down for a long time. Your Majesty must always uphold imperial law and set an example. If you won’t follow it, then consummation before marriage is absolutely, over my dead body, not allowed.”

Despite saying earlier that she feared and would follow the imperial order, Majeta now raised her voice with a fierce intensity as if fire might burst from her eyes.

“If you won’t follow the procedure, sprinkle a handful of soil on this old woman’s grave!”

Bellian exhaled a long sigh and reluctantly nodded.

“Fine. Let’s do it according to that damned consummation procedure.”

***

As soon as Shuvien arrived at the imperial palace, she was surrounded by maids who applied fragrant oils to her body and washed her thoroughly, then placed her on a huge bed wearing a see-through chemise.

Even if it was fake, to think she needed to be so well-packaged to sleep with a man.

At that moment, the door burst open and Bellian entered.

“Your Majesty!”

Shuvien tried to approach Bellian but couldn’t escape from the bed.

Bellian instantly grabbed both her hands and pushed her down.

“W-What are you doing? You clearly said we would just pretend……”

“Shh.”

He immediately covered Shuvien’s mouth and lowered his head deeply.

“There are many eyes watching this consummation from outside.”

“What?”

“They’re all watching, I’m saying.”

“W-What do you mean?”

At that moment, ominous murmuring was heard from outside the bedroom.

—Noble and great mother, father, please don’t let the noble blue blood of the Great Alcanta be cut off.

“What is that strange sound?”

“Don’t mind it. They’re praying. Originally, the Emperor’s consummation must take place under the blessing of prayers while everyone watches.”

“Prayers? They’re praying while watching this situation?”

“The consummation of the Emperor and Empress is not simply pleasure through emotion but a sacred process to create an heir. Really, it’s like being a beast trapped in a cage. But what can we do? This is the noble imperial law.”

Come to think of it, she seemed to have seen this in movies or dramas. But to think it applied here too.

‘Can you even do it in that situation? Does it even get hard?’

“It can’t be helped if we want to create a legitimate heir. So you too must fulfill your duty of consummation.”

Bellian gradually approached Shuvien.

She tried to avoid him with an anxious gaze, but his firm arms wrapped around her, trapping her in his physique so she couldn’t move.

“It’s not like it’s your first time. Why are you so anxious?”

“W-Well, it’s not my first time, but it’s strange to be calm in this situation!”

Surely he’s not really going to do it? Really? And we have to do it in this sacred atmosphere while listening to those prayer sounds?!