“I just want to know the motive.”

“……”

“Why did you try to stab me and then personally heal me?”

Icarus’s gaze, filled with meaning, seemed serious. Under the heightened tension, Ertel swallowed dryly. She pondered how to explain it for a moment.

She realized that only a convincing answer would make him let go of his persistence. Soon, the corners of her lips rose calmly.

“I did it just thinking about other people’s perspectives.”

“Is that all?”

“The right hand is often used and visible. If someone came and asked about the wound, it would be awkward for you, wouldn’t it? You couldn’t possibly answer, ‘My wife tried to stab me with a knife.’ Thinking about how you’d have to lie every time, I thought it would be better to eliminate the scar, so I healed it.”

“……”

“That way, we can both fulfill our duties as a couple in a strategic marriage.”

“I see.”

Icarus nodded at the plausible answer. He no longer harbored doubts. But why did the feeling of disappointment invade his mind? The belated shame made his face flush red. Icarus tilted his head crookedly, his gaze dropping to the floor.

“Well, I’ll go to bed first.”

Leaving him sulking, Ertel left the room.

***

The next day.

“Oh my, brother. You’re at work?”

Cogette was walking along the ramparts when she encountered Icarus, who had come to work after a long absence. Since debuting as a concubine, she hadn’t seen much of her brother, so she was pleased to see him. However, Icarus looked utterly exhausted. This was largely due to the emotional exhaustion from dealing with Ertel. To be honest, it was his own emotional exhaustion from thinking about Ertel.

Unaware of this, Cogette asked brightly.

“Are you enjoying your newlywed life with my sister-in-law?”

“It’s okay.”

“Why haven’t you invited me to the mansion even once? I want to talk to my sister-in-law.”

Not knowing that their marriage was ‘strategic,’ Cogette spoke freely. Each word made Icarus uncomfortable, and he found it hard to smile. He didn’t want to discuss Ertel early in the morning.

“Cogette, now that you’ve entered as the king’s concubine, focus on your duties.”

“What’s wrong with me? I’m already doing my job diligently.”

“I silenced those who wanted the king to accept multiple concubines in your place. So don’t settle, but strive. Make your own plans to become queen.”

At this, Cogette was startled. She doubted the word she had just heard.

“What? Not queen consort, but queen?”

When Icarus pushed her as a concubine candidate, he hadn’t mentioned any hidden ambitions. He had simply said to become the king’s concubine for her own sake.

“Brother, what do you mean? I’m not royalty from another kingdom, so how could I become queen…?”

“Why not?”

“What?”

“You’re not from another family; you’re from the Juan family. Our family even enthroned the previous king. Did you forget?”

“No, but…”

Of course, she knew her brother’s ambition from watching him grow up. She understood that sending her to the palace was part of his political strategy. Yet, she hesitated because…

“Brother, from what I’ve observed, His Majesty’s temperament seems unsuited to being pushed hastily. He’s different from ordinary men. He prefers to proceed cautiously and slowly. I’m maintaining a proper distance from him. I want to match his pace.”

“Cogette.”

“I want to gradually win him over.”

Her earnest words made Icarus feel frustrated. From his perspective, Cogette seemed caught up in an unrealistic romantic notion.

“What are you talking about? Get a grip.”

“Brother?”

“Your ultimate goal isn’t to become simply a wife of a King.”

“What?”

“It’s to become the ruler of Tiamor.”

Cogette couldn’t help but be shocked by her brother’s plan, which she hadn’t known before.

***

Inside the royal palace.

The captain of the knights came to present a completed investigation report to the king. Pedro had been eagerly awaiting it, so his face lit up with pleasure. Henry respectfully presented the report.

“Your Majesty, thank you for waiting. The investigation is complete. We have found the family where Anna Leslie worked for a long time. It’s the Marquis of Agnes, located on the outskirts of Elruk.”

“Agnes…!”

The king searched his vague memories for related information.

“The Marquis of Agnes was the family that supplied many artworks for exhibition in the art room during the previous king’s reign, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s correct. They are known as one of the quietest noble families, rarely causing any incidents. They are a family that doesn’t stand out much.”

“I see… I’ve heard of them. So Ertel’s mother worked there. Hmm.”

“The strange thing is that the place where Anna died is very different from the family’s location. She must have had a reason to leave after working at the Agnes family for a long time.”

“Was it because she was pregnant with Ertel? Was she expelled?”

“I’m not sure. To find out more, we’d need permission from the family to send a delegation. It would be more accurate to meet with Marquis Adin and hear his story.”

“In that case, I’ll go myself.”

“What? Your Majesty?”

Pedro’s decision startled Henry, causing his eyes to flicker. Such trivial investigations were typically delegated to subordinates. It didn’t seem right for the sovereign of the nation to personally investigate a maid’s background.

“Your Majesty, it’s not difficult; you can just send someone. Why go there yourself? If Icarus finds out you visited the Agnes family, he’ll suspect something.”

“I’ll go in disguise, secretly. Just you and me.”

“……!”

“Ensure thorough security as it must be done in secret.”

Pedro’s resolve seemed firm. He felt that hearing the story directly would unravel the mystery.

“Your Majesty, when will we go?”

“Let’s go on the last day of this week.”

“Yes, I’ll make preparations.”

Thus, he was taking a step closer to uncovering Ertel’s secret.

***

Adin was bewildered by the king’s sudden visit.

“How could Your Majesty come without notice?”

He immediately sensed it was related to Ertel. After witnessing Ertel being taken away, Adin found life unbearable. Despite having severed ties for a long time, he realized he still loved his daughter.

Yet, what was more tragic was that Adin could do nothing. Knowing she was held at the Juan mansion, Adin was powerless. He was old and frail, with no army or strength left—only the remnants of his family’s name.

In the end, he spent his nights drinking, worrying the butler who wondered why the marquis was behaving so uncharacteristically. The thought of abandoning his daughter twice weighed heavily on Adin, preventing him from living sanely.

Thus, Pedro saw Adin’s first impression as that of a broken man.

‘He looks mentally exhausted.’

His overgrown beard was unkempt, and his eyes were hollow. He seemed like someone who didn’t care for himself.

“Draw the curtains on all the windows.”

A secret meeting began. Their encounter had to be kept strictly confidential. The dim lighting made the air in the shadowed reception room cold and frozen.

“Ugh…”

Adin shed tears like chicken droppings before the king. It was because the king wanted to know about Ertel’s biological mother, Anna Leslie. Struggling with pain, Adin found it difficult to speak, prompting Henry to pressure him.

“His Majesty didn’t disguise himself and come here because he had spare time. So, speak quickly.”

“I am prepared to tell the truth to the sovereign of the nation, but… I believe you’ll be shocked by the unexpected answer.”

“What do you mean? Why did Anna leave in the first place? Was her contract term over?”

“It’s not true that Anna is Ertel’s biological mother.”

“What?”

“Ertel is not the daughter of a maid; she is my daughter.”

“…!”

Pedro and the captain of the knights were stunned by the shocking statement.

“What? Say that again.”

“Not Ertel Leslie, but Ertel Le Agnes…”

“!!”

“I instructed Anna to abandon my daughter…”

As he spoke, Adin was overwhelmed by emotions from back then. Remembering the situation 18 years ago brought guilt for abandoning his daughter and grief for losing his wife simultaneously. Nonetheless, he focused on revealing the entire truth. At least the king, who had come all the way here, seemed to have special feelings for Ertel.

“I believe His Majesty is well aware of Kaiya Stone.”

Thus, hoping the king would save his daughter, Adin confessed everything.